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Thursday, September 30, 2010

The Imaginary Coalition of Stephen Harper

The recent Conservative lies have said that there is a Liberal, NDP and Bloc coalition. They want to press their point forward so much that they even sent Jim Flaherty to mention a coalition fourteen times to a crowd expecting non-partisan behaviour. The Conservative Brainwashing squad was out in full force with Tony Clement mentioning that a coalition was related to the census. We are not gullible and the Canadian public will not swallow any lies the Tories throw at us. The Conservatives can continue repeating themselves but it will only hurt themselves.
Political parties are entitled to agree with each other from time to time, without being accused of having formed a coalition. For several weeks, the federal Conservatives have been claiming that the Liberals, the NDP and the Bloc Québécois are in a coalition. A particular convergence of opposition parties on this or that issue is no sign of any such alliance.
Read more at the Globe and Mail.
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A Coalition is Related to the Census

Tony Clement apparently thinks that a coalition is somehow related to the long-form census issue. In the middle of a discussion on whether to destroy the long-form census, this is what he said.
“So let me put this question to ... any member of the Liberal, Bloc or NDP coalition partners: If someone in your riding does not want to complete the 40 pages of personal, private questions about their ancestry or parts of their belief system ... or about state of repairs of their homes, is it the appropriate government response to harass them until they relent and comply?”
This is a typical example of the recent Conservative partisan attacks at the wrong time. In the middle of talking about the economy, Jim Flaherty used the same kind of coalition attack. This really needs to stop so that we can have a rational debate instead of yelling our heads off. This starts with the government stopping to use time designated for information for partisan attacks.
Read more at the Globe and Mail.
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Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Parliment wants the census

A vote was placed in the house of commons if they want to save the mandatory long form census. The vote was clear 152 votes to keep the census and 141 voted against the mandatory census. Now this vote isn't binding meaning to take a reference from "Gone with the Wind" Harper doesn't need to give a damn. Harper should see that the majority of Canadian want to keep the census, almost every business group, many religious groups and Language groups and Ontario and Quebec governments.With all this I don't know why they say they should fix something that everyone is saying it works and have no real problem with it. Census must stay and Harper must leave.

Palin Presidency? don't make me laugh!

A poll made by CNN shows that if an election was held today 45% of registered voters would vote for Obama, While 50% of registered voters said that they would vote for the G.O.P nominee. Seems good number for palin right? Like all polls when you don't actully give the name it becomes a little less reliable. When Palin was put up against Obama that 5 point lead melts away to an 8 point deficit. 51% a majority would prefer Obama over Palin who only has 42%. Even when Obama is way down in the polls the truth is Palin although very popular in the right isn't a strong challenger against Obama. If the republicans in 2012 elect someone too far to the right it seems the rest of the public won't chew on it very well.

According to the Politico poll, if the 2012 presidential election were held today and Palin was the GOP nominee, 42 percent say they would definitely, probably, or maybe vote for the former Alaska governor and 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee, with 51 percent saying they would definitely, probably or maybe vote for Obama. Eight percent are undecided.
Fifty-eight percent of those questioned say Palin's actions since stepping down as Alaska governor in the summer of 2008 have made them less likely to vote for her if she runs for president, with 31 percent saying her actions have made them more likely to support her.
 Read more here 

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Town Hall Sum-Up

Yesterday, I attended the first of the Open Mike town hall meetings with uncensored, unscripted questions posed to Michael Ignatieff, MP Marlene Jennings, and candidate for Outremont, Martin Cauchon. Ignatieff responded very honestly to all the questions, very direct answers. He didn't seem to dodge any of the questions. My opinion of him as a leader and as a person had improved over the summer, but this was amazing! He is a great honest guy, and he is going to lead us to victory in the next election. Upcoming Open Mike town halls are in Winnepeg on October 7, and in Toronto on October 13.
This summer, Michael Ignatieff travelled over 57 000 kilometres — visiting every province and territory — on the Liberal Express.
Now the Liberal Leader, along with MPs, Senators and candidates is continuing to listen to Canadians at “Open mike” town halls across the country, leaving the microphone open so Canadians like you can share your views and ask questions on the issues you care about. Ready to take questions from audience members both live and online, Michael Ignatieff is waiting to hear from you.
Read more at Liberal.ca 
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Technology will save lives.

This issue can be ignored for much longer, because we need to have a patient computer base available to all doctors. When someone goes to a doctor with a problem he first must write out a form, and he has to write the same form every single time he comes back. With this the patient is tested again to see what he has. We should have a system that if a person goes into the hospital they already know he is diabetic and needs medical attention. We have a phone book that tells use everyone's phone number and we have a database for every car in Canada. Then why not for the more important issue are health? It saves paper, less need for repetitive tests ,helps are doctors with less time wasting per patient and makes are visit fast and much more pleasant.
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Monday, September 27, 2010

"c" is for Copenhagon and Cancun.

The disaster that was the climate change Copenhagen meeting now has an identical twin named Cancun. Now we can relieve Harper's attempt to do nothing. We can see Harper try to stop any sort of deal that would require him to actually care about the environment. Now to be fair many countries do come to Copenhagon to do something, and hope that a big deal was made. The fact is we are progessing in making a deal, but it will be after Cancun. World leaders are going to this meeting to try to not do something there, but to again build a foundation that will maybe create something there. This doesn't seem to promising. With Kyoto expiring in 2012 the question is will we put tougher targets in are new deal or will we go for lower targets than the Kyoto one fo a future date.
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Town Hall

There is going to be an open town hall today in Montreal. Michael Ignatieff will be there. I plan to attend this meeting. Anyone is allowed to attend live, or view the live blog on the website. It will be possible to ask questions online. It is completely free for everyone. However, you do have to RSVP on the Liberal website. Hope to see you there!
This summer, Michael Ignatieff travelled 57,000 kilometers -- visiting every province and territory -- on the Liberal Express. Now he's continuing to listen to Canadians at "Open mike" town halls across the country, leaving the microphone open so Canadians like you can share your views and ask questions on the issues you care about. Ready to take questions from audience members both live and online, Michael Ignatieff is waiting to hear from you.
RSVP at Liberal.ca

