Sunday, March 29, 2009

Daily Digest March 29, 2009


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

EDITORIAL PAGEs

HALIFAX CHRONICLE HERALD -
Ending two-for-one credit is a sentencing mistake
http://thechronicleherald.ca/Editorial/1113847.html

MONTREAL GAZETTE -
International volunteers do Canada proud
http://www.montrealgazette.com/opinion/editorials/International+volunteers+Canada+proud/1441116/story.html

OTTAWA CITIZEN -
Complete sentences
 
If federal Justice Minister Rob Nicholson really wants to see truth in sentencing, he should acknowledge the truth about what's going on in Ontario jails http://www.ottawacitizen.com/opinion/Complete+sentences/1437976/story.html

TORONTO STAR -
Missing pieces in Ontario budget
http://www.thestar.com/Opinion/article/609690

Obama's Afghan refocus
http://www.thestar.com/Opinion/article/609692

TORONTO SUN -
What do we tell the kids?
http://www.torontosun.com/comment/columnists/rob_granatstein/2009/03/29/8923471-sun.html

WINNIPEG FREE PRESS -
#
Washington protest a cut above the rest
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/westview/washington-protest-a-cut-above-the-rest-42072252.html

Math perception needs to change
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/westview/math-perception-needs-to-change-42072242.html

CALGARY HERALD -
Five ways to help save the earth--and money
http://www2.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/theeditorialpage/story.html?id=8d59e56e-02ad-41d5-af4b-f37d6d8303d3

Go ahead, sue away!
http://www2.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/theeditorialpage/story.html?id=00a81464-89ff-45b5-9435-440824451bb0

The TelePrompter President
http://www2.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/theeditorialpage/story.html?id=211e2cdb-a985-4b20-9d04-a38d95b73055
 
Truth in sentencing is long overdue
http://www2.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/theeditorialpage/story.html?id=c0e2fb56-263b-47c5-9d9b-ada2507a1fd1

CALGARY SUN -
Protesters' point forsaken
Anti-racist activists make Nazis look reasonable by whining and acting violent
http://calsun.canoe.ca/Comment/POV/2009/03/29/8924786-sun.html

EDMONTON JOURNAL -
Israeli coalition step toward peace
http://www.edmontonjournal.com/opinion/editorials/Israeli+coalition+step+toward+peace/1441017/story.html

VICTORIA TIMES-COLONIST -
Public's voice in our elections
http://www.timescolonist.com/opinion/editorials/Public+voice+elections/1441563/story.html

HAARETZ-
http://www.haaretz.com/
Will U.S. financial woes lead to new world order?
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1074110.html


ISSUES

ABORIGINAL AFFAIRS -          



AF-PAK PROBLEM -
Afghan court says Karzai president till August polls
http://www.e-ariana.com/ariana/eariana.nsf/allDocs/9A69C9456D2E2C2F87257588005ECE51?OpenDocument


CANADIAN FORCES -



CANUSA/USACAN -
'Socialized medicine' didn't kill British star, doctor says
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/Health/Socialized+medicine+didn+kill+British+star+doctor+says/1441231/story.html
Talking aboot our American cousins
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/columnists/Talking+aboot+American+cousins/1441241/story.html


ECONOMIC AFFAIRS -
G-20 leaders in rare unity on economic crisis
http://www.thestar.com/business/article/610036

Will NAFTA exterminate Canadian pesticide bans?
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20090327/nafta_pesticide_090329/20090329?hub=QPeriod


FOREIGN AFFAIRS -
US and Iran open Afghanistan peace talks
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article5993094.ece

Cranky North Korea plays its games
http://www.torontosun.com/comment/columnists/eric_margolis/2009/03/29/8923581-sun.html

Pro-Israel, pro-Arab and pro-peace
Canada's friendship with Israel doesn't mean we can't support a viable state for Palestinians
http://www.thestar.com/comment/article/609712


HEALTH CARE RELATED -
Air ambulances a lifeline for the North
http://www.thestar.com/healthzone/news&features/article/610046


