The DAILY DIGEST: INFORMATION and OPINION from ST. JOHN'S to VICTORIA.
ARCHIVED at http://cdndailydigest.blogspot.com/
EDITORIALs ARCHIVED at http://cdndailydigest.blogspot.com/
ST.JOHN'S TELEGRAM -
Time for homework
Georgian - Stephenville,Newfoundland,Canada
Who's who
http://www.thegeorgian.ca/index.cfm?sid=178308&sc=338
CHARLOTTETOWN GUARDIAN -
Encouraging our future leaders
Each generation produces leaders, but they need inspiration and mentoring to develop their skills
MONTREAL GAZETTE -
Margaret Atwood's narcissism is cosmic in scale
OTTAWA CITIZEN -
Virtual medicine
Enough with the jetsetting
KINGSTON WHIG STANDARD-
Party leaders have a workable economic plan, don't they?
BELLEVILLE INTELLIGENCER -
America's financial meltdown is not a tragedy, it's a farce
First Nations issues need to be addressed
TORONTO STAR -
Ontario snubbed by Harper, again
Elusive Afghan victory
Inspecting in the dark
K-W RECORD -
Free trade is not the enemy
SUDBURY STAR -
Tame screams for government action
CALGARY HERALD -
Succour for the enemy
EDMONTON JOURNAL -
RCMP should treat public with more openness, respect
VANCOUVER SUN -
We have blessings to count as we prepare for a wild financial ride
Why sleep is, or should be, making a workplace comeback
VICTORIA TIMES-COLONIST -
Secrecy fuels concern about U.S.-Canada 'partnership'
ISSUES
AFGHANISTAN -
US renounces Afghan 'defeatism'
US Defence Secretary Robert Gates has rejected as "defeatist" a comment by a top British commander in Afghanistan that the war there cannot be won. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7656101.stm
Taliban have not split from al Qaeda: sources
http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2008/10/taliban_have_not_spl.php
Look who came to dinner ...
A fatal flaw in Afghan peace process
Can't defeat Taliban in Afghanistan, PM admits
ECONOMIC AFFAIRS
Get out the hankies
PM considers plan to 'stabilize' banks
http://www.nationalpost.com/todays_paper/story.html?id=865482
Economic experts lay out options for Ottawa
http://www.nationalpost.com/todays_paper/story.html?id=865519
Canadian Banks `Highly Capitalized,' Deposit Agency Says
FOREIGN AFFAIRS
Immunity for US troops a barrier in Iraq talks
HEALTH CARE RELATED
Inspectors fear repeat of listeriosis outbreak
Pneumonia vaccine cuts heart attack risk
POLITICS IN THE PROVINCES
N.L. can still rely on high oil prices, for now, economist says
Jean Charest will block any unilateral reform of the Senate
http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Finfo.branchez-vous.com%2FNationales%2F081006%2FN100656AU.html&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&sl=fr&tl=en
POLITICAL OPINION -
Are you a political junkie?
Test your political knowlege with the Globe's election quizAs D-Day approaches, should the leaders be playing offence or defence, going to places they are afraid of losing or places they hope to win? Our strategists weigh in. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081007.wpaperstrat07/BNStory/politics/?page=rss&id=RTGAM.20081007.wpaperstrat07
Cost of their proposals
Anything but a Harper majority
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081006.WAtwood07/BNStory/politics/home
Duceppe's game plan is a chip off the old Bloc - and it's working
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081006.welectionyakabuski1007/BNStory/specialComment/home
Real Stephen Harper remains elusive
Bulking up Pentagon North
Candidates take on absent incumbent
http://www.thedailyobserver.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1235697
The anti-Harper anthem in English Canada
http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ledevoir.com%2F2008%2F10%2F07%2F209498.html&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&sl=fr&tl=en
In brief - The silence imposed
http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ledevoir.com%2F2008%2F10%2F07%2F209500.html&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&sl=fr&tl=en
Do you really want more of this?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBrURinFPMU
PROGRAMMES
Cost of their proposals
Harper cancels controversial arts funding restrictions MORE...