Sunday, September 26, 2010

Elite Insults

The term "elite" has been recently used a lot as a political insult. One example of throwing this term around would be the Conservative party. They have used it as a synonym for "bad." However, we cannot live in a society without elites. We need to recognize that a society cannot work without elites, people who know how to do things that we don't. After we do just that, we will know how to make Canada a better place to live in.
The elites are on a roll these days.
In just the last week, their Toronto chapter foiled the Canadian government's plan to kill the long-gun registry, even as one of their number — a Harvard educated Bay Street executive — was named the Prime Minister's chief of staff.
In Britain, the race to lead the Labour Party boiled down to a nail-biter between two Oxford-educated brothers, David and Ed Miliband.
Read more at the National Post.
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Gun Registry Misfire

There has been a lot of talk on whether the long gun registry staying would be good for the Conservatives or not. Mostly, the media was saying that it would be good for the Tories and bad for the opposition as they would be able to target the rural seats of the MPs who changed their vote and would be able to fundraise more money from their base. I agree with one of these. The Conservatives would be able to fundraise more money. But support would not be easy to gain. They would lose votes in many urban ridings especially in Quebec. The Conservative support was low in the first place. Could it go even lower in Quebec? So, in short, the Tories get more money, lose support.
Within seconds of the long-gun registry vote in the Commons, this being the era of the blog, a conventional wisdom began to congeal that the Conservatives had lost the parliamentary battle but would win the electoral war. 
By the next morning, the conventional political wisdom was all over the newspapers and the Web: The Conservatives would turn their narrow Commons defeat into a political victory by targeting those New Democrat and Liberal MPs in rural or semi-rural ridings who had voted to keep the controversial registry. They would be as vulnerable as ducks flying over registry-hating hunters in the fall.
Read more at the Globe and Mail.
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Saturday, September 25, 2010

Reinstate the Long-Form Census

Yesterday, the Liberal Party put forward a motion to reinstate the mandatory long-form census. The idea to remove the mandatory long-form census was stupid and the voluntary long-form takes away all credibility to the statistics. That's why the head of Statistics Canada resigned. He wasn't able to stand by this decision which would basically be saying that he supported the it. The long-form census needs to be reinstated so informed decisions can be made unlike the decision to remove the mandatory long-form. But then again, the Tories really don't care for facts.
In an effort to bring ‘sense back to the census,’ the Liberal Party of Canada presented a motion today in the House of Commons to reinstate the mandatory long-form census.
The motion – to be debated next week – also calls on the government to amend the Statistics Act in order to remove the threat of jail time for people who do not fill out the long-form census.
Read more at Liberal.ca
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Thousand Dollar Glowsticks

Finally! During the G8/G20 summits, the Conservatives realised how much we need glowsticks. In fact, they spent $14 049 on glowsticks! With each glowstick costing about $1.49, this government bought about nine thousand of these things! Why, this is just the kind of fiscal irresponsibility that is typical of this government. With the months ahead of us, we can expect more pointless or pork-barrel spending.
The Liberals are strongly criticizing the federal government over expenses incurred during the G8/G20 summits, which, expenditure reports reveal, included $80 million for food and accommodation, $85,000 for snacks and $14,000 for glow sticks.
"This is totally unacceptable," said Liberal MP Dan McTeague, who tabled the expenditure reports in the House of Commons on Thursday.
Read more at CBC.
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Friday, September 24, 2010

A Little CBC Bashing Can't Hurt

The Tories have again chosen to attack their favorite target. No, it's not the Liberal Party. It's the CBC! This time it's because last week, the CBC posted a story about how the NRA was getting involved in the Canadian gun registry debate.  The Conservative Party views this as biased.
In her two-page letter, she references a report that aired Sept. 13, characterizing it as the CBC seeking “to portray domestic efforts to end the long-gun registry as being influenced by a foreign organization.”
And that is completely true!  That was the whole point of that CBC story. To report the facts. The NRA was getting involved in the long gun registry debate. This isn't the first time the Conservative party thinks the facts are "agenda-driven." Multiple studies show that tough-on-crime stances don't work, however, the Tories continue to support this kind of solution. As long as this Conservative government remains in power, there will be more disregard for the facts, less informed decisions, and complete disregard for government transparency.
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They Continue Lying

The fiance minister of Canada Jim Flaherty has said "stay the course:" we might be in economic trouble. He even copied Harper in saying that our economy is too fragile for an election. The fact is that when Harper used this same trick last year an economist said that an election would have no effects on the economy. In fact I think that having an election that cost 300 million dollars is like  stimulus with all the rented rooms. The thing is that Flaherty is telling us that the only way to not have a double dip recession is that we have to support the government 100%, but there is another option the Liberal party has better more efficient way to keep us on track. We don't need to be told it is either the Conservatives or nothing, because we have a much better alternative.
http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20100921-710364.html
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Thursday, September 23, 2010

poker face= don't ask don't tell

Lady gaga a very popular singer in North America was fighting to get senators to vote to continue discussing a bill that would repeal the in just law of don't ask don't tell. Her effort although good was not strong enough to get the bill up for a vote.The policy don't ask don't tell was implemented in 1993 as a compromise by Bill Clinton to allow gays in the military only if they stay in the closet. This was because before 1993 gays where not allowed to join the military, and before that being gay was considered a mental illness n the military. The vote was taken September 21. 56 voted to allow the debate 43 voted against.It won the majority , but in order to allow the debate to continue you need 60 votes.
See Lady Gaga's message here
Read more here

