How sad - & painful.
From the Globe & Mail:
A massive roadside bomb has killed four Canadian soldiers and a Canadian journalist in a dramatic signal of an upsurge of violence in the crucial battleground around Kandahar city.
>snip<
It was a deadly day for foreign forces in Afghanistan, with eight American CIA agents killed by a suicide bombing at a U.S. base in Khost province. The attacks were seen as part of a major salvo against the U.S.-led troop surge in the region and shattering the typically peaceful winter season when Taliban fighters normally lay low, or regroup in neighbouring Pakistan.
Four additional Canadian soldiers and one Canadian civilian official were also injured in Wednesday's IED blast and were airlifted from the wreckage to the military hospital at Kandahar Air Field, where they were in stable condition last night.
But for Stephen Harper, bully, this could have been avoided, would never have happened, if we had left Afghanistan, as originally planned, in 2009. Tomorrow is Jan. 1, 2010 & we would no longer have been there.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Harper To Suspend Parliament - Again
So here it is, just over a year later, & Great Leader Harper wants to prorouge again. By doing this he draws attention away from the Afghan detainee issue & will finally gain control of the Senate.
From QMI Agency:
The Conservative government will ask the governor general to suspend Parliament today, delaying the return of MPs until the beginning of March.
>snip<
Preventing the return of Parliament until after the Olympics would effectively shut down all government committees, which would stop MPs from pursuing the Afghan detainee controversy until Parliament returned.
>snip<
In early January, there will be five vacancies in the Senate, all of which Harper could fill with Tory loyalists. Even though the new senators would give the Tories majority over the Liberals in the Senate, the Liberals retain their majority on Senate committees until the next general election or until Parliament is prorogued.
Read the entire article here.
Wake up Canada! Wake up Opposition! Do we want to continually be manipulated by Stephen Harper control freak?
From QMI Agency:
The Conservative government will ask the governor general to suspend Parliament today, delaying the return of MPs until the beginning of March.
>snip<
Preventing the return of Parliament until after the Olympics would effectively shut down all government committees, which would stop MPs from pursuing the Afghan detainee controversy until Parliament returned.
>snip<
In early January, there will be five vacancies in the Senate, all of which Harper could fill with Tory loyalists. Even though the new senators would give the Tories majority over the Liberals in the Senate, the Liberals retain their majority on Senate committees until the next general election or until Parliament is prorogued.
Read the entire article here.
Wake up Canada! Wake up Opposition! Do we want to continually be manipulated by Stephen Harper control freak?
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Harper Screws Canada - Again
This time with the Olympics.
From the NP:
"Canada's $9.2-million, Olympic pavilion is being built by a U.S. firm from Chicago.
And Joyce Murray, Liberal MP for Vancouver Quadra, is accusing the federal government of badly botching the contracting process by waiting too long to issue it."
Yep. Staying "tried & true" to his best buddy the - U.S.A.
"The timeline excluded a lot of Canadian firms that would have otherwise been eminently capable of doing this work. This is something that they've known they would be doing for four years."
"The contract was awarded on Nov. 17 and published on Monday, leaving only 81 days to build it before the Olympics open on Feb. 12."
What kind of work will be done in only 81 days? Lots of cutting corners to get done in time? Wouldn't surprise me. And could this cause some kind of danger to those in the stadium enjoying the events? I certainly hope not.
So what is it with Harper awarding so many big contracts to American companies. He does it continually with defense contracts, which are huge, the billboards for the EAC were done by a U.S. Co., & I don't know what else. Does anyone out there know?
Let's hope that Canadian labourer's are the actual ones who are hired to do the building of the Stadium - not imported
U.S. ones. Gee, thought we were in a recession & needed stimulus funds going into OUR economy. We need more job creation - here, not there.
Harper loves the U.S so much why doesn't he just pack up & move there & take his cabal along with him.
From the NP:
"Canada's $9.2-million, Olympic pavilion is being built by a U.S. firm from Chicago.
And Joyce Murray, Liberal MP for Vancouver Quadra, is accusing the federal government of badly botching the contracting process by waiting too long to issue it."
Yep. Staying "tried & true" to his best buddy the - U.S.A.
"The timeline excluded a lot of Canadian firms that would have otherwise been eminently capable of doing this work. This is something that they've known they would be doing for four years."
"The contract was awarded on Nov. 17 and published on Monday, leaving only 81 days to build it before the Olympics open on Feb. 12."
What kind of work will be done in only 81 days? Lots of cutting corners to get done in time? Wouldn't surprise me. And could this cause some kind of danger to those in the stadium enjoying the events? I certainly hope not.
So what is it with Harper awarding so many big contracts to American companies. He does it continually with defense contracts, which are huge, the billboards for the EAC were done by a U.S. Co., & I don't know what else. Does anyone out there know?
Let's hope that Canadian labourer's are the actual ones who are hired to do the building of the Stadium - not imported
U.S. ones. Gee, thought we were in a recession & needed stimulus funds going into OUR economy. We need more job creation - here, not there.
Harper loves the U.S so much why doesn't he just pack up & move there & take his cabal along with him.
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Say WHAT Michael Ignatieff???
From TheDailyGleaner:
"Federal Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff vowed Friday night to attack the policies of Prime Minister Stephen Harper, saying the Conservative leader's four years in power gives him lots of political ammunition."
"You want me to attack Stephen Harper," Ignatieff told a standing-room-only crowd at the biannual convention of the New Brunswick Liberal Association in Fredericton.
"You expect me to attack Stephen Harper ... But I am not going to attack him as a person.
"I am not going to attack his career. I am not going to attack his past."
He said Harper's legacy after four years in power is his attack ads and the politics of spite."
What ARE you thinking Michael? How do you think Harper crushed Dion & is crushing you? By making it PERSONAL! Yes, there is a lot to bring forward about the Conservative led Government. Plenty of fodder - which should have been touted & hit upon, hard, over & over but you didn't do it. And you think now is the time to start, now that there is 4 years of scandals, misinformation, lies & obfuscation? Yes, by all means get started as it's long, long overdue. BUT if you don't start attacking Harper the man, & what drives him & his ideological bents, then you will not make inroads into the public perception of who Harper really is & what he is doing to this country & how he is making it into something Canadians will eventually be shocked to see.
Read this Michael from the latest Nanos Poll:
"Looking at which of the party leaders Canadians believe would make the best Prime Minister, Stephen Harper now leads by a significant, 17 point, margin over over Michael Ignatieff. This represents the widest gap since Ignatieff was elected leader of the Liberal Party."
Best PM Question:
Of the following individuals, who do you think would make the best Prime Minister? [Rotate]
Stephen Harper 34.8%
Michael Ignatieff 17.7%
Jack Layton 14.9%
Gilles Duceppe 6.5%
Elizabeth May 4.5%
None of them 9.0%
Unsure 12.6%
Wake up Liberal Party. The continual embracing of "the high road" will get you, & us, nowhere. People don't remember that, they remember hard-hitting attacks. That's what sticks & stays in their minds. Once you have that THEN they will listen to all of the other issues, the policies, including yours if you would please enlighten us..
ADDENDUM: Read Ottlib's post here. He says a lot more on what the Lib Party should be doing.
"Federal Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff vowed Friday night to attack the policies of Prime Minister Stephen Harper, saying the Conservative leader's four years in power gives him lots of political ammunition."
"You want me to attack Stephen Harper," Ignatieff told a standing-room-only crowd at the biannual convention of the New Brunswick Liberal Association in Fredericton.
"You expect me to attack Stephen Harper ... But I am not going to attack him as a person.
"I am not going to attack his career. I am not going to attack his past."
He said Harper's legacy after four years in power is his attack ads and the politics of spite."
What ARE you thinking Michael? How do you think Harper crushed Dion & is crushing you? By making it PERSONAL! Yes, there is a lot to bring forward about the Conservative led Government. Plenty of fodder - which should have been touted & hit upon, hard, over & over but you didn't do it. And you think now is the time to start, now that there is 4 years of scandals, misinformation, lies & obfuscation? Yes, by all means get started as it's long, long overdue. BUT if you don't start attacking Harper the man, & what drives him & his ideological bents, then you will not make inroads into the public perception of who Harper really is & what he is doing to this country & how he is making it into something Canadians will eventually be shocked to see.
Read this Michael from the latest Nanos Poll:
"Looking at which of the party leaders Canadians believe would make the best Prime Minister, Stephen Harper now leads by a significant, 17 point, margin over over Michael Ignatieff. This represents the widest gap since Ignatieff was elected leader of the Liberal Party."
Best PM Question:
Of the following individuals, who do you think would make the best Prime Minister? [Rotate]
Stephen Harper 34.8%
Michael Ignatieff 17.7%
Jack Layton 14.9%
Gilles Duceppe 6.5%
Elizabeth May 4.5%
None of them 9.0%
Unsure 12.6%
Wake up Liberal Party. The continual embracing of "the high road" will get you, & us, nowhere. People don't remember that, they remember hard-hitting attacks. That's what sticks & stays in their minds. Once you have that THEN they will listen to all of the other issues, the policies, including yours if you would please enlighten us..
ADDENDUM: Read Ottlib's post here. He says a lot more on what the Lib Party should be doing.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Duffy's 3 Months of Spending Taxpayer Money
From this CBC article:
"P.E.I.'s newest senator is shaping up to also be the Island's most expensive.
During his first three months in the red chamber, Conservative Senator Mike Duffy racked up more than $100,848 in travel and office expenses, more than double the average of what the other three Island senators spend in a typical quarter."
P.E.I. senators' expenses
(figures are for one fiscal quarter)
Catherine Callbeck: $40,667
Percy Downe: $50,248
Mike Duffy: $100,848
Elizabeth Hubley: $53,036
Also from the article is this:
"Duffy's rate of spending puts him in the top rank of senatorial expenses. An NDP-produced report showed the top spender for the 2008-09 year was Mobina Jaffer, a Liberal senator for British Columbia, at $323,173. Sustained over a year, Duffy's expenses would come in at $403,392."
Jaffer's expenses are also deplorable & disgusting. The craven use of the hardworking taxpayer's money to be used, especially for partisan purposes (Duffy), is revolting.
Here is one commenters post at the article that I'm sure many would agree with:
"Margolispei wrote:
Posted 2009/11/11
at 8:38 AM ETMike Duffy is only a small part of a very large problem. The large problem is NO ONE is looking after the common person. My tax dollars and YOUR tax dollars are not being looked after. Having worked in the Federal Government and the PEI government, it is embarrassing to see people get elected and then turn into pigs at a trough. There are no other words for it. Spending at each and every level of government is being monitored by people who are just as complicit as the people spending the money. Then we have the Public Servants who happily or unhappily (does it matter?) say absolutely nothing when they see or know of any spending mismanagement. Maybe they are afraid of their jobs. Government growth has been staggering at the Federal level in recent years. Hard to believe that it is a "fiscally responsible" government. What does this mean? You can bet at crunch time, the Feds will take a long hard look at the amount of people they have in their employ. Then the axe will fall hard. Just like in the 90's with Paul Martin. I am now of the mindset that my vote doesn't matter. They are all crooked in my mind. Lest we forget all right."
"P.E.I.'s newest senator is shaping up to also be the Island's most expensive.
During his first three months in the red chamber, Conservative Senator Mike Duffy racked up more than $100,848 in travel and office expenses, more than double the average of what the other three Island senators spend in a typical quarter."
P.E.I. senators' expenses
(figures are for one fiscal quarter)
Catherine Callbeck: $40,667
Percy Downe: $50,248
Mike Duffy: $100,848
Elizabeth Hubley: $53,036
Also from the article is this:
"Duffy's rate of spending puts him in the top rank of senatorial expenses. An NDP-produced report showed the top spender for the 2008-09 year was Mobina Jaffer, a Liberal senator for British Columbia, at $323,173. Sustained over a year, Duffy's expenses would come in at $403,392."
