Daily Digest November 29, 2008

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

FEDERAL POLITICS

Government reverses itself on political funding decision

all 1,001 news articles »

Gov.-Gen. decides who forms government
http://www.nationalpost.com/todays_paper/story.html?id=1008300

Suddenly, Gov. Gen. Jean wields a lot of power

Several options exist under Constitution

What is a coalition?

How a coalition could take hold

Little choice but to accept coalition pact, experts say

-8344The Liberal Motion
http://www.nationalpost.com/todays_paper/story.html?id=1008304

PM CALLS TIME OUT ON POLITICAL DRAMA
http://www.nationalpost.com/todays_paper/story.html?id=1008292

Harper scrambles to retain power

Harper buys time, coalition firms up
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081128.wcoalition29/BNStory/National

Ghosts of leaders past return for a political longshot
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081128.wliberals29/BNStory/politics/home

Who should helm coalition?

Share the House, spare the voter

Another federal election? They wouldn't dare

Harper has only himself to blame
http://www.nationalpost.com/todays_paper/story.html?id=1008301

Harper blind to blood lust in opposition ranks
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081129.wanalysis29/BNStory/National

Hard-right ideology has put PM in a bind

Harper gives in to political temptation

Recession provides cover for Tory attack

Hardball on the Hill

Coalition politics explode on the Web: Tory bloggers question PM

Chess-loving PM bodychecked by opponents

The PM plays politics when the economy is tanking and people are afraid. So how do you spell 'disgraceful?' S-T-E-P-H-E-N-H-A-R-P-E-R

PM's recklessness puts Canada at risk

Gamesmanship over paltry $30M
http://www.nationalpost.com/todays_paper/story.html?id=1008294

Vote subsidy was a racket to start with: let it go. Canada had funded separatism to the tune of $5,970,311

Globe Politics: Analysis, blogs and more
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics

VIEWS OF QUEBEC MEDIA IN TRANSLATION

 Le Canada en crise Canada in crisis
http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ledevoir.com%2F2008%2F11%2F29%2F219526.html&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&sl=fr&tl=en

The opposition is in talks
http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cyberpresse.ca%2Factualites%2Fquebec-canada%2Fpolitique-canadienne%2F200811%2F29%2F01-805527-lopposition-est-en-pourparlers.php&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&sl=fr&tl=en

Les précédents sont rarissimes The precedents are rare
http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ledevoir.com%2F2008%2F11%2F29%2F219525.html&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&sl=fr&tl=en

The decline will not change Harper said Duceppe
http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cyberpresse.ca%2Factualites%2Fquebec-canada%2Fpolitique-canadienne%2F200811%2F29%2F01-805678-le-recul-de-harper-ne-changera-rien-dit-duceppe.php&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&sl=fr&tl=en

Ottawa then swim into full political crisis, the Harper government abandons the idea of abolishing the public financing of federal political parties. http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cyberpresse.ca%2Factualites%2Fquebec-canada%2Fpolitique-canadienne%2F200811%2F29%2F01-805657-le-gouvernement-ne-voudrait-plus-abolir-les-subventions-aux-partis.php&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&sl=fr&tl=en

Yvon Godin Harper called a dictator
http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cyberpresse.ca%2Factualites%2Fquebec-canada%2Fpolitique-canadienne%2F200811%2F29%2F01-805596-yvon-godin-qualifie-harper-de-dictateur.php&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&sl=fr&tl=en

 Énoncé économique du Parti conservateur - Flaherty sous une pluie de reproches
Economic Statement of the Conservative Party - Flaherty in a hail of criticism http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ledevoir.com%2F2008%2F11%2F29%2F219522.html&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&sl=fr&tl=en

No elections, please!
http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cyberpresse.ca%2Fopinions%2Fchroniqueurs%2Flysiane-gagnon%2F200811%2F29%2F01-805585-pas-delections-sil-vous-plait.php&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&sl=fr&tl=en