Gun Registry Saved

It was close vote, but the long gun registry lived to see another day in a 153-151 vote! Throughout the almost year-long journey of this bill through the House of Commons, there was a lot of panic on whether it would go or not. I have to admit, even I was scared that it could go. It would probably not have been reinstated for a long time. Anyway, Harper vows that someday the gun registry will be destroyed. But, the important thing is that it is here for now and it will remain unless there is a Conservative majority, which would allow them to whip out teir secret agenda. Canada remains safe and victorious.
Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff and Bloc Québécois Leader Gilles Duceppe had long made it clear that they intended to halt Bill C-391. The Conservatives supported the bill, so the registry's fate lay with the NDP, which allows its MPs to vote as they wish on private member's bills.
Six New Democrats voted with the Conservatives — Nathan Cullen of B.C., Niki Ashton and Jim Maloway of Manitoba, Dennis Bevington from the Northwest Territories and Bruce Hyer and John Rafferty from Northern Ontario.
Read more at CBC.

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Conservative Scare Tactics

Yesterday, Finance Minister Jim Flaherty started talking about a supposed opposition "coalition" to an audience expecting non-partisanship. Moreover, he urged the opposition parties to "rise above petty politics." I think I smell hypocrisy here. On the coalition issue, this is just a Tory scare tactic to make Canadians afraid of the Liberal Party. It has absolutely no truth to it whatsoever. The minister should stick to talking about the economy, and stop attacking opposition parties. That's for their attack ads to do.
"The Ignatieff-NDP-Bloc Quebecois tax hikes would not only jeopardize our recovery from the global recession. The coalition's policies would also squander our Canadian advantage, and limit our long-term prospects. They would set us on the same downward spiral other countries are now trying desperately to escape."
Flaherty's speech was delivered at a hotel just steps from Parliament Hill. Many of those in attendance were from the business community, although there were some Conservatives, including Guy Giorno, who is Harper's chief of staff.
Read more at the Ottawa Citizen.
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Assess the Tar Sands

Alastair Sweeny, author of Black Bonanza says that we should assess the Athabasca watershed to see if there is pollution in the river, where is it from, and if it's a risk to us. The problem is that this should have been done a long time ago. The oil producers claim that the tar sands pose no health risk to Canadians. What does Mr. Sweeny have to say on this issue? "We don't know." For years, the tar sands have been harvested. Why we do not officially know whether the tar sands contribute to pollution in the Athabasca river remains a mystery to me.
A U.S. senator has called it "Canada's national treasure." It's been demonized by environmentalists as the "worst project in the world." Maude Barlow likens it to Mordor in Lord of the Rings -- a place where nature goes to die.
It's the Athabasca Sands, the largest single deposit of oil on the planet, and all you have to do it dig it up, wash off the oil, or extract it using underground steam, and then clean up when you leave.
Read more at the Ottawa Citizen.
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Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Harris Decima Seat Projection

The threehundredeight.com seat projection for the newest Harris-Decima poll supports the fact that us Liberals are stronger. 30% support would give us 107 seats compared to 126 for the Conservatives. This is not the first poll that suggests this kind of seat gain. An Ekos poll, an Ipos-Reid poll, Environics, Nanos, all of them support the same conclusion, more or less. The Liberals are gaining support and seats at the expense of the NDP and Conservatives.

Reform Question Period?

Conservative MP Michael Chong has taken it on to him to reform Question Period. Personally, the first thing that comes to mind when I think about Question Period is Government House Leader John Baird. When he yells back at the opposition, it's the ultimate symbol of Question Period. Let's face it: Question Period has turned into a zoo. More time for questions would be welcome, as there would be more deliberation and less screaming. Also, the end of heckling is needed.
Inspired by public disenchantment with politics, a perception that Question Period lacks substance, and the transformation of MPs into mere partisan cheerleaders mugging for TV, Conservative MP Michael Chong has proposed six changes to the rules regarding Question Period. Some are sensible ways to make Question Period better, but care must be taken to preserve the cut and thrust of parliamentary debate; decorum need not exclude emotion or fiery rhetoric.
Read more at the Globe and Mail.
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NDP Loses in New Poll

A Harris-Decima poll suggests that the Liberals and Conservatives are basically at a tie, with 30% and 33% respectively, while the NDP had it's worst showing of the year with 14% support. This is obviously because Jack Layton refused to whip the vote on the long gun registry. This earned him a lot of dissatisfaction in urban areas. Anyway, it's good news for us, the Liberal Party of Canada, with a repeated strong showing in recent polls. It also seems like this momentum could continue until who knows when. The Liberal Party is up and ready to go! ThreeHundredEight.com will probably have a projection of seats later today. I will post them if I can.
A new poll suggests support for the NDP has dropped to its lowest level this year amid internal divisions over the long-gun registry.
The Harris-Decima survey conducted for The Canadian Press put the Conservatives at 33 per cent support, three points ahead of the Liberals.
The NDP trailed well behind at just 14 per cent – down six points since April and only three points ahead of the Green party.
Read more at the Globe and Mail.
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Monday, September 20, 2010

The Sick Game that is Legal

The Dawson shoting was a terrifiying day for many people. Now, a game has been made about it. People asking the police to do something, but legally you can't do anything. I think of this like the Rape game in Japan. Now, back then I thought that there should be a law agaisnt making certain games, but now I see that you can't make it illegal for people to make games. I am 100% against this game and Rapeplay game, but no matter how twisted some people are you can't legally or should ever legally stop someone from making these types of games. I say that if you hate the game don't play it and I don't know how sick the person who made this game is, but in reality whoever did it is aloud.
Montreal police say they are powerless to take down an online video game where players act as the gunman in the 2006 shooting rampage at Montreal's Dawson College.
Reviews of the game at one online site are mixed, with some defending his right to create a game and commenting on the artistic merits of it. “It's just a game. Just because it's based in reality doesn't mean that is a recreation of the said event,” wrote one poster on Wednesday. “People have the freedom to make whatever they desire, even if their invention is sick and twisted. Don't like it? Don't play it. “
Read more at the Globe and Mail.