Jaffer's expenses are also deplorable & disgusting. The craven use of the hardworking taxpayer's money to be used, especially for partisan purposes (Duffy), is revolting.
Here is one commenters post at the article that I'm sure many would agree with:
"Margolispei wrote:
Posted 2009/11/11
at 8:38 AM ETMike Duffy is only a small part of a very large problem. The large problem is NO ONE is looking after the common person. My tax dollars and YOUR tax dollars are not being looked after. Having worked in the Federal Government and the PEI government, it is embarrassing to see people get elected and then turn into pigs at a trough. There are no other words for it. Spending at each and every level of government is being monitored by people who are just as complicit as the people spending the money. Then we have the Public Servants who happily or unhappily (does it matter?) say absolutely nothing when they see or know of any spending mismanagement. Maybe they are afraid of their jobs. Government growth has been staggering at the Federal level in recent years. Hard to believe that it is a "fiscally responsible" government. What does this mean? You can bet at crunch time, the Feds will take a long hard look at the amount of people they have in their employ. Then the axe will fall hard. Just like in the 90's with Paul Martin. I am now of the mindset that my vote doesn't matter. They are all crooked in my mind. Lest we forget all right."
Monday, November 2, 2009
Aglukkaq Is Now Blaming "Us", The Public, For The Vaccine Shortage!
Well, well, well. It seems it's now "our" fault that there's an H1N1 vaccine shortage.
From this article in the Ottawa Sun:
"Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq says production "over-estimating" by the company producing the H1N1 vaccine and a panicked public are to blame for the shortages now gripping the country."
WHAT???? We know the Cons blame everyone but themselves when things go wrong but this is outrageous. Oh are they going to pay for this debacle!! The media is jumping on this vaccine nightmare for all it's worth & I'm glad. They could, & should, have been ready a few months ago - there are NO excuses.
Will be doing a post soon on my experience of getting the vaccine.
From this article in the Ottawa Sun:
"Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq says production "over-estimating" by the company producing the H1N1 vaccine and a panicked public are to blame for the shortages now gripping the country."
WHAT???? We know the Cons blame everyone but themselves when things go wrong but this is outrageous. Oh are they going to pay for this debacle!! The media is jumping on this vaccine nightmare for all it's worth & I'm glad. They could, & should, have been ready a few months ago - there are NO excuses.
Will be doing a post soon on my experience of getting the vaccine.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
More Outrageous Spending
From an article by Kathryn May in the Ottawa Citizen:
"The size of the executive cadre in the government has grown steadily over the past decade and so have the number of assistant deputy ministers whose salaries have cracked $200,000. Treasury Board reported that among the government's 5,400 executives about 69 EX-5s made an average of $214,000 last year -- compared to 14 three years earlier. Salaries are in the $186,000 range, plus up to 25 per cent in bonuses."
Note that there were 69 executive employees making over $200,000 a year last year compared to 14 only 3 years earlier. This large an increase has happened since Harper came to power & he began increasing the size of Govt. assistant deputy ministers as well as others. This from the man who speaks of reducing the size of Govt. Of course when he says "decreasing" he means our social programs like healthcare - his favourite program he dreams of privatizing.
Read the entire article here. It's interesting. And outrageous.
"The size of the executive cadre in the government has grown steadily over the past decade and so have the number of assistant deputy ministers whose salaries have cracked $200,000. Treasury Board reported that among the government's 5,400 executives about 69 EX-5s made an average of $214,000 last year -- compared to 14 three years earlier. Salaries are in the $186,000 range, plus up to 25 per cent in bonuses."
Note that there were 69 executive employees making over $200,000 a year last year compared to 14 only 3 years earlier. This large an increase has happened since Harper came to power & he began increasing the size of Govt. assistant deputy ministers as well as others. This from the man who speaks of reducing the size of Govt. Of course when he says "decreasing" he means our social programs like healthcare - his favourite program he dreams of privatizing.
Read the entire article here. It's interesting. And outrageous.
Friday, October 23, 2009
$46,000 of Taxpayer's Money Spent On GO Trains Ads.
From The Star:
"The Conservative government has spent more than $46,000 to turn two GO train cars into rolling advertisements along the Lakeshore line for its stimulus spending program, which has been widely criticized for putting image ahead of substance."
This is revolting & it's only just beginning as The Cons are in the process of running this "campaign" on billboards all across Canada. Wonder how much that will cost the taxpayer. The money could be better spent on helping the unemployed feed their families & keep roofs over their heads. Thanks Harper - for nothing.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Big Changes at CBC
On Monday, Oct. 26th, CBC will begin their restructured platforms. Newsworld is even getting a name change - CBC News Network (CBC NN).
Lots of new programming & even changes with their flagship newscast The National. Kady O'Malley, formerly of MacLeans will be blogging for them online & Don Newman will also be making online contributions. Will be interesting to see the new format as well as a new political show from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. (weekdays) with Evan Soloman.
For more info on the changes & programming read here.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Tory Ridings Get Bulk Of Stimulus Money
This just out from the Ottawa Citizen:
"A joint investigation by the Ottawa Citizen and Halifax Chronicle-Herald shows that 57 per cent of the projects with more than $1 million in federal funding nationwide went to Conservative ridings. The party holds only 46 per cent of the seats in the House of Commons. Blue ridings therefore received 23 per cent more $1-million-plus projects than if the projects were divided evenly among all ridings.
The difference between government and opposition ridings is particularly pronounced in Quebec, where Tory ridings received 22 per cent of large projects, although the party holds only 13 per cent of the ridings, which means they received 62 per cent more per riding than if the money was divided evenly."
And it just gets better & better! Read it here.
"A joint investigation by the Ottawa Citizen and Halifax Chronicle-Herald shows that 57 per cent of the projects with more than $1 million in federal funding nationwide went to Conservative ridings. The party holds only 46 per cent of the seats in the House of Commons. Blue ridings therefore received 23 per cent more $1-million-plus projects than if the projects were divided evenly among all ridings.
The difference between government and opposition ridings is particularly pronounced in Quebec, where Tory ridings received 22 per cent of large projects, although the party holds only 13 per cent of the ridings, which means they received 62 per cent more per riding than if the money was divided evenly."
And it just gets better & better! Read it here.
Monday, October 19, 2009
RALPH GOODALE’S REPORT
This is an excellent commentary by MP Ralph Goodale:
STEPHEN HARPER’S LEGACY OF DEBT
The Harper government passed an embarrassing milestone last week.
After months of denial, the Conservatives finally had to release the audited financial statements of the Government of Canada for last fiscal year (2008/09). They revealed that for the first time in more than a decade, this country fell back into the red by about $6 billion.
Here’s a key point to note: This deficit began BEFORE, not because of, the recession!
These financial statements reflect primarily what was happening BEFORE the recession hit last fall.
They show how the Conservatives wildly increased spending by a whopping 18% between 2006 and 2008. That’s three-times the rate of inflation.
They show how the Conservatives eroded Canada’s tax base, and recklessly eliminated all the “reserves” which had been built into the federal books to protect against sudden nasty downturns
All that happened BEFORE there was any recession.
So when the housing market collapsed in the United States and American banks began to fail last fall – spreading economic contagion around the world – Canada had nothing left to protect itself.
We were forced back into deficit because our financial strength had been squandered through Conservative fiscal tomfoolery when times were still good.
Two key points are clear:
1. If the prudent fiscal policies of previous Liberal governments had stayed in effect in this country after the government changed in 2006, Canada’s deficit today (even with the recession) would be only a fraction of what it is; and
2. With Mr. Harper’s reckless fiscal policies, Canada would have a deficit today no matter what – even if there had been no recession at all.
For the future, his numbers will get worse. Mr. Harper is another $56 billion in the hole this year (2009/10), and his total legacy of debt will balloon to more than $170 billion.
STEPHEN HARPER’S LEGACY OF DEBT
The Harper government passed an embarrassing milestone last week.
After months of denial, the Conservatives finally had to release the audited financial statements of the Government of Canada for last fiscal year (2008/09). They revealed that for the first time in more than a decade, this country fell back into the red by about $6 billion.
Here’s a key point to note: This deficit began BEFORE, not because of, the recession!
These financial statements reflect primarily what was happening BEFORE the recession hit last fall.
They show how the Conservatives wildly increased spending by a whopping 18% between 2006 and 2008. That’s three-times the rate of inflation.
They show how the Conservatives eroded Canada’s tax base, and recklessly eliminated all the “reserves” which had been built into the federal books to protect against sudden nasty downturns
All that happened BEFORE there was any recession.
So when the housing market collapsed in the United States and American banks began to fail last fall – spreading economic contagion around the world – Canada had nothing left to protect itself.
We were forced back into deficit because our financial strength had been squandered through Conservative fiscal tomfoolery when times were still good.
Two key points are clear:
1. If the prudent fiscal policies of previous Liberal governments had stayed in effect in this country after the government changed in 2006, Canada’s deficit today (even with the recession) would be only a fraction of what it is; and
2. With Mr. Harper’s reckless fiscal policies, Canada would have a deficit today no matter what – even if there had been no recession at all.
For the future, his numbers will get worse. Mr. Harper is another $56 billion in the hole this year (2009/10), and his total legacy of debt will balloon to more than $170 billion.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Raitt Being Investigated - 2 Different Probes
Natural Resources Minister Lisa Raitt is being investigated by the conflict-of-interest and ethics commissioner AND the privacy commissioner. Both probes concerning her use of the Toronto Port Authority in a recent political fundraiser held for her.
From The Star:
"[Paul] Szabo, the chair of the parliamentary ethics committee, filed a 42-page document questioning whether it was ethically correct for Raitt to allow employees of a federal agency she once ran – the port authority – to provide services for the partisan event, which was held at a trendy downtown Toronto restaurant in September."
=snip=
"Szabo's confirmation of the investigation by the conflict-of-interest and ethics commissioner comes a week after junior transport minister Rob Merrifield told Parliament that Raitt "has told me that she has received correspondence from the ethics commissioner and that correspondence has cleared her of all allegations."
Raitt could not be reached for comment."
Isn't that cute? Lying to her junior minister. Not only do the Cons lie to us, the people who pay their salaries, but they even try to pull the wool over their own colleagues eyes. Tut, tut.
It seems that Stephen Harper & his fellow Cons are finally being revealed for who they really are - miscreants of the highest order! Let's keep the pressure on these hoodlums.
MP Olivia Chow, NDP, also filed official complaints along with Szabo.
From The Star:
"[Paul] Szabo, the chair of the parliamentary ethics committee, filed a 42-page document questioning whether it was ethically correct for Raitt to allow employees of a federal agency she once ran – the port authority – to provide services for the partisan event, which was held at a trendy downtown Toronto restaurant in September."
=snip=
"Szabo's confirmation of the investigation by the conflict-of-interest and ethics commissioner comes a week after junior transport minister Rob Merrifield told Parliament that Raitt "has told me that she has received correspondence from the ethics commissioner and that correspondence has cleared her of all allegations."
Raitt could not be reached for comment."
Isn't that cute? Lying to her junior minister. Not only do the Cons lie to us, the people who pay their salaries, but they even try to pull the wool over their own colleagues eyes. Tut, tut.
It seems that Stephen Harper & his fellow Cons are finally being revealed for who they really are - miscreants of the highest order! Let's keep the pressure on these hoodlums.
MP Olivia Chow, NDP, also filed official complaints along with Szabo.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Red Canuck Has Passed Away
For those of you who missed yesterday's posting by a friend of RC's on Red Canucks blog here is a link to the post. His father also posted in the comments section.
For those of us who followed RC & his posts he will be sorely missed. His wit, humour, & insightfulness were great reads! He was already missed but this makes it final. Very sad.
My condolences to his family, friends & to all those whose lives he touched in his own unique, wonderful way - bloggers & his blog readers included.
