Daily Digest November 28, 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 -
Threats and promises

CORNER BROOK WESTERN STAR -
Stay out of the way

HALIFAX CHRONICLE HERALD -
Mumbai attacks are everybody's problem

MONTREAL GAZETTE -
'Maternity tourism' makes suckers of us all

OTTAWA CITIZEN -
Removing the opposition 

Don't forget the people  

KINGSTON WHIG STANDARD-
A VICTORY FOR FREE SPEECH

Canada's banks sure are suffering in this downturn

BELLEVILLE INTELLIGENCER -
The Big Three can't be allowed to fail

TORONTO STAR -
Playing politics with a meltdown

GLOBE & MAIL -
Partisanism trumps the world crisis
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081127.weParties28/BNStory/politics/home

Stimuli postponed
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081127.weFiscal28/BNStory/politics/home

NATIONAL POST -
National Post editorial board: Funding reform is not the hill to die on
http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/fullcomment/archive/2008/11/28/national-post-editorial-board-funding-reform-is-not-the-hill-to-die-on.aspx

All signs point to Pakistan
http://www.nationalpost.com/todays_paper/story.html?id=1002825

Lessons from Mumbai
http://www.nationalpost.com/todays_paper/story.html?id=1002826

A landmark attack in the annals of modern terrorism
http://www.nationalpost.com/todays_paper/story.html?id=1002827

HAMILTON SPECTATOR -
What were they thinking?

K-W RECORD -
New Parliament as dysfunctional as old

SUDBURY STAR -
Freedom of expression must be protected

SASKATOON STARPHOENIX -
Worthy recognition for several Sask. Natives

REGINA LEADER-POST -
Auto giants: shift gear to earn a bailout

CALGARY HERALD -
Spend well, spend less  

CALGARY SUN -
Politicians must lead by example

EDMONTON JOURNAL -
Flaherty's update mere posturing  

An unsettling loophole  

LETHBRIDGE HERALD -
Generic market offers big benefits
http://www.lethbridgeherald.com/content/view/11078/56/

RED DEER ADVOCATE -
Why your EI matters more than your IQ

PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN -
Campbell firmly on the horns of a dilemma

VANCOUVER SUN -
Criminal Code the most effective tool to control hate speech on the Net

Campus absurdities


ISSUES

ABORIGINAL AFFAIRS -
Quebec, Labrador natives to declare unilateral sovereignty over their territory
http://www.nationalpost.com/todays_paper/story.html?id=1002801

Former native leader wraps up testimony at Saskatoon hate crime trial


AFGHANISTAN -
Afghan anger over civilian death


CANADIAN FORCES
Driving out the Taliban

Canadians make major advance in Afghanistan

Canadian troops complete large operation in southern Afghanistan

Chopper squad ships out to Afghanistan


ECONOMIC AFFAIRS
Canadian pension plans shown to have flaws

RRIF plans get dose of flexibility

Cubans seek more trade with Canada


FOREIGN AFFAIRS
Russia backs U.S. on NATO decision  


POLITICS IN THE PROVINCES
Stelmach digs in his heels

Grits leaning left -- and right

Ontario to place prosecutors in police stations

Don't pull the plug on the Therapeutics Initiative

Government won't reduce provincial transfers: Flaherty


FEDERAL POLITICS all 733 news articles »

Conservative government on verge of collapse

Harper attacks opposition over no-confidence

The Commons: 'Sir, did you make a mistake?'

PM Harper's response to Crisis on Parliament Hill

Chretien, Broadbent brokering possible coalition

Deputy Prime Minister Jack Layton? Maybe ...

EXPERTS DOUBTFUL LIB-NDP COALITION WOULD WORK

Governor General could come home if constitutional crisis erupts

Defence Minister Peter MacKay says the opposition will blink

Tories Blink First: Drop party-funding cuts from key motion

Conservatives back down on controversial party funding changes

Harper averts immediate political crisis

Harper plays for time, appeals to public to reject alternative to Tories

Controversial vote subsidy system pioneered by Quebec

Tory economic statement also draws fire on Quebec election trail

Liberal leadership uncertain in midst of coalition talks

Opposition gears for vote of confidence
http://www.nationalpost.com/todays_paper/story.html?id=1002802

Wrong time to cut party funding
http://www.nationalpost.com/opinion/columnists/story.html?id=c2883158-2ace-46eb-98f6-d2aa38e827de

The Tories want to cut public funding of political parties. Good or evil? Discuss ...

