Daily Digest November 14, 2008

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

EDITORIAL PAGEs

ST.JOHN'S TELEGRAM -
Political limbo
How low can they go?

CORNER BROOK WESTERN STAR -
Sacrifices then and now

CHARLOTTETOWN GUARDIAN -
Equalization: lessening our dependence
To any province dependent on equalization, Ontario's plight is worrisome.

HALIFAX CHRONICLE HERALD -
Private clinic shows its potential

AMHERST DAILY NEWS -
Toll highway a good cash cow

MONTREAL GAZETTE -
This election isn't unfolding quite as Charest had wanted

How to survive the coming economic downturn

OTTAWA CITIZEN -
Democratic deficits

KINGSTON WHIG STANDARD-
Auto troubles their own making

Crime prevention everyone's business

Liberals raise bar too high this time

Wind farm takes a toll

TORONTO STAR -
G20 must offer oversight, stimulus

A heinous attack

GLOBE & MAIL -
Seasoned, but not fully tested
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20081114.EIGNATIEFF14/TPStory/Opinion/editorials

Health care's appetite
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20081114.EHEALTH14/TPStory/Opinion/editorials

NATIONAL POST -
Charest to Harper:Don't screw up my election
http://www.nationalpost.com/todays_paper/story.html?id=957600

 Ignatieff takes the low road
http://www.nationalpost.com/todays_paper/story.html?id=957601

HAMILTON SPECTATOR -
No profit in being mean

NIAGARA FALLS REVIEW -
Final days of the Velcro president

K-W RECORD -
Time is right for high-speed trains

WINDSOR STAR -
Defence spending key to cross-border trade

REGINA LEADER-POST -
Resource wealth must be invested to build capacity

Equalization financial bubble waiting to burst

CALGARY HERALD -
Economy's future looks a bit merrier

Poppies key to beating Taliban

You raised me this way, now why are you surprised?

GRANDE PRAIRIE DAILY HERALD TRIBUNE -
PM asks Tory faithful to be pragmatic

EDMONTON SUN -
Royalty hike only option for Steady Eddie
http://www.edmontonsun.com/Comment/Commentary/2008/11/14/7405811-sun.html
 
RED DEER ADVOCATE -
Crisis does wonders for co-operation

VANCOUVER SUN -
Real economic solutions require listening to those who are affected

Obama's victory doesn't magically eliminate America's problems

VICTORIA TIMES-COLONIST -
Fung's release and media double standards

Political mailings not junk


ISSUES

ABORIGINAL AFFAIRS -          
B.C. government trades money and land for promise of treaty with First Nation

Dealing with poverty 1st step in cutting TB among aboriginals, experts say

Ex-chairman of residential schools commission couldn't 'surrender' vision

Advocates for disabled were excellent role models


AFGHANISTAN -
Pakistan torn over its tribal areas

Pakistan supply line attacks show US vulnerability

Karzai: Security not worsening
DPA/AFP (11/14/2008)

The new Baghdad
The Sydney Morning Herald (11/14/2008)

Europe's Obama Problem: Afghanistan
TIME (11/14/2008)

Air Force Report Confirms Rising Civilian Toll
Der Spiegel (11/14/2008)

How to Win in Afghanistan
The Wall Street Journal (11/14/2008)

O'Hanlon Gives Obama Some Bad Advice
The Nation (11/14/2008)

Afghanistan at the crossroads: Young Afghans return to a homeland they never knew
UNHCR (11/14/2008)

Taliban kill mullah critical of suicide
The Associated Press (11/14/2008)

Afghanistan abyss awaits Obama
Asia Times (11/14/2008)

Taliban will 'never' negotiate with West: spokesman
CBC News (11/14/2008)

No sanctuaries for hostile forces: Khalilzad to Pakistan
Pajhwok (11/14/2008)

Iraq model not good fit for Afghan war-US official
Reuters (11/14/2008)

Britain resists Afghan call for more troops
AFP (11/14/2008)

The failed suicide bomber who changed the war on terror in Afghanistan
Telegraph (11/13/2008)


CANADIAN FORCES
Canadian troops face risks even on goodwill patrols in Afghanistan

Ottawa seeks to block hearings in detainee transfer controversy

Military soldiers on


CANUSA/USACAN
Former envoy says NAFTA renegotiations unlikely

Ottawa holding auto talks with U.S.