For those of us who followed RC & his posts he will be sorely missed. His wit, humour, & insightfulness were great reads! He was already missed but this makes it final. Very sad.
My condolences to his family, friends & to all those whose lives he touched in his own unique, wonderful way - bloggers & his blog readers included.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Way To Go Kady!
Kady O'Malley, whose blog "Inside the Queensway" at Macleans Magazine, has been hired to blog for the CBC starting Oct. 26th. She is the best blogger for covering Canadian politics on the Federal level that I've encountered. Looking forward to following you at your new location Kady & all the best!
Read more here.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Harper Bait & Switch - Again!
It seems we are now staying in Afghanistan beyond 2011 &, yes, in a combat role.
From CBC News:
"Speaking in Welland, Ont., Friday afternoon, Prime Minister Stephen Harper told reporters the government would not seek to extend the mission authorized by parliament in 2008.
"Well, let me be very clear …" Harper said, "Canada's military mission in Afghanistan will end in 2011"
=snip=
"But now it appears the government has two views of what constitutes a "mission," in Afghanistan.
The current mission in Kandahar, which begun at the end of 2006, includes 2,800 troops focused around an infantry battle group.
This, in the government's view, is the military mission.
The new mission will still contain troops, but its focus will be reconstruction. In the government's view, this new mission should be called a development mission — not a military mission — whether or not it contains troops."
You can be sure we will still be in a combat role. After all surely the boys in power will want to try out the new toys that will be available after the 2011 withdrawal date? Like new aircraft, tanks, eg.
And Canadians continue to trust Harper & his lying cohorts? Hope the media attends to this one, at the very least.
More info here.
From CBC News:
"Speaking in Welland, Ont., Friday afternoon, Prime Minister Stephen Harper told reporters the government would not seek to extend the mission authorized by parliament in 2008.
"Well, let me be very clear …" Harper said, "Canada's military mission in Afghanistan will end in 2011"
=snip=
"But now it appears the government has two views of what constitutes a "mission," in Afghanistan.
The current mission in Kandahar, which begun at the end of 2006, includes 2,800 troops focused around an infantry battle group.
This, in the government's view, is the military mission.
The new mission will still contain troops, but its focus will be reconstruction. In the government's view, this new mission should be called a development mission — not a military mission — whether or not it contains troops."
You can be sure we will still be in a combat role. After all surely the boys in power will want to try out the new toys that will be available after the 2011 withdrawal date? Like new aircraft, tanks, eg.
And Canadians continue to trust Harper & his lying cohorts? Hope the media attends to this one, at the very least.
More info here.
Monday, September 28, 2009
May Wants In
Elizabeth May, Green Party Leader, wants in on the debates during the next election. She's even willing to take legal action to make it happen. I, for one, wouldn't mind if she was in them.
From an article by Abbas Rana in The Hill Times:
"If the consortium of TV networks doesn't include Green Party Leader Elizabeth May in the highly-publicized TV leaders' debates in the next election campaign, she says she will call on Canadians to put help reverse the move and is also threatening legal action.
"Well, I think I'll have to ask Canadians to do what they did last time and deluge media with the demand that I be included. Court action was possible last time, I suppose it would be possible again," Ms. May told The Hill Times last week."
From an article by Abbas Rana in The Hill Times:
"If the consortium of TV networks doesn't include Green Party Leader Elizabeth May in the highly-publicized TV leaders' debates in the next election campaign, she says she will call on Canadians to put help reverse the move and is also threatening legal action.
"Well, I think I'll have to ask Canadians to do what they did last time and deluge media with the demand that I be included. Court action was possible last time, I suppose it would be possible again," Ms. May told The Hill Times last week."
Monday, September 14, 2009
Another One Gone
"Private Patrick Lormand, 21 of the 2nd Battalion, Royal 22nd Regiment was killed and four others were injured in a roadside IED blast approximately 13 kilometres southwest of Kandahar city."
That brings the death total to 130. It's time our soldiers came home.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Harper proposes job-killing permanent tax on everything
From this commentary by Robert Silver in the G&M.
"Embedded in the forecast for EI premiums in the government’s Update is an assumed increase in the EI premium rate in 2012."'
Ding, ding, ding. "Increase in the EI premium rate"...that sounds an awful lot like a payroll tax increase to me. What does Orr have to say about that?
"Mr. Flaherty pledged to return to balanced budgets without a tax increase. Isn’t an increase in EI premiums a tax increase?"
To repeat, isn't an increase in EI premiums a tax increase?
The answer? Yes, yes it is."
So for all the rhetoric of not raising taxes, to reduce the debt, by Harper, Flaherty & whatever other Con gets a microphone in their face it isn't true - no matter what they say. And they must think we Canadians are too dumb to see that obscure little amendment?
I, for one, would much prefer to see the GST raised back to where it was before Harper lowered it by 2 cents. It's a much easier & less painful way to begin debt recovery than raising payroll taxes.
Conservative Govt. - always hiding the truth.
Good post on this by Impolitical. Go read.
"Embedded in the forecast for EI premiums in the government’s Update is an assumed increase in the EI premium rate in 2012."'
Ding, ding, ding. "Increase in the EI premium rate"...that sounds an awful lot like a payroll tax increase to me. What does Orr have to say about that?
"Mr. Flaherty pledged to return to balanced budgets without a tax increase. Isn’t an increase in EI premiums a tax increase?"
To repeat, isn't an increase in EI premiums a tax increase?
The answer? Yes, yes it is."
So for all the rhetoric of not raising taxes, to reduce the debt, by Harper, Flaherty & whatever other Con gets a microphone in their face it isn't true - no matter what they say. And they must think we Canadians are too dumb to see that obscure little amendment?
I, for one, would much prefer to see the GST raised back to where it was before Harper lowered it by 2 cents. It's a much easier & less painful way to begin debt recovery than raising payroll taxes.
Conservative Govt. - always hiding the truth.
Good post on this by Impolitical. Go read.
Monday, September 7, 2009
2 More Canadian Soldiers Dead in Afghanistan
This brings the total number of our soldiers killed to 129.
"Killed in the explosion were 36-year-old Maj. Yannick Pepin and Cpl. Jean-Francois Drouin, 21 who were killed by an the IED explosion around noon local time in the Dand district, southwest of Kandahar city on Sunday."
Both men were members of the 5 Combat Engineer Regiment and were stationed in Valcartier, Que.
For all the information go to CTV here.
"Killed in the explosion were 36-year-old Maj. Yannick Pepin and Cpl. Jean-Francois Drouin, 21 who were killed by an the IED explosion around noon local time in the Dand district, southwest of Kandahar city on Sunday."
Both men were members of the 5 Combat Engineer Regiment and were stationed in Valcartier, Que.
For all the information go to CTV here.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Supreme Court & Khadr
From The Gazette:
Supreme Court moves quickly, will rule on Khadr on Friday
"Omar Khadr, a young Canadian man being held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, could learn his fate on Friday after Canada's top court announced yesterday it would rule on an appeal by the Conservative government to stay a repatriation order.
The Federal Court of Appeal recently upheld an earlier court ruling that Khadr, 22, an accused terrorist, be repatriated from the discredited U.S. military prison in Cuba. But the Canadian government announced on Aug. 25 that it would appeal the case to the Supreme Court of Canada and filed a motion to stay the repatriation order. It is unusual for the Supreme Court to issue a judgment on a case so quickly."
I hope the SC refuses to hear the appeal that Harper has filed. All he ever does is run to the Courts for anything he doesn't like, for anything that doesn't favour him & his sick Conservative Party with it's sick ideology. Enough already.
Supreme Court moves quickly, will rule on Khadr on Friday
"Omar Khadr, a young Canadian man being held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, could learn his fate on Friday after Canada's top court announced yesterday it would rule on an appeal by the Conservative government to stay a repatriation order.
The Federal Court of Appeal recently upheld an earlier court ruling that Khadr, 22, an accused terrorist, be repatriated from the discredited U.S. military prison in Cuba. But the Canadian government announced on Aug. 25 that it would appeal the case to the Supreme Court of Canada and filed a motion to stay the repatriation order. It is unusual for the Supreme Court to issue a judgment on a case so quickly."
I hope the SC refuses to hear the appeal that Harper has filed. All he ever does is run to the Courts for anything he doesn't like, for anything that doesn't favour him & his sick Conservative Party with it's sick ideology. Enough already.
Pay More, See Less
This totally infuriates me & rather than just link I have chosen to cut & paste the following article:
TV networks free to air unlimited ads
Old limits of 15 minutes per hour no longer apply
By Sarah Schmidt, Canwest News ServiceSeptember 2, 2009 4:03 AM
Television viewers in Canada now get to pay a little bit more and might have to view more advertising courtesy of new cable and broadcasting rules that came into effect Tuesday.
Conventional television broadcasters are free as of Tuesday to air as many advertisements as they wish, up from a maximum of 15 minutes per hour under the old system that died on Aug. 31. And beginning on their September bills, cable customers will start to see a new line on their monthly invoice amounting to a 1.5 per cent increase.
For Bell TV customers, this translates into about $1. The hike for Rogers customers will vary depending on their cable package, but will come in at less than $1.
The additional cash will go into the Local Programming Improvement Fund (LPIF), created by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission and funded by cable and satellite companies. The CRTC initially set the contribution at one per cent of their gross broadcasting revenues, but increased it recently by a half percentage point for the new broadcasting year.
These new charges passed on to consumers could be a prelude to even higher monthly bills. Hearings begin later this year over a system of payments known as fee-for-carriage, which would allow the country's largest TV networks to charge cable and satellite companies for signals.
In the meantime, Canada's conventional television networks -- CBC, CTV and Global -- have a new stream of revenue open to them. After increasing the number of minutes the country's big broadcasters could air in an hour from 12 in 2006 to 15 in 2008, the CRTC lifted the cap altogether beginning on Sept. 1, 2009.
Mirko Bibic, Bell Canada's head of regulatory and government affairs, said he has no doubt the broadcasters will come out the winners now that restrictions on advertising time limits have been removed.
© Copyright (c) The Ottawa Citizen
TV networks free to air unlimited ads
Old limits of 15 minutes per hour no longer apply
By Sarah Schmidt, Canwest News ServiceSeptember 2, 2009 4:03 AM
Television viewers in Canada now get to pay a little bit more and might have to view more advertising courtesy of new cable and broadcasting rules that came into effect Tuesday.
Conventional television broadcasters are free as of Tuesday to air as many advertisements as they wish, up from a maximum of 15 minutes per hour under the old system that died on Aug. 31. And beginning on their September bills, cable customers will start to see a new line on their monthly invoice amounting to a 1.5 per cent increase.
For Bell TV customers, this translates into about $1. The hike for Rogers customers will vary depending on their cable package, but will come in at less than $1.
The additional cash will go into the Local Programming Improvement Fund (LPIF), created by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission and funded by cable and satellite companies. The CRTC initially set the contribution at one per cent of their gross broadcasting revenues, but increased it recently by a half percentage point for the new broadcasting year.
These new charges passed on to consumers could be a prelude to even higher monthly bills. Hearings begin later this year over a system of payments known as fee-for-carriage, which would allow the country's largest TV networks to charge cable and satellite companies for signals.
In the meantime, Canada's conventional television networks -- CBC, CTV and Global -- have a new stream of revenue open to them. After increasing the number of minutes the country's big broadcasters could air in an hour from 12 in 2006 to 15 in 2008, the CRTC lifted the cap altogether beginning on Sept. 1, 2009.
Mirko Bibic, Bell Canada's head of regulatory and government affairs, said he has no doubt the broadcasters will come out the winners now that restrictions on advertising time limits have been removed.
© Copyright (c) The Ottawa Citizen
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Michael Bryant Arrested
Former Ontario Attorney General, Michael Bryant, arrested in hit & run with a cyclist. Some very interesting eyewitness accounts in this article from The Star.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
H1N1 VACCINE DISTRIBUTION STALLED!!