Internal Dissent: What we (kind of) believe about subsidizing political parties
http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/fullcomment/archive/2008/11/28/internal-dissent-what-we-kind-of-believe-about-subsidizing-political-parties.aspx

Long live the junta! Opposition seeks to oust Harper
http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/fullcomment/archive/2008/11/28/kelly-mcparland-long-live-the-junta-liberals-and-ndp-plot-to-seize-power-exhume-trudeau.aspx

A scarier alternative is now very possible
http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/fullcomment/archive/2008/11/28/john-ivison-a-scarier-alternative-is-now-very-possible.aspx#211802

Who will be prime minister next week?
http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/fullcomment/archive/2008/11/28/daniel-goldbloom-who-will-be-prime-minister-next-week.aspx#211805

Harper has no one to blame but himself
http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/fullcomment/archive/2008/11/28/don-martin-harper-has-no-one-to-blame-but-himself.aspx

Harper delays confidence voteComment338
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081128.wPOLcoalition1128/BNStory/politics/home

A day more about politics than bold moves

Liberal finance critic on why his party is acting now

 The unifying force that is Stephane Dion

Conservatives delay vote on fiscal update

Opposition outraged by party cuts

Showdown looms over 'mean' Tory blueprint

Cuts wrong way to go - just ask PM

Tory partisanship creates toxic mood

Seeing red over surplus talk

A reckless move from harper  

Still throwing for the head  

Subsidies give sense of entitlement  

Tory tax subsidy snuff crosses line  

Nice Start. Do More
http://www.nationalpost.com/todays_paper/story.html?id=1002894

Rescuing Democracy While Standing Up to Liberal Fraud Artists

Prentice warms to critics ahead of climate talks
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081128.wPOLprentice1129/BNStory/politics/home

VIEWS OF QUEBEC MEDIA IN TRANSLATION

Aucune mesure pour stimuler l'économie No measures to stimulate the economy
http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ledevoir.com%2F2008%2F11%2F28%2F219240.html&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&sl=fr&tl=en

Irresponsible, Mr. Harper!
http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cyberpresse.ca%2Fopinions%2Feditorialistes%2Fandre-pratte%2F200811%2F28%2F01-805197-irresponsable-m-harper.php&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&sl=fr&tl=en

 L'opposition songe à défaire Harper The opposition is considering to defeat Harper
http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ledevoir.com%2F2008%2F11%2F28%2F219238.html&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&sl=fr&tl=en

Harper delays two votes of confidence to avoid losing power
http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Finfo.branchez-vous.com%2FNationales%2F081128%2FN1128203AU.html&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&sl=fr&tl=en

Examples of coalition governments are rare in Canadian history
http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Finfo.branchez-vous.com%2FNationales%2F081128%2FN1128187AU.html&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&sl=fr&tl=en


PROGRAMMES
No further stimulus in the works, Flaherty saysComment517
http://www.reportonbusiness.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081128.wflahertystaff1128/BNStory/Business/home

Tories plan immigration reforms to fast-track workers in 38 occupations

Cdn officials set deadline for automakers to come up with restructuring plan

Public service union says fiscal plan puts democracy in jeopardy

Professors give Flaherty a failing mark

Flaherty's instinct to cut out of step with world

Tories shun stimulus programs

The Tories are doing what they must - but they don't like it
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20081128.COSIMP28/TPStory/National/columnists

Parliament on the brink

The Conservatives should give credit where credit is due  


PRESSURE POINTS
Support for climate-change efforts falling  

Canada to consult with provinces on climate talks


OPINION AND INFORMATION
Free speech under siege on Canada's campuses
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=1007901

Ferguson's fears
We have to remember that the alternatives to capitalism have always wound up worse
http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/fullcomment/archive/2008/11/28/peter-foster-ferguson-s-fears.aspx

Do the right thing: disclose
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081128.wcowent29/BNStory/specialComment/home

Harper: Economist with a tin heart, politician with a tin ear
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081128.wcosimp29/BNStory/politics/home

Harper's mischief a good show
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/Harpers_mischief_a_good_show.html

Less lecturing and more listening

Tough nation impotent in the face of terrorism

Tough choice on spending or saving

Say hello to the frugalistas

Afghan justice a dilemma

Atlantic cod in danger of extinction

Students are becoming frightening speech stiflers  

Illicit drugs should be legal, officer says


INFOS 
Irresponsable, M. Harper!

