"Robert Ede"
To: nationalpost
Subject: Cdn Sttmnt of Assets and Liabilities - 5% paid off in 7 years
Your Excellency, Mr Prime Minister & National Post Editors,
I just looked through my June2007 copy of the Fiscal Monitor - Canada'a monthly report card on the Dominion's Operating Statement and Balance Sheet.
My attention was drawn to the fact that the Finance Dept had excluded the Statement of Assets and Liabilities page in this year's first quarter report, so I looked up the Fiscal Reference Tables and did my own calculations to see how the Stewards of the Crown's Treasury were doing at apportioning the land's plenty.
Since March 31 2000 when the Total Interest-bearing debt hit its high-water mark of $629.747 Billion, the Dominion gov't has collected ~$1,423.585 Billion (allowing $222.0 billion for '06-07) and reduced the Interest-bearing Debt to $598.396 Billion (March 31,2007 Table 6, Fiscal Monitor).
So notwithstanding the sharp-pencil, accounting offsets from the newly-counted Non-Financial class of Crown Assets (used to calculated the much-reported Net Debt aka Accumulated Deficit figure), the bottom line on outstanding debt has moved down $31.351 Billion (about 4.98% less in 7 years) while ~$208.318 Billion have trickled out the door in Net Public Debt Charges ( ~$257.472 Billion in Gross PDC's).
All those surpluses that we've heard so much about ... all that taddle about "the Budgetary surpluses going to pay off the Debt" ... all that posturing about prudent fiscal management ... and the gals & guys in Finance have knocked off 5% of the Crown's Interest-bearing Debt load in 7 years!!
Why isn't "the Crown" supervising the activities of Her/It's Stewards more closely? AND demanding more transparent accounting?
By the way, exactly Who/What IS the Crown? the entity whose treasury and assets are being husbanded so haphazardly and reported so obscurely?
Robert Ede
25 Dersingham CresThornhill ON L3T 4P5
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Date: Tue, 28 Aug 2007 16:07:29 -0700
From: Caspar Davis
Subject: Re: Turkmenistan, Afghan, Pakistani pipeline
Hi Joe,
I have received the following comment on the Turkmenistan, Afghan, Pakistani pipeline from a retired professor who prefers to remain anonymous:
Thanks to Anonymous.
He comments:
Yes, the Turkmenistan, Afghan, Pakistani pipeline has been a major American geostrategic objective in the region.
But the Great Game does not stop there.
Also have a look at the CIA factbook at : https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ti.html where it notes:
<
The above paragraph was written a few years ago. This past Sunday, BBC-TV ran a photo & map story on this structure to celebrate its completion. This MAJOR bridge has now been constructed.
Now why is the USA so "altruistic" vis a vis Tajikistan?
With bases in Tajikistan, the USA can:
1. Drive a wedge between China and Russia (who have formed a military alliance against the USA);
2. Easily access and destroy the central Asiatic transport infrastructure of China and Russia;
3. Outflank the Tibetan massif and nuke China;
4, Control some of the river headwaters that feed into Northern India and the adjoining areas. When you consider that the greatest current bone of contention between India and Pakistan, is over control of the Indus River headwaters, you can see how USA control of water can impact on India's foreign policy (as is currently the case considering the way the USA is offering "nuclear aid" to India in exchange for some serious geopolitical concessions).
5. "ABM bases" in Poland will give the Americans first-strike nuclear capability against Russia. Russia's present capacity to retaliate is the principal reason why the Americans have not already nuked Iran. [The nuclear option is on the table as the USA cannot successfully conduct conventional military operations against Iran, because Iranian radar (thanks to recent Russian technology) is able to detect stealth bombers.]
Yes, World War III has been going on for some time. It's a new game - the acquisition of wealth by stealth as the USA tries to grab an even greater share of the world's resources to position itself against the future economic rise of Chindia. This game will continue whatever party runs the USA and whoever runs the White House (be it Osama, Obama or Chelsea's Mama). The differences will only be a matter of style.
What is the security discourse all about? Is it to continue to be the security of the American standard of living, even if (as George Kennan indicated many decades ago) millions of persons abroad may have to die in the process. Secondarily, is it to prevent retaliation from countries whose peoples and infrastructure have been bombed to hell?
