Canadian immigration

What the heck is wrong with the Canadian immigration department? Is there someone there with a rubber stamp just approving anyone?

We have people living here who express outright approval of Osama Bin Laden and his training camps and who have used their very young sons to fight for their "cause." Now they demand their Canadian rights and expect our government to step in and act on their behalf.

We've been sued for millions of dollars because we deported someone to Syria and he said he was tortured. Why would we do that? It seems there was no reason--some mixup with CSIS.

We've had a man living in our foreign embassy for years because he was considered a threat--our highest court determined that he wasn't--and he is no doubt getting ready to sue us too.

We have had people blocking Toronto streets and a major highway while waving terrorist flags and using their own children as shields.

Now we have this guy who was denied US citizenship after living there for years and years, but Canada said, "No problem." So he comes to his new country packing a 9/11 video, Hezbollah symbols, almost a million dollars in gold and cash--and he flies airplanes. Too scary. His lawyer claims he is just hapless; could he be dangerous as well as hapless? Maybe not, but does anybody know why such an educated man was denied US citizenship?

Maybe we need total North American oversight for all immigration and/or deportation.

Growing up in old Toronto

Went to church with mom. Tried not to make any noise as I extracted the livesavers from their colourful package. It was a very long service. Visited grandma later. She was interested that we had attended church and asked what kind of church it was. I guess she was hoping it was Presbyterian, but the only information I could give her was that mom said they were "hypocrites." My first big word. Had no idea it wasn't their denomination.

Went to the movies most Saturdays. The old Kenwood on Bloor Street, 10 cents for the movie and 10 cents for popcorn. It was always great fun. All those streetcars and cars used to pass right by our third-floor apartment at Bloor and Ossington Ave.