Sunday, October 5, 2008

Daily Digest October 5, 2008


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

EDITORIALs

MONTREAL GAZETTE -
Changes are needed to improve life for anglos

CALGARY HERALD -
Turn focus to the Arctic, not puffins

VANCOUVER PROVINCE -
Whack-a-mole format fails to inform voters

VICTORIA TIMES-COLONIST -
Fishery needs better supervision


ISSUES

AFGHANISTAN -
Petraeus focuses his sights on Afghanistan
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/subscriber/westview/story/4234829p-4876798c.html

War on Taliban cannot be won, says U.K. army chief. MORE...

Canada's $22-billion little war must give way to a negotiated peace settlement
http://www.ottawasun.com/Comment/2008/10/05/6981176-sun.html

 Officials: Taliban Angry Over Alleged U.S. Strike

Relentless Taliban just keep coming


CANUSA/USACAN
The Great Wall of the United States
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081003.wcoessay1004/BNStory/specialComment/home

Georges Bank drilling unlikely anytime soon


ECONOMIC AFFAIRS
Expert advice: Tips to recession-proof your finances
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20081003/recession_proofing_081003/20081004?hub=Canada

So much for the 'free' market. Now what?

Corporate Canada's ladies of the night

Turmoil highlights our vulnerability

Finance sector bailout blues


HEALTH CARE RELATED
Wait-time insurance condemned as latest assault on public health care http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/081005/national/wait_time_insurance


OPINION AND INFORMATION
Two leaders at odds on how the world should view Canada

The biggest losers in this campaign? You and me

The American people and their irreconcilable differences

Not voting? Maybe you shouldn't
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/subscriber/westview/story/4234827p-4876787c.html


INFOS 
Des promesses conservatrices font rager libéraux et bloquistes
http://info.branchez-vous.com/Nationales/081004/N100429AU.html

Harper dit qu'il ne faut pas paniquer, ses adversaires répètent qu'il faut agir
http://info.branchez-vous.com/Nationales/081003/N1003135AU.html

Jim Flaherty soutient que les propriétaires canadiens vont bien s'en tirer
http://info.branchez-vous.com/Nationales/081003/N1003105AU.html

Vote par anticipation
Congestion à l'isoloir
http://elections.radio-canada.ca/elections/federales2008/2008/10/04/008-vote-anticip-congestion.shtml

Harper: «Il n'y a pas de crise économique au Canada»
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/actualites/elections-2008/partis/parti-conservateur/200810/04/01-26436-harper-il-ny-a-pas-de-crise-economique-au-canada.php

Dion démolit le plan conservateur sur l'Arctique
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/actualites/elections-2008/partis/parti-liberal/200810/05/01-26537-dion-demolit-le-plan-conservateur-sur-larctique.php

 Pas de reconnaissance de la nation acadienne au Parlement


Économie: les conservateurs passent à l'attaque

 Un acteur du scandale des commandites conseille les conservateurs

Concerns about economy dominate campaign all 1,498 news articles » 
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20081002/election2008_Atlantic_campaign_081004/20081005?s_name=election2008

Harper's chance for a majority falls: poll
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/canada/election-2008/story.html?id=859048
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)

No recognition of the Acadian nation in Parliament
http://74.125.93.104/translate_c?hl=en&sl=fr&tl=en&u=http://www.cyberpresse.ca/actualites/elections-2008/partis/parti-conservateur/200810/04/01-26370-pas-de-reconnaissance-de-la-nation-acadienne-au-parlement.php&usg=ALkJrhg3h_B4MpZ_TU6zSx2HlTHzVtNrNw

Interesting in that the Acadian Nation (in terms of nationa as a cultural group) pre-dated the Quebecois.  Of course
while Parliament's recognition of "la nation québécoise" properly refers to a Canada wide distinctive cultural group having a common language and history it can and is merchandised as recognition of Quebec as a political nation.