AMENDING THE TRAJECTORY: some seed possibilities
1. Create a plenipotentiary supra-national commission analogous to the European Coal & Steel Commission (ECSC) created after World War II to forestall any further need for the Germans and French to kill each other over each other's coal and iron resources (which were major triggers for the Franco-Prussian War of 1870, World War I and World War II). This commission would have reps from today's current and nascent great powers, namely the USA, CHINA, INDIA, PAKISTAN, RUSSIA and the ISLAMIC STATES. These nations would have to cede sovereignty in the matter of resources to the supranational body. Discussions would have to be frank with all self-interests put on the table without high-moral pretensions.
The other stakeholders would have a voting seat at the table. This might include certain UNO developmental agencies, but certainly NOT the SECURITY COUNCIL. Other block votes would be accorded to a regional parliamentary assembly (yet to be formed), an international NGO sector that could include WFM, Greenpeace. Special weight would have to given to the views of specially created scientific/ecological committees.
2. This body would both allocate and cap resource extraction and shipment, energy production, its forms, water and its distribution and so forth in keeping with the guidelines established by the scientific/ecological subcommittees. This would be done on a fair and equitable basis that regarded local needs, respected Mother Earth as well as the legitimate interests of the great and nascent powers. The body might be somewhat akin to OPEC but accountable to humanity at large.
3. Hitherto, the credentials prerequisite to governmental service at national and international levels have been training and/or experience in political science, economics, finance and law. Unfortunately, experts in these fields also tend to be geo- and ecological illiterates. In future, perhaps a BSc in ecology might become the base credential for international service where resources belonging to humanity as a whole are in issue.
4. To ensure that no great power overplayed its hand at the expense of the other players, rigorous monitoring and accountability mechanisms would have to be put in place. Oversight needs to be conducted at arm's length from the stakeholders, by a country or agency beholden to none of them. As Canada no longer has credibility as an impartial broker, perhaps the job should go to one of the advanced nations that has made the greatest per capita contributions to planetary welfare, i.e., one of the Scandinavian countries or Switzerland, since most of the underdeveloping nations are too easily pressured by the great powers.
5. The threat of collectively and mutually assured nuclear destruction - this time round - might compel the participants of this supranational commission to a) indeed cede sovereignty to a higher body as a better alternative than destruction; b) make sure that the bureaucratic impediments that have crippled the UN do not get in the way.
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From: "Rory J. Koopmans"
To: joe.hueglin@bellnet.ca, jmarkusoff@thejournal.canwest.com
Subject: The Honourable Rory Tres
Date: Tue, 28 Aug 2007 15:08:58 -0600
Rory J. Koopmans
19044-73rd A Avenue
Edmonton, AB. T5T 5T1
August XXVIIIth, MMVII
Premier Ed Stelmach, M.L.A.P.
Conservative-Ft. Sask.-Vegreville
Eddie:
The way to smoke out the ticked off voter is to promise fiscal accountability. I bet you rural voters would not mind if we took on debts in order to pay infrastructure costs, neither would civic voters. The first thing to do is to sucker punch the teachers by paying off the unfunded liability. If the teachers are mad in the classroom, some might bring their anti Tory bias to the classroom and the young minds. They will try and manipulate those minds instead of shaping them to be positive contributors to society, they wind up becoming zealots.
Remember teachers are supreme at manipulating the media, look at President L. Baines Johnson, he kept Vietnam going. If we remove the liability threat, the teachers are less likely to strike in the fall. Forcing cooperation by the unions, making for less of a chance to generate negative media reports. So pay the liability off, this will boost your softcore support among Liberal & Blue New Democrats. A reverse powerplay if you will.
Always A Gentleman,
Rory
==================================
Date: Tue, 28 Aug 2007 12:13:22 -0700
Subject: Re: Rape Rights Trading - Legal Rape STELCO
From: Odette Kalman
To: Mel Hurtig
In reference to the satirical paper about 'Rape Rights Trading'
Excerpt of 'Rape Rights Trading'
> A global alliance of corporate think-tanks has come up with an ingenious market-based system for limiting the incidence of rape. It's called RAPE-RIGHTS TRADING or, more informally, CAP AND TRADE. Here's how it works.
> FIRST, the government puts a limit on the total number of rapes permitted per year. The limit may be constant, or may slowly increase or decrease over time, depending on what the government considers achievable. (full text available, thanks to Caspar) http://grputland.blogspot.com/2007/06/corporate-solution-to-rape.html
There is a new case of legal rape unfolding - Stelco sold for $ 1.2 billion - apparently saved by few, "innocent angels" to prevent the company from "engineered" bankruptcy early last year. The following rapists are most grateful for the UN-ANTICIPATED, almost 7-fold windfall through the sale to US Steel Company: Tricap Management Ltd., Sunrise Partners Ltd., hedge fund Appaloosa Management L.P. Controlling a total of more than 70 % of the company's stocks. - and to whom do the 30 % belong to?