End 'perpetual handouts' to automakers, tax group says

Ottawa ponders Canada-U.S. auto bailout plan

As G20 kicks off, Canada talks to Obama reps and enters summit in good shape

Obama weighing idea of 'auto czar'
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=955581


ECONOMIC AFFAIRS
Time to set free the RRIFs

Silver lining among dark economic clouds

MLS home sales plunge to weakest level since 2002

Banks' hose of cards It's time Ottawa got tough with credit card companies

'Difficult times ahead,' PM says

Country headed for twin deficits, analysts say

It's going to get worse, economic group warns


FOREIGN AFFAIRS
U.S. still hopes for missile defence talks in Moscow
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=956385

Sarkozy questions US missile shield plan

Attackers hurl explosive at EU offices in Kosovo

Liberal MP wants to go to Saudi Arabia to help Canadian man facing beheading

The lame duck economic summit
Bush brings the G-20 to Washington; but world leaders would rather talk to Obama view

Canada has chance to shine at G20 summit: expert
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20081114/G20_meeting_081114/20081114?hub=Canada

Harper calls for global scrutiny of countries' banking systems.... MORE...

Harper lines up with Bush on reform

Canada model of fiscal stability, PM says

Free market clash unlikely at G20 summit: Canada

Saving car giants will cause havoc, Gordon Brown warns US
http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/economics/article5158583.ece


HEALTH CARE RELATED
Type 2 diabetes big concern

Health care spending growing faster than economy, inflation: report
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=956523


JUSTICE SYSTEM
Law's gone to pot


POLITICS IN THE PROVINCES
McGuinty confident on eve of auto industry talks

Have a look: YouTube video celebrates N.L. turn of fortunes

PCs' mixed messages to U.S.


PARTY POLITICS
We're in good shape, PM says

PM asks Tory faithful to be pragmatic, not ideological, at policy convention

Tory Convention Watch
The proposal to strip the Canadian Human Rights Commission of the power to investigate complaints under Section 13 passed "nearly unanimously".

Tories see ethnic voters as key to future majority

Special Unconfirmed Rumours From The Floor

Bar the doors: Tory delegates debate policy behind curtains all 230 news articles »

Activists protest Conservative party in Winnipeg Aboriginals, minority political parties take aim at policies


Familiar faces fill Liberal shadow cabinet

Layoffs in the Office of the Leader of the Official Opposition

Liberal leader's office sheds staff as budget shrinks

Iggy, Rae, Leblanc woo Ontario Liberals this weekend

Ignatieff has 'burning desire' to beat Harper
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=952957

Ignatieff vows a new course

Witness the new Ignatieff.. MORE...

At last, a narrative.. MORE...

The polarization is gone - Ignatieff is the favourite. MORE...

Rae to focus on economy in battle with Ignatieff

Ignatieff vows a new course

Paul Martin laments the state of politics

Canadian Broadcast Standards Council to review Dion false start broadcast


Bloc sets its price for support of speech from throne

Duceppe's shopping list

Culture cuts still matter, says Bloc Leader Duceppe

Harper must keep focus on economy: NDP, Bloc
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081113.wopposition1311/BNStory/politics/home


Plan to aid banks leaves taxpayers in dark: NDP


POLITICAL OPINION -
Liberal leadership contenders


PROGRAMMES
Canada won't have asset "fire sale" - Harper

All expenditures under review, PM says

CN Tower not for sale, Flaherty says as Ottawa looks for revenue

Flaherty eyes sale of assets

Ottawa weighs asset sale to avoid deficit

Seller beware: Asset sale could make chump of Ottawa

Minister hangs bureaucrat out to dry over water remarks

Tories to ditch Canadian-led water program

Ottawa moves to block detainee-transfer hearings

CN Tower not for sale, Flaherty says as Ottawa looks for revenue MORE...

Flaherty eyes sale of assets

Ottawa weighs asset sale to avoid deficit


OPINION AND INFORMATION
It's all in the name

Do we still recognize a 'just' war?

