Letter to the editor in the Chesterville Record.
Appeared March 16th 2014.

I read with great disappointment the report of Maxime Bernier's speech in Avonmore (on March 3rd 2014) on behalf of the Government of Canada. While I second his praise of the freedom, the initiative, the risk taking, and the wealth creation by entrepreneurs, his rhetoric is extremely unbecoming for a minister of government. 

Bernier suggests that entrepreneurs have enemies in the public service ("politicians and bureaucrats") and suffer from "hostility from many quarters of society". Nothing could be further from the truth. A government is supposed to be a government of all Canadians, with a message of unity and cooperation. Instead, the Harper government pits Canadians against each other, in a partisan effort to cater to their target voter, to promote selfishness, and to stoke the fires of resentment against others.  

Businesses have partners in public service to provide infrastructure to get our product to market, enable fair agreements for international trade, police our communities against crime, and ensure the safety of our products and our purchases, among many other critical roles. We depend on a professional, competent, and motivated public service. The Harper government commits a disservice by belittling the public service as foul bureaucrats. Worse yet, Harper and Bernier are the government, the employer of our public service. It is very bad business for an employer to denigrate its employees in public. The same goes for the government's treatment of its employees. 

Where is the hostility against entrepreneurs? All quarters of society express appreciation for entrepreneurs, job creation, rural vitality, community leadership, wealth creation, and especially their generosity in supporting community endeavours. This hostility is only in the partisan rhetoric of Harper's speech writers. They would do better bringing Canadians together instead of pitting us against each other. 

Tom Manley

Dear friends. 

Thank you so very much for supporting Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Cornwall and district through the 2014 Bowl for Kids Sake fundraiser. It was a huge success, with 1000 bowlers raising $70,761 or about 35% of their annual operating budget as the agency continues to serve 440 children. 

Especially, thank you for supporting my fundraising efforts. With your support, I delivered $1190 to BBBS - well above my target of $1000 and well above my result last year, making me the 2nd top individual fundraiser. Isabelle also did well, ranking 4th top individual fundraiser, and our team ranked second overall with $1735. 

I look forward to participating with your support again next year.

Tom Manley

Rugged Outdoor Woman

During her physical examination, a doctor asked a retired woman about her 
physical activity level. The woman said she spent 3 days a week, every week 
in the outdoors.

"Well, yesterday afternoon was typical. I took a five hour walk about 7 
miles through some pretty rough terrain. I waded along the edge of a lake. I 
pushed my way through 2 miles of brambles. I got sand in my shoes and my 
eyes. I barely avoided stepping on a snake. I climbed several rocky hills. I 
went to the bathroom behind some big trees. I ran away from an irate mother 
bear and then ran away from one angry bull Elk. The mental stress of it all 
left me shattered. At the end of it all, I drank a scotch and three glasses 
of wine.

Amazed by the story, the doctor said, "You must be one hell of a rugged

outdoor woman!"

"No," the woman replied, "I'm just a really, really shitty golfer!"