"The RAPED consist of angered previous shareholders and the Union"
It begs the questions:
A) Why is there no mechanism to prevent such invented cases of insolvency with dubious, destructive goals?
B) Why is a Union prevented from taking over a company that has - and in the eyes of many who know the value of any steel manufacturing - a bright future?
C) What role did our governments (federal and Province of Ontario) play in this very case of RAPE! - May be we should ask Murray Pollitt of Pollitt & Co., as the representatives of those "raped" why this could happen in front of the eyes from politicians and bureaucrats.
D) US Steel "retired" most from its debt of $ 760 million - Where sits the home of retirement?
Remember Avi Lewis "The Take"? - Stelco is a clear case in point!
http://digital.timescolonist.com/epaper/viewer.aspx
Times Colonist today, Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Stelco sale angers some investors CanWest News Service
TORONTO
‹ The long-awaited $1.2-billion sale of Stelco Inc. will lead to amassive windfall for the select group of investors that pulled the companyout of bankruptcy protection last year, angering the previous shareholderswho felt it was never insolvent in the first place.
U.S. Steel Corp.¹s bid, worth $38.50 a share, has been endorsed by all ofHamilton-based Stelco¹s major investors: Tricap Management Ltd., SunrisePartners Ltd. and hedge fund Appaloosa Management LP. They refinanced thecompany early last year and took huge equity positions at a cost of lessthan $6 a share. They control more than 70 per cent of the stock and willmake an almost sevenfold return on their investment.
The losers, on the other hand, are all of the prior shareholders who werewiped out after Justice James Farley endorsed the company¹s restructuringplan.
³The union and ourselves felt all along that [Stelco] should not bebankrupt,² said Murray Pollitt, president of investment firm Pollitt & Co.,which represented shareholders during the restructuring. ³And if you look atthe asset valuations and all the rest of it, the takeout would suggest thatwe were right.²
The takeover of Stelco, the last publicly traded Canadian steelmaker, cameas no surprise given the frenzied consolidation of the steel industry, andthe fact that the company has been seeking a buyer.
But the high price still caught analysts and investors off-guard, especiallysince Stelco is highly leveraged. Besides paying a 43-per-cent premium overStelco¹s closing price last Friday, U.S. Steel is also retiring most of thecompany¹s $760million US debt.
³U.S. Steel is making a bet on the future of the industry, and they¹re not acompany that throws their money around,² said Bruce Leonard, a lawyer withCassels Brock that was involved in Stelco¹s Chapter 11 proceedings.
³They¹ve made a conscious investment decision that there¹s considerableupside in the Stelco situation.²
U.S. Steel expects to find efficiencies worth $100 million US annually from the acquisition.
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Date: Tue, 28 Aug 2007 07:46:50 -0700 (PDT)
From: cosmopolita cosmopolita cosmopolita_rc@yahoo.com
Subject: Re: Have Canadian Forces in Afghanistan been pawns?
Dear Joe,
We published your article, re: http://www.agoracosmopolitan.com/home/Frontpage/2007/08/27/01727.html
Thanks so much.
Raj
The Canadian National Newspaper
===================================
From: "Peggy Merritt"
Date: Tue, 28 Aug 2007 08:54:59 -0400
Subject: Re: Daily Digest August 27, 2007
Hi Joe:
My only concern about the issue in your letter is that is the source of the info to be relied upon or is this another effort to subvert the cause of helping the Afgans
Peggy(Source is reputed to be sound - time alone will tell)
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"Peter Robertson"
Date: Sun, 26 Aug 2007 10:25:30 -0400
Joe,
I have been quietly following the antics of the “New” government for the past several months, and recently had the opportunity to think quietly about Canadian politics while cruising down the Dnieper River in the Ukraine. There is nothing quite like distance to lend perspective.
My conclusions are probably not going to be popular, for I now believe that the Liberals have a reasonably good chance of winning at least a minority government in the next Federal election, and perhaps even a majority. The lack of direction on Afghanistan, a poor record on social issues, and now a volatile economic situation which may lead to a recession – all of these issues will combine with a lingering, visceral distrust of the Harper government on the part of the voters to influence voting patterns. I think that there will be a sufficient swing in the popular vote in the next election to put the Tories out of office. I have not mentioned such other factors as the Green vote, or the increasing support for the N.D.P. In other words, if the Country must choose between Stephen and Stephane, Mr. Dion may succeeed despite himself.