  Good jobs won't appear without a helping hand

 A cross-border health care crisis

• At last, a narrative

 Obama and Canadians

G20 remains the same

Memorializing bad guys

Courting the Fourth Sister
Tom Flanagan: For Stephen Harper, the ethnic vote is easier to woo than Quebec. Stephen Harper's speech to the "Winds of Change" conference in 1996 laid out a long-term strategy for a reunited Conservative Party. It could only win, he said, by doing what John Diefenbaker and Brian Mulroney did.. MORE..

Recession? Try the `D' word instead.. MORE...

Developed world seeks help. MORE...

Can Bush and Flaherty save capitalism?
Foster: It is encouraging that at least two key participants in this weekend's G20 meetings in Washington have come out in favour of battered capitalism. Yesterday, both President George W. Bush and Canadian Finance Minister Jim.. MORE...


INFOS 
Dion largue 11 membres de son personnel
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/actualites/quebec-canada/politique-canadienne/200811/14/01-800877-dion-largue-11-membres-de-son-personnel.php

Les militants conservateurs discutent à huis-clos de leurs propositions
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/actualites/quebec-canada/politique-canadienne/200811/14/01-800885-les-militants-conservateurs-discutent-a-huis-clos-de-leurs-propositions.php

Crise économique: Le Canada présentera une position de compromis à Washington
http://info.branchez-vous.com/Nationales/081114/N1114114AU.html

L'idée de créer une aile québécoise du Parti conservateur fait son chemin
http://info.branchez-vous.com/Nationales/081114/N1114140AU.html

Les chefs autochtones exigent des mesures pour réduire la tuberculose
http://info.branchez-vous.com/Nationales/081114/N111402AU.html

Stephen Harper invite les conservateurs au pragmatisme en ce temps de crise
http://info.branchez-vous.com/Nationales/081113/N1113140AU.html

Ignatieff est candidat à la course à la direction du Parti libéral du Canada
http://info.branchez-vous.com/Nationales/081113/N1113126AU.html

Ottawa cherche à vendre certains actifs de la Couronne pour éviter un déficit
http://info.branchez-vous.com/Nationales/081113/N1113128AU.html

Harper présente le modèle canadien
http://www.radio-canada.ca/nouvelles/Politique/2008/11/14/001-G20Harper.shtml

Des Québécois vigilants
http://www.radio-canada.ca/nouvelles/Politique/2008/11/14/002-conservateurs-quebec.shtml

Discours du Trône - Duceppe veut des mesures économiques et culturelles

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)

Going to birthday party over the weekend
of a gonna be three years old. So Digest
will be limited in size - if it comes at all.

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From: "Michael Watkins"

On Thu, November 13, 2008 8:33 am, Joe Hueglin wrote:
> $75B to the banks is vast sum by my
> reckoning. Whose more correct Flaherty or Paulson?

The difficulty in expressing a reasoned opinion on this is that "it
depends" is sadly the answer one keeps coming to.

- It depends on just how bad the Canadian housing market gets.
- It depends on just how interconnected the world financial system is and
how bad the mounting problems elsewhere get.
- It depends on how long this period persists and whether those most
responsible can turn their trains around.

IF Canada can *reasonably* be expected to avoid a large rate of mortgage
and other loan defaults, then Canada will look very different than much of
the U.S. lending system does and THEN trading mortgage debt assets for
cash back to the banks is likely to be the low-risk move Flaherty
proposes.

Let me remind everyone that when current U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Ben
Bernanke was first appointed he commented then that he saw no housing
meltdown or calamity coming. Mr. Bernanke is something of an expert on the
Great Depression and its causes yet failed to, publicly at least,
acknowledge the danger the U.S. and world financial system was facing. Is
Jim Flaherty or his advisers at least as astute as Bernanke?

> Is putting tax dollars into banks and
> the automobile firms as loans or equity the better way?

There is risk, real risk, in either option. Equity can quickly be revalued
at zero, and a corporation with zero equity has no ability to repay a
loan.  There is no class of shares or bond which protects creditors when
assets plunge far below their notional worth or to zero.

Will Canada's banks follow the U.S. down? No, most likely not. A couple of
years ago I would have said certainly not (of the Canadian banks only; I
have never, ever, been a fan of the U.S. local and regional banks), but
now I can not be so certain.