Aucune mesure pour stimuler l'économie
http://www.ledevoir.com/2008/11/28/219240.html

Vers une coalition?
http://www.radio-canada.ca/nouvelles/Politique/2008/11/28/001-coalition-emissaires-discussio.shtml

Harper se donne une semaine de sursis
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/actualites/quebec-canada/politique-canadienne/200811/28/01-805430-harper-se-donne-une-semaine-de-sursis.php

Harper retarde deux votes de confiance pour éviter de perdre le pouvoir
http://info.branchez-vous.com/Nationales/081128/N1128203AU.html

Tout est prêt pour que Michaëlle Jean rentre au pays
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/actualites/quebec-canada/politique-canadienne/200811/28/01-805456-tout-est-pret-pour-que-michaelle-jean-rentre-au-pays.php

L'opposition dit pouvoir former un gouvernement de rechange
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/actualites/quebec-canada/politique-canadienne/200811/28/01-805409-lopposition-dit-pouvoir-former-un-gouvernement-de-rechange.php

Prêts pour d'autres élections?
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/actualites/quebec-canada/politique-canadienne/200811/27/01-805138-prets-pour-dautres-elections.php

L'opposition songe à défaire Harper
http://www.ledevoir.com/2008/11/28/219238.html

Les exemples de gouvernements de coalition sont rares dans l'histoire du Canada
http://info.branchez-vous.com/Nationales/081128/N1128187AU.html

Ottawa et l'Ontario imposent une date limite aux constructeurs automobiles
http://info.branchez-vous.com/Nationales/081128/N1128199AU.html

Réforme de l'immigration: Ottawa veut favoriser les travailleurs qualifiés
http://info.branchez-vous.com/Nationales/081128/N1128146AU.html


La Teoria Conspiratoria
VIDEO: Never seen before!: Fox news 5 reports WTC 7 collapse before it happens
http://pimpinturtle.com/2008/11/28/video-never-seen-before-fox-news-5-reports-wtc-7-collapse-before-it-happens.aspx

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It now being 1:30 a.m. the thoughts of those who posted to-day must wait until tomorrow.

Another question to you:  Would a coalition government supported by a majority be legitimate or not?

"The opposition has been working on a backroom deal to overturn the results of the last election without seeking the consent of voters," Harper said late Friday in a statement in the foyer of the House of Commons.

"They want to take power, not earn it."
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/081128/national/fiscal_update_vote

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Harper plays for time, appeals to public to reject alternative to Tories
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/081128/national/fiscal_update_vote

Fri Nov 28, 7:18 PM

By Bruce Cheadle, The Canadian Press

OTTAWA - Prime Minister Stephen Harper has guaranteed the survival of his minority Conservative government for at least another week and is imploring Canadians to reject what he says is an undemocratic and illegitimate coalition.

Opposition leaders, incensed by the government's fall economic update, ignored the prime minister's appeal and were to spend the weekend negotiating the details of a parallel government that could wrest power from the Tories less than two months after the Oct. 14 general election.

Harper ended an extraordinary 36 hours in the national capital by announcing the cancellation of Monday's scheduled opposition day and the delay of a confidence vote on his government's fall economic update.

But his measures only buy the government a reprieve to Dec. 8, when the Liberals, New Democrats and Bloc Quebecois can use their combined majority to vote non-confidence.

The prime minister is appealing to public opinion to turn the tide by then.

"The opposition has been working on a backroom deal to overturn the results of the last election without seeking the consent of voters," Harper said late Friday in a statement in the foyer of the House of Commons.

"They want to take power, not earn it."

He noted the Liberals would lead the coalition after winning the party's lowest share of the popular vote since Confederation and that the Bloc - "a party that wants to destroy the country" - would provide critical support.

Harper's procedural tactics avert, at least temporarily, a potential constitutional crisis whose particulars would be unique in Canada's federal parliamentary history.

Events were changing almost by the minute.

Gov. Gen. Michaelle Jean was making contingency plans Friday for a speedy return to Rideau Hall from a European tour should the Harper government fall.

Furtive, tripartite talks were taking place off Parliament Hill by emissaries of the three opposition parties.

And the government was scrambling to contain a crisis largely of its own manufacture.

The fuse was lit when the Liberal Opposition served notice Friday of a motion declaring non-confidence in Harper's Tories that indicated a "viable alternative government" was ready to go.