Recognizing the reality of the Acadian nation has no benefit of such political double entendre attached to it

There may be those who disagree. Someone sent this analysis of the stock market. Is there anyone who can interpret it from the viewpoint of an investor?
Subject: On Harper's Watch...
This graphic is as of the close of trading on Friday.
http://64.21.147.48/tv-20081004-001513.gif

 «¤»¥«¤»«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»

Subject: Re: Daily Digest October 4, 2008
From: "Michael Watkins"

> alan heisey wrote:
> this is blatant hurtigian class warfare in which he accuses our country's
> big business leaders as less concerned for the country's wellbeing that the
> likes of mel.

I'm not a Hurtigian or Orchardist, yet I have legitimate concerns about
our ability to assert sovereignty over our nation in an every expanding
sphere of influence emanating outward from Washington. My concerns are
rational and not misplaced.

Looking past the basics of business and day to day life which are not
terribly different here than in the U.S., there remains in Canada a
different ethos here worth protecting for our country and culture.

That ethos is less present in business having by circumstance less than
design dumbed down or otherwise brought to near the lowest common
denominator by the reality of global trade.

Having witnessed what an unelected Cabinet in the U.S. can accomplish over
two terms - launching without legitimate reason a war more costly than
World War I and on track to become the most costly ever in history. That
cabinet and president quite possibly will have bring the world economy to
its knees; for certain it has brought it to the brink.

Much of the ills perpetrated on the world and domestic stage have been
permitted to grow and fester because of a lack of transparency and
democracy.

Business leaders pull their pants on like all of us do. But they get
caught up in their own subculture and the pressures of the market to churn
out ever increasing returns. There are some forces at work of a
generational nature that are going to stress severely our economic
performance. Business leaders being compensated as they are will naturally
look for other avenues to pursue their objectives. Like water or
electricity which tries to find the easy route home, the corporate body
will seek easy solutions.

The easy solution is perceived as union.

I don't know about you but I bet hundreds of thousands of regular folks
with pensions and RRSP's and investments in the market or in their homes
are going to be feeling mighty sick when they look at their next
statements of house assessments.

Those folks might do well to consider that harmonizing our business
environment with that of a nation which is this close to putting theirs in
a coma, if not to death... well perhaps being "conservative" and going it
our own way just might appeal.

Of course ultimately that's not the sort of conservatism Mr. Harper preaches.

We've got a good thing going here and a spirit and way of life and doing
things that is different. We should seek to preserve those differences,
not flatten them out.

If that makes me sound like Hurtig, so be it.

Shine a spotlight on what corporate and "conservative" (Manley counts)
Canada are up to, and if the idea is sound it will shine, not melt, under
the light of scrutiny.

Our country continues to move in a direction where transparency and
democracy are threatened. We've seen precedents set or reinforced by
Harper (and by PM's before him) that result in more power being
concentrated in the PMO and persona of the Prime Minister than even the
White House and President can claim to. But Harper is a control
centralizer on steroids. We've seen Harper notch away at parliamentary
norms - calling everything a confidence vote, for example; we've seen
Harper usurp the votes of a riding; we've seen Harper appoint to cabinet
via the Senate someone despite having informed French language TV viewers
that he didn't believe in such moves. Emerson and Fortier appointments
might as well have been Rice and Rumsfeld for all the democracy involved
in the process: the precedents set undermine our representative form of
government which isn't enshrined so much in statute as it is by precedent.

Without transparency people are justifiably surmising the corporate
agenda/Conservative platform is essentially "daddy knows best".

Daddy knows best isn't working out very well for America.

===================================
From: "Rebecca Gingrich"
Subject: [On-Guard] Just what we need?

 http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/sports/canadian-leader-backs-visa-office-in-mumbai-official-status-for-punjabi_100101325.html
Canadian leader backs visa office in Mumbai, official status for Punjabi
September 29th, 2008 - 1:32 pm ICT by IANS -

Toronto, Sep 29 (IANS) Canadian opposition leader Jack Layton has promised
support for a new visa office in Mumbai and official status for the Punjabi
language in Canada if he becomes prime minister after the Oct 14 polls.Jack,
whose New Democratic Party (NDP) has fielded a record 14 Indian Canadian
candidates to woo the million-strong community, said his party will also
roll back a newly passed immigration bill that the community finds
discriminatory.