For months and months people have continued to invest or think as if the
same old rules will always apply, and the "worst case" wasn't going to
happen. Yet all around us the worst case is indeed playing out. The
standard rules can not be relied upon.

Flaherty can not be 100% certain that the billions he is exchanging with
the banks, or might loan to auto makers, will all come back to Canadians.

In short: exchanging solid assets with *Canadian* banks on the proviso
that those dollars freed up are used to generate new Canadian loans and
investments which ultimately will generate new Canadian business activity
and jobs - sounds like a good idea to me.

Loaning funds to auto makers, given the sorry track record of the big -
all U.S. - auto makers? Sounds like a terrible idea to me.

Shovelling more cash into the domestic auto sector, a sector which has
consistently demonstrated that it is incapable of keeping up with the
times or forecasting future trends, just feels wrong. We'd be better off
just handing the displaced workers the cash.

===================================
From: David Bell
Subject: RE: Daily Digest November 13, 2008

Joe,

As an interested economics observer and regarding your questions below:

        >> "$75B to the banks is vast sum by my reckoning. Whose more correct Flaherty or Paulson?"
        >> "Is putting tax dollars into banks and the automobile firms as loans or equity the better way?"

The answer is (I think) … "it depends on what they do with the money"

If you have a failed mortgage on (an inflated value $500K house) with a real market value of $300K, do you want to prop up the inflated value?  

Same question—do you want to prop up GM and Rick Wagoner so they can go on doing what?

At the end of the day, if there are (currently) artificially inflated values in the market they have to be deflated

(Admitting that at the same time, market values today are (typically) artificially deflated)

I suggest that the only real solution in to put the money into creating value (not a short term prospect) instead of propping up the past

Banks are not the way to do this—that's not their business. Neither is the Government (e.g. A $200M Environment Canada fund to invest in green technology startups over 3 years resulted in $183M going to administration and $17M going to startups). Neither are smokestack industries like GM

There are solutions but they're a waste of time until people identify and buy into the real problems (Bread & circuses look good for the future).

Cheers

David Bell

===================================
Subject: a covert team in Canada that funnelled as much as $5.6-billion offshore
From: "Efstratios Psarianos"

Yow! Makes you wonder who the clients are ... an interesting catch ...
 
Stratos

Swiss banking's $5.6-billion man
Accused by the United States of helping wealthy Americans hide their fortunes from the IRS,
former UBS executive also led a covert team in Canada that funnelled mountains of cash offshore

===================================
From: Matthew Wensley
Subject: My 2 cents, right or wrong

I find The Economist a must read.
http://www.economist.com/daily/news/displaystory.cfm?story_id=12597500&fsrc=nwl

It is unfair to ask who is right, Flaherty or Paulson, because the issues are not the same in the two countries. Our banking system has more regulations and is in good shape. The economic slowdown we are feeling has more to do with the inability of the US to buy our goods and services than with a fundamental problem here in Canada.

But we have been lazy. We have allowed ourselves to give up looking for new markets because we are so close the the US, the world's largest economy. We should have spent the last decade or more looking to Europe and other markets in an effort to ensure that we do not become dependent upon a sole customer.

On the issue of a bailout of the auto industry, I will remind you that Ontario did provide an aid package to Detroit in the 80's and that money was not only paid back, but paid back ahead of schedule. But times have changed. If government had bailed out the horse and buggy manufactures would the auto industry have developed? If government bailed out film camera's would have have inexpensive digital cameras? At what point do we say that the private sector must take the bad as well as the good?

Ideologically, I am opposed to a bailout. But what will happen to the Ontario job market if allow this industry to die? It will not only be the GM worker that takes the hit, it will also be the parts supplies, the transportation companies that deliver the parts and move the finished products, the supplies to not only GM but also to the many individual workers. A pay cut means less spending on consumer goods and services.

If we allow the auto sector to fail now, I have no doubt that our economy will come out changed and stronger. But at what cost and for how long? Do we really want to ensure we have years of dislocation?

Rightly or wrongly, I am guessing that governments will take action to support the auto sector in Ontario.

