Daily Digest June 30, 2008

The DAILY DIGEST: INFORMATION and OPINION from ST. JOHN'S to VICTORIA.
ARCHIVED at http://cdndailydigest.blogspot.com/

EDITORIALs

CORNER BROOK WESTERN STAR -
A country worth celebrating
http://www.thewesternstar.com/index.cfm?sid=148357&sc=30

CHARLOTTETOWN GUARDIAN -
Anne: Canada's gift to the world
Canadians often celebrate achievements in areas of science and medicine, but don't notice their contributions to literature.
http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/index.cfm?sid=148493&sc=103

HALIFAX CHRONICLE HERALD -
Gomery's dissonance
http://thechronicleherald.ca/Editorial/1064990.html

AMHERST DAILY NEWS -
Not a lot to complain about
http://www.amherstdaily.com/index.cfm?sid=148269&sc=61

MONTREAL GAZETTE -
Unnecessary caesarians add risk and costs 
http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/editorial/story.html?id=288bd0fd-3b3e-44d4-8993-92a4c8c086dc

Governments don't need to duel with holidays
http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/editorial/story.html?id=897eceec-c89c-4347-9f00-9f535a4c68e5

OTTAWA CITIZEN -
A terrible rite of summer
http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/editorials/story.html?id=88512c17-6759-4dd3-ab89-8bf7cdd14e61

KINGSTON WHIG STANDARD-
State power reined in
http://www.thewhig.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1093074

TORONTO STAR -
Of speculators and oil prices
http://www.thestar.com/comment/article/450943

Hold CSIS to account
http://www.thestar.com/comment/article/450942

GLOBE & MAIL -
Free legal advice, fishing expeditions
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080630.eHumanrights01/BNStory/specialComment/home

Prepare for revolution
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080630.eGas01/BNStory/specialComment/home

NATIONAL POST -
A northern rebuff to Dion's Green Shift
http://www.nationalpost.com/opinion/story.html?id=622825

HAMILTON SPECTATOR -
How much am I paying you?
http://www.thespec.com/Opinions/article/395104

ST. CATHARINES STANDARD -
Be thankful we have Canada to call home
http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1094900

NIAGARA FALLS REVIEW -
Food or fuel? The grain debate
http://www.niagarafallsreview.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1094471&auth=MICHAEL+DENTANDT

LONDON FREE PRESS -
Zimbabwe's terror, world's shame
http://lfpress.ca/newsstand/Opinion/Editorials/2008/06/30/6024031.html

WINDSOR STAR -
Canada Day
Only in Canada could people criticize a paid day off from work because it falls on a Tuesday and doesn't create the three-day long weekend to which they have grown accustomed. http://www.canada.com/windsorstar/news/editorial/story.html?id=06d613d3-e0ad-4c7a-b254-84ca60f21201

ORILLIA PACKET AND TIMES -
True north strong and free
http://www.orilliapacket.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1094564

SUDBURY STAR -
Taxpayers not envious over Dion's carbon tax
http://www.thesudburystar.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1094928&auth=LINDA+LEATHERDALE

WINNIPEG FREE PRESS -
Liberal revisionism
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/editorial/story/4193077p-4784132c.html

A new NATO
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/editorial/story/4193078p-4784135c.html

SASKATOON STARPHOENIX -
Canada's survival in spite of odds worth celebrating
http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix/news/forum/story.html?id=7b2c3ab2-a62c-4ac4-bfbd-1a2dc58e300d

REGINA LEADER-POST -
Taxing the economy -- and our trust
http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/news/viewpoints/story.html?id=a69d03a0-3877-4897-a59d-d983c55dc05b

CALGARY HERALD -
The killing of Thos. Scott
http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/theeditorialpage/story.html?id=2812eebd-4d5c-416c-a266-db51a7bf6b67

LETHBRIDGE HERALD -
One thing on which we can all agree
http://www.lethbridgeherald.com/article_11227.php

NANAIMO DAILY NEWS -
The history of this great nation is its future
http://www.canada.com/nanaimodailynews/opinion/story.html?id=43f4dd29-f383-4fc8-b5f2-7e2cb419dab9


ISSUES

ABORIGINAL AFFAIRS -
Honouring our aboriginal sons and daughters
These three native heroes and their stories are worthy of celebration this Canada Day
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080630.coaborig01/BNStory/specialComment/home

Lawsuit seeks apology, redress from feds for 'Experimental Eskimos'
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/080630/national/experimental_eskimos


AFGHANISTAN -
Smoke and mirrors in the Khyber Valley
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/JG01Df01.html

Reverend Bazooka, former warlord weigh in
"The Americans are like a blind man walking on a roof," said the ex-warlord. "I can see clearly that they are about to fall off, but they refuse to listen to my warnings." http://thechronicleherald.ca/Opinion/1065026.html

U.S., NATO deaths in Afghanistan pass Iraq toll
Analysts say the grim tally underscores the Taliban's growing strength
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25463822/

Funding shortage imperils Kandahar program for reconciliation with Taliban
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/080630/national/afghan_taliban_reconcile

Mullah Omar wears shades, has trimmed beard, lives in Pakistan: ex-follower
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/080630/national/afghan_taliban_omar

Afghan governor says civilians killed in U.S. raid
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/reuters/080630/canada/canada_afghan_violence_col

Turning Afghan Heroin into Kalashnikovs
IWPR (06/30/2008)

45 killed in fresh Afghan violence
AFP (06/30/2008)

Amid Policy Disputes, Qaeda Grows in Pakistan
The New York Times (06/30/2008)

Chance to kill, vengeance, money: why Taliban fighters took up arms
The Canadian Press (06/30/2008)

Battle of the Taliban Bloggers Could Alter Counterinsurgency Efforts in Afghanistan
The Cutting Edge, DC (06/30/2008)

Prison break makes for an uncertain future in Afghanistan
The Gazette (06/30/2008)

Preparing the Battlefield
The New Yorker (06/30/2008)

Worsening Afghan security hampers humanitarian effort: UN
Reuters (06/30/2008)

UN official: Afghan civilian deaths up 60 percent
The Associated Press (06/30/2008)

Afghan government workers tied to attempt to kill Karzai
Chicago Tribune (06/30/2008)


CANADIAN FORCES
Canadians Join Maritime Training Event
http://www.nationalpost.com/todays_paper/story.html?id=622815


CANUSA/USACAN
U.S. court rebuffs Arar
A U.S. appeals court decision upholding the dismissal of a lawsuit from Canadian Maher Arar essentially enables the U.S. government to send foreigners to be tortured, http://www.thestar.com/News/World/article/451986

Governors cheer oilsands
http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news/story.html?id=7f45ff73-84ba-4600-9f28-1d53ed2427fb


ECONOMIC AFFAIRS
A blueprint for a more competitive country
http://www.nationalpost.com/opinion/story.html?id=622851

GDP rebound lowers recession fears
http://www.thestar.com/Business/article/451725

Canada falling behind on innovation: report
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080629/conferenceboard_report_080630/20080630?hub=Canada

Commodity boom blinds Canada to problems: report
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/reuters/080630/canada/canada_economy_report_col


FOREIGN AFFAIRS
Canada falls in world rankings: annual report
http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=2d3bce14-8ad6-4a60-bf25-60b65fba3e3e

No public criticism for Mugabe at African summit
http://www.thestar.com/News/World/article/451684

African summit pushes Mugabe to negotiate
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080630.wzimbabwe0630/BNStory/International/home

The foreign policy myth
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080630.wcandayvalpytwo0630/BNStory/CanadaDay2008/home

US 'escalates covert Iran missions'
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/americas/2008/06/2008630173538122871.html


HEALTH CARE RELATED
Skin cancer risks fall on deaf (uncovered) ears
http://www.thestar.com/HealthZone/Yourhealth/article/451883

Giving nurses more say in care drastically cuts turnover rate
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=624429


JUSTICE SYSTEM
B.C. court clears path for cancer survivors to sue over hormone replacement
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080630.wbccourt0630/BNStory/National/home


MIGRATION
Immigrants possess strong sense of belonging, survey finds 
http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=3f6b0099-9f4f-46aa-9de5-be54ffa93c66

POLITICS IN THE PROVINCES
What we're for: Reflections on the Bouchard-Taylor Commission
http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/3727

New prescription for MD shortage
http://www.thestar.com/HealthZone/News&Features/article/451555

Former N.L. premier quits politics
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080630.wrideout30/BNStory/National/home

Tory aims to win seat by end of the year
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20080630.ONTTORY30/TPStory/TPNational/Politics/

All the pain Campbell's inflicting could well be for naught
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20080630.BCSPECTOR30/TPStory/TPNational/Politics/