The Tories do not understand that tax cuts and a law and order platform are not enough. The Government must be seen to be doing something positive for the people. It must also communicate effectively with the people. This Government muzzles its MP’s and Ministers (no doubt to mute the troglodytes and the dinosaurs). The Prime Minister presents as a “control freak” who attempts personally to micromanage everything and everyone. And woe betide anyone who dares to object. Even at the constituency level these days, absolute and unthinking loyalty to the Government is required. I recently attended a Tory fundraiser at which no one spoke to me, because I do question and I sometimes object. I will not attend another.
I expect an election sometime this autumn, or maybe next spring. I think that, eventually, the Bloc will bring down the Government over Afghanistan. Once again, we live in interesting times.
Peter A. Robertson.
===================================
From: John Anderson
Date: Fri, 24 Aug 2007 17:28:07 -0400
Hello Joe:
Subject: afghanistan
I did not find the following link in today's Daily Digest just received.It is for Christie Blatchford's column in today's (Friday's) Globe andMail.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070824.wafghanblatch24/BNStory/National/columnists
Some people will undoubtedly accuse Christie of being an apologist formilitary red necks. But I found Christie's column to be very helpful insetting the context for CF operations in Afghanistan.
Instead of just ringing our hands about the casualties that are beingexperienced by the CF, let's also remember that there is plenty of deathand destruction being perpetrated by "the other guys".
And Gilles Duceppe (in my humble opinion) should be taken out and horsewhipped for trying to exploit the situation for political advantage.Duceppe, along with others, can only see the casualties; the fact thatthere was a reason for the casualties is completely lost on him. Heclaims to "support the troops", but in refusing to try to understand themission he ends up insulting all members of the Canadian Forces.
And Christie's references to her conversation with Dr. David Puskas atthe end of her article are especially poignant. As she points out, hatsoff to the Afghan medical personnel who turned up for a lecture by Dr.Puskas in spite of two of their number having just been murdered.Gilles Duceppe and his ilk should be ashamed of themselves.
Best Regards,
JOHN ANDERSON
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Date: Thu, 23 Aug 2007 19:13:45 -0700
From: "Suan H.Booiman"
Subject: hiding
Council of Canadians are hiding behind a name as it has nothing to do withthe average Canadian but simply is a mouth piece for Labour Unions thatdon't want their name used. Maude Barlow has been screaming for yearsbut her own book Taking back the Nation, has no chapter on the wealthyLabour Unions but much about corporations that provide employment forthousands.
Suan
VIDEO
Summit police tactics questioned
Protesters are accusing of police of using “agents provocateurs” outside the Château Montebello to instigate violence during Monday’s demonstration against the North American Leaders’ Summit.
video: Stuart Trew, Council of Canadians
===================================
From: "Rene Moreau"
Date: Thu, 23 Aug 2007 16:11:27 -0400
To Joe;
From Rene Moreau (416-489-8347)
re; 'revamping regulations'
Some examples of how 'revamping or instituting 'smart regulation', which is, in reality, no regulation, in corporate speak, works.
1-the Canadian bottled water association from Richmond Hill, Ontario, was given 'self-regulation a few years back, despite the fact that most of the members are foreign, American corporations. eg Nestles of New Jersey, They're Swiss for Food but American for water, because of NAFTA, which wouldn't apply if they were Swiss, Coke, Pepsi, etc. No one in McGinty's office knows how it came about, apparently.
2- The lumber business, 80% American owned in Ontario and B.C. was given self-regulation in the Harris years by Chris Hodgeson, M.P. for Lindsay, when he was minister for natural resources.
3- Same M.P., when he was minister for Municipal Affairs and Housing, gave developers, with their new supply of American money, self-regulation.
4. Nestles, again, was given self-regulation by the ministry of the Environment for Ontario and told to self monitor the equipment from M of E that was to prevent them from stealing from the aquifer and local wells and rivers, despite Nestle's having been charged 6 times, Stateside with doing no-nos on a grand scale. Last fine in California was 25 million dollars.
5. Tilma, billed as a way to make cross border trade, inter-provincially, more accessable, lets corporations in the effected provinces sue their government if any regulations get in the way of their profit making potential! Much like NAFTA does federally. The taxpayers of course, foot the bill.
Neat trick is it not?
Of course, dual citizenship and 5th column maneuvers make this simple to operate for corporate entities since they can infiltrate our governments, all three, to facilitate from the inside!
Rene Moreau (416-489-8347)
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From: "Glenn Harewood"
Subject: HOW MANY DEAD CANADIAN SOLDIERS WILL IT TAKE ... before ...