===================================
From: "Garry R. Holland"
Subject: Re:  BAILOUT???

Hi Joe;
 
I have some education and background in both finance and economics.
I do not believe a bailout is either needed or a best-option.
 
The large corporations need to fail; they and their assets will not disappear. They do need to fully understand their past decisions were fundamentally flawed. Similarly the Trade Unions need to understand that nothing comes without a price.
Through failure they will (likely) be sensibly re-organized, most former employees will return to work for new and foresightful owners, better products will become mandated.
 
Those Canadian employees not re-hired will be supported through EI and other measures of our social support creation.
The US unhired employees will suffer somewhat more and probably for a bit longer.
 
In both our countries the pain will be real, families and National economies will suffer, no doubt: however for less time and with less severity.
It will (likely) make us all stronger and much less greedy: we might even begin to forego instant gratification, which our forebears well understood and which we have completely forgotten.
 
Thanks for an opportunity to send my opinion, trust you and Aase are both well.
 
Garry R. Holland
 ===================================
From: "The Natroses"
Subject: Re: Daily Digest November 13, 2008

Hi Joe,  By no means that I am a expert in economics. However, I too have a few economic courses under my belt, and I feel I can opine on this subject.

Equity is the better route, especially when dealing with tax players money as opposed to loaning the money out which carries risks. Equity gives the government a bigger stick in pushing banks to pass down interest rate changes and become more responsive to their customers needs. It also helps to stabilize the overall economy,

As for an equity stake or loans in the automobile industry, that is the tricky question when the world's industries is in the biggest upheaval since the 1930s. Add the changing consumer wants and needs due to high oil prices, global climate change and a host of other factors that impact consumer wants and needs - change is foist upon the North American automobile manufacturers and are at a crossroad. I would rather have government have an equity stake in the automobile industry, so they would have a seat in the boardroom, and be able to affect change at that level. The big 3, have done little in changing their ways of how they conduct business since the 1950s, even when the automobile has become a need for the majority of the North American population. The Big 3, have chosen to see the automobile as a luxury item, whereas the foreign automakers have been allowed to create a niche in the market that caters to the typical working guy and his family. That is affordable cars, that if in the event of a downturn in the economy, the working family can still manage to make their payments on their cars.

Even today as I sit and write, their will be another family in my community exchanging their big-ticketed price automobile which was gotten on easy credit; for a smaller automobile that has much smaller payments or none if it was paid by cash.

In my opinion: big business, big banks, and world governments are the ones to blame for the world's economic meltdown. They have all forgotten who their customer base is, simple demand and supply principles which does not mean highest prices that the market can bear no matter what the supply or demand is. Another,  driven only by higher and higher profit and growth rates, with total disregard of other factors such as easy credit would do and now big industry are lining up for taxplayers money. What really galls me, is the fact that even in these times - it appears that they are unwilling to change because they know governments will bail them out.

From the Natroses

===================================
For your perusal and consideration.
Jacob Rempel
PLEASE; Consider wide circulation amongst your circle.

For your consideration:

Dear Friends; Friends of  Friends and Colleagues:
At this time, there are groups of Canadians across the country
trying to pressure our Federal Government to stand up for
Omar Khadr to demand a fair trial and his repatriation back to Canada.
 
If this issue is of concern to you, I ask you to consider signing the following
 petition as well as forwarding this request to your own list of contacts.
 It is one of a number that I believe are circulating around the country.

www.petitiononline.com/omar567/petition.html
  
Regards
Dennis Edney - Lawyer For Omar Khadr
dedney@shaw.ca

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

Hi Joe:

First, just a few ramblings in regards to the Nov. 13 Digest. First, I really like the idea put forth by the Premiers to extend the deadline by two years for those, due to turning 71, having to cash out their RRSP's and take the loss without having the time for the markets to recover. Nice, simple, and it just might get the job done. Sometimes, just when you are ready to toss in the towel and declare these boys retarded, you get pleasantly surprised.

So, it appears the Liberal race is down to Iggy, Bob (I almost broke Ontario) Rae, and some obscure New Brunswick boy who just happens to be the only one of the trio under 60. Some figure Iggy could be the next Obama, a real charismatic chap. Someone has gotten into the egg nog a tad early.