JUSTICE SYSTEM -
Silence in the court
When accused don't testify, guilty verdict often follows
http://www.torontosun.com/comment/columnists/alan_shanoff/2009/03/29/8923566-sun.html


MIGRATION -



POLITICS IN THE PROVINCES -
Liberal budget rewrites history
http://www.torontosun.com/comment/columnists/christina_blizzard/2009/03/29/8923531-sun.html

Court strikes down B.C.'s gag law
http://www.vancouversun.com/News/Court+strikes+down/1438759/story.html

Leadership race up and at 'em
http://www.ottawasun.com/News/National/2009/03/29/8922901-sun.html

Campbell attacks NDP as Libs launch candidate training
http://www.theprovince.com/Business/Campbell+attacks+Libs+launch+candidate+training/1441320/story.html


FEDERAL POLITICS -
PM begins a busy week with two summits and a US media tour
http://www.canadaeast.com/front/article/618557

all 92 news articles »

Harper speaks on Afghanistan, economy, in U.S. TV interview
http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5iqlbEia8EdwXpHVLXkX8wv6p1lOg

U.S. must fix its financial system, says Harper
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20090329/harper_qp_090329/20090329?hub=TopStories

Harper tells U.S. audience Canada's economy strong
http://www.calgaryherald.com/Harper+tells+audience+Canada+economy+strong/1441871/story.html

Canada's Harper Says G-20 Should Focus on Markets
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aGtP9ehqNIUU&refer=home

Harper blows it on Fox News
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090329.WBSpector20090329111628/WBStory/WBSpector

Harper has Fox News love-in
http://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/610188

Post-Harper world awaits
http://www.ottawasun.com/News/Columnists/Weston_Greg/2009/03/28/8922356-sun.html

At the centre of the economic storm
Jim Flaherty's projections have changed a lot, but so have most people's
http://www.montrealgazette.com/business/fp/centre+economic+storm/1441123/story.html

Kenney not afraid of immigration fight
http://www.timescolonist.com/Life/Kenney+afraid+immigration+fight/1441564/story.html

Tory MP's board loses showdown
http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/todays-paper/Tory+board+loses+showdown/1440832/story.html

'Worst' MP deserves to be dumped
http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/Worst+deserves+dumped/1438819/story.html

Iggy needs higher profile in B.C. : expert
http://www.timescolonist.com/news/Leader+needs+higher+profile+here+expert/1440778/story.html

Ignatieff attracts overflow crowd for town-hall session
http://www.timescolonist.com/business/fp/Ignatieff+attracts+overflow+crowd+town+hall+session/1440774/story.html


PROGRAMMES -



PRESSURE POINTS -
Lovin' the Earth Hour bonfire
The hour without power for the planet is hardly a reason to sing Kumbaya, but many will
http://www.torontosun.com/comment/columnists/lorrie_goldstein/2009/03/29/8923481-sun.html

Obama sets up climate forum
http://www.montrealgazette.com/business/fp/Obama+sets+climate+forum/1441081/story.html

Will NAFTA exterminate Canadian pesticide bans?
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20090327/nafta_pesticide_090329/20090329?hub=QPeriod

OPINION AND INFORMATION -
Obama's involvement in Chicago Climate Exchange--the rest of the story
http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/9629

Chicago Climate Exchange
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago_Climate_Exchange

Lines blur between parties and governments
http://www.thestar.com/comment/article/609713

What should we make of empty big-box stores?
http://www.thestar.com/news/insight/article/610023

Religion need not conflict with science
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/Life/Religion+need+conflict+with+science/1441240/story.html

Mulroney reputation, legacy at stake as inquiry set to begin
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=1441845


INFOS -
Les soldats au bout du rouleau
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/actualites/quebec-canada/national/200903/28/01-841280-les-soldats-au-bout-du-rouleau.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)

Relationship between Budget and Fiscal Monitor

"Canada is in budgetary deficit now only because of the recession" he told Fox News.
http://www.calgaryherald.com/Harper+tells+audience+Canada+economy+strong/1441871/story.html

Do you know which states the bottom line Budget figures or the figures in the Fiscal Monitor?