Tories woo manufacturing, vow to remake Senate
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081007.welxntoryplatform1007/BNStory/Front
Quebec, Ontario swing against Tories
PRESSURE POINTS
Time to Adapt as Earth Warms Up, Scientists Say (Update2)
OPINION AND INFORMATION
Our best defence
INFOS
Jean Charest bloquera une éventuelle réforme unilatérale du Sénat
http://info.branchez-vous.com/Nationales/081006/N100656AU.html
Réforme du Sénat et demandes du Québec - Charest essuie deux rebuffades de Harper
http://www.ledevoir.com/2008/10/07/209507.html
Harper tente de rassurer les Canadiens
http://www.ledevoir.com/2008/10/07/209505.html
L'état de l'économie rattrape la campagne de Harper et alimente ses adversaires
http://info.branchez-vous.com/Nationales/081006/N100696AU.html
La question afghane reprend sa place dans la campagne électorale
http://info.branchez-vous.com/Nationales/081005/N100559AU.html
Julie Couillard
Elle persiste et signe
http://www.radio-canada.ca/nouvelles/National/2008/10/06/002-couillard-entrevue.shtml
Listériose
Des changements inquiétants
http://www.radio-canada.ca/nouvelles/societe/2008/10/06/001-listeriose-lundi.shtml
Afghanistan
Harper n'envisage pas de victoire militaire
http://www.radio-canada.ca/nouvelles/International/2008/10/06/004-afghanistan-doute-victoire.shtml
Santé
Érosion du système public
http://www.radio-canada.ca/regions/Ontario/2008/10/06/001-erosion-sante-public_n.shtml
L'hymne anti-Harper du Canada anglais
Harper passe à l'attaque
Duceppe ouvert à des «alliances» avec le PCC
L'hymne anti-Harper du Canada anglais
Harper admet qu'il a déjà fait des erreurs de jugement
Les conservateurs continuent de perdre des appuis
Économie: au tour de Harper de paniquer, selon Dion
Investir sans causer de déficit pour sortir de la crise, dit Layton
Duceppe défend les francophones hors-Québec
Les conservateurs dévoilent leur plateformehttp://www.cyberpresse.ca/actualites/elections-2008/partis/parti-conservateur/200810/07/01-27292-les-conservateurs-devoilent-leur-plateforme.php
Latest CPAC-Nanos Daily Election Tracking
CP 34, LP 31, NDP 18, BQ 11, GP 6
Latest Harris-Decima
CP 31, LP 26, NDP 21, BQ 13, GP 8
A list of key promises in the 2008 federal election campaign
Economists say Canada is headed towards an unprecedented economic struggle
Sliding in polls, Harper unveils platform
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/081007/national/fedelxn_main
Don't switch boats in storm: Harper
Economy needs quick action, Dion says all 1,841 news articles »
Economy may cost Conservatives the election
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/reuters/081007/canada/canada_us_politics_election
Liberals mull higher deposit insurance
Harper promises C$400 mln for technology funds
Tory help for manufacturing 'desperate act' by Harper: Layton
Williams focuses Tory fight on southern Ontario, but won't campaign there
Leak of Martin memoirs sends Liberals scrambling MORE...
Could you put this in the garbage for me?'.. MORE...
Harper has the edge in economic management. MORE...
Leaders, heed this advice. MORE...
Real Stephen Harper remains elusive. MORE...
Big names may be in big trouble MORE...
Skeptics wary of data compiled on weekends MORE...
Dion defies his critics once again.. MORE...
Anything but a Harper majority. MORE...
Quebec's young Liberals are being thrown to the wolves.. MORE...
More than sweaters and satchels.. MORE...
Get out the hankies.. MORE...
PM's a pet lover? Prove it.. MORE...
Leaders look green on economy. MORE...
Harper's silence on Ontario is hurting Tories' chances. MORE...
Cannon under fire. MORE...
Bobblehead Steve pricey nod to U.S.
Weston: PM gets new look in expensive tourism marketing campaign. While Stephen Harper is campaigning as the champion of prudence in tough times, his government is merrily blowing a bundle on Bobblehead Steve. MORE...
Medicare ignored MORE...
Human rights: Pick a ruling, any ruling? MORE...
Back carbon tax, leading economists tell politicians
ABC campaign reaches Ontario
'My Story' about vindication, not revenge: Couillard
Federal race tightens as economic woes mount
End use of fossil fuels in 20 years, UK warned
Harper at risk of faltering (again) at 11th hour
Harper to unveil official Conservative platform
Harper won't rule out a deficit
Market chill hits PM
Layton: PM out of touch with worried Canadians
Harper always saying, 'don't worry, be happy,' Dion
Harper out of touch, Paul Martin says
Crisis hijacks election
Economic storm touches down
Harper has Bay St. speech today
'A lengthy recession'
World leaders struggle to agree on solutions as markets plunge sharply
Dion Plagiarism Claim Debunked
No love lost between MacKay and May
Rae takes aim at Layton
Quebec key to Tory win
Stephen Harper admits he made decisions "that Quebecers did not completely agree with" during his last mandate, but still feels that he "needs" MPs from the province in his future government.
