Daily Digest November 20, 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 -
A swift kick

CORNER BROOK WESTERN STAR -
Don't let it slip any longer

CHARLOTTETOWN GUARDIAN -
A new vision for Island health care
It's clear from rising costs and growing demand that the status quo can't continue.

HALIFAX CHRONICLE HERALD -
Hospital shooting is a feud too far

AMHERST DAILY NEWS -
Review legislation to better protect pets

MONTREAL GAZETTE -
Harper strikes right note on the economy

Case of the French 'virgin' casts a light on cultural differences

OTTAWA CITIZEN -
We runneth over their cups

Leave partisanship at door

Maintaining our standards

OTTAWA SUN -
Lay flag desecration at society's doorstep

KINGSTON WHIG STANDARD-
Rules too tough on young drivers

TORONTO STAR -
Throne speech lacks boldness

Somalia's brazen pirates

GLOBE & MAIL -
Pragmatism in time of economic crisis
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081120.wethronespeech19/BNStory/specialComment/home

Education by surveillance
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081120.wequeens20/BNStory/specialComment/home

Navies and the rule of law
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081120.wepirates20/BNStory/specialComment/home

NATIONAL POST -
Good riddance to Green Shift
http://www.nationalpost.com/todays_paper/story.html?id=974740

Green Shift gets a well-deserved burial
http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/fullcomment/archive/2008/11/20/national-post-editorial-board-green-shift-gets-a-well-deserved-burial.aspx

TORONTO SUN -

Facts don't matter in school violence

HAMILTON SPECTATOR -
Time to stop penalizing poor families

NIAGARA FALLS REVIEW -
Crackdown on young drivers is tough -but worthwhile

K-W RECORD -
Justice on the roads

Local leaders can't ignore global crisis

WINNIPEG FREE PRESS -
As Flora sees it
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/editorial/story/4251933p-4895640c.html

Opportunity is knocking
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/editorial/story/4251934p-4895641c.html

REGINA LEADER-POST -
GM's pitch misses point

Lenient lesson

Race should have no place in parole board decisions

CALGARY HERALD -
GM's pitch misses point

Lenient lesson

Race should have no place in parole board decisions

CALGARY SUN -
Royalty tweak makes sense in tough times

GRANDE PRAIRIE DAILY HERALD TRIBUNE -
Paying the price for lack of diversity - Slowdown a reminder to not rely on any one industry

EDMONTON JOURNAL -
Ottawa's move on securities long overdue Throne speech

EDMONTON SUN -
Spendthrift governments under fire
http://www.edmontonsun.com/Comment/Commentary/2008/11/20/7469761.html
 
LETHBRIDGE HERALD -
Something no child should be without
http://www.lethbridgeherald.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=8966&Itemid=56

VANCOUVER SUN -
Bank of Canada takes action while we await a government strategy 

Paying ransom to pirates perpetuates the problem  

VICTORIA TIMES-COLONIST -
Weak bailout case for automakers


ISSUES

AFGHANISTAN -
The US strikes deeper in Pakistan

US missile kills six in Pakistan village
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article5188914.ece

Pakistan, US coordinate strikes against the Taliban
http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2008/11/pakistan_us_coordina.php

Pakistan protests over US missile strikes

Pakistani government forcing tribes to fight Taliban
The Pakistani military is compelling the tribes to battle the Taliban. This is a recipe for disaster, officials tell The Long War Journal. http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2008/11/taliban_strike_triba.php

Pentagon wants UK troops for Obama surge
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article5197096.ece

Better to be a Martian than a Westerner in a city which in all but name has fallen to the Taliban.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article21276.htm

Taliban Regains Power, Influence in Afghanistan
http://www.e-ariana.com/ariana/eariana.nsf/allDocs/4FC09953EB8D7560872575070060B8C0?OpenDocument


CANADIAN FORCES
Gates to Meet With Allies, Discuss Afghanistan Mission
American Forces Press Service CORNWALLIS, Canada, Nov. 20, 2008
http://www.defenselink.mil//news/newsarticle.aspx?id=52034

CAN DefMin Hopes New USA Pres Can Get More Countries to Send Troops

Canadian-led mission flushes Taliban from Zhari, uncovers explosives caches


CANUSA/USACAN
Canada out in the cold as Obama embraces Kyoto?

