In the 21st century, corporate bosses aren't opposed to journalists making a fortune -- as long as they make it for someone else.

So while the Toronto Globe and Mail struggles with technological and social changes that have driven its business model toward obsolescence, it is also launching an attack on its unionized journalistic workforce under the cover of Internet-caused hard times.

We won the lottery. Now we won't stop telling everyone else how to run their financial affairs. And guess what? They don't like it!

I've always suspected this was the way Canadians were reacting to Albertans. Now we know it was already true way back in 2008, thanks to a public opinion survey of Toronto and Vancouver residents conducted for the Alberta government that year and reported yesterday by the Canadian Press.

More than one story emanating from Ottawa yesterday revealed the casual relationship between the Harper Conservatives and the truth, not to mention the special role Sun News Network plays in helping the party manufacture "facts" for public consumption.

It's tempting to dismiss both as unintentionally hilarious -- as indeed, in their way, they are -- but the issues underlying, as it were, are serious.

The Canadian Press says Canada can't have a Rupert Murdoch-style phone hacking Gotcha! moment because Prime Minister Stephen Harper's hostility toward journalists "immunizes him against any suggestion that a similar scandal could happen in Canada."

Oh, please!

Really, I'm not making this up. Joan Bryden of the Canadian Press actually wrote this a few hours ago and it continues to be published all over the Interwebs.

The thesis of the CP drivellist's story boils down to this: You have nothing to worry about Canadians. Go back to sleep!

Here's a question for you: Is Tom Flanagan thinking about joining the Orange Wave and voting NDP? D'ya think?

It would make sense. After all, Jack Layton as prime minister is probably the best hope the poor guy has of not having to dress in orange and share a cell at Guantánamo Bay with Julian Assange.

I'm joking of course. … At least, given Prime Minister Stephen Harper's reputation for vindictiveness, I think I'm joking.