Phone threats hit Grits
Liberal supporters in St. Paul's are facing a new intimidation tactic -- anonymous, threatening phone calls.
Liberal doubts partisan politics at root of attacks
Gerard Kennedy says he refuses to believe partisan politics are behind the spate of vandal-ism attacks on Grit supporters, most recently in his riding in Toronto's west end.
PMO didn't order report held, agency now says
A decision to withhold a report into the high-seas death of Laura Gainey while the federal election campaign is underway was incorrect and resulted from confusion over orders from the PMO
Stop-Tory site popular
Since launching a week ago, VoteForEnvironment.ca has received more than 1.2 million page views and more than a quarter of a million unique visitors.
Tory questions Liberal rival's mayoral hopes
Maurizio Bevilacqua, the veteran Liberal MP for Vaughan, has come under attack from his Conservative rival on the question of whether he intends to run for mayor of the politically troubled city two years from now.
Tory incumbent's maturity an issue
Pierre Poilievre has four years under his belt as an MP, but his age and rhetorical 'exuberance' have drawn fire from critics...
Campaign source materials under fire
As the Liberals hammer away at comparisons between Conservative leader Stephen Harper and President George W. Bush, there's something distinctly American about the ads themselves.
Long-ago Web indiscretions rise up to doom candidates
As body count grows, young and ambitious lean to hyper-cautious conduct on Internet
Rough ride for Finley during debate in Caledonia
Sask. MP passes on candidates' forum hosted by gays
Lukiwski's absence from debate upsets GLBT groups
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)
They're also promising a "Charter of Open Federalism" to enshrine the original division of powers among provinces and Ottawa. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081007.welxntoryplatform1007/BNStory/Front
They're also promising a "Charter of Open Federalism" to enshrine the original division of powers among provinces and Ottawa. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081007.welxntoryplatform1007/BNStory/Front
Not having any details at the moment, "No comment"from me.
There will be, however, in that this more than anything else affects the future of our polity.
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Subject: Re: Daily Digest October 6, 2008From: "Michael Watkins"
> Ron Thornton wrote:
> I'm not quite sure what Michael Watkins' point
> was in reply to Al Heisey, but if I read correctly he is concerned about
> the power of the PMO, for one. Mind you, for 40 years we all
> should have been concerned about the power of the PMO.
My concern over the growing power of the PMO **did not start** with
Stephen Harper's swearing in. The issue was one of the reasons I joined
the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada in the first place... to
fight against Chretien, and Martin of course, because a) Chretien was just
another one along a line of many content to build up the PMO's power vs
the power of Parliament, and b) in Martin's case, against many things
including his propensity to push billions into arms length organizations
beyond the reach of parliament.
Harper has just taken things several steps further, but with a longer
reaching objective in mind rather than just raw power collection. I could
no more support his actions than I could support Chretien or Martin's.
> While Michael seems
> concerned about unelected Cabinet ministers, such as those approved by the
> US Senate south of the line,
> having unelected Senators given a spot in the lineup in Canada is not
> exactly unprecedented. In fact, we've even had a Prime Minister who was a
> Senator.
And in this you miss my point again. We should all be concerned about the
reinforcing of bad precedents.
Reformers should be concerned that Harper used the device at all, given
their supposed genetic makeup having made them allergic to all things
senatorial.
Never before has a Prime Minister acted in such an undemocratically
reckless way so as to devalue the votes of so many, virtually the next day
after an election. If that isn't contempt of democracy, what is? We do not
hire on our cabinet in this country yet Harper has decided to set and
reinforce precedent to make it easier for himself, or some future PM, to
do just that, one day.
Clearly all the Reform / Canadian Alliance and indeed the Progressive
Conservative talk and ideals about improving our democracy were nothing
but a sham. MP's and activists within the party have been browbeaten into
accepting it. They've made the decision that having access to power was
worth turning their back on principle. Many will make that
rationalization.
The problem with turning one's back on principle is it quickly becomes a
habit.
Mr. Harper, you had options sir, yet you chose the facile and undemocratic
way out.