India will be a priority nation for his government if it comes to power and
he will visit New Delhi at the earliest, Layton told IANS in an interview.

Layton noted that given the increasing influence of India in the
international business and political realms and the increasing number of
immigration applications in India, "it would only make sense to expand our
diplomatic and administrative presence in India.

"A visa office in Mumbai is one way that increased presence could be
realized and my party government will be open to studying the merits of this
proposal," Layton added.

He said that if he becomes prime minister, "I would look forward to visiting
India early in my term to discuss a variety of opportunities that exist to
strengthen ties between our countries".

Layton also made clear his displeasure over a new bill that nixes India's
chances of becoming the number one source of immigration to Canada.

"When the Conservative government tried to sneak through unfair changes to
our immigration system, my party stood up and said no. We were very
disappointed that other opposition Liberal Party did not stand with us and
instead abstained and let Prime Minister Harper get his way. The only way to
stop these changes is to send more NDP MPs to parliament," he contended.

Noting that the NDP had a "better plan" to ensure fairness, boost Canada's
productivity and ease family reunification, Layton added: "My party launched
the Creating Fair Opportunities plan to recognize foreign professionals. We
fought for ending end punishing processing fees on refugees and immigrant
women and children escaping domestic violence.

"We tabled legislation to allow any citizen or landed immigrant to sponsor
one family member from outside the family classification for immigration,"
he pointed out.

Layton replied in the affirmative when asked whether he would support
demands that Punjabi, which the latest census says is the fastest growing
language in Canada, be given official status.

"We are aware of the growing number of Punjabi-speaking Canadians and
appreciate their rich legacy to Canadian history. We are committed to having
their valuable contribution recognized by Canada.

"This includes ensuring services in Punjabi, recognizing it as being the
fourth most spoken language in Canada. Already, we have seen some cities and
municipalities putting up street signs and store signs in Punjabi.

There is also a rise in the number of public schools and universities
offering courses in Punjabi. We welcome it and will encourage more such
initiatives," Layton said.

===================================
From: Randall Garth McGunigal

Hi Joe,

I'm attaching a letter to the editor  which I hope will be published here in Winnipeg before the election.  Don't know if you've room to add subscribers' contributions during the election period, but feel free to post this if you like.

Cheers,
_______________________

Clever politics and good government are not one and the same thing. Mr Harper, in this campaign and the previous one, has sprinkled various tax cuts and tax credits to various groups. Seniors, transit riders, families with children under six years and other groups have been targeted in this manner.

If you find yourself in one of these favoured groups, you might want to start putting those new dollars in the bank and save them up to buy private medical insurance. Mr Harper cannot come out and say that he is fundamentally opposed to the idea of a publicly-funded health care system. That would be political suicide, and he is too clever for that. However, even a quick glance at his public record of writings and speeches shows that Medicare goes against everything that he believes in.

Mr Harper served two terms as leader of the National Citizens Coalition, an organization which views government programs, funded by taxation and shared among Canadians, as an evil, an infringement on individual freedoms.

Few Canadians are aware that the National Citizens Coalition is an organization which was founded by a wealthy Ontario businessman in the sixties specifically as a protest against the introduction of Medicare in Canada.

If Mr Harper is given another mandate in the October 14th election, especially a majority, can he be trusted to enforce the Canada Health Act and keep our public health care system intact? Can he be trusted to resist the pressures from the private, for-profit sector to allow the introduction of private medical health services , funded by private insurance companies? Not likely, as he is a fervent believer in the free market and the private sector as opposed to any public sector involvement.

Can he be trusted to assert the federal power to discourage any province from allowing private health care to gain a foothold in its domain? Again, not likely. In his short time in power, he has profoundly weakened the federal government's ability to act in the interests of all Canadians and ceded huge chunks of power to the provinces.

