Daily Digest October 23, 2008

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

EDITORIALs

ST.JOHN'S TELEGRAM -
Money troubles

CORNER BROOK WESTERN STAR -
Stop reviewing, start improving

CHARLOTTETOWN GUARDIAN -
Protecting our shores a worthy project
What Souris does to save its shores from erosion could help other coastal communities protect theirs

HALIFAX CHRONICLE HERALD -
Mental health court long overdue

AMHERST DAILY NEWS -
ABC turns into a welcome mat

MONTREAL GAZETTE -
Residential-school hearings must go ahead

OTTAWA CITIZEN -
Canadians abandoned

Dying to help

KINGSTON WHIG STANDARD-
Abuse heaped upon abuse

BELLEVILLE INTELLIGENCER -
Running deficit right decision for time being

TORONTO STAR -
Reality means running a deficit

NATIONAL POST -
Zero tolerance on torture
http://www.nationalpost.com/todays_paper/story.html?id=901821

NIAGARA FALLS REVIEW -
Forced apologies don't mean a thing

Infrastructure deficit can't be ignored

K-W RECORD -
Exposing torture

WINDSOR STAR -
Water supply

Election lacked serious discussion of real issues

Pitch a tent in B.C.

Human rights still matter

SUDBURY STAR -
Harper's Conservative victory deja vu all over again

SASKATOON STARPHOENIX -
Canada must revamp food trade policies

Harper has wealth of talented women for cabinet

CALGARY SUN -
Talk is cheap - real action is expensive

GRANDE PRAIRIE DAILY HERALD TRIBUNE -
Canadian retail sales show more trouble ahead

It's McKenna's move now - Former N.B. premier has a lot of Liberal support

Study: Western diet 'bad for you'

EDMONTON JOURNAL -
Blasphemy jailing hits Afghan policy

Free speech may have been only thing between Harper and majority

RED DEER ADVOCATE -
Paranoia of the right will lead to its downfall

VANCOUVER SUN -
We should right the balance between security, civil rights

VICTORIA TIMES-COLONIST -
Caller ID 'spoofs' should be illegal

Taser inquiry delays wrong

Harper government policies could hurt First Nations

Premier using cash to fend off fears


ISSUES

ABORIGINAL AFFAIRS -          
AFN meddling blamed for exit of commission's chairman


AFGHANISTAN -
Rattled by rumour
Jihadists alarmed at the thought of a Taleban peace deal

Pakistan to arm anti-Taliban militias

Pakistan school

Kandahar's police chief in denial: residents
http://www.nationalpost.com/todays_paper/story.html?id=901753

Hot air and improbable peace
Asia Times (10/23/2008)

An Old Afghanistan Hand Offers Lessons of the Past
The New York Times (10/23/2008)

Connecting geopolitical dots
The Washington Times (10/23/2008)

Security concerns over voter registration process
IRIN (10/23/2008)

Death stalks the highway to hell
Asia Times (10/23/2008)

Afghans to Karzai: You failed us
The Christian Science Monitor (10/22/2008)

CANADIAN FORCES
Military awaits delivery date on choppers


CANUSA/USACAN
Khadr loses 'indefinite' delay bid


ECONOMIC AFFAIRS
Economy on edge of recession: Bank of Canada
http://www.reportonbusiness.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081023.wboc1023/BNStory/Business/home

Economy to rebound by 2010: Bank of Canada

Canada oil sands projects revamped as crude slides


HEALTH CARE RELATED
Boys need HPV vaccine, too


POLITICS IN THE PROVINCES
National Assembly theatrics might be setting stage for election call. MORE...

