The case of the Yukon Gold!

Good Day Readers:

We first discovered The Waxing Moon

http://www.thewaxingmoon.b.ogspot.com

last month while viewing one of its postings on Truth To Power (http://www.accesstoinfo.blogspot.com). The site is hosted by Rachel Westfall from Whitehorse, Yukon Territory.

The article which caught our attention was a well crafted September 17, 2008 open letter entitled, "Who the hell is Rod Bruinoge?" In it Ms Westfall expresses concern over the content of flyers being distributed during the last election by the re-elected Winnipeg South MP and Parliamentary Secretary to Indian and Northern Affairs Canada Minister Chuck Strahl claiming in essence they talked down to their intended audience. Although a copy was sent to the Winnipeg Free Press by Ms Westfall, to the best of our knowledge it was never printed.

We also enjoyed this photograph posted on The Waxing Moon of Mr. Bruinooge enjoying a lighter moment in what must be a very busy schedule.

Next we were introduced us to Darrell "Duct Tape" Pasloski the unsuccessful candidate for the Yukon Territory.

Now we have this - what we're calling "The case of the Yukon Gold!" Ms Westfall is articulate, writes very well and is artistic as evidenced by the photographs and layout of The Waxing Moon. We highly recommend the site to our readership who should bookmark it.

Clare L. Pieuk

Strahl.C@parl.gc.ca/rod@bruinooge.com

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A heartfelt apology

In today's paper, Erich Stoll offered a full apology for his comment about buying votes with beer in Old Crow, Yukon. Thank you, Mr. Stoll, for your sincerity.

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I apologize for my comments Erich Stoll, Whitehorse Star, October 27, 2008.

I would like to apologize for the stupid and hurtful comments made by myself regarding the people of Old Crow and Erik Nielsen. The comments were based on a story I had heard years ago which I know not to be true, and they were made in jest in casual conversation and never meant as an official statement. These stupid and horrible comments are an example of the horrible things people can say in jest and which they do not mean and would never want showing up in a public newspaper. These comments should never have been printed in the Yukon News in the first place, but what’s done is done, and now it is a shame I will have to live with. I want to offer my deepest apologies to the people of Old Crow, the family and memory of Erik Nielsen, Darrell Pasloski and his family and supporters, and to the Yukon Conservative Party and all its members. I did not mean to cause any of you any hurt or embarrassment.

Erich Stoll, Whitehorse

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Saturday, October 25, 2008
Newsflash! The beer's on Darrell

Darrell Pasloski, Conservative candidate for Yukon in the recent federal election, probably should have shared his supply of duct tape with his supporter Erich Stoll. On election night, Stoll put his foot squarely in his mouth by suggesting, in the presence of Yukon News' senior reporter Genesee Keevil, that Pasloski could have easily bought votes in the dry community of Old Crow, had it been legal to take beer there.

Vuntut Gwichin MLA Darius Elias expressed his distress at Stoll's comment in a letter to the editor yesterday. In doing so, he spoke for many members of the Old Crow community, for other Yukon residents who don't like the implication that their votes can be bought, and quite frankly, for any community that has struggled with alcohol-related social and health problems and has taken the brave and difficult step of going dry. Thank you, Darius Elias, for saying what needed to be said. You must make your mother proud.

Update: Erich Stoll offered a full apology for his comment on Monday, October 27th's Whitehorse Star.

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Editor's Note: This letter addresses a federal Conservative Party supporter's suggestion that former Yukon candidate Darrell Pasloski's campaign should have offered beer to obtain votes of Old Crow residents in the October 14 election. The speaker also suggested that former Yukon MP Erik Nielsen engaged in that practice to win votes. Long-time friend Ken McKinnon, who made many trips to Old Crow with Nielsen refuted the supporter's allegation earlier this week.

We reject your vile cultural prejudice
Darius Elias, Whitehorse Star
October 24, 2008

The people of Old Crow are offended by Erich Stoll’s comments last week in the Yukon News. I don’t usually give ugly words credibility by responding to them, but I will respond to the repeated requests from my constituents.

Old Crow residents are requesting that I address Erich Stoll’s thoughtless remarks and Darrel Pasloski’s unwillingness to discourage his supporters from communicating poisonous messages.

Erich Stoll: you obviously do not know how hurtful your comments are to the people of Old Crow or how offensive they are to all Yukoners, especially on the eve of the late honourable Erik Nielsen’s memorial! Classless, to say the least.

The community courage required by the proud people of Old Crow to decide to continue with the prohibition of alcohol in the community speaks for itself. Such spiteful characterizations of your fellow Yukoners won’t change that.

While I’m disappointed that Mr. Pasloski didn’t set the record straight and disavow his supporter’s statements, my biggest concern is for our youth and ensuring that they recognize this behaviour for what it is.

I’ve repeatedly explained to the young people in Old Crow that there are all kinds of people in the world and, yes, these kinds of people do exist, even in the Yukon. I’ve asked the youth in my community to celebrate the differences among people, all people, even these kinds of people.

I’ve asked them to reject the vile cultural prejudice that’s inherent in Eric Stoll’s message. I encouraged all youth to appreciate the vast differences in all people. and not judge them.

Darius Elias MLA
Vuntut Gwitchin Old Crow
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Pasloski restores party prospects
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Genesee Keevil, Yukon News

Conservative candidate Darrell Pasloksi lost to incumbent Larry Bagnell, taking 32.8 per cent of the vote.

Competitive swimming and politicking are almost the same, said Conservative candidate Darrell Pasloski’s daughter Bronwyn. “It’s just I’m in the water and he’s on the land — and there are fewer competitors for him.”

It’s been a great fight, said Pasloski, thanking a crowd of about 40 supporters at the Gold Rush Inn on Tuesday night.

Although Liberal MP Larry Bagnell won the Yukon riding, with more than 45 per cent of the vote, Pasloski gave the incumbent a good run, earning almost 33 per cent. “I don’t think Larry slept as well the last few nights as he did during the last election,” said Pasloski campaign worker Craig Tuton. “Darrell worked hard,” he added. “Since Thursday I don’t know how many phone calls he made, but he was calling people 14 hours a day. “Now I know why his kids are successful swimmers, because they’ve got that drive.”

Pasloski made it to every community in the territory, except Old Crow. “I would have gone to Old Crow with a few cases of beer, then you’d get all the votes you want — that’s what (Conservative MP Erik) Nielsen used to do” said Pasloski supporter Erich Stoll. “But today you can’t take beer to Old Crow,” he added.

Stoll tags himself a realist. “I think Harper’s doing a good job because, jeez, we’re not going broke, are we?” he said.“

I like business and the economy, so I think the Conservatives are better,” said David Cerezo. The 17-year-old Venezuelan exchange student has been in the territory a month, and is interested in politics. His exchange family is Conservative, he said.

Longtime Conservative Don Cox was also a young man when he decided to join the party. “I met Diefenbaker when I was 20,” he said. Over the years, the party has changed, but Cox doesn’t “disagree with anything Harper stands for.

“Although, I have some misgivings about how Harper sells the Conservative movement to the country,” added Cox, referencing Harper’s refusal to talk to the media."

He’s making sure the things that have gone wrong for others won’t go wrong for him.” Cox, who ran as the federal Conservative candidate in the territory in 2000, was impressed with Pasloski’s showing. “It’s close right now,” he said, watching the election results roll in earlier in the evening.“

And when you consider Larry is a household word — Larry Bagnell’s on people’s tongues as much as ‘morning’ and ‘evening.’ “But Larry’s been in public life for almost all of his adult life, and he’s not been able to shine like he should have.”