Mathieu Allard's blog

I wrote the National Film Board today asking if they could point me to the Log Driver's Waltz

an enchanting clip which is part of the Canada Vignette series. I was able to find it on youtube  but I see no reason why it should not be available on the NFB website. There is even functionality on the website to preview to buy the movie, but does not allow you to view the movie in full. I will keep you posted on the response.

******** Original Message ********

Subject:	Log Driver's Waltz
Date:	Mon, 30 Jun 2008 16:48:40 -0500
From:	Mathieu Allard <mathieu@mathieuallard.ca>
To:	info@nfb.ca

To Whom It May Concern,

I was browsing the NFB website recently looking for a childhood memory, 
from the Canada Vignettes series the Log Driver's Waltz.

The link can be accessed here:
http://www.nfb.ca/collection/films/fiche/?id=13202

I looked on the site but I did not find a button to view the movie, only 
a button to watch a preview of the movie and a button to purchase.

I'm wondering someone from your office would please point me to a URL 
that could allow me to watch the Log Driver's Watch on my computer.

Sincerely,

Mathieu Allard

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Isaac Newton , one of the greatest thinkers the world has seen, once wrote "If I have seen further it is by standing on ye shoulders of Giants." to explain how he had come to make so many significant scientific breakthroughs and how he could not have done so without the contributions of great people in history. For me, this is a good quote to explain how important the public domain is to all of us, it is our collective history, free for anyone to use, learn and repakage into other works. I wanted to highlight the good work of a couple of organisations that are bringing the public domain to all of us. These include: http://librivox.org, whose mandate is :"To make all books in the public domain available, for free, in audio format on the internet." It looks like they re-release their books immediately in the public domain.
There is also the long standing Project Guttenburg that aims to put public domain books on the Internet. -----

Joelle and I received an Acknowledgment letter from Rosann Wowchuk reguarding provincial controls to protect animals.

******** Original Message ********

Subject:	RE: Animal Cruelty
Date:	Fri, 27 Jun 2008 15:17:22 -0500
From:	Mahoney, Kaila <Kaila.Mahoney@leg.gov.mb.ca>
To:	'Mathieu Allard' <mathieu@mathieuallard.ca>
References:	<4862C811.4030105@mathieuallard.ca>

June 27, 2008

Mr. and Mrs. Mathieu and Joelle Saltel-Allard
mathieu@mathieuallard.ca

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Allard:

On behalf of the Honourable Rosann Wowchuk, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives, I would like to acknowledge receipt of your email dated June 25, 2008.

Please be assured that your correspondence has been brought to Minister Wowchuk's attention and a reply will be forthcoming.

Sincerely,

Kaila Mahoney
Special Assistant
to the Minister


******** Original Message ********
From: Mathieu Allard [mailto:mathieu@mathieuallard.ca]
Sent: Wednesday, June 25, 2008 5:35 PM
To: Agriculture, Minister
Cc: Joelle Saltel
Subject: Animal Cruelty

Honorable Rosann Wowchuk
Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives;

Animal cruelty has been an issue in the Press lately following the rescue of nearly 100 puppies and dogs in Warren, Manitoba.

My wife and I are writing to inquire what measures are currently in place to protect helpless animals that have been neglected by their owners.

I believe it's important for the Province of Manitoba to take appropriate measures to prevent animal cruelty and get tough on those who disregard the well-being of their animals.

I look forward to your response on this very pressing and important issue.

Sincerely,

Mathieu Allard and Joelle Saltel-Allard

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I need to start watching my weight again. The last time I decided to lose some weight I followed the Hacker's Diet. This diet does not make you change your eating habits but has you count your calories. It now has free online tool that I plan on using. It even allows you to plug your progress into your webpage.
  -----

My wife Joelle and I sent the following email today to the Honorable
Rosann Wowchuk  wanting to ensure that appropriate measures are currently in
place to protect helpless animals that have been neglected by their
owners further to the rescue of nearly 100 puppies and dogs in Warren,
Manitoba.

