Daily Digest July 17, 2008

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

EDITORIALs

ST.JOHN'S TELEGRAM -
They've got a right to know
http://www.thetelegram.com/index.cfm?sc=80

CORNER BROOK WESTERN STAR -
Young smokers: Are there more of them?
http://www.thewesternstar.com/index.cfm?sid=153549&sc=30

CHARLOTTETOWN GUARDIAN -
Easing the financial load of our seniors
It's getting harder for people on fixed incomes to pay the rising costs of oil, medication and other basic needs.
http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/index.cfm?sid=153718&sc=103

HALIFAX CHRONICLE HERALD -
Waiting for better days in shipping
http://www.thechronicleherald.ca/Editorial/1067982.html

MONTREAL GAZETTE -
The easily offended are gagging free speech
http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/editorial/story.html?id=d7e08fba-02d5-40b2-a503-d15daed97053  

OTTAWA CITIZEN -
Taser uses and abuses
http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/editorials/story.html?id=f4a4675c-973c-41f4-8711-7f1104fea06f

Not just victors' revenge
http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/editorials/story.html?id=b24abd1d-df06-4cfa-b534-d61864a86002

BELLEVILLE INTELLIGENCER -
Here's something we very much doubt would ever happen in the United States
http://www.intelligencer.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1117398

TORONTO STAR -
Stop deportation of war deserters
http://www.thestar.com/comment/article/461787

Cellphones and kids
http://www.thestar.com/Opinion/article/461786

Slow motion genocide
http://www.thestar.com/comment/article/461784

GLOBE & MAIL -
Afghanistan is not an easy sell
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080717.weafghanistan17/BNStory/specialComment/home

Keeping Ontario green
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080717.weboreal17/BNStory/specialComment/home

NATIONAL POST -
Keep Khadr where he is
http://www.nationalpost.com/opinion/story.html?id=659659

HAMILTON SPECTATOR -
Making a joke of the system
http://www.thespec.com/Opinions/article/404142

ST. CATHARINES STANDARD -
It's time to replace TGIF with TGIT
http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1118234

NIAGARA FALLS REVIEW -
WastePlan accomplished a lot of the former, little of the latter
http://www.niagarafallsreview.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1117802

K-W RECORD -
Tell people the truth about Afghanistan
http://news.therecord.com/Opinions/article/384561

WINDSOR STAR -
Omar Khadr
A child with adult weapons
http://www.canada.com/windsorstar/news/editorial/story.html?id=a21f8812-65ad-4354-b525-56ec5d2629b8

SUDBURY STAR -
For the love of satire
http://www.thesudburystar.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1118343

WINNIPEG FREE PRESS -
Reconsider Khadr case
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/editorial/story/4200140p-4791736c.html

HIV precedent
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/editorial/story/4200138p-4791737c.html

CALGARY HERALD -
Smoking bylaw crosses line
http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/theeditorialpage/story.html?id=c0319298-f5fa-4920-9a3c-87447c21c783

CALGARY SUN -
Hypermilers can be a hyperdanger
http://calsun.canoe.ca/Comment/POV/2008/07/17/6179846-sun.html

LETHBRIDGE HERALD -
Small crimes can lead to big problems
http://www.lethbridgeherald.com/article_11403.php

PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN -
Khadr's plight
http://www.princegeorgecitizen.com/20080716141408/opinion/editorials/khadr-146s-plight.html      

VANCOUVER SUN -
Tough audience
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/editorial/story.html?id=54eb3e79-c370-46db-b267-92ec4b8c42eb

VANCOUVER PROVINCE -
Courts need new mindset
http://www.canada.com/theprovince/news/editorial/story.html?id=60ef7d44-b8d7-4c83-bf72-d2f424de5d54

Death and taxes
http://www.canada.com/theprovince/news/editorial/story.html?id=94503e41-0b03-4973-b0df-f417fd82c37e

VICTORIA TIMES-COLONIST -
Auditor reveals a public betrayal
http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/comment/story.html?id=98827acf-c15e-4da9-b652-343dd2571920

Coleman's credibility gap
http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/comment/story.html?id=c17b50c0-4256-4ddf-b13b-6d05b28ad61c

NANAIMO DAILY NEWS -
Forestry deal gives lie to claims of openess
http://www.canada.com/nanaimodailynews/opinion/story.html?id=7d055d58-d416-42f6-9811-7a60286966e4


ISSUES

AFGHANISTAN -
Decapitation campaign: tracking the liquidation of Afghan insurgent commanders
http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2008/07/decapitation_campaig.php

U.S. forces confirm Afghan civilian deaths
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=661531

