Author: olivia

News is just surfacing about a gruesome find this morning in a small community just outside London, Ontario — Shedden, Ontario. It is being described as Ontario’s worse mass murder, and Canada’s worst in a decade. [link]

The bodies of 8 men were found this morning by a farmer during morning rounds of his fields. The bodies were found lying in and near three cars, one of which was still hooked up to a tow-truck.

The quiet village of 800 about 30 kilometres southwest of London near St. Thomas is known as Ontario’s rhubarb capital, but also has a history of biker activity, raising speculation among some that the grisly scene had links to the underworld. [link]

::

Police are not saying anything at the moment except that this is an isolated incident. They won’t say if the individuals were targeted, or members of gang activity, or how they died.

The bodies were found in four vehicles spread about 200 metres apart on the dirt road. A small silver car was hooked onto a tow truck that had a Toronto registration number. A hatchback was parked nearby with its back door open, and a van was sitting in a field some distance away. [link]

It is speculated that the men were shot to death.

Stan Lidster, the 60-year-old deputy mayor, said the murders had the markings of organized crime.

“At least, myself, I’m astounded eight bodies were found in Southold Township,” Lidster said. “It’s got to be an organized crime.” [link]

A report from the BBC, states police have said more bodies may be found. [link]

Residents are understandably upset, wondering who is responsible. The farmer who found the bodies is being treated for shock.  

Darlene Deslandes, who has lived in the area all her life and had a full view of the vehicles from her back window, called the murder scene scary and wildly out of character.

“It’s quiet and calm, nothing ever happens here,” Deslandes said.

“If they are from around this area, it would be scarier than if it’s someone from far away.” [link]

The OPP will have a news conference at 10 a.m. Sunday morning.

Update [2006-4-9 13:42:27 by olivia]:

All the men were from the Greater Toronto Area, and all knew each other.

The eight men whose bodies were found in and around four vehicles by a farmer’s field in southwestern Ontario were from the Greater Toronto Area, police said on Sunday.

The victims all knew each other, an Ontario Provincial Police spokesman said a day after the grisly discovery near the village of Shedden, about 30 kilometres south of London and 365 kilometres from Toronto.

It was the biggest mass murder in recent Ontario history. [link]

Cause of death has not been released, awaiting autopsy. And regarding motive, the police had this to say:

The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) also refused to discuss any possible links between the killings and organized crime, although surrounding Elgin County has a history of biker gang activity.

Several motorcycle clubs have been known to populate the area, including the Loners, the Bandidos and the Hells Angels.

“The Hells are present in Ontario; everybody knows that,” Bingley said. “But as far as me discussing the Hells or anybody else, we’re working on this murder case and we’re not talking about the Hells.” [link]

Update [2006-4-10 15:34:57 by olivia]:

Arrests have been made — four men and one woman. One of the men lived near the area where the bodies were found.

Five people have been charged with first-degree murder in connection with the slayings of eight men whose bodies were found Saturday in southwestern Ontario.

Five people have been charged with first-degree murder in connection with the slayings of eight men whose bodies were found Saturday in southwestern Ontario.

The victims and suspects were all linked to the Bandidos biker gang, Ontario Provincial Police confirmed Monday.

Autopsy results also confirmed that the men had all been shot to death. [link]

Via Bourque this morning comes this newslink, with the following photo and caption:

IRAQ: WHEN IS ENOUGH ENOUGH?

One Thousand A Month Tortured To Death In Iraq:

Dr. John Pace drops a bombshell that translates as a whisper through obscure Maltese paper

Proving that Abu Ghraib and Gitmo are the tip of the iceberg, the outgoing UN human rights chief dropped a bombshell when he told an obscure Maltese newspaper that as many as a thousand detainees a month are being tortured to death in Iraq.

::
Other statements made by John Pace:

US ‘aware’ of Iraq torture:

In a frank interview with The Times, Dr Pace says photos and forensic records have proved that torture was rife inside detention centres. Though the process of release has been speeded up, there are an estimated 23,000 people in detention, of whom 80 to 90 per cent are innocent.

He says the Baghdad morgue received 1,100 bodies in July alone, about 900 of whom bore evidence of torture or summary execution. That continued throughout the year and last December there were 780 bodies, including 400 having gunshot wounds or wounds as those caused by electric drills.

UN Human Rights chief criticises lawlessness in Iraq:

The senior United Nations official charged with promoting human rights in Iraq has lashed out against the growing lawlessness in the country. Thousands are held without trial, and torture and illegal executions are rampant, says John Pace, head of the UN Human Rights Office for Iraq.

