Saturday, December 13, 2008

Daily Digest December 13, 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 -
Snow job

CAPE BRETON POST -
Program boosts social economy

HALIFAX CHRONICLE HERALD -
Detroit rescue gets presidential pardon

Harper to Ignatieff: How the whip changed hands

Police teach kids to stay safe on web

MONTREAL GAZETTE -
No easy answers to the auto-industry crisis
http://www.montrealgazette.com/opinion/editorials/easy+answers+auto+industry+crisis/1070360/story.html

OTTAWA CITIZEN -
Patronage personified
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/opinion/editorials/Patronage+personified/1070498/story.html

A debate that disappeared
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/opinion/editorials/debate+that+disappeared/1070497/story.html

OTTAWA SUN -


BELLEVILLE INTELLIGENCER -
Ignatieff wins his first round as new leader versus the media

TORONTO STAR -
Canada drags feet on climate change

Queen's Park AWOL

Don't reform the Senate

Ottawa, belatedly, gets the message

Fix EI system to help those who didn't cause the crisis

  Ignatieff stoops to conquer

Ignatieff: True, patriot love, but for which country?

Harper: From western alienation to top job in the nation

NATIONAL POST -
Will respect return to Parliament?
http://www.nationalpost.com/opinion/story.html?id=1071187

TORONTO SUN -


K-W RECORD -
An auto package is a necessity

PM should go slow on Senate appointments

So what, precisely, is the difference between Harper and Ignatieff?

LONDON FREE PRESS -


WINDSOR STAR -
Bush and the bailout
http://www.windsorstar.com/opinion/editorials/Bush+bailout/1070781/story.html
 
Auto bailout
http://www.windsorstar.com/opinion/editorials/Auto+bailout/1065041/story.html

SUDBURY STAR -
Auditor sheds light on wasteful spending

WINNIPEG FREE PRESS -
Same olde story -- the eyes have it
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/westview/same_olde_story_--_the_eyes_have_it.html

WINNIPEG SUN -


REGINA LEADER-POST -
Consumers tackle frugality

CALGARY HERALD -
Tories will be forced to spend

CALGARY SUN -


EDMONTON JOURNAL -
Tell oil story better in Washington
http://www.edmontonjournal.com/opinion/Tell+story+better+Washington/1071985/story.html

EDMONTON SUN -

 
LETHBRIDGE HERALD -


RED DEER ADVOCATE -
 Nuclear weapons-free world is a possibility

New leader wise to Harper's tactics

PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN -


VANCOUVER SUN -


VANCOUVER PROVINCE -


VICTORIA TIMES-COLONIST -


ISSUES

ABORIGINAL AFFAIRS -          
Ottawa's stand at climate talks hurting native rights, chiefs say
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081212.wclimate12/BNStory/National/home

China's economy falters: It's time for big change
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081211.wcogee12/BNStory/specialComment/home


AFGHANISTAN -
'Long term presence' in Afghanistan - Brown
http://quqnoos.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2213&Itemid=48

Militants torch supply trucks in Peshawar
http://quqnoos.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2209&Itemid=48

 Afghan Mistrust In Justice System Pronounced
NPR (12/12/2008)
[]
Kandahar Schools Empty After Acid Attack on Girls
IWPR (12/12/2008)
[]
Afghan improvised roadside blasts rise sharply
Reuters (12/12/2008)
[]
'Civilians die' in Afghan clash
BBC (12/12/2008)
[]
Mission impossible? Enough to scare us for at least the next two decades
The Sydney Morning Herald (12/01/1208)
[]
Panel blames White House, not soldiers, for abuse
The Associated Press (12/12/2008)
[]
Afghan troops losing support from locals
Telegraph, UK (12/12/2008)
[]
The neo-Taliban: a year on
OpenDemocracy (12/11/2008)
[]
Long term occupation is not going to work in Afghanistan: Obama
Pajhwok (12/11/2008)
[]
Corruption holds back Afghan army expansion
Reuters (12/11/2008)
[]
Sustained, substantial U.S. commitment for Afghanistan
The Seattle Times (12/11/2008)
[]
In Afghanistan, A Small Force of U.S. Soldiers Guards the Gates to Kabul
U.S.News & World Report (12/11/2008)
[]
U.S. at disadvantage in Afghan insurgent hotbed
San Francisco Chronicle (12/11/2008)
[]
US details Afghan reinforcements
BBC (12/11/2008)
[]
In Our View: Can Obama solve Afghanistan
Daily Herald (12/11/2008)
[]
Saudi Arabia and the Future of Afghanistan
Council on Foreign Relations (12/11/2008)
[]
US defence chief Gates in Afghanistan
AFP (12/11/2008)
[]
The Aimless War
Time.com (12/11/2008)