Doubts over US Afghan operation
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7510941.stm

'Dozens of civilians' killed in NATO strike in Afghanistan
ABC News (07/17/2008)

U.N. Expresses Grave Concern for Afghan Boys
World Politics Review (07/17/2008)

Childhood ends at 11 for some Afghan girls
Canadian Press (07/17/2008)

Experts question whether Afghan troop surge can work
AFP (07/17/2008)

Afghan Opposition Backs Obama Troop Plan, Has Doubts on McCain
Bloomberg (07/17/2008)

How to Save Afghanistan
TIME (07/17/2008)

Pakistani Army launches operation in Hangu; Taliban issue ultimatum
http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2008/07/pakistani_army_launc_1.php


CANADIAN FORCES
Dual attacks keep Canadians busy
http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=ba2f6912-2be4-4b49-b6c9-e68709098a50

This is no way to run a modern military
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20080717.COFORCES17/TPStory/TPComment/Politics/

Two Canadians slightly injured in Kandahar blast
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080717/canada_afghanistan_080717/20080717?hub=TopStories


CANUSA/USACAN
Standing up for Gitmo is not standing up for Canada
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20080717.COMARTIN17/TPStory/TPComment/Politics/

Khadr tugs at country's conscience
http://www.thestar.com/comment/article/461768

Khadr's prison video confirms Canada's disgrace
http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/columnists/story.html?id=436b1a91-a215-4f48-a475-b1f92d1f0ec1

Gloves come off in Khadr fight
Dallaire lashes out at Harper for not intervening in detainee's case, says Canada's reputation at stake
http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/461791

No easy options in khadr case, experts warn
Prosecuting suspect in Canada would be complex affair
http://www.nationalpost.com/todays_paper/story.html?id=659649

Whistle should have been blown, experts say of Khadr
Ethicists question Canadian officials' silence over teen's treatment at U.S. jail
http://www.thestar.com/living/article/461421

Ex-official upset at misinformation over Khadr visits
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080717/omar_khadr_080717/20080717?hub=Canada

Canada's spy agency says it acted 'appropriately' in Khadr interrogation
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080716.wcsis17/BNStory/National/home

Welcome back Khadr
http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/3990


ECONOMIC AFFAIRS
Canadian economy remains 'robust:' Mark Carney
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080717/boc_report_080717/20080717?hub=TopStories

Mounties seize bogus goods
http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=5eb45a6f-a78e-4872-b619-2d2b285a8c4c

Small exporters face border hurdles
http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix/news/forum/story.html?id=e470729e-3773-407c-b38a-70c243c758ee


FOREIGN AFFAIRS
Russian flags aren't the real threat to Arctic sovereignty 
http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/opinion/story.html?id=39be70fc-ce84-426b-953b-c9e7c378530b


HEALTH CARE RELATED
Medical technologists sought
http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/461848

Pathologists appeal to Ottawa for help
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080716.wPathology17/BNStory/National/home


MIGRATION
Inside the straightjacket: immigration's outdated requirements
http://www.xtra.ca/public/viewstory.aspx?AFF_TYPE=1&STORY_ID=5112&PUB_TEMPLATE_ID=4

Assault suspect in Canada despite convictions
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080716.wmilton17/BNStory/National/home


POLITICS IN THE PROVINCES
A picnic feeling but big issues on table
http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/461854

Premiers agree on labour mobility
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=661903

Revive Kelowna accord, leaders urge
http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/461855

Premiers clash over emissions plan
Prairie leaders willing to 'fight' against any climate program that threatens oil riches
http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=fe771ea2-18a0-42f3-b08b-2aa05564497e

Climate change rift immediately apparent
http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/461856

Shame on Bell, buddies for their dirty tactics
Forest minister lambastes auditor for his report
http://www.canada.com/theprovince/news/story.html?id=b88b497b-6085-4177-ab1f-c84dd138733d

Putting the corporation's interests first
http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/comment/story.html?id=6a4763c5-9812-49c1-87ec-a51f884f1e91

Ed draws a line in the oilsands
http://www.edmontonsun.com/News/Columnists/Waugh_Neil/2008/07/17/6179906.html


PARTY POLITICS
Some Tory candidates received ad rebates 
Reimbursement made before elections body raised 'red flag'
http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=89ad7a12-d32f-43bf-b53d-14299343212a

Shouts, insults at meeting of Commons ethics panel
http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/461886

Author ordered to testify
http://winnipegsun.com/News/Canada/2008/07/17/6180036-sun.html

Dion pushes environmental virtues of carbon tax
http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Politics/2008/07/17/6185946-cp.html