"In light of the government's failure to recognize the seriousness of Canada's economic situation and its failure in particular to present any credible plan to stimulate the Canadian economy and to help workers and businesses in hard-pressed sectors such as manufacturing, the automotive industry and forestry, this House has lost confidence in this government and is of the opinion that a viable alternative government can be formed within the present House of Commons," says the motion, which has the approval of the NDP and the Bloc.

Yet talks on the shape and form of a coalition were still in their infancy and were expected to continue through the weekend.

Only the broadest outlines of a single-minded focus on economic policy, and the need for immediate stimulus measures, had been agreed to by late Friday afternoon.

"I understand the global economy, the Canadian economy is fragile," said Liberal John McCallum, a former chief economist with Royal Bank and chair of a Liberal advisory committee on the economy.

"And so I want the business community, the financial community to know that should we form the government that the stability of our financial system and our economy will be uppermost in our mind, every step of the way."

Some Liberal sources were suggesting Liberal Leader Stephane Dion would have to lead the coalition, a point seized upon by Harper.

"The opposition has every right to defeat the government, but Stephane Dion does not have the right to take power without an election," said Harper.

"Canada's government should be decided by Canadians, not backroom deals."

But "Prime Minister Dion" is by no means assured if there is a coalition.

Bloc Quebecois Leader Gilles Duceppe said it is not up to the smaller coalition partners to determine the Liberal leadership - and thus the prime minister - and a senior NDP strategist agreed.

Failure to sort out the convoluted internal leadership politics of the fractious Liberals could be Harper's salvation.

The party has a leadership convention scheduled for May 2 to replace Dion. Among his would-be successors, Toronto MP Bob Rae said Friday he hopes that he, Michael Ignatieff and Dominic LeBlanc can find a common front on the issue.

The proposed Liberal non-confidence motion came after a frantic 36 hours in which the Harper government tabled a highly provocative fall fiscal update that failed to include any significant economic stimulus measures - but did poke a stick in the eye of opposition parties and government unions.

A combative Finance Minister Jim Flaherty said Friday the government won't back down on a single measure, despite the opposition threats.

"We're staying on track," Flaherty said in Toronto.

"We were just elected by the people of Canada with an increased number of seats, the people of Canada clearly viewed our party as the best party to steer our country through what is a serious economic downturn, and we put forward yesterday, after deliberation, our plan for the country.

"So we expect it to have the support of Parliament given the will as expressed of the Canadian people."

But the government was evidently scrambling to avert a self-induced political catastrophe. An unprecedented flurry of Conservative media briefings and interviews endeavoured to paint the opposition fury as a mere fit of pique over lost public subsidies.

"We take what we're hearing at face value, that the opposition is threatening to change the government without going back to the people, two months after a general election, for the sole reason of protecting their entitlements," said Kory Teneycke, Harper's director of communications.

"Our government is focused on the economy."

The fiscal update included a measure to strip political parties of their $1.95-per-vote public financing, which would cement the financial supremacy of the Conservative party and its state-of-the-art fundraising machine.

The update also would deny federal public-sector unions the right to strike for the next three years, and promised to reform the "costly and litigious" pay equity regime.

Opposition MPs said Friday that even if those positions were reversed, the absence of any immediate economic stimulus measures dooms the Conservative plan.

"This is why we're having those (coalition) discussions, because we just can't accept the proposals made by the government yesterday," said the Bloc's Duceppe.

While Liberals and New Democrats discussed who would sit in a coalition cabinet, Duceppe said his party's demands are simple: economic stimulus, aid for the manufacturing and forestry sectors and improved employment insurance.

Rae said Thursday's fiscal update shows a "complete lack of any leadership" on stimulating the economy.

Moreover, the "numbers are completely unreliable ... and they're based on completely speculative notions" about how much money the government might get by selling unspecified assets.

"I think this really raises severe questions about the credibility of the government and frankly the credibility of the minister," said Rae.

Whatever befalls the Conservatives, many non-partisan observers say the government is in a bed of its own making.

"Here is Harper, who has promised to be lovey-dovey and make goo-goo eyes at the opposition and increase the civility of Parliament - and the first thing that his government does is blatantly partisan and aimed at hurting the opposition," said Ned Franks, professor emeritus at Queen's University and one of Canada's pre-eminent scholars on parliamentary procedure.

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