===================================
From: "Wayne Smith"
Subject: Re: F.Y.I. Blow back from the Arts
Joe;
Canadians are really waking up in this election to problems with our voting system, I think for two reasons:
The Green Party has arrived on the scene. They could get more votes than the Bloc and still not come close to electing anybody, while the Bloc win 50 seats. The unfairness gets to be a little blatant, and the Greens don't mind mentioning it.
Mr. Harper could get a "majority" government with less than 38% of the votes, and a lot of people don't like the idea, including some Conservatives.
Fair Vote Canada is holding a contest, with cash prizes, to guess how many votes will be wasted in this election on losing candidates. Post your guess here: www.OrphanVoters.ca Hint: last time, more than 7.5 million voters voted for losing candidates and ended up "represented" by people they voted against.
Wayne Smith
Toronto
===================================
From: "Edward C. Corrigan"
Subject: Article on Liberal MP Ken Dryden: "Advocating Genocide as Electoral
Tactic," By Kim Petersen, Dissident Voice, October 6th, 2008
Here is an excellent article written by Canadian journalist and Co-editor of Dissident Voice, Kim Peterson. He is commenting on Member of Parliament Ken Dryden who publicly advocated the following: "Stop all aid that flows into Gaza. While that may seem a harsh measure that will hurt Palestinian civilians… it is the right thing to do at this time. 2 [emphasis added]"
Ed Corrigan
_________________________________
Advocating Genocide as Electoral Tactic
By Kim Petersen /October 6th, 2008
http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2008/10/advocating-genocide-to-win-election/
In a 60 Minutes interview from 1996, then US ambassador to Washington, Madeleine Albright infamously quipped of the deaths of half a million Iraqi children to maintain US policy: "… we think the price is worth it." 1 On 24 September, a prominent Canadian politician said that the collective punishment of the Palestinian people "… is the right thing to do." The name candidate with Canada's Liberal Party delivered a shocking statement that is, in essence, advocating a genocide against 1.5 million Palestinians in Gaza.
Speaking at Toronto's Beth Emeth synagogue, hockey hall-of-fame goalie, former federal cabinet minister, and current member of the Canadian parliament for the Ontario riding of York Centre, Ken Dryden sounded like an arch-Zionist:
- Stop all aid that flows into Gaza. While that may seem a harsh measure that will hurt Palestinian civilians… it is the right thing to do at this time. 2 [emphasis added]
Dryden's campaign manager, Ruth Thorkelson, contradicted her candidate. She stated that the Liberal Party position was for a Canadian government boycott of aid but to indirectly support UN assistance.
Since Palestinians in Gaza were already starving, 3 a call for cutting off all aid to Gaza is tantamount to a call for a mass starvation. It is advocating collective punishment a war crime, as stipulated by the Fourth Geneva Convention. It is advocating genocide.
While with the International Committee of the Red Cross, Christa Rottensteiner argued that cutting all aid could be a war crime, crime against humanity, and/or genocide. The requisites for genocide are there.
- The denial of humanitarian assistance could fit into the categories of "killing members of the group", "causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group" and "deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part", provided that the prerequisites for genocide are fulfilled. What was said for murder as a war crime is also applicable, mutatis mutandis, to genocide. 4
So far no word has been forthcoming from Liberal Party leader Stéphane Dion on Dryden's racist remarks, which are receiving short thrift in the corporate media. Dion is known to be a sympathizer of Zionism, so this is not surprising.
Dryden is considered to be an "all-star" of the Liberal team, a person who, according to "prominent Liberal strategist" Scott Reid, "can speak to character." 5
Ron Saba, editor of Montreal Planet magazine, has been indefatigable in exposing the complicity of Canadian politicians in the crimes of Zionism. Dion is near the top of his list. Many of the supporters of Zionism turn out to be politicians from within Canada's corporate-political duopoly of the Conservatives and Liberals. Prime minister Stephan Harper is an unabashed backer of Zionism. 6
A particular focus of Saba is the racist Jewish National Fund (JNF) which enjoys strong financial support in Canada illegally. Dion is taciturn on JNF crimes and the illegality of the JNF operating in Canada as a tax-exempt charity. Dion even went so far as to welcome fellow liberal "all-star" Bob Rae, the Liberal candidate in Toronto Centre and a committee member of the JNF, an organization acknowledged as practicing racism towards Arabs by the attorney general of Israel. 7 8
Dryden's racist remarks are inexcusable from any human being and, certainly, from a MP. The right thing for Dryden to do at this time is to resign, and Dion should be calling for that resignation immediately and publicly.