(…)

“This, tragically, is not difficult to prove. Many of these bodies turn up either in the street or in the morgue, clearly bearing signs of torture. Many of them would have been picked up by uniformed people from these brigades a few hours earlier.”

UN accuses US of wholesale rights violations in Iraq (This was diaried by jpol.):

“There is no question that terrorism has to be addressed. But we are equally sure that the remedies being applied… are not the best way of eliminating terrorism,” Pace said during an interview on Sunday.

He quoted instances where Iraqi judges had ordered the release of groups of prisoners, and had found not only that their orders had been refused, but found themselves locked up as a reprisal.

And in light of the above articles, this story is predictable and … ironic … but that is a poor descriptor in this instance, as it does not fit with the reverence this topic deserves.

An Eye For An Eye:

The dead do tell stories–of abduction, torture, execution–And it’s not just the insurgents who are on a killing streak

(…)

“It’s relatively common to find dead bodies throughout the battlefield that show signs of torture and execution,” says Capt. Jennifer Williams, a U.S. Army intelligence officer, whose area of responsibility includes much of West Baghdad.

Who’s who. It’s hard to tell at a glance the difference between criminals, government forces, and militias.

(…)

U.S. officials have become increasingly concerned about the level of police abuses, particularly by counterinsurgency commando units assembled quickly and, as a result, populated with Shiite militia members. President Bush last month acknowledged as much when he announced a new effort to give “human rights and ethics” training to Iraqi police, noting that some have used their positions “to take it out on others because of past grievances.”

IRAQ: WHEN IS ENOUGH ENOUGH?

_________
All emphasis mine.

“We are not savages, we are not barbarians.” (link)

In light of all the negative, violent protests we are hearing about, I thought these positive stories deserved some attention.

::more below the fold::

Peaceful protests were held in Canadian cities today — 1300-1500 in Toronto and 250-300 in Montréal. What caught my attention however, was not the demonstrations themselves, but that many mosques in these cities, and others, opened their doors to the public. Altogether, they spoke of denouncing violence, opening communication, and most of all, fostering understanding.

“We find it’s the only constructive way to respond to this issue of the caricature, present the Muslim community and who is Muhammad,” said Mohamed Kamel of the Al-Ommah Al-Islamiah Mosque. (link)

<== (Photo from CBC, Muslims protest in Toronto, Montreal against controversial cartoons).

In Toronto, the 1300-1500 demonstrated outside the Danish Consulate. The protest remained peaceful, and the message conveyed was furthering understanding:

“We want to include all our members and friends in Canada to be part of what we are feeling today,” one speaker told the crowd.

“To understand the hurt that we feel, to understand the injury that we feel.” (link)

The Muslim Association of New Brunswick also protested by opening their doors: afternoon prayers were open to the public. They said that this was their way of protesting, their way to bridge the gap, their way to express themselves.

Approximately 100 visitors attended the Open House to discuss the Muslim faith. CTV news spoke with two non-Muslims who attended the Open House (via TV broadcast; link n/a at this time — will update w/ link if it becomes available),

“I thought I’d drop in here especially because of this cartoon thing, which I think is deplorable. We should respect one another’s religion.”

“It’s getting to understand one another and when we know one another we won’t be afraid. It’s fear of the unknown.”

Internationally, peaceful protests ocurred in Turkey, Indonesia, the Netherlands, Germany, France, and Switzerland. (link)

A really ugly story coming out of Chicoutimi, Quebec. Apparently, over the weekend, during a hockey game in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League between Chicoutimi and Moncton, a group of Chicoutimi fans began hurling racist slurs against the visiting Moncton team coach, Ted Nolan, who is Ojibway Indian. (Nolan coached the Buffalo Sabres of the NHL.)

::More below the fold::

Fans allegedly shouted racial slurs during the game, and continued afterwards as he left the Centre Georges Vezina arena and boarded the team bus after losing 4-3 to the Chicoutimi Sagueneens. A police car even had to attend the scene.

“All of a sudden it just escalated more and more, and people were pretending to shoot the bow and arrow and the tomahawk chop and, you know, the hand on the mouth making the warrior cry and bringing derogatory racial slurs as far as my native heritage,” Nolan, 47, told CTV Atlantic on Sunday.

The Canadian Press reported Nolan as saying he hasn’t experienced racism to such a degree since he was a child.