 Le retour des enveloppes brunes ? The return of brown envelopes?
http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ledevoir.com%2F2008%2F11%2F29%2F219528.html&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&sl=fr&tl=en

EDITORIAL PAGEs

ST.JOHN'S TELEGRAM -
This is no time for politics

HALIFAX CHRONICLE HERALD -
Fiscal update: Goading, not guiding

MONTREAL GAZETTE -
Government right to wait, but wrong to play politics

OTTAWA CITIZEN -
This is not leadership

Scary Surfing

BELLEVILLE INTELLIGENCER -
Canada's troops show courage and compassion at same time

TORONTO STAR -
PM needs to fix economy

GLOBE & MAIL -
How to compound an economic crisis
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20081129.EHARPER29/TPStory/Opinion/editorials

Dubious tradition
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20081129.EBEARS29/TPStory/Opinion/editorials

NATIONAL POST -
Party finance: The Don Mills debate
http://www.nationalpost.com/todays_paper/story.html?id=1008324

Harper's toxic gambit
http://www.nationalpost.com/todays_paper/story.html?id=1008325

The GG must stand up to Harper
http://www.nationalpost.com/todays_paper/story.html?id=1008326

HAMILTON SPECTATOR -
Harper is too clever by half

NIAGARA FALLS REVIEW -
Harper could be kingmaker for PM Stephane Dion

WINDSOR STAR -
Public sector

CALGARY HERALD -
Do the right thing for Canada

CALGARY SUN -
Time for the feds to grow up

EDMONTON JOURNAL -
Back off, Harper, on cheap move

VANCOUVER SUN -
t's the economy, stupid. Cooler heads must prevail in Ottawa for everyone's sake

VANCOUVER PROVINCE -
The lessons of Mumbai

VICTORIA TIMES-COLONIST -
Economic crisis is no time for political games

ISSUES

ABORIGINAL AFFAIRS -          
Race and culture not the same


AFGHANISTAN -
US, NATO split over alliance's Afghan media merger


CANADIAN FORCES
We don't have the capacity - or the stomach Rick Hillier
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081128.wcohillier29/BNStory/specialComment/home

A strong and principled basis for response
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081128.wcoevans29/BNStory/specialComment/home


CANUSA/USACAN
Putting new life in an old friendship


ECONOMIC AFFAIRS
Credit card fee battle in the cards?

Canadian exporters' golden era may be over

OPEC ends meeting without output cuts

Farming collapse and hopes for rebirth


PRESSURE POINTS
Environment must give way to economy: Tories
http://www.nationalpost.com/todays_paper/story.html?id=1008373


OPINION AND INFORMATION
Tipping a delicate balance
The political funding cut that has the government teetering also threatens an important
counter to the freedom of expression rights lost by corporations and unions http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/opinion/story.html?id=7aa90131-9f81-4935-80b6-4b7981871d1c

Parties 'entitled' to half rations
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/westview/35250134.html

University reconsiders plan to hire facilitators to monitor student conversations
http://www.nationalpost.com/todays_paper/story.html?id=1008322

Price of free expression
Freedom of speech taking a beating at Canadian universities, critics say
http://www.nationalpost.com/todays_paper/story.html?id=1008323

A great era for America-haters
http://www.nationalpost.com/todays_paper/story.html?id=1008390

Don't let a good crisis go to waste

Human rights commission stifles freedom of expression

Ottawa must end this censorship

Politicians are leading by disgraceful example


INFOS 
Le recul de Harper ne changera rien dit Duceppe
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/actualites/quebec-canada/politique-canadienne/200811/29/01-805678-le-recul-de-harper-ne-changera-rien-dit-duceppe.php

Le gouvernement ne voudrait plus abolir les subventions aux partis
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/actualites/quebec-canada/politique-canadienne/200811/29/01-805657-le-gouvernement-ne-voudrait-plus-abolir-les-subventions-aux-partis.php

