The Montreal Gazette points out that we have riots in Montreal over hockey finals , win or lose, quite regularly. Often with massive damage. No wonder Canadians think Toronto is inhabited by wimps.
The media in and around Toronto are in full hand-wringing mode over the weekend's "violence" and "rioting" and "anarchy" and "chaos" there. They -and their audiences -should all take a deep breath.
Two police cars were burned, some store windows broken, sports shoes stolen, trash cans overturned. No deaths, a few minor injuries. Montreal can match that after a first-round playoff game.
This is, in fairness, no laughing matter. A few mindlessly angry "black bloc" anarchists did their best to raise hell, but in general failed, mainly because of an overpowering police presence.
But we saw no police over-reaction. It was stupid for the Ontario cabinet furtively to authorize extraordinary police powers, and we're glad the Canadian Civil Liberties Association will challenge the decision, though it has now expired. But police comported themselves well, as far as we could tell. They did arrest 900, but almost all were released without charge. A Toronto columnist quoted one arrested protester heard on CBC Radio complaining that she'd been given only inferior "bread with a piece of cheese, which proves to me I live in a fascist police state." Oh yes? What would she call Iran, then? Another complained that there was no vegan food in jail.
The anti capitalist jerks that went to Toronto to riot are going to have a protest here in Montreal for Dominion Day. Wonder what will happen? Wonder if ann legace dowson and her family will be there hurling stones while dressed in black masks.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Union dues...
..are paying for these protests, though most union members do not approve of this advocacy spending. cupe flags flew at the flotilla of hate rallies in Toronto and cupe members seemed to protect the criminal thugs. Many union members actually vote Tory. It's time to get rid of the rand formula. Why do we force people to join these unions? It certainly violates freedom of association rights, but our living tree judges thought not. Maybe this issue needs to be revisited.
TORONTO — With thousands of people marching in the streets of Toronto, Canadians may be asking who’s paying for these protests against the G8 and G20 summits? Well, if you belong to a union, the answer is you are.
From pushing for a global bank tax, to demanding Canadian taxpayers fund overseas abortions and even launching a court challenge over police tactics, Canada’s labour movement is front and centre in the fight against the summits.
Not everyone agrees with this kind of political activism by unions.
“Mandatory dues collected from workers should not be used to undertake political activities,” said Garnet Genuis, a senior fellow with the Canadian Centre for Policy Studies.
Genuis is co-author of a report that calls for an end to the use of union dues to pay for political action.
“The target isn’t unions that are talking about health and safety issues,” said Genuis, “but unions doing advocacy unrelated to workplace issues.”
A 2008 Nanos Research survey found 70% of union members oppose dues going to advocacy groups.
Thousands of labour leaders will come to Toronto to denounce the G20 and push back against globalization. Many of those leaders will arrive Saturday morning, flying in from Vancouver, where the Canadian Labour Congress has just wrapped up a global meeting of union bosses.
TORONTO — With thousands of people marching in the streets of Toronto, Canadians may be asking who’s paying for these protests against the G8 and G20 summits? Well, if you belong to a union, the answer is you are.
From pushing for a global bank tax, to demanding Canadian taxpayers fund overseas abortions and even launching a court challenge over police tactics, Canada’s labour movement is front and centre in the fight against the summits.
Not everyone agrees with this kind of political activism by unions.
“Mandatory dues collected from workers should not be used to undertake political activities,” said Garnet Genuis, a senior fellow with the Canadian Centre for Policy Studies.
Genuis is co-author of a report that calls for an end to the use of union dues to pay for political action.
“The target isn’t unions that are talking about health and safety issues,” said Genuis, “but unions doing advocacy unrelated to workplace issues.”
A 2008 Nanos Research survey found 70% of union members oppose dues going to advocacy groups.
Thousands of labour leaders will come to Toronto to denounce the G20 and push back against globalization. Many of those leaders will arrive Saturday morning, flying in from Vancouver, where the Canadian Labour Congress has just wrapped up a global meeting of union bosses.
Cutting the cops some slack
My friend Peter Jaworski calls people like me law and order conservatives. I am enormously more complex than that( I am Christian, Monarchist, capitalist, neocon, with a measure of libertarianism thrown in), but he has a point. I admit it I generally cut the police a lot of slack. I have enormous respect and affection for HM Forces. They do jobs and deal with people that many of us would find pretty awful. I know the police are not perfect. I actually have made a complaint to the police ethics board in Montreal once. I was stopped and detained for 30 minutes while driving in to the hospital late at night.This happened many years ago. The police wanted to know if I owned my car ( I was driving my Lexus SC 400 at the time). They insisted on checking for quite some time inspite of the fact that I told them I had a critically ill patient to attend to. I even had the locating operator of the hospital talk to the policeman. No ticket was issued and I was allowed to proceed. It seems i really did own my own car. I was very annoyed and made a complaint. I did get an apology when I met with the police officer at a mediation hearing. I agreed to no disciplinary action to be taken. That was OK for me.
I like this article about policing. I still think we need to give the police a lot of slack, but not too much.
All in all, we can give the police a lot of credit and cut them some slack; based on what we know so far, it seems that they mostly did a pretty good job. Canada’s police, relative to global standards, mostly do. But it’s fair to raise questions about the things that weren’t as they should have been, and the cases where it appears that the police did not do such an outstanding job.
And in the post-Dziekanski era, when right wingers robotically lining up in to the “our cops are always tops” camp are as out of touch as reflexive leftists claiming that we live under martial law, Canadians shouldn’t ever cut the police too much slack.
I like this article about policing. I still think we need to give the police a lot of slack, but not too much.
All in all, we can give the police a lot of credit and cut them some slack; based on what we know so far, it seems that they mostly did a pretty good job. Canada’s police, relative to global standards, mostly do. But it’s fair to raise questions about the things that weren’t as they should have been, and the cases where it appears that the police did not do such an outstanding job.
And in the post-Dziekanski era, when right wingers robotically lining up in to the “our cops are always tops” camp are as out of touch as reflexive leftists claiming that we live under martial law, Canadians shouldn’t ever cut the police too much slack.
HM PM Harper is a Monarchist
He probably deserved a mental-health break after hosting back-to-back summits and the stress of smelling smoke from smoldering police cruisers a block away, but Prime Minister Stephen Harper beelined to Halifax to meet Queen Elizabeth II even before the G20 fence was down.
He joined Her Majesty for two events after her arrival on Monday and participated in three more on Tuesday. He was beaming uncharacteristically during her flotilla inspection in Halifax Harbour to a series of hip-hip-hoorays from assembled sailors.
Mr. Harper will join her at a garden party in Ottawa on Wednesday, stand beside her on Parliament Hill for Canada Day festivities and follow her to every city on her nine-day tour, claiming the royal limelight for himself after dispatching the Governor-General to China.
This is one monarchist Prime Minister — clearly a fan of the only Queen he’s ever known — who takes standing on guard for her position very seriously.
When the Governor-General had the gall to suggest she was Canada’s head of state, Michaëlle Jean was quickly corrected. She’s only the representative, not the real thing, Mr. Harper publicly declared.
And now Mr. Harper has reportedly assembled a committee of monarchists to search for a suitable person to serve as the next vice-regal, although it might be a symbolic gesture because I’m told the choice has been made and an announcement imminent.
Her Majesty has sent messages of condolences to the families of our honoured soldiers.
She was welcomed by Native Canadians. Watch here.
I would loved to see the ceremony honouring the Royal Canadian navy. Watch here.
Many more wonderful photos here. More on the tour here
Tips on Royal Protocol
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Ignoring voter intimidation
When will the euro be replaced?
Most Germans want a return to the Deutshmark. Many economists don't see the euro surviving. I think countries will start dropping out of euro zone and I'm not sure the eu will survive this.
Most Germans want to ditch the euro
June 29, 2010 - 7:29PM
AFP
A majority of Germans wants to scrap the euro and bring back the old currency, the deutschemark, according to a new poll published on Tuesday.
The Ipsos survey showed 51 per cent of people in Europe's top economy wanted their beloved deutschemark back, with 30 per cent wanting to keep the euro. The remainder was undecided.
Most Germans want to ditch the euro
June 29, 2010 - 7:29PM
AFP
A majority of Germans wants to scrap the euro and bring back the old currency, the deutschemark, according to a new poll published on Tuesday.
The Ipsos survey showed 51 per cent of people in Europe's top economy wanted their beloved deutschemark back, with 30 per cent wanting to keep the euro. The remainder was undecided.
HM Australian PM Tony Abbott
A new opinion poll shows that to be a distinct possibilty. Hopefully gillard will be Oz s Kim Campbell
Just five days into the job, Julia Gillard's honeymoon appears to be over, with the new Prime Minister scoring her first shock opinion poll.
An exclusive Morgan-7News poll shows Labor has gone backwards since Ms Gillard deposed Kevin Rudd from the leadership last Thursday.
The Coalition has an election-winning lead, climbing 4.5 points to 51.5 per cent on a two-party preferred basis.
Labor has dropped 4.5 points to 48.5 per cent.
Just five days into the job, Julia Gillard's honeymoon appears to be over, with the new Prime Minister scoring her first shock opinion poll.
An exclusive Morgan-7News poll shows Labor has gone backwards since Ms Gillard deposed Kevin Rudd from the leadership last Thursday.
The Coalition has an election-winning lead, climbing 4.5 points to 51.5 per cent on a two-party preferred basis.
Labor has dropped 4.5 points to 48.5 per cent.
SunTV News is needed
A great piece by Prof David Haskell of Wilfred Laurier University. There is actual bias in Canadian newsrooms. Surprise, Surprise. There is research backing up this claim. The worst offenders? the cbc of course.
Go tell the crtc that we need SunTv news.
Self-described “liberal” John Moore argued in the National Post left-wing media bias is “one of those gut things conservatives feel but can never prove.” The conservatives’ collective “guts” are onto something.
Ryerson University professors Marsha Barber and Ann Rauhala explored the demographic and political leanings of Canada’s television news directors. The results of their survey were published in 2005 in the Canadian Journal of Communication. The researchers found the news directors, the people “with the most direct responsibility for programming the news on any given day,” were more politically and socially liberal than the rest of the Canadian population.
Broken down by network, those working for the CBC were the most left-leaning.
Barber and Rauhala’s findings echo researchers David Pritchard and Florian Sauvageau’s survey results from years earlier. Regarding Canadian TV journalists, they found most felt the news organizations they worked for were “slightly left of centre” when it came to political outlook while they themselves were ideologically more left-leaning than their employers.
Other peer-reviewed studies have shown the personal values Canadian journalists hold and the ideologies they subscribe to influence the coverage they produce.
In their 2003 Donner Prize-nominated book, 'Hidden Agendas: How Journalists Influence the News,' Lydia Miljan and Barry Cooper show strong evidence of this link. They found when it comes to reporting on issues connected to social values, Canada’s national journalists regularly “slant” their coverage in order to privilege liberal views over socially-conservative perspectives. When the researchers turned their attention to TV news alone they found coverage by the CBC was most harsh against conservative positions.
For the last few years I’ve been examining the national news media’s relationship with evangelical Christians — a group well-known for its highly conservative social values.
In one study, published in the Journal of Communication and Religion, I analyzed 11 years of national TV news reports featuring those on the religious-right.
Like Miljan and Cooper, I found evidence of negatively slanted coverage.
Journalists, particularly those working for CBC TV, used omission, exaggeration or misrepresentation of information to present conservative Protestants and the positions they held in the worst possible light.
Go tell the crtc that we need SunTv news.
Self-described “liberal” John Moore argued in the National Post left-wing media bias is “one of those gut things conservatives feel but can never prove.” The conservatives’ collective “guts” are onto something.
Ryerson University professors Marsha Barber and Ann Rauhala explored the demographic and political leanings of Canada’s television news directors. The results of their survey were published in 2005 in the Canadian Journal of Communication. The researchers found the news directors, the people “with the most direct responsibility for programming the news on any given day,” were more politically and socially liberal than the rest of the Canadian population.
Broken down by network, those working for the CBC were the most left-leaning.
Barber and Rauhala’s findings echo researchers David Pritchard and Florian Sauvageau’s survey results from years earlier. Regarding Canadian TV journalists, they found most felt the news organizations they worked for were “slightly left of centre” when it came to political outlook while they themselves were ideologically more left-leaning than their employers.
Other peer-reviewed studies have shown the personal values Canadian journalists hold and the ideologies they subscribe to influence the coverage they produce.
In their 2003 Donner Prize-nominated book, 'Hidden Agendas: How Journalists Influence the News,' Lydia Miljan and Barry Cooper show strong evidence of this link. They found when it comes to reporting on issues connected to social values, Canada’s national journalists regularly “slant” their coverage in order to privilege liberal views over socially-conservative perspectives. When the researchers turned their attention to TV news alone they found coverage by the CBC was most harsh against conservative positions.
For the last few years I’ve been examining the national news media’s relationship with evangelical Christians — a group well-known for its highly conservative social values.
In one study, published in the Journal of Communication and Religion, I analyzed 11 years of national TV news reports featuring those on the religious-right.
Like Miljan and Cooper, I found evidence of negatively slanted coverage.
Journalists, particularly those working for CBC TV, used omission, exaggeration or misrepresentation of information to present conservative Protestants and the positions they held in the worst possible light.
goreacle and the masseuse?
Is this why Tipper is moving on? Or is the goreacle protecting his assets. Read the report here.
Listen to the lady :Opposing Views: Police Release Audio of Woman Accusing Al Gore of Sex Abuse
Glen Beck muses:
The Tawainese reenactment
Listen to the lady :Opposing Views: Police Release Audio of Woman Accusing Al Gore of Sex Abuse
Glen Beck muses:
The Tawainese reenactment
Monday, June 28, 2010
HM the Queen is home
My mother once said that this country felt like home, away from home, for the Queen of Canada. Prime minister, I am delighted to report that it still does and I am delighted to be back amongst you all,” she said in her first of four speeches during her tour of five Canadian cities.
“Canadians have by their own endeavours built a country and a society which is widely admired across the world. I am fortunate to have been a witness to many of the developments and accomplishments of modern Canada. As Queen of Canada for nearly six decades, my pride in this country remains undimmed. ... It is very good to be home.”
Hooligans
Rex has it right. Some of my libertarian friends seem to say that the "peaceful protesters shouldn't be blamed for the hooligans. The peaceful protesters hid the thugs and cheered them on. They are equally responsible. If they were truly peaceful , they would have pointed out these thugs and allowed their march to go on. We have no idea what these marchers were protesting. I was listening to anne legace dowsonon on CJAD, a commie republican who has run for the ndp, defend these thugs as children. Well then let's charge their parents and them for the damage done. She had their representatives on the air and denounced the G20 for advocating cuts to public spending. She denounced capitalism. What a hypocrite. This is the kind of loon we have working for us at the cbc. Now she spews her leftist nonsense on a supposedly capitalist radio station.
The hooligans should be charged and made to pay restitution. The unions, like cupe, who hid the thugs also be sued and made to pay restitution. This is what your union dues pay for people. Are you proud?
No decent, civilized city — and Toronto is both — should be held hostage by the actions of a set of ferociously insolent thugs and vandals.
Which is what happened here yesterday afternoon, and in fits and starts last night and early morning.
A band of black-masked, malicious, and potentially dangerous ne’er-do-wells did their radical best to get a racket going: torched a couple of police cars, did their petty “let’s smash the windows” trick, insulted the police, intimidated spectators, and tried to order the press around.
The world has seen this knob of losers and self-nominated “anarchists” before; they gave themselves the comic-book brand “Black Bloc” long ago, and they have been the noisome tail to the dog of every high order world meeting for well over a decade.
Update, Here is the video.
rex on the Hooligans from roy eappen on Vimeo.
The hooligans should be charged and made to pay restitution. The unions, like cupe, who hid the thugs also be sued and made to pay restitution. This is what your union dues pay for people. Are you proud?
No decent, civilized city — and Toronto is both — should be held hostage by the actions of a set of ferociously insolent thugs and vandals.
Which is what happened here yesterday afternoon, and in fits and starts last night and early morning.
A band of black-masked, malicious, and potentially dangerous ne’er-do-wells did their radical best to get a racket going: torched a couple of police cars, did their petty “let’s smash the windows” trick, insulted the police, intimidated spectators, and tried to order the press around.
The world has seen this knob of losers and self-nominated “anarchists” before; they gave themselves the comic-book brand “Black Bloc” long ago, and they have been the noisome tail to the dog of every high order world meeting for well over a decade.
Update, Here is the video.
rex on the Hooligans from roy eappen on Vimeo.
Gun Rights
I have never fired or even held a gun. I have no wish to do either. That certainly doesn't mean that responsible gun owners shouldn't have guns. If you commit a crime with a gun you should be punished to the fullest extent of the law. How surprising, a Supreme Court that doesn't invent the constitution as it goes along, but respects it. Oh, if our supremes would forget their rotting living tree.
The Supreme Court held Monday that Americans have the right to own a gun for self-defense anywhere they live, advancing a recent trend by the John Roberts-led bench to embrace gun rights.
By a 5-4 vote, the justices cast doubt on handgun bans in the Chicago area, but signaled that some limitations on the Constitution's "right to keep and bear arms" could survive legal challenges.
Justice Samuel Alito, writing for the court, said that the Second Amendment right "applies equally to the federal government and the states."
The Supreme Court held Monday that Americans have the right to own a gun for self-defense anywhere they live, advancing a recent trend by the John Roberts-led bench to embrace gun rights.
By a 5-4 vote, the justices cast doubt on handgun bans in the Chicago area, but signaled that some limitations on the Constitution's "right to keep and bear arms" could survive legal challenges.
Justice Samuel Alito, writing for the court, said that the Second Amendment right "applies equally to the federal government and the states."
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Jonathan Kay on Our Security Forces
Jonathan Kay discusses the rioting idiots and the security services that protect us. I am always dubious of these summits. The idiots have somewhat changed my mind.
The earth moved last Wednesday afternoon, both literally and metaphorically.
In parts of Ontario and Quebec and several northern U.S. states, an earthquake shook buildings and streets. In Washington, an incompetent and arrogant American president fired one of the finest military leaders the country has had in a half-century just as troops prepared for a major and vital campaign.
Nobody died due to the earthquake; people will die because of U.S. President Barack Obama’s hubris and pomposity.
What Gen. Stanley McChrystal said or allowed to be said by his staff about the Obama, U.S. Vice-President Joe Biden and a handful of senior advisers was rude and deserved a reprimand and warning. A bigger man than Obama — Bush or Reagan or even Clinton — would have done this. But not he who can do no wrong and has been told by the media for years now that he is god-like.
The earth moved last Wednesday afternoon, both literally and metaphorically.
In parts of Ontario and Quebec and several northern U.S. states, an earthquake shook buildings and streets. In Washington, an incompetent and arrogant American president fired one of the finest military leaders the country has had in a half-century just as troops prepared for a major and vital campaign.
Nobody died due to the earthquake; people will die because of U.S. President Barack Obama’s hubris and pomposity.
What Gen. Stanley McChrystal said or allowed to be said by his staff about the Obama, U.S. Vice-President Joe Biden and a handful of senior advisers was rude and deserved a reprimand and warning. A bigger man than Obama — Bush or Reagan or even Clinton — would have done this. But not he who can do no wrong and has been told by the media for years now that he is god-like.
Michael Coren on bo and General McChrystal
bo has now chosen General Petraeus, who he and his minions denigrated for months. Indded bo back moveon.org called him betrayus.( They have removed that now). I still think bo had no choice but to fire General McChrystal. Coren disagrees.
The earth moved last Wednesday afternoon, both literally and metaphorically.
In parts of Ontario and Quebec and several northern U.S. states, an earthquake shook buildings and streets. In Washington, an incompetent and arrogant American president fired one of the finest military leaders the country has had in a half-century just as troops prepared for a major and vital campaign.
Nobody died due to the earthquake; people will die because of U.S. President Barack Obama’s hubris and pomposity.
What Gen. Stanley McChrystal said or allowed to be said by his staff about the Obama, U.S. Vice-President Joe Biden and a handful of senior advisers was rude and deserved a reprimand and warning. A bigger man than Obama — Bush or Reagan or even Clinton — would have done this. But not he who can do no wrong and has been told by the media for years now that he is god-like.
The earth moved last Wednesday afternoon, both literally and metaphorically.
In parts of Ontario and Quebec and several northern U.S. states, an earthquake shook buildings and streets. In Washington, an incompetent and arrogant American president fired one of the finest military leaders the country has had in a half-century just as troops prepared for a major and vital campaign.
Nobody died due to the earthquake; people will die because of U.S. President Barack Obama’s hubris and pomposity.
What Gen. Stanley McChrystal said or allowed to be said by his staff about the Obama, U.S. Vice-President Joe Biden and a handful of senior advisers was rude and deserved a reprimand and warning. A bigger man than Obama — Bush or Reagan or even Clinton — would have done this. But not he who can do no wrong and has been told by the media for years now that he is god-like.
Gitmo stays open
bo seems unable to fulfill his promises. The left will not be happy. I am glad that Gitmo will stay open. A prison is need for enemy combatants.
Closing Guantánamo Fades as a Priority
By CHARLIE SAVAGE
WASHINGTON — Stymied by political opposition and focused on competing priorities, the Obama administration has sidelined efforts to close the Guantánamo prison, making it unlikely that President Obama will fulfill his promise to close it before his term ends in 2013.
Closing Guantánamo Fades as a Priority
By CHARLIE SAVAGE
WASHINGTON — Stymied by political opposition and focused on competing priorities, the Obama administration has sidelined efforts to close the Guantánamo prison, making it unlikely that President Obama will fulfill his promise to close it before his term ends in 2013.
garafalo disappointed with bo
The lefty hypocrite janeane garafalo was saying anyone who criticized bo was a racist, except I guess her. Read her interview here. Even the lefties like matt damon and spike are disappointed by their messiah. The lefties expected a workers utopia by now. Were all these lefty stars going to give up all their money and privilege and work in the sugar fields?
"There are so many things in the Obama administration to be sick over that certainly didn't change" and "I was surprised how disappointing the Obama administration has turned out to be,"
Also here.
“I also am disgusted that the Obama administration kept all the corrupt policies of the Bush administration in place, and helped feed into this tragedy. I don’t even understand it – I don’t understand how the Obama administration kept the same people in the management service in place, and kept ignoring the safety warnings.
They had Ken Salazar as the Secretary of the Interior, who’s corrupt. It just makes no sense. I have no idea why the Obama administration has been as heartbreakingly disappointing as it has. So yeah, I’m just disgusted. Other than that, I don’t know what else to say. I’m sure this type of thing will continue to go on and on and on.”
The interviewer, Emma Kat Richardson, went on to comment that, “I think even a week before the spill happened, Obama was talking about expanding offshore drilling,” to which Garofalo replied with:
”Oh yeah, definitely, definitely. But at midnight, when Bush left office – literally, on the night they left – they signed into law all kinds of corporate-friendly things. I don’t get it. You know, the corporation will always dominate; it’s naive to think differently. But I don’t know what it’s gonna take for the political realm to stop allowing the corporate realm to be so blatantly corrupted. It’ll probably never end, because it’s probably just the way it is. I assume that’s just the way it’s always been, and will always be – it just doesn’t get exposed until there’s a tragedy.”
Did you catch that? My God, she practically called Obama the N-word. Does she not realize that any constructive criticism of Obama actually reveals an intense hatred of our first black President simply because of the color of his skin?
"There are so many things in the Obama administration to be sick over that certainly didn't change" and "I was surprised how disappointing the Obama administration has turned out to be,"
Also here.
“I also am disgusted that the Obama administration kept all the corrupt policies of the Bush administration in place, and helped feed into this tragedy. I don’t even understand it – I don’t understand how the Obama administration kept the same people in the management service in place, and kept ignoring the safety warnings.
They had Ken Salazar as the Secretary of the Interior, who’s corrupt. It just makes no sense. I have no idea why the Obama administration has been as heartbreakingly disappointing as it has. So yeah, I’m just disgusted. Other than that, I don’t know what else to say. I’m sure this type of thing will continue to go on and on and on.”
The interviewer, Emma Kat Richardson, went on to comment that, “I think even a week before the spill happened, Obama was talking about expanding offshore drilling,” to which Garofalo replied with:
”Oh yeah, definitely, definitely. But at midnight, when Bush left office – literally, on the night they left – they signed into law all kinds of corporate-friendly things. I don’t get it. You know, the corporation will always dominate; it’s naive to think differently. But I don’t know what it’s gonna take for the political realm to stop allowing the corporate realm to be so blatantly corrupted. It’ll probably never end, because it’s probably just the way it is. I assume that’s just the way it’s always been, and will always be – it just doesn’t get exposed until there’s a tragedy.”
Did you catch that? My God, she practically called Obama the N-word. Does she not realize that any constructive criticism of Obama actually reveals an intense hatred of our first black President simply because of the color of his skin?
Saturday, June 26, 2010
R.I.P. Master Cpl. Kristal Giesebrecht and Pvt. Andrew Miller
While morons destroy and burn Toronto, two more of our troops have paid the ultimate price in defense of freedom.
My deepest sympathies to the families of Master Cpl. Kristal Giesebrecht and Pvt. Andrew Miller. They were both medics. They tried to heal the sick and relieve suffering. Your sacrifice will never be forgotten.
Brig.-Gen. Vance said Master Cpl. Giesebrecht was born in Wallaceburg, Ont., and was a member of 1 Canadian Field Hospital, based at CFB Petawawa.
He said she was married and a fit, dedicated and fun-loving medical technician serving on her second tour in Afghanistan.
“She was a mentor and an inspiration for her fellow medical technicians. Kristal loved life to the fullest. She was a wonderful friend, always opening her heart to everyone in need,” Brig.-Gen. Vance said.
“Kristal prided herself on her health and fitness, although she always felt the solution to any problem could be found in a box of chocolates.”
Pte. Andrew Miller was born in Sudbury, Ont. A member of 2 Field Ambulance, based at CFB Petawawa, he was serving on his first overseas deployment.
Brig.-Gen. Vance said Pte. Miller will be remembered as someone who would give his fellow soldiers the shirt off his back and was always the first to volunteer.
“Andrew was very confident in both his soldier and clinical skills. He wanted nothing more than to be part of the Health Services Unit for ROTO 9, in Afghanistan, so that he could put his skills to the test,” he said.
“Called Caillou by his friends – everyone acknowledged the resemblance as soon as they met him.”
HM Minister of Finance Jim Flaherty in the WSJ
Another great piece about Canada in the WSJ. We are the land of the free and the home of lower taxes than in the US soon.
When Canada hosts a meeting of the G-20 in Toronto today it will offer no apologies for the country's reputation as boring. Indeed, it will hold up its stodginess as a virtue.
When Canada hosts a meeting of the G-20 in Toronto today it will offer no apologies for the country's reputation as boring. Indeed, it will hold up its stodginess as a virtue.
Marc Morano against ellie may
I almost feel sorry for ellie may. Even her deputy has deserted her. Doesn't she tire of always being a loser? Watch Marc Morano take her onhere. Someone must have given her some valium before the segment.
Why doesn't bo allow US Allies to help?
The Dutch and many other US allies have offered to help with the oil spill in the Gulf. bo and his team have steadfastly refused. Us so called environmental regulations are a disaster for the environment.
In sharp contrast to Dutch preparedness before the fact and the Dutch instinct to dive into action once an emergency becomes apparent, witness the American reaction to the Dutch offer of help. The U.S. government responded with “Thanks but no thanks,” remarked Visser, despite BP’s desire to bring in the Dutch equipment and despite the no-lose nature of the Dutch offer — the Dutch government offered the use of its equipment at no charge. Even after the U.S. refused, the Dutch kept their vessels on standby, hoping the Americans would come round. By May 5, the U.S. had not come round. To the contrary, the U.S. had also turned down offers of help from 12 other governments, most of them with superior expertise and equipment — unlike the U.S., Europe has robust fleets of Oil Spill Response Vessels that sail circles around their make-shift U.S. counterparts.
Why does neither the U.S. government nor U.S. energy companies have on hand the cleanup technology available in Europe? Ironically, the superior European technology runs afoul of U.S. environmental rules. The voracious Dutch vessels, for example, continuously suck up vast quantities of oily water, extract most of the oil and then spit overboard vast quantities of nearly oil-free water. Nearly oil-free isn’t good enough for the U.S. regulators, who have a standard of 15 parts per million — if water isn’t at least 99.9985% pure, it may not be returned to the Gulf of Mexico.
When ships in U.S. waters take in oil-contaminated water, they are forced to store it. As U.S. Coast Guard Admiral Thad Allen, the official in charge of the clean-up operation, explained in a press briefing on June 11, “We have skimmed, to date, about 18 million gallons of oily water—the oil has to be decanted from that [and] our yield is usually somewhere around 10% or 15% on that.” In other words, U.S. ships have mostly been removing water from the Gulf, requiring them to make up to 10 times as many trips to storage facilities where they offload their oil-water mixture, an approach Koops calls “crazy.”
In sharp contrast to Dutch preparedness before the fact and the Dutch instinct to dive into action once an emergency becomes apparent, witness the American reaction to the Dutch offer of help. The U.S. government responded with “Thanks but no thanks,” remarked Visser, despite BP’s desire to bring in the Dutch equipment and despite the no-lose nature of the Dutch offer — the Dutch government offered the use of its equipment at no charge. Even after the U.S. refused, the Dutch kept their vessels on standby, hoping the Americans would come round. By May 5, the U.S. had not come round. To the contrary, the U.S. had also turned down offers of help from 12 other governments, most of them with superior expertise and equipment — unlike the U.S., Europe has robust fleets of Oil Spill Response Vessels that sail circles around their make-shift U.S. counterparts.
Why does neither the U.S. government nor U.S. energy companies have on hand the cleanup technology available in Europe? Ironically, the superior European technology runs afoul of U.S. environmental rules. The voracious Dutch vessels, for example, continuously suck up vast quantities of oily water, extract most of the oil and then spit overboard vast quantities of nearly oil-free water. Nearly oil-free isn’t good enough for the U.S. regulators, who have a standard of 15 parts per million — if water isn’t at least 99.9985% pure, it may not be returned to the Gulf of Mexico.
When ships in U.S. waters take in oil-contaminated water, they are forced to store it. As U.S. Coast Guard Admiral Thad Allen, the official in charge of the clean-up operation, explained in a press briefing on June 11, “We have skimmed, to date, about 18 million gallons of oily water—the oil has to be decanted from that [and] our yield is usually somewhere around 10% or 15% on that.” In other words, U.S. ships have mostly been removing water from the Gulf, requiring them to make up to 10 times as many trips to storage facilities where they offload their oil-water mixture, an approach Koops calls “crazy.”
I am surprised. I agree with Michael Den Tandt
The protesters are lame and the reason for the huge security costs. Breaking windows and throwing stones is not a legitimate way to protest.
I support free trade. It is the way to prosperity and the way to lift the poor out of their poverty. As Den Tandt writes, let the protesters go and get a job. Don't damage the property of Canadians.
There is nothing quite so smug, contemptuous and vainglorious as a G8 (now G20) protester.
If you’re an honest grunt looking for someone to blame for the bloated mess this weekend in Toronto, look no further. And if you’re a fellow traveller who thinks there’s cachet in running amid the teargas, think again. You’re full of it.
You have no credibility. You are not on the side of the great reformers of modern history — Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King Jr., Mohandas Gandhi. You are not striking a blow in defence of the poor. You are not helping women, blacks or aboriginals.
You are smashing stuff. If you like smashing stuff because doing so makes you feel good, then you’ve this count in your favour: You’re one of the honest ones.
It all started in Seattle in 1999. A group of international trade ministers and finance gnomes gathered at the Washington State Convention and Trade Centre. They were quickly joined by about 40,000 protesters, angry about a variety of things but focused mainly on the great evil of globalization.
And of course they were joined by a small but determined band of anarchists who love nothing more than to, as Alfred the butler says in the second Batman film, “watch the world burn.” The conference was a disaster. The anti-globalization movement, such as it is, was born.
More from Jonathan Kay.
I support free trade. It is the way to prosperity and the way to lift the poor out of their poverty. As Den Tandt writes, let the protesters go and get a job. Don't damage the property of Canadians.
There is nothing quite so smug, contemptuous and vainglorious as a G8 (now G20) protester.
If you’re an honest grunt looking for someone to blame for the bloated mess this weekend in Toronto, look no further. And if you’re a fellow traveller who thinks there’s cachet in running amid the teargas, think again. You’re full of it.
You have no credibility. You are not on the side of the great reformers of modern history — Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King Jr., Mohandas Gandhi. You are not striking a blow in defence of the poor. You are not helping women, blacks or aboriginals.
You are smashing stuff. If you like smashing stuff because doing so makes you feel good, then you’ve this count in your favour: You’re one of the honest ones.
It all started in Seattle in 1999. A group of international trade ministers and finance gnomes gathered at the Washington State Convention and Trade Centre. They were quickly joined by about 40,000 protesters, angry about a variety of things but focused mainly on the great evil of globalization.
And of course they were joined by a small but determined band of anarchists who love nothing more than to, as Alfred the butler says in the second Batman film, “watch the world burn.” The conference was a disaster. The anti-globalization movement, such as it is, was born.
