Saturday, October 4, 2008

Daily Digest October 4, 2008


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

EDITORIALs

ST.JOHN'S TELEGRAM -
Rethinking Afghanistan

CORNER BROOK WESTERN STAR -
Who's really moving back

CHARLOTTETOWN GUARDIAN -
A late-nighter for Atlantic Canadians
The leaders English debate kept Atlantic Canadians up, but it was worth watching.

CAPE BRETON POST -
Leader debates a needed respite
http://www.capebretonpost.com/index.cfm?sid=177528&sc=151

HALIFAX CHRONICLE HERALD -
Debates give the last lap a new look

AMHERST DAILY NEWS -
No respite for those in poverty

MONTREAL GAZETTE -
Harper pays for George W. Bush's sins

BELLEVILLE INTELLIGENCER -
Blue-collared voters may opt for Layton's orange

Harper fails to impress Quebec during French-language debate

Harper fate now rests with economy

NIAGARA FALLS REVIEW -
Harper had little trouble fending off the attacks in final debate

Don't scare us over economy. Tell us your plan

How Stephen Harper talked himself into another minority

PM's assurances aren't soothing anyone

K-W RECORD -
Election boils down to Harper, economy

WINDSOR STAR -
Dion's plan

A tale of two debates

SUDBURY STAR -
No change in voter intent

WINNIPEG FREE PRESS -
Where's the plan?
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/editorial/story/4234503p-4876329c.html

SASKATOON STARPHOENIX -
Leaders on left miss big chance to sell alternative

REGINA LEADER-POST -
Election clock locked on snooze

GRANDE PRAIRIE DAILY HERALD TRIBUNE -
Reality check for Harper - Insisting 'everything's fine' economically doesn't make it so

Permanent funding solution needed - Infrastructure needs ignored by politicians at all levels for too long

Tories get creative with arts tax credit - Election promise sounds good, but may not be all it's cracked up to be

'Thanks for nothing' - Using Alberta as a pawn to look green may backfire on Tories

RED DEER ADVOCATE -
 Biofuels not so green, after all

Ruthless pals damage Harper

VANCOUVER PROVINCE -
Gaffes galore on campaign

ASIAN PACIFIC POST -
 Inside China's milk scandal

Should Canada have mandatory voting rules?


ISSUES

AFGHANISTAN -
Pakistanis bury 'US strike' dead
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7652614.stm


ECONOMIC AFFAIRS
The gloom spreads north
http://www.reportonbusiness.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081004.weconomy04/BNStory/Business/home

Lending freeze creeps across the border
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081003.wliquidity1003/BNStory/National


FOREIGN AFFAIRS
A mediocre UN address


OPINION AND INFORMATION
Who's censoring whom?

Alberta gives Tories free ride

Strategic voting doesn't work

The people know when something is wrong  

Here's why your favourite candidates win every debate  

Youth justice solution? Not likely

Vote for minority government
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/subscriber/westview/story/4234558p-4876303c.html

Harper on hot seat
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/subscriber/westview/story/4234204p-4875851c.html

Newfoundland and Labrador in the Canadian federation
Duceppe Debate Rhetoric Crosses Line
http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/5364


INFOS 
Des munitions pour attaquer Harper
http://www.ledevoir.com/2008/10/04/209134.html

Paul Martin s'attaque à Stephen Harper

Nouvelle accusation de plagiat contre le chef conservateur

Lendemain de débat - Harper a consolidé son avance en dépit d'une gaffe, disent des experts

Harper dit qu'il ne faut pas paniquer, ses adversaires répètent qu'il faut agir
http://info.branchez-vous.com/Nationales/081003/N1003135AU.html

Jim Flaherty soutient que les propriétaires canadiens vont bien s'en tirer
http://info.branchez-vous.com/Nationales/081003/N1003105AU.html

Des soldats canadiens sont blanchis d'allégations de mauvais traitements
http://info.branchez-vous.com/Nationales/081003/N100393AU.html

Le président George W. Bush signe un accord pour protéger les Grands Lacs
http://info.branchez-vous.com/Nationales/081003/N1003137AU.html