Date: Thu, 23 Aug 2007 12:14:06 -0400
Joe:
How many DEAD Canadian soldiers will it take...
Before the Harper ultra-conservative government STOP sending brain-washed innocent soldiers to an almost certain DEATH?
How many years will it take...
Before the Bush-style Harper government REALIZES that Russia spent 20 years fighting the Afghans, and then decided to withdraw its troops because they could no longer fight and beat natives on their own home turf?
How long will it take ...
For the majority of the Canadian populace to REMIND the Harper minority government that Canada has a long tradition of PEACE KEEPING -- NOT WAR-MAKING? Harper has, in the space of 18 months forced the Canadian Armed forces to change from its peacekeeping role to one of war-making. Can any Canadian voter remember any newly-elected Canadian Prime Minister, secretly flying to a WAR zone, donning ARMY fatigues, and portraying himself in a photo-op as a warmonger? Surely, not as a PEACE KEEPER!!
What sort of logic is it that convinces us that it is alright for Canadians to travel half-way around the world, enter another nation's territory, and KILL its natives -- whether those natives be good or bad? Would Canadians accept the converse situation: Afghans, or for that matter, any foreign nation's troops (including the USA), coming into Canada and killing our citizens?
And for what reason? Democratic? Are the majority of the people of Afghanistan living in a more western-type democracy today than they did before 69 Canadian soldiers were killed?
Can anyone force dramatic change on a people who are very slow to accept ANY sudden and dramatic changes? Do the Iranian populace live their daily lives in an any more democratic and SAFE conditions than before the Bush-led invasion of 2003?
How long will it take before the Canadian populace REALIZES that the minority Harper government is not focused on issues that benefit Canadians, but ONLY on doing any thing possible to have itself elected with a majority? Their plan is to stay the course as long as possible, pretend to the public that they are "starting" many projects, and that "they are getting the job done." Then go back to the electorate and say "well you see, we are getting the job done and we need more time and a majority to ensure that we complete the job."
If the electorate is foolish enough to vote the neo-cons a majority, then we will see the true Harper ferocity of destroying the cherished traditions and institutions of Canada unleashed! All his cabinet will suddenly be able to speak because one will NOT be able to remove them for another four years.
Glenn Harewood, Ph.D. KC.
===================================
From: "Peter Creighton"
Date: Thu, 23 Aug 2007 08:15:34 -0400
Subject: Wajid Khan Picnic a Bust
Wajid Khan Picnic a Bust
The attendance was only a fraction of what Mr. Khan would have drawn if he were still representing the liberal party for Mississauga- Streetsville the way he had been elected.
Mississauga- Streetsville said no thanks to Mr. Kahn’s invitation for a picnic at the island park of Vic Johnson arena.
The suggestion of additional parking spaces at the go train was proven to be over zealous, by 2pm there were just over a dozen cars parked in Vic Johnson lot.
Some citizens decided to show their disapproval by wearing the Liberal T shirts issued by Kahn’s organizers during the 2004 election when he was voted in as a Liberal. They did this while standing and socializing at the entrance to Vic Johnson’s arena parking lot.
One of the event organizers yelled at them saying that if the shirts were in blue they would be welcome in the picnic. Clearly this wasn’t a community picnic as advertised but just a forum for Wajid Khan supporters to gather to and there wasn’t many of them.
A peaceful gathering of concerned citizens was enough to create a stir. It wasn’t long before police showed up to question them. The Officer stated that they had received a complaint about an angry mob of picketers.
Recognizing the complaint was exaggerated the officer engaged in idle chatter and simply waited to be joined by his sergeant to precede to the picnic grounds.
Within about half an hour the police officer returned and stated that the complaint had been dropped. With that he bid them good day and left as did the sergeant.
This turn of events has left me wondering just what Mr. Kahn does as our elected MP, a confidant responsible and practical Member of Parliament would be prepared to address the citizens he represents especially at a function that his organization has prepared.
If less than ten citizens merely wearing his former promotional material is enough to frighten his organization into calling the police for support. I seriously question Mr. Khan’s ability to represent us appropriately in the House of Commons.
If this is the case one can only construe that Mr. Khan represents just his own interests while in the house.
Anybody want to buy a used car?
Peter Creighton
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From: "Brent Cameron"
Date: Wed, 22 Aug 2007 10:12:43 -0400
The No MMP organization in southeastern Ontario is starting to organize. Both Larry McCormick, the former Liberal MP for Hastings-Frontenac-Lennox and Addington, and Scott Reid, the current Tory MP for Lanark-Frontenac-Lennox and Addington have expressed support for our cause.