CANADIAN FORCES
Canadian military looking to donkeys to help carry the load during summer Read the original story


CANUSA/USACAN
" Conference Papers: Blueprint for Canada-US Engagement under a New Administration"

CAN Preparing to Hand Over Command of K'Har Troops to USA


ECONOMIC AFFAIRS
Ottawa must move on pipeline

Will another bailout repair ailing industry?

Ottawa pledges billions to avert auto meltdown


FOREIGN AFFAIRS
From Mao to Now
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081212.wcoessay1213/BNStory/specialComment/home

 Turning point for India's foreign policy


HEALTH CARE RELATED



JUSTICE SYSTEM
Calgary rapist invokes 'faint hope' clause to ease parole eligibility
http://www.nationalpost.com/todays_paper/story.html?id=1071181

Canada hotbed for telemarketers because of light punishments: police
http://www.nationalpost.com/todays_paper/story.html?id=1071182


MIGRATION



POLITICS IN THE PROVINCES


FEDERAL POLITICS
 Strong Tory majority: Poll

Bad weeks make PM look weak MORE...
And what of this coalition now?. MORE...
Ignatieff stoops to conquer. MORE...
The tale of our prime minister, the cowardly bully.. MORE...
Loyal Liberals? MORE...
Can he rise above his own party?" MORE...
Laurier vs. Macdonald, Ignatieff vs. Harper MORE...
A man of unknown convictions MORE ...
Fighting evil the Michael Ignatieff way. MORE...
Ottawa, belatedly, gets the message MORE...
Will respect return to Parliament? MORE...
Harper has some sober second thoughts MORE ...
No apologies needed for stacking the Senate: MORE...
PM has a duty to fill those vacant seats in the Senate MORE...
Senate reform is still possible. MORE...
Patronage personified. MORE...
Don't you worry about that pesky economy MORE...
Afghanistan mission far from over MORE...
Quebecers prove lukewarm toward both major parties.. MORE...
PROGRAMMES
Food inspection agency to cut staf, training: memo
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is moving to trim staff and cancel some training just as government inspectors and a meat industry leader are calling for more robust food safety protocols, according to an internal document.

Economic help from Ottawa will be limited, Flaherty says

 Officials approve auto aid package worth about $3.3B How high-risk mortgages crept north
The untold story of how elements of the first Conservative budget in 2006 encouraged big U.S. players such as AIG to make a push into Canada, creating our version of subprime mortgages


PRESSURE POINTS
Tories 'embarrassing'
A senior Environment Canada scientist is blasting the federal government for causing "public embarrassment to Canada" by preventing him from organizing a prominent world gathering of experts on global warming.
Prentice says climate a priority for Tories
Prentice promises priority for climate
EU leaders ink deals on climate, economy


OPINION AND INFORMATION



INFOS 
Harper veut travailler avec les libéraux
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/actualites/quebec-canada/politique-canadienne/200812/12/01-809919-harper-veut-travailler-avec-les-liberaux.php

Les nombreuses vies de Michael Ignatieff
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/actualites/quebec-canada/politique-canadienne/200812/12/01-810071-les-nombreuses-vies-de-michael-ignatieff.php

Ottawa aura un plan d'aide aux géants de l'automobile aussitôt que les USA agiront
http://info.branchez-vous.com/Nationales/081212/N1212139AU.html

L'Europe prend la tête de la bataille du climat
http://www.ledevoir.com/2008/12/13/223166.html

Négociations au sommet
http://www.radio-canada.ca/nouvelles/Politique/2008/12/12/002-Igantieffharper.shtml


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)

Subject: Crime without punishment in Japan
From: "Efstratios Psarianos"

Note the text in red at the end. US soldiers committing crimes in Canada may get off scot free ...
 
Stratos


The Status of Forces Agreement | Jane's story | The Economist []




"Having 350 soldiers sent to Japanese jails each year would have been bad for America's image. According to a separate document, America struck similar, secret agreements with the governments of Canada, Italy, Ireland and Denmark. "

===================================
From: "Beverley Smith"

Just a note to thank you Joe for walking us through this very exciting and trying time in Ottawa.
Your news service is a gem for keeping us all informed.