Stephen Harper a reçu pour 20 000 $ de cadeaux du président George W. Bush
http://info.branchez-vous.com/Nationales/081003/N1003141AU.html

Harper est déconnecté de la réalité économique, arguent ses adversaires
http://info.branchez-vous.com/Nationales/081003/N100304AU.html

L'Ontario et Québec veulent entendre parler de l'aide au secteur manufacturier
http://info.branchez-vous.com/Nationales/081002/N1002111AU.html

Économie canadienne
Flaherty rassurant
http://www.radio-canada.ca/nouvelles/National/2008/10/03/001-flaherty-rassurant.shtml


Le Bloc dans l'embarras

Les conservateurs gardent une forte avance

Harper rêve d'un mandat «fort»

Bachand vole au secours de Fortier


Election Coverage

CTV Coverage
CBC Coverage
G&M Coverage
Maclean's Coverage
Nat-Post Coverage
Canada.com
Sun Media
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)

Is it normal/usual to pump billions into the system? Just asking

Harper conceded on Saturday that domestic growth was slowing but repeated there was no need to worry about the Canadian financial and banking system. http://ca.reuters.com/article/topNews/idCATRE49322X20081004

Bank of Canada pumps billions into system
The central bank said it is increasing its plans to inject extra cash into term lending markets from $8-billion, announced recently, to $20-billion.

Reality check for Harper - Insisting 'everything's fine' economically doesn't make it so

It's the economy, business leader says
Party leaders not grappling with crisis, chamber president says
Canadian politicians appear to be in denial about the financial crisis, the head of a national business group says.
 http://www.cbc.ca/news/canadavotes/story/2008/10/04/chamber-economy.html

The party leaders don't seem to recognize that there is a crisis, said Perrin Beatty, president of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce.

"It's clear that something profound is happening, yet the politicians up to now have wanted to talk about everything else," he said.

The politicians are living in one universe, while media reports of the international financial crisis paint a different picture, he said.

"Ordinary Canadians, people who are middle aged today, planning for retirement, have seen much of their retirement savings evaporating this week in the stock exchange," Beatty said.

But campaigning Saturday, the leaders did talk about the economy.

Asked why he is not proposing steps like the initiatives taken in other jurisdictions, Conservative Stephen Harper told a meeting in Yarmouth, N.S., that the Canadian economy and banking system are in much better shape than those in the U.S. or Europe.

He repeated the Tory position that the government has cut taxes, maintained a balanced budget and is focusing on job creation.

Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion, in Dieppe, N.B., accused Harper of doing nothing. "We are facing enormous economic challenges," he said, and "Harper is in his bubble."

Dion has proposed calling a meeting of regulators and financial experts to consider the economy within 30 days of taking office, and also said a Liberal government would accelerate investments in infrastructure and manufacturing.

Harper said "that is just panic" and the opposition would raise taxes and put the government into a deficit. Dion's ideas "will take us into a recession, not around one," he said.

More than 500 delegates from the Chamber of Commerce were meeting in Quebec City on Saturday, where each party was expected to pitch its financial plan.


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From: "Real. Gagne"

Joe:

Conspiracy theorists are a dime a dozen.

I lost faith in anything that Mel Hurtig or Maude Barlow and their ilk have to say a long time ago.

Real

===================================
From: alan heisey <hize@earthlink.net>

j, as a yanksymp of the first rank i congratulate you on printing hurtig's piece. this makes a positive contribution. it is classic big business /big government instincts to keep as much info as secret as possible - why exactly the same pattern shows up in my own, dear conservative party where the committee charged with proposals to amend the party constitution while requiring submissions at the end of 2007 has uttered not one bloody word to us peasants out in the ridings about what they propose, even though the national convention. to address  their deliberations publicly is less than six weeks away!

so secretivenes is part of so many major organizations mentalities, can/usa execs not excluded. you, j, and i recognize that there is an instinctive fearfulness amongst us peasants about groups addressing such substantial issues so privately and they fail to realize that their very secrecy feeds the paranoia -"just because we are, doesn't mean it can't be happening"- of mel who is totally untrusting of any more cordial relations with the excited states.