“I thought this stuff happened in the 1940s,” Nolan said. “The racial slurs that we listened to throughout the game were just disgusting. It was really a bad night.” (link)

I was listening to the local sports radio station just now, and they interviewed Les Studley who is the play-by-play man for the Moncton hockey team. He said the fans were out of control. Chicoutimi officials did nothing to stop the escalation, and eventually the mob grew to about 100-150 people. The harassment continued after the game, when the mob followed the team out to their bus. He said these fans were harassing him as he made for the team bus for not speaking french. Police had to be called in to settle down the crowd.

Studley said the mood on the bus was very subdued. Nolan was visibly upset. He sat at the front of the bus, and held his head in his hands, close to tears.

“I have never seen anything like that in my life,” he said. “There were some incidents that happened when I was a kid, but I never seen a public display like that. This was in a public forum where there’s families and kids. There’s athletes on the ice that could see it.

“When you have security guards laughing along with the other people doing it and the referee not doing anything about it during the game … they were fully aware of what was happening. One of our players had a fan throw a garbage can at him.

“You want the rivalries and you want emotion in the rink, but when emotion turns into racial stuff there’s no room for it whatsoever. Whether it’s blacks, natives or whatever, racial stuff is racial stuff.” (link)

You know, I’m not so naive as to believe that racism doesn’t exist in Canada, but this is way over the line. What’s upsetting is that nobody stepped in when it was just a few fans. Nobody said, hey cut it out. That security guards were laughing. And that police would need to be called. For all we like to say otherwise, we in Canada need to realize that racism does exist.

While I’m sure those fans are all so proud that they’ve humiliated this man in front of his entire team, I hope that these young boys take this experience and learn from it. Learn how it feels, and grow to be the ones who’ll step in to say cut it out.

Update [2005-12-20 9:51:41 by olivia]: It was good to see this story making the sports news and news headlines last night.

Racial slurs that were levelled at a coach in a Quebec hockey arena recently have been condemned by players and managers across Canada. (link)

Reaction from Nolan’s players,

Players on his team said it was clear their coach was upset during the game.

“He was really upset by it and you could tell after periods he was just anxious to get back in the dressing room so he wouldn’t have to take the abuse from the fans. It was awful,” Wildcats centre Matt Eagles told CTV. (link)

Reaction from Chicoutimi,

“There’s no way we’ll tolerate such things. It’s disgraceful,” said Pierre Cardinal, media liaison for the Sagueneens.

The team also sent a letter to the Wildcats’ management and apologized for the fans and said the racism was not indicative of the team or the community.

“The disgraceful acts of some of our spectators do not represent the image of our fans and of our regional population. The Sagueneens organization understands and respects the multicultural dimension in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and in no way condones this type of behaviour,” reads the statement.

(…)

Moncton Wildcats General Manager Bill Schurman appreciates the Sagueneens’ apology, but is pressing for an investigation into the event. (link).

Reaction from the Commissioner of the QMJHL, who has convened the league’s disciplinary committee to investigate (link),

BOUCHERVILLE, Monday, December 19, 2005 (QMJHL) – The Commissioner of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, Mr. Gilles Courteau, issued a statement following the disgraceful gestures and comments directed towards Moncton Wildcats Head Coach Ted Nolan that took place during and after the game in Chicoutimi last Friday night.

Even though no formal complaint was lodge at the QMJHL, the Commissioner finds disgraceful the behaviour of a group of isolated individuals: “I find the events which occurred last Friday in Chicoutimi regrettable. The distasteful and disgraceful gestures and comments aimed at Head Coach Ted Nolan by an isolated group of spectators in no way represent the image of the Saguenéens organization, their players or the fans that attend QMJHL games.”

He added: “Like Mr. Ted Nolan, all players and team staff members are part of the QMJHL family -without allusion to their nationality or ethnic background.”

Furthermore, the Commissioner wishes to inform all contributors that this situation is considered very serious. As such, steps will be taken to insure that these types of incidents do not repeat themselves in both Chicoutimi and other QMJHL markets. The Saguenéens organization is already looking over any improvements it can make to solidify its security procedures. (link)

Last words from Nolan,

“Sometimes people think because it’s not a physical abuse, and it’s verbal, it’s not as bad, but the old nursery rhyme, ‘Sticks and stones may break your bones but names will never hurt,’ — that’s not true. Names do hurt,” he said. (link)

Both the CBC and CTV are reporting that Washington is furious over comments made by PM Martin at the UN climate conference in Montreal this week. (Washington furious over Martin’s climate change comments, U.S. summons McKenna over Martin remarks)

Jim Connaughton, chairman of the Council on Environmental Quality, has told Canadian Ambassador Frank McKenna that Martin’s comments are the worst slight against President George W. Bush since Germany’s Gerhard Schroeder suggested Bush’s stance against the Kyoto Protocol was responsible for hurricane Katrina. (link) (emphasis mine)

(More after the fold)
What did he say that has so angered Washington?