Medicare debate under cone of silence
http://www.thestar.com/Canada/Columnist/article/451567

Mr. Charest's remarkable resurgence
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20080630.COGAGNON30/TPStory/specialComment/columnists

Changes bring Ontario Human Rights Code into 21st century: Attorney General
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/080630/national/human_rights_changes


PARTY POLITICS
Dion set to face West's ire in bid to sell carbon tax
http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=b2abfadf-62b3-481a-873c-d48f8443822e

Denis threat?
http://translate.google.ca/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cyberpresse.ca%2Farticle%2F20080629%2FCPACTUALITES%2F806290498%2F1025%2FCPACTUALITES&sl=fr&tl=en&hl=en&ie=UTF-8

Harper says native apology sign of unity and strength on Canada Day
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/080630/national/cda_day_harper_message


POLITICAL OPINION -
Tories trying to frame 'green shift' as a tax issue, not environmental
David McGuinty says Stephen Harper's 'screw everybody' language appears like he's 'a junk yard dog backed into a corner'
http://www.thehilltimes.ca/html/cover_index.php?display=story&full_path=/2008/june/30/tories_green/&c=1

Lobbyists registrar says chance of getting a conviction on lobbying is 'slim'
After four years on the job, outgoing Lobbyists Registrar Michael Nelson heads into retirement and reflects on his time in office.
http://www.thehilltimes.ca/html/cover_index.php?display=story&full_path=/2008/june/30/lobbying/&c=1

PMO braces for 'quite a shakeup'
One source close to the PMO says 'everyone in the PMO is on tenterhooks right now.'
http://www.thehilltimes.ca/html/cover_index.php?display=story&full_path=/2008/june/30/pmo_shakeup/&c=1

Constituency reaction to Poilievre's comments were 95 per cent positive
CFRA's Steve Madely says media's 'gotcha-style' fuelled outrage against Tory MP Poilievre.
http://www.thehilltimes.ca/html/cover_index.php?display=story&full_path=/2008/june/30/poilievre/&c=1

Canadians aren't buying Dion's carbon tax
http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/3726

Change in the political climate
http://www.thestar.com/comment/article/450941

Keeping a grip on the economy
Canada needs to be able to say 'no' to corporate takeovers that are not in the national interest
http://www.thestar.com/comment/article/450944

Your take on Green Shift
Readers respond to Liberal carbon tax plan at montrealgazette.com/soundoff
http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/story.html?id=63506ab1-d627-4708-bdf2-2b718906ec7e

The Tory dilemma: a blue government in a green era
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080629.wcomartin30/BNStory/specialComment/home

Replacing the messenger
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20080630.EBUCKLER30/TPStory/TPComment/Politics/


PROGRAMMES
PM's democratic reform agenda mostly stuck at second reading in Commons
Most bills still have significant hurdles and Commons committees to get through House yet.
http://www.thehilltimes.ca/html/index.php?display=story&full_path=2008/june/30/legislation/&c=2

PM Harper makes more changes to public service
Simon Kennedy is new deputy secretary to Cabinet for plans and consultations in the Privy Council Office, effective Aug. 1
http://www.thehilltimes.ca/html/cover_index.php?display=story&full_path=/2008/june/30/changed_public_service/&c=1

New law delays lobbying career for ex-officials
http://thechronicleherald.ca/Canada/1064939.html

The cheque's not in the mail
http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/451569

High gas prices fuel gov't windfall
http://www.canada.com/theprovince/news/story.html?id=35b49b65-8c9d-489c-9e0f-00fcb0ff0bbf

The CWB's phony numbers game
http://www.nationalpost.com/opinion/columnists/story.html?id=5762993f-70c3-4b85-bf64-e8554a115e57


PRESSURE POINTS
The enemy within
http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/3729

Break the deadlock over global warming
Time is of the essence in facing the challenges
http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news/opinion/story.html?id=9d42a721-7ad2-4a8a-98ac-4d0015fc5ba4&p=1

Leaving Kyoto behind
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/subscriber/westview/story/4192999p-4784162c.html


OPINION AND INFORMATION
Canada, then and now: A comparison
A comparison of Canada at Confederation  and now, in statistics, in cultural habits, in the way we live, as compiled by the National Post's Jenny Wagler
http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/posted/pages/canada-then-and-now.aspx

101 things that define Canada
http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/story.html?id=f6460298-27ba-4a22-a3ae-6d47559b63e0

My Canada at 141: stressed, but magnificent
http://thechronicleherald.ca/Opinion/1064964.html

Goodbye, Canada
As Canada Day approaches, a self-described 'Connecticut Yankee' reminisces about living and working north of the border
http://www.nationalpost.com/opinion/story.html?id=622850

We are the lucky country
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080630.wcowente01/BNStory/specialComment/home

Muddling through: a curious approach to nationhood
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080630.wcosimpson01/BNStory/specialComment/home

Canadian Pro-Life Groups Appalled that Abortionist Morgentaler May be Awarded Order of Canada July 1
http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/3725

Poll suggest 'some unease in the land' over direction of the country
http://www.canada.com/topics/news/national/story.html?id=d2d1963a-ae21-477e-b041-287c1485fbec

Water export idea for Manitoba should be considered 
http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news/opinion/story.html?id=727e11a3-2de9-46dd-b9c8-a77396d25be0

"Henry Morgentaler's Canada is not my Canada"
http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/fullcomment/archive/2008/06/29/douglas-farrow-quot-henry-morgentaler-s-canada-is-not-my-canada-quot.aspx

A carbon tax might work in principle, but it won't work in Canada
http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/fullcomment/archive/2008/06/29/jonathan-kay-a-carbon-tax-might-work-in-principle-but-it-won-t-work-in-canada.aspx

Relax about gas prices 
http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/opinion/story.html?id=1e921e5d-da59-4cf0-a33f-ac5edca3b25c

Canada losing ground in telecommunications
http://www.canada.com/windsorstar/news/editorial/story.html?id=a23a2c45-3852-4872-a38e-c1d10fd4d3a5

Sweating the small stuff: rural Canada needs help
http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/news/viewpoints/story.html?id=0d1bfdcd-8aa3-461f-a6a5-9345dc6cdb02

Judicial integrity of supreme importance
http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/news/viewpoints/story.html?id=c34ffbce-fbb3-42e5-9d56-8e23aa91af7b

Three ways to deal with climate worries
http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/comment/story.html?id=29560ee2-c1c4-49b8-85a0-1338254e04f1

Historic eco-decline sends sobering message
Canadians need to take a hard look at events that continue to unfold
http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/comment/story.html?id=05995282-7059-4b13-984c-76e5c5b0c4b0


INFOS 
Lobbying: la loi imposant le délai de cinq ans entre en vigueur ce mercredi
http://info.branchez-vous.com/Nationales/080629/N062958AU.html

La taxe sur les émissions carboniques de la C.-B. entre en vigueur mardi
http://info.branchez-vous.com/Nationales/080629/N062964AU.html

Les familles de soldats blessés peinent à joindre les deux bouts
http://info.branchez-vous.com/Nationales/080629/N062976AU.html

Caburant de substitution: Ottawa se préparait à être critiqué
http://info.branchez-vous.com/Nationales/080629/N062974AU.html

Day a privilégié d'anciens policiers et membres des services correctionnels
http://info.branchez-vous.com/Nationales/080629/N062940AU.html

États-Unis
La plainte de Maher Arar rejetée
http://www.radio-canada.ca/nouvelles/International/2008/06/30/007-arar-appel-rejet.shtml

2008, année historique pour le Canada selon Harper
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/article/20080630/CPACTUALITES/80630088/1025/CPACTUALITES

Bilinguisme à la Garde côtière: le Commissaire aux langues officielles enquêtera
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/article/20080630/CPACTUALITES/80630085/1025/CPACTUALITES

Denis la menace?
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/article/20080629/CPACTUALITES/806290498/1025/CPACTUALITES

Décision critiquée par l'Opposition - Day a privilégié d'anciens policiers et membres des services correctionnels
http://www.ledevoir.com/2008/06/30/195853.html

Le mollah Omar aurait changé son apparence
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/article/20080630/CPACTUALITES/80630187/5846/CPACTUALITES


La Teoria Conspiratoria
Scientists: Nothing to fear from atom-smasher
http://pimpinturtle.com/2008/06/30/scientists-nothing-to-fear-from-atomsmasher.aspx

BELOW(30)(30)(30)(30)(30)30)(30)(30)(30)(30)(30)30)(30)(30)(30)(30)(30)30)(30)(30)(30)(30)(30)(30)(30)(30)30)(30)(30)(30)(30)30)30)(30)(30)(30)(30)(30)(30)(30)

Enjoy this day that celebrates the founding of our Dominion of Canada from Atlantic to Pacific

A Mari usque ad Mare

http://www.everything2.org/node/702098
A Mari usque ad Mare is the motto of Canada, translating from Latin to " from sea to sea" or " from sea unto sea." Its origin is in Psalm 72:8 which reads:

"Et dominabitur a mari usque ad mare, et a flumine usque ad terminos terrae."