Mr Harper's ideology would put at risk Medicare, the publicly-funded program most valued by Canadians. He has shown us clearly over the past two years in power that he will tolerate no opposition to his aims. As he said of supporters of the Wheat Board, who are resisting his questionable tactics to destroy that institution, "they will get walked over".

If you value Medicare, think carefully before casting your vote.

Randall McGunigal
Winnipeg, MB

===================================
From: "Robert Ede"
To:"Pierre Bourque" <pierre@bourque.com>,       torstar <lettertoed@thestar.ca>
Subject: Re: Ray Heard Letter on Bourque.com
Cc: "Thornhill Richmond Hill Liberal" <newsroom@theliberal.com>,
        
Dear Mr Heard,
 
In my opinion, your spendid and enthusiastic endorsement of Peter Kent letter neglects one point (on Bourque.com).
 
If we elect a Reform/Provincialist Party v.3 ("My province first, or else") candidate in Thornhill we will be increasing the probability of Mr Harper gaining a majority of members in the assembly that constitutes the lowest order of our four-part Confederal governance system.
 
I might take the chance on booting out the bumbling, iincumbent MP, in favour of your notably more-qualified friend Mr Kent:
 
-if ... we had a Senate that the public supported as an (at least) Equal legislative body (it IS termed the "Upper" House and in some ways is constituted as 'superior' to the Commons -min. age; net-worth, property-ownership qualifications/disqualifications; special oath)
 
OR

-if ... we had (as written in s.11 within the Part III, Executive Power ) an independent (of the Cabinet cabal) Privy Council advising the Governor General,
 
OR

-if ... we had a Governor General who's constitutional mandate to veto (as an individual, s.12) any Bill was publicly supported;
 
AND/OR

-if ... we had an individual occupying the GG's office who was not afraid to exercise that office's mandate and NOT accept the advice of His/Her Prime Minister (ie "just say No PM - pls come up with another idea for my consideration") and thereby educate the dear, sweet, blindly-trusting, nescient-to-history/constitutional-facts Canadian public (actually subjects of the Crown) to the true hierarchy of Executive (ie NOT legislative) power in Canada.
 
BUT ... since we are NOT following these totally-appropriate, checks-and-balancing provisions of the as-written BNA/Constitution 1867, but instead are following the "political conventions" established by the RT Hon Wm L M King in retaliation for his humiliation suffered in the King-Byng Affair, ... I DARE NOT risk placing any more power in the hands of the Rt Hon Stevie (arbitrary use of power? ...you ain't seen nuthin' yet, heh, heh, heh) Harper, BECAUSE once any PM is in majority, there is just no stopping him/her.
 
So with ideological regrets and apologies to Mr Kent, I'll vote FOR Ms Kadis as the best way available to me to stop the Provincialist agenda of Stephen Harper, his handlers and his financial backers. 
 
I write this based on my experience as leader of a Referendum Committee (1992-NO), a former Candidate 1993 (Libertarian) and 2006 (Ind), a former member of the PC party (1995-00) and a current Thornhill resident.

--
Robert (Rob) Ede,
25 Dersingham Cres
Thornhill ON
L3T 4P5

===================================
From: "Jacob Rempel"
To: "DAILY DIGEST"
Subject: http://therealnews.com/t/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=31&Itemid=74&jumival=2450


Joe,

I think this may interest you and your readers

…JR


Massive US military budget passed

Chalmers Johnson: US wrong to believe it can maintain both a military and civilian economy
  http://therealnews.com/t/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=31&Itemid=74&jumival=2450

===================================
From: Charles Tupper
Subject: The Corporate Takeover of Canada



The Corporate Takeover of Canada

Dana Gabriel - October 3, 2008

Stephen Harper recently announced that if re-elected he will begin further removing barriers to foreign investment in the airline and uranium sectors. His plan is based on proposals set forth by the Competition Review Panel. Harper stayed clear of other more controversial recommendations from the panel, such as allowing bank mergers and opening up Canada's telecommunications to further foreign investment. You can bet that if the Conservatives are able to secure a majority government, more of these recommendations will be implemented. The corporate agenda is further shaping public policy. Big business is a driving force behind the Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP), and deeper integration into a North American Union. Trade agreements, such as NAFTA, ultimately benefit multinational corporations at the expense of workers and the environment.