Bev

=====
Thanks Bev Good to be appreciated now and then.
===================================
From: Tom Brewer

Stephen Harper has extended his hand to the new Liberal Leader. I'm sorry that is like sticking your arm out to a Cobra snake. Harper has to go far beyond a handshake, in my opinion.

Harper and his Tory members are the government. It is incumbent on the government to prepare a Budget. I think the Opposition should help however they should detail their plans and submit them to the Speaker in a sealed envelope.  Then come Budget Day they could show what they prepared. In this manner it would show Canadians just how cooperative things were.

I find it appalling the Tories while inferring conciliatory cooperation continue digging dirt at every turn.

In my opinion it is time to turn the table. Fight fire with fire. If Harper wont end his attacks then use the same tactics to tar the Tories. Remember, it was Harper who brought forward set election dates, it was Harper who violated that idea. It was Harper who pulled the plug on parliament. Harper seems not to be able to take the heat and uses every means possible to stay as Prime Minister. The Opposition tarred at every turn.

In my opinion either Harper figures our system operates as the US and or detests our system so bad he is trying to make our system model after what he desires. Like they say… repeat it often enough and many will assume it must be true.

No… the ball is in Harper's court, he pulled the plug… he has to make amends. Is this possible? Ask yourself how many times Harper has admitted to "going to far"… this should tell you what we can expect in the future!

===================================
From: DOUG POITRAS
Subject: Re: Feedback/Atmosphere -

Joe 

A couple of pieces of humour on the developments in Parliament and the govenment's issue with the auto industry/economy; see below and attached.

Keep up the great work in getting "the word" and perspectives around in an alternative manner.

Cheers,
Doug

A driver is blocked in a traffic jam on the highway. Nothing moves. Suddenly a man walks by and knocks on his window.
"What's going on?" asks the driver.
"Terrorists are blocking the highway further ahead. They are holding Stephen Harper, Stéphane Dion, Jack Layton and Gilles Duceppe and are asking for a $10 million ransom. Otherwise they say they will douse them in fuel and set them on fire. Me and a few others are are going from car to car for a collection."
The driver asks "How much are people giving, on average?"
"About 4 liters.", answers the other.

===================================
From: "Grenville Rogers"
To: <lettertoed@thestar.ca>
Subject: Candidates for public office

Editor
Toronto Star
 
Dear Mr. Editor
 
"A person will worship something, have no doubt about that. We may think our tribute is paid in secret, in the dark recesses of our hearts, but it will out. That
which dominates our imaginations and our thoughts, will determine our lives, and our character. Therefore, it behoves us to be careful what we worship, for what we are worshipping, we are becoming." - Ralph Waldo Emerson
 
Everyone is innately "religious". Some may deny it, but even the atheist, who says, "There is no God." is really saying that he believes there is no God. He has not been everywhere, so cannot with certainty say, "There is no God." He is saying that he believes there is no God. The point is this: What a man truly believes, affects what he does.
 
I strongly recommend that:
Everyone who seeks election to any level of government, must declare his religion. This requirement should also apply to those appointed as judges in our courts, and to bodies such as Human Rights Tribunals, and to teachers, professors and members of library boards.
 
Some may protest this as an invasion of privacy. It is not. Consider the following.
 
There are many religions, which seem to be increasing in number. There are, to name a few : The Church of Scientology, The Watchtower Society (Jehovah Witness), The Latter Day Saints (Mormons), Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, Wicca, Christianity, and many branches, sects or divisions within some of these.
 
Each 'religion' usually has a 'holy' book, which contains the teachings of, and is the authority for that religions' adherents. Thus there is the Quran of Islam, the Babylonian Talmud of Judaism. the Bible of Christianity, the Bagavad Gita of Hinduism, The Book of Mormon (and other books) of the Mormons. Several holy books have many similar teachings on some matters. Some have teachings that are repugnant to others. Some teach racial superiority, some teach moral behaviour that others find quite vile. 
 
Many have written and said that the Quran teaches hate and violence. I have not investigated to see if this is true. One 'holy' book promotes pederasty, and teaches approval of intercourse of an adult male with a young girl, if she is under three years of age, and of intercourse of a grown woman, including a mother, with a young boy, if he is under nine years age; also that those who are not of that religion are subhuman and on a par with cattle.
 