We currently have 19 members on our Facebook group, No MMP for Lanark-Frontenac-Lennox and Addington, which has only been up and running less than a week.
Also, last Thursday, we got some coverage on Cornwall's AM1220 and John Bolton's "Cornwall Today" program.
Obviously, there is much more that remains, and anyone in the following ridings, please let us know what you would be willing to do to help the effort:
Lanark-Frontenac-Lennox and Addington
Kingston & the Islands
Carleton - Mississippi Mills
Prince Edward - Hastings
Leeds - Grenville
Glengarry - Prescott - Russell
Stormont - Dundas - South Glengarry
Renfrew - Nipissing - Pembroke
Given the nature of the campaign, even a modest organization in your part of the riding can make a big difference!
Cheers,
Brent Cameron
Lanark-Frontenac-Lennox and Addington
cameron_brent@hotmail.com
H: 613-374-2641
Cell: 613-483-0763
===================================
From: Marjaleena Repo
Subject: In defence of Stephane Dion
Dear Joe,
Claudia Hudson, who has not a good word to say about Stephane Dion and the Liberal party in her August 19th comment, has clearly not read or grasped Mr. Dion's pre-Montebello press statement, which I have enclosed in the hope the she will discover the the strong positives in it. I also wish that she would recognize that Stephane Dion is a brand new leader, the one who was not supposed to get anywhere in the leadership contest, and that it was the grassroots of the party that chose him over all the others. The reason why they chose him was that he offered the party a new and different direction of which his genuine committment to protecting our environment, his strong support for the Canadian Wheat Board and the list of items below are obvious indicators.
(You can read the full report, Strong and Free: The Liberal Blueprint for the North American Leaders Summit at Montebello, Quebec – August 2007, click here. )
Marjaleena Repo
Saskatoon, SK
Media release, August 17, 2007
Putting Canada’s Interest First: A Liberal Blueprint for the SPP
OTTAWA – Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion today released Strong and Free: The Liberal Blueprint for the North American Leaders Summit at Montebello, Quebec – August 2007, outlining a detailed proposal to ensure Canada’s interests are effectively promoted at the Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP) meetings in Montebello.
===================================
From: LaVonne Khayyat
Subject: Red dyes in jelly beans
Date: Tue, 21 Aug 2007 11:23:11 -0700
Interesting how PM Harper chose to minimize the critics of the secretive process happening through these SPP conferences by focusing on making the standardizing of jelly beans an issue of ridicule, and how the press immediately landed on that to highlight his drollery. The issue of standardizing of pesticides to US and Mexican levels, however, was conveniently neglected.
Meanwhile, there are dyes, e.g., the controversial red dye, and sweeteners, which health investigation has called into question. What are US and Mexican standards pertaining to dyes and sweeteners in jelly beans? What about other food additives? How much standardization are we talking about across the board and to whose level will the standards be set? - the producers with the highest standards or the producers with the lowest? We need a debate on every piece of legislation that flows out of the SPP.
Also, what about GMO foods? What will the legislation be? Will we get labeling to identify GMO foods, especially as likely more GMO products flow out of the USA than Canada?
LaVonne Khayyat
Vancouver
===================================
Subject: RE: Daily Digest August 19, 2007.
From: "Efstratios Psarianos"
Date: Mon, 20 Aug 2007 15:54:00 +0000
The tyranny of science
http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/opinion/story.html?id=b31fa316-d716-488b-a49c-eae2b708b444
From the article: "My first heresy says that all the fuss about global warming is grossly exaggerated. Here I am opposing the holy brotherhood of climate model experts and the crowd of deluded citizens who believe the numbers predicted by the computer models."
And: "A good point, for the global warming scare is (as I have argued previously) the latest power grab from the same academy that preaches a religious atheism through the enforcement of Darwinist cosmology in our schools."
Huzzah! This came just when I was succumbing to a fiot of melancholia about all the global warming thing. To reiterate: we're nowhere near understanding how Earth's climate works, much more study is needed, and until studies scientifically-derived (and challenged!) studies are completed, no one can honestly say that man-made greenhouse gases are behind it all. And that's despite the fact that "scientific" bozos at the UN have stated that greenhouse gases are almost certainly behind today's warming. As an engineer who sincerely believes that the Temple of Science should remain inviolate, I'm dreadfully offended by those who try to pass off their desires as "science-based".