Budget wise there's a January 2009: budgetary surplus of $37 million.

Way down in Table 6
Condensed statement of assets and liabilities

Just above  Total liabilities figures for Total interest bearing debt
from March 31 to January 31 appear that to the untrained person, me,
would seem to in debt were deeper in debt .

                                   March 31, 2008  January 31, 2009        Change
Total interest-bearing debt     581,864                  678,462                  96,598

Can anyone explain how we can be Budget in the black and Fiscal Monitor that much more in debt?

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

From: Larry Kazdan
To: lettertoed@thestar.ca
Subject: Letter to Editor re:  NATO turns 60 with much to do, Editorial, Mar  28

Re: NATO turns 60 with much to do, Editorial, Mar 28
http://www.thestar.com/comment/article/608984
Another action NATO must take is review its policies on nuclear weapons which are still described as "essential to preserve peace".  Even former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger now argues we must reverse "reliance on nuclear weapons globally" to help prevent their proliferation into potentially dangerous hands.  If NATO continues to maintain that nuclear weapons are a source of human safety, and that the several hundred nuclear bombs in Europe must stay, what message does that send to countries like North Korea and Iran?   The only way to prevent wider proliferation of nuclear weapons is through reducing their legitimacy, reducing their numbers, and eventually eliminating them completely.  The Cold War is over -  NATO needs new policies for new times.

Larry Kazdan,
Vancouver, B.C.

===================================
From: Ray Strachan
Subject: Ignatieff

Joe

Mikie Ignattief showed his great intellect on CTV National News last evening.
He advised us  that "George Galloway should be able to make his talks, that is
is not a threat to National Security "Besides he is just an idiot"
Anyone who would deliver Aid to a fenced in, people short of food with their
houses flattened.  An Idiot?     Mikie of course is just following his
handlers instructions.   Remember when he was down on his educated knees
begging forgivness.   So we get rid of Harper, and we gain Ignatieff.  What
would be the Gain?

Ray Strachan

===================================
From: "Glenn Harewood"
Subject: Re: NEWEST U.S. STRATEGY: AIMS AND HURDLES

Joe:

The short and long answer to the poll question is "NO.
No. Afghanistan isn't called the "graveyard of empires" for nothing."

I have not read through all the links that you posted. However, I read through one analysis 'The Long War Journal: Analysis: US outlines new Afghanistan strategy', and believe that it is a balanced and realistic analysis of  Obama's 7-point plan.

I believe that just as the Russians had to pull out of Afghanistan after 20 years there, with their heads bowed,  so also will the USA and all NATO troops. I predicted this from the first time George Bush decided to send USA troops to Afghanistan.

How can foreign armies expect to go into a rugged terrain with which they are unfamiliar, a foreign language, culture and way-of-life that they do not really understand, a set of local war-tactics  which they cannot fully simulate while training, and expect to win? How can the foreign westerners expect to drive  the "so called insurgents" out of their own homeland? Where do they expect them to go? How can foreign westerners expect an Afghani traditional way of life to be changed to a western-type "democracy" and a way of life that is not known or understood? Just  imagine the shoe on the other foot: would westerners succumb to Afghanis or other easterners forcing them into changing their "democratic" way of life to suit Afghanis'  outlook-on-life merely because they believed theirs is better?  After all, look at the resistance the western world has put up to the Islamic world trying to force their way-of-life on us -- the western world.

I know this sounds very simplistic, and most will say that the situation is much more complicated. But I wonder? Is it  too simple a concept to say: live and let live?

Obama has inherited a mess from which he must seek to extricate the USA and himself. Extricating is not easy when it is not  very easy to stop a "war-train" that has been aimlessly going up-and-down the rugged Afghani "mountain-tracks" for the past eight years. Eventually Obama will have to bite the dust of the Afghani hills, and retreat just as the Russians did. The paradox is that years ago when the Russians were fighting the Afghani Taleban etc, the Americans were wholeheartedly assisting the Afghanis!!