The public has a right to know what religion a candidate espouses, and thus can be aware of his beliefs, because these beliefs will unquestionably affect his decisions.
 
If a candidate's beliefs are honourable, they would be a credit to him, and he would be pleased to have them known.
 
Grenville Rogers
Lively, ON.  P3Y 1N3

===================================
Subject: Japs, C.a.w.s, and no CAWs in sight ...
From: "Efstratios Psarianos"

This said by Japan's Ambassador to Canada. And note that Toyota's plant(s?) in Ontario are non-union ... Canadian auto workers are NOT Canadian Auto Workers.
 
Stratos
 

But Nishida also had high praise for the quality of vehicles built by Toyota's Canadian workforce. With the rare exception of the company's Ontario plants, he said, building a Lexus anywhere outside Japan "is not possible." They can't find the quality anywhere else, he said.

 ===================================
From: "Brian D. Marlatt"

Risky forum for holier than thou
 http://www.bclocalnews.com/surrey_area/peacearchnews/opinion/letters/36008724.html

===================================
From: Phyllis Hubeli
Subject: Re: Response to Real: What set the fiasco off?

Joe,
 
I think Real is right.  No good will come of this and the rancor is far too deep now to heal over.  With all the hype and negativity spouted in Ottawa we are slowly assuming the mentality of the Americans where Democrats say they are willing to kill Republicans just for being Republicans and Republicans now are adapting a siege mentality and it will not be long before people will refuse to identify which party they support in fear for their lives.
 
I think this whole situation in Ottawa can be ascribed to "politics as usual".  The Dippers and the Bloc got together and formed some sort of loose deal to work together against the Conservatives.  The Libs saw the advantage of this and they made a more formal deal with the Dippers with a side deal of co-operation with the Bloc.  Why would they do this, you ask?  The answer is very simple.  One word says it all and that word is "POWER".  Harper and the Conservatives have it and the rest want it.  The lengths these three parties will go to get it and the methods used, no matter what the expense to the taxpayer are beyond belief.  We poor benighted taxpayers, at the very least, are now paying our highly paid MPs to take winter vacations until the third week in January at our expense.  What are we getting for our money?
 
The supposed causes were (1) the proposed ruling that the civil servants could not strike for two years.  If I understand correctly, the civil servants have just settled their contract with the government amicably.  Therefore, with a valid contract, would they be in any position or want to mount a legal strike before this contract expires?  (2) the plan to withdraw the $1.75 or $1.95 per vote which goes to the parties after an election; as this is the second most hated use of taxpayer money after the GST, it was a wise move on Harper's part to do so.  The vast majority of taxpayers, no matter which party they support, would have approved of it.  We all know that all but the Conservatives are having difficulty raising money for their political campaigns and the parties have grown dependent upon this taxpayer money.  I, like the majority of Canadians, do not feel that this is a good use of our money.  What does that make the three Socialist parties?  Does the word 'leaches' come to mind?
 
The whole thing was a trumped up power grab.  No matter what Harper said or did these three parties would twist and spin it to their own advantage.  Goodness knows, we have seen them do it often enough in the past and are able to recognize it in this case.  Personally, I find these power-hungry cretins contemptible.  Dion has paid the price and I hope that Layton and Duceppe are not far behind.
 
Harper also has his faults and failing.  Joe mentioned most of them.  Unfortunately, we live in a world filled with people who are less than perfect.  It does make me wonder why we can accept the faults of Dion, Layton and Duceppe but can not abide any minor fault at all in Harper.  Harper is just one of the multitude with normal faults but you must agree that he has fewer than the other party leaders  The fault that most people seem hung up on is that he is very intelligent and has the personality to go with it in that he does not suffer fools gladly and because he was always somewhat of a loner, does not have the insincere glad-handing, fellow-well-met personality that Paul Martin had.  Iggy, who is now replacing the inept Dion, seems to be very much the same in intelligence and personality as Harper.  I am waiting to see if these two men become fast friends who will work for the benefit of Canada and Canadians or if they instantly hate each other and the situation becomes worse than it now is.  Time, as it always does, will tell.
 
Phyllis

===================================
From: Marilyn Richmond
Subject: [Fwd: Fwd: Climate Change - A Child's View?]