“To the reticent nations, including the United States, I say there is such a thing as a global conscience, and now is the time to listen to it,” Martin told the United Nations conference on climate change in Montreal Wednesday. (link)

It is very clear to all those involved in the conference, that the US is adamantly opposed to Kyoto, or any processes to continue discussion around it.

On the final day of the November 28-December 9 U.N. conference on climate change, environmentalists said they were losing hope that the United States — the largest producer of heat-trapping greenhouse gases — would sign a separate agreement for all nations, not just Kyoto members.

Although the United States is not one of the 157 countries that have subscribed to Kyoto, Canada wants a deal on open-ended talks among all countries about long-term cooperation on climate change.

Delegates said U.S. climate negotiator Harlan Watson walked out of a session of talks overnight, saying host Canada’s proposal for dialogue on long-term actions was tantamount to entering negotiations. (link)

In all fairness (and b/c I’m a FenceSitter), Martin has been called out for the Canadian government’s lack of action and negative results on Kyoto specific metrics, like green house gas emissions. (Kyoto speech exposes Prime Minister’s hypocrisy.)

Embassy spokesmen and State Department officials give conflicting answers regarding who summoned who, to meet about what, describing the meeting as a regularly scheduled meeting that was “cordial” (Cdn Embassy), versus a furious Bush administration official demanding a meeting to make very clear his unhappiness (US State Dept), but it is very clear that Cdn-US relations are not what they once were and do not look like they’re improving.

Update [2005-12-9 16:23:15 by olivia]:

I’ve added a few links below in the comments section as posts, that point to Cheney’s involvement, but this article seems to sum up the situation, plus gives Martin’s response to his original comments, so I’m adding this as an update to the diary.

The Bush administration has told Canada it was angry with the direct criticism Prime Minister Paul Martin made of the U.S. position on climate change, CBC television reported on Friday.

It said Vice-President Dick Cheney asked for the message to be delivered on Thursday to Canada’s ambassador to the United States, Frank McKenna, after Martin suggested Washington should listen to global conscience on climate change.

Canadian embassy spokesman Bernie Etzinger confirmed to Reuters that McKenna did ask for and receive a meeting with Jim Connaughton, head of the White House’s Council on Environmental Quality. Etzinger declined to confirm if any displeasure was voiced.

The particular comments at issue were those Martin — in the middle an election campaign — made during a news conference in Montreal on Wednesday after addressing a U.N. climate change meeting.

“To the reticent nations, including the United States, I’d say this: there is such a thing as a global conscience, and now is the time to listen to it. Now is the time to join with others in our global community,” Martin said.

At a news conference on Friday Martin declined to comment about the McKenna meeting, but was unapologetic for his remarks about climate change.

“I spoke what I believe. I spoke what I have been saying for quite some time now. I conveyed this message to the president of the United States … (and to) every world leader I have met with.” (link)

Update [2005-12-10 14:27:19 by olivia]:

As a last update to this story, the US has changed its stance and will now participate in informal discussions with other nations on global climate change initiatives.

The United States remained almost alone outside the new Kyoto deal, but agreed to informal talks under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC). The U.S. would only agree to informal talks that will not “open to any discussion leading to new commitments.” (link)

Remembrance Day, taken 11.11.2005 (view large)

(More after the fold)
I am really rather afraid, but more afraid to stay at home with my conscience.*

In Flanders Fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch, be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields

~Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae*

Poppy field, taken by flickrist phitar

~

God and the soldier
All men adore
In time of trouble,
And no more;
For when war is over
And all things righted,
God is neglected–
The old soldier slighted.

~Anonymous

War Memorial, taken 9.24.2005

~

Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I’ve climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds–and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of–wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov’ring there,
I’ve chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air.
Up, up the long, delirious burning blue
I’ve topped the windswept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or even eagle flew.
And, while with silent, lifting mind I’ve trod
The high untresspassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.

~John Gillespie Magee, Jr. (1922-1941)

Sunset, taken by flickrist creativity+

I will not forget.