******** Original Message ********

Subject:	Animal Cruelty
Date:	Wed, 25 Jun 2008 17:34:57 -0500
From:	Mathieu Allard <mathieu@mathieuallard.ca>
To:	minagr@leg.gov.mb.ca
CC:	Joelle Saltel <joelle.saltel@gmail.com>

Honorable Rosann Wowchuk
Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives;

Animal cruelty has been an issue in the Press lately following the 
rescue of  nearly 100 puppies and dogs in Warren, Manitoba.

My wife and I are writing to inquire what measures are currently in 
place to protect helpless animals that have been neglected by their owners.

I believe it's important for the Province of Manitoba to take 
appropriate measures to prevent animal cruelty and get tough on those 
who disregard the well-being of their animals.

I look forward to your response on this very pressing and important issue.

Sincerely,

Mathieu Allard and Joelle Saltel-Allard

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Jean-Marc Lafond as Sieur Samuel de Champlain and I at the splash park announcement today in Provencher Park. Please click on the image for a bigger picture.



It was a great day today to launch the spray park with no rain and lots of sun. Champlain is doing pretty good in that coat considering the sweltering near 30 degree celcius heat. -----

Sharon Blady's comment Dan Vandal's article commemorating Elzear Goulet:
"Thank you Dan for the article and Mathieu for letting people know about it. Elzear Goulet was one of the unsung heroes in our province's history, and sadly became a martyr. When I was teaching the Metis of Canada course at the UofM, I always made sure that students read about him and knew about the racism that the Metis faced after we joined Confederation. I look forward to the dedication of a park in his honour." -----

Vandal publishes his first Grassroots News Column on Elzear Goulet. It looks to be the first of many columns that Dan will be publishing. Be sure to send him your ideas for a better Winnipeg. If you're interested on adding him on Facebook you can add him . From the article:

"I am proud to be the St Boniface city councillor. I am proud to be working for the people of Winnipeg. I will be writing this column every 2 weeks. It will be a "Report from City Hall", but it will really be about Winnipeg…the challenges…the opportunities…the stories…and the people. Let me know what you think. Feel free to send me ideas for future columns." -----

The Sun published my editorial on Bill C-61 and how it will make it illegal to transfer music from copy protected CDs to an ipod even if the music was legally purchased.

This is what I had sent:

Hands off my Ipod

The Harper Government has introduced Bill C-61 last week that will make it illegal to transfer music from protected cds I can buy at the music store to my Ipod. If I buy music at the store, I should be able to listen to it when and how I want. Shame on you Steven Harper, the state has no place in the Ipod of the nation. -----

Bill C-61 has will have serious consequences if it is passed. Check out http://www.michaelgeist.ca/ for more details. I wrote an editorial that I sent to the Free Press and the Sun underscoring that I feel I should be allowed to put music that I buy at the store on my Ipod without breaking the law!
Hands off my Ipod

The Harper Government has introduced Bill C-61 last week that will make it illegal to transfer music from protected cds I can buy at the music store to my Ipod. If I buy music at the store, I should be able to listen to it when and how I want. Shame on you Steven Harper, the state has no place in the Ipod of the nation. -----

I just wrote Ray Simard to congratulate him for voting  in favour of the NDP sponsored bill on climate change. The correspondence follows:

Subject:	Positive Action on Climate Change
Date:	Mon, 09 Jun 2008 09:06:30 -0500
From:	Mathieu Allard <mathieu@mathieuallard.ca>
To:	Simard.R@parl.gc.ca

Honorable Raymond Simard,
I wanted to write to congratulate you for voting in favour of the NDP sponsored bill on Climate change. Bill 377 will put in legisaltion a
science-based long-term reduction target of 80% below 1990 levels by 2050.
I believe that this is a a positive step to mitigate Canada's effect on climate change and I applaud you on supporting this historic bill.
Sincerely,
Mathieu Allard
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This picture was originaly shown to me by Jenny Gerbasi . I was able to track down the original website. The picture really shows how much transit can help reduce our impact on the environment and reduce congestion in our roadways. Thanks Jenny for showing this to me. -----

St. Boniface is turning 100 and there are a number of events happening to celebrate, check out their calendar . -----

I wrote Transportation Minister Ron Lemieux on the ZENN car and I'm pleased to see that the Province is working on the issue as part of a broader strategy to reduce fossil fuel emmissions.