Well isn't this just ducky. All the assurances from our dear Health Minister, Leona Aglukkaq, that all is well & on track with a possible flu pandemic outbreak starting THIS Fall is once again untrue. There's a shortage of vials in which to put the vaccine so it won't be available to Canadians until Christmas, although there will be shipments leaving Canada for parts unknown at this time.
From an article by Gloria Galloway at the G&M:
"Canadians will wait for vaccinations against pandemic H1N1 influenza even as bulk vaccine shipments are exported to other countries because GlaxoSmithKline can produce more vaccine at its Quebec plant than it can put into vials."
=snip=
"In Canada, the Ste-Foy facility will begin producing vaccine in November, or possibly late October, and it will be Christmas before every Canadian who wants a shot can get one.
It takes two weeks for the vaccine to be considered fully effective. And many people will require more than one shot. Which means it will be February or even March before the vaccine is protecting all of the Canadians who are inoculated. That is well after the traditional flu season begins in December."
So, if this flu hits us in the Fall as has been predicted the vaccine will arrive too late to help the majority of the Canadian population. This on top of non-answers from the Govt. on very important issues as to who, what, when & where the 1st vaccines will go to, like first responders? the elderly? the young? those with compromised immune systems & serious health issues? & the lack of coordination with a plan across the country does not bode well.
Just another example of how little Harper & our Conservative Govt. cares for Canada & its peoples.
From an article by Gloria Galloway at the G&M:
"Canadians will wait for vaccinations against pandemic H1N1 influenza even as bulk vaccine shipments are exported to other countries because GlaxoSmithKline can produce more vaccine at its Quebec plant than it can put into vials."
=snip=
"In Canada, the Ste-Foy facility will begin producing vaccine in November, or possibly late October, and it will be Christmas before every Canadian who wants a shot can get one.
It takes two weeks for the vaccine to be considered fully effective. And many people will require more than one shot. Which means it will be February or even March before the vaccine is protecting all of the Canadians who are inoculated. That is well after the traditional flu season begins in December."
So, if this flu hits us in the Fall as has been predicted the vaccine will arrive too late to help the majority of the Canadian population. This on top of non-answers from the Govt. on very important issues as to who, what, when & where the 1st vaccines will go to, like first responders? the elderly? the young? those with compromised immune systems & serious health issues? & the lack of coordination with a plan across the country does not bode well.
Just another example of how little Harper & our Conservative Govt. cares for Canada & its peoples.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Busy...
Just to let those who are interested know that I've been in the process of moving, all moved in now since Fri., & that is why there haven't been any posts. It may continue to be that way for a little while longer as I get sorted & unpacked. I'm getting way too old for this moving thing!!! ;)
Monday, June 15, 2009
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Alberta Tories angry with Harper Conservatives
From Brian Laghi at the G&M:
"The Harper Conservatives are being taken to task by their provincial Alberta cousins, who say Ottawa is failing to inform them of key government policies, treats the unemployed unfairly and falls short in boosting the oil sands."
"The document is the most recent example of Prime Minister Stephen Harper finding himself on the defensive from his own partisans. Last winter, Conservatives criticized a federal stimulus spending package that has increased the projected deficit to $50-billion."
It will be interesting to watch how this develops & if Harper makes concessions to the Alberta Govt. If not this may lead to the Liberals making inroads into Alberta. Sure would be nice if that were to happen!
Read more on it here.
"The Harper Conservatives are being taken to task by their provincial Alberta cousins, who say Ottawa is failing to inform them of key government policies, treats the unemployed unfairly and falls short in boosting the oil sands."
"The document is the most recent example of Prime Minister Stephen Harper finding himself on the defensive from his own partisans. Last winter, Conservatives criticized a federal stimulus spending package that has increased the projected deficit to $50-billion."
It will be interesting to watch how this develops & if Harper makes concessions to the Alberta Govt. If not this may lead to the Liberals making inroads into Alberta. Sure would be nice if that were to happen!
Read more on it here.
Monday, June 8, 2009
Politics Show Staying!!!
From Harris MacLeod at the Hill Times:
"CBC Newsworld's supper-hour political news program Politics will not be cancelled, says CBC spokesperson Jeff Keay."
"But Mr. Keay said that though the show will undergo substantial changes between when it goes off the air for the summer break, and when a revamped version appears in the fall, the CBC would still have a political show at 5 p.m."
Well that's a tremendous relief as I was concerned that the only political program come the Fall would be CTV's 5 p.m. show.
"CBC Newsworld's supper-hour political news program Politics will not be cancelled, says CBC spokesperson Jeff Keay."
"But Mr. Keay said that though the show will undergo substantial changes between when it goes off the air for the summer break, and when a revamped version appears in the fall, the CBC would still have a political show at 5 p.m."
Well that's a tremendous relief as I was concerned that the only political program come the Fall would be CTV's 5 p.m. show.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
NO PROTECTION: Outside of Country
It seems that we, as Canadians, no longer have any protection if we leave the country. This according to our Conservative Govt.
From Janice Tibbetts at The Gazette:
"Canada's legal duty to protect its citizens, even children, ends at the border and there is nothing in domestic or international law that obliges the government to seek Omar Khadr's repatriation, say federal arguments filed in court."
"States do not have a duty to protect citizens held by foreign countries," said the factum, noting that there is no decision worldwide ordering a government to seek repatriation."
This is in reference to the Harper Govt.'s appeal against a ruling, recently, by Federal Court Justice James O'Reilly ordering the Govt. to repatriate Omar Khadr.
But this doesn't just apply to Khadr. This applies to each & every one of us who leaves the country. So, how do you like this NEW take on our safety & well-being from Mr. "Law & Order" Stephen Harper? I, for one, no longer feel secure about leaving the boundaries of our Canada.
From Janice Tibbetts at The Gazette:
"Canada's legal duty to protect its citizens, even children, ends at the border and there is nothing in domestic or international law that obliges the government to seek Omar Khadr's repatriation, say federal arguments filed in court."
"States do not have a duty to protect citizens held by foreign countries," said the factum, noting that there is no decision worldwide ordering a government to seek repatriation."
This is in reference to the Harper Govt.'s appeal against a ruling, recently, by Federal Court Justice James O'Reilly ordering the Govt. to repatriate Omar Khadr.
But this doesn't just apply to Khadr. This applies to each & every one of us who leaves the country. So, how do you like this NEW take on our safety & well-being from Mr. "Law & Order" Stephen Harper? I, for one, no longer feel secure about leaving the boundaries of our Canada.
DEBT in 5 years: $630B!!!
This is unbelievable. From CBC News another report from TD Bank:
"Canada's total debt will jump more than 30 per cent by 2013-14 under current economic conditions, the Toronto-Dominion Bank said Tuesday in a new forecast.
The bank said Ottawa's auto bailout package, as well as a lagging economy, will add $167 billion in new public borrowing over the next five years.
That means government debt, estimated at $462.9 billion at the end of fiscal 2008-09, will rise by 36 per cent during the period to almost $630 billion, according to Don Drummond, TD's chief economist, and Derek Burleton, the bank's director of economic analysis."
What the heck is going on? And why are Stephen Harper & Jim Flaherty still in power? Time to throw these fools out!!!!
"Canada's total debt will jump more than 30 per cent by 2013-14 under current economic conditions, the Toronto-Dominion Bank said Tuesday in a new forecast.
The bank said Ottawa's auto bailout package, as well as a lagging economy, will add $167 billion in new public borrowing over the next five years.
That means government debt, estimated at $462.9 billion at the end of fiscal 2008-09, will rise by 36 per cent during the period to almost $630 billion, according to Don Drummond, TD's chief economist, and Derek Burleton, the bank's director of economic analysis."
What the heck is going on? And why are Stephen Harper & Jim Flaherty still in power? Time to throw these fools out!!!!
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Chalk River to be shutdown for at least a year
From Greg Weston at The Sun:
"Canada's only medical isotope reactor will be out of service for the rest of the year and possibly forever, leaving thousands of desperate cancer and heart patients across the country with a shortage of nuclear scans and treatments, Sun Media has learned."
And now Harper wants to sell Chalk River?
From the G&M:
"The federal government will announce today a plan to seek buyers for Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd.'s nuclear reactor business, and bring in private-sector management for AECL's problem-plagued Chalk River facility.
After a two-year review of Ottawa's flagship nuclear company, Natural Resources Minister Lisa Raitt will launch a sale process with the aim of finding a major international partner for AECL to help boost global sales of its Candu reactors."
Now that it's out of commission what a great time to sell it. Sure going to get a lot for the govt. coffers on this one. It's too old & has needed major repairs for a very long time.
And as an interesting aside there's this by Steve Rennie from the Canadian Press, dated May 20th:
"Clinics are paying two to three times more for medical isotopes after a supplier abruptly hiked its prices this month - just before the Chalk River reactor shut down and caused an isotope shortage."
"Lantheus Medical Imaging, a Massachusetts-based company that supplies clinics with 'generators' used in medical imaging, notified its customers last week of the price increase."
"Lantheus's supplier buys raw isotopes from Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd. The supplier then sells those Mo-99 isotopes to Lantheus, which makes the lead-lined generators that hospitals receive.
...a government document obtained by The Canadian Press shows Ottawa-based MDS Nordion was - until Wednesday - Lantheus' sole supplier of Mo-99 isotopes.
Earlier Wednesday, a spokesman for AECL also confirmed that MDS Nordion is Lantheus's only supplier of isotopes. "That would be MDS," Dale Coffin said.
Coffin also confirmed that AECL has not raised the price of the isotopes it supplies to MDS Nordion."
Hmmm - so MDS Nordion was doing some gouging before the leak happened? Interesting.
"Canada's only medical isotope reactor will be out of service for the rest of the year and possibly forever, leaving thousands of desperate cancer and heart patients across the country with a shortage of nuclear scans and treatments, Sun Media has learned."
And now Harper wants to sell Chalk River?
From the G&M:
"The federal government will announce today a plan to seek buyers for Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd.'s nuclear reactor business, and bring in private-sector management for AECL's problem-plagued Chalk River facility.
After a two-year review of Ottawa's flagship nuclear company, Natural Resources Minister Lisa Raitt will launch a sale process with the aim of finding a major international partner for AECL to help boost global sales of its Candu reactors."
Now that it's out of commission what a great time to sell it. Sure going to get a lot for the govt. coffers on this one. It's too old & has needed major repairs for a very long time.
And as an interesting aside there's this by Steve Rennie from the Canadian Press, dated May 20th:
"Clinics are paying two to three times more for medical isotopes after a supplier abruptly hiked its prices this month - just before the Chalk River reactor shut down and caused an isotope shortage."
"Lantheus Medical Imaging, a Massachusetts-based company that supplies clinics with 'generators' used in medical imaging, notified its customers last week of the price increase."
"Lantheus's supplier buys raw isotopes from Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd. The supplier then sells those Mo-99 isotopes to Lantheus, which makes the lead-lined generators that hospitals receive.
...a government document obtained by The Canadian Press shows Ottawa-based MDS Nordion was - until Wednesday - Lantheus' sole supplier of Mo-99 isotopes.
Earlier Wednesday, a spokesman for AECL also confirmed that MDS Nordion is Lantheus's only supplier of isotopes. "That would be MDS," Dale Coffin said.
Coffin also confirmed that AECL has not raised the price of the isotopes it supplies to MDS Nordion."
Hmmm - so MDS Nordion was doing some gouging before the leak happened? Interesting.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Breaking: Arrests...
As just reported on CBC Newsworld 2 people have been arrested in the disappearance of Tori Stafford. A male & a female have been arrested - neither one is a parent of Tori. No other details at this time.