The same quotation translated for The King James Bible reads:

"He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth."

A Mari usque ad Mare has its origins in 1872 when Reverend George Grant crossed the entirety of Canada as the secretary of Sanford Fleming, who at the time headed the Pacific railway surveys. In 1873, Grant published his book " Ocean to Ocean," and for years afterward continued to both preach and push for the adoption of " From Sea to Sea" as the official Canadian motto.

In 1906, A Mari usque ad Mare found itself used officially for the first time engraved on the building of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan. In 1919, former undersecretary of state Joseph Pope was named to a four person committee to redesign the Arms of Canada. In 1921 (I love the speed with which committees work), Pope's design bearing the creed "A Mari usque ad Mare" was adopted and made the official Canadian motto.

"Our Arms are very handsome ... everything that can be desired. The motto 'A Mari usque ad Mare,' which is an original suggestion of my own, I regard as very appropriate."
--Joseph Pope, September 29 1921

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dian Info Collection
 

PRESENTS
http://members.shaw.ca/kcic1/canwhy.html
Why Canadians Don't Brag ...... MUCH!

 

I am a Canadian,
free to speak without fear,
free to worship in my own way,
free to stand for what I think right,
free to oppose what I believe wrong,
or free to choose those who shall govern my country.
This heritage of freedom
I pledge to uphold
for myself and all mankind.
(Extract from the Canadian Billl of Rights)


QUOTES ABOUT CANADA

I think every Canadian should have a map of Canada in his or her house. It should be displayed in a place where one can sit and contemplate the wonderful vastness of this land.
As Canadians, we are continuously groping for an identity and a sense of love for our nation. We grapple with the concept, find it somewhat distasteful and leave it for another day.
We find American flag waving, hand over heart while belting out 'Oh, say, can you see...' too much and avoid doing the same. We admire their national spirit, but Canadians are, in contrast, understated.
To understand the identity that exists in our hearts think of our sweepingly majestic home­its quiet, serene beauty. A beauty recognizable to us all. We are proud of this nation and of who we are. We just don't say it to everyone we meet (and perhaps we should!).
It's like the map of Canada. It just sits there on the wall displaying the lines of our coasts, the bulk of our waterways and the breadth of our northern territories. Surveying all of this leaves me in awe.
It brings a tear to my eye ... 0h, CANADA ...!!!.
-Debora O'Neil, (from Reader's Digest)

Americans should never underestimate the constant pressure on Canada which the mere presence of the United States has produced. We're different people from you and we're different people because of you. Living next to you is in some ways like sleeping with an elephant. No matter how friendly and even-tempered is the beast, if I can call it that, one is effected by every twitch and grunt. It should not therefore be expected that this kind of nation, this Canada, should project itself as a mirror image of the United States.
- (Prime Minister) Pierre Elliot Trudeau

It is wonderful to feel the grandness of Canada in the raw, not because she is Canada but because she's something sublime that you were born into, some great rugged power that you are a part of.
- Emily Carr (1871-1945)

For more GREAT QUOTES ABOUT CANADA
Please Click Here


MY NAME IS JOE

The recent Molson's Canadian "Rant" beer commercial on TV was very well received (?) by most Canadians (but maybe not so well by our American friends!). It is intended to NOT be taken very seriously nor, as a reflection of what Canada means to Canadians and their culture. It goes like this.....

(A man comes on stage, clears his throat .....)
Hey....!
I'm not a lumberjack, or a fur trader,
and I don't live in an igloo or eat blubber, or own a dogsled,
and I don't know Jimmy, Sally or Suzy from Canada, although I'm certain they're really, really nice.
I have a Prime Minister,
not a President.
I speak English and French,
NOT American!
and I pronounce it 'ABOUT',
NOT 'A BOOT'.
I can proudly sew my country's flag on my backpack.
I believe in peace keeping, NOT policing.
DIVERSITY, NOT assimilation,
(louder ..)
AND THAT THE BEAVER IS A TRULY PROUD AND NOBLE ANIMAL.
I KNOW THAT A TOQUE IS A HAT,
A CHESTERFIELD IS A COUCH,
AND IT IS PRONOUCED 'ZED' NOT 'ZEE', 'ZED'!!!
CANADA IS THE SECOND LARGEST LANDMASS IN THE WORLD!
THE FIRST NATION OF HOCKEY!
AND THE BEST PART OF NORTH AMERICA!
MY NAME IS JOE!!
AND ... I AM ... C A N A D I A N !


THIS LAND IS YOUR LAND

"This land is your land, this land is my land,
From Bona Vista to Vancouver Island,
From the Arctic Islands to the Great Lakes waters;
This land was made for you and me."

NOTE: (The refrain of "This Land Is Your Land" is taken from the original by Woody Guthrie and is the Canadian version, adapted by Martin Bochner for The Travellers.)
Visit our Songs Page for more Canadian songs


An American's View of Canada

(This editorial ran in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in August 2003)

It's not just the weather that's cooler in Canada: You live next door to a clean-cut, quiet guy. He never plays loud music or throws raucous parties. He doesn't gossip over the fence, just smiles politely and offers you some tomatoes. His lawn is cared-for, his house is neat as a pin and you get the feeling he doesn't always lock his front door. He wears Dockers. You hardly know he's there. And then one day you discover that he has pot in his basement, spends his weekends at peace marches and that guy you've seen mowing the yard is his spouse.

Allow me to introduce Canada. The Canadians are so quiet that you may have forgotten they're up there, but they've been busy doing some surprising things. It's like discovering that the mice you are dimly aware of in your attic have been building an espresso machine.

Did you realize, for example, that our reliable little tag-along brother never joined the Coalition of the Willing? Canada wasn't willing, as it turns out, to join the fun in Iraq. I can only assume American diner menus weren't angrily changed to include "freedom bacon," because nobody here eats the stuff anyway.

And then there's the wild drug situation: Canadian doctors are authorized to dispense medical marijuana. Parliament is considering legislation that would not exactly legalize marijuana possession, as you may have heard, but would reduce the penalty for possession of under 15 grams to a fine, like a speeding ticket. This is to allow law enforcement to concentrate resources on traffickers; if your garden is full of wasps, it's smarter to go for the nest rather than trying to swat every individual bug. Or, in the United States, bong.

Now, here's the part that I, as an American, can't understand. These poor benighted pinkos are doing everything wrong. They have a drug problem: Marijuana offenses have doubled since 1991. And Canada has strict gun control laws, which means that the criminals must all be heavily armed, the law-abiding civilians helpless and the government on the verge of a massive confiscation campaign. (The laws have been in place since the '70s, but I'm sure the government will get around to the confiscation eventually.) They don't even have a death penalty!

And yet ... nationally, overall crime in Canada has been declining since 1991. Violent crimes fell 13 percent in 2002. Of course, there are still crimes committed with guns - brought in from the United States, which has become the major illegal weapons supplier for all of North America - but my theory is that the surge in pot-smoking has rendered most criminals too relaxed to commit violent crimes. They're probably more focused on shoplifting boxes of Ho-Hos from convenience stores.

And then there's the most reckless move of all: Just last month, Canada decided to allow and recognize same-sex marriages. Merciful moose, what can they be thinking? Will there be married Mounties (they always get their man!)? Dudley Do-Right was sweet on Nell, not Mel! We must be the only ones who really care about families. Not enough to make sure they all have health insurance, of course, but more than those libertines up north.

This sort of behavior is a clear and present danger to all our stereotypes about Canada. It's supposed to be a cold, wholesome country of polite, beer-drinking hockey players, not founded by freedom-fighters in a bloody revolution but quietly assembled by loyalists and royalists more interested in order and good government than liberty and independence. But if we are the rugged individualists, why do we spend so much of our time trying to get everyone to march in lockstep? And if Canadians are so reserved and moderate, why are they so progressive about letting people do what they want to?

Canadians are, as a nation, less religious than we are, according to polls. As a result, Canada's government isn't influenced by large, well-organized religious groups and thus has more in common with those of Scandinavia than those of the United States, or, say, Iran.

Canada signed the Kyoto global warming treaty, lets 19-year-olds drink, has more of its population living in urban areas and accepts more immigrants per capita than the United States. These are all things we've been told will wreck our society. But I guess Canadians are different, because theirs seems oddly sound.