Original Message:

Subject:	Re: Zenn Car
Date:	Thu, 05 Jun 2008 15:28:43 -0500
From:	Mathieu Allard <mathieu@mathieuallard.ca>
To:	Spacek, John (MIT) <John.Spacek@gov.mb.ca>
CC:	mathieu@opalescent.ca, "Infrastructure & Transportation, Minister (LEG)" <mininfratran@leg.gov.mb.ca>
References:	<0A288CDAC04C394B9CB84C84AFE39350E8FF3E@OC1EX02.ME.MBGOV.CA>

Thank you very much for the response.
I am pleased to see the Province of Manitoba committed to expanding
the uptake of low and zero emission vehicles as part of broader strategy 
to preserve our environment.
Sincerely,
Mathieu Allard

Spacek, John (MIT) wrote:
> Mr. Mathieu Allard
> mathieu@opalescent.ca
>
> Dear Mr. Allard:
>
> This is in response to your email to the Honourable Ron Lemieux
> regarding legislation to allow the registration and operation of Zero
> Emissions No Noise (ZENN) vehicles in Manitoba. 
>
> I am pleased to advise you that the Province is currently examining a
> comprehensive range of opportunities and challenges with this group of
> emerging vehicles like the ZENN and other non-conforming vehicles (NCV).
> The project participants include several partners such as the insurance
> industry, vehicle manufacturers, municipal regulators and consumer
> groups.  
>
> In addition to this research, the Province has committed to expanding
> the uptake of low and zero emission vehicles as part of Beyond Kyoto,
> Manitoba's recently released climate change action plan. To achieve this
> objective, The Climate Change and Emissions Reductions Act has been
> introduced which would allow for regulations to be established
> permitting the operation of vehicles such as ZENN and other NCVs. The
> recommendations from research activities, together with climate change
> legislative amendments, are ultimately expected to facilitate the
> registration and operation of this class of vehicle in Manitoba.
>
> Thank you for your question and I trust this information is sufficient
> at this time.
>
> Sincerely,
>
>
> John Spacek
> Assistant Deputy Minister
> Transportation Policy and Motor Carrier Divisions
>
> c:	Honourable Ron Lemieux
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Young, Carla On Behalf Of Infrastructure & Transportation,
> Minister
> Sent: Wednesday, March 26, 2008 12:13 PM
> To: 'Mathieu Allard'
> Subject: RE: Zenn Car
>
> Dear Mr. Allard,
>
> On behalf of the Honourable Ron Lemieux, Minister Infrastructure and
> Transportation, I would like to acknowledge receipt of your e-mail
> transmission. Please be assured your inquiry will be brought to the
> Minister's attention.
>
> Carla Young
>
> Secretary to the Minister
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Mathieu Allard [mailto:mathieu@opalescent.ca]
> Sent: Saturday, March 22, 2008 4:19 PM
> To: Infrastructure & Transportation, Minister
> Subject: Zenn Car
>
> Minister of Infrastructure and Transportation.
> Honorable Ron Lemieux,
> I am curious to know when Manitoba plans to certify the use of Zenn cars
> (see attachment for a sample price estimate for one of these cars). I
> know that British Columbia has been the first province to allow their
> use.
> I understand that it is now up to the Provinces to individually certify
> their use.
> I would be curious to know if Manitoba is currently considering the
> certification of Zenn cars.
> Of particular interest with these cars is Manitoba's competitive
> advantage with the rates of hydroelectricity in this province. I would
> guess that Manitoba might be the best province to drive one of these
> cars in terms of the cost of fuel and in terms of the competitive costs
> of our auto insurance.
> Thank you very much for your time and I look forward to your response.
> Sincerely,
> Mathieu Allard
>

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I thought I would share this great video of Sam Adams running for Mayor of Portland, I like his message about working hard for a better future.
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