    Just thought this would be of interest.  The more people who
see it the more voices speaking out the better.  Marilyn :-)

This is an excellent video explaining global warming in a way that anyone can understand. Done by Friends of the Earth, European group. Pass it on. It's IMPORTANT!!!
http://www.thebigask.be/nl/node/411

===================================
From: "Paul Downie"
Subject: What have we learned?

'The budget should be balanced, the Treasury should be refilled, public
debt should be reduced, the arrogance of officialdom should be tempered and
controlled, and the assistance to foreign lands should be curtailed lest
Rome become bankrupt. People must again learn to work, instead of living on
public assistance.'
 Cicero - 55 BC

So what have we learned in 2 millennia?

===================================
From: Ron Thornton
Subject: Just a few thoughts...

Hi Joe:

Just a few thoughts (surprise, surprise) on the latest in the news. Some seem to be getting their knickers in a knot over the PM appointing 18 senators. I wonder if those knickers would have been in such a bind if he had make the move last month? He held off doing so in order for the provinces to allow the people a say in who should be appointed. For the most part they haven't, so he might as well appoint them now rather than risk giving the Liberal-NDP-Separatist crowd the opportunity to do so. Would I be as supportive if Paul Martin had decided to do such a thing? Well, no, but I would have expected him to do just that, so it makes no sense having one set of rules for the Conservatives to follow, and another for the Socialists. In fact, having Harper make such appointments would actually put a tiny bit of balance back in the Upper Chamber, where the Liberals currently hold a 58-20 advantage. As nobody has been voting Liberal nearly 3-to-1 over the Conservatives in recent years, that seems a bit unbalanced. Maybe it is just me.

Actually, I was kind of hoping Harper might tab me for one of those comfy red chairs. I could get Frank Mahovlich's autograph any time I wanted. It would give me a place to park myself while I'm waiting for Ms. Jean's term to come to an end and allow me a chance at an even better position. I like to travel, and while I have my own house, having a place in Ottawa to entertain at taxpayer expense would be nice. I was going to offer the Illinois governor $20 ($16 US) for that Senate seat left vacant by Obama, but I hear Jesse Jackson's crew were already waving a million bucks to get his attention.

Talking of things down south, the bailout for the auto makers went south over the wages being paid for workers. As I am doubtful as to how skilled the labor has to be in an assembly line, maybe they are being overpaid, especially if those wages have to be maintained on the backs of the American taxpayer. That said, the obscene amounts of cash going into the pockets of those in high levels of management are even more obscene. At least the worker gets paid to put his piece on a car that actually will work for a while. The fat cats pick up millions for driving their companies into the ground. I'm not a union guy, but if workers have to take a pay cut, when do the bastards who caused this mess actually have to pay for their mistakes? Just wondering.

Meanwhile, as our temps prepare to nose dive this weekend, I don't think this global warming thing is working out. I think we need to try a little harder. Maybe the PM needs an ambassador somewhere warm. Hey, a guy can dream.

Take care, Joe.

Ron Thornton

===================================
From: Lois Williams
Subject: article from Kamloops Daily News

FYI              Here is a short letter published in the Kamloops Daily News on 
Thursday, December 11, 2008 and written by Klaus-Peter Fellenz of  Kamloops.

"I noticed the Governor General agreed to suspend Parliament because 
Mr. Harper is scared to lose his job. I would like to remind the 
people of Canada that the first act of government Hitler did was to 
suspend Parliament. Then he abolished the opposition . . . .

If Mr. Harper cannot get a coalition together to support his minority 
party, and the majority of voters get together to replace him, he 
should abide by the wishes of the people of Canada. No representative 
of a foreign monarch should have the right to suspend democracy in 
Canada."

Sincerely,
Lois Williams

===================================
From: "Rebecca Gingrich"
Subject: World is backwards!

Joe--thought you might find this interesting
Becky
Hypocrisy With One-World Impunity
http://www.rense.com/general84/onewo.htm

Just look at us. Everything is backwards; everything is upside down. Doctors destroy health, lawyers destroy justice, universities destroy knowledge, governments destroy freedom, the major media destroy information and religions destroy spirituality."

We are deep within this Twilight Zone without a leader, without laws or constitutional oversight of whatever is being done at government tables and in corporate board rooms, where the public is forever-barred from entry. How much real 'change' do you think can ever come from that!