Harper will fail in Afghanistan. NATO will fail in Afghanistan. Obama must recognize that now and start pulling troops out of Afghanistan just as he plans to pull USA troops out of Iraq.

Let the people live their lives as they see fit. Another country's way-of-life cannot be forced upon another country. People must come around to seeing and voluntarily accepting  a way of life that is different from theirs. People cannot be forced, at the point of a gun -- and that is the bottom line  in Afghanistan --  into changing their traditional way-of-life. It is very hard for the ordinary Afghani to believe that his/her way-of-live threatens the security of anybody in the western world. An American is more at risk from a gun-shot of another American than from the planning and plotting of  outlaws hiding in the mountains of Afghanistan.
 
Glenn Harewood    

===================================
From: Rebecca Gingrich
Subject:Grain Commission and C-13

http://www.grainscanada.gc.ca/cgc-ccg/cgc-ccg-eng.htm

Sorry--but I see no reason for this commission to exist.  I thought this was the job of the CWB(see above site)!  I would think that farmers, being the independent folks they are, would welcome getting rid of another government stone around their necks, and the Canadian taxpayer would welcome getting rid of another trough that we have to fill? 
"The Canadian Grain Commission certifies the quality, safety and weight of Canadian grain that is delivered to domestic and export markets."   I wonder if this Commission is as effective as CFIA?  After all, they have done such a bang up job of keeping our food supply safe, eh?  Perhaps our tax dollars could be spent better checking the produce that is imported?
The only benefit I can see for farmers from this Commission is the last entry re producer protection.  Now, since the CWB controls Western grain production and sale why are they not responsible for collecting the payments owed to farmers?  OH, I forgot--this Commission must be set up mostly for Eastern farmers as Western farmers do not have the right to sell their grain privately.
Becky

===================================
From: Charles Tupper
Subject: The Global Warming Scam - Roger Revelle and Al Gore


The Global Warming Scam
Roger Revelle & Al Gore: Coleman's Video Report, 3/6/09
http://www.kusi.com/weather/colemanscorner/40867912.html

How the story got hatched
The founder of the Weather Channel has a message for you. Global warming is a scam - and Al Gore knows it.

Fossil fuels are a bad idea, but there is no evidence they're responsible for the warming of the planet.

To view Video http://www.brasschecktv.com/page/586.html

===================================
From: The Natroses

Comment on quote: "
Meekness - A willingness to go unnoticed and unpraised.
Lowliness - An uncomlaining disposition of mind. "

These are traits that governments of all stripes, would love to see in their citizens. People who will accept the edicts and wisdom of those who wish to rule over us, without question and complaint. Sister Teresa had those qualities of meekness and lowliness, but it certainly did not stop her being a thorn in the backside of governments and the Catholic Church in doing things her way, that address the needs of the very poor and outcasts of society. It did not stop her when attempts and obstacles were place in her way that hindered her objectives to achieving what she firmly believed in and that is doing God's work.

Politicians would rather go about their work without complaint from their citizens.  To be meek and lowly, one runs the risk of allowing government, and other important institutions to do what they want with you, without regard to your welfare.

There is another bible verse that has importance: "The meek shall inherit the Kingdom of God". God knew in advance, it is the people who have no voice are the ones who are trampled on by those who seek to instill their morals, values, and to control the people so we do become meek and lowly.

Change does not happen, unless the ones who are trampled on have the power and the ability to voice their needs and complaints.

===================================
From: "Jacob Rempel"
Subject: FW: I predicted the financial meltdown August 2007!


A FRIEND OF MINE SENT ME THIS INFORMATION
AFTER LISTENING TO SOME OF MARGARET ATWOOD'S

MASSEY LECTURE ON DEBT

Question: If Margaret Atwood and so many of us knew it was
Coming, why not the banks and bureaucrats and politicians?

 I placed all my money in a cash account August 2007!
In the past I've made predictions and I'm 98 % accurate!!
http://www.cbc.ca/ideas/massey/massey2008.html

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


No comments: