Daily Digest December 30, 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 -
Put it in writing
http://www.thetelegram.com/index.cfm?sid=205434&sc=80

CHARLOTTETOWN GUARDIAN -
Lowering the voting age: a useful debate
There's no guarantee it would improve the voter turnout, but it's worth exploring
http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/index.cfm?sid=205540&sc=103

CAPE BRETON POST -
Medical travel gets attention
http://www.capebretonpost.com/index.cfm?sid=205269&sc=151

HALIFAX CHRONICLE HERALD -
Imperfect ceasefire better than alternative
http://thechronicleherald.ca/Editorial/1098352.html

AMHERST DAILY NEWS -
Beneficial goal offered by feds\
http://www.amherstdaily.com/index.cfm?sid=205582&sc=61

MONTREAL GAZETTE -
Israel has no choice but to defend itself
http://www.montrealgazette.com/opinion/editorials/Israel+choice+defend+itself/1125587/story.html

OTTAWA CITIZEN -
Israel finally says: Enough
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/opinion/editorials/Israel+finally+says+Enough/1124899/story.html

OTTAWA SUN -
Reform needed in Parliament
http://www.ottawasun.com/Comment/Editorial/2008/12/30/7879076-sun.html

KINGSTON WHIG STANDARD-
A difficult 2009 is ahead of us
http://www.thewhig.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1366598

Here's hoping we hold it well together in 2009
http://www.thewhig.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1366600

BELLEVILLE INTELLIGENCER -
Never become complacent as death toll rises

http://www.intelligencer.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1366420
TORONTO STAR -
Israel justified, but at what cost?
http://www.thestar.com/comment/article/559374

Leave abortion alone
http://www.thestar.com/Opinion/article/559375

GLOBE & MAIL -
Responding to a provocation
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081230.wegaza30/BNStory/Front

What Canada is fighting
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081230.wEAfghanistan30/BNStory/specialComment/home

NATIONAL POST -
Beyond Bleak House
http://www.nationalpost.com/opinion/story.html?id=1124672

K-W RECORD -
Flaherty should be frank with the public  
http://news.therecord.com/Opinions/article/465016

SUDBURY STAR -
Canada, U. S. auto bailout plans come with a price
http://www.thesudburystar.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1367002

LETHBRIDGE HERALD -
Feds have EI obligation
http://www.lethbridgeherald.com/content/view/19617/56/

RED DEER ADVOCATE -
Consequences of bad choices like dominoes
http://www.albertalocalnews.com/reddeeradvocate/opinion/Consequences_of_bad_choices_like_dominoes.html


ISSUES

AFGHANISTAN -
Afghanistan's election year will be challenging: experts
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20081224/soldiers_challenges_081230/20081230?hub=TopStories

Diplomat doubtful of Taliban peace bid
http://www.ottawasun.com/News/National/2008/12/30/7882666.html

Pakistan suspends Afghan supplies
Pakistan has blocked a key supply route to US and Nato forces in Afghanistan in order to begin an offensive against militants, officials say. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7804133.stm

Pakistan shuts down NATO supply line through the Khyber Pass
http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2008/12/pakistan_shuts_down.php

U.S. plans to expand its Afghan lifelines
http://www.e-ariana.com/ariana/eariana.nsf/allDocs/B9B97FE1ADB76BC48725752F006F9F42?OpenDocument

Afghan attacks 'double' in 2008
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7805105.stm

Canada's reputation hangs between Pakistani aid and Afghanistan war
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/todays-paper/Canada+reputation+hangs+between+Pakistani+Afghanistan/1124891/story.html

US to harness Afghan militias against Taliban
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/dec/31/afghanistan-us-foreign-policy

The militia mistake
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/dec/29/afghanistan-middleeast

Close Air Support and Civilian Casualties in Afghanistan (Full PDF Article)
http://smallwarsjournal.com/mag/docs-temp/160-dadkhah.pdf


CANADIAN FORCES
Canadians honour soldiers along Highway of Heroes
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20081230/soldiers_home_081230/20081230?hub=CTVNewsAt11


CANUSA/USACAN
Canada opposes US plan to arm Afghan militias
http://www.sakaaltimes.com/2008/12/22140109/Canada-opposes-US-plan-to-arm.html

Derek H. Burney: Canada's place in an Obama world
http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/fullcomment/archive/2008/12/30/derek-h-burney-canada-s-place-in-an-obama-world.aspx


FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Haaretz Daily Newspaper
http://www.haaretz.com/

Behind Gaza Operation, An Uneasy Triumvirate
Washington Post - 35 minutes ago
By Griff Witte JERUSALEM, Dec. 30 -- Three Israeli leaders met in secret Friday to review the plan of attack, according to a government spokesman.
Video: Israeli Arabs show solidarity with Gaza brothers Video: Israeli Arabs show solidarity with Gaza brothers RussiaToday
Protesters worldwide keep up pressure over Gaza AFP
Xinhua - Globe and Mail - CTV.ca - New York Times
all 27,856 news articles »

Israel, Hamas under pressure for Gaza aid truce
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081230.wisraelgaza1230/BNStory/International/home

Israeli Ministers Weigh Gaza Truce Proposal as Strikes Continue
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aCGl.prUEioU&refer=home

Israel mulls Gaza truce offer
http://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/559559

Audio Slideshow: The Gaza offensive Q & A: The Gaza conflict Analysis: Hamas's options run thin as attacks persist Globe editorial:


POLITICS IN THE PROVINCES
Province to change tax credit for political contributions
http://www.thestar.com/News/Ontario/article/559785


PROGRAMMES
Tiny tax savings offset by EI, CPP hikes: watchdog
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/081229/national/cda_taxed


OPINION AND INFORMATION
Thanks, Stephen
http://www.ottawasun.com/Comment/2008/12/30/7879091-sun.html

Pay senators a part-time wage for a part-time job
http://www.vancouversun.com/news/todays-paper/senators+part+time+wage+part+time/1125811/story.html

Who wins on budget day?
http://www.thebarrieexaminer.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1366395

Farewell to a most unusual year
http://www.ottawasun.com/Comment/2008/12/30/7879081-sun.html

2008 was bad for free speech--'09 promises better
http://www.calgaryherald.com/columnists/2008+free+speech+promises+better/1126098/story.html

Facilitating a turkey shoot
http://www.thestar.com/comment/article/559368

We are all Keynesians now? No
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081229.wcorobson30/BNStory/specialComment/home

Israel is the opium of the people, and other Arab taboos
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081229.wcogaza30/BNStory/specialComment/home

Six facts to keep in mind about Gaza
http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/fullcomment/archive/2008/12/30/leo-adler-six-facts-to-keep-in-mind-about-gaza.aspx

"Smashing through the amnesia" in Israel and Gaza
http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/fullcomment/archive/2008/12/30/chris-selley-s-full-pundit-quot-smashing-through-the-amnesia-quot-in-israel-and-gaza.aspx

 Beware well-meaning hypocrisy 
http://www.thestar.com/comment/article/559370

2008: a bad year for the vain and venal
http://thechronicleherald.ca/Opinion/1098113.html


INFOS 
Des centaines de gens assistent au rapatriement des corps des soldats
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/dossiers/le-canada-en-afghanistan/200812/30/01-813902-des-centaines-de-gens-assistent-au-rapatriement-des-corps-des-soldats.php

Omar Khadr pourrait rentrer au pays en 2009
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/actualites/quebec-canada/national/200812/30/01-814008-omar-khadr-pourrait-rentrer-au-pays-en-2009.php

La coalition à Ottawa est l'événement marquant de 2008
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/dossiers/retrospective-2008/200812/30/01-813988-la-coalition-a-ottawa-est-levenement-marquant-de-2008.php

Le débat sur l'avortement ne sera pas rouvert, dit Harper
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/actualites/quebec-canada/politique-canadienne/200812/30/01-813999-le-debat-sur-lavortement-ne-sera-pas-rouvert-dit-harper.php

Gaza: le Canada appelle à un cessez-le-feu
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/dossiers/riposte-disrael-a-gaza/200812/28/01-813513-gaza-le-canada-appelle-a-un-cessez-le-feu.php

Israël est déterminé à écraser le Hamas
http://www.ledevoir.com/2008/12/30/225238.html

L'arrivée de Michael Ignatieff ne met pas en péril la coalition, selon la CSN
http://www.ledevoir.com/2008/12/30/225194.html
 
Ottawa rejette les comparaisons entre les conflits afghan et irakien
http://www.ledevoir.com/2008/12/30/225207.html

L'ouverture face aux talibans serait inutile, selon un diplomate
http://info.branchez-vous.com/graphics/textecomplet.gif

La listériose a placé la sécurité alimentaire au coeur de l'actualité de 2008
http://info.branchez-vous.com/graphics/textecomplet.gif

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)

1999-2009

Some time during 1999 having retired from 35+ years of teaching - broken by 18 months as Member of Parliament for Niagara Falls Riding what was then called "Pick of the Day" was first put together and posted out.

My thanks to all both those who chosen to receive it over what will be a decade sometime this year and those who have been receiving the current Daily Digest for much shorter times.

Please be encouraged to do two things: share your thoughts and send links to articles you find of interest.

All things considered we are among the most fortunate people in the world and can look forward to a better new year by far than most.

        Best personal regards,

                 Joe Hueglin
                  905-356-3901 

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From: "Jacob Rempel"
Subject:  Nobel Lecture by Harold Pinter, 2005

On the occasion of Harold Pinter's death it behoves us to read one of his most powerful works... His address to the Nobel Prize Committee on the occasion of his 2005 Nobel Prize for Literature –
http://nobelprize.org/literature/laureates/2005/pinter-lecture-e.html

Reference: ----- © THE NOBEL FOUNDATION 2005

QUOTE:

"Political language, as used by politicians, does not venture into any of this territory since the majority of politicians, on the evidence available to us, are interested not in truth but in power and in the maintenance of that power. To maintain that power it is essential that people remain in ignorance, that they live in ignorance of the truth, even the truth of their own lives. What surrounds us therefore is a vast tapestry of lies, upon which we feed."

(Pinter refers to the USA and the UK, but there's an awful lot of this in Canada as well)

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From: "John Dowson"
Subject: Re: Daily Digest December  29, 2008

The CPC Council there is not one moderate in the entire bunch. It is just the Reform party with a different name and I can only assume that if you question a policy or issue you'll be thrown out for questioning the dear leader. John Dowson

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Subject: The US breaks up and Canada gets ... South Dakota?

From: "Efstratios Psarianos"

Oh, maaaaan .. You have GOT to read this :-S I've given the link:

 

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123051100709638419.html

 

Dammit, why can't Canada get a useful state. Like Florida for vacation, herHeavenssake :-S

 

Cheers!

Stratos

 

P.S. Some stuff even I can't make up :-S

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From: "Rebecca Gingrich"
Subject: FW: Office of the Prime Minister / Cabinet du Premier ministre

Joe--this is the email I rec'd from the 'honourable' Harper's office.  I have replied that I have already written to Mr. Cannon but that my email to Harper was discussing Harper's own words and actions, not Foreign Affairs.
becky

Harper promises to remain staunch ally of Israel as he helps light menorah
http://www.metronews.ca/toronto/Canada/article/158649

From: "Prime Minister/Premier ministre" <pm@pm.gc.ca>
To: "Rebecca Gingrich" <r.gingrich@sympatico.ca>
CC: "Lawrence Cannon, P.C., M.P." <mina10@international.gc.ca>
Subject: Office of the Prime Minister / Cabinet du Premier ministre
Date: Tue, 30 Dec 2008 15:06:45 -0500


Dear Ms. Gingrich:


On behalf of the Right Honourable Stephen Harper, I would like to thank you for your e-mail, in which you raised an issue which falls within the portfolio of the Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Foreign Affairs. The Prime Minister always appreciates receiving mail on subjects of importance to Canadians.


Please be assured that the statements you made have been carefully reviewed. I have taken the liberty of forwarding your e-mail to Minister Cannon so that he too may be made aware of your comments. I am certain that the Minister will give your views every consideration. For more information on the Government's initiatives, you may wish to visit the Prime Minister's Web site, at www.pm.gc.ca.


L.A. Lavell
Executive Correspondence Officer
Agent de correspondance
de la haute direction

=====
Subject: The second last paragraph says it all!

http://theautomaticearth.blogspot.com/

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From: "Rene Moreau" <rtmoreau@sympatico.ca>
Subject: Emailing: sikorsky sucker

Halifax Herald
Halifax, Nova Scotia

Dear editor;

re; Your article, by Murray Brewster of Canadian Press, December 24th, 2008, 'Sikorsky get extra 117 million, in altered deal to replace Sea Kings.'  http://thechronicleherald.ca/Canada/1097497.html

Mention is made of how the deal includes a 20 year, 40 million dollar maintenance contract.

Pray tell, does that mean that the Canadian taxpayer is on the hook for another 40 million bucks so that we can get a FOREIGN, AMERICAN company to maintain our helicopters? (Sikorsky)

When one buys a clothes dryer, for example, the sales staff will should always try to get some more money out of you by suggesting such a contract and, in some cases it may make sense. However to get foreigners, especially those, to con us into such a contract is a sign that our government has either been infiltrated, or lobotomized. (Frontal lobe of brain removed)

An example. One day the RCMP bought an American, foreign, Windows program. True to it's name, it contained a 'window' allowing American, foreign, American, interests to have access to the information there-in. There are those who would say this represents 'astute' business practice, and I think they would be right.

But for us to ever, ever trust them to give a sucker an even break, (an American expression) would be stupid, n'est-ce pas?

Add to that that NAFTA says we must never discriminate against foreign, American corporations, so we let our purchasing be done by foreign, American companies, and BOY, are we that dumb? It would appear so.