More from Jonathan Kay.
THe ADQ is Quebec's only choice
Give the massive incompetence and perhaps even corruption shown by the charest grits, the separatist pq is gaining in the polls. Indeed I call the pq separatists, but given the language of charest lately , I almost see no difference.
pauline marois wants to introduce more restrictive language laws ( against French Canadians!) and
statist and radical policies. It is time for we Quebecers to stop voting for these two tired parties. The ADQ has policies of lower taxes, less state intervention, no referendums and increasing freedom for Quebecers. Quebec Anglophones vote grit almost religiously. The Quebec liberals ignore us and even English MPs do little for our community. It is time for a change. We need to vote ADQ. We need to rid ourselves of the divisive federalist/ separatist debate that dominates politics in this province. It prevents Quebec from attaining it's true potential. I urge my friends of the center right in Quebec to return to the ADq. We need to revamp the party and continue to make it a viable alternative to grit crony politics and the pq's radicalism. A pq victory always means economic uncertainty and decline.
Aside from these sideshows, however, the PQ does also have some plans, as usual, for more restrictions on English in education. The interesting thing about these plans is that having constrained actual anglophones as tightly as the Supreme Court will allow, the PQ is now turning to constraining freedom of choice even further for francophones, as well. This is a decision which we hope the party will regret, strongly and soon.
From family-based daycares (seriously) to CEGEP, the PQ now has big plans to control access. The Liberal government is choking off, with Bill 103, a trickle of non-Canadian anglophone students into the province's English high schools, but that's not good enough. The PQ now wants to require even family daycares to provide French to toddlers. And only students who have graduated from Englishlanguage high schools would be allowed to attend English-language CEGEPs. No longer would young francophones and allophones be able to exercise freedom of choice in language of education for the first time in their lives.
pauline marois wants to introduce more restrictive language laws ( against French Canadians!) and
statist and radical policies. It is time for we Quebecers to stop voting for these two tired parties. The ADQ has policies of lower taxes, less state intervention, no referendums and increasing freedom for Quebecers. Quebec Anglophones vote grit almost religiously. The Quebec liberals ignore us and even English MPs do little for our community. It is time for a change. We need to vote ADQ. We need to rid ourselves of the divisive federalist/ separatist debate that dominates politics in this province. It prevents Quebec from attaining it's true potential. I urge my friends of the center right in Quebec to return to the ADq. We need to revamp the party and continue to make it a viable alternative to grit crony politics and the pq's radicalism. A pq victory always means economic uncertainty and decline.
Aside from these sideshows, however, the PQ does also have some plans, as usual, for more restrictions on English in education. The interesting thing about these plans is that having constrained actual anglophones as tightly as the Supreme Court will allow, the PQ is now turning to constraining freedom of choice even further for francophones, as well. This is a decision which we hope the party will regret, strongly and soon.
From family-based daycares (seriously) to CEGEP, the PQ now has big plans to control access. The Liberal government is choking off, with Bill 103, a trickle of non-Canadian anglophone students into the province's English high schools, but that's not good enough. The PQ now wants to require even family daycares to provide French to toddlers. And only students who have graduated from Englishlanguage high schools would be allowed to attend English-language CEGEPs. No longer would young francophones and allophones be able to exercise freedom of choice in language of education for the first time in their lives.
Friday, June 25, 2010
Free Lord Black
I am glad that SCOTUS has ruled 9-0 in favour of Lord Black's appeal. I would have preferred that they overturned the law completely, but I think this is pretty good. Hopefully LOrd Black will soon be released. As i have said before, this case has soured me on American Justice. These are clearly civil matters. bWhat has it accomplished? Hollinger is gone, the stockholders who brought this to the authourities, have lost their entire investment. As to the obstruction of justice charges, everything in those boxes were in the position of the state.
It's time to end this farce. Free Lord Black.
Fraud law flawed, court says in ruling that may free Black
BY SHELDON ALBERTS, CANWEST NEWS SERVICE JUNE 25, 2010
Former Canadian press baron Conrad Black won a significant, but incomplete, legal victory Thursday, when the United States Supreme Court rewrote the country's fraud laws.
In a decision that could affect dozens of white-collar crime cases, the U.S. high court found flaws in the controversial "honest services" statute that was used to prosecute Black.
The high court sent Black's case back to the Chicagobased Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals to be reconsidered. Miguel Estrada, Black's Washington-based lawyer, said he will seek bail for Black, who is serving a six-and-a-half-year sentence in a Florida prison, within the next few days.
It's time to end this farce. Free Lord Black.
Fraud law flawed, court says in ruling that may free Black
BY SHELDON ALBERTS, CANWEST NEWS SERVICE JUNE 25, 2010
Former Canadian press baron Conrad Black won a significant, but incomplete, legal victory Thursday, when the United States Supreme Court rewrote the country's fraud laws.
In a decision that could affect dozens of white-collar crime cases, the U.S. high court found flaws in the controversial "honest services" statute that was used to prosecute Black.
The high court sent Black's case back to the Chicagobased Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals to be reconsidered. Miguel Estrada, Black's Washington-based lawyer, said he will seek bail for Black, who is serving a six-and-a-half-year sentence in a Florida prison, within the next few days.
More Praise for HM Canadian Government
HM PM and his government have cut tariffs, cut corporate taxes and have attempts to deregulate things like telecoms. The world is noticing. The G8 and G20 nations should take note.
Leaders from 19 countries and the European Union will gather for the G-20 summit in Toronto beginning June 26 to discuss how to stem the global recession and get the world back on the path to strong, stable economic growth. They picked a good spot, as the assembled leaders could learn a lot from their host country.
Since the global recession hit two years ago, Canada has implemented a broad array of free market tax and trade policies. As a result, our neighbor to the north has surpassed an increasingly statist, mercantilist United States in The Heritage Foundation’s Index of Economic Freedom. More importantly, Canada is emerging from the “Great Recession” much more rapidly than the U.S. and virtually every other G-20 participant as well.
How has Canada done it? At the onset of the recession, Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s government moved aggressively to improve Canadian manufacturers’ global competitiveness. After extensive consultations with Canadian industries, Ottawa unilaterally eliminated tariffs on 1,755 different types of machinery, equipment and other manufacturing materials.
The Department of Finance presented a straightforward rationale for the move: “By reducing the cost of importing key factors of production, tariff relief encourages innovation and allows businesses to enhance their stock of capital equipment.” The Department projected that Canada’s complete liberalization of more than C$5 billion in imports will provide an additional C$300 million in annual duty savings for Canadian businesses.
Canada didn’t stop with tariffs. It also slashed the corporate tax rate to 18 percent. And the rate will fall farther -- to 16.5 percent next year and to 15 percent a year later.
Leaders from 19 countries and the European Union will gather for the G-20 summit in Toronto beginning June 26 to discuss how to stem the global recession and get the world back on the path to strong, stable economic growth. They picked a good spot, as the assembled leaders could learn a lot from their host country.
Since the global recession hit two years ago, Canada has implemented a broad array of free market tax and trade policies. As a result, our neighbor to the north has surpassed an increasingly statist, mercantilist United States in The Heritage Foundation’s Index of Economic Freedom. More importantly, Canada is emerging from the “Great Recession” much more rapidly than the U.S. and virtually every other G-20 participant as well.
How has Canada done it? At the onset of the recession, Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s government moved aggressively to improve Canadian manufacturers’ global competitiveness. After extensive consultations with Canadian industries, Ottawa unilaterally eliminated tariffs on 1,755 different types of machinery, equipment and other manufacturing materials.
The Department of Finance presented a straightforward rationale for the move: “By reducing the cost of importing key factors of production, tariff relief encourages innovation and allows businesses to enhance their stock of capital equipment.” The Department projected that Canada’s complete liberalization of more than C$5 billion in imports will provide an additional C$300 million in annual duty savings for Canadian businesses.
Canada didn’t stop with tariffs. It also slashed the corporate tax rate to 18 percent. And the rate will fall farther -- to 16.5 percent next year and to 15 percent a year later.
Everyone wants to be a Canadian
I am a first generation immigrant to this country. My family has prospered in this great land. I think is the most wonderful place on earth,. I love it's Institutions, its people and its history. You can't beat Canada for beauty. It is nice that the rest of the world is beginning to see what we Canadians have known for a long time. We don't trumpet it, but Canada is an amazing country.
Why we all want to be Canadian now Even on a rainy weekday at Ottawa's By Ward market, Canadian shoppers are cheery.
As Americans and Europeans face deficits and drastic government cuts, Canada's economy is recovering from only a mild recession.
Sheltering near the maple syrup stall, local restaurant promoter Melissa Grecco says Canada escaped the fate of the US.
"We felt the effects on corporate bookings, companies not spending money on staff or booking on a limited budget. But we didn't feel it as much as the US. And within the last couple of months our business has exploded."...
Why we all want to be Canadian now Even on a rainy weekday at Ottawa's By Ward market, Canadian shoppers are cheery.
As Americans and Europeans face deficits and drastic government cuts, Canada's economy is recovering from only a mild recession.
Sheltering near the maple syrup stall, local restaurant promoter Melissa Grecco says Canada escaped the fate of the US.
"We felt the effects on corporate bookings, companies not spending money on staff or booking on a limited budget. But we didn't feel it as much as the US. And within the last couple of months our business has exploded."...
Long term benefits of summits
That's what some of Canada's top business leaders are saying. These summits will allow for increased business, always a good thing.
Some of Canada’s top CEOs say Canadians should expect long-lasting economic gains from the G20 summit thanks to the rare opportunity to showcase the country and form high-level connections with such growing world powers as China and India.
It’s a message that Canada’s business leaders are eager to share in the face of a steady stream of negativity surrounding a summit that has so far been dominated by stories of protests, high costs and the forced cancellation of Roy Halladay’s return to Rogers Centre.
But long after the fake lake has been drained and the $1-billion in summit expenses has been paid, business leaders say Canada will benefit from the weekend of disruption. As an example, about 250 of China’s top business leaders joined President Hu Jintao for a state visit Thursday in Ottawa.
Some of Canada’s top CEOs say Canadians should expect long-lasting economic gains from the G20 summit thanks to the rare opportunity to showcase the country and form high-level connections with such growing world powers as China and India.
It’s a message that Canada’s business leaders are eager to share in the face of a steady stream of negativity surrounding a summit that has so far been dominated by stories of protests, high costs and the forced cancellation of Roy Halladay’s return to Rogers Centre.
But long after the fake lake has been drained and the $1-billion in summit expenses has been paid, business leaders say Canada will benefit from the weekend of disruption. As an example, about 250 of China’s top business leaders joined President Hu Jintao for a state visit Thursday in Ottawa.
Congratulations to my friend Jamie Wilson
My friend Jamie Wilson has been appointed Treaty Commissioner of Manitoba. Jamie is a great choice. I am sure he will do a great job.
Minister Strahl Announces Appointment of James Brook Wilson to the Treaty Relations Commission of Manitoba
OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - June 23, 2010) - Today, the Honourable Chuck Strahl, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians, together with Grand Chief Ron Evans of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs, announced the appointment of James Brook Wilson as Commissioner of the Treaty Relations Commission of Manitoba.