2 ADQ members defect to Charest's Liberals

Quebec Liberals hatch plan for snap election

Campbell fast-tracks tax relief, recalls legislature

NDP slams Campbell's plan, but business groups approve

B.C. to accelerate income tax cuts

Campbell fast-tracks tax relief, recalls legislature

Ontario unveils cuts, $500 million deficit

No more trying to please everyone

Provincial poobahs are reluctant to rein in careless spending as the realization Alberta's not immune to meltdown fails to sink in


POLITICAL OPINION -
Canada on brink of recession, government bolsters banks
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/reuters/081023/canada/canada_us_finance_canada

Flaherty skirts questions on deficit

Liberals pledge 'responsible' opposition

Liberals won't bring down Harper on throne speech

Liberals 'very united' despite election loss: Dion MORE...

Harper's cabinet dilemmas.. MORE...

Cabinet fever. MORE...

Taking bets on next Liberal leader MORE...

Why McKenna should run MORE ...

Liberal caucus meeting likely to be a long, unhappy affair MORE...

The Liberals must turn right," MORE...

Liberals need to find their Iowa if they hope to win.. MORE...

Breaking promises could be catching MORE...

Harper poised to make major cabinet shakeup

McKenna mum on political future

Don't write Frank McKenna off just yet

Why McKenna should run

Candidates lining up to become top Liberal

Cauchon testing Liberal leadership waters

Liberal caucus ready to turn page

Photo ID rule nixed voting 'in droves' -- May

Innocuous request denied by the Conservatives
http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cyberpresse.ca%2Factualites%2Fquebec-canada%2Fpolitique-canadienne%2F200810%2F23%2F01-32050-demande-anodine-refusee-par-les-conservateurs.php&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&sl=fr&tl=en


PROGRAMMES
Federal rule change may see farmers lose control of wheat board

Government reviewing spending plans, won't rule out deficit: Flaherty

Canadian government considers strategic options for AECL , sources say

Ottawa to guarantee inter-bank lending MORE...

Disturbing complicity on torture MORE...

Almalki feels 'betrayed' by diplomats

Canada Post planning to raise rates in 2009

RCMP watchdog still in the works after five years


PRESSURE POINTS
Green shift: a loser worldwide MORE...


OPINION AND INFORMATION
Youth crime changes worth doing MORE...

Plotting in the Liberal court

The leadership vacuum

The shameful truth

If you don't know, don't vote

This is no time for the U.S. to go wobbly on Afghanistan

Post-Kyoto clock ticking for new president


INFOS 
Les libéraux fédéraux satisfaits que Dion reste, pressés d'élire son remplaçant
http://info.branchez-vous.com/Nationales/081023/N102367AU.html

Ottawa va créer un programme temporaire de soutien aux prêts bancaires
http://info.branchez-vous.com/Nationales/081023/N102363AU.html

L'Ontario encourra un déficit de 500 millions $, dit le ministre des Finances
http://info.branchez-vous.com/Nationales/081022/N1022187AU.html

Les conservateurs fédéraux préparent le terrain pour un retour aux déficits
http://info.branchez-vous.com/Nationales/081022/N1022199AU.html

Les négos avec les talibans seulement dans le cadre de la Constitution
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/international/moyen-orient/200810/23/01-32194-les-negos-avec-les-talibans-seulement-dans-le-cadre-de-la-constitution.php

Demande anodine refusée par les conservateurs
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/actualites/quebec-canada/politique-canadienne/200810/23/01-32050-demande-anodine-refusee-par-les-conservateurs.php

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)

Take a look at these:

The Awakening in Iraq

An Afghanistan Awakening?

on this

http://www.google.ca

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From: "Ian Berg"
Subject: The Progressive Canadian Party

The Progressive Canadian Party ran less than half as many candidates in Election 2008 than Election 2006 and won 8, 231 fewer votes for a total of 5,920 (which is less than Christian Heritage, Marxist-Leninist or Liberatarian parties).   The PCP's star candidate was an Elvis impersonator.  It's leader Sinclair Stevens was invisible during the 2008 campaign.  When is the PCP going to fold and just encourage its supporters to vote ABC strategically?
 