Rene Moreau (416-489-8347)

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Subject: FW: Get The Most Explosive Political Book For 2009 Before The Next  Federal Election...
From: "Efstratios Psarianos"

Hi, Joe.
 
It's almost New Year's and I've decided to indulge myself in making fun of people who need to lighten up but who take themselves all too seriously. Here goes.
 
Cheers!
Stratos
 
Well, I MUST say that my favourite front for US 'conservative' pressure groups operating in Canada is The Freedom Press. To date, Tristan Emmanuel has carried the ball with his doing his raving omega-male act.
 
Now, Tristan's found himself a soul-buddy in Gerry "Self-Declared Political Genius" Nicholls. I'm always amused by weasel words when I detect them: in Gerry's case, we're witness to the classic 'Top xx of ...' variant thereof. Let's face it: if he considers himself to be THE top mind, he'd say so. If he considers himself second, he'd say 'One of the top two ...'. And so on. Sure, not everyone's tuned in to this rhetorical technique, but to those of us who are, it brings endless hilarity. Case in point: 'The Green Party is one of the top five parties in Canadian federal politics'.
 
The picture on the book's cover suggests to me that Gerry's in his late 40s or so, and the book's description says that he served as strategist for the NCC for over twenty years. This is a good thing: it means that he's wasted only HALF his life so far. The down side is that the wasted half is the adult one ... he may be hard to turn around!
 
Onwards. Gerry, now '... one of (Stephen Harper's) most fierce and unrelenting critics' (again, not #1) goes about '... tracing (Stephen Harper's) evolution from hardcore conservative ideologue to partisan, pragmatic politician.' Mr. Harper repudiated: at LAST, definitive proof that he doesn't make evolution ridiculous! Talk about unintended kudos.
 
But everything turns out all right in the end. If. Gerry really believes that 'principled conservatives' must '... resist the corrosive influence of partisan politics and focus on what matters: winning the war of ideas', he'll deliberately marginalize himself. Gerry Nicholls: Self-Correcting Problem. You have to admire the guy ... I mean who among us would put THAT on his resume, eh?
 
From your blissfully unaligned picador ... MORE skewered bull (and 'ANOTHER skewered bull') for your entertainment. All served up for a Happy New Year. Have a good one, folks.

Stratos
 

-----Original Message-----

From: "Freedom Press Canada Inc." <no-reply@ecpcentre.org>

Sent: 30/12/2008 12:36 PM

Subject: Get The Most Explosive Political Book For 2009 Before The Next Federal Election...

The Most Explosive Canadian Political Book For 2009

Loyal To The Core: Stephen Harper, Me And The NCC

For a limited time Gerry Nicholls' book is available for a special pre-release price of $26.95. Get it today. This offer will only last for three weeks before the regular price of $34.95 takes effect. Release date is set for Feb/09

Gerry Nicholls calls himself "one of the top five political minds in the country."

Lorrie Goldstein, editor of the Toronto Sun says, "Gerry Nicholls is the sort of conservative Stephen Harper use to be."

Without question, Nicholls is one of Canada's most outspoken and articulate defenders of conservatism. For more than 20 years, Nicholls served as the political and communications strategist for the conservative organization, the National Citizens Coalition. For five of those years, he worked closely with the group's president, a man who would go on to become Canada's Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Now, in his first book, Loyal to the Core, Nicholls reveals the story of how he went from being a friend and close ally of Harper's, to one of his most fierce and unrelenting critics.

Nicholls provides a frank assessment of Stephen Harper the man, and Stephen Harper the leader, tracing his evolution from hardcore conservative ideologue to partisan, pragmatic politician. It is also a story of secret political meetings, clashing personalities and the lure of power.

In addition to the candid portrait of Harper, Nicholls offers an unauthorized history of the National Citizens Coalition, Canada's largest independent, pro-free market organization. Who created this unique advocacy group and why? How did this organization, using political guerrilla warfare tactics, help change the face of Canada? We learn how the NCC fought to expose government waste and oppose arrogant politicians, how it battled both in the court of law and the court of public opinion to protect our most cherished individual freedoms.

Order here: http://www.freedompress.ca/products/loyal-to-the-core-stephen-harper-me-and-the-ncc

But most of all, Loyal to the Core is a cautionary tale for Canada's conservative movement. Principled conservatives must, says Nicholls, "resist the corrosive influence of partisan politics and focus on what matters: winning the war of ideas!"

What an exclusive interview with the author Gerry Nicholls here: http://www.freedompress.ca/blogs/news/563492-interview-with-new-freedom-press-author-gerry-nicholls

-- 30 --

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