Kim Petersen is co-editor of Dissident Voice. He can be reached at: kim@dissidentvoice.org. Read other articles by Kim.
===================================
From: "Rebecca Gingrich"
Subject: [On-Guard] FW: Financial Tsunami: The End of the World as We Knew It...
The Paulson Treasury will ‘outsource’ most of the management of the $700 billion purchases to the very financial institutions responsible for creating the crisis. > http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=10392
===================================
From: "Mahmood Elahi"
Cc: "Letters" <letters@globeandmail.com>,
Subject: "Totalitarian communism and unregulated capitalism are united in their satanic optimism"
The Editor
The Globe and Mail
Copy to: Mr. Preston Manning, President, Manning Centre for Building Democracy (please forward).
"Totalitarian communism and unregulated capitalism are united in their satanic optimism"
Re: "In stormy economic times, put Harper at the helm of the ship of state," by Preston Manning (Oct. 6).
Pope Pius XI once remarked: "Totalitarian communism and unregulated capital are united in their satanic optimism." The "satanic optimism" of the totalitarian communism stems from the belief that exploitation and suffering of the working poor can be eliminated by the public ownership of all means of production. The "satanic optimism" of unregulated capitalism stems from the belief that only unrestricted market forces can ensure peace and prosperity.
The collapse of the Soviet Union proved the former is wrong and the collapse of America's financial institutions proved the latter is wrong.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper may be an economist, but he seems to believe since his days at the National Citizens Coalition that self-regulatory market is the best way to ensure prosperity. Many economic and financial experts like CEO of Lehman Brothers, Richard Fuld, believed in the efficacy of self-regulatory free market and look at the mess they have created. The present financial mess tells us not to trust the financial and economic wizards.
MAHMOOD ELAHI
2240 Iris Street, Ottawa.
===================================
From: Don Mervin
Subject: Fw: Spinning...
Thieves, liars and.... politicians
Political Spinning... How to spin a lie.
When you hear the politicians talk, think of this e mail
AND this is why we call it ***POLITICS***
Judy Wallman, a professional genealogical researcher, discovered that Hillary Clinton's great-great uncle, Remus Rodham, was hanged for horse stealing and train robbery in Montana in 1889.
The only known photograph of Remus shows him standing on the gallows. On the back of the picture is this inscription: 'Remus Rodham; horse thief, sent to Montana Territorial Prison 1883, escaped 1887, robbed the Montana Flyer six times. Caught by Pinkerton detectives, convicted, and hanged in 1889.'
Judy e-mailed Hillary Clinton for comments. Hillary's staff sent back the following biographical sketch:
'Remus Rodham was a famous cowboy in the Montana Territory. His business empire grew to include acquisition of valuable equestrian assets and intimate dealings with the Montana railroad. Beginning in 1883, he devoted several years of his life to service at a government facility, finally taking leave in 1887 to resume his dealings with the railroad. Subsequently, he was a key player in a vital investigation run by the renowned Pinkerton Detective Agency. In 1889, Remus passed away during an important civic function held in his honor, when the platform on which he was standing collapsed.'
And that is how it's done, folks!
===================================
From: "Suan H.Booiman"
To: "Day Stockwell" <Day.S@parl.gc.ca>,"Cummins John" <cummij@parl.gc.ca>,
Subject: historical reality notwithstanding
From Oct/Nov Dialogue Magazine:
HISTORICAL REALITY NOTWITHSTANDING
A MESSAGE FROM THE PRIME
MINISTER OF CANADA
Stephen Harper: "As Prime Minister of Canada, I am
proud to report that the Roadmap for Canada's linguis-
tic Duality 2008=2013; Acting for the Future reitereates
the commitment of the Government of Canada to linguistic
duality and our two official languages. It lays out the path
we intent to follow over the next five years to build on
Canada's sturdy foundations, English- and French speaking
Canadians have come a long way together since de found-
ing of Quebec City, which also marks the founding of the
Canadian state 400 years ago this year"
Dorm: www.pch.gc.ca
==================
Hw we are sold out by Harper to recognize the Quebec
Nation within the Canadian Nation, the State of Quebec.
That is why I am holding my nose voting Conservative.