In June, the Competition Review Panel released their report, Compete to Win. It went well beyond its original mandate of competition and investment policy, delivering a full corporate economic plan. They called for a major overhaul in competition rules in the airline and uranium sectors, as well as broadcasting and telecommunications. The report also proposed ending the prohibition on bank mergers and called upon Canadians to adapt a more globally competitive mindset. It was welcomed by many in the business community, with some even stating that the panel didn't go far enough. Many believe that, once implemented, these recommendations will boost the standard of living and improve Canada's economy. Others have described the report as self-serving, with the purpose of creating an even more favorable climate for foreign corporations to operate inside the country.

The panel completely ignores the problems associated with globalization, and in turn offers more as the solution to Canada's economic woes. Louis Erlichman, the research director for the IAMAW, said, "The Panel calls for further dismantling of Canada's virtually non-existent controls on foreign investment. Canada has long been one of the world's most open and foreign-dominated economies." He went on to say, "the Panel proposes weakening the Competition Act and the Competition Bureau to make it even easier for corporations to cut deals and fix prices." Many believe that instead of further deregulation and privatization, there needs to be more limits placed on foreign ownership.

It is through globalization that corporations have further strengthened their power and grip over our lives. In her book, The Quick and the Dead, bestselling author Linda McQuaig says, "The concept of Globalization was a particularly important strategy in Canada , where there was really little else to help in selling the public on the changes business wanted." NAFTA symbolizes a major move towards globalization, and it has furthered enabled corporations to take advantage of the lack of labor rights and environmental standards in some poorer countries. It has also granted new corporate investment rights and protections, which in some cases gives U.S. and Mexican investors more rights than Canadian citizens. Chapter 11 of NAFTA gives corporations the right to sue governments if they feel that their investments have been restricted. Corporations have used this new found power to challenge national and domestic laws, as well as governmental decisions.

In their report, the Competition Review Panel also acknowledged the SPP's progress as being too slow. The SPP has received mixed reviews, with many in the business community disappointed that their recommendations are not being implemented fast enough. The SPP is the brain child of the business elite, and it has been dominated by corporate interests. It has carried on where NAFTA left off. In June of 2006, the North American Competitiveness Council (NACC) was created, and it includes some of the top North American corporations. The NACC's function is to ensure that corporate concerns are being addressed inside the SPP framework. In April of 2008, they released their report, Meeting the Global Challenge. Perhaps sensing the demise of the SPP, the report stated, "No matter what form the partnership may take, the experience of the NACC over the past two years demonstrates the clear benefits of the close cooperation on both strategic and specific issues among North America 's business communities, as well as its governments." What ever direction deeper continental integration may take us in, rest assured that big business will have a seat at the table and will be calling the shots.

Some of the recommendations from the Compete to Win report have become key elements of the Conservatives election campaign. Only days after the election on October 14, Canada is set to enter into negotiations with the European Union in regards to deeper economic integration. Another minority government might serve Canada well, keeping the government in check. It is not just the takeover of Canada, trade deals such as NAFTA have also allowed corporations to go more global in their quest for increased profits. It is obvious that Harper fully embraces the principles of globalization, and with him as Prime Minister, the corporate takeover of Canada will only continue.

Tags: Canada, Globalism, Globalization, NAFTA, North American Union, SPP

===================================
From: "Rick Blakeley"
Subject: RE: Daily Digest

Hi Joe,
I have been enjoying your newsletter for some time and have found that it is one of the most informative pieces of email in my inbox.  It is time to thank you and let you know that your work is appreciated.
Thank you very much for distilling the news and providing it in this forum.  At election time it is particularly critical for us to get the big picture as well as the details.  You seem to be able to capture all of that and more.
Thanks again.
Regards,
Rick

=====
. . .many thanks.
===================================
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