"Mr. Wilson's extensive experience in the field of education makes him ideally suited to lead the Commission's work to raise public awareness of the importance of treaties in Manitoba," said Minister Strahl. "Treaties are an integral part of our history. They define Canada's ongoing relationship with First Nations and ensure that First Nation and non-First Nation people can enjoy Canada's benefits together."
"We are pleased to have James Brook Wilson appointed as Treaty Commissioner in Manitoba," said Grand Chief Evans. "Leading the work of the Treaty Relations Commission through research, education, awareness and facilitation is very important to First Nations, non-First Nations, the province and Canada. We must all acknowledge and uphold Treaties as an integral part of our collective history and future."
A treaty commission is a neutral, arm's-length body that helps facilitate discussions about treaties. Treaty commissions are part of the government's ongoing commitment to address historic treaty issues through co-operative relationships with Treaty First Nations.
The Treaty Relations Commission of Manitoba was established jointly in 2005 by Canada and the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs. The mandate of the Commission includes activities such as public education, facilitation and research. Since 2005, through new partnerships with Red River College, Riding Mountain National Park, University College of the North, and Winnipeg Police Services, the Commission has contributed to an improved understanding of historic treaties and treaty relationships.
Appointments to the Commission are made by the Governor in Council and informed by a joint selection process with the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs and Indian and Northern Affairs Canada. Governor in Council appointments are based on the guiding principles of competency, professionalism and accessibility to all Canadians.
This release and a biographical note are also available on the Internet at www.inac.gc.ca.
Receive all our news and media updates automatically. For more information or to sign up for our Media Room feed, visit: http://www.ainc-inac.gc.ca/1info/rssinfo-eng.asp.
Biographical Note
JAMES BROOK WILSON
In June 2010, James Brook Wilson was appointed to serve as Commissioner for the Treaty Relations Commission of Manitoba. Mr. Wilson will serve as Commissioner until March 31, 2011.
Mr. Wilson brings to this position extensive experience in the education field. In 2008, he graduated with a Masters in Education Administration from the University of Manitoba. Since graduating, he has worked as the Director of Education for the Opaskwayak Education Authority Inc.
In 2008, Mr. Wilson was the recipient of the Pas and Area Chamber of Commerce 'Citizen of the Year' award. His experience and leadership on various boards and committees over the years will benefit the Treaty Relations Commission of Manitoba.
Minister Strahl Announces Appointment of James Brook Wilson to the Treaty Relations Commission of Manitoba
OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - June 23, 2010) - Today, the Honourable Chuck Strahl, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians, together with Grand Chief Ron Evans of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs, announced the appointment of James Brook Wilson as Commissioner of the Treaty Relations Commission of Manitoba.
"Mr. Wilson's extensive experience in the field of education makes him ideally suited to lead the Commission's work to raise public awareness of the importance of treaties in Manitoba," said Minister Strahl. "Treaties are an integral part of our history. They define Canada's ongoing relationship with First Nations and ensure that First Nation and non-First Nation people can enjoy Canada's benefits together."
"We are pleased to have James Brook Wilson appointed as Treaty Commissioner in Manitoba," said Grand Chief Evans. "Leading the work of the Treaty Relations Commission through research, education, awareness and facilitation is very important to First Nations, non-First Nations, the province and Canada. We must all acknowledge and uphold Treaties as an integral part of our collective history and future."
A treaty commission is a neutral, arm's-length body that helps facilitate discussions about treaties. Treaty commissions are part of the government's ongoing commitment to address historic treaty issues through co-operative relationships with Treaty First Nations.
The Treaty Relations Commission of Manitoba was established jointly in 2005 by Canada and the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs. The mandate of the Commission includes activities such as public education, facilitation and research. Since 2005, through new partnerships with Red River College, Riding Mountain National Park, University College of the North, and Winnipeg Police Services, the Commission has contributed to an improved understanding of historic treaties and treaty relationships.
Appointments to the Commission are made by the Governor in Council and informed by a joint selection process with the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs and Indian and Northern Affairs Canada. Governor in Council appointments are based on the guiding principles of competency, professionalism and accessibility to all Canadians.
This release and a biographical note are also available on the Internet at www.inac.gc.ca.
Receive all our news and media updates automatically. For more information or to sign up for our Media Room feed, visit: http://www.ainc-inac.gc.ca/1info/rssinfo-eng.asp.
Biographical Note
JAMES BROOK WILSON
In June 2010, James Brook Wilson was appointed to serve as Commissioner for the Treaty Relations Commission of Manitoba. Mr. Wilson will serve as Commissioner until March 31, 2011.
Mr. Wilson brings to this position extensive experience in the education field. In 2008, he graduated with a Masters in Education Administration from the University of Manitoba. Since graduating, he has worked as the Director of Education for the Opaskwayak Education Authority Inc.
In 2008, Mr. Wilson was the recipient of the Pas and Area Chamber of Commerce 'Citizen of the Year' award. His experience and leadership on various boards and committees over the years will benefit the Treaty Relations Commission of Manitoba.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Want to buy a Greek Island?
Greece is so broke that it is selling off more Islands. I wonder what Quebec will have to seel off> it's economy is not much better than Greece.
There's little that shouts "seriously rich" as much as a little island in the sun to call your own. For Sir Richard Branson it is Neckar in the Caribbean, the billionaire Barclay brothers prefer Brecqhou in the Channel Islands, while Aristotle Onassis married Jackie Kennedy on Skorpios, his Greek hideway.
Now Greece is making it easier for the rich and famous to fulfill their dreams by preparing to sell, or offering long-term leases on, some of its 6,000 sun-kissed islands in a desperate attempt to repay its mountainous debts.
The Guardian has learned that an area in Mykonos, one of Greece's top tourist destinations, is one of the sites for sale. The area is one-third owned by the government, which is looking for a buyer willing to inject capital and develop a luxury tourism complex, according to a source close to the negotiations.
There's little that shouts "seriously rich" as much as a little island in the sun to call your own. For Sir Richard Branson it is Neckar in the Caribbean, the billionaire Barclay brothers prefer Brecqhou in the Channel Islands, while Aristotle Onassis married Jackie Kennedy on Skorpios, his Greek hideway.
Now Greece is making it easier for the rich and famous to fulfill their dreams by preparing to sell, or offering long-term leases on, some of its 6,000 sun-kissed islands in a desperate attempt to repay its mountainous debts.
The Guardian has learned that an area in Mykonos, one of Greece's top tourist destinations, is one of the sites for sale. The area is one-third owned by the government, which is looking for a buyer willing to inject capital and develop a luxury tourism complex, according to a source close to the negotiations.
Air India 182
Thank you Prime Minister. I hope these eases the painof the survivors.
The destruction of Air India Flight 182 on June 23, 1985, was and remains the single worst act of terrorism in Canadian history. It cost the lives of 329 men, women and children. They perished that day, when a bomb planted in the hold of their aircraft exploded. Meanwhile, a similar bomb intended for another Air India flight, detonated at Tokyo’s Narita airport, killing two baggage handlers.
Around the world, it was a dreadful day. Let us picture it once more.
Most of those on Flight 182 were our fellow citizens, Canadians going to India for business or pleasure, or, family reunions. Eighty-two of those aboard were children, no doubt to be received and shown off with happy pride. Activities familiar to all of us then, a journey begun with excitement and hopeful expectations.
But, that day the innocence, the pleasure, the anticipation — all of it was snuffed out by an act of grotesque violence and malevolence. And you who are left, you were handed this heartbreaking loss, the burden of which it is all but impossible to calculate, severed bonds that still ache with the burning sadness of love remembered in empty silence.
This was evil, perpetrated by cowards, despicable, senseless and vicious. I will make no attempt to make any sense of it. Nor will I speak of roads to healing. Some wounds are too deep to be healed even by the remedy of time. What I can tell you is this: Your pain is our pain. As you grieve, so we grieve. And, as the years have deepened your grief, so has the understanding of our country grown.
Canadians who sadly did not at first accept that this outrage was made in Canada accept it now. Let me just speak directly to this perception, for it is wrong, and it must be laid to rest. This was not an act of foreign violence. This atrocity was conceived in Canada, executed in Canada, by Canadian citizens, and its victims were themselves mostly citizens of Canada.
We wish this realization had gained common acceptance earlier. However, it is this understanding which guides the actions of our government today. So, we have encouraged the building of more memorials such as the original one in Ireland that I had the honour of visiting in 2005, and this one here in Toronto. It is why the government of Canada made June 23 the National Day of Remembrance for Victims of Terrorism. And it is why four years ago, in one of the very first acts of our new government, we appointed retired justice John Major to scrutinize without limit the investigation of the bombing of Air India Flight 182.
I come now to a difficult place. Commissioner Major reported on the first phase of his inquiry, in December 2007. In it, he recorded many personal stories, some that I have heard firsthand from families of victims. I found their words deeply moving. Six days ago, Commissioner Major issued his second report. It is, finally, a thorough examination of events, and deeply disturbing. For, although Commissioner Major’s report runs to 3,000 pages, although it summarizes the testimony of hundreds of witnesses although it shines a light on institutional processes that Commissioner Major referred to in some cases as a “dysfunctional focus on self justification,” and in others as “slow, intermittent, and acrimonious,” it can still be reduced to a few words: This should not have happened. This should not have happened.
It is not enough to say that the system failed. It did of course. But, this is to sanitize with words a succession of woeful inadequacies that Commissioner Major calls “a cascading series of errors.” No. that is not enough. Commissioner Major delivered a damning indictment of many things that occurred before and after the fact. Things, ladies and gentlemen, that this Government of Canada cannot defend, has no wish to defend. And, Commissioner Major finds that, to make matters worse, the families of the victims were for years after treated with scant respect or consideration by agencies of the Government of Canada. These are things for which honour and duty require that the Government of Canada — the government that called this inquiry — now apologize.
I stand before you therefore, to offer on behalf of the Government of Canada, and all Canadians, an apology for the institutional failings of 25 years ago and the treatment of the victims’ families thereafter. The protection of its citizens is the first obligation of government. The mere fact of the destruction of Air India Flight 182, is the primary evidence that something went very, very wrong.
For that, we are sorry. For that, and also for the years during which your legitimate need for answers and indeed, for empathy, were treated with administrative disdain. Ladies and gentlemen, Commissioner Major has made many important recommendations. We are in the course of reviewing them and have already begun the vital work of improving safety and security at our airports. It is a matter of the utmost importance to our government that such a thing never happens again.
Sadly, we have no way of knowing when, if, or how, we may once more be attacked. Or by whom. We know only that terrorism is an enemy with a thousand faces, and a hatred that festers in the darkest spots of the human mind. And we fear that when we invite from around the world those who share our aspirations for a better life, others also come, Those who see in our Canada not new bridges to a hopeful future but only another chance to travel the old roads to the blood-feuds of the past.
And let me address, as the families have asked me to do, my fellow political leaders of every stripe: It is incumbent upon us all not to reach out to, but rather to marginalize, to carefully and systematically marginalize, those extremists who seek to import the battles of India’s past here and then to export them back to that great and forward-looking nation. We must have none of it. Just as we must continue the struggle against destroyers and murderers of all kinds. And it will, with energy and urgency. Whatever the threat, we must anticipate it. Wherever it comes from, we must be ready for it. Whoever would lift up a perverse ideology by casting down the innocent – we must learn how to thwart them.