UPDATE: There is to be a joint news conference sometime today with the OPP & the Woodstock Police. I heard possibly 2 p.m. but that is not confirmed.
UPDATE: 10:50 a.m. The 2 arrested have been charged with murder, kidnapping, & aiding & abetting. This means Tori is dead. News conference at 3 p.m.
UPDATE: There is to be a joint news conference sometime today with the OPP & the Woodstock Police. I heard possibly 2 p.m. but that is not confirmed.
UPDATE: 10:50 a.m. The 2 arrested have been charged with murder, kidnapping, & aiding & abetting. This means Tori is dead. News conference at 3 p.m.
Monday, May 18, 2009
MacKay:Afghan mission may extend past 2011
Gee, what a surpise. Knew it all along. Harper & the Cons, if they get their way, will extend the mission in Afhganistan. These people have no morals, no ethics, no integrity & lie about everything. They cannot be trusted to do the right thing nor to do the will of the people nor the will of Parliament. It's time to throw these thugs out. Don't believe what he says about the mission changing to more of an aide one - it will, in increments, but I believe they still want to do the raid, attack, & killing part.
From an article by Colin Freeze in the G&M:
"Canada may well stay in Afghanistan beyond its 2011 military mandate, said Defence Minister Peter MacKay today, as he left a NATO base in Afghanistan where Ottawa is planning to buy up hundreds more beds for next year."
From an article by Colin Freeze in the G&M:
"Canada may well stay in Afghanistan beyond its 2011 military mandate, said Defence Minister Peter MacKay today, as he left a NATO base in Afghanistan where Ottawa is planning to buy up hundreds more beds for next year."
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Canada: A Police State
Two interesting stories in the news today. One on legislation tabled by Harper's Justice Minister Rob Nicholson & the other on an event involving police in Montreal.
Nicholson's legislation would allow police to fingerprint & photograph anyone who's been arrested but not yet charged.
From Steven Chase at the G&M:
"The Harper government unveiled legislation yesterday that would change criminal law procedure so police can fingerprint and photograph people whom they've arrested but not yet charged – a measure that raises civil-rights concerns for opposition parties and defence lawyers.
The Identification of Criminals Act does not currently authorize police officers to fingerprint or photograph someone in custody until they are charged or convicted."
This will only give police, the RCMP, & Govt. Agencies, like CSIS, more information on anyone arrested even if innocent of any wrongdoing. A nice, convenient list where they can all keep tabs on Canadian citizens or anyone living here or even visiting.
The other story, out of Montreal, is of a woman arrested & fined for not holding onto an escalator handrail. What??!!??
From Les Perreaux, also in the G&M:
"Bela Kosoian, a 38-year-old mother of two, says when she didn't hold the handrail Wednesday she was cuffed, dragged into a small holding cell and fined."
"Ms. Kosoian, who studies at the Université du Québec à Montreal, was riding an escalator down to catch a 5:30 p.m. subway from the suburb of Laval to an evening class downtown when she started rifling through her backpack looking for a fare."
Under the proposed new legislation just tabled this woman would have had her fingerprints & photograph taken for not holding onto a handrail. This is insane. The events surrounding this incident are also insane - & dangerous. What is happening to Canada? Things under the Harper Conservatives appear to be devolving into a totalitarian state. One in which I, for one, do not want to live.
It's time to throw Harper & his thugs out & put in a Govt. that actually cares about it's people & their rights, & one that will clean up the messes in our police dept.'s the RCMP & CSIS & any other Canadian agency that has these powers, including the Govt. itself.
UPDATE: For more on this go read Impolitical.
Nicholson's legislation would allow police to fingerprint & photograph anyone who's been arrested but not yet charged.
From Steven Chase at the G&M:
"The Harper government unveiled legislation yesterday that would change criminal law procedure so police can fingerprint and photograph people whom they've arrested but not yet charged – a measure that raises civil-rights concerns for opposition parties and defence lawyers.
The Identification of Criminals Act does not currently authorize police officers to fingerprint or photograph someone in custody until they are charged or convicted."
This will only give police, the RCMP, & Govt. Agencies, like CSIS, more information on anyone arrested even if innocent of any wrongdoing. A nice, convenient list where they can all keep tabs on Canadian citizens or anyone living here or even visiting.
The other story, out of Montreal, is of a woman arrested & fined for not holding onto an escalator handrail. What??!!??
From Les Perreaux, also in the G&M:
"Bela Kosoian, a 38-year-old mother of two, says when she didn't hold the handrail Wednesday she was cuffed, dragged into a small holding cell and fined."
"Ms. Kosoian, who studies at the Université du Québec à Montreal, was riding an escalator down to catch a 5:30 p.m. subway from the suburb of Laval to an evening class downtown when she started rifling through her backpack looking for a fare."
Under the proposed new legislation just tabled this woman would have had her fingerprints & photograph taken for not holding onto a handrail. This is insane. The events surrounding this incident are also insane - & dangerous. What is happening to Canada? Things under the Harper Conservatives appear to be devolving into a totalitarian state. One in which I, for one, do not want to live.
It's time to throw Harper & his thugs out & put in a Govt. that actually cares about it's people & their rights, & one that will clean up the messes in our police dept.'s the RCMP & CSIS & any other Canadian agency that has these powers, including the Govt. itself.
UPDATE: For more on this go read Impolitical.
Friday, May 15, 2009
Less than 5 per cent of stimulus doled out so far
From an article by Paul Vieira in the Business section of The Ottawa Citizen:
"The federal government has spent just under five per cent of the $40 billion in fiscal stimulus it pledged to combat a recession that now appears to be easing, government documents indicate.
The documents, released Thursday, reveal the bulk of the nearly $2 billion spent has gone toward rebuilding or refurbishing facilities at Canadian colleges and universities."
The article also lists a few other places where the money has gone &, interestingly, there are a few Crown agencies in this list. It's not a complete rundown & I shall try to find out more.
"The federal government has spent just under five per cent of the $40 billion in fiscal stimulus it pledged to combat a recession that now appears to be easing, government documents indicate.
The documents, released Thursday, reveal the bulk of the nearly $2 billion spent has gone toward rebuilding or refurbishing facilities at Canadian colleges and universities."
The article also lists a few other places where the money has gone &, interestingly, there are a few Crown agencies in this list. It's not a complete rundown & I shall try to find out more.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Phosphorous Bombs used in Afghanistan
From a post by MoS at The Disaffected Lib:
"It's time to say "no" to Stephen Harper. There's a move afoot to send a squadron of CF-18 fighter-bombers to Afghanistan."
And from Reuters:
"White phosphorus can be used legally in war to provide light, create smokescreens or burn buildings, so it is not banned under international treaties that forbid using chemicals as weapons.
Colonel Gregory Julian, a spokesman for the commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan, General David McKiernan, confirmed that Western forces in the country use the chemical."
Is this what we want our Canadian Forces possibly engaged in doing? Dropping phosphorous bombs in Afghanistan? I hope not, but you never know with this government we have.
Go here to sign/send a letter:
http://www.ceasefire.ca/?page_id=1274
"It's time to say "no" to Stephen Harper. There's a move afoot to send a squadron of CF-18 fighter-bombers to Afghanistan."
And from Reuters:
"White phosphorus can be used legally in war to provide light, create smokescreens or burn buildings, so it is not banned under international treaties that forbid using chemicals as weapons.
Colonel Gregory Julian, a spokesman for the commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan, General David McKiernan, confirmed that Western forces in the country use the chemical."
Is this what we want our Canadian Forces possibly engaged in doing? Dropping phosphorous bombs in Afghanistan? I hope not, but you never know with this government we have.
Go here to sign/send a letter:
http://www.ceasefire.ca/?page_id=1274
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Harper to Muzzle Page
From columnist Greg Weston in The Ottawa Sun:
"Stephen Harper's government of public accountability is apparently about to defang, muzzle and generally neuter its own watchdog of budget honesty.
A Conservative cabinet minister says most of the fun folks in his party "can't wait" to put a choker on the parliamentary budget office and its dogged bloodhound, Kevin Page.
The only thing yet to be decided, the minister says, is whether to eliminate the office, or put Page on a short enough regulatory leash to render him harmless."
Once again Harper is about to do away with another watchdog & possibly do away with the Budget Office as well, the one that he created. He just can't take criticism or the truth. Secrecy is of tantamount importance to the man who ran, & was elected, on accountability. What a joke. Unfortunately we are the ones who pay for this in not knowing what's going on. The only watchdog who appears to be safe, for now, is Auditor General Sheila Fraser. Who knows how much longer she will last. The tyrant has no shame.
"Stephen Harper's government of public accountability is apparently about to defang, muzzle and generally neuter its own watchdog of budget honesty.
A Conservative cabinet minister says most of the fun folks in his party "can't wait" to put a choker on the parliamentary budget office and its dogged bloodhound, Kevin Page.
The only thing yet to be decided, the minister says, is whether to eliminate the office, or put Page on a short enough regulatory leash to render him harmless."
Once again Harper is about to do away with another watchdog & possibly do away with the Budget Office as well, the one that he created. He just can't take criticism or the truth. Secrecy is of tantamount importance to the man who ran, & was elected, on accountability. What a joke. Unfortunately we are the ones who pay for this in not knowing what's going on. The only watchdog who appears to be safe, for now, is Auditor General Sheila Fraser. Who knows how much longer she will last. The tyrant has no shame.
Shocker: Newman Retiring!
Don Newman of the Politics show on CBC Newsworld is retiring. He's decided to take a retirement package & what happens to the show after that is an unknown at this point.
I, for one, will miss him. He's been on CBC for what feels like a lifetime to me. Good luck, Mr. Newman, in any other ventures you may decide to pursue & Happy Retirement!
Monday, April 20, 2009
Breaking: Canadian Airliner hijacked
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Canadian Soldier Killed
Trooper Karine Blais, who began her tour of duty just two weeks ago, has been identified as the fallen soldier.
Just 21 years old & the 2nd female soldier to be killed. How much longer do we have to wait before we bring them home?
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Khadr Lawyer Reinstated!
From the NP:
A military judge Tuesday overruled the Pentagon in its firing of Omar Khadr's military defence lawyer - a decision that provoked more confusion in the Guantanamo Bay case.
The move by Judge Patrick Parrish, an army colonel, effectively reinstates navy Lieutenant-Commander. Bill Kuebler as chief counsel for the Canadian-born terror suspect just days after Lt.-Cmdr. Kuebler's immediate boss fired him.
But the office headed by Air Force Col. Peter Masciola, who gave Kuebler his marching orders Friday, hit back by saying the judge had misread the rules governing the military commissions under which Mr. Khadr and other accused terrorists are being prosecuted.
Let's hope he gets to stay on the case. This "playing around" with Khadr's defense is beyond the pale. This kid needs to come home.
A military judge Tuesday overruled the Pentagon in its firing of Omar Khadr's military defence lawyer - a decision that provoked more confusion in the Guantanamo Bay case.
The move by Judge Patrick Parrish, an army colonel, effectively reinstates navy Lieutenant-Commander. Bill Kuebler as chief counsel for the Canadian-born terror suspect just days after Lt.-Cmdr. Kuebler's immediate boss fired him.
But the office headed by Air Force Col. Peter Masciola, who gave Kuebler his marching orders Friday, hit back by saying the judge had misread the rules governing the military commissions under which Mr. Khadr and other accused terrorists are being prosecuted.
Let's hope he gets to stay on the case. This "playing around" with Khadr's defense is beyond the pale. This kid needs to come home.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Canada's debt to balloon by $81.5-billion!
TD predicts record deficit over two years, driving shortfall billions of dollars deeper than Ottawa's forecast.
In todays G&M, this article by Steven Chase.
"The Toronto-Dominion Bank's calculations - using their updated economic forecasts - would see Canada's federal debt swell by $81.5-billion over the next two years instead of by $63.5-billion as the Harper government forecasted seven weeks ago. This would drive up Ottawa's debt to $540.2-billion in the 2010-11 fiscal year instead of $522.2-billion as currently forecast."