Sunday, September 19, 2010

Construction has Started

High Speed Rail lines are already under construction in Illinois! However, this is only the first part of the upgrade which will now allow trains to travel at about 180 km/h. Hopefully, there will be many more lines to come both in the US and Canada.
ALTON, Ill. (AP) - Illinois political leaders say construction now under way on part of a planned high-speed rail line linking St. Louis and Chicago is a job-creating first in the country.
Gov. Pat Quinn told reporters in Alton on Friday that upgrades planned between that Mississippi River city and the central Illinois community of Lincoln are the nation's first involving high-speed rail.
Read more here.

Saturday, September 18, 2010

American Politics in Canada?

When John Baird said that the Toronto Elites were to blame in keeping the registry, he was using American-style politics in Canada. For example, some of the far right in the United States say it's time for real Americans to kick the communist alien Democrats out of office. The thing is, divisive American politics don't work in Canada. The rules are different. That's why, on September 22, the gun registry is going to be here to stay and protect Canadians for ever on.
Of course, the categorization wasn’t true. Not only does support for gun control exist beyond the boundaries of Toronto, but members of Canada’s elite — including Baird — oppose the registry.
However, his comments weren’t meant to be factually accurate. Rather, they were designed to tap into U.S.-style resentments.
And here, I think Baird blew it.
Read more at the Toronto Star.

Transport Cocktail Service Station

The Montreal-based non-governmental organisation. Équiterre has launched a new campaign meant to promote the transportation cocktail. That means using different types of transportation and mixing them. This could mean driving to the train station and using the train for the rest of the trip. This NGO has opened a Facebook page where you can suggest ideas on transportation improvement throughout Quebec. Even people without a Facebook account can contribute.




Friday, September 17, 2010

Don't Move the Mosque!

More and more people are continuing to talk of a compromise to move the mosque near ground zero, because it wouldn't be respectful of the 9/11 victims. That is a horrble excuse meaning that 9/11 was caused by all muslims meaning that they must all be punished. Moving this mosque would be saying it is okay to treat all muslims as people who support terrorist. If we lable no mosque near ground zero what else is next. No church in san fransico because it might offend the gay community, No church in any city with victim of an assauleted person by the church's preist because it might offend the victims, No German people in a city that has jewish people living because it might offend jewish people and no British people in the US because it is offensive to those who fought for the independance of the U.S. The fact is that it's seen okay by some to be prejudice against muslims. Being prejudice to anyone no matter who should always be seen as wrong.

Saving lives makes you elite?

John Baird, the government house leader, has said that he is disappointed that the gun registry was saved by the "Toronto Elites." Apparently, saving the gun registry somehow makes you an “elite.”  The fact is, doctors support the gun registry. Does that make doctors “elites?” That would also mean that the RCMP, police chiefs and doctors are all “elites.” Apparently, wanting to save lives makes you that. I hate it when some people just use the term “elite” as if that is an actual legitimate response. John Baird should know that many people in Canada believe the gun registry is a smart move and to call a big chunk of Canadians elites makes no sense. The registry works and no matter how much Baird may call gun registry supporters "elites" won’t change the fact that this registry is a needed part of safety.
OTTAWA—The federal government has opened a new front on the war over the long-gun registry, blaming Toronto “elites” for driving support for the registry at the expense of rural Canadian gun owners.
With Parliamentary support for killing the registry slipping away, Conservative House Leader John Baird blamed politicians in Canada’s largest city for pressuring colleagues into changing their positions in advance of a crucial vote in the House of Commons next week.
Read more at the Toronto Star.

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Kory Teneycke Leaves

Kory Teneycke has announced that he was leaving SunTV News. I'm not sure what to make of this. However, a source that the Globe and Mail got a hold of a source familiar with Quebecor Media. This person said that this is a last-chance effort to try and get SunTV News the license they want. I do not think SunTV is going to get the permit it's looking for. Harper will not step in or he will risk losing a lot of support.
The former Harper government spin doctor behind a drive to build a right-leaning cable news network in Canada has abruptly quit the project, saying increasingly bitter public controversy over his role has made him a liability to the TV venture.
Kory Teneycke’s decision to fall on his sword raises questions about the future of plans by Quebec billionaire Pierre Karl Péladeau to establish Sun TV as a 24-hour all-news network.
Read more at the Globe and Mail.

More Conservative Stifling

Harper's policy for a less open government became known once again. It has been revealed that scientists associated with Natural Resources need the approval from the minister before speaking to the media. I wouldn't be surprised if the tar sands is one of the most censored issues from Natural Resources. It's not news that the Tory government is being less transparent; this is just a reminder. Imagine what would happen if Harper got a majority. That is why we cannot let Stephen Harper win. Next election, let's send Harper back to opposition.
News tips about the upcoming publication of the ancient flood study in Nature came not from Canada, but from two British universities. An isolated case? Hardly. Environment Canada and Health Canada also control media access to researchers who must have their scripts approved.
It's ominously totalitarian -- hardly the free, open and transparent approach to government that Harper promised.
Read more at the Calgary Herald.

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

A law of descrmination in France.

A law was passed by the french senate that has before passed the lower house and now the bill is going to the president Nicola Sarkozy. This law would make it illegal for any women to wear a full body Burqua. This law is nothing less than descrimination. This law would make it illegal for women of the muslim faith to wear religouse clothing in public. That means Muslim women by law will be forced to be told what they can't wear. This is a right of anyone to wear whatever they want. People will be fined almost $200 to wear what they are rightfully aloud to wear. This is a horrific law and should be overturned.