Let me say that again: The finest memorial we can build to your loved ones is to prevent another Flight 182. This is our duty to you, and to all Canadians. I want to thank the victims’ families for inviting me here today.
Merci beaucoup. God bless you all. And God keep our land glorious and free.
InterProvincial trade barriers
I am a firm believer in free trade. Unfortunately in Canada we have many barriers to trade between provinces. That is just wrong. A great new paper out from my friends at the Macdonald Laurier Institute discusses this issue.
What a great organization. I think HM Government should really take a look at this work.
The Tories have recently passed free trade with Columbia as well as several other international free trade deals. That is great news. We should take steps to make trade much freer between the provonces. Brian Lilley reports that these silly barriers cost us billions annually.
If Canada is our common home, why are so many doors locked inside it? The federal government has the legal power and moral duty to ensure that there are no restrictions and impediments to the free movement of people, goods, services and investment in Canada. Not only are these barriers costly and impair the efficiency of the Canadian marketplace, but they interfere with and erode the basic rights of Canadians. Establishing that Canadians have a right to move, work and do business anywhere in Canada would be the much-delayed fulfilment of our founders’ dream of a great nation and of the deal they struck in 1867.
What a great organization. I think HM Government should really take a look at this work.
The Tories have recently passed free trade with Columbia as well as several other international free trade deals. That is great news. We should take steps to make trade much freer between the provonces. Brian Lilley reports that these silly barriers cost us billions annually.
If Canada is our common home, why are so many doors locked inside it? The federal government has the legal power and moral duty to ensure that there are no restrictions and impediments to the free movement of people, goods, services and investment in Canada. Not only are these barriers costly and impair the efficiency of the Canadian marketplace, but they interfere with and erode the basic rights of Canadians. Establishing that Canadians have a right to move, work and do business anywhere in Canada would be the much-delayed fulfilment of our founders’ dream of a great nation and of the deal they struck in 1867.
climate realism fells rudd
It is interesting to watch what has happened in Oz. malcolm turnbull and kevin rudd have been turned out by their respective parties. Both men were advocates of cap and tax and other chicken little policies ( and republicans). rudd also introduced a crippling mining tax. For a country that does billions of dollars in business exporting coal to China, this is madness. I don't even think rudd believed his own alarmism. His proposed cap and tax was going to be pretty weak. Climate realism has swept the nation. rudd was a sitting pm and his party believed he would lose to climate realist and soon to be HM Australian PM Tony Abbott ( a Monarchist). This latest move by labour confirms everything Tony Abbott has been saying about rudd. This should be a signal to politicians everywhere. People are wising up to the climate hoax. dion and the grits went down to defeat on backing a carbon tax. Now oz. HM M Cameron is talking a lot less about chicken little policies and a lot more about budget cuts. The Spanish government ( socialists) have basically admitted their green jobs policies have been a disaster. Hopefully the rest of the world will catch up to HM PM Harper and his climate realist tendencies.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Summit costs
Kevin page, hardly a friend of the Tories has done a study of summit costs at the behest of the dippers. I doubt the dipper grits will be very happy about the report.
OTTAWA — Canada’s budget watchdog says the costs of international leaders gatherings have grown significantly in recent years and there is nothing to show that the nearly $1-billion tab for the G8 and G20 summits in Canada is out of line with other countries.
Kevin Page, in a report released Tuesday, also concludes that the Harper government has been “relatively transparent” about the price tag compared to the silence of other countries in revealing their total costs.
“Hosting these international summits has typically been a very costly undertaking,” said Mr. Page, the parliamentary budget officer.
The report found that costs for the G8 in Huntsville, Ont., are not out of whack compared to other G8 meetings and that there is not enough international information available to draw conclusions about the G20 in Toronto.
OTTAWA — Canada’s budget watchdog says the costs of international leaders gatherings have grown significantly in recent years and there is nothing to show that the nearly $1-billion tab for the G8 and G20 summits in Canada is out of line with other countries.
Kevin Page, in a report released Tuesday, also concludes that the Harper government has been “relatively transparent” about the price tag compared to the silence of other countries in revealing their total costs.
“Hosting these international summits has typically been a very costly undertaking,” said Mr. Page, the parliamentary budget officer.
The report found that costs for the G8 in Huntsville, Ont., are not out of whack compared to other G8 meetings and that there is not enough international information available to draw conclusions about the G20 in Toronto.
The Loyola Ruling
The Gazette thinks this is a victory for religious freedom. I certainly agree. Of course the atheist statists in Quebec city, want none of that. charest is appealing the decision. No wonder more parents are home schooling.
A strong majority of Loyola parents had asked that their children not be taught the mandatory ERC course, since it prevented the school from teaching from a Catholic perspective, which is after all the purpose of a Catholic school. When the government refused an exemption, Loyola's administration was emboldened to go to court. It has now won vindication for freedom of choice across the board: Other religious high schools will surely apply the ruling, and public schools will also have to grapple with the problem.
That's fine. This ill-conceived denial of religious orientation in the teaching of ethics won't be missed.
Judge Gerard Dugre said the government's bullying imposition of the ECR course "assumes a totalitarian character" like that of the Inquisition. True enough: The course has more to do with freedom from religion than freedom of religion.
A strong majority of Loyola parents had asked that their children not be taught the mandatory ERC course, since it prevented the school from teaching from a Catholic perspective, which is after all the purpose of a Catholic school. When the government refused an exemption, Loyola's administration was emboldened to go to court. It has now won vindication for freedom of choice across the board: Other religious high schools will surely apply the ruling, and public schools will also have to grapple with the problem.
That's fine. This ill-conceived denial of religious orientation in the teaching of ethics won't be missed.
Judge Gerard Dugre said the government's bullying imposition of the ECR course "assumes a totalitarian character" like that of the Inquisition. True enough: The course has more to do with freedom from religion than freedom of religion.
Libby denounced in the American Spectator
Personally, I hope Davies stays on as NDP Deputy Leader. So long as she remains in a senior level position of leadership within the NDP it will serve as a constant reminder that I made the right decision to leave the NDP. It would serve as a reminder of the NDP's implacable and irrational hostility towards Israel. It would also serve as a reminder that conservatives are Israel's greatest champions, be they in the United States or Canada.
And she is a 9/11 truther.
L.Ian Macdonald on the Summits
L. Ian Macdonald has a good piece on those pesky summits. It seems that Canada is pushing it's influence worldwide.
"Then, Flaherty says, the G20 will be "asking the growing economies to ensure more domestic demand" rather than emphasizing exports. This requires what Flaherty euphemistically calls "flexibility on exchange rates." Or in plain language, getting the Chinese to agree let the yuan rise, which they signalled last weekend that they are now to do.
There are two other financial agenda items -quota reform of the international financial institutions, the IMF and the World Bank. What it comes down to is the G20 wants to break the monopoly of the US. and the White House on naming the head of the World Bank. And finally all G20 leaders will sing the praises of free trade and denounce the evils of protectionism. More lip service to the endless Doha Round of global trade talks.
Is it worth it for Canada, for all the cost and controversy, to host these summits? What do we get out of it? For Flaherty it's a no-brainer.
"We solidify our participation," he says, "in the world's economic leadership."
"Then, Flaherty says, the G20 will be "asking the growing economies to ensure more domestic demand" rather than emphasizing exports. This requires what Flaherty euphemistically calls "flexibility on exchange rates." Or in plain language, getting the Chinese to agree let the yuan rise, which they signalled last weekend that they are now to do.
There are two other financial agenda items -quota reform of the international financial institutions, the IMF and the World Bank. What it comes down to is the G20 wants to break the monopoly of the US. and the White House on naming the head of the World Bank. And finally all G20 leaders will sing the praises of free trade and denounce the evils of protectionism. More lip service to the endless Doha Round of global trade talks.
Is it worth it for Canada, for all the cost and controversy, to host these summits? What do we get out of it? For Flaherty it's a no-brainer.
"We solidify our participation," he says, "in the world's economic leadership."
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Andrew Bolt makes mincemeat of Oz's goreacle
It is great fun to listen to Andrew Bolt eviscerate the ridiculous claims of Oz's chief Chicken little. The chicken little also has massive conflicts of interest.
You can listen here
You can read the transcript as well.
Andrew: All that’s lovely, Tim. But I think you need to be held to account for the alarmism that is in part your stock in trade, your schtick,, and is responsible for what you now see – the retreat from global warming policies.
Flannery: You want to paint me as an alarmist.
Bolt: You are an alarmist.
You can listen here
You can read the transcript as well.
Andrew: All that’s lovely, Tim. But I think you need to be held to account for the alarmism that is in part your stock in trade, your schtick,, and is responsible for what you now see – the retreat from global warming policies.
Flannery: You want to paint me as an alarmist.
Bolt: You are an alarmist.
General McChrystal tells the truth
I actually know someone who has a friend who has had real conversations with a number of US Preidents including President Bush George W. Bush. This person described Bush as thoughtful and engaged. President Bush seemed like he had run an organization before and knew how to be a chief executive. This person found bo disengaged and his head in the clouds. It was obvious he had never run an organization before.
General McChrystal maybe right, but bo has every right to fire him. The military must obey their commander in chief. McChrystal voted for bo, so I must question his judgement. He does seem sorry that he did. He has apologized for his comments, but I'm not sure that's enough. President Bush would have fired him, but I doubt bo will. Who knows where the buck stops with bo. If President Bush had been in power, the left would have been cheering on General McChrystal.
When Barack Obama entered the Oval Office, he immediately set out to deliver on his most important campaign promise on foreign policy: to refocus the war in Afghanistan on what led us to invade in the first place. "I want the American people to understand," he announced in March 2009. "We have a clear and focused goal: to disrupt, dismantle and defeat Al Qaeda in Pakistan and Afghanistan." He ordered another 21,000 troops to Kabul, the largest increase since the war began in 2001. Taking the advice of both the Pentagon and the Joint Chiefs of Staff, he also fired Gen. David McKiernan – then the U.S. and NATO commander in Afghanistan – and replaced him with a man he didn't know and had met only briefly: Gen. Stanley McChrystal. It was the first time a top general had been relieved from duty during wartime in more than 50 years, since Harry Truman fired Gen. Douglas MacArthur at the height of the Korean War.
Even though he had voted for Obama, McChrystal and his new commander in chief failed from the outset to connect. The general first encountered Obama a week after he took office, when the president met with a dozen senior military officials in a room at the Pentagon known as the Tank. According to sources familiar with the meeting, McChrystal thought Obama looked "uncomfortable and intimidated" by the roomful of military brass. Their first one-on-one meeting took place in the Oval Office four months later, after McChrystal got the Afghanistan job, and it didn't go much better. "It was a 10-minute photo op," says an adviser to McChrystal. "Obama clearly didn't know anything about him, who he was. Here's the guy who's going to run his fucking war, but he didn't seem very engaged. The Boss was pretty disappointed."
General McChrystal maybe right, but bo has every right to fire him. The military must obey their commander in chief. McChrystal voted for bo, so I must question his judgement. He does seem sorry that he did. He has apologized for his comments, but I'm not sure that's enough. President Bush would have fired him, but I doubt bo will. Who knows where the buck stops with bo. If President Bush had been in power, the left would have been cheering on General McChrystal.