It looks like our PBO officer, Kevin Page, is right. Let's hope that Harper doesn't do away with him. I know he'd love to, & is working towards that end, but we all need to be vigilant on this as does the MSM. And let's not forget that it was Harper that appointed Mr. Page even though he would prefer to say it was the Liberals. And the PM does like to do revisionist history.
In todays G&M, this article by Steven Chase.
"The Toronto-Dominion Bank's calculations - using their updated economic forecasts - would see Canada's federal debt swell by $81.5-billion over the next two years instead of by $63.5-billion as the Harper government forecasted seven weeks ago. This would drive up Ottawa's debt to $540.2-billion in the 2010-11 fiscal year instead of $522.2-billion as currently forecast."
It looks like our PBO officer, Kevin Page, is right. Let's hope that Harper doesn't do away with him. I know he'd love to, & is working towards that end, but we all need to be vigilant on this as does the MSM. And let's not forget that it was Harper that appointed Mr. Page even though he would prefer to say it was the Liberals. And the PM does like to do revisionist history.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Notice!
I would like to apologize for not responding to commenters on some of my posts. I only just realized that I had comments but never received notification of them. Am working on resolving the problem.
If I'd known I would have responded. So commenters, please do not refrain from anything you'd like to say! :-)
If I'd known I would have responded. So commenters, please do not refrain from anything you'd like to say! :-)
Hebert Slams Harper
This is just too good to pass up! Chantal Hebert gets it right & it's a must-read all about the Cons new website.
"Its home page features no less than five pictures of Harper and he is sporting a different tie on four of them.
That's a good thing because very little else differentiates the pictures from each other and they take up most of the page.
Its focus is squarely on Harper as an action man rather than on the government's action plan and the rest of the website fully lives up to that advance billing.
In less politically mature countries, it could be construed as an effort to substitute a cult of the personality for solid policy dialogue. Here, it is just the latest silly production of a muddled Conservative brain trust.
Every link leads to more pictures of the Prime Minister."
"Its home page features no less than five pictures of Harper and he is sporting a different tie on four of them.
That's a good thing because very little else differentiates the pictures from each other and they take up most of the page.
Its focus is squarely on Harper as an action man rather than on the government's action plan and the rest of the website fully lives up to that advance billing.
In less politically mature countries, it could be construed as an effort to substitute a cult of the personality for solid policy dialogue. Here, it is just the latest silly production of a muddled Conservative brain trust.
Every link leads to more pictures of the Prime Minister."
Friday, March 6, 2009
Our Crime Fighting Leader?
March 5, 2009:
“Today the Liberal Opposition asked to have two justice bills aimed at targeting organized crime and illegal drugs fast tracked through the House of Commons so that they can become law as soon as possible. Unfortunately our request was denied,” said Liberal House Leader Ralph Goodale."
So what is all this talk from Harper & the Cons on the Liberals opposing & slowing down crime legislation? Who do they think they can continue to fool here? Disgusting!
“Today the Liberal Opposition asked to have two justice bills aimed at targeting organized crime and illegal drugs fast tracked through the House of Commons so that they can become law as soon as possible. Unfortunately our request was denied,” said Liberal House Leader Ralph Goodale."
So what is all this talk from Harper & the Cons on the Liberals opposing & slowing down crime legislation? Who do they think they can continue to fool here? Disgusting!
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Radioactive Drinking Water ALERT!
The radioactive material level in municipal drinking water in Ottawa is extremely high! And it's being blamed on Chalk River.
Please alert anyone you know who lives there.
From SunMedia:
"The levels of radioactive tritium in Ottawa's drinking water are routinely two, three, sometimes four times above the background level of tritium and this is because of these nuclear facilities on the banks of the river," said Meredith Brown, the Ottawa Riverkeeper"
Please alert anyone you know who lives there.
From SunMedia:
"The levels of radioactive tritium in Ottawa's drinking water are routinely two, three, sometimes four times above the background level of tritium and this is because of these nuclear facilities on the banks of the river," said Meredith Brown, the Ottawa Riverkeeper"
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Breaking: 3 MORE soldiers killed in Afghanistan
From CTV:
"Three Canadian Forces personnel were killed Tuesday when an improvised explosive device detonated near an armoured vehicle during a patrol in the Arghandab District. Two others were injured in the attack."
And to think we could have been out of Afghanistan THIS year! Thanks Harper. Thanks Liberal Party.
"Three Canadian Forces personnel were killed Tuesday when an improvised explosive device detonated near an armoured vehicle during a patrol in the Arghandab District. Two others were injured in the attack."
And to think we could have been out of Afghanistan THIS year! Thanks Harper. Thanks Liberal Party.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Ignatieff crowned Leader
It's official.
"As the only candidate in the contest, Mr. Ignatieff’s Leadership will be officially confirmed by the assembled delegates at the Leadership and Biennial Convention to be held in Vancouver, British Columbia from April 30 – May 2, 2009."
So, no input from anyone else, no voting by the grassroots delegates, no opposition to Mr. Ignatieff's free ride to the top of the Party.
Not exactly democracy as far as I'm concerned.
"As the only candidate in the contest, Mr. Ignatieff’s Leadership will be officially confirmed by the assembled delegates at the Leadership and Biennial Convention to be held in Vancouver, British Columbia from April 30 – May 2, 2009."
So, no input from anyone else, no voting by the grassroots delegates, no opposition to Mr. Ignatieff's free ride to the top of the Party.
Not exactly democracy as far as I'm concerned.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Here we go again...
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is threatening Gaza/Hamas again. And it doesn't look good. When does it ever.
From the BBC:
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has vowed a "disproportionate" response to rocket attacks on Israel from Gaza.
On Saturday, a rocket fired from Gaza exploded near the Israeli city of Ashkelon, with no casualties reported, and at least two were fired in the days before.
"We will not agree to return to the old rules of the game and we will act according to new rules that will guarantee that we are not dragged into an incessant tit-for-tat war that will not allow normal life in the south of the country," Mr Olmert said.
Israelis go to the polls in nine days
"The situation... in recent days has increased in a manner that does not allow Israel not to retaliate in order to make sure that our position... is understood by those involved in the fire.
"The response will come at the time, the place and the manner that we choose."
His strong stance was echoed by Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and Defence Minister Ehud Barak.
Well that didn't last long. So are we going to have to witness another "disproportionate response" to Hamas rockets all over again? I don't agree with Hamas shooting rockets. I do disagree with the slaughter & injuring of thousands of innocent civilians.
From the BBC:
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has vowed a "disproportionate" response to rocket attacks on Israel from Gaza.
On Saturday, a rocket fired from Gaza exploded near the Israeli city of Ashkelon, with no casualties reported, and at least two were fired in the days before.
"We will not agree to return to the old rules of the game and we will act according to new rules that will guarantee that we are not dragged into an incessant tit-for-tat war that will not allow normal life in the south of the country," Mr Olmert said.
Israelis go to the polls in nine days
"The situation... in recent days has increased in a manner that does not allow Israel not to retaliate in order to make sure that our position... is understood by those involved in the fire.
"The response will come at the time, the place and the manner that we choose."
His strong stance was echoed by Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and Defence Minister Ehud Barak.
Well that didn't last long. So are we going to have to witness another "disproportionate response" to Hamas rockets all over again? I don't agree with Hamas shooting rockets. I do disagree with the slaughter & injuring of thousands of innocent civilians.
ANOTHER Canadian Soldier Killed
From the Globe & Mail:
Sapper Greenfield was taking part in an ambitious four-day, Canadian-led operation near the Zhari town of Mushen, which is largely controlled now by Taliban insurgents. The troops were searching rural compounds for weapons and bomb-making materials.
Now this is interesting. Total contradictions in the statements from Brigadier-General Denis Thompson & Harper:
The fatal blast occurred just before three p.m. The other soldiers in the vehicle weren't injured, said Brigadier-General Denis Thompson, the commander of coalition troops in Kandahar.
In a statement issues Saturday night by his office, Prime Minister Stephen Harper offered his “deepest condolences” to the family, friends and comrades of Sapper Greenfield.
“We also wish a full and swift recovery to his four comrades who were injured in the same attack and thank them for their dedicated service,” said the prime minister's message.
So which one is the truth? I'd prefer the B-G's & he should know.
Sapper Greenfield was taking part in an ambitious four-day, Canadian-led operation near the Zhari town of Mushen, which is largely controlled now by Taliban insurgents. The troops were searching rural compounds for weapons and bomb-making materials.
Now this is interesting. Total contradictions in the statements from Brigadier-General Denis Thompson & Harper:
The fatal blast occurred just before three p.m. The other soldiers in the vehicle weren't injured, said Brigadier-General Denis Thompson, the commander of coalition troops in Kandahar.
In a statement issues Saturday night by his office, Prime Minister Stephen Harper offered his “deepest condolences” to the family, friends and comrades of Sapper Greenfield.
“We also wish a full and swift recovery to his four comrades who were injured in the same attack and thank them for their dedicated service,” said the prime minister's message.
So which one is the truth? I'd prefer the B-G's & he should know.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
UPDATE: On Chalk River
It seems the Atomic Energy of Canada misled the govt. on the severity of the spills. Interesting, if true, that the govt. didn't really know.
From Sun Media:
Canada's nuclear agency misled the Prime Minister's Office over the nature and extent of a radioactive spill at the troubled Chalk River in December, a senior government official said yesterday.
Lisa Raitt, the natural resources minister responsible for the leaky reactor, told Sun Media yesterday she has ordered a full report on the radioactive spill from the nuclear safety commission.
Raitt said she and her departmental officials received an "e-mail briefing" on the leak the day after it occurred.
"There are some aspects that came out today that we weren't fully aware of," the minister said yesterday.
"I've asked my officials at the (safety commission) to get to the bottom of it, and I'm looking forward to getting a full report."
From Sun Media:
Canada's nuclear agency misled the Prime Minister's Office over the nature and extent of a radioactive spill at the troubled Chalk River in December, a senior government official said yesterday.
Lisa Raitt, the natural resources minister responsible for the leaky reactor, told Sun Media yesterday she has ordered a full report on the radioactive spill from the nuclear safety commission.
Raitt said she and her departmental officials received an "e-mail briefing" on the leak the day after it occurred.
"There are some aspects that came out today that we weren't fully aware of," the minister said yesterday.
"I've asked my officials at the (safety commission) to get to the bottom of it, and I'm looking forward to getting a full report."
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Nuclear Spill at Chalk River
From the Ottawa Sun:
An internal report to federal nuclear regulators shows radioactive tritium was released into the air during the incident at the Chalk River reactor on Dec. 5.
Meanwhile, another part of the reactor has sprung a water leak from a 2.4-inch crack in a weld. That leak has not been repaired since it was first reported more than six weeks ago.
Instead, technicians are simply pumping water into the unit to replace the estimated 7,000 litres a day spewing from the cracked seam.
In answer to written questions from Sun Media, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission said the leaking water from the failed weld has "a very low level of radioactivity" and is not a safety concern.
The water is being dumped into the Ottawa River.
Linda Keen was fired for stopping isotope production at this facility, in Dec. of 2007, due to dangerous conditions & yet the problems still haven't been taken care of. The Con govt. legislated the nuclear facility back to work. What is it going to take? A nuclear meltdown?
An internal report to federal nuclear regulators shows radioactive tritium was released into the air during the incident at the Chalk River reactor on Dec. 5.
Meanwhile, another part of the reactor has sprung a water leak from a 2.4-inch crack in a weld. That leak has not been repaired since it was first reported more than six weeks ago.
Instead, technicians are simply pumping water into the unit to replace the estimated 7,000 litres a day spewing from the cracked seam.