There was a story out of Ottawa that touched on the homeless. As long as it is your right to be homeless, rather than surrendering some of your freedoms in order for someone else to take responsibility for your current situation and its solution, you are going to be hard pressed to properly address the issue. Same goes for problem gambling, drug addiction, and a host of other social ills. It is the same logic applied should one has to move back with their parents in order to survive. You go back to living under their rules until such time as one can try it on their own again.  Now, if one could only trust that such a system would actually work for your best interests. Too often in our touchy feely world, the heart of the aid giver is in the right place, but the head is located somewhere beyond the sphincter.

The article about how the new social network provided to children by the Internet was interesting. However, it does not affect our home, where the roles of adult parent and minor children never get confused. My 14-year old lads (who do not and will not be getting personal cell phones anytime soon), get the use of their computer as long as all as well. School marks slide, and the computer becomes only a rumor.  Chat rooms and instant messaging? It does not happen here, and it is not missed. I know what my kids do on-line, they know Jesus awaits them if they wander off the path (as in, "Do you really want to meet Him now?"). While there is Youtube, there is no Facebook or MySpace, and no problem. How do you say "no" to a 14-year old? Start saying "no" when they are 2. It is fun and it is easy. I highly recommend it. This is their home, but it is my house. There is a difference. As for democracy, it only exists at the pleasure of the two monarchs, both of whom are well above the age of 14.

Meanwhile, that bastion of liberal thought, the Edmonton Journal, actually recommended something I highly endorse. Any bailout to help the auto industry should come with strings attached. It should come with either a rock solid payback schedule or be turned into an investment in shares and a piece of the ownership pie. The government can always sell its shares or even get involved in the business decisions that affect our tax dollars, but there should always be strings attached. That includes those too often occasions when we find ourselves kicking cash to Bombardier or Air Canada, or any welfare recipient that looks upon the taxpayer as a sugar daddy. No one should expect something for nothing. Maybe Joe, Rubie, and I might actually be on the same page on this issue.

Despite the preceding paragraph, I am not a socialist. Bob Rae should have convinced every Canadian of what some socialists are capable of if they gain control of the cookie jar. However, as misguided as they are, there are times someone left of center demonstrates that they have a clue. The Winnipeg Free Press article about the thoughts of retired University of Winnipeg senior scholar and political geographer John Ryan is a case in point. Ryan came out with a plan of how the left could take power away from the Conservatives in the next election that is, to my horror, rather brilliant. It is something the old Reform/PC group could have tried, but did not. Ryan's plan is for every Liberal and NDP MP to run without opposition from the other. Then, in ridings won by the Conservatives, the single Liberal or NDP (or Green) opponent would be decided by which of those two parties ran best in the previous election. It is smart, and I'm hoping both parties are too stupid to follow up on it. The only flies in the ointment are that this could only happen once, as I don't think the other party would want to perpetually surrender their own hopes in those ridings, and that it does not also include those lefties in the Bloc. An outcome with 129 Conservatives, 129 Lefties, and 50 BQ would still suck. However, I give Ryan credit.

Mind you, Ryan isn't the only guy with ideas. Some of us on the right side of the spectrum have a few of our own. Remember the party I once was part of? While I advocate Senate reform based on Reform's old blueprint, there is room for improvement in our current system. For example, if the leading candidate fails to achieve the 50% (+1) threshold in an election, a runoff between the two leading candidates seems both fair and highly democratic.

I detest the concept of Proportional Representation as it is hard enough to get MPs to listen to you after being elected as an individual. Imagine how much harder it would be if their selection is based on the order they appear on a party list (where their chances are election are based on how they are viewed by their party and not by their constituents). However, if a maximum of twenty seats were set aside to be awarded to a party for each full 5% of the popular vote they achieve, that might be something worthy of consideration. In the recent election, 17 additional seats would have been awarded. That would have given the Conservatives 7 more seats, the Liberals 5, the NDP 3, the Bloc 1 (just missing out on a second by 0.03%), and Elizabeth May would have gotten her Green seat.