Ironically, instead of helping some women integrate, the measure may keep them cloistered in their homes to avoid exposing their faces in public.
The measure affects fewer than 2,000 women, but Muslims believe it is one more blow to France's second religion, and risks raising the level of Islamophobia in a country where mosques, like synagogues, are sporadic targets of hate. Some women have vowed to wear a full-face veil despite the law.


NRA+Conservatives

The CBC has learned that the NRA has been involved in the fight to abolish the gun registry for decades! This reminds me of something Kory Teneycke said on Power and Politics.
I wonder if Kory Teneycke is now telling the NRA to stay in the US and get their facts straight? Either way, the NRA has nothing to do with Canada. Why is it messing around in our politics? In fact, the only reason why the NRA hasn't spent money in Canada is because its constitution doesn't allow it. That hasn't stopped it from putting on an $100 000 infomercial on national TV in America. we have enough problems as is with right-wing propaganda seeping into Canada (SunTV). We do not need the NRA added to the list of problems. The NRA should get out of Canada. It has no place in our society.
The National Rifle Association, a powerful lobbying group in the United States that advocates fewer gun controls, has been actively involved in trying to abolish Canada's long-gun registry for more than a decade, CBC News has learned.
Read more at the CBC. Also, the Liberals reveal ties between the Tories and the NRA.

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

The Gun registry is safe and here to stay.

Jack Layton the leader of the NDP has stated just recently that his party has enough votes to keep the gun registry. This means that on the vote on semptember 22nd with the Bloc and Liberals whipping the vote and the NDP leader gathering enough votes to join them to keep them gun registry. Now I would have liked it more if no one whipped the vote, but I cangratulate the NDP leader for not whipping the vote and taking the intiative to gather the party together to keep the registry. The point of this is that our gun registry is staying to save Canadian lives of everyone.

Another NDP Vote

Another NDP MP has decided to vote for the long gun registry! Another MP decides to vote for the safety of Canadians and saving lives. If my math is correct, we only need one more NDP vote to make sure the gun registry stays. This news comes as the Conservatives release another one of their famous attack ad campaigns. In the ads is said that the NDP MPs should vote with their constituents on this issue. The newest MP to change his vote responds accordingly.
“The majority (of people in his riding) … have said ‘we think at this point we should keep it and we want you to go work on it,’” Allen told the Star.
Besides, how about those Conservative MPs representing urban ridings in Ontario and Quebec? Are they voting with the views of the people in their riding? I didn't think so. Unfortunately for the NDP and rural Liberal MPs, the Tories are pretty good at making propaganda-filled attack ads with nonsense as its main subject. On the other hand, most of the country sees right through the right-wing spin and propaganda. In any case, the long gun registry should stay for good as it is an effective way of saving lives.
The embattled long-gun registry received support on Monday from another New Democrat MP.
Malcolm Allen, who represents the Ontario riding of Welland, said Monday he will join three other NDP colleagues in switching their votes when Tory backbencher Candice Hoeppner's private member's bill to repeal the registry comes to a vote in Parliament.
Read more at CBC.

Monday, September 13, 2010

It is time for a national pharmacare system.

Now why does Canada need to change to a National Pharmacare system? What is wrong with our current system? The current system gives better benefits depending on where you live. That means that if you live in British Columbia you could have better drug plan than if you live in Nova Scotia. I think any system that gives you a better drug plan only because you where born somewhere is a system that needs to be fixed. A National Pharmacare system would cover all drugs for everyone. Then you would say oh here come the taxes for it, but actually the Government would save 10 billion dollars a National Pharmacare. In fact if in a National Pharmacare plan we will need less doctors , because people no matter how rich will be able to afford all there drugs so they don't get sick as much. It gives more money to struggling families that can now afford to spend more money in our economy(59% of Canadians are living paycheck to paycheck). So with all these great benefits what are Canadians waiting for.

The report also finds that Canada is either the third or fourth most expensive country for brand-name drugs every year — after the United States, Switzerland and Germany — because it deliberately inflates drug prices in order to attract pharmaceutical investment. 
"Canada’s pharmaceutical policies are a total failure," the study's author, Marc-André Gagnon, told reporters on Monday in Ottawa. 
A universal prescription drug plan could chop more than $10 billion off Canada's annual health-care bill, according to a new policy study that its authors say "explodes the fallacy" that such a plan is unaffordable.

Come On Layton, Be a Leader!

On the upcoming vote to decide whether to scrap the long gun registry or not in nine days, Jack Layton refuses to stand up for the safety of Canadian citizens. He is going to let the bill pass because he doesn't want to whip the vote. I'm sorry, but the registry is a vital part of saving lives in Canada. The statistics show that the gun registry works. It's time for Jack Layton to stand up for what we call Canada, a safe place to live.
You say you have been listening to hunters and you quote them with great enthusiasm. Why have you not been listening as carefully to the women’s organizations, . . . to physicians, the Canadian Labour Congress, police associations and even to your own knowledge of women’s experience of violence involving the rifles and shotguns in their homes? In the past, you and the NDP have demonstrated a good understanding of the complex realities of the violence Canadian women experience in their lives. Where has that knowledge disappeared to over the summer?
Read more at the Toronto Star.

Sunday, September 12, 2010

What's wrong with Fox news?

Now I know many people might say that Fox is a biased right wing news chanel, and don't want it anywhere near Canada, but aren't all news networks biased just even a little? Now, I have seen Fox news and a can agree that it is very biased, but it is the same thing like the Ann Coulter debate when she could not speak because of protestors. If some people at the Ottawa university wanted to hear her than why not? The same with Fox if there is demand then why not? I mean if you want to avoid all bias news than don't watch any news, because there is bound to be one biased correspondent. You could also campare this with the pro life ad at cbs during the Superbowl. Where pro choice groups said they want the ad taken off, but again you can have pro choice ads too. It is a two way street we have Right wing speakers and left wing speakers, Pro life ads and pro choice ads. Why not right wing news? I don't get why some people only want to here left speakers and ads, but when it comes to having pro life ads and right wing speakers there is a double standard.