Mind you, science does NOT say the opposite either. Just as no scientist can claim that science proves that global warming is driven by man-made greenhouse gases, no scientist can claim that it doesn't. We just don't know, period. And until we do, whether or not precautions should be taken is a matter for democratic debate. (Personally, I'm for taking such measures, with emphasis on their being reasonable (whatever that may be)).
Same thing as concerns enforced atheism ... let Darwin be presented as incomplete science and Intelligent Design and various creation stories be presented as religion and tradition. Anything else is dishonest and (to be honest) bad for kids in that it sows confusion and mistrust. (As for own my own position: I've been a religious doubter for a long time now, but I've recentl;y run across a few things that make me totally disbelieve all organized religions .. .read on).
From the article: "The Church to its credit, over 2,000 years, took the trouble to explain why a heresy was a heresy; why, moreover, it was wrong; and why any individual heretic was worth contradicting. Galileo, for instance, was given exhaustive hearings, and condemned -- not to death, mind, but to recantation -- not for his scientific assertions, but for his mischievous theological inferences." And indeed it has. Mind you, its definition of heresy has often been "what the out-of-power faction thinks". Plus, its positions on certain things have been manifestly false and self-serving. For example, here's a little story that almost no one knows about ...
There once was this Greek man, whom I'll leave unnamed for a bit and who went into business selling something or other in what's now southeast Turkey (in old Cilicia, I believe ...). By flattery and gifts, he got himself noticed by the local Byzantine authorities, so much so that he landed a bacon-supply contract (!) for the Byzantine army in Syria-Palestine or thereabouts. Contract (and bacon supply) in hand, he went on to divert Imperial funds to his own purse, corrupted the locals, etc. He was very successful at it until he drew Imperial attention, was tried, and was condemned. Somehow, he managed to worm his way out of his predicament (more palm-greasing), after which he went on to become bishop (can you believe it?) of Alexandria in Egypt, one of the major Christian cities at the time. Now, being bishop doesn't mean being nice ... he started taxing the locals and diverting money to himself again. And he did it so immoderately that the Alexandrians rose up and prevented him from returning to his palace/whatever: he managed to return only with the support of Imperial troops. So, he kept on doing his thing until the locals rose up once more and strangled him.
End of story? Not quite ... Somehow, after death, his name wound up on a list of individuals from Syria-Palestine-Egypt recommended for canonization (i.e. declared a saint). And he was canonized.
Now, who IS this individual, you ask? In life, he was Georgios of Cappadocia (that's where his father was from). He later became St. George, the Dragon-Slayer, patron saint of England, Canada and (I believe Australia and New Zealand).
Sort of shakes your faith in the Christian (i.e. the Catholic and Orthodox) Church, eh? And there's plenty more where that came from ....
Stratos "Tyranny over science, no; religious tyranny phooey!"
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From: "Mark Garstin"
Subject: RE: Daily Digest August 19, 2007.
Date: Sun, 19 Aug 2007 21:33:47 -0400
Joe,
I find it curious how all of these detractors to the SPP complain about the secrecy and closed door nature of the SPP meetings, how the public is not being let in on the discussions and then turn around and proclaim that Canada is going to loose its sovereignty over the SPP. If the organizers of the SPP are being so secretive and not letting anyone in on the discussions then how is it that these detractors know that the SPP is going to take away Canada’s sovereignty? Can any of them show us any documents or any minutes of meetings that show where Canada is going to loose its sovereignty?
- If they can’t produce any such documents then their statements that Canada is going to loose its sovereignty is pure unadulterated fear mongering, that is, the statements are not based on facts.
- If they can produce such documents then their first statements about secrecy are lies and are intended on making the meetings look like some sort of sinister affair intended on subjugating a hapless society (yet another form of fear mongering).
These detractors have discredited themselves in this contradiction and have shown that THEY are the ones with the hidden agenda by trying to use fear to scare people into following their agenda and not our elected officials. What this tells me is that these people will not be open to any sound or reasoned debate on the subject and if there are any perils to be found in the SPP then these people are definitely not the ones I want pointing them out to me (because they are the ones who are wanting to subjugate me to their agenda).
I refuse to be manipulated by people like this. Somehow, all of these chants about Canada loosing its sovereignty over the SPP sound exactly like the chants I heard some 28 years ago when the FTA was being signed. Last time I looked Canada was still the True North Strong and Free with the Queen at the head of the State.
Sorry but did anyone hear the word ‘Wolf’ being called again?