_____
* Alternate link d/t Veterans Affairs Canada webpage problems.

Cross-posted to European Tribune, and my blog parvum opus. (Edited 11.11.2004 at 13:36hEST.)

Froggy Bottom Photography Fair October 8 and 9 Bug photos, taken this summer in my garden. Enjoy!

Hello BooTribbers! I’m posting two photo diaries: one of Flowers, and this one of Bugs. Unfortunately I have to run off to celebrate Thanksgiving in the non-internets part of the world, so I will miss talking with you all, and viewing everyone’s photo diaries. I’m looking forward to them all.

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I sincerely thank all of you here for welcoming me in, and for being such a wonderful, supportive group of people. Booman Tribune is the best site on the ‘net, and it has everything to do with the people who commune and converse here, from the very tip top (Booman and susanhu) to the very newest member.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Froggy Bottom Photography Fair October 8 and 9 Flower photos, taken this summer in my garden. Enjoy!

Hello BooTribbers! I’m posting two photo diaries: one of Bugs, and this one of Flowers. Unfortunately I have to run off to celebrate Thanksgiving in the non-internets part of the world, so I will miss talking with you all, and viewing everyone’s photo diaries. I’m looking forward to them all.

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I sincerely thank all of you here for welcoming me in, and for being such a wonderful, supportive group of people. Booman Tribune is the best site on the ‘net, and it has everything to do with the people who commune and converse here, from the very tip top (Booman and susanhu) to the very newest member.

Happy Thanksgiving!

So, we went downtown around noon to check out the Ottawa version of the Antiwar protest. It was a beautiful sunny day, the kind of day that makes you want to go outside.

(Note: Same photos as in diary, but for larger sizes see my Ottawa Antiwar Protest photoset here.)

Canadian flag fluttering softly in the breeze.

(More below the fold)
As we approached Confederation Park, we could hear people speaking through loudspeakers. There were a few police cars – 5 that I counted, and about 10 officers standing around or walking through the park.

Confederation Park initial staging location.

The gathering was smaller than, but as eclectic as I expected. There were about six different causes represented, all with tables set up displaying their leaflets and other information. I think the focus on so many issues really took away from the main message. (In fact, I agree with some of the arguments made in NewDem’s diary, I’m On the Verge of Saying Screw the Anti-War Rally.)

Information tables in Confederation Park.

People were relaxing – some laying full out – enjoying the day while listening to the speeches. There was a wide range of ages, from the older to the younger. A couple of the younger kids had their stuffed toys with them! Some of the people appeared to be tourists, who wandered through, stopped to listen for a time, then moved on. People continued to arrive throughout the speeches.

Speeches in Confederation Park.

Ottawa’s Raging Grannies turned out. They’re so cute!

Raging Grannies from Ottawa.

When the speeches finished, they organized everyone into march form, getting people to help hold banners. They also practiced a few chants, like: “George Bush – Terroriste! Paul Martin – Accomplice!” The police blocked off the traffic at the intersections along the route, and we were off.

March begins.

March turns up Elgin.

The Grannies were handing out info-leaflets along the route.

March turns onto Queen.

We split from the group and headed over to the Hill, in order to catch the group arriving.

Protest arrives on the Hill.

There were two young guys representing the anti-protest side: they were the only anti-protestors that we saw at all. They stood silently on the fringes during the speeches at Confederation Park, holding their signs which read: “HIPPIES SUCK” and “GWB IS YOUR FATHER!” (Not really sure what that last one means… :o)

Once the protest arrived on the Hill, they sat at the Eternal Flame, where a couple of protestors engaged them in a conversation about their signs. A few chuckles on both sides, a few rolls of the eyes and scoffs, but overall politeness all around.

Anti-protestors at the Eternal Flame.

Another round of speeches started once the group set up their amps and microphone stand.

Protest on the Hill.

Antiwar speeches on the Hill.

We left shortly thereafter, rambling back past the Peace Monument and Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. A reminder of why we protest; why it matters.

Peace Monument.

#

Watching the 6pm evening news tonight (CJOH), they had a short segment on the protest, with a bit of video footage. The newscaster said hundreds marched. A report from the CBC had this,

Protests were also held in Canadian cities.

In Ottawa, about 200 anti-war advocates hit the streets, calling for Canada and the U.S. to end their “occupations” in Iraq, Afghanistan and Haiti.

At one point, the marchers paused at Parliament Hill where several speakers denounced Canada’s complicity in U.S.-led wars.