In answer to written questions from Sun Media, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission said the leaking water from the failed weld has "a very low level of radioactivity" and is not a safety concern.
The water is being dumped into the Ottawa River.
Linda Keen was fired for stopping isotope production at this facility, in Dec. of 2007, due to dangerous conditions & yet the problems still haven't been taken care of. The Con govt. legislated the nuclear facility back to work. What is it going to take? A nuclear meltdown?
Monday, January 19, 2009
More Brazeau hanky panky?
Sure looks like it. This time from Health Canada with demands that the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples, led by soon-to-be Conservative Senator Patrick Brazeau, return monies that were to be used for aboriginal health issues.
From the Globe & Mail:
"Health Canada launched an audit in late 2007 to find out what happened to $472,900 it transferred to the congress for projects aimed at improving aboriginal health in areas such as early childhood development and diabetes.
The audit findings identified concerns with CAP's internal financial controls including approximately $260,000 of ineligible expenses in consulting fees, travel and meeting costs and per diems for CAP employees during 2005-06," according to a statement from Health Canada released to The Globe and Mail.
The audit found most of the department's money was spent on board meetings, yet the minutes of those meetings were either non-existent or made "little reference about the health programs."
Can Harper seriously allow Brazeau to be installed as a Senator in the wake of the scandals surrounding this man? Two allegations of sexual misconduct among them.
From the Globe & Mail:
"Health Canada launched an audit in late 2007 to find out what happened to $472,900 it transferred to the congress for projects aimed at improving aboriginal health in areas such as early childhood development and diabetes.
The audit findings identified concerns with CAP's internal financial controls including approximately $260,000 of ineligible expenses in consulting fees, travel and meeting costs and per diems for CAP employees during 2005-06," according to a statement from Health Canada released to The Globe and Mail.
The audit found most of the department's money was spent on board meetings, yet the minutes of those meetings were either non-existent or made "little reference about the health programs."
Can Harper seriously allow Brazeau to be installed as a Senator in the wake of the scandals surrounding this man? Two allegations of sexual misconduct among them.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Justify This!
So now the Israeli's have shelled UN Headquarters in Gaza. They are saying "It was a mistake". How so? Seeing as it was ground forces. Sounds like indiscriminate shelling to me.
From CBC News:
The developments in the 20-day-old military conflict came as UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon was in Israel trying to promote a ceasefire. Speaking in Jerusalem, the UN chief expressed "strong protest and outrage" over the attack and immediately demanded an investigation.
Ban said Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak has told him it was a "grave mistake."
Ban also said the death toll in Gaza has reached an "unbearable" level.
As diplomatic efforts continued on Wednesday, the Hamas-run Ministry of Health in Gaza said that the death toll in Gaza topped 1,000, and that civilians accounted for half the fatalities.
The Gaza casualty reports are nearly impossible for media organizations to confirm as Israel has barred foreign journalists from entering the coastal territory.
Thirteen Israelis, among them 10 soldiers, have been killed since the military campaign started on Dec. 27
And this: At least 15 rockets were fired by Gaza militants into southern Israel.
It appears no one was hurt by the rockets. But how can this be justified? Any of it. The death, injury & destruction is overwhelming & yet to comment on this war in a way that is not pro-Israel a person is suddenly pronounced to be anti-Semitic, pro-Hamas/terrorist. That is not the case at all. It's the ravaging of a people that is wrong. Anywhere. Anytime. Did you support the Iraq War? I did not. The deaths of the Iraqi people, the destruction of the country is overwhelmingly horrible. Afghanistan the same. So how is this any different?
If you are able to justify it please tell me.
Oh, & I no longer allow anonymous comments.
From CBC News:
The developments in the 20-day-old military conflict came as UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon was in Israel trying to promote a ceasefire. Speaking in Jerusalem, the UN chief expressed "strong protest and outrage" over the attack and immediately demanded an investigation.
Ban said Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak has told him it was a "grave mistake."
Ban also said the death toll in Gaza has reached an "unbearable" level.
As diplomatic efforts continued on Wednesday, the Hamas-run Ministry of Health in Gaza said that the death toll in Gaza topped 1,000, and that civilians accounted for half the fatalities.
The Gaza casualty reports are nearly impossible for media organizations to confirm as Israel has barred foreign journalists from entering the coastal territory.
Thirteen Israelis, among them 10 soldiers, have been killed since the military campaign started on Dec. 27
And this: At least 15 rockets were fired by Gaza militants into southern Israel.
It appears no one was hurt by the rockets. But how can this be justified? Any of it. The death, injury & destruction is overwhelming & yet to comment on this war in a way that is not pro-Israel a person is suddenly pronounced to be anti-Semitic, pro-Hamas/terrorist. That is not the case at all. It's the ravaging of a people that is wrong. Anywhere. Anytime. Did you support the Iraq War? I did not. The deaths of the Iraqi people, the destruction of the country is overwhelmingly horrible. Afghanistan the same. So how is this any different?
If you are able to justify it please tell me.
Oh, & I no longer allow anonymous comments.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Very Interesting
There's been some, or maybe a lot, of talk in the blogosphere & in the MSM that Ignatieff is more right-leaning & closer to Harper's views on some things - think the I/P conflict. Now comes this news from the Globe & Mail.
Sources confirmed late Tuesday that Kevin Chan, executive assistant and director to top federal bureaucrat Kevin Lynch, has joined Mr. Ignatieff's team.
Chan is straight out of the CPC PCO. This could be viewed 2 ways. He will have insider info on how Harper runs things, plans, etc. & use it to help the Libs or he will be adding more "right Con" influence into the Liberal Party. Hmmmmm...
Sources confirmed late Tuesday that Kevin Chan, executive assistant and director to top federal bureaucrat Kevin Lynch, has joined Mr. Ignatieff's team.
Chan is straight out of the CPC PCO. This could be viewed 2 ways. He will have insider info on how Harper runs things, plans, etc. & use it to help the Libs or he will be adding more "right Con" influence into the Liberal Party. Hmmmmm...
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Bush asserts U.S. sea power over Arctic straits
From CanWest News:
Key elements of Bush's policy challenge the ambitious Arctic sovereignty agenda put forth by Prime Minister Stephen Harper that includes bolstering Canada's military presence and fostering economic and social development. The Bush directive reiterates that the Northwest Passage is an international waterway - a rebuttal of Canada's claim of sovereignty over what is emerging as a major global shipping route because of the shrinking polar ice cap - and it highlights the boundary dispute in the resource-rich Beaufort Sea.
Harper's office had no immediate comment.
Yes, Bush is leaving in 7 days but this signed directive/policy is legal in the U.S. & I wonder if Obama will want to change it. I highly doubt it.
Key elements of Bush's policy challenge the ambitious Arctic sovereignty agenda put forth by Prime Minister Stephen Harper that includes bolstering Canada's military presence and fostering economic and social development. The Bush directive reiterates that the Northwest Passage is an international waterway - a rebuttal of Canada's claim of sovereignty over what is emerging as a major global shipping route because of the shrinking polar ice cap - and it highlights the boundary dispute in the resource-rich Beaufort Sea.
Harper's office had no immediate comment.
Yes, Bush is leaving in 7 days but this signed directive/policy is legal in the U.S. & I wonder if Obama will want to change it. I highly doubt it.
Fight! Fight!
From the Globe & Mail:
Finance Minister Jim Flaherty is pushing ahead with the creation of a long-debated national securities regulator, igniting a battle with Quebec and Alberta just as Ottawa is seeking the provinces' help in reviving Canada's flagging economy.
Incensed at the very suggestion, Quebec and Alberta responded to the report by threatening a Supreme Court challenge of Mr. Flaherty's authority to establish a national commission.
Unmoved, the Finance Minister vowed to establish a national regulator with willing provinces, something Mr. Hockin said could be done without Alberta and Quebec.
So more conflict to arise with our present, charming govt. at a time when we are in dire economic circumstances. Whether a securities regulator is a good idea or not I need to research more. Although I don't see it as being particularly negative. Too much free rein & not knowing what's being done is not good. But even so, if the regulator reports only to the govt., behind closed doors, then the govt./finance dept. can do whatever it likes & we will continue to be left in the dark.
Finance Minister Jim Flaherty is pushing ahead with the creation of a long-debated national securities regulator, igniting a battle with Quebec and Alberta just as Ottawa is seeking the provinces' help in reviving Canada's flagging economy.
Incensed at the very suggestion, Quebec and Alberta responded to the report by threatening a Supreme Court challenge of Mr. Flaherty's authority to establish a national commission.
Unmoved, the Finance Minister vowed to establish a national regulator with willing provinces, something Mr. Hockin said could be done without Alberta and Quebec.
So more conflict to arise with our present, charming govt. at a time when we are in dire economic circumstances. Whether a securities regulator is a good idea or not I need to research more. Although I don't see it as being particularly negative. Too much free rein & not knowing what's being done is not good. But even so, if the regulator reports only to the govt., behind closed doors, then the govt./finance dept. can do whatever it likes & we will continue to be left in the dark.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Audit Finds DND projects lack oversight
The audit was commissioned by the Defence Dept.
The report from the department's Chief of Review Services was originally to examine a multimillion-dollar program to purchase chemical, biological and nuclear defence equipment and warning devices, but the comments were on the overall state of management oversight on equipment programs.
To deal with the shortages [personnel], the Defence Department is using private consultants as deputy project managers, but they do not have the authority to make decisions, according the CRS report.
Read the article at the Ottawa Citizen.
Some things never seem to change with this Conservative govt. There are billions of dollars involved. And this in a time of economic crisis. Gah!
The report from the department's Chief of Review Services was originally to examine a multimillion-dollar program to purchase chemical, biological and nuclear defence equipment and warning devices, but the comments were on the overall state of management oversight on equipment programs.
To deal with the shortages [personnel], the Defence Department is using private consultants as deputy project managers, but they do not have the authority to make decisions, according the CRS report.
Read the article at the Ottawa Citizen.
Some things never seem to change with this Conservative govt. There are billions of dollars involved. And this in a time of economic crisis. Gah!
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Cons give MORE money to the U.S.
Peter MacKay announced yesterday that Canada's Govt. has awarded a contract to a U.S. company named Navistar for 1,300 logistic trucks for the military.
So much for economic stimulus here in Canada. We need the jobs. The U.S. gets them.
Here's the article from National Post.
And here's another article, from the Aerospace industry on not landing any military contracts from the Conservative Govt. either.
So much for economic stimulus here in Canada. We need the jobs. The U.S. gets them.
Here's the article from National Post.
And here's another article, from the Aerospace industry on not landing any military contracts from the Conservative Govt. either.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Gaza War Spreading?
From BBC News:
Lebanon fired 3 rockets into northern Israel today, one hitting a nursing home & causing 2 minor injuries, according to reports. Israel fired 5 artillery shells in response. Is this war in Gaza spreading? I hope not. I am not condemning Israel for their action in reply & it appears no one was hurt. But let's not let this conflict widen.
In the same article, at the beginning, is a report from the International Red Cross that asserts that Israel has been denying them access to the wounded for days at a time.
The International Committee of the Red Cross accused Israel of failing in its international obligations after its staff were met with "shocking" scenes.
One medical team found 12 bodies in a shelled house, and alongside them four very young children, too weak to stand, waiting by their dead mothers, the ICRC said.
Aid workers had been denied access to the site for days, it added.
Lebanon fired 3 rockets into northern Israel today, one hitting a nursing home & causing 2 minor injuries, according to reports. Israel fired 5 artillery shells in response. Is this war in Gaza spreading? I hope not. I am not condemning Israel for their action in reply & it appears no one was hurt. But let's not let this conflict widen.
In the same article, at the beginning, is a report from the International Red Cross that asserts that Israel has been denying them access to the wounded for days at a time.
The International Committee of the Red Cross accused Israel of failing in its international obligations after its staff were met with "shocking" scenes.