Cheers,
Mark Garstin
Mississauga – Brampton South
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STRATOS
Date: Sun, 19 Aug 2007 0:32:00 +0000
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Mark Garstin
Subject: RE: Coming up is the meeting in Montebello.
Unfortunately, although there are some legitimate people who have realconcerns about the agenda of the NAPP and SPP objectives (who should beheard in this process), I can't help but feel that the majority of theprotesters who are attempting to disrupt this meeting are just a bunch ofnut-bars who have nothing else to do and who are attempting to steal a bitof media coverage by preying on the emotions of the masses.
Hear, hear. Mind you, one can make an argument either way: the details of negociations necessarily have to be kept secret while they're going, but that doesn't apply to the big idea behind negociating in the first. I'm a pretty up-to-date guy overall but for the life of me I havge no idea what the thrust of this SPP thing is all about. Is it a trade thing? A secure-borders / security-measure harmonization thing? Does it have to do with setting up a common tariff structure for the NAFTA zone? All I know is that they stole my consulting firm's acronym (SPP Consultants = Stratos Psarianos Performance Consultants, with "Performance" = increasing the performance of industrial processes).
Where the nut-bars are nutty and contemptible is that they're a vile, crass, stupid provocateurs who have no idea of what they're opposing and have even less of an idea of what should be done instead. Where they DO have a point is in voicing democratic suspicion of "major" discussions (how major are they, really? Who knows ...) whose aims "the people" have no idea of.
So, nutbars yes. But uncalled-for secrecy concerning what subjects are being discussed.
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From: Grant Orchard
To: CONSERVATIVE/COMMUNICATIONS/NET joe.hueglin@bellnet.ca
Subject: "The True North Strong and Free",
Stephane Dion statement on the SPP, August 17, 2007
Dear Joe,
Perhaps you were able to catch Stephane Dion's press conference on the SPP this morning, and have seen his 14 page document released today, "Strong and Free: The Liberal Blueprint for the North American Leaders Summit at Montebello, Quebec ? August 2007", but in the event you didn't, you can get it from the Liberal Party of Canada's website (and perhaps other sites as well): http://www.liberal.ca/story_13066_e.aspx
It's a strong statement as you will see, and I expect you (and your readers) will find it of interest.
Hi, Grant. It's been a long time since we shook hands waaay back when at the PC leadership convention in 2003. Hope you're doing well ...
As concerns the Strong and Free blueprint ... it actually makes some good points. For example, it touches on SPP secrecy (although is goes too far in requesting that a list of contact persons be given for all of the Canadian working groups ... this would prevent the groups from doing their proper work). If the summary is a reliable indicator of what's in the blueprint, the blueprint itself is worth reading.
Looks like the Liberals are raising their game. Time for the Tories to start 'splaining some things.
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Charles Tupper, Vancouver
Subject: NDP: blowing the whistle on the SPP meetings in Montebello
Subject: NDP: blowing the whistle on the SPP meetings in Montebello
Date: Fri, 17 Aug 2007 16:17:46 -0400
From: "Layton, Jack - M.P." Layton.J@parl.gc.ca
The NDP shares the opinion that the Conservative government has no mandate at this summit to lock Canada into an agreement of continental integration that seeks to undemocratically harmonize and weaken health, safety, and environmental standards. Instead, I have called on Prime Minister Harper to take this opportunity to discuss issues that will actually strengthen the security, prosperity and quality of life for all North Americans. Tackling climate change, closing the growing prosperity gap, respecting the rights of indigenous peoples and re-evaluating recent security initiatives are 4 key areas that should be discussed. My most recent letter to the Prime Minister on the SPP can be found at http://www.ndp.ca/page/5604.
No mandate ... which is why if it DOES try to push through any SPP-related legislation, it will have to solicit and obtain the support of either MPs from other parties, or to get at least one of the non-pipsqueak parties (i.e. all but the NDP) to go along. So, if said legislation DOES go through, it'll have done so with some degree of multi-party support. And that's as close to a mandate as one gets in a parliamentary democracy.
Many have written to me saying that the NDP are the only party they can count on to stand up for Canada. And I want you to know that we will continue to do just that.
And the hundreds (!) of MPs and the 85% of voters who backed them all want to sell out Canada. ah, shaddaaaap!
Jacko, a bit of advice: be anti-American all you like, but PLEASE be more intelligent in being so. Else, your position is pure sump-water bigotry. And Canadians DO demand better than that from their MPs, whom they send to Ottawa and whom they pay for.
Who knows, you and your party may be right to some degree on some issues. But there's no way for Canadian voters to ever know that. Time to raise your game, bro.
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