When Barack Obama entered the Oval Office, he immediately set out to deliver on his most important campaign promise on foreign policy: to refocus the war in Afghanistan on what led us to invade in the first place. "I want the American people to understand," he announced in March 2009. "We have a clear and focused goal: to disrupt, dismantle and defeat Al Qaeda in Pakistan and Afghanistan." He ordered another 21,000 troops to Kabul, the largest increase since the war began in 2001. Taking the advice of both the Pentagon and the Joint Chiefs of Staff, he also fired Gen. David McKiernan – then the U.S. and NATO commander in Afghanistan – and replaced him with a man he didn't know and had met only briefly: Gen. Stanley McChrystal. It was the first time a top general had been relieved from duty during wartime in more than 50 years, since Harry Truman fired Gen. Douglas MacArthur at the height of the Korean War.
Even though he had voted for Obama, McChrystal and his new commander in chief failed from the outset to connect. The general first encountered Obama a week after he took office, when the president met with a dozen senior military officials in a room at the Pentagon known as the Tank. According to sources familiar with the meeting, McChrystal thought Obama looked "uncomfortable and intimidated" by the roomful of military brass. Their first one-on-one meeting took place in the Oval Office four months later, after McChrystal got the Afghanistan job, and it didn't go much better. "It was a 10-minute photo op," says an adviser to McChrystal. "Obama clearly didn't know anything about him, who he was. Here's the guy who's going to run his fucking war, but he didn't seem very engaged. The Boss was pretty disappointed."
Another reason to oppose libby and the dipper grit party
libby on more victimology from roy eappen on Vimeo.
R.I.P. Sgt James Macneil
Macneil, of Glace Bay, N.S., was "an extremely proud Cape Bretoner," Vance said in a statement. "He couldn't say no to a social gathering and was inevitably the life of the party."
A man "with a big heart," Jimmy, as he was known, was regarded as "the epitome of excellence and professionalism," Vance said.
Macneil was a 10-year veteran of the Canadian Forces and was on his fourth deployment. He was based in Petawawa, Ont., and serving with the 1st Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment Battle Group.
In a statement, Prime Minister Stephen Harper thanked Macneil for his service and said: "We are all saddened by this loss."
His loss was felt at home in Nova Scotia, as well.
"My heart goes out to his family, and it certainly goes out to his comrades that he served with over there," said Canadian Legion member Sheldon Macneil, who is related to the soldier.
"It's really bad when you hear it on the news and it's British Columbia and Ontario," he said. "But when it hits home, it just tears the heart out of you."
Charest appeals
jean Charest is an enormous disappointment. I object to this mandatory ethics and religion course that teaches all religions are equal and wants to make sure that children abandon their faith at an early age. It attempts to teach its own atheist "ethics". Teaching one's faith should be left up to parents. Many parents object to this course, but it has been imposed by the atheists from Quebec city. Loyola High School won a case against the atheists from Quebec study, but now charest is appealing.
In a decision handed down Friday, Justice Gérard Dugré agreed with Loyola's opposition to teaching the course on the grounds of religious freedom.
Loyola argued the course was redundant because the school already offers instruction on ethics and morality from a Catholic point of view.
Quebec's Education Ministry violated Loyola's freedom of religion as guaranteed by the provincial charter of rights, Dugré said in his decision.
Premier Jean Charest said the government will likely appeal the ruling. Officials with the Catholic school said they will comment on the decision Monday afternoon.
Let's hope the Supremes understand freedom of religion. This is another reason we shouldn't have allowed Quebec to do away with its constitutionally guaranteed confessional school boards
In a decision handed down Friday, Justice Gérard Dugré agreed with Loyola's opposition to teaching the course on the grounds of religious freedom.
Loyola argued the course was redundant because the school already offers instruction on ethics and morality from a Catholic point of view.
Quebec's Education Ministry violated Loyola's freedom of religion as guaranteed by the provincial charter of rights, Dugré said in his decision.
Premier Jean Charest said the government will likely appeal the ruling. Officials with the Catholic school said they will comment on the decision Monday afternoon.
Let's hope the Supremes understand freedom of religion. This is another reason we shouldn't have allowed Quebec to do away with its constitutionally guaranteed confessional school boards
Monday, June 21, 2010
sociopath
Stephany Flores
I followed the case of Natalee Holloway. I was pretty convinced this idiot was involved in her death. Now it seems Joran has done it again. He lies like he breathes so who knows what he did. Hopefully he will spend many years in prison, so other young women can be safe from this predator.
AMSTERDAM – A Dutch newspaper that interviewed Joran van der Sloot in his prison cell in Lima, Peru, said Monday he has retracted his confession to the killing of a young woman there.
De Telegraaf said the 22-year-old Dutchman claims he only signed papers admitting killing Stephany Flores because he was intimidated by police and had been promised he would be transferred to the Netherlands if he confessed.
"I was very scared and confused during the interrogations and wanted to get away," the paper quoted him as saying. "In my blind panic, I signed everything, but didn't even know what it said."
Van der Sloot is the main suspect in Flores' May 30 killing in a Lima hotel, exactly 5 years after the still unsolved disappearance of U.S. teen Natalee Holloway on Aruba. He met both women in casinos, and both were last seen alive in his company.
He will not be having fun.
Happy Birthday Prince William
In Praise of HM PM Harper
Daniel Hannan Tory MEP admires HM PM Harper. As I have said before I wish that HM PM Cameron would have mimiced our Tories and had a minority government. It's nice to see that our UK Tory cousins appreciate us. After all we are all members of the vast worldwide right wing conspiracy and we should learn from each other.
I’m delighted that my party has caught up with this blog’s hitherto niche interest in Canadian Toryism. Canada is the only truly successful G8 economy, having determinedly lived within its means. George Osborne is reported to be interested in the record of its previous Liberal government, but the record of the excellent Stephen Harper – perhaps the most Anglophile leader anywhere in the world – merits just as much attention.
Harper is a magnificent fiscal conservative, but he lacks an overall majority, and so has had to rely on Liberal support. The Liberals have insisted on a number of measures that have increased spending, and then turned around and complained about the ensuing deficit. George Osborne should study that experience.
I’m delighted that my party has caught up with this blog’s hitherto niche interest in Canadian Toryism. Canada is the only truly successful G8 economy, having determinedly lived within its means. George Osborne is reported to be interested in the record of its previous Liberal government, but the record of the excellent Stephen Harper – perhaps the most Anglophile leader anywhere in the world – merits just as much attention.
Harper is a magnificent fiscal conservative, but he lacks an overall majority, and so has had to rely on Liberal support. The Liberals have insisted on a number of measures that have increased spending, and then turned around and complained about the ensuing deficit. George Osborne should study that experience.
Canada's place in the world
iffy says HM PM Harper has ignored China ,India and other emerging nations. The people of China , India and much of the rest of the world, disagree. This should be very good for future trade.
“What you’re really seeing here is how being chair of the G20 and having our Prime Minister and our foreign minister travel has made a difference,” said Janice Stein, director of the Munk School of Global Affairs at the University of Toronto. “If you look at our prominence in some of these G20 countries, which is surprising, it might well be that if we care about our reputation in the world, being an active member of the G20 does bring value to Canada.”
Perceived influence, in a survey of ordinary citizens, is obviously different from actual influence in the corridors of power around the world. But it can still prove valuable.
“It’s interesting that when our Prime Minister and finance minister came out strongly opposed to the bank tax, where did they look for support? They looked to India, China, Mexico, Venezuela, and the people they had the greatest difficulty persuading were the Europeans and the U.S., our traditional allies,” Prof. Stein said.
Canada won a great deal of goodwill in China by reopening six regional trade offices and, despite the chilly reception Mr. Harper received on his first visit last year, the government has since strengthened Sino-Canadian ties. The same strengthening of ties is happening in India, which Mr. Harper also visited last year, and Mexico, despite the imposition of visa restrictions last year over the high number of asylum claims.
“What you’re really seeing here is how being chair of the G20 and having our Prime Minister and our foreign minister travel has made a difference,” said Janice Stein, director of the Munk School of Global Affairs at the University of Toronto. “If you look at our prominence in some of these G20 countries, which is surprising, it might well be that if we care about our reputation in the world, being an active member of the G20 does bring value to Canada.”
Perceived influence, in a survey of ordinary citizens, is obviously different from actual influence in the corridors of power around the world. But it can still prove valuable.
“It’s interesting that when our Prime Minister and finance minister came out strongly opposed to the bank tax, where did they look for support? They looked to India, China, Mexico, Venezuela, and the people they had the greatest difficulty persuading were the Europeans and the U.S., our traditional allies,” Prof. Stein said.
Canada won a great deal of goodwill in China by reopening six regional trade offices and, despite the chilly reception Mr. Harper received on his first visit last year, the government has since strengthened Sino-Canadian ties. The same strengthening of ties is happening in India, which Mr. Harper also visited last year, and Mexico, despite the imposition of visa restrictions last year over the high number of asylum claims.
Aboriginal issues
Cbc's Sunday Morning had 2 hours on aboriginal issues. Prof Tom Flanagan and CTF Prairie Director Colin Craig. It was an interesting couple of hours. Tom Flanagan presented the case for Aboriginal property rights, He also made several other interesting points like why restitution for ancient wrongs makes no sense. Colin Craig asked for more accountability and transparency inAboriginal government. There was a live audience and the show originated from Winnipeg.
There were many interesting questions. Some suggesting very statist solutions. The other speakers were very wary of Tom Flanagan and Colin Craig. I must give the leftists of the CBC credit for having them on.
I agre with many Natives that the treaties are sacred documents ( they are mad with the Crown). I agree that the Indian act fosters a culture of dependancy that must be changed. I of course believe Tom Flanagan and Colin Craig made the better arguments. It was also refreshing to hear Aboriginal voices say that bands should have more choices and that some may accept more free market solutions. I was also pleased to hear that there are thousands of Aboriginal businesses and many Aboriginal people getting higher degrees.
Listen to the first 2 hours here.
There were many interesting questions. Some suggesting very statist solutions. The other speakers were very wary of Tom Flanagan and Colin Craig. I must give the leftists of the CBC credit for having them on.
I agre with many Natives that the treaties are sacred documents ( they are mad with the Crown). I agree that the Indian act fosters a culture of dependancy that must be changed. I of course believe Tom Flanagan and Colin Craig made the better arguments. It was also refreshing to hear Aboriginal voices say that bands should have more choices and that some may accept more free market solutions. I was also pleased to hear that there are thousands of Aboriginal businesses and many Aboriginal people getting higher degrees.
Listen to the first 2 hours here.
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Interesting
most Canadians still think the summits are a good idea. It is my impression that once all those world leaders are in town and the spotlight is on Toronto, people will be busy watching the coverage of the conferences. Another fail for iffy.
OTTAWA - A fake lake, faux Muskoka backdrops and a $1-billion price tag are troubling but not enough to turn off a majority of Canadians to the benefits of summitry, a new poll suggests.
Three-quarters of respondents to The Canadian Press Harris-Decima poll said this week's G8 and G20 summits in Ontario are important and worth the expense of their country hosting.