Ian Berg
Calgary, Alberta

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From: "Peter Robertson"

Joe,
 
                By way of a response to Ian Berg, I must agree that the performance of the Progressive Canadian Party has been disappointing.  The party started its life with an angry and enthusiastic group who were outraged by the Reform Party's takeover of the old Progressive Conservative Party.  Since then, however, it seems to have lost direction and a sense of purpose.
 
                Personally, I cannot abide some of the neo-cons who inhabit the present Conservative Party.  My dislike of these people has led me to cast my ballot elsewhere, regardless of the fact that Harper has now "won" two elections.   I refuse to associate with, or work with, troglodytes and dinosaurs, and I make this comment after having listened to many Conservative party proceedings.   I have had enough of their sotto voce mutterings about minorities and their whistful whingeing for the days of Diefenbaker.
 
                There is probably a place for a truly moderate Red Tory party in Canada.  It will never form a government, but it might well influence the formation of governments.  The PCP, however, needs a realistic platform, a formalized structure, an organizational drive, extensive fundraising, and manifest enthusiasm in order to become a force in Canadian politics.  At present, it lacks all of those things, and if it cannot organize itself effectively, its adherents should give up the fight and support other, more coherent parties.
 
Peter Robertson.

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From: "Suan H.Booiman"
Subject: the lesser

Joe,
 
The suggestion to have a discussion on the future of the PCP seems such
a waste of time the White Rock Candidate had 272 from his large family.
John A died years back so live for the future, which is the voice of the people.
Without the Bloc Harper has a majority, time to say good bye to them.
 
Suan

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From: Gord Hill,  PCParty Candidate

Dear Mr. Berg,
 
    As a candidate in this past election; I can assure you, that I have never felt as positive about our position as a party and for the need of the Progressive Canadian Party to be active and alive. We have lost many of the basic entitlements that make our country safe, secure and ours. These entitlements were fought for with the blood of our forefathers and should not be abandoned without a fight by us, for our sons and daughters. We must come out of the darkness and into the open free to decide our own future.
 
    Gord Hill
    PCParty Candidate
    Hamilton East - Stoney Creek

===================================
From: "Brian D. Marlatt" <pcpartysswrc@3web.net>
Subject: A PC Party candidate replies

Rebuilding the Progressive Conservative legacy is happening, one step at a time and while I understand that it is in the CPC/Reform Pary interest to disparage Tory accomplishments they need first to explain why anyone would believe they have a mandate - only 22% of the eligible electorate gave them their support and the legality of the election is being challenged before the courts (will it be thrown out?).  Why would Canadians trust Harper and the Reform/CPC (they are so interchangeable)?  They are not even honest about who they are.
 
What did I achieve as a PC Party progressive-conservative? I asked hard questions, kept the progressive-conservative vision alive knowing that reconsideration of the Reform Party's right-wing "alliance" will need to happen before positive political realignment can happen. I stood up for the Confederation vision of Canada as one Canada, not an alliance of provinces. I was able to be a spokesperson for important issues, on the arts embattled by those who do not understand their importance to the soul of any people, to speak in aid of children and families who are struggling alone with autism and who feel abandoned by those in government who have not lived up to the promise of universal health care.

I was mentioned in a dozen articles, at length, and a smaller number of letters locally, as well as an election day Vancouver Sun letter on autism, a televised debate, was interviewed on student radio twice, and was given 60 seconds on Reform Party-friendly talk radio to make my case.  Key Media Releases were distributed nationally and are found at www.progressivecanadian.ca .  I appeared in five or six published photographs (it is a little strange to be recognized on the street, though). For all of that, I received slightly fewer votes than last time in which I was interviewed once and referred to only twice.   It is a base for the future.  I was not surprised to see the genuine Tory vote bleed away to the Greens and Liberals in either protest against the CPC or ABC strategic voting, as per the text of the note cited below. Subsequently, I have been interviewed post-election for an election roundup article that will include an election night photograph of my watching the results and was asked if I will run again.