Like teenagers, we fiercely idolize individual freedom but really demand that everyone be the same. But the Canadians seem more adult - more secure. They aren't afraid of foreigners. They aren't afraid of homosexuality. Most of all, they're not afraid of each other.

I wonder if America will ever be that cool.



Return to Canada vs the World page
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This page is part of Knight's Canadian Info Collection
Please visit our other pages
====================

Daily Digest June 29, 2008

The DAILY DIGEST: INFORMATION and OPINION from ST. JOHN'S to VICTORIA.
ARCHIVED at http://cdndailydigest.blogspot.com/

EDITORIALs

ST.JOHN'S TELEGRAM -
Go East, young students
http://www.thetelegram.com/index.cfm?sid=148201&sc=80

MONTREAL GAZETTE -
Canada is too ready to ignore the rules
http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/editorial/story.html?id=91d381d0-d391-4739-bf9f-7440c5d02ae0

TORONTO STAR -
Remove barriers to foreign-trained
http://www.thestar.com/comment/article/450912

Harris has seen the enemy
http://www.thestar.com/comment/article/450911

Wake-up call on poverty
http://www.thestar.com/comment/article/450910

Don't put up For Sale sign
http://www.thestar.com/comment/article/450886

TORONTO SUN -
Miller, Harris get over yourselves
http://www.torontosun.com/Comment/Commentary/2008/06/29/6016486-sun.html

CALGARY HERALD -
Foreign workers deserve protection
http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/theeditorialpage/story.html?id=cb897fe8-2814-4683-bc2e-832f7807382d

Small victory for free speech
http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/theeditorialpage/story.html?id=6c5dfffd-2f60-437a-845f-b71e29b848c1

Democratic reforms will make government more accountable
Prime Minister Stephen Harper
http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/theeditorialpage/story.html?id=04dd4f1d-3805-40ca-8be4-eafe15d347b2

CALGARY SUN -
Weeding out the new reality
Obsessive-compulsive green-lawn lovers could be in for some trying times
http://calsun.canoe.ca/Comment/POV/2008/06/29/6019041-sun.html

EDMONTON SUN -
Politics and our thirst for oil
http://www.edmontonsun.com/Comment/Commentary/2008/06/29/6016811.html
 
VANCOUVER SUN -
Kim demoted to axis of dingbats
http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news/opinion/story.html?id=19a489ff-10ca-4770-ade4-8f1be40f514f

VANCOUVER PROVINCE -
They also serve who only stand and wait . . . for jobs on a plate
http://www.canada.com/theprovince/news/editorial/story.html?id=6bff443e-4346-4bb7-b33d-28c2ab353403

Let's celebrate ties that bind
http://www.canada.com/theprovince/news/editorial/story.html?id=51d39de8-1f31-43b8-af3f-3dda5695f75d

Truckers need help
http://www.canada.com/theprovince/news/editorial/story.html?id=87335fe8-2e51-48e7-8186-49e69e4ce740


ISSUES

ABORIGINAL AFFAIRS -          
Mohawks reclaim their land
http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=0aed2734-35cb-4db3-85ee-8d2726311206

A form of slavery
Forced labour investigation needed
http://www.winnipegsun.com/News/Columnists/Brodbeck_Tom/2008/06/29/6016736-sun.html


AFGHANISTAN -
Islamabad blinks at Taliban threat
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/JF28Df01.html

Afghan civilian deaths up 60 per cent
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080629.wafghancivilians0629/BNStory/Afghanistan/home

Canada backs Afghanistan's tough new cop
http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news/story.html?id=0031fb2a-0cbb-4220-b1c1-997a298ce60f

Breakfast with Kabul's shadowy spy-master
Toronto Star (06/29/2008)

First Afghan president's body found in mass grave
Reuters (06/29/2008)

Taliban flourishing, Pentagon reports
Baltimore Sun (06/29/2008)

Failed states - Nation-building for dummies
The Economist (06/29/2008)

Taliban Imperil Pakistani City, a Major Hub
The New York Times (06/29/2008)

Helmand is Afghanistan's biggest trouble spot, Pentagon says
Los Angeles Times (06/29/2008)

Can Pakistan's new anti-militancy strategy work?
BBC (06/29/2008)

No Afghan peace while Taliban have sanctuary: NATO
Reuetrs (06/29/2008)

Pakistan's inconclusive military operations against the Taliban
http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2008/06/pakistans_inconclusi.php


CANADIAN FORCES
Families of wounded military veterans struggling to cope and make ends meet
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/080629/national/afghan_cda_families

Families of soldiers serving in Afghanistan banding together for support
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/080629/national/afghan_cda_homefront

Rick Hillier reconnected Canadians with the Canadian Forces
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/080629/national/cda_day_hillier_profile


ECONOMIC AFFAIRS
Politicians fiddle while economy burns
It's time our leaders came clean on the ugly truths of what it really takes to be competitive
http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=3df7c7d4-bf63-4ced-97a3-390bb3cba547

Are we on the road to ruin?
The skyrocketing price of oil is driving up the cost of manufacturing and transporting goods, and now consumers will have to pay the price
http://www.thestar.com/Business/article/451260

Hiding injuries rewards companies
http://www.thestar.com/News/GTA/article/451322


FOREIGN AFFAIRS
Serbia remains a captive of its history, and it seems violence could erupt again at any time
http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/editorial/story.html?id=e4846904-04af-497d-bf99-127125081108

U.S. close to getting info deal
http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/newsbriefs/story.html?id=700cd857-f4eb-47c8-9225-592979123e1c

The oil price villain? Bush
White House threats against Iran have triggered speculation in Persian Gulf oil
http://www.thestar.com/comment/article/450919

Preparing the Battlefield
The Bush Administration steps up its secret moves against Iran.
http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2008/07/07/080707fa_fact_hersh

Iran Threatens to Shut Down Persian Gulf Oil Lanes if Attacked
http://www.truthout.org/article/iran-threatens-shut-down-persian-gulf-oil-lanes-if-attacked

It Was Oil, All Along
http://www.truthout.org/article/it-was-oil-all-along

Gas up while it's a bargain
http://www.torontosun.com/News/Columnists/Margolis_Eric/2008/06/29/6016686-sun.php

Canada announces measures against Zimbabwe
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080629/Zimbabwe_Mugabe_080629/20080629?hub=TopStories


HEALTH CARE RELATED
8 Ways to Spot Skin Cancer Before It Kills
http://news.yahoo.com/s/usnews/20080627/ts_usnews/8waystospotskincancerbeforeitkills

Canada facing shortage of dermatologists: doctor
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080629/cancer_skin_080629/20080629?hub=Canada

Scientists to test if cancer cure can work in humans
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080627/cancer_trial_080627/20080628?hub=TopStories


JUSTICE SYSTEM
T.O. cops vow to continue war on traffickers even though most are back dealing drugs soon after being busted
http://www.torontosun.com/News/Columnists/Bonokoski_Mark/2008/06/29/6016561-sun.php


POLITICS IN THE PROVINCES
Lawyers stalling needed reform
http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/comment/story.html?id=42387011-6a9e-467b-893f-a3c1163a25e8

Secret rebates amount to a tax on patients
http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/comment/story.html?id=8e8adc2b-8d5f-4ee1-8326-e16c43df8bb7

Ontario's energy system ripe for a shakeup
http://www.thestar.com/comment/article/450920

B.C. carbon tax kicks in on Canada Day, fuels debate a gas pumps
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/080629/national/carbon_tax


PARTY POLITICS
Flaherty 'gently' pushes McGuinty on tax cuts
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080629/flaherty_mcguinty_080629/20080629?hub=Canada


POLITICAL OPINION -
Dion carbon tax would shaft West again
Alberta, Saskatchewan would pay disproportionate price as big oil, gas producers
http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news/opinion/story.html?id=327621d6-b945-4015-a439-f6b76678345e

Do schoolyards have master tacticians?
http://www.torontosun.com/News/Columnists/Persichilli_Angelo/2008/06/29/6016671-sun.php

Dion's carbon tax plan is brilliant
http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/letters/story.html?id=89991fa0-c406-4f33-930b-928a20529558


PROGRAMMES
A leader of the coal industry will advise the Government Harper
The Harper government has appointed a representative of the coal industry to head the only body with a mandate to advise him on environmental issues.
http://translate.google.ca/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cyberpresse.ca%2Farticle%2F20080628%2FCPACTUALITES%2F806281088%2F1025%2FCPACTUALITES&sl=fr&tl=en&hl=en&ie=UTF-8
        
Tories stock parole board with former cops, jail guards
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080629.wparoleboard0629/BNStory/National/home?cid=al_gam_mostview

Companies that curbed emissions before 2006 can now apply for carbon credits
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/080629/national/tories_ghg_regs