PM looks to fall in with U.S. on climate Nuclear power, Arctic energy also touted

MacKay believes Obama will push to help Canadians in Afghanistan

Senate group works to revive U.S. auto bailout
http://www.reportonbusiness.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081120.wautobailout1120/BNStory/Business/home

Bipartisan auto aid agreement reached
http://www.financialpost.com/news/story.html?id=977160

Help won't come quickly for auto industry

Clement, Bryant take auto mission to Washington

Chrysler Canada seeks $1-billion

Detroit Three's bankruptcy could cost Ontario 'billions'

High-flying Auto CEOs ride luxury jets into a PR storm

Struggling GM still committed to Olympics

NASCAR Banks on Automakers' Survival

The real reason a Big Three bailout is a bad idea


FOREIGN AFFAIRS
Forest Minister Says China Trip Brings In 83 Million More Board Feet

Pirate mothership sunk after attack threat
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/africa/article5186821.ece

Pirates defying foreign warships to claim vessels
http://www.nationalpost.com/todays_paper/story.html?id=975300

High stakes on the high seas
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081120.wpirates20/BNStory/International/home

Rising pirate threat demands a tougher response

It's official (nearly): Iraq's government wants America's army out ...


HEALTH CARE RELATED
Leaks prompt CFIA to investigate juice boxes


MIGRATION
Rethink using point system to pick immigrants


POLITICS IN THE PROVINCES
How Ontario became a have-not
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=974772

McGuinty mucked it up
http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/fullcomment/archive/2008/11/20/mike-harris-ontario-liberals-have-spent-the-province-into-have-not-status.aspx

Ontario considers temporary pension-plan help
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081120.wontpension1120/BNStory/National/home

Let pharmacists prescribe, Ontario told

PM, premier poles apart

Quebec leaders find common ground on the campaign trail

Conservatives roil Quebec waters  


PARTY POLITICS all 490 news articles »
NDP holds balance of power on committees

DION LIBS TO SUPPORT THRONE SPEECH

Liberals rip Harper as debate begins
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081120.wcommons1120/BNStory/politics/home

Dion calls out Harper on deficit, economic bailout
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=977315

Harper instructs MPs to be less confrontational COMMENTS

187

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081119.wharper20/BNStory/politics/home

Flaherty to deliver economic update next week


POLITICAL OPINION -
New Nanos National Poll
CP, 32%, LP 30%, NDP 20%, GP 10%, BQ 9%

Globe and Mail Politics 


Watchdog warns federal deficit could hit $13.8-billion
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/canada/politics/story.html?id=976554

Grim talk for grim times
http://www.nationalpost.com/todays_paper/story.html?id=975273

Business gives thumbs up to Speech
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/canada/politics/story.html?id=974408

Throne for a loop

Hubris from the Throne
http://www.nationalpost.com/opinion/columnists/story.html?id=128e654f-c3ed-42f0-a8d9-9aa5012ece85

Government's economic plan vague on specifics

Ottawa's '09 deficit may hit $14B

Harper spreads the blame

Budget officer blames Tories for coming deficits
http://www.canada.com/topics/news/story.html?id=37e84a85-2ccb-4309-9a0e-cd3dde432de2

Tories signal frugal measures for lean times  

Unremarkable, maybe – but a prudent blueprint
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081120.wcomartin20/BNStory/politics/home


Rae, Ignatieff to scrap green shift
http://www.nationalpost.com/todays_paper/story.html?id=974722

Rae declares bid for Liberal leadership
http://www.nationalpost.com/todays_paper/story.html?id=933180