Athens is burning with protest: what shall be our response to the knock on losses of millions more jobs that no one can afford to lose?

kirwanstudios@sbcglobal.net

1) Empire of the Cities
http://www.heyokamagazine.com/heyokamagazine.empireofthecity.htm

2) Taxpayers may have to fund bailout of car industry as meltdown in US threatens 1 million British jobs.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1094062/Taxpayers- fund-bail-car-industry-meltdown-U-S-threatens-1-million-British- jobs.html

3) The American Sky has Fallen
http://www.alipac.us/article-3815-thread-1-0.html

===================================
From: Ray Strachan
Subject: Mansbridge Interview

Joe

A few months ago Peter Mansbridge interviewed Karlheinz Schreiber for an hour
I believe ,on the Mullroney affair.This was done on CBC National TV.   It went
on back and forth for some time, when Mansbridge asked him a question that
brought out a response, I never thought I would ever hear on TV .The question
was formed in a way that brought this answer out of Schreiber "I work for the
Straus Family (Austria-Germany ?) I travel around the world with suitcases
full of  money.  I help politicians be elected that Straus wants elected.  
PERIOD.....Any retort from Mansbridge?   "Not one word."   He just moved on. 
I sent an email to CBC and asked them  what they would consider to be
important ?   Of course I never got a reply. So now I am wondering when "this
society" will deem me insane and shuffle me off to the looney bin, because "I
thought it was one of the most important and profound statements I had ever
heard". And it didn't even rate a pause in the conversation.  

Ray Strachan

=====
The "looney bin" would be full to overflowing if all sharing your view were interned.
===================================
From: "Suan H.Booiman"
Subject: Christmas

Joe,
 
Would like to send you and your Family God's blessing
a very Merry Christmas and happy New Year.
 
Again a thank you for keeping me posted on all things
going on.
 
Suan

=====
Same to you and thanks for your continuing posts.

        Joe

===================================
From: "Robert Ede"
Subject: Faxed to Governor General -- All the Talents Cabinet --solution

Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean
Governor General of Canada

Rideau Hall
1 Sussex Drive
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A1

Via Facsimile 613.993.1963; 613.998.8760; 613.993.1967;

December 12, 2008

Re: An All-the-Talents Solution to the Current Parliamentary Upheaval

Excellency,

Please pardon any breech of protocol or omissions of courtesy, I am a supporter of the Office of Governor General and further I believe Canada should be following the as-written text of the BNA/Constitution Act 1867. I have tried contacting you through the more-informal email facility, but to no avail, save polite auto-responses.

I see this Minority/Coalition situation as an opportunity to correct past mistakes and restore the as-written provisions of our Executive Power to practice. I have studied Canada's constitutional evolution 1670-1763-1774-1791-1840-1867-et al-1982-todate as a personal quest that started with the formation of an official Referendum Committee in 1992.

I request an opportunity to explain the reasons for the outside-the-box suggestions I offer below and will make myself available to anyone within your Staff for this purpose.

I believe the Minority/Coalition situation has brought many Canadians to consider the role and responsibilities of the Office as they never have before. I am sure many have dug out their school books or acquired a copy of the Acts themselves – and a very few have visited my Plain Language Version of 1867 on my Blog http://robertede.blogspot.com

With the greatest respect, I believe Canada has been granted a silver-lining opportunity to enact a solution that will:

a) restore the as-written, BNA1867, Executive Order of Government (as described ss9-16),

b) end the current partisan/personal game-playing,

c) punish the self-serving (but not too grievously),

and

d) reward everyone else (in ways far greater than they might have been expecting).

Firstly, may I suggest that Your Excellency as Governor General summon all, or some, or few, of your s.11 Queen's Privy Council and review with them Order in Council P.C. 1940-1121 which merged the Office of Clerk with the Office of ~Secretary to the Cabinet~ . This was an initiative of the Rt Hon Wm L. M. King, it was wartime and it may have been a necessity or an efficiency then, but it has meant that the de jure Constitution varied from the de facto machinery of government.

The recent upshot of that action is that Mr Kevin Lynch was advising Mr Harper and not Your Excellency a week ago Thursday, even though the Privy Council is part of the Executive Power and not part of the Legislative Power.

Restoration of the Privy Council (and the appointments to its committees) to the control of Your Office will also relegate the government/cabinet-of-the-day members to a more reasonable role as "some" of the Crown's Advisors and not "all" of them. The beauty of this is, that this monumental restoration of our intended and as-written checks and balances hierarchy will require the reversal/rescission of but one Order in Council.