Beefed-up rules put ex-public officials' lobbying aspirations on hold
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/080629/national/cda_day_changes

Bureaucrats uneasy with dismal progress in greening federal fleet: documents
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/080629/national/federal_alternative_fuels


PRESSURE POINTS
Ill-conceived rush to ethanol
Corn is being used as a biofuel to help ease the gas crisis.
http://www.thestar.com/News/World/article/451291

Global warming fixes not cool
Every attempt so far to get emissions under control turns out to be about money
http://www.torontosun.com/News/Columnists/Goldstein_Lorrie/2008/06/29/6016636-sun.php


OPINION AND INFORMATION
How about a new patriotism for Canadians?
http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/theeditorialpage/story.html?id=db3819b9-e70b-4c22-a5b8-8ad54d108b48

Remembering what we are, and what we can be
http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/opinion/story.html?id=83d05cfc-a446-4fb1-9bdf-6c9fc2b2a065

Canada is a unique affair of the heart 
http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/opinion/story.html?id=bf89f033-1a1e-449d-80bc-570cd268160c

We stand on guard for what?
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080627.wcandayfocusdebate/BNStory/CanadaDay2008/home

We have plenty to celebrate on Canada Day
http://calsun.canoe.ca/News/Columnists/Rodriguez_Jose/2008/06/29/6019051-sun.php

Sir John A. Who?
Half of us can't name our first PM. But don't think we don't care about history, family, country, study finds
http://www.thestar.com/News/Ideas/article/451264

Our country's standards are slipping with age, report says
http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/story.html?id=c8576500-a2e6-4c8f-ad1e-8637204f718c

Who controls the streets?
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/subscriber/westview/story/4192710p-4783734c.html

French fries and Solzhenitsyn
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/subscriber/westview/story/4192708p-4783718c.html

Journalists: a fate worse than prison?
http://thechronicleherald.ca/Opinion/1064848.html

It's a dirty country, but it's our country
http://thechronicleherald.ca/Opinion/1064841.html

Games visitors face Chinese culture shock
http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/comment/story.html?id=77425399-ea2e-4e87-bb5a-a65afaef636d

The price we pay for 'progress'
The St. Lawrence Seaway could not be built today and that, writes Kelly Egan, is a good thing
http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=22475e15-31af-4faa-a68c-1abeb26008d7

From Champlain to Seaway, an uneasy border
The story of the St. Lawrence Seaway is one of progress and commerce -- but look deeper, and you'll also find a story that's as much about war, diplomacy and politics as engineering http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=a3bb7700-5989-4e6f-925b-fdcf655eb6a0

Hard choices in sustaining a human life
http://www.thestar.com/comment/article/450921

Paying for quality work
Amazing, interesting and investigative journalism doesn't come for free
http://www.torontosun.com/News/Columnists/Granatstein_Rob/2008/06/29/6016626-sun.php

Raising a stink over big blue bins
T.O.'s new plastic behemoths are trucked in from U.S.
http://www.torontosun.com/News/Columnists/Mandel_Michele/2008/06/29/6016571-sun.php

Canada's water supply drying up?
Explaining the myth of water abundance in Canada
http://lfpress.ca/newsstand/News/CanadaWorld/water/2008/06/27/6014406.html


INFOS 
Day a privilégié d'anciens policiers et membres des services correctionnels
http://info.branchez-vous.com/Nationales/080629/N062940AU.html

Retour au pays: Douanes Canada a augmenté ses effectifs à la frontière
http://info.branchez-vous.com/Nationales/080629/N062904AU.html

Via Rail: les trains de passagers ont accumulé les retards l' hiver dernier
http://info.branchez-vous.com/Nationales/080629/N062954AU.html

Québec soutient qu'Ottawa doit aussi faire sa part pour le logement
http://info.branchez-vous.com/Nationales/080628/N062842AU.html

Des militants de la fierté gaie ruent de coups un Stephen Harper en papier mâché
http://info.branchez-vous.com/Nationales/080628/N062858AU.html

Les premiers ministres des territoires s'opposent à une taxe sur le carbone
http://info.branchez-vous.com/Nationales/080628/N062856AU.html

Des experts s'inquiètent de la course folle aux ressources de l'Arctique
http://info.branchez-vous.com/Nationales/080628/N062846AU.html

Cancer de la peau
Cri d'alarme des dermatologues
http://www.radio-canada.ca/nouvelles/National/2008/06/29/001-cancer-dermatologues.shtml

Michaëlle Jean défend son rôle dans la promotion du 400e
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/article/20080628/CPACTUALITES/80628099/1025/CPACTUALITES

Un dirigeant de l'industrie du charbon conseillera le gouvernement Harper
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/article/20080628/CPACTUALITES/806281088/1025/CPACTUALITES

Le CRTC compte trois nouveaux membres permanents
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/article/20080628/CPACTUALITES/80628014/1025/CPACTUALITES

700 civils tués en Aghanistan en 2008
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/article/20080629/CPMONDE/80629020/5846/CPACTUALITES


La Teoria Conspiratoria

BELOW(30)(30)(30)(30)(30)30)(30)(30)(30)(30)(30)30)(30)(30)(30)(30)(30)30)(30)(30)(30)(30)(30)(30)(30)(30)30)(30)(30)(30)(30)30)30)(30)(30)(30)(30)(30)(30)(30)

From: "Real Gagne"

Joe:

"Peace-maker or Powder Monkey:" shades of J. M. Minifie.

It's a term I hadn't seen or heard of for some forty years or more.

In my view, Why not both?

Real

=====
. . .we are of an age, heh?

        Joe

===================================
From: "Rebecca Gingrich"
Subject:  More idiocy in the UK

Does the madness ever end?

Now health and safety cut number of holes in chip shop salt shakers.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1030164/Now-health-safety-cut-number-holes-chip-shop-salt-shakers.html

Subject: [On-Guard] deformed vegetables

C02 is dangerous for us and the planet, but this can be spread on the
fields, eaten by cattle, destroy food crops and no mention is made that it
is in the meat we eat?
politicians make sure there are only five holes in a salt shaker but allow a
herbicide like this to be used? This is disgusting.Becky

Home-grown veg ruined by toxic fertiliser
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/jun/29/food.agriculture


further to the article on deformed Veggies. Aminopyralid is also used in
Canada. This is just one of the articles I found. But I guess we
shouldn't worry--Health Canada et al are looking out for us!
Again no mention about the meat we eat from cattle etc grazing on treated
pastures.

Milestone: aminopyralid
http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/crops/facts/notes/aminopyr.htm

becky

===================================
From: "Rebecca Gingrich"
Subject:  DD

Joe--where to begin?  Are the Taliban al Qaida light?  We have so many
boogeymen being thrown at us that we are getting dizzy spinning our heads
looking for all the dangers.
Harper will call me an anti-semite, but a country glaringly missing from
this map--the fact that Israel will be a net benefactor of this pipeline
that our children are expected to die for.

Karzai government corrupt?  Who'd have thunk that a former employee of
Halliburton(not a worker but in management) would be corrupt?  Could one
venture a guess that Karzai was installed by the Cheney self interest
Halliburton in the first place for this exact reason that our children would
be dying for greed? Talk about moving forward to the past.  Nothing but
empire building and greed for our leaders?

Why should the children of Canada be dying, and the taxpayer of Canada be
paying for this abomination?  Where are the mercenaries?  Could they not be
hired by the oil companies to do the dirty work?  Since when is it in
Canada's best interest to satisfy the needs of Pakistan and India(and israel
if the truth were allowed to see the light of day)?  We have no
infrastructure in Canada.  Canadians are dying waiting for healthcare.  Are
we not paying enough for oil and gas in Canada?  Do we have to assure that
India, Pakistan and Israel get something that more and more Canadians cannot
afford to use and eat too?  We cannot afford to eat either because our food
is transported using oil and gas.  We are supposed to be gung ho to have
stable gas and oil for India, Pakistan and Israel while we go without?  What
a ludicrous situation.

I would suggest to our government that Canada is their prime concern.  Let
the rest of the world look after themselves.  But then I guess it is easier
to play the saviour that do the job you were elected to do?

When, oh when, will Canadians wake from their slumber and see the truth for
what it is.  We are nothing more than cannon fodder for the elitists of the
world.   Our PM gets a gold medallion for championing human rights around
the world while in Canada we cannot speak openly, we are one paycheque away
from starving and freezing in the dark, and we are to offer our young to the
oil companies.  Oh Canada!

===================================
From: Larry Kazdan
Subject: The Irish referendum: populism vs democracy (Open Democracy)

Joe, another view on the European Union and the Irish referendum that your readers might find of interest:

The referendum: populism vs democracy

George Schöpflin
http://www.opendemocracy.net/article/the-referendum-populism-vs-democracy
The idea of the referendum as an instrument of the people's will rests on pre-democratic foundations, says George Schöpflin.
 