Rae won't hide from record

 Rae and Ignatieff -- 'Don't believe what we said about the Green Shift'
http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/fullcomment/archive/2008/11/20/kelly-mcparland-rae-and-ignatieff-don-t-believe-what-we-said-about-the-green-shift.aspx

Liberals stuck in the last century

Absurd process for choosing leader could be changed
http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix/news/third_page/story.html?id=e9ce90a6-ce18-497e-b68b-29b0dbd76e6d
No Rae to avoid disaster

Chart: Where's your favourite MP sitting in the new parliamentary session?
http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/posted/archive/2008/11/18/chart-where-s-your-favourite-mp-sitting-in-the-new-parliamentary-session.aspx


PROGRAMMES
CRTC denies Internet 'traffic shaping' complaintComment98
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081120.wcrtc1120/BNStory/Technology/home

Ottawa pledges better food, toy safety

Senator reopens portrait gallery debate

PS faces forced wage controls

Fisheries minister: No seal hunt changes

'Clean' energy promise a dirty lie, say green groups


PRESSURE POINTS
Compelling case for carbon capture

Ontario Enviro Min. tells Schwarzenegger climate change "deniers" no longer listened to


OPINION AND INFORMATION
Linda to teach us how to teach our kids
http://money.canoe.ca/Columnists/Leatherdale/2008/11/20/7474301-sun.html

Marrying for love? Forget it.
http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/fullcomment/archive/2008/11/18/karen-selick-court-ruling-means-marrying-for-love-is-not-an-option.aspx

The Old Chieftain
Today, the Dominion Institute launches Macdonald-Laurier Days to celebrate two of Canada's great nation-builders
http://www.nationalpost.com/todays_paper/story.html?id=974774

Promising Jewish-Muslim dialogue

Naomi Lakritz • Our justice system coddles offenders

Ian Lee • The real financial story

Margaret Somerville • A new eugenics

Road to next G20 paved with good intentions

Tories change their tune -- temporarily


INFOS 
Discours du Trône - Les fonctionnaires feront les frais de la crise
http://www.ledevoir.com/2008/11/20/217367.html

Discours du trône - Toujours conservateur

Le Québec est «marginalisé», estiment le PLQ, le PQ et l'ADQ
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/actualites/quebec-canada/politique-canadienne/200811/20/01-802479-le-quebec-est-marginalise-estiment-le-plq-le-pq-et-ladq.php

Des déficits à Ottawa
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/actualites/quebec-canada/politique-canadienne/200811/20/01-802643-des-deficits-a-ottawa.php

Déficit: Dion blâme Harper
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/actualites/quebec-canada/politique-canadienne/200811/20/01-802648-deficit-dion-blame-harper.php

Ottawa rouvre la porte aux déficits
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/actualites/quebec-canada/politique-canadienne/200811/20/01-802478-ottawa-rouvre-la-porte-aux-deficits.php

Bob Rae lance officiellement sa campagne
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/dossiers/succession-de-dion/200811/20/01-802538-bob-rae-lance-officiellement-sa-campagne.php

BELOW(30)(30)(30)(30)(30)30)(30)(30)(30)(30)(30)30)(30)(30)(30)(30)(30)30)(30)(30)(30)(30)(30)(30)(30)(30)30)(30)(30)(30)(30)

____________________
Why politics must be war
Comments

REGINALD STACKHOUSE
From Thursday's Globe and Mail
November 20, 2008 at 4:46 AM EST

So, the newly re-elected government wants Parliament to act collectively instead of combatively in an effort to ward off the economic tsunami sweeping over Canada and almost everywhere else. Sound good? What could be better than MPs working together for the common good instead of growling and snapping at each other?

Yes, it sounds good. But it isn't good. Parliament has not evolved from its medieval origins to become a good neighbour club. From the beginning, it has been intended to be a place of combat. So much so that, centuries ago, the Speaker was given the protection of a mace. It is now carried ceremoniously in the daily Speaker's Parade, but its presence on the Clerk's table is a visible sign of the Speaker's authority to maintain order in a chamber that can burst into fury at any moment. And for centuries, the aisle between the government and the opposition has been made at least two swords length in width so that unwary honourable members might not find themselves struck down without warning.