“We love our troops, bring them home,” said Federico Carvajal of Together Against War.

“We don’t want to be responsible for those human rights violations that we are currently responsible for.”

The march began at Confederation Park and finished at the U.S. Embassy.

In Toronto, several hundred people waved banners and anti-war signs in front of the U.S. Consulate before marching to the Ontario Liberal party offices.

A report from CTV had this,

Canadians are taking to the streets in several cities too, from Calgary to Toronto, Vancouver to Halifax.

In Ottawa, about 200 anti-war advocates hit the streets, calling for Canada and the U.S. to end their “occupations” in Iraq, Afghanistan and Haiti.

“We love our troops, bring them home,” said Federico Carvajal of Together Against War.

“We don’t want to be responsible for those human rights violations that we are currently responsible for.”

In Toronto, several hundred people waved banners and anti-war signs in front of the U.S. Consulate before marching to the Ontario Liberal party offices.

I couldn’t find any other news sources, nor any information on the other protests in Canadian cities. I’ll continue checking, but if anyone has info or links, post a comment.

It was a good day – I’m happy that I got off my butt and participated in some small way.

It was amazing to come home and see how many turned out in DC (and in London!). Also, it seems like more media is picking up the story now (well, non-CNN media). In any case, it was great to spend the day among people who feel that what is happening is wrong; to join my voice to theirs … all over the world. In the words of Cindy Sheehan,

“This war is immoral, it will end,” said Sheehan. “The darkness will never overcome the light.” (link)

#

Photo Links

Flickr Photos of Toronto Protest (link)

Flickr photos, tagged ‘sept24’ (link), and ‘antiwar’ (link)

Related Links

Ottawa Antiwar Protest (link)

Toronto Antiwar Protest (link)

Canadian Peace Alliance (link)

Canadian Cities Participating In Sept 24 Protest (link)

[From the diaries by susanhu. Keep us posted, Olivia.]

I just got home from work. It was an unbelievable drive home. Over the course of the day, stories of huge gas-hikes-to-come started flooding into the local radio stations. They kept talking about it all day, and guess what? Tonight we are in an all out gas panic.

Apparently it started in Eastern Canada (link), in the face of fears of huge price hikes and possible shortages due to Hurricane Rita. The rumours continued flowing west, through Quebec, and into Ottawa.

The local radio station reported that some of the gas stations ran out of gas, while others had to call in police to handle the traffic.

The lines into stations were massive, going around blocks and down major roads causing traffic nightmares everywhere. I witnessed this myself … I was stuck in it! Lines and lines and lines of cars at almost every gas station I passed (~90% of them). I have to say I have never seen anything like it in my life. It was unreal.

The rumour is that gas will be over $2.00 per litre tomorrow – approximately $6.50 per gallon US, if my math is right … but it’s been a long day … One report came in of a gas station attendant who told his customers that gas would be over $2.50/litre tomorrow. It is currently selling from 0.97/litre to 1.21/litre (Ottawa Gas Prices).

Apparently it is not confined to Ottawa. The whole province is in the grips of a gas panic; Premier McGuinty spoke out this afternoon, reassuring Ontarians that we would not run out of gas! And the bigwigs at the gas companies also spoke out:

(More below fold)

“There are a lot of folks out there who are running to get to a gas station and I would suggest that they shouldn’t panic,” said Steve Ecclestone, general manager of Montreal-based refiner Ultramar, a major gasoline seller in Eastern Canada.

“It’s crazy. It’s just a lot of fear, panic and rumours going on.” (link)

It really scares me that people panic so easily. Similar to lonestar canuck’s diary and the water.

Times like these (in the wake of Hurricane Katrina and the onset of Rita, and their effects globally) I can really see how fine the line is between normal day-to-day life and the complete breakdown of society.

Update [2005-9-22 23:43:34 by olivia]: The evening news (CJOH) just reported on the chaos today, showing some video of line-ups. The two people they interviewed said they were filling up b/c they heard gas was going up to 2.00 at midnight tonight. The talking head said that at one station the price increased from 1.09 to 1.72(!) in the space of minutes, and that this “nearly led to fisticuffs at the counter.” Fisticuffs, can you believe it? People nearly coming to blows over gas prices in Ottawa b/c of Hurricane Rita.

How can it jump from 1.09 to 1.72 in the space of minutes? Oh boy. We’re all screwed, being screwed, whatever … just not in the fun kind of way.

The highest I’ve heard is now 180.9 in West Quebec.