Tar Sands Cartoon

I found yesterday's cartoon in the Star to be amusing but yet, so true. Harper is not only proud of the tar sands, but he presents them to be environmentally friendly. This is a lie. He also claims to have an "action plan" on the environment. This a half-truth: his plan is to say he is going to make small reductions in GHG emissions, and then, not to act on these promises. Canada has become ridiculed because of our obstruction at climate talks. This is not showing good leadership.




Saturday, September 11, 2010

Quebec Arena: Harper Loses

No matter what his decision is on funding a Quebec City arena for a rebirth of the Quebec Nordiques, Harper will lose. If he funds the hockey arena, he will be accused of using this funding as a fake campaign for his party. He would also be prompted to fund many other pro sports lieus across the country. But, Harper is looking only to gain votes in Quebec. However, if he refuses the other cities' proposals, he risks being seen as buying votes in Quebec. But, if he doesn't fund the project, he will lose a lot of votes in Quebec and would be hard for him on his goal of getting a majority. Pork-barrel politics has put the Harper government in another dilemma from which they will lose either way.
The notion of federal funding for a state-of-the-art hockey arena in Quebec City is a textbook case of desperate politics and bad policy. By flirting aggressively with the idea of forking out tens of millions of public dollars to finance the project, Stephen Harper and his Conservatives have manoeuvred themselves into a lose-lose position.
Read more at the Toronto Star.

We can keep the registry

Now a 3rd MP in the NDP has said that they will switch there vote to keep the registry. The rest of the NDP can push themselves to save lives by voting to keep the gun registry. The conservatives are whipping the vote for the bill, and the Bloc and Liberals are whipping agsinst the bill. While the NDP will be having a free vote that allows the party MP to vote freely. the The Liberals predict that 149 will vote to save the registry while 152 will vote to get ride of the registry. That leaves 7 NDP votes undicided. No less than 6 people need to vote agaisnt the bill to save the registry. Some say unless the NDP whip the vote agaisnt the bill the registry will die. I think if Jack Layton keeps pushing, and if Micheal Ignatieff continues the pressure we can keep the registry without whipping the NDP vote. It is crucial that we keep the registry to save lives.

Read more here

Friday, September 10, 2010

The Quebec Tea Party?

A new group has been formed in Quebec called the Réseau Liberté Québec. It is a right-wing group devoted to a right-wing movement in Quebec. This is a good idea in essence, to make the debate in Quebec between right-wing and left-wing parties, not federalist and sovereigntist parties. But, this just seems like another right-wing propaganda group meant to brainwash the population into supporting right-wing parties. Unsurprisingly, this is backed by Kory Teneyke, one of the key members of the new Sun TV News, the Fox News North. I've already seen Fox News and it is totally horrible! In conclusion, these right-wing organisations can often be found to be spreading propaganda. On that note sign the petition to stop Sun TV here.
For now they’re just a small band of libertarians seeking to replace the sovereigntist-versus-federalist divide in Quebec with a new brand of political confrontation between the right and the left.
They call themselves Réseau Liberté Québec, or the Quebec Freedom Network, and could be considered Quebec’s version of the right-wing populist Tea Party in the United States.
Read more at the Globe and Mail.

Koran burining on 9/11 Cancelled

A pastier in Florida on the 9th anniversary of 9/11 planned to burn the Koran. Now Peter Mackay, Hilliary Clinton,Aglina Jolie,Colin powell,Stephen Harper and Barack Obama have all said that it is wrong and is asking him not too.The risk of backlash in the world by terrorist groups was a main concern of this event.Clinton I think had the right reaction to say that this pastier in rural Florida with less than 50 people who come to his church is getting too much attention. I don't know why he is getting all this attention. This Pastier Then canceled the event only because he was told that the Islamic center in ground zero will be moved. This is the right thing to do for the wrong reasons. Because there is nothing wrong with having an islamic center in NYC. I think that he should have stoped the event because it was wrong, but instead he continues discrimination agaisnt Islam in another way. By wanting the Islamic center moved he supports the thinking that 9/11 was the fault of all muslims. That is wrong and we shouldn't look at Islam with one braud brush.

Thursday, September 09, 2010

Gun Registry Loser

According to Robert Silver, the Conservatives could actually be the real losers if the long gun registry is dismantled. His argument is that this is one of the issues that bring in a lot of money for the Tories. If this bill passes, the donors will not feel pressed to give so much money. This could make for a weaker Conservative Party. However, I hope this bill does not pass. The long gun registry is an important part of saving lives. We must keep it.
There has been much ink spilled over the last month, while I was away on special assignment for Silver-Powers, about the conundrum that Jack Layton finds himself in over the gun registry. If, as expected, the Liberal caucus votes unanimously against the "private member's bill" currently before the House (which might as well be a government bill) and Stephen Harper's caucus votes unanimously to gut it, the vote will come down to a divided NDP caucus.
Read more at the Globe and Mail.

Another NDP Vote Gained

The Tories have lost another NDP vote to scrap the long gun registry. Good news! We need to have the NDP support to keep the long gun registry and keep Canada a safer place. The gun registry has its faults, but the solution is not to scrap it. It needs to be improved, not destroyed. I congratulate this MP on changing his vote. I hope more will follow.

”Save

NDP Leader Jack Layton’s campaign to convince the rural members of his caucus that the federal long-gun registry is worth saving is starting to pay dividends.
One New Democrat MP who originally supported a Conservative private-member’s bill to scrap the registry says he is now convinced the legislation would be a step backward for public safety. And others within the caucus say they could be similarly swayed.
Read more at the Globe and Mail.

