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! :-)
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