In and out" of ex-cons must testify
http://translate.google.ca/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ledevoir.com%2F2008%2F07%2F17%2F198040.html&sl=fr&tl=en&hl=en&ie=UTF-8


PROGRAMMES=
$7 billion mad cow disease lawsuit can proceed
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2008/07/17/supcourt-madcow.html


PRESSURE POINTS
The price of carbon doesn't matter
Reducing emissions in Canada, however laudable, is irrelevant to fighting climate change unless doing so results in creating clean technologies to help power the developing world http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/opinion/story.html?id=67e2b881-1c7c-4655-8f8a-a8f6e60739f1

Heated arguments
 David Suzuki preaches that setting our air conditioners just a few degrees higher will make a big difference for our environment.
And he's absolutely right.
http://www.ottawasun.com/Comment/2008/07/17/6179521-sun.html

Geothermal `not getting any love'
Canada has significant `earth energy' potential, but critics say it's not doing much about it
http://www.thestar.com/Business/article/461711

The carbon footprint belongs to ...
... the nations that produce the fossil fuels or the nations that consume them?
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080717.wcocarbon17/BNStory/specialComment/home

Ethanol does not take its promises
http://translate.google.ca/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ledevoir.com%2F2008%2F07%2F17%2F198044.html&sl=fr&tl=en&hl=en&ie=UTF-8


OPINION AND INFORMATION
Misguided reaction to brilliant Obama cartoon shows brutal leftist intolerance
http://www.canada.com/theprovince/news/editorial/story.html?id=a2a5d13e-6297-463d-853e-80a24fc28044

Voters primed to make gas prices main issue
http://www.thechronicleherald.ca/Opinion/1067894.html

The Order of Canada is ridiculous
http://www.nationalpost.com/opinion/columnists/story.html?id=cb84f8cf-9e73-459f-9fbe-455cc120a6eb

From crime to virtue
http://www.thestar.com/comment/article/461787

Tough decisions on reactors
Risk factors have to be spelled out for multi-billion-dollar project at Darlington
http://www.thestar.com/comment/article/461769

Buffing America's tarnished image
http://www.thestar.com/Opinion/article/461770

Convicted terrorist dodges deportation since 1988
http://www.thestar.com/News/GTA/article/461790

In search of a czar
Ninety years after the murder of Nicholas II, Scott Van Wynsberghe describes the confused, morbid search for the doomed family's remains
http://www.nationalpost.com/opinion/story.html?id=659730

Less crime could hurt 'law-and-order' Tories at the polls, experts say
http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5jGdxw9fx5PNyxLGwhflTh931LMOw


INFOS 
30 à 60% de plus en frais de transport et préparation d'une auto neuve au Canada
http://info.branchez-vous.com/Nationales/080717/N071725AU.html

L'opposition remporte une manche; d'ex-candidats conservateurs devront témoigner
http://info.branchez-vous.com/Nationales/080716/N0716121AU.html

Les provinces demandent à Ottawa une rencontre nationale sur les autochtones
http://info.branchez-vous.com/Nationales/080716/N0716152AU.html

Les conservateurs reprochent à Elections Canada d'éviter les sujets difficiles
http://info.branchez-vous.com/Nationales/080716/N071661AU.html

Économie canadienne
La Banque du Canada est optimiste
http://www.radio-canada.ca/nouvelles/Economie-Affaires/2008/07/17/002-Banque-Canada.shtml

Le directeur d'Élections Canada accusé d'être partisan
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/article/20080716/CPACTUALITES/80716117/1025/CPACTUALITES

L'éthanol ne tient pas ses promesses
http://www.ledevoir.com/2008/07/17/198044.html


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)

STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE = COLLATERAL DAMAGE

Their statement said a routine patrol came under sustained attack from machine-gun fire on Tuesday from houses adjacent to the road.

"The coalition returned fire and called for close air support on the enemy positions," the statement said.

"A house was hit - eight civilians were killed, two others injured. Coalition forces never intentionally target non-combatants, and deeply regret any occurrence such as this where civilians are killed and injured as a result of insurgent activity and actions."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7510941.stm

Standard operating procedure is to call in close air support

The result is continuing collateral damage that is not seen as
being as "a result of insurgent activity and actions" by the   
Afghan civilian population.                                                     

This is not a criticism, the alternative would result in many more
casualties among ISAF and Operation Enduring Freedom  forces.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Enduring_Freedom