Wednesday, September 08, 2010

Protest on mosque all over U.S

I think we all know about that mosque protest. The one that protest having a mosque in the state of Tennessee, California, and of course New york. In Tennessee A proposed mosque has been targeted with protest in Murfreesboro City hall. In the city the Muslim population has doubled so why can't they have a mosque? A protestor said that the "They seem to be against everything I believe in and I don't want them nessecerally in my neighbourhood spreading that type of comments". Apprently this man doesn't want a religon that promots peace in his neigbourhood. In Sacremento a pig was left at a mosque saying "Remember 9/11" "No mosque in NYC". Again People like in NYC have been painting Islam with a very broud brush. Saying that 9/11 was because of the religon. The thing is that people who did that horrific act on 9/11 where extremist of the religon that Islam the real part of the religon doesn't support.

See more here about Sacramento 

See more here about Tennessee 




Support the troops by saving the enviroment

A Navy planner said that in the future military personal are being called to the front lines of the worlds climate disaster. Now this has happened before like in the red river flood of 1997, the big snow storm in Quebec. These are some stories of times when some weather attacks had to use the military, but for the future with more unpredictable weather and increase in chance of strong storms coming the military could be called in more frequently. In the north of the country areas that where ice has turned to new trade routes where Harper wants to increase are presence in. Harper someone who I would think wants to support the troops actually wants to screw the environment to create a more dangerous climate for our troops to deal with in the future, and wants to keep record heating records in places like Afghanistan again harming are troops. So is Harper Really supporting the troops by doing this to them? We should vote Harper out just to show how much we really support the troops.

Read more here

Tuesday, September 07, 2010

Censor prostitution

Craigslist has removed the adult services ad on its web page. This service has been asked to go off for a long time now many people are sighing with relief that all those exploiting ads are gone. This response from Craigslist came after CNN did a report on the website on how it is too easy to get ads selling sex posted on the website, and calling Craigslist the "Wall Mart of sex trafficking". Craigslist has way before this said that it would look at all post to make sure that anything that looks like it might be implying the sell of sex will be taken off and be reported. Even after this many ads still got on, and now the entire service is gone. If Craiglist can't ensure that no one can post ads that are selling sex than this act is the only solution.
(CNN) -- Online classified service Craigslist's decision to censor its adult services section is a "good step but a continuing battle has to be fought," a leader in the fight against prostitution ads said on Sunday.
"I'm very pleased by this very solid and significant apparent step in the right direction," said Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, who spearheaded a recent letter from 17 attorneys general urging Craigslist to discontinue its adult services section.
Read more here

$50B Transportation Stimulus

Yesterday, Obama announced a new stimulus for the American economy. This is a long-term spending plan on transportation meant to create long-term jobs, whereas, the other US stimulus was designed to create immediate jobs. Included in this plan is building 4000 miles of railways. As a railfan, I couldn't be happier that high speed rail is going to be funded. If the US starts constructing high speed rail, Canada could follow. Not only that, but this could be partly paid for by the end of tax breaks for big oil. Unfortunately, this plan might not pass. With the elections coming up, Democrats might lose their seats and we can expect a lot of Republican resistance. High speed rail must come to the United States and Canada to support the economy of tomorrow.
WASHINGTON—President Barack Obama is asking Congress to approve at least $50 billion in long-term spending on the country’s roads, railways and runways in a pre-election effort to show he’s trying to stimulate the sputtering economy.
The infrastructure spending is part of a package of targeted proposals the White House announced on Monday. With November’s elections for control of Congress approaching, Obama planned to discuss the proposal later Monday at an event in Milwaukee marking the U.S. Labor Day holiday.
Read more at the Toronto Star and the Globe and Mail.

Monday, September 06, 2010

The French Goverment continues it's discrimination.

French Prime Minister Nicolas Sarkozy has made a new law to evacuate all Roma people from France. Why? Well, apparently all Roma people are involved with crime, so says Sarkozy. There is some truth to the argument: there is is major crime coming from Roma camps. However, to evacuate all Roma people from the country, because a portion of the group is involved with crime is just stupid and descriminative. If you follow that ideology than you migt as well expell all cultures and groups, because there is bound to be at least one that is invovled with crime.The European Union and the UN consel on rascism condems this act of descrimination. It is just plain wrong to force all Roma people out when it is a minor group that is commiting crime. It would be much better if they increase law enforcement in these areas of high crime, but to evacuate the country of a people, because of this discrimination is wrong on the fullest degree.
Thousands of people have attended demonstrations in Paris and other French cities to protest against tough new security measures introduced by the government which they say are being used to target the country's Roma community.
France began clearing large numbers of illegal Roma camps in July, after Nicolas Sarkozy, the French president, announced a series of measures to fight crime.
Read more here

Sunday, September 05, 2010

Rex Murphy: the New Michael Ignatieff

Rex Murphy says that Michael Ignatieff has learned a lot from his summer tour. I agree. Apart from learning how to campaign as the national leader of the Liberal Party of Canada, he has gained more respect from Canadians, myself included. When an election comes, he will be ready with the skills necessary. Michael Ignatieff is back in the game.
So, good on Mr. Ignatieff for doing what, for him, doesn’t come with Tobinesque ease and skill. For defying the awkwardness that is inevitably attendant on anyone’s first real efforts at the political game.
Read more at the National Post.

How long are they going to wait?

Another oil rig explodes in the Gulf of Mexico. This proves that we need to do something about oil companies. There has to be inspectors going to oil rigs for every company to make sure they are safe, clean and not at any risk of exploding.  I t doesn't matter how the goverment pays for this either make oil campanies pay for them and reward the safest oil comapanies with oil contracts, or the goverment paying for it and increase fines for unsafe oil campanies. It doesn't matter, because if an oil rig is going to blow out every 6 months clearly something must be done. There should be heafty fines for oil campanies that don't follow the rules.

Saturday, September 04, 2010

Texting can't only Kill You.