But what is the relevance of those historical curios now? No one has ever seen the mace used to club an obstreperous parliamentarian. MPs don't carry anything more threatening than a flask. So what do those features of long ago have to do with the 21st century?

The relevance of Parliament's being divided between government and opposition is as vital as ever. Everything else may have changed since the Middle Ages when Parliament was born, but human nature hasn't. Whether MPs are from the Toronto area or the Far North, they're still susceptible to serving self-interest.

The purpose of the opposition is to prevent the government and its supporters from using their near-absolute power to govern that way. It cannot be done by sweetness and light. It demands that the opposition have adequate access to information and adequate opportunity to articulate its critical analysis of government proposals - especially when the government doesn't want the opposition parties to be in the know.

That means politics has to be war. It means we, the public, are served best when our parliamentary representatives keep each other honest, making all aware they are living on a firing line where battle is done every day.

So nothing constructive may be achieved because MPs are playing "cops and robbers"? Just the opposite. A government's best line of defence is legislation that will serve the common good. Opposition parties are doing their job best when they shed light on potential harm that government policies can do. As Mackenzie King, Canada's longest-serving prime minister, argued: "A government's first duty is to prevent bad things from happening." It's the opposition's first duty, too.

If MPs were all saints, a parliamentary collectivity might serve the common good. But MPs are fallen sinners as much as the voters who elected them. So no government can be moral enough to rule without facing an opposition that is ready to oppose.

Medieval English kings found that out when they wanted to impose new taxes so they could fight more wars with France. Parliament would usually approve the taxes the king needed, but not before the king had heard the people's grievances.

Basically, that's Parliament's duty now. The government can expect to finance its programs after the House of Commons passes a budget that includes taxes. But first it has to listen to the opposition. Parliament works best for us when the government proposes and the opposition exposes. That's just being realistic about human nature.

Reginald Stackhouse is principal emeritus and research professor

at Wycliffe College, University of Toronto.

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

From: "Rebecca Gingrich"
Subject:  DD
MEDICAL ERRORS, THE FDA, AND PROBLEMS WITH PRESCRIPTION DRUGS
http://www.cancure.org/medical_errors.htm

Joe--Thanks to David Rowland for his letter to Clements.  I have no doubt
that Bill C-51 will be imposed on us expressly to protect the major
pharmaceutical companies from competition.  The above article stating that
prescription drugs are the 4th leading cause of death in North America will
be ignored by our all caring government to protect their monied suppporters.
  Our health and safety matter not to them.  Don't forget, when Dosanjh was
Health Minister his biggest contributors were the large pharmaceutical
companies!  Whoever controls the money controls the lawmakers?  Seems to me
I have heard a similar statement before!

becky

Subject:Statement From G-20 Summit: In English
http://solari.com/blog/?p=1823

===================================
From: "Rene Moreau"

Forwarded by Rene Moreau;

FYI ---- to all
Subject: Fwd: from our "Interesting Reading" department  --  the
Poison of War in America

To some the following is self-evident; to others it is new stuff.
Whatever, it makes interesting reading. Take the piracy off Somalia.
I call this an example of unintended consequences of intentional
actions. The first interview on the Current this morning explained it
very well. It is worth listening to, especially the ending plea of
the interviewee.

I pin my hopes in Latin America if it manages to progress along the
current lines for a few more years until it is consolidated. It will
offer a good example, not perfect but decidedly better than what we
have now.