One medical team found 12 bodies in a shelled house, and alongside them four very young children, too weak to stand, waiting by their dead mothers, the ICRC said.
Aid workers had been denied access to the site for days, it added.
Heavy-handed Harper
From the Globe & Mail:
He [Harper] is also planning to fill Senate seats as they become vacant and will not stop until next January when his Tories will finally have the majority in the upper chamber, according to two senior government officials.
Reversing his promise not to name senators until the chamber is reformed, Mr. Harper made 18 appointments last month. Now senior government officials say he is expected to appoint two more in March, when the next vacancies occur. He will make 10 more by the end of the year, keeping with his new strategy to control the Red Chamber to make reforms.
He will have HIS way no matter what, or so he thinks. I am sick of this tyrant pushing his Reform/Alliance agenda on Canadians. Please, let's get rid of him even if it takes the Coalition to do it.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
UPDATE...on Canadians in Gaza
In a previous post I talked about how "our" Conservative govt., led by Stephen Harper, was slow in moving on getting Canadians out of Gaza. Here is an article from TheStar with more information on that situation.
"Thirty-nine Canadians, still stranded in war-wracked Gaza yesterday, could have safely departed the territory last Friday – if only Canadian diplomats had known it."
"Had the Canadians shown up at the border on Friday, they likely would have been permitted to cross, said Maj. Peter Lerner, spokesperson for the Israeli agency that handle's this country's activities in the territory."
"But it was only on Friday that Canadian diplomats first provided the Israelis with a list of names of Canadians who wanted to leave the territory, and no attempt was made to contact them that day, to tell them to get to the border right away, because it was open."
Again, as I said, what is wrong with "our" govt.?
"Thirty-nine Canadians, still stranded in war-wracked Gaza yesterday, could have safely departed the territory last Friday – if only Canadian diplomats had known it."
"Had the Canadians shown up at the border on Friday, they likely would have been permitted to cross, said Maj. Peter Lerner, spokesperson for the Israeli agency that handle's this country's activities in the territory."
"But it was only on Friday that Canadian diplomats first provided the Israelis with a list of names of Canadians who wanted to leave the territory, and no attempt was made to contact them that day, to tell them to get to the border right away, because it was open."
Again, as I said, what is wrong with "our" govt.?
What the...?
"Hamas terrorists ultimately control the fate of several dozen Canadians and other civilians trapped in Gaza, the Harper government made clear yesterday as the civilian death toll rose."
"[Peter] Kent said the Canadians in Gaza would only be moved to safety if the rocket attacks "stop permanently." Asked whether that could trap them for days or months, Kent replied: "It is a war."
The above statements made by Tory MP Peter Kent in this article from the Montreal Gazette.
Huh? It's the Israeli's who aren't allowing people to flee the horrors going on in Gaza. They have closed all corriders for a long, long time now & have only just now agreed to a 3 hr. ceasefire, daily & starting today, to allow aid into Gaza. Read here at CBC. And this is the official position of Harper's govt.? That it's ALL the fault of Hamas? Yes, as I've stated before, this whole mess is two-sided & that Hamas has it's large share of the blame, but to blame them for not allowing people out of Gaza Canadian or otherwise, including the Palestinian residents is ridiculous.
"[Peter] Kent said the Canadians in Gaza would only be moved to safety if the rocket attacks "stop permanently." Asked whether that could trap them for days or months, Kent replied: "It is a war."
The above statements made by Tory MP Peter Kent in this article from the Montreal Gazette.
Huh? It's the Israeli's who aren't allowing people to flee the horrors going on in Gaza. They have closed all corriders for a long, long time now & have only just now agreed to a 3 hr. ceasefire, daily & starting today, to allow aid into Gaza. Read here at CBC. And this is the official position of Harper's govt.? That it's ALL the fault of Hamas? Yes, as I've stated before, this whole mess is two-sided & that Hamas has it's large share of the blame, but to blame them for not allowing people out of Gaza Canadian or otherwise, including the Palestinian residents is ridiculous.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
What's Wrong With "Our" Govt.?
Here's the headline in the G&M:
Canada lagged in getting citizens out of Gaza.
"Canada only asked Israel for help in getting its stranded citizens out of Gaza after hundreds of other foreign nationals were able to depart, and as a ground assault was preparing to roll in."
And:
“Canadian diplomats approached us on the third 3rd of January,” he said. “On Saturday, they said 36 people. Later, they raised it to 39.”
And this:
"During the 2006 Lebanon war, Canadian officials were criticized for the slow pace of their efforts to evacuate about 13,000 citizens from Beirut, as they struggled to arrange safe passage for ships for days after the United States and several European countries began ferrying out their nationals."
So, I ask, what is wrong with this Conservative govt.? Did they not learn from the Lebanon war that speed is necessary? They are too busy trying to save their butts with the upcoming budget & most likely trying to figure out ways in which to demolish the Liberals out of existence rather than take care of Canadian citizens in a war zone. A pox on their Party!
Canada lagged in getting citizens out of Gaza.
"Canada only asked Israel for help in getting its stranded citizens out of Gaza after hundreds of other foreign nationals were able to depart, and as a ground assault was preparing to roll in."
And:
“Canadian diplomats approached us on the third 3rd of January,” he said. “On Saturday, they said 36 people. Later, they raised it to 39.”
And this:
"During the 2006 Lebanon war, Canadian officials were criticized for the slow pace of their efforts to evacuate about 13,000 citizens from Beirut, as they struggled to arrange safe passage for ships for days after the United States and several European countries began ferrying out their nationals."
So, I ask, what is wrong with this Conservative govt.? Did they not learn from the Lebanon war that speed is necessary? They are too busy trying to save their butts with the upcoming budget & most likely trying to figure out ways in which to demolish the Liberals out of existence rather than take care of Canadian citizens in a war zone. A pox on their Party!
Sunday, January 4, 2009
"Israeli troops clash with Hamas"
"The UN secretary general has called for an immediate halt to operations.
But an emergency Security Council meeting failed to agree a united approach to the Gaza conflict.
Diplomatic sources said it was the United States that blocked an agreement. US Ambassador Alejandro Wolff suggested that an official statement that criticised both Israel and Hamas would not have been helpful."
Go here to read more & watch video from BBC News.
Of course, as usual, it's Hamas who is mentioned but it is the people of Gaza who are being killed & injured.
But an emergency Security Council meeting failed to agree a united approach to the Gaza conflict.
Diplomatic sources said it was the United States that blocked an agreement. US Ambassador Alejandro Wolff suggested that an official statement that criticised both Israel and Hamas would not have been helpful."
Go here to read more & watch video from BBC News.
Of course, as usual, it's Hamas who is mentioned but it is the people of Gaza who are being killed & injured.
Friday, January 2, 2009
Statistics: Gaza/Israel
What is being done in Gaza by the Israelis is an abomination. Some would call it genocide. Both sides are wrong but the decimation of a people is beyond the pale. Heart & gut-wrenching.
Below are some statistics to look at & here is the site you can go to for charts & to read more.
Israeli and Palestinian Children Killed
September 29, 2000 - Present
123 Israeli children have been killed by Palestinians and 1,050 Palestinian children have been killed by Israelis since September 29, 2000. (View Source)
Israelis and Palestinians Killed
September 29, 2000 - Present
1,062 Israelis and at least 4,876 Palestinians have been killed since September 29, 2000. (View Source)
Israelis and Palestinians Injured
September 29, 2000 - Present
8,341 Israelis and 33,034 Palestinians have been injured since September 29, 2000. (View Source)
Daily U.S. Taxes to Israel and the Palestinians
Fiscal Year 2007
During Fiscal Year 2007, the U.S. gave more than $6.8 million per day to Israel and $0.3 million per day to the Palestinians. (View Source)
UN Resolutions Targeting Israel and the Palestinians
1955 - 1992
Israel has been targeted by at least 65 UN resolutions and the Palestinians have been targeted by none. (View Source)
Current Number of Political Prisoners and Detainees
1 Israeli is being held prisoner by Palestinians, while 10,756 Palestinians are currently imprisoned by Israel. (View Source)
Demolitions of Israeli and Palestinian Homes
1967 - Present
0 Israeli homes have been demolished by Palestinians and 18,147 Palestinian homes have been demolished by Israel since 1967. (View Source)
Current Israeli and Palestinian Unemployment Rates
The Israeli unemployment rate is 7.3%, while the Palestinian unemployment is estimated at 23%. (View Source)
Current Illegal Settlements on the Other’s Land
Israel currently has 223 Jewish-only settlements and ‘outposts’ built on confiscated Palestinian land. Palestinians do not have any settlements on Israeli land. (View Source)
h/t to *mattes* at Marisacat's
UPDATE: From BBC World News: Gaza facing 'critical emergency'
"The UN has warned that Palestinians in Gaza are facing a serious health and food crisis, as Israeli air strikes continued for a seventh day."
Below are some statistics to look at & here is the site you can go to for charts & to read more.
Israeli and Palestinian Children Killed
September 29, 2000 - Present
123 Israeli children have been killed by Palestinians and 1,050 Palestinian children have been killed by Israelis since September 29, 2000. (View Source)
Israelis and Palestinians Killed
September 29, 2000 - Present
1,062 Israelis and at least 4,876 Palestinians have been killed since September 29, 2000. (View Source)
Israelis and Palestinians Injured
September 29, 2000 - Present
8,341 Israelis and 33,034 Palestinians have been injured since September 29, 2000. (View Source)
Daily U.S. Taxes to Israel and the Palestinians
Fiscal Year 2007
During Fiscal Year 2007, the U.S. gave more than $6.8 million per day to Israel and $0.3 million per day to the Palestinians. (View Source)
UN Resolutions Targeting Israel and the Palestinians
1955 - 1992
Israel has been targeted by at least 65 UN resolutions and the Palestinians have been targeted by none. (View Source)
Current Number of Political Prisoners and Detainees
1 Israeli is being held prisoner by Palestinians, while 10,756 Palestinians are currently imprisoned by Israel. (View Source)
Demolitions of Israeli and Palestinian Homes
1967 - Present
0 Israeli homes have been demolished by Palestinians and 18,147 Palestinian homes have been demolished by Israel since 1967. (View Source)
Current Israeli and Palestinian Unemployment Rates
The Israeli unemployment rate is 7.3%, while the Palestinian unemployment is estimated at 23%. (View Source)
Current Illegal Settlements on the Other’s Land
Israel currently has 223 Jewish-only settlements and ‘outposts’ built on confiscated Palestinian land. Palestinians do not have any settlements on Israeli land. (View Source)
h/t to *mattes* at Marisacat's
UPDATE: From BBC World News: Gaza facing 'critical emergency'
"The UN has warned that Palestinians in Gaza are facing a serious health and food crisis, as Israeli air strikes continued for a seventh day."
Thursday, January 1, 2009
2009!
Well here we are. Day 1 of a new year. And let's hope this year is better, in many ways, than the last one.
I don't do resolutions. What's the point. Each & every day is a brand new one so there's no need to "wipe the slate clean" & start fresh just because it has become another day with a different number attached to it. Every day is a new beginning so I walk in that - fresh & new. As long as I can adhere, hold fast, to what I believe to be right, true, & honest then that's all I need for personal resolve. Just another day in the neighbourhood - global as well as personal.
But Happy New Year to all of you out there! May it be a thoughtful, insightful, & peaceful year - on all fronts!
I don't do resolutions. What's the point. Each & every day is a brand new one so there's no need to "wipe the slate clean" & start fresh just because it has become another day with a different number attached to it. Every day is a new beginning so I walk in that - fresh & new. As long as I can adhere, hold fast, to what I believe to be right, true, & honest then that's all I need for personal resolve. Just another day in the neighbourhood - global as well as personal.
But Happy New Year to all of you out there! May it be a thoughtful, insightful, & peaceful year - on all fronts!
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