Finally, if we are going to add up to 20 additional seats, we should recalculate the total number of House seats. The easiest way to do things would be to come up with a set number of seats and divvy them up strictly by population, but our past politicians in their questionable wisdom have totally muddled that process. For example, no province can have fewer MP's than it has Senators. It has been grandfathered in that no province shall have fewer MP's than it enjoyed in 1982. No province can lose more than 15% of its seats from one decennial census to the next. Finally, each territory gets one MP, even though their combined population is just 105,000. So, before we even start to calculate anything, seven provinces and three territories are already guaranteed a total of 138 seats based on prior misguided agreements, regardless as to the actual number of total seats in the House of Commons.

Newfoundland/Labrador = 7 seats (1982)
Prince Edward Island = 4 seats (4 Senators)
Nova Scotia = 11 seats (1982)
New Brunswick = 10 seats (1982)
Quebec = 75 seats (1982)
Manitoba = 14 (1982)
Saskatchewan = 14 (1982)
Yukon = 1 (rates none)
NWT = 1 (rates none)
Nunavut = 1 (rates none)

Based on a 308 seat Parliament, these jurisdictions already lay claim to 24 more seats than they deserve, led by Saskatchewan (5), and followed by the combined Territories, New Brunswick, Quebec, Manitoba (at 3 each), along with Newfoundland and Nova Scotia (2 each). That leaves 170 (instead of 194) seats to be divided among the remaining three provinces. If we simply gave Ontario (120 seats), British Columbia (42), and Alberta (32) the number of seats they deserved based on a 308 seat institution, and just added the extra to the total, we would wind up with (138 + 193) 331 seat House of Commons. Unbelievable!

One thing is for certain. We need to put a cap on the maximum number of seats in the House of Commons, just as the Americans did 45-years ago in capping their House to 435 seats (having ten times our population). If we did that, then I would _*advocate a Parliament that...*_

1) has a base of 308 elected House of Commons seats,
2) meets existing Constitutional distribution guarantees (that currently affect 138 seats),
3) ensures that all provinces receive their proper proportion based on 308 seats,
4) has each winning candidate decided by, initially or through a runoff vote, their receiving at least 50% (+1) of the vote,
5) has up to 20 awarded seats based on every full 5% of the nationwide popular vote a recognized single party receives,
6) never increases in size except in order to meet the criteria of every province receiving its full portion based on 308 seats.

Then, as we would need to open up the Constitution anyway in order to reform this mess in the House, I would go to work in reforming the Senate.

Take that, John Ryan!

Good Lord, Joe, I've just written a book. Sorry about that.

Ron.

=====
Well split half h length with Rubie, okay"
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From: "Rubie Britton"
Subject: Canadian Centre For Policy Alternatives - October 2008:

We're the Major Supplier of Uranium for Nuclear Weapons
  http://www.policyalternatives.ca/monitorissues/2008/10/monitorissue1975/?pa=DDC3F905

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From: "Robert Ede"
To: torstar <lettertoed@thestar.ca>, "jflaherty@fin.gc.ca" <jflaherty@fin.gc.ca>, "Rt Hon Stephen Harper" <pm@pm.gc.ca>, "Governor General" <Info@gg.ca>
Subject: Uppity steward 'trial balloons' sale of Crown assets - a) not authorized b) bad timing

Federal government considering sale of Crown assets: Flaherty

CBC News Last Updated: Thursday, November 13, 2008 | 10:50 PM ET

 
Not so fast Mr Minister!
 
In Canada the gov't is but trustee/ custodian/ steward of these assets, NOT owner.
 
Crown assets are owned by Crown ... question then remains who/what IS Crown?
-Office of Queen?
-Queen in person?
-Office of Gov Gen?
-Gov Gen as per Part III of BNA Act & 1947 Letters Patent?
-some elected Cdn. official?
-the people collectively?
 
Let's not let an 'uppity' minority gov't sell off OUR assets at fire-sale prices under adverse conditions, just to balance their operating budget!!  - shades of the 407 disgrace!
--
Robert Ede,

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From: "Rebecca Gingrich"
Subject: Does this need our tax dollars in a  bailout?