16 - 06 - 2008

The result of the Republic of Ireland's referendum on 12 June 2008, a rejection of the European Union's "reform treaty" agreed at the Lisbon summit in October 2007, has precipitated a crisis for the union whose resolution is hard to foresee. For the victorious "no" side, and for those elsewhere who support the use of referenda to decide on constitutional or other matters, the outcome in Ireland is also on three grounds a vindication of the institution of the referendum:

it restores democracy to the people

it allows the people to tell political elites to be responsive

it restores "the people's will" to the storehouse of democratic instruments.

These propositions - which can be summarised as the seduction of direct democracy - are misconceived. The championing of referenda they embody proceeds from a series of four untenable assumptions, which are worth itemising in some detail.

An unsafe vehicle
http://www.opendemocracy.net/article/the-referendum-populism-vs-democracy

===================================
From: alan heisey <hize@earthlink.net>
To: "joe hueglin, daily digest" <joe.hueglin@bellnet.ca>
Subject: "earthworm" 08 6 22 sunday

Publisher is Alan Heisey, 38 Avoca Avenue, L.P.H #6, Toronto, ON, 
Canada, M4T 2B9   * N.B.: This email address, <hize@earthlink.net>
proving most reliable!
Personal phone 416 923 5381, fax 416 944 0133, south 239 513 0444  
This issue emailed from Toronto.
I welcome comments, always, on contents and how to improve presentation.

Map breaks 106 Ontario edas into five regions of nearly equal 
population. They are labelled East; North; South West; West Lake; and 
Centre Lake. Electing regionally of party's national councillors from 
four provinces with two or more councillors is said to get serious 
attention from Constitution Committee.

Will reproduce three drawings showing similar districtings as done by 
Doug Hawkins following Whitby-Oshawa/Ajax committee wishes, but only 
when I am more comfortable with how to re-scale pdfs!

"Policy lite" has a message for ON's attorney-general

INTRO: Eight Toronto tories spent 75 minutes on Thursday, June 19th 
assessing and voting on three issues of public policy which concerned 
them. The event was the third annual "policy lite" jawjaw I have had 
the pleasure of convening at my address near Yonge and St. Clair in 
Toronto. Because the evening was cold and dampish we did not meet in 
our condo garden, but rather in my living room.

Following a format of two previous years we were well served by one of 
our number, Robert Aterman, director of Tri-Spa, acting as our Hansard 
reporter. Thus for the interest of our readers I present below his 
entertaining report on who said what and how we voted on issues as 
selected on the spot by participants.

I want to preface his report by my "take" on a highlight of our first 
motion, presented by George Macdonell, a director of St. Paul's eda. 
As detailed below we were addressing willful disobedience to the laws 
of the province by sharia marriages and aboriginal occupations. Ont 
the first item we had agreement, but on the second there were two 
participants who insisted that the differences had to be resolved only 
by discussion and diplomacy. Reg Stackhouse, former M.P. arrived in 
the middle of the discussion and shortly thereafter made the point, in 
his usual understated way, that the police, or if necessary the 
canadian army would have to ensure that the law was upheld. His 
perspective, I thought, brought the room together for a unanimous 
endorsement of George's resolution. Read on.

(Understand too, that I favour such serious conversations quarterly by 
party activitsts, quite aside from the constructive policy processes 
of the national party!)

Trinity-Spadina Conservative Association
Third annual "policy lite" event.
June 19, 2008
7:00-8:30 p.m. 38 Avoca Avenue

Attendees:
Robert Aterman, right, sitting
Ken Chan, second left, standing
Al Heisey, photographer
Doug Lowry, second right, standing
George Macdonell, right, standing
Reg Stackhouse, left, standing
Bill Trusler, left, sitting
Sam Wakim, centre, sitting

The chill winds and impending rain of one of the coldest springs in 
years (to say nothing of the perennially frosty attitude of the party 
mandarins in Ottawa towards philosophical discussion of any kind among 
the rank and file) did not deter the faithful from attending the third 
annual Avoca Avenue "policy lite" festival, hosted, as always by the 
always genial, occasionally peremptory, founder of this event, Tory 
gadfly Al Heisey.  Despite the short notice a quorum of 8 
independently minded members and a full slate of issues materialized 
on schedule.

(A detailed report is availale upon request)

 HQ vacuums GTA rebate funds for HQ's strategy

Directors of four of the party's GTA 40+ edas have confirmed that a 
meeting was convened recently of their presidents. As an outsider, 
looking in on such party processes in Toronto, I would have thought 
that such an event might be reported after the fact with a carefully 
edited summary of those things that could be usefully discussed by 
Toronto tories and others.

Why, I would always favour a photo being taken of the prezzies who 
attended (apparently a couple of dozen) along with the organizers, and 
hopefully all four of the national directors of the party elected from 
Ontario. I think sending out from party h.q. friendly items like that -
with captions of those present, of course - would remind all, if they 
need reminding, that the local organizations are gearing up to an 
appropriate pitch in preparation for the next election.

However, nothing official has come to me as a lay member of St.Paul's, 
but informal comments on one aspect of the meeting, which is not 
surprising. Hq. has a plan for informing Toronto residents about what 
goes on, the details of which I regard as a genuine secret which I 
cannot spill here without singing off a different song sheet!

Part of the problem is that most organizers and local party brass are 
seized of the idea that the press is unfriendly. Having been coached 
by a topflight writer in Toronto I much prefer the concept of 
"milking" the media, which all would-be elected pols learn quick.

A related reality is that being in the backroom of the party, I mean 
really in the back room, one is apprised of "secrets". These secrets, 
backroomers know, but the unwashed don't unless they get ferreted out 
in private conversations to those who can be expected to keep secrets. 
And most stuff in most party meetings is regarded as secret stuff.

All that aside aside, headquarters has asked for the campaign's 
funding from those Toronto ridings which pulled 10% of the vote 
minimum in their last election and thus were entitled to the per-voter 
rebate they now have in their local bank accounts. To my knowledge 
there is no such thing now as a local Conservative campaign manager, 
and thus the development of an appropriate strategy is handled by the 
pros in Ottawa. Generally speaking, our party both nationally and 
provincially, has bought into the Mike Harris success strategy of the 
one songsheet, but anything aimed only at Toronto, one thought would 
be tested by some of our top T.O. hitters.

I feel the lack of a Don Guthrie, a Patrick Veron or a Gordon 
Sedgewick, all local hitters who represented previous national party 
leaders, and who were presences for the boss at endless local meetings 
over endless local decades! I suggest that s should find himself such 
a luminary and I dare to suggest one. I  wonder how often the national 
party seeks the view of David Soknacki, former councillor from 
Scarborough, now retired of his own volition. David was budget chief 
for Mel Lastman and thus had considerable standing across our town. He 
now has some role regarding the grossly underutilized Downsview 
airport, but surely someone of his  accomplishment should be speaking 
for our town in the party councils.

Ottawa committees owe "the mushroom farm" reports!!

I worry for the sensitivity of the party's great powers in the caucus 
and  in Ottawa headquarters. They should realize that six months have 
passed since the cut-off for suggestions for amendments to the present 
party constitution and from that central committee meeting however, 
across this half-year -NUTHIN'! I fail to understand why all the 
received, possible amendments  to our party's living constitution 
could not have been posted, as received, on a constitution committee 
web site.

The ennui ripens after comparing notes on parallel amendments by 
myself from St. Paul's and from Doug Hawkins of Whitby-Oshawa. Turns 
out we both have been enquiring of our Ontario committee co-chair, 
usually very forthcoming, but nuthin' currently. At the end of last 
year, in a "plain email envelope" I got a leak from the central policy 
committee which listed areas in which they had received policy 
amendments, and which invited all e.d.a's to forward one more.

The constitution committee, if they do not want to show some 
preliminary conclusions, could at least detail their process of 
consideration, which of course, might well include running proposals 
by the most knowledgeable members of caucus and the senate. They owe 
us better than we are getting, and it might even help stir interest in 
being in Manitoba in mid-November, which proposition my better half 
sets against all the other conventions she has in fact gone to!

The policy committee having reported formally to presidents at the 
year end, we unwashed may hope for more tidbits at the half year 
point. Otherwise my repressed view of h.q. as "the bunker" and the 
hinterlands as "the mushroom farm" may merit further repetition!

Is Dion in fact running the country? a writer wonders!