Some 76 per cent said the back-to-back weekend summits in Muskoka and Toronto were either very or somewhat important versus 20 per cent that said they were opposed.
Survey respondents favoured their country hosting the 72 hours of talks by a 68-26 margin.
The Harper government has been under fire in recent weeks for the bloated cost of the summits, the vast majority of which is for security.
OTTAWA - A fake lake, faux Muskoka backdrops and a $1-billion price tag are troubling but not enough to turn off a majority of Canadians to the benefits of summitry, a new poll suggests.
Three-quarters of respondents to The Canadian Press Harris-Decima poll said this week's G8 and G20 summits in Ontario are important and worth the expense of their country hosting.
Some 76 per cent said the back-to-back weekend summits in Muskoka and Toronto were either very or somewhat important versus 20 per cent that said they were opposed.
Survey respondents favoured their country hosting the 72 hours of talks by a 68-26 margin.
The Harper government has been under fire in recent weeks for the bloated cost of the summits, the vast majority of which is for security.
Father's Day
I lost my Dad 8 years ago. I still miss him terribly. Happy Father's Day to all you dads out there. You are vital to the lives of your children , families and communities. A great piece by Tim Russert. You kids out there treasure your dads. Today and every day.
Father's Day
F is for the Faith that I have on you
A is for the Affection that you treat me with
T is for the Tender touch of yours
H is for the Happiness that you give me
E is for the Endless sacrifice that you make for me
R is for the Rapture that I get in your company.
Happy Father's Day dad!
Father's Day
F is for the Faith that I have on you
A is for the Affection that you treat me with
T is for the Tender touch of yours
H is for the Happiness that you give me
E is for the Endless sacrifice that you make for me
R is for the Rapture that I get in your company.
Happy Father's Day dad!
HM PM Cameron in Afghanistan
I am not totally sure about HM PM Cameron. He has wet tendencies, but he completely supports HM Troops. That makes me very happy. (h/t)
David Cameron has said the British public should express its appreciation of Britain's military "more loudly and more proudly".
David Cameron has said the British public should express its appreciation of Britain's military "more loudly and more proudly".
Mansur on the Moroccan Crown
Arab republics are a disaster. Prof Mansur is quite impressed with Morocco. HM King Mohammed VI is not an enemy of the west or modernity.
As I prepare to leave Fes I know I will return. The story of Morocco is compelling and the people gracious.
What I have seen and heard from people — including a wonderful gentleman and military officer whom I met — indicate to me Morocco is on a path that might, if maintained, far advance this Maghrebian (westernmost) state in the Arab world toward sustainable development and democracy, in sharp contrast to failed states of the Mashreq (Arab east).
The secret of Morocco’s success has much to do with the monarchy and the broad support it has among the people.
Moroccan intellectuals at home and abroad, however, may shrink from fully embracing the monarchy due to the republican virus that has brought immense misery and ruin for Arabs wherever republicanism prevails — as in Egypt, Syria, Libya, Sudan and elsewhere.
When I point this simple reality to Moroccans with whom I have spoken at length, there is ready acknowledgment of how well the Alaouite dynasty has served the people.
As I prepare to leave Fes I know I will return. The story of Morocco is compelling and the people gracious.
What I have seen and heard from people — including a wonderful gentleman and military officer whom I met — indicate to me Morocco is on a path that might, if maintained, far advance this Maghrebian (westernmost) state in the Arab world toward sustainable development and democracy, in sharp contrast to failed states of the Mashreq (Arab east).
The secret of Morocco’s success has much to do with the monarchy and the broad support it has among the people.
Moroccan intellectuals at home and abroad, however, may shrink from fully embracing the monarchy due to the republican virus that has brought immense misery and ruin for Arabs wherever republicanism prevails — as in Egypt, Syria, Libya, Sudan and elsewhere.
When I point this simple reality to Moroccans with whom I have spoken at length, there is ready acknowledgment of how well the Alaouite dynasty has served the people.
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Imagine
uber grit jim travers is imagining. I have more things to imagine. I imagine the abrogation of the hrc thought police. I dream of defunding all advocacy groups, I dream of a strong and proud military with a Royal Canadian Navy, RCAF and Royal Canadian Army.
I imagine a country that values free enterprise. That does away with electoral and corporate welfare. That gets those who can work off welfare. A country where the civil service is cut by 25%. I dream of a country with a privately supported CBC and a defanged CRTC. A land where SunTv news has many , many viewers and the other stations try and compete. A land where our traditions are respected. A land that has shed the yoke of trudeautopian toxic multiculturalism. An ethnically diverse land of Canadians. A land where immigration is more carefully considered. A land where becoming a citizen is not granted to babies whose parents get off a plane and go to a hospital to avail themselves of Canada's welfare state. A land where it takes 5 years to become a citizen.
I dream of a Canada that respects it's constitution. Who has judges that respect our laws and ancient rights. A land where provincial and federal responsibilities are respected. A land where interprovincial trade is not blocked. A land that unilaterally drops trade restrictions against the world poorest countries. A land deeply involved with the Anglosphere. Which encourages free trade.
A land where people of faith are not mocked by elites who know very little.
A land which accepts the recently exonerated Lord Black as a citizen.
A land with a flat tax, no corporate tax and balanced budgets.
A land where the liberals and grits have merged. A land where the blue grits have returned to their natural home with the Tories. A land where electoral welfare is gone and the bq collapses soon after. A land where now the narrative is between the right and the left.
Imagine that jim. Maybe that will make your head explode.
Conservatives came to power knowing reluctant Canadians could only be shifted to the political right incrementally. That movement is now advancing according to the plan Conservative thinker, strategist and Stephen Harper mentor Tom Flanagan infuriated the Prime Minister by making public.
Imagine that.
I imagine a country that values free enterprise. That does away with electoral and corporate welfare. That gets those who can work off welfare. A country where the civil service is cut by 25%. I dream of a country with a privately supported CBC and a defanged CRTC. A land where SunTv news has many , many viewers and the other stations try and compete. A land where our traditions are respected. A land that has shed the yoke of trudeautopian toxic multiculturalism. An ethnically diverse land of Canadians. A land where immigration is more carefully considered. A land where becoming a citizen is not granted to babies whose parents get off a plane and go to a hospital to avail themselves of Canada's welfare state. A land where it takes 5 years to become a citizen.
I dream of a Canada that respects it's constitution. Who has judges that respect our laws and ancient rights. A land where provincial and federal responsibilities are respected. A land where interprovincial trade is not blocked. A land that unilaterally drops trade restrictions against the world poorest countries. A land deeply involved with the Anglosphere. Which encourages free trade.
A land where people of faith are not mocked by elites who know very little.
A land which accepts the recently exonerated Lord Black as a citizen.
A land with a flat tax, no corporate tax and balanced budgets.
A land where the liberals and grits have merged. A land where the blue grits have returned to their natural home with the Tories. A land where electoral welfare is gone and the bq collapses soon after. A land where now the narrative is between the right and the left.
Imagine that jim. Maybe that will make your head explode.
Conservatives came to power knowing reluctant Canadians could only be shifted to the political right incrementally. That movement is now advancing according to the plan Conservative thinker, strategist and Stephen Harper mentor Tom Flanagan infuriated the Prime Minister by making public.
Imagine that.
Mark Steyn on bo
So it seems everything that conservatives were saying about bo is true. He is mediocre at best. he is unable to manage. he is a pie in the sky liberal. Unfortunately for bo, even liberals are having the scales fall from their eyes.
I believe it was Jean Giraudoux who first said, "Only the mediocre are always at their best."
Barack Obama was supposed to be the best, the very best, and yet he is always, reliably, consistently mediocre.
His speech on oil was no better or worse than his speech on race. Yet the Obammyboppers who once squealed with delight are weary of last year's boy band.
At the end of the big Oval Office address, Keith Olbermann, Chris Matthews and the rest of the MSNBC gang jeered the president.
For a bewildered Obama, it must have felt like his Ceausescu balcony moment. Had they caught up with him in the White House parking lot, they'd have put him up against the wall and clubbed him to a pulp with Matthews' no-longer-tingling leg.
For the first time I felt a wee bit sorry for the poor fellow. What had he done to so enrage his full supporting chorus?
In the Washington Post, the reaction of longtime Obammysoxer Eugene Robinson was headlined "Obama Disappoints From the Beginning of His Speech."
So what? He always "disappoints."
I believe it was Jean Giraudoux who first said, "Only the mediocre are always at their best."
Barack Obama was supposed to be the best, the very best, and yet he is always, reliably, consistently mediocre.
His speech on oil was no better or worse than his speech on race. Yet the Obammyboppers who once squealed with delight are weary of last year's boy band.
At the end of the big Oval Office address, Keith Olbermann, Chris Matthews and the rest of the MSNBC gang jeered the president.
For a bewildered Obama, it must have felt like his Ceausescu balcony moment. Had they caught up with him in the White House parking lot, they'd have put him up against the wall and clubbed him to a pulp with Matthews' no-longer-tingling leg.
For the first time I felt a wee bit sorry for the poor fellow. What had he done to so enrage his full supporting chorus?
In the Washington Post, the reaction of longtime Obammysoxer Eugene Robinson was headlined "Obama Disappoints From the Beginning of His Speech."
So what? He always "disappoints."
Unbelievable
More politically correct stupidity in the UK? Why would anyone be offended? It is their own personal cars, so why is this rule even possible?
More than 1,200 housing association staff banned from flying England flags on their OWN cars
By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 1:03 PM on 10th June 2010
Ban: Bolton at Home, which manages 18,500 council houses in Manchester has ordered workers to remove England flags from their own cars
Staff at Bolton At Home have been warned that decking out their cars with St George's flags could 'discriminate' against those who don't support England during the World Cup
More than 1,200 workers have been banned from flying England flags on their own cars by managers - over fears they could deemed as racist.
Employees at the housing association were sent a group e-mail warning that decking out their personal vehicles with the St George's flags could 'discriminate' against those who don't support England during the World Cup.
Managers at Bolton At Home in Greater Manchester, which manages 18,200 council houses in Bolton, insist cars owned by their workforce must remain 'neutral' in order to treat all its 'customers with respect and without discrimination'.
But today an employee at the organisation said: 'It's an absolute disgrace.
'All we want to do is show our support for the England football team in the World Cup but we are in effect being told it is racist to start waving the England flag.
More than 1,200 housing association staff banned from flying England flags on their OWN cars
By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 1:03 PM on 10th June 2010
Ban: Bolton at Home, which manages 18,500 council houses in Manchester has ordered workers to remove England flags from their own cars
Staff at Bolton At Home have been warned that decking out their cars with St George's flags could 'discriminate' against those who don't support England during the World Cup
More than 1,200 workers have been banned from flying England flags on their own cars by managers - over fears they could deemed as racist.
Employees at the housing association were sent a group e-mail warning that decking out their personal vehicles with the St George's flags could 'discriminate' against those who don't support England during the World Cup.
Managers at Bolton At Home in Greater Manchester, which manages 18,200 council houses in Bolton, insist cars owned by their workforce must remain 'neutral' in order to treat all its 'customers with respect and without discrimination'.
But today an employee at the organisation said: 'It's an absolute disgrace.
'All we want to do is show our support for the England football team in the World Cup but we are in effect being told it is racist to start waving the England flag.
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