Reason for concern: Stephen Harper's neo Conservatives have isolated Canada on the world stage. Will they understand that the neoconservative agenda is yesterday's agenda - it was always the wrong agenda, of course - that the financial crisis confronting the world originates in the neoconservatism they have borrowed from the far right of the American Republicans, the Bush agenda of libertarianism, laissez-faire irresponsible corporate tax cuts and deregulation? Will they understand they do not have mandate to change how Canada is governed? The senate, the courts, the relationship between Canada and its provinces have all been called into question but the critical questions arising out of this was not debated across the country and, of course, would require wholesale constitutional change even if it did result in proposals for such fundamental change, if it is not to provoke a constitutional crisis. That much is clear. How many of those elected as Harper Conservatives are really old members of the Reform Party and CA? Few people, at least few people outside of old Reform ridings, understand fully that Stephen Harper is really the leader of the old Reform Party. No leader made a statement or can legitimately declare they have a gain that declares they have the confidence of Canadians. It is another minority government. Will there be another election within a year? Probably more like a year and a half.

ps: Televised debate is still online at www.pasifik.ca, local election articles are still online, although I admit Shannon Tobin got better coverage on CBC and I should not have declined, uncertain about the quality of my French, to be interviewed by Radio-Canada International...and we did get good coverage locally, while the CPC candidate failed to show for debates (even claiming organizers were "anti-Conservative" - news to me as a PC Party progressive-conservative who was received very well), and I was not surprised to see the genuine Tory vote bleed away to the Greens and Liberals in either protest or ABC strategic voting, as per the note referenced above and cited below:

"Brian, just a note to say how much I enjoyed listening to your views during the election. I supported the Liberal candidate because I thought she had the best chance of defeating Harper. Although I did not cast my vote for you, I found your views intelligent and enlightened.

Despite the troublesome microphone issues, your knowledge and forward thinking came through loud and clear. I want to congratulate you on your efforts. Too often, the best people don't win. Please know, however, that your passion for Canada was noticed and appreciated.

Regards, ...."

A letter of thanks to the local paper:

The editor,

I would like to thank those who supported my campaign during the election and the Peace Arch News for its fair and balanced coverage. It is a challenge to stand for election without a large party organization today, more so than in anytime in Canadian parliamentary history. This is because political movements today are driving politics in Canada even more than party politics ever did; even the "party man" plays second fiddle to the righteous "true believer" of the political movement. And, yet, in our parliamentary democracy at its best, we are allowed the privilege of electing Members of Parliament for whom all Canadians are our constituents, not just fellow "true believers," and all of Canada is our constituency, not just local electors, to which we serve. It is in this spirit that I let my name stand.

I am pleased, too, that I was allowed to give voice to the concerns of those whose issues arose during the course of the election. I think especially of those in the arts and cultural communities who have seen their means and freedom of expression challenged in recent times and also of the children and families who feel abandoned by both the provincial and federal governments for their apparent unwillingness to apply the principles of universal health care and the Canada Health Act to the needs of children with Autism: political will, good will, and persuasion are the means to overcome any marginal constitutional barriers to aiding these truly worthy families and children.

I would like to thank, also, all of the people of this riding who did not vote for me for taking the time to listen to my voice.

Respectfully,

Brian Marlatt

===================================
From: "Phyllis Wagg"
Subject: For the DD

Where are we going?
 
Today we have a government run by a political party which has characterized itself as the party of "free enterprise, free markets and free trade."  One of the most prominent advocates of that ideology had been Alan Greenspan.  Note that I use the past tense.  As head of the U.S. Fed he has been one of the most influential individuals in promoting free market ideology in the United States.
 
Greenspan, a student and supporter of Ayn Rand, wrote in The Objectivist Newsletter, August 1963:
 
"Protection of the consumer against 'dishonest and unscrupulous business practices' has become a cardinal ingredient of welfare statism.  Left to their own devices, it is alleged, businessmen would attempt to sell unsafe food and drugs, fraudulent securities, and shoddy buildings.  Thus, it is argued, the Pure Food and Drug Administration, the Securities and Exchange Commission, and the numerous building regulatory agencies are indispensable if the consumer is to be protected from the 'greed' of the businessman.
 