Suan H.Booiman
204-1220 Fir Street
White Rock BC V4B 4B1
Canada
===================================
From: Tom Brewer
Subject: Voter says RCMP helping out local campaign
This article and this mornings news prompts my reply....(see bottom)
Voter says RCMP helping out local campaign
Last Updated: Tuesday, October 7, 2008 | 10:04 AM CT
CBC News
A voter in La Ronge, Sask., is concerned that a member of the RCMP was seen helping out a local political campaign.
Bill Layman told CBC News that on Monday, he saw a uniformed RCMP officer delivering campaign signs for Rob Clarke, the Conservative candidate in the riding of Desnethé-Missinippi-Churchill River for the Oct. 14 election.
Layman said the officer was unloading the material using a marked RCMP vehicle. The signs were handed to one of Clarke's supporters.
When contacted, Clarke's campaign office would neither confirm nor deny that an RCMP officer had been helping out. CBC News was told that, if it had happened, that Clarke's campaign could not control the behaviour of volunteers.
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/saskatchewan/story/2008/10/07/rcmp-campaign.html?ref=rss
__________
My reply....
Simply galling is all I can say. The radio news report this morning tells listeners of an RCMP member who while in uniform also had the audacity to use an RCMP vehicle to deliver election signs for a local candidate!
The candidate had been a member of the RCMP but won the by-election in this Riding a while back. This Riding was hotly contested given the Liberal Leader hand picked the candidate. The Liberals lost the by-election and it is now represented by an ex RCMP member who ironically represents the Conservatives.
It is obvious as the nose on one's face either this member was not apprised as to member's obligations to ensure what one does during an election must not suggest siding with one party or another or just did not give a darn.
To hear this member not only used an RCMP vehicle but was in uniform suggests to me that person blatantly slapped all voters in the face given their actions.
I really do not care to hear the member was "off-duty"! What member is really off duty in a small community? Had this been an incident of some sort we know members attend even when not in uniform.
The idea a member may or may not do their duty based on politics tells me we have stooped pretty low given what took place. Imagine if security was needed but this member or any member looked the other way.
We look to the RCMP as our (everyone's) police force. The red serge is well known around the world but given this incident this member has tarnished that image. It gives rise to suggest this police force might well do as their so-called political masters dictate rather than what the law states.
This took place in a small northern Saskatchewan community but it could happen anywhere.
This one member who, in my opinion, blatantly violated protocol has opened a wound that must be addressed. It suggests to me Harper's Conservatives will do anything to win.
PS: I can already hear the apologies already. It seems as if an apology addresses the problem. What has happened to common sense in candidates and those who should know better given their job these days?
Brewt
===================================
Subject: Prime Minister Harper blows off Ciscos John Chambers
From: "Efstratios Psarianos"
Hi, all.
I've recently run across a blog-story concerning Mr. Harper's blowing off a request for meeting Cisco's CEO (Cisco is a US designer-manufacturer, service-provider for networking equipment ... like Nortel, but bigger). The original article is at the top and comments follow it. My own comments are at the bottom.
Do any DDer want to comment on mine? I'd appreciate some feedback on this.
Cheers!
Stratos
http://blogs.itworldcanada.com/cdn/2008/10/03/prime-minister-harper-blows-off-ciscos-john-chambers/#comment-213
Prime Minister Harper blows off Cisco's John Chambers
I watched last night's English language Leaders debate with great interest.What I found astounding was Prime Minister Stephen Harper's plan to invest billions in science and technology. There have been very few times during past debates when IT is mentioned. Now Harper just said if elected that he would spend on science and technology to create more jobs in that sector. A sector he believes has a future compared to others.
But I wonder how sincere he is about it. Earlier this year when John Chambers, the CEO of Cisco Systems was in Canada he wanted to meet with Harper and the Prime Minister basically blew him off.
Chambers has met with all of the G8 leaders except for Harper. I am not sure if Harper and his staff understand this but Chambers is a global influencer. His company employees many people around the world. Cisco also helps many other companies compete successfully in markets with Cisco products. Cisco also indirectly employs several other people in third party companies that resell Cisco equipment or develop business solutions around these products.
This is a man who knows a thing or two about commerce, technology, job creation, growing an economy, the environment, and many, many other important things that would benefit Canada.
As a Canadian and a person who has met and interviewed Chambers many times; I thought Harper's decision to not meet with Chambers shameful and a step backward for the IT industry in Canada.
And, it puts into question Harper's credibility as a leader. Does Harper know the kind of clout Chambers has?