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Concerned Citizens of Victoria
Saturday, July 26 - Family Picnic!
Eagle Beach Shelter 10 am - 4 pm
(Pat Bay Hwy by Canoe Club @ Elk Lake)
Adults
*Be Seen -Display Tables to
promote your cause
* Be Heard -P.A. System,
speak about your cause
* Be Friendly - Meet & Greet
new contacts
* Be Connected -Join CCoV &
boost future presentations
with support & numbers
* Be Happy -Enjoy our
Barbecue !
*Burgers
*Hot Dogs
*Pop
It would be great to hear from you ahead of
time!
Give us a call and let us know how many are
coming.
Contact: Brad Rhodes 250-889-7667 // Derek Skinner 250-381-7553

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

From: "Rebecca Gingrich"
Subject: Khadr

Looks like Canadians are not falling for the msm spin on Khadr! 66% of over
5000 votes think he should spend the rest of his life in jail!

http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Columnists/

===================================
From: Ron Thornton

Hi Joe:

I've just noticed that I woke up this morning with a case of the I don't give a shits.  For example, the latest DD has the headline, this time from the Montreal Gazette, stating how "Omar Khadr is a victim, not a villain."  Wouldn't you know it, I just don't give a shit. I'm sure if my own papa dragged my ass off to get the bloody English out of Scotland, where dear papa gets himself killed and my brother gets paralyzed for his war efforts, where I supposedly get to send an American military medic to the Promised Land before my capture, I would want you to come save that sorry ass of mine. I would even want my mommy, though she wasn't much help in keeping me from getting in to this mess in the first place. Then again, apparently she kind of liked the fact the boy spent much of his life in Pakistan so he could avoid western influences.  Well, mission accomplished Mrs. Khadr. Well done.

From 1986, when Omar was born in Toronto, to his 2002 vacation with his new American friends, exactly how much time did this fine Canadian spend on our soil being Canadian? If you talk about bringing the 21-year old home, do we mean some maternity ward in Toronto or some spot in Pakistan? Where was home for our lad, who did not lose his freedom on a weekend jaunt to North York, but rather after a firefight in Afghanistan? Considering where he has spent much of his life, I wonder why Pakistan is not trying to get Omar free? Maybe I should be concerned as, but for the grace of God and the fact my own daddy was never a buddy of Osama bin Laden, go I.  I also wonder, if our positions were reversed, would anyone who is left in Khadar's family give a damn for me? No, they probably wouldn't give a shit, either.

Joe, did you know that there are more human feces polluting this nation that are created in Ontario and Quebec than in all the other eight provinces and three territories combined? How can such a situation be tolerated? Now, I admit that I didn't do a big study or go through too many statistics. It just seems logical that with more than 62% of the population, folks in central Canada are responsible for more crap than the rest of us.  Why do I mention this, you might wonder?

Well, as Ontario and Quebec are Poop Central in Canada due to that being where most of the people are, I'm guessing the reason Alberta and Saskatchewan are two of the top four greenhouse gas emitters in the country (along with Ontario and Quebec) is due to the fact that those two western locations happen to be where the oil is. What a revelation! Now, if folks in the other provinces don't want that oil, I'm sure there are close to 6-billion people, including the 5-billion not covered by Kyoto, who would be willing to accept it. Considering how many of our jobs are gone or heading to India and Mexico, happily not covered by Kyoto, oil is probably moving more and more out of your price range anyway.  Then maybe you don't give a shit.

Thanks for the opportunity, as always, Joe.

Ron Thornton

===================================
Subject: The end of illusions ... Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae go tits up (as it were)
From: "Efstratios Psarianos" <stratos@spp-consultants.com>
To: "Joe Hueglin" <joe.hueglin@bellnet.ca>

Can you believe it, there's no END to the iniquity-incompetence in the US political-financial system. Have a read ... and look at the last line in this article.
 
On the positive side, this will make for an interesting Presidential campaign if the candidates step up to bat over this ...
 
GAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!
Stratos
 
P.S. Joe: starting to come to my view of the US political system? In brief, I feel that it stinks and that it's unworkable. And I'm NOT saying that because of bad laws and policies (of which there are myriads) ... the thing's hopelessly malfunctioning and unworkable. Time to scrap the US Constitution, go for a parliamentary democracy, and clean out the pigsty.

=====
Have you cleared that statement with your Leader?

        Joe

=====
Only one leader in my camp and that's me, hahahahaha ...
 
Plus, Liberal leadership and Ministers are just as politic in their opinions when faced with this kind of thing. Doesn't mean that no one has a private opinion, though. Even Americans within the US political system know that it's unworkable.
 