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

Yvon Godin qualifie Harper de dictateur
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/actualites/quebec-canada/politique-canadienne/200811/29/01-805596-yvon-godin-qualifie-harper-de-dictateur.php

Les conservateurs tentent de gagner l'appui de la population
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/actualites/quebec-canada/politique-canadienne/200811/29/01-805651-les-conservateurs-tentent-de-gagner-lappui-de-la-population.php

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

Pas d'élections, s'il vous plaît!
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/opinions/chroniqueurs/lysiane-gagnon/200811/29/01-805585-pas-delections-sil-vous-plait.php

L'opposition est en pourparlers
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/actualites/quebec-canada/politique-canadienne/200811/29/01-805527-lopposition-est-en-pourparlers.php

Le Canada en crise
http://www.ledevoir.com/2008/11/29/219526.html

Les précédents sont rarissimes
http://www.ledevoir.com/2008/11/29/219525.html

Énoncé économique du Parti conservateur - Flaherty sous une pluie de reproches
http://www.ledevoir.com/2008/11/29/219522.html

Le retour des enveloppes brunes ?
http://www.ledevoir.com/2008/11/29/219528.html

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)

Will Canada's Government be supportive of American unilateral alterations ?

Would you be?

(There will be a BELOW (30) CATCHUP post tomorrow)
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US, NATO split over alliance's Afghan media merger
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2008\11\30\story_30-11-2008_pg4_14

KABUL: The US general commanding NATO forces in Afghanistan has ordered a merger of the office that releases news with "Psy Ops", which deals with propaganda, a move that goes against the alliance's policy, three officials said.

The move has worried Washington's European NATO allies - Germany has already threatened to pull out of media operations in Afghanistan - and the officials said it could undermine the credibility of information released to the public. Seven years into the war against the Taliban, insurgent influence is spreading closer to the capital and Afghans are becoming increasingly disenchanted at the presence of some 65,000 foreign troops and the government of President Hamid Karzai.

Taliban, through their website, telephone text messages and frequent calls to reporters, are also gaining ground in the information war, analysts say. US General David McKiernan, the commander of 50,000 troops from more than 40 nations in NATO's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), ordered the combination of the Public Affairs Office (PAO), Information Operations and Psy Ops (Psychological Operations) from December 1, said a NATO official with detailed knowledge of the move. "This will totally undermine the credibility of the information released to the press and the public," said the official, who declined to be named. ISAF spokesman Brigadier General Richard Blanchette said McKiernan had issued a staff order to implement a command restructure from December 1, which was being reviewed by NATO headquarters in Brussels, but he declined to go into details of the reorganisation. "This is very much an internal matter," he said. "This is up with higher headquarters right now and we're waiting to get the basic approval. Once we have the approval we will be going into implementation." But another ISAF official confirmed that the amalgamation of public affairs with Information Operations and Psy Ops was part of the planned command restructure.

This official, who also declined to be named, said the merger had caused considerable concern at higher levels within NATO which had challenged the order by the US general. NATO policy recognises there is an inherent clash of interests between its public affairs offices, whose job it is to issue press releases and answer media questions, and that of Information Operations and Psy Ops. Information Operations advises on information designed to affect the will of the enemy, while Psy Ops includes so-called "black operations", or outright deception. While Public Affairs and Information Operations, PA and Info Ops in military jargon, "are separate, but related functions", according to the official NATO policy document on public affairs, "PA is not an Info Ops discipline".

The new combined ISAF department will come under the command of an American one-star general reporting directly to McKiernan, an arrangement that is also against NATO policy, the NATO official said. "While coordination is essential, the lines of authority will remain separate, the PA reporting directly to the commander. This is to maintain credibility of PA and to avoid creating a media or public perception that PA activities are co-ordinated by, or are directed by, Info Ops," the NATO policy document says. "PA will have no role in planning or executing Info Ops, Psy Ops, or deception activities," it states. reuters

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