New laws have been put inplace about using your phone while driving is dangerouse. Oprah Winfrey even started a pledge to stop people from driving while using the phone. The issue isn't that you can damage your car and hurt yourself it is that you can in danger others. Not just the people in the cars infront of you, but also in construction areas where workers are holding stop signs telling you to slow down. That is exactly what happened to traffic controller Jennifer Beauregard, 23 she got hit by an SUV. Why? Because the man who was driving was texting. Jennifer was lucky to survive the crash. She had many broken bones, brain damage and she was in a coma for 6 days. Don't cause another person to die, because you wanted to talk to your friend. 

See the full story here 

Friday, September 03, 2010

Another Rig Explodes

Another rig has exploded in the Gulf of Mexico. Luckily, the company was able to shut off the oil flow to avert a huge leak like the BP spill. This is another example of why we should reduce our dependence on oil. Along with the unconventional methods now used to extract oil out of the ground comes great destruction to the environment. Investing more in renewable energy, and a carbon tax is the way to reduce our dependency on oil.
ATLANTA — The opening scene was all too familiar. Black smoke rising from a burning oil platform in the Gulf of Mexico and workers plucked from the sea. But Thursday's fire on an oil production facility 100 miles off the Louisiana coast appears to have ended without disaster.
None of the 13 workers on board the platform were injured. The Coast Guard found no evidence of an oil leak, and by Thursday afternoon the fire was out.
Read more at the Times Colonist.

New Poll

A new EKOS poll shows the Conservatives having a 0.3% lead over the Liberals. This is good news. Now, there is two polls that confirm that the two parties are tied in public support. Disappointingly, the Liberals don't break the 30% mark in this poll. This poll would give the Liberals a minority government with 113 seats. This is good progress, but we need more support nonetheless. Michael Ignatieff has improved the views of himself during the summer. He needs to continue doing that. He recognises that and has extended the tour into the fall. He is not a dumb man.
EKOS poll - Sept. 2, 2010

Read more at CBC.

Thursday, September 02, 2010

Liberal Majority

Ignatieff said yesterday that he is convinced that whenever an election arises, Canadians, by a majority will choose to come back to the Liberal party, or as he calls it, the "big red tent." After seeing him perform during the summer, I believe he can get a government. What I'm less sure of is if a majority is possible. In Canada, with support being divided between the Conservatives, Liberals, NDP, Bloc and Green, we might not be seeing another majority for a long time. Parties will have to learn how to cooperate, like in the U.K. There can't be any more Stephen Harper bullying tactics. I am expecting more coalitions negotiated after elections.
BADDECK, N.S. — Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff said Wednesday he's out to earn a majority government in the next election and is pitching his party — the big red tent — as the clear alternative to Stephen Harper's "politics of meanness."
The Liberal leader, who spent most of his summer on an election-style tour, said he is trying to gain voters' trust and that it's a work in progress to persuade Canadians to ditch their party allegiances and support the Liberals instead.
Read more at the Vancouver Sun.

A joint a day keeps the doctor away?

Bye bye apple, hello pot is what you can say about neurotic pain. A new study shows that herbal cannabis helps with neurotic pain. The study gave people with the neurotic pain either a placebo with 0% THC (most common chemical in Marijuana), 2.5% THC, 6% THC or 9.4% THC. It showed a significant reduction in neurotic pain for people taking 9.4% THC against the people who took 0% THC. Now there were some side effects, some of which included headache, dry eyes, burning sensation in areas of neuropathic pain, dizziness, numbness, cough. Some even said that it helped with sleep. I think that the U.S should at the very least legalize medical Marijuana. Which by the way 80% of Americans agree with. Currently though Obama is against legalizing even medical Marijuana.
Smoking marijuana does help relieve a certain amount of pain, a small but well-designed Canadian study has found
"We found that 25 mg herbal cannabis with 9.4 per cent THC, administered as a single smoked inhalation three times daily for five days, significantly reduces average pain intensity compared with a zero per cent THC cannabis placebo in adult subjects with chronic post traumatic/post surgical neuropathic pain," the study's authors concluded in Monday's online issue of the Canadian Medical Association Journal.
The participants also reported improvements in measures of sleep quality, the researchers said
http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2010/08/30/marijuana-medical-neuropathic-pain.html

Wednesday, September 01, 2010

Give me a Majority or suffer the Coalition!

Harper today has gone into attack the coalition mode again, just like late 2008. Except this time the coalition doesn't exist. But, once again Harper doesn't focus on facts, rather trying to use the world of make-believe to lower Liberal support. The truth is that there is no coalition being planned. The new Harris-Decima poll gives the Conservatives only a ten seat lead (117). There is every possibility that the Liberals could gain a government on their own during an election. After the election, then there might be talks. But right now, no party is focused on a coalition, just getting its own support up, which so far, has worked for the Liberals. We'll see if Stephen Harper can scare Canadians into saying no to the Liberals.
“We as Conservatives are not focused on an election,” he said. “But, friends, when an election does come, Canadians are going to face a pretty stark choice. The next election will be a choice between a Parliament with a majority made up of a Liberal-NDP-Bloc Quebecois coalition, or it will be a stable majority for our Conservative government.”
Read more at the National Post.

U.S expands sanctions on North Korea

U.S. as it promised said it would create tougher sanctions on North Korea. North Korea has still continued to try for nuclear weapons while everyone continues to try and stop them. Sanctions are the best way to stop North Korea from getting a nuclear weapon. The U.S and many other countries should continue to toughen it's sanctions until North Korea stops. All countries should continue to try to stop North Korea and any other nations from getting nuclear weapons, but they should practice what they preach and get ride of their own nuclear weapons.
The sanctions will hit eight North Korean "entities" and four individuals, targeting the trade in arms, luxury goods and narcotics.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced last month that US sanctions against North Korea would be expanded.
North Korea indicated last year that any attempt to blockade the country would be regarded as an "act of war".
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-11132868