I agree with the conclusion that we cannot depend on Obama to solve
the problems of the world. I believe that he will be an American
first and a citizen of the world a distant second. His past is not
very encouraging as a  predictor of the future.

peace. mike

AMERICA'S WARS OF SELF-DESTRUCTION
http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/
20081117_americas_wars_of_self_destruction/
Posted Nov 17, 2008, By Chris Hedges

===================================
From: "Ian Berg"
Subject: RE: Daily Digest November 19, 2008

Dear Ray Strachan:
 
I won't type in all-caps because I'm not yelling.  I hope you didn't waste your vote on October 14 by voting Green, New Democrat, Progressive Canadian or some other third party.  If you want Stephen Harper out of power so badly then you need to convince people to vote Liberal.  You need to do this regardless of who they elect as their leader to replace Stephane Dion.  Even if its Michael Ignatieff, though he was pro-Iraq Invasion in 2003 and even if its Bob Rae, though he's a NDP turncoat who was Ontario's premier during a sharp recession and ran up big deficits.  You'll also have to look past the fact that the Liberals deployed Canadian troops into Afghanistan when George W. Bush and NATO asked us.  The Liberals are the only federal party besides the Conservatives still capable of forming government in our present electoral system.  The Liberals would still be leading the federal government if Reform/Alliance and the Progressive Conservatives hadn't merged back in 2003.   
 
It's clear that you have strong disagreements with your Baptist church.  Never fear, I'm sure there's a race-neutral, gender-neutral, non-Christian Winter Solstice festival that you can attend somewhere nearby.  You'll just have to do some research.       
 
Ian Berg
Calgary, Alberta

===================================
From: "Robert Ede"
To: ian_lee@carleton.ca, letters@thecitizen.canwest.com, "Pierre Bourque" <pierre@bourque.com>
Subject: Why do you think they got rid of Office of Comptroller-General?

Re: Ian Lee . The real financial story I spotted on www.Bourque.com

Dear Mr Lee & Editors,
 
Your article about the Office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer (PBO) describes vertical gov't obfuscation in a land of horizontal-ism.
 
All sorts of excellent proposals from the Opposition get implemented (by the same turkeys now in office) in a way that totally frustrates the stated objective of the policy (and the enabling Bill).  Why else WOULD the PBO be installed in the non-transparent Lib of Parl?
 
This is but one example of the purposeful concentration of the checks-and-balances of power described in the BNA/Constitution Acts into the PMO/PCO. The folks in the Legislative order were never intended to run the Executive order. see sections 9-16 vs sections 17-57 (my Plain language version)
 
So many of the "accepted truths" of Cdn gov't operations since WWII, that bear no resemblance to the as-written provisions of 1867 (no wonder they don't teach it ... who could answer the obvious questions the students would pose?) are rooted in Wm L M King's revenge for Lord Byng's refusal of a dissolution.
 
The Freedom of Info legislation is same thing ... just an upside/down & inside out trick 'by the governors' to seem to be doing something grand 'for the governed' .... while actually doing the exact opposite.
 
Your piece addresses your frustrations with a watch dog agency (much like the long banished Office of Comptroller General) designed to supervise the spending of public money BEFORE it's spent ... and wonders why 'twas done like thus ...
 
Simply, my dear and earnest MBA director, this method of implementation ensures privacy from prying eyes for the "Legislative Usurpers of the Executive's Control over the Crown's Treasury" (if the public's watchdogs cannot follow the Money, then these same watchdogs will likely never admit that they cannot sleuth through our maze, so we'll be free of their oversight ... buy them off with salary/perks or a promotion and bigger pension if they get uppity)
 
--Doncha just love the Permanent Secretary character in Yes Minister/Prime Minister??
 
If you really want to get to the bottom:
 
1) Look into the 1962  Glassco Commissions recommendations to "let the Managers, manage"
 2) I cannot quickly find a site describing when the Office of Comptroller General was eliminated (no time just now) -this office was to be an "auditor-general" 
3) Earlier (1940 and the start of the era of PMO/PCO running the whole show ) was the capture of the Privy Council (Treasury Bd et al)  also see Treasury Bd Milestone #6
 
4) Check the Organizational Chart of the Privy Council Office
--
Robert (Rob) Ede,
Thornhill On

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