Stratos
______________________________________________
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac  End of illusions
http://www.economist.com/finance/displayStory.cfm?source=hptextfeature&story_id=11751139

Jul 17th 2008
From The Economist print edition
 
A series of articles on the crisis gripping the world economy and global markets starts where it all began-with America's deeply flawed system of housing finance

THERE is a story about a science professor giving a public lecture on the solar system. An elderly lady interrupts to claim that, contrary to his assertions about gravity, the world travels through the universe on the back of a giant turtle. "But what supports the turtle?" retorts the professor. "You can't trick me," says the woman. "It's turtles all the way down."

The American financial system has started to look as logical as "turtles all the way down" this week. Only six months ago, politicians were counting on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the country's mortgage giants, to bolster the housing market by buying more mortgages. Now the rescuers themselves have needed rescuing.  http://www.economist.com/finance/displayStory.cfm?source=hptextfeature&story_id=11751139

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

Canadian Taxpayers Federation Commentary: So much for spending restraint

Below you will find this week's federal commentary.
 
Regards,
 
John Williamson
Federal Director
 
--------------------------------------
July 17, 2008
So much for spending restraint
By John Williamson
 
The lazy, hazy days of summer are here and Conservative MPs are crisscrossing the country and showering it with money. According to news stories, the federal government has announced some $3-billion in spending priorities since Parliament recessed for the summer less than a month ago. That is roughly $100-million a day or more than $4-million every hour. Weren't the Conservatives elected to root out waste in government and spend tax dollars judiciously?

Conservative partisans will insist these funding announcements were made adhering to all the proper rules and guidelines. Of course, these would be the very same oversight measures they loudly protested in opposition when the then-governing Liberals of Jean Chrétien and Paul Martin spent wildly, hoping to buy votes. Another favourite Conservative talking point is Canadians are getting more value for their tax dollars because Ottawa is better managed today. Taxpayers therefore shouldn't fret over a few billion dollars in spending. But there is little evidence of this improved management. In fact, it is no contest between the Harper government's spending and that of Mr. Chrétien's government. The Grits exercised greater fiscal discipline.

Perhaps this judgment is unfair since Mr. Chrétien governed with a House of Commons majority and Stephen Harper does not. So how does the Prime Minister match up with Mr. Martin, another minority leader? Mr. Martin's fiscal recklessness grew the size of government by 14% over two years. This certainly qualifies him as a big spending Liberal. The Conservatives have controlled the government purse strings since early 2006. After their first two years, Ottawa had grown another 14.8%. This is higher than Mr. Martin's appalling record, making Mr. Harper a bigger spending Conservative.

Many Canadians were encouraged by the Conservative's apparent new direction shown in their third budget that limited spending growth to 3.4% this fiscal year. So much for that. It now appears bribing taxpayers with their own money remains a higher calling for them.

Of the $245-billion Ottawa collects annually in taxes an astounding $26-billion is allocated to grants, contributions and subsidy programs. According to the finance department, the government's total grant/subsidy budget accounts for just over 11 cents of each tax dollar spent. Even if government MPs argue this level of spending is necessary, it is not credible to assert politics does not influence who gets the cash. Canwest News Service discovered many of the recent announcements were targeted to regions where the Conservatives hope to pick up seats to gain a majority. Meanwhile, little money flows to ridings that loyally vote Tory or are reliable Liberal seats. For example, Ottawa confirmed that Quebec-based Bombardier will receive $350-million to build a plane with no confirmed buyers. (According to the Wall Street Journal, air carrier Lufthansa's letter of intent to purchase 60 of the small planes is nonbinding.) Nova Scotia, the lone Maritime battleground province, will receive an additional $867-million in energy royalties. Meanwhile, the Calgary Stampede was handed $432,300 to help Alberta visitors celebrate Quebec City's 400th anniversary.

Fuelling these expenditures is Ottawa's surplus, which comes from the taxes paid by Canadians. Some might believe the high taxes that generate budget surpluses are acceptable so long as lawmakers use those dollars to reduce debt. Yet, Canadians are more likely to witness horses flying than a government capable of exercising restraint while sitting atop a mountain of excess tax revenue. As a surplus increases during a fiscal year so do expenditures because politicians cannot resist spending irresponsibility in an attempt to win votes. Canadians do not yet know the size of this year's surplus, but it is a safe bet that tax receipts are running ahead of the budget's projections.

Unhappily, there is nowhere for voters to turn for reform. Opposition Liberals might decry today's spending levels but these protests cannot be given serious weight. The Liberals in government behave the same.

This summer's spending spree is another reason why taxes need to be cut. It is more evidence governments don't tax to collect the money it needs, instead politicians always find a way to spend revenue that is collected. Cut off the money and government officials will find it necessary to prioritize spending and make decisions about how best to use scarce tax dollars. This would be a laudable project for a government committed to taxpayers.
 

END

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