Excerpt of a letter in Daily Digest from Gary Davidson

"Which brings me to my third problem with these ads.  The Liberals 
aren't Canada's government, Harper is.  I don't think Harper and his 
lot realize that Canadians aren't fooled by Harper's claims of the 
Dion boogeyman when Dion isn't the Prime Minister, yet every one of 
his anti-Liberal ads since forming Canada's New Government have spoken 
in a language that makes it sound like Dion is actually running 
things.  I'm sure the Liberals appreciate the Harper-Cons giving 
Canadians that impression, it obviously hasn't hurt the Liberals in 
the polls none, and as many Canadians in central canada worry about 
keeping the perceived status quo Harper's strategy of making it look 
like Dion is running things could work out very well... for Dion."


To be removed from this mailing list:
You may unsubscribe at any time by clicking "Reply" and writing 
"unsubscribe" or "disconnect" or even "git" on the subject line of 
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===================================

Daily Digest June 28, 2008

The DAILY DIGEST: INFORMATION and OPINION from ST. JOHN'S to VICTORIA.
ARCHIVED at http://cdndailydigest.blogspot.com/

EDITORIALs

ST.JOHN'S TELEGRAM -
By the numbers
http://www.thetelegram.com/index.cfm?sid=148126&sc=80

CHARLOTTETOWN GUARDIAN -
Level playing ground for our airports
Ottawa should drop customs fees charged to small airports like Charlottetown.
http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/index.cfm?sid=148144&sc=103

MONTREAL GAZETTE -
Clampdown on green ads is just so much hot air
http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/editorial/story.html?id=5ab3bb9d-5309-4273-9961-574a5e37b89e

OTTAWA CITIZEN -
Obscene prosecutions 
http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/editorials/story.html?id=99d9d4cc-e3bb-4078-bc2f-7621381ca352

A hole in the roof 
http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/editorials/story.html?id=010c6ca6-4b4f-45c6-a498-03746f901b11

KINGSTON WHIG STANDARD-
State power reined in
http://www.thewhig.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1093074

BELLEVILLE INTELLIGENCER -
With soaring prices, starvation we need to rethink GM foods
http://www.intelligencer.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1092781&auth=MICHAEL+DEN+TANDT

TORONTO STAR -
Don't put up For Sale sign
http://www.thestar.com/comment/article/450886

NATIONAL POST -
Finally, good news on 'human rights'
http://www.nationalpost.com/opinion/story.html?id=619144

Liberals are still kicking the West
http://www.nationalpost.com/opinion/story.html?id=619145

WINDSOR STAR -
Canada Post: A rural perspective
http://www.canada.com/windsorstar/news/editorial/story.html?id=9737828e-6e88-4f41-b743-ed068fd1a3a9

SUDBURY STAR -
Is young offenders law really broken?
http://www.thesudburystar.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1093717

WINNIPEG FREE PRESS -
Waiting, waiting
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/editorial/story/4192402p-4783405c.html

WINNIPEG SUN -
Chretien, Martin still at it
http://www.winnipegsun.com/Comment/Editorial/2008/06/28/6011056.html

CALGARY HERALD -
What's up with voter apathy?
http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/theeditorialpage/story.html?id=99550604-0350-40a6-aef3-7286cfbf10e7

EDMONTON JOURNAL -
Gomery's double bogey
http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news/opinion/story.html?id=ca78850d-a1c7-4e28-8e73-44404bd2e2a7

LETHBRIDGE HERALD -
Chilling scenario for soldiers, yet again
http://www.lethbridgeherald.com/article_11217.php

PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN -
Knock, knock, knocking on China's door
http://www.princegeorgecitizen.com/20080627138436/opinion/editorials/knock-knock-knocking-on-china-146s-door.html

VANCOUVER SUN -
Celebrations remind us that Canada is bound by ties greater than politics 
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/editorial/story.html?id=e1c1dd4f-c7cb-44c7-92c7-5636fbce012d

VICTORIA TIMES-COLONIST -
High-tech sector still a bright light
http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/comment/story.html?id=21a06e6e-dc3b-476d-9492-6a94bd2ade5c

NANAIMO DAILY NEWS -
Educators must have willingness to change
http://www.canada.com/nanaimodailynews/opinion/story.html?id=1bc450b2-2dd3-4ec7-ae0a-f1a837c308c5


ISSUES

AFGHANISTAN -
Pakistan strikes at Taliban in Khyber agency
http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2008/06/pakistan_strikes_at_1.php

Pakistan forces in Khyber offensive
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia/2008/06/2008628841648797.html

Pakistan launches offensive against Taliban
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/06/28/asia/AS-GEN-Pakistan-Operation.php

Pakistan goes on anti-Taliban offensive
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=621642

Ambush began Afghan battle
http://www.thestar.com/News/World/article/451161


ECONOMIC AFFAIRS
Ripe for profit
http://www.reportonbusiness.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080627.wcover211/BNStory/Business/home

Brain drain in reverse
After years of leaving for greener pastures, Canada's wayward financial talent is coming home
http://www.financialpost.com/story.html?id=619175


FOREIGN AFFAIRS
International experts warn of no-holds-barred" Arctic resource race
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/080628/national/arctic_resource_conflict

Obama's team mostly made of people who supported Clinton's policies towards Iraq(1 of 2)
http://therealnews.com/t/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=31&Itemid=74&jumival=1748

EU Constitution Kingpin: We Will Ignore Referendums
Admits Lisbon Treaty was intended to confuse public into acceptance
http://www.infowars.net/articles/june2008/270608EU.htm

Iraq: Safe for Big Oil
Weapons of mass destruction were not found in Iraq, but the country is safe for the oil industry -- at the cost of U.S. lives
http://news.therecord.com/Opinions/article/374959

Democracy isn't a sure answer to tyranny
http://news.therecord.com/Opinions/article/374957

The South must stand on its own
The tragedy of Zimbabwe makes as clear a case as any that the global South must step out from the shadow of colonialism and solve its own problems
http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/opinion/story.html?id=a3df71a4-6139-4bfe-af3a-6af085973f9e

International court off to 'shaky start'
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=619384

Caught between feuding enemies
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080627.abkhazia28/BNStory/International/home

Kosovo Serbs to form own parliament
http://www.thestar.com/Business/article/451141


HEALTH CARE RELATED
Fake pills for kids stir controversy
Doctors raise fears Obecalp, a new children's placebo, will condition them to look for cures in pills
http://healthzone.ca/health/article/451022

Promoting breastfeeding
http://www.canada.com/windsorstar/news/editorial/story.html?id=f5e3958d-a076-4445-845e-042163401815


JUSTICE SYSTEM
Local cop preys on predators
http://thechronicleherald.ca/Opinion/1064761.html

"I have always proceeded on the footing," he declared once, "that the communications between the legal advisers and their employer (who is their client) are the subject of legal professional privilege; and I have never known it questioned."
This week in B.C., we had cause to wonder whether this cosy, gentlemanly arrangement should be questioned. http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/comment/story.html?id=4de45627-4cd2-4cb4-b7c0-32602de109ab

Bar owner, Ontario square off in medical pot dispute
Man's right to smoke pot jeopardizes bar owner's liquor licence
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=95b032bb-4804-4ee7-8eb4-b4a05e391482

Human Rights Commission drops Maclean's complaint
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080628/steyn_commission_080628/20080628?hub=Canada


MIGRATION
Our part-time home and native land
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080627.wcandayvalpyone0628/BNStory/CanadaDay2008/home

Canada's nuances and expectations must be explained to newcomers
http://news.therecord.com/Opinions/article/374268


POLITICS IN THE PROVINCES
If MacDonald really didn't know, then why didn't he?
http://thechronicleherald.ca/Opinion/1064685.html

Climate plan gives big costs short shrift
http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/comment/story.html?id=5a4e7613-9e5c-4a0a-807e-155f141adb99

Environmental coalition gallops to the defence of the carbon tax 
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=6d65469d-8fb7-4dec-90f1-329fe7b54c55

Privacy concerns quashes 'chronic offender' program
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=619071

Carbon tax could be reversed, special adviser to Campbell fears
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20080628.BCCARBON28/TPStory/TPNational/Politics/


PARTY POLITICS
Energy crisis supplants environment as top concern
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080627.wpoll-economy28/BNStory/Front/home

A plan riddled with questions
The Post's Terence Corcoran interviews Liberal leader Stéphane Dion on his carbon tax
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=619074

Dion smoothing his faux pas English
http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/451013


POLITICAL OPINION -
Stephane's cool but Stephen has gas
http://thechronicleherald.ca/Opinion/1064676.html

Harper's minor realignment
http://www.canada.com/windsorstar/news/editorial/story.html?id=9f391c35-6258-4d98-ad0a-15a2190cd090

Regulation vs. Taxes
http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/fpcomment/archive/2008/06/27/jack-mintz-regulation-vs-taxes.aspx