To be fair, Harper was the only leader last night to mention technology, which leads me to believe that it's not on the radar screen of the Liberals, NDP, Bloc and the Green Party of Canada.
One quick hit before I go. XiTi names Nicolas Babin the new COO and executive vice-president of marketing.
Add to: del.icio.us | Digg IT | Furl | Google | magnolia | StumbleIT | Wink | Yahoo! Technorati
Posted on October 3rd, 2008 by paolo and filed under Uncategorized |
5 Responses
- Evan Leibovitch Says:
- October 3rd, 2008 at 12:26 pm
- Boo Hoo. Harper blows off an American IT exec, news at 11. Cisco has very little corporate or development presence in Canada, and appears to have done little if anything to increase Canadian innovation or job growth. (That is, outside of its resellers, who could always go with another vendor.) Even Canadian tech support calls to Cisco get punted to California.
- So Chambers' value as an advisor on Canadian IT policy is debatable. Certainly blowing him off does not raise an issue of credibility, that's just silly.
- If there's a comment to be made about Harper's IT policy, make it. Complaining that he didn't choose your favourite IT exec as counsel is petty, pointless, and evades the real journalistic work of actually analyzing the parties' stands on IT and innovation.
- THAT would have been a service to readers. What we get instead is the IT media's version of celebrity gossip.
- Ray Says:
- October 3rd, 2008 at 12:48 pm
- I totally agree with Evan! What good Cisco has to to Canadian IT specially in this hard times? When was the last time they invested in our education and research centers? I am very glad that Harper had the guts to below him off. I would rather see Harper meeting with Nortel CEO then Cisco, which at least has impact on many business and employees few thousands in Canada.
- BTW paolo, if you have interviewed Chambers, doesn't mean that leader of a country should also meet him! ;o).
- Gordon Says:
- October 5th, 2008 at 4:42 am
- Ah, I see the mean neo-Conservatives of Canada are being rude and ignorant again. Vote Liberal. Get that jackass Harper out of Canada's Parliament. He has done enough damage in the international community.
- Paolo Says:
- October 6th, 2008 at 10:41 am
- Thanks Evan and Ray for reading and commenting.
- I would like to clear up one thing. One of my points was that Harper did not say anything about his technology plan except that he will invest in it.
- Approximately, 16 months ago the Prime Minister announced a new strategy for this sector. According to the press release from the PMO's office, the plan is designed to boost private sector investment in research and development and enrolment in university science and engineering programs.
- The plan is part of Mobilizing Science and Technology to Canada's Advantage, which focuses on four areas: natural resources, the environment, health, and information technology.
- That was 16 months ago. What about today?
- John Chambers really wants to help and has put roots in this country. And, who says all the good ideas have to come from Canadians.
- I think more is needed from Harper and the other leaders for the IT sector.
- BTW: Hope you are doing well Evan. Long time no talk.
- Efstratios (Stratos) Psarianos Says:
- October 7th, 2008 at 10:58 am
- Personally, I approve of Mr. Harper's not meeting Mr. Chambers. What's at the root of all this is the Canadian conception of politics being a wholesale thing rather than a retail thing. Here in Canada, the basic idea is to (generally) aim government economic programs at creating a better economic environment (e.g., broad-based tax cuts, training programs, etc.) rather than targetting specific sectors.
- The opposite idea is at the root of US-style politics: there, politicians continually search for political capital ($$$ and votes . the funds required for well-funded campaigns are ever-rising, and short election cycles (elections every two years for Representatives!!!), lead to politicians scrambling non-stop for $$$ and political approval), which leads to government grants and programs being much more politicized (Mission 1 for typical US politicians: bring goodies to one's State/district).
- Because of the US political system having been built the way it has, governmental business is seen as being much more of a retail thing (sell sell sell to one's constituency, targetted groups, and particular industries/companies and individuals), as opposed to it being seen as a wholesale thing in Canada (i.e., more of a Wal-Mart approach: everyday low prices and come get what you need).
- These different conceptions lead to constant misunderstandings between Canadians and Americans. Canadians see US politicians and businessmen as aggressive, pushy line-jumpers whereas Americans see Canadian ones as passive and perverse.
- All that to say . welcome to Canada, Mr. Chambers. Meaning no disrespect, but Canadian politicians aren't as much for sale as their US counterparts. Please be comforted by the fact that Americans are equally as strange to us when it comes to this kind of thing.
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