GM Spends $17 Million Per Year on Viagra
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2006/04/gm_viagra.html

===================================
From: "Robert Ede" <robertede@gmail.com>
To: "globe &mail letters" <letters@globeandmail.ca>, "lmartin@globeandmail.com" <lmartin@globeandmail.com>
Subject: Globe Column almost "Outs" the Office of Clerk of Privy Council AND Sect'y to Cabinet
Cc: "Governor General" <Info@gg.ca>, "Rt Hon Stephen Harper" <pm@pm.gc.ca>, info@pco-bcp.gc.ca

Re: Pulling back the cloak from our powerful Clerk --

LAWRENCE MARTIN From Thursday's Globe and Mail November 12, 2008 at 11:17 PM EST
Ever wondered why our BNA /Constitution Acts don't describe what actually happens in today's Ottawa?
 
Lawrence Martin's column is one of the most significant political investigations in years, because it is an introduction for regular folks to the EXECUTIVE branch (ss.9-16) of Canadian governance (even though, with respect, his facts are not checked far enough back in history AND the tone seems a little sycophantic).
 
Finally a national newspaper is talking about the MERGED offices of Secretary of the Cabinet and Clerk of the Privy Council , although the column does not discuss the fact that it IS a merged office of two intended-to-be-check-and-balance-of-each-other arms of government.
 
Neither does Mr Martin delve into how or why Wm Lyon Mackenzie King used an artful 2-step manoeuver to usurp the Executive powers of the Governor-General (a "revenge served cold" in retaliation -under cover of wartime expediency- for Lord Byng denying that PM's request for dissolution in 1926), nor does he jump into the ramifications to Canadians of this consolidation of power in the Prime Minister's behemoth PMO/PCO since, say, Vincent Massey's appointment.
 
Prior to Order-in-Council P.C. 1940-1121 (referenced in the Clerk's webpage above), these were two separate offices and the Privy Council were independent advisors to the GOVERNOR GENERAL, the  actual Head of State and 'assenter' vis a vis 'decider'.
 
Since the commencement of the new convention of appointing the local PM's recommendation  for GG to the Vice Regal office, the Prime Minister has been the most individually powerful executive (albeit of a rather medium power) and the GG a rubber-stamper ...only in Canada you say ... Pity.
 -
Robert Ede,

Thornhill ON
 
These links below (with links to sources) cover wider swaths than the Clerk's office but might interest individuals who have ever wondered why our BNA Act /Constitution doesn't describe what happens in today's Ottawa!
 
http://robertede.blogspot.com/2006/05/what-canadians-holding-long-view-can.html
http://robertede.blogspot.com/2006_11_27_archive.html
 
FYI -
 Organization Chart of the Office
http://www.pco-bcp.gc.ca/index.asp?lang=eng&page=Org
 
Secretariats
http://www.pco-bcp.gc.ca/index.asp?lang=eng&page=secretariats

===================================
From: Maxine Morrison
Subject: ACTION ALERT:  CRTC must Save Our Net!

Joe:  you must be aware of this, I'm sure.
mjm

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: ACTION ALERT: CRTC must Save Our Net!

Circulate far and wide...  In the coming days the federal communications regulator will issue a landmark ruling that has huge implications for Canadians' access to the Internet. The CRTC decision will determine whether Bell and other big telecoms can continue to "throttle" Internet service.  Please take a few seconds to tell the CRTC to stop Internet throttling. Your voice could be the deciding factor!  Take Action here:  http://saveournet.ca/content/take-action  The commissioners have already twice delayed releasing their ruling, suggesting that they are struggling to make a decision. We need to make it very clear to the CRTC which side the Canadian public is on.  http://saveournet.ca/content/take-action  Media workers can find our Press release here:  http://saveournet.ca/content/coalition-rallies-public-support-open-inter net  Until recently, Canada's Internet was an open network - a level playing field for free speech and innovation. All that is now threatened by a handful of corporations that want to control a "gatekeeper network" in which they decide what content and services get the fastest access to our homes.  These companies have been caught:  * throttling or slowing Internet traffic to businesses and consumers; * blocking access to websites that criticized them; * crippling consumer devices and applications.  The upcoming CRTC decision will have major and long-lasting implications for our Internet. Our online level playing field of innovation and free speech hangs in the balance.  Please Take Action and invite your fellow Canadians to do the same!  Start here:  http://saveournet.ca/content/take-action   

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