Bernier, keep daddy out of it
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080627.wltimson27/BNStory/lifeMain/home

Will Emerson re-enter the fray in a new riding?
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20080628.BCMASON28/TPStory/TPComment/Politics/

From minister of multiculturalism to minister of multitasking
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20080628.NOTEBOOK28/TPStory/TPComment/Politics/

Loyalty flows uphill to the PM
http://www.thestar.com/comment/article/450895

Dion plays king of pain
http://www.edmontonsun.com/Business/News/2008/06/28/6013261-sun.html


PROGRAMMES
A leader of the coal industry will advise the Government Harper
http://translate.google.ca/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cyberpresse.ca%2Farticle%2F20080628%2FCPACTUALITES%2F806281088%2F1025%2FCPACTUALITES&sl=fr&tl=en&hl=en&ie=UTF-8


PRESSURE POINTS
Research and development, not cap and trade
http://news.therecord.com/Opinions/article/374956

A changing Canada seems receptive to carbon tax
http://news.therecord.com/Opinions/article/374263

A zealous woodcutter, but a terrorist?
http://www.thestar.com/Canada/Columnist/article/450893


OPINION AND INFORMATION
Canada's a centre for Islamic reform
http://www.thespec.com/Opinions/article/392889

Citizen spy fights to uphold our rights
A professor from Vancouver says what was once an open global space is now being carved up, colonized and militarized
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/editorial/story.html?id=08a6bee6-2f5d-42ed-bcdd-8626211a3198

Supersizing the ballot box leads to unhealthy, fat governments
http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/theeditorialpage/story.html?id=a9bbb695-0b04-4e37-9879-ff60e594e8bf

No good for Tiger, no good for U.S.
http://www.canada.com/windsorstar/news/editorial/story.html?id=8fca169f-f6fe-473e-bad2-de8a3358f2d4

Just when you thought things in Quebec couldn't get any sillier ...
http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/editorial/story.html?id=f5894349-f3f3-4cb7-90ec-06a5e235cc75

Geez Louise
Last week in Parliament, Conservative MP Vic Toews said what he really thought when he called Louise Arbour a "disgrace."
http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/opinion/story.html?id=9567f1a2-0930-48f9-a42d-1cac39478b8a

The resistance must continue 
http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/opinion/story.html?id=6376c17a-4228-4e04-a2fd-802012bb410b

Leadership in bad times
http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/opinion/story.html?id=fb6670ce-a720-4ed8-bdfb-44ab94897ba9&p=2

Mars is within our grasp
http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/opinion/story.html?id=6f6c10e8-ed72-46c6-a986-1d621917b0a6

Breaking the bonds of communion
Formal arrangements have yet to be made, but it now appears that the critical decisions have already been taken for a dissolution of the Anglican Communion. http://www.nationalpost.com/opinion/story.html?id=614403

Peter Kuitenbrouwer on Canada's national anthem
http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/fullcomment/default.aspx

Hungry for answers
A single grain of rice symbolizes the breakdown of the global food system. In recent months, prices of staples have jumped and millions have joined the ranks of the marginally fed. http://www.thestar.com/News/World/article/451023

Why can't we protect ourselves?
http://www.winnipegsun.com/News/Columnists/Quesnel_Joseph/2008/06/28/6011151.html


INFOS 
La résidence de la gouverneure générale est ouverte au public samedi
http://info.branchez-vous.com/Nationales/080628/N062804AU.html

Les conducteurs sous l'effet de stupéfiants feront face à des peines plus sévères
http://info.branchez-vous.com/Nationales/080627/N0627139AU.html

Un dirigeant de l'industrie du charbon conseillera le gouvernement Harper
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/article/20080628/CPACTUALITES/806281088/1025/CPACTUALITES

Le CRTC compte trois nouveaux membres permanents
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/article/20080628/CPACTUALITES/80628014/1025/CPACTUALITES


La Teoria Conspiratoria

BELOW(30)(30)(30)(30)(30)30)(30)(30)(30)(30)(30)30)(30)(30)(30)(30)(30)30)(30)(30)(30)(30)(30)(30)(30)(30)30)(30)(30)(30)(30)30)30)(30)(30)(30)(30)(30)(30)(30)

The Afghan insurgency

Which choice do you prefer for Canada, Peacemaker or Powder Monkey?

The Taliban are mostly based in Afghanistan, Pakistan bases not the issue
US Defence Secretary Robert Gates on Thursday voiced his concern about
a sharp rise in attacks by insurgent forces in eastern Afghanistan, blaming
 the spike on Pakistan's failure to put pressure on insurgents there. Not so  
http://therealnews.com/t/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=31&Itemid=74&jumival=1804

A new, blessed-by-Washington natural gas pipeline to supply India and Pakistan with      
energy from Turkmenistan will be routed straight through, of all places,  Kandahar          
province. With the utterly corrupt Karzi government laughably promising to clear  the       
route of landmines and Taliban, Canadian soldiers will now be security guards in a U.S.    
 geopolitical gambit aimed at keeping Russia and Iran out of the region's energy trade.        
http://www.ottawasun.com/News/Columnists/Harris_Michael/2008/06/20/5931046.html


Subject: Which choice in Afghanistan: "real politik" or not?

That  Top Canadian officials agreed to Afghanistan 'energy bridge'  in November 2006 only became information generally known outside the government with the publishing of A Pipeline Through A Troubled Land: Afghanistan, Canada, and the New Great Energy Game this month.

The writer, "Mr. Foster said he does not see the TAPI pipeline project as viable until there is peace in the South of Afghanistan, where the insurgency is strongest, as well as on the Pakistan border. He said he believes all parties must be included in the discussions on the pipeline, and that the Pashtun in the South, who are now alienated, as well as the Taliban, must feel part of the process. "

In the view of Simon Jenkins in his article "Stop killing the Taliban – http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/simon_jenkins/article4187504.ece "The British expedition to Afghanistan is on the brink of something worse than defeat: a long, low-intensity war from which no government will dare to extricate itself. That may not be the grand strategy beloved of western think tanks, but it is the realpolitik of Afghanistan."

Canadian Forces are in the same situation as the British. The question is whether their role as protectors of the energy bridge will be based on recognition of  "realpolitik of Afghanistan" as seen by both Foster and Simon or not?

Joe Hueglin

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LETTER TO THE EDITOR
TheStar.com | comment | Let the green debate begin
 
Jun 28, 2008 04:30 AM

Re:Dion gung-ho on carbon tax
http://www.thestar.com/comment/article/450933

Stéphane Dion has taken the fight for humanity's environmental future to Stephen Harper. Dion proposes a tax-neutral green shift: taxing things we don't want – pollution – and reducing taxes on things we want – income and investment.

Harper counters and accuses Dion of trying to "screw" Canadians. So, what do the facts say about the government's approach to tax shifting and environmental management?

The Harper government enacted a tax shift in its first year. The Conservatives shifted tax reduction from the GST to tax increases for lower income tax brackets.

The Harper government also enacted major tax spending shifts. All federal climate initiatives were cancelled and savings principally shifted to the military.

Under Environment Minister John Baird, Kyoto was cancelled in fact though not in spin, Environment Canada scientists were eliminated, and intensity targets were introduced that allow unlimited burning of carbon resources.

Under Natural Resources Minister Gary Lunn, nuclear environment safety was ignored until a worldwide medical crisis erupted.

Dion is directly challenging Harper and demanding debate. Dion is proposing a constructive, mature alternative to character assassination and the denuding of sound environmental management.

Let the debate begin.

Eugene Parks, Victoria, B.C.

===================================
From: "Rebecca Gingrich"
Subject:: EU Constitution Kingpin: We Will Ignore Referendums...
http://www.infowars.net/articles/june2008/270608EU.htm

Is this shades of things to come for Canadians with the SPP and the NAU?????
becky

===================================
From: Suan H.Booiman
To: VS. Editor
Sent: Saturday, June 28, 2008 9:49 AM
Subject: editorial

June 28, 2008
 
Editors,
 
Celebrations remind us that Canada is bound by ties greater than politics  
 
The one you presented today is very clever just make us feel like
Ottawa licking the heels of the French. All previous historical events
have just been wiped out to please the glorification of Quebec City.
There was a certain Cabot if you do remember, did not build a City
but was here first according to the years quoted. But than like
Quebec City always claims "we want more".
 
Regards,
Suan H.Booiman
204-1220 Fir Street
White Rock BC V4B 4B1
Canada

ST.JOHN'S Tradition declares that the city earned its name when explorer John Cabot became the first European to sail into its harbour, on June 24, 1497 - the feast day of St. John the Baptist. http://relocatecanada.com/stjohns/index.html

===================================