But it is precisely the 'greed' of the businessman or, more appropriately, his profit-seeking, which is the unexcelled protector of the consumer."
 
Our current Prime Minister echoed this concept in an article in the Report Magazine, June 2003 when he wrote:  "Private enterprise and trade… can turn individual selfishness into useful social outcomes."
 
Today our "free market" government has announced that it will be taking on further economic risk to shore up a financial system shattered by the impact of "fraudulent securities."   At the same time Greenspan has finally seen the light.  According to Martin Crutsinger of Associated Press, Greenspan, in his evidence before the House Oversight Committee, said that he and others are in a "state of shocked disbelief."  They believed that the free market would ensure that lending institutions did a good job of protecting their shareholders.
 
Henry Waxman, Committee Chair, suggested:  "Our regulators became enablers rather than enforcers.  Their trust in the wisdom of the markets was infinite.  The mantra became that government regulation is wrong.  The market is infallible." 
 
It was rather pathetic to see Stephen Harper arguing that this government's action to shore up the banks was a "market based transaction."  When governments bailout corporations with public funds this is not a market based solution but government intervention in the marketplace on behalf of private interests.
 
The question is where the government will go from here.  Will it try to maintain its naïve belief in the infallibility of the market or will it move further into the form of corporate fascism which has been unleashed as governments across the globe become the head waiters to financial interests or will they seek another solution to the current crisis?

===================================
From: "Rene Moreau" <rtmoreau@sympatico.ca>
Subject: Emailing: To AllFYI re; 5th column and the prevalence thereof

To Fred Kuntz,
Toronto Star
Editor in Chief
To All-----FYI

re; 5^th column ploy and the prevalence there-of.

    Over and over again, we keep seeing incidences where the military ploy 5^th column, is being used by corporations to gain influence into our government, businesses, associations, watchdogs (regulators etc.) The results show almost every day in the news.

    By way of simplifying the description of  '5th column', the story is told of how Franco, in the Spanish civil war, was attacking a Spanish city with 4 columns of men. Where was the 5th column, you might ask? They were IN the city, impersonating city dwellers and working for Franco, from the inside. Like convincing the populace to give up rather than resist 4 columns of men, and undermining the defences. This particular ploy has become 'astute business practice', in the quest  to gain more power for corporate entities.

    For example, when the Finance Minister, Mr. Flaherty, comes out with a pronouncement lately, it is usually pro-corporate, like cutting their taxes or helping the financial business with taxpayers' money. This is not by accident. Yet we put nothing that I have seen, in the papers, of the dangers there-in. Sure we talk of lobbyists, but when the immediate management can 'handle' a minister, or management, to that level and we won't address the issue, do we not have a problem?

    When, for instance, the Investment Dealers Association is made SELF-REGULATING and hedge funds are left unregulated, (that is changing in Europe at least) and no one knows who let it happen, we should be concerned, right? In Europe, they realized that, all of a sudden, they had an entity called the Financial Services Authority to supposedly 'watch' for the kind of things that we're seeing now, world-wide. They were watching themselves! You can be quite sure this was done from inside government, there and here.

    Why else would we see the big push for privatization, getting implemented, despite the apt phrase 'Privatize the profits, socialize the debt', where we the taxpayers's foot the bill while the corporate world skims the profits?

Please, address the issue, openly, in print. Such ploys  work really well in the dark, not in the light.

Rene Moreau (416-489-8347)
219 Bowood Ave.
Toronto Ont. M4N1Y7

===================================
From: Stewart Sinclair
Subject: to laugh

Subprime crisis explanation by The Long Johns
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-oIMJMGd1Q

Bird and Fortune - Financial Adviser
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXBcmqwTV9s&feature=related

Bremner, Bird, and Fortune: George Parr (Army)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3pcePHasv5w

Bird and Fortune (Washington Diplomat)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BiQGaE5j2k&feature=related

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