The Privy Council of the Whole has only met for Royal Visits previously, however I feel the current situation is grave and therefore I suggest calling on their Institutional Memory and Experience for advice on this and three other ideas.

Secondly, in my view Mr Harper has offered self-serving, if not bad, Advice on two recent occasions, the dissolution-without-a-defeat recommendation provided an election that proved little outside the scope of most pundits' and citizens' anticipations.

To my mind, when he admitted that he could not continue to govern, an opposition coalition could have been offered by the PM (or anyone) as an option instead of an election - even if only to fulfill the 4th year of the fixed term specified in Mr Harper's own 2007 changes to the Elections Act.

The prorogue-in-anticipation-of-a-defeat recommendation also qualifies, to my mind, as self-serving, if not bad, advice since the threat to the end of the PM's mandate was hypothetical … the opposition might have cracked, MP's might have abstained or been absent, a few might have been motivated to cross the floor … all kinds of other hypothetical events were possible and might have happened, if the Rt Hon Mr Harper had just been patient (and industrious behind the scenes) until the planned Monday Dec 8th vote.

In my opinion, either of these two pieces of Bad advice could constitute a reason to ask for Mr Harper's personal resignation, but in the absence of a "better" person to pick up the torch in his place, in the interest of continuity and minimal disruption (and with a desire to make Mr Harper squirm in his seat a wee bit), may I suggest you consult with the Whole Privy Council about asking the Prime Minister to form an All The Talents Government? This is not unprecedented (both in the UK & in Canada) in time of war (1917),turmoil or great undertaking (1867).

May I suggest 48 members including Mr Harper (as casting-vote, in the event of a tie only, Chairperson) in an All-the-Brightest-and-Best Cabinet - 24 CPC (50%), 12 Liberal (25%), 8 NDP (15%) and 4 BQ (~10%) - This coalition of all parties represented in the Lower House is perhaps a way for us to muddle through the deepening, world-wide, economic/monetary debacle while having no one holding the 'so-called balance of power', no one free of responsibility and no one responsible beyond their electoral mandate.

May I suggest that these members should sit as a "Board of Directors", all without a portfolio so they can consider every measure and every proposal (we have quite competent Deputies and Assistant Ministers to make the presentations) with identical objectivity, without favour or malice and may I further suggest that the Best & Brightest govern Canada until the October 2012 date set out in the Elections Act.


Thirdly, please look into revising-for-inflation the $4000.00 Net-Worth and Property-Ownership qualifications / disqualifications (ss.23&31) set out for our Upper House Members. I believe this is the only office in Canada to have a means-test and I believe it is the only dollar amount in all of Canada that has not been adjusted to reflect the effects of inflation.

Apparently 60-80 times would be accurate - making the $4000 into $240,000 to $320,000 for net-worth and free and clear property-ownership. Immediately, it is obvious to see the intention of the framers in establishing criteria for the type of individual they deemed suitable for the regionally-equal, taxpayer-of-the-time based, chamber in lieu of a House of Lords.


Fourth and finally, not every Canadian will agree with a Governor General imposing Her/His will upon elected Members, upon appointed Members, upon the as-we-know-it-since-1940 Privy Council and upon the Cabinet-as-we-know-it (particularly after such a long time) without broad consultation – to this end I hope the Privy Council of the Whole can furnish the required heft and depth to overcome any objections of "public legitimacy" during the short time available.

After considering that aspect, and to aid future Governor's General in fulfilling their Letters Patent 1947 duties and Their BNA/Constitutionally-authorized responsibilities (s.12 vs. s.13, ss.55-57+90) may I suggest You ask the Privy Councillors to consider instituting election-at-large as the method of identifying the most suitable Canadian to be recommended to the Monarch as the next and all future Governors General.

My preference is for that person to be found by a popular election held simultaneous with every-other General Election, with the term of Office to start 365 days after the House returns (since any Citizen could run, many will do so, in anticipation of that, may I suggest use of a single-transferable ballot system -asking voters for their 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th etc choices all at once. This would be the only way to get even a 50+1% result from a cast-one-ballot-on-one-day balloting procedure).

As I stated at the beginning, I hope to offer suggestions that will improve conditions for all and correct past mistakes beyond the knowledge or current care of some. Please allow me to help in any way.


With greatest respect,

Robert Ede
Thornhill Ontario

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