rather than squawking about such private meetings, which we are all allowed to organize and participate in, the hurtigians might better focus on  trying to draw back into canada secondary processing of materials such as raw logs which we too willingly sell wherever.

the hurtigians smell conspiracy against the interests of our country in all of this as in the following paragraph:

"All of this covert, under-the-table planning is happening in Canada despite the fact that the overwhelming majority of Canadians, year after year, in poll after poll after poll, show that they believe that Canada has been too good a country for us to surrender to our greedy and selfish big-business leaders whose values are so very different from those of most Canadians who are still very proud of our country, our culture, our history, our values, our civility and tolerance, and are not the slightest bit interested in further "harmonization and integration" with the U.S."

this is blatant hurtigian class warfare in which he accuses our country's big business leaders as less concerned for the country's wellbeing that the likes of mel. i think he is dead wrong in his view that the average canuck is not the slightest bit interested in further association with united stations. it is a wondrous reality that in the second founding congress americans swept away inter-state trade barriers, creating a north american common market 150 years ahead of the europeans. for my taste i have huge confidence, which mel so totally lacks, in our leadership community protecting our interests while seeking to take maximum advantage of closer association with those dear people who "live outside our borders" as william davis so charmingly described them some years ago.

that's why mel has so little standing in the leadership of all our political parties, with virtually no concern in the current election. let him rant. me too. cz
On 2008 Oct3, at 22:58, Joe Hueglin wrote:

Our Sovereignty Secretly at Risk

===================================
From: "Claudia Hudson"
Subject: Game Over

 http://www.princegeorgecitizen.com/20081002154355/myblog/myblog/prime-minister-harper-has-already-officially-endorses-north-american-union.html
 
For those of us, who have been following the reality of what has been happening to our country, this comes as no surprise. As for the  others, what can one say ? Game Over--oh Canada --no Canada!
 
Claudia

===================================
From: "Suan H.Booiman"
Subject: CANUSA/USACAN

October 4, 2008
 
Joe,
 
Will not reply in book form,about all the question not ask 90% of the Canadian people
don't know what you are talking about. Those that do is so small and belong to what
is called the "Elite", people with all the answers but deaf, like lawyers.
 
Sorry that Harper is not from Ontario or Quebec, but an import from Alberta. no
don't agree with all his actions but what choice is there, vote splitting, all those
wonderful political experts, will give us another minority bowing to Quebec the
Harper State with the largest amount of unwed couples, gay people, most abortions
and welfare "Cultural" artists, living in the past, the majority have no clue who their
French forefathers were or are intermarried with around the world individuals.
 
Suan
 
===================================
From: Maxine Morrison
Subject: Threat to Canadian Medicare:   Questions for your Candidates -- and an  Appeal to your Colleagues plus  CoC article


Are you aware of this little gem of information?  Is it important enough for your consideration?
mjm


QUOTE:  FRANCES RUSSELL IN THE WINNIPEG FREE PRESS - On September 24, Frances Russell wrote in the Winnipeg Free Press that, "a group of 200 private investors led by Arizona businessman Melvin J. Howard is planning to use the NAFTA national treatment mechanism to pry open Canadian medicare -- often described by neoconservatives as 'the last great uncracked oyster in the North American marketplace.'

  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

-----Original Message-----
From: Info@canadiandoctorsformedicare.ca [ mailto:info@canadiandoctorsformedicare.ca]

Subject: Questions for your Candidates -- and an Appeal to your Colleagues

                
Dear Dr. Dale Dewar:

While CDM does not endorse any political party, on October 14 Canadians will elect a new government whose policies could profoundly affect the direction of Canadian health care. Canadians need to know where the major parties stand on our country's most valued social program.  At the end of this letter, and on our web site at www.canadiandoctorsformedicare.ca, you will find five questions we are asking the leaders of the major parties. 

You may want to ask your local candidates the same questions.

CDM's Five Questions

1. Patients are increasingly being charged for access to medically necessary services. This violation of the Canada Health Act (CHA) often occurs when patients are asked to pay for an uninsured service as a condition of accessing an insured service. Please outline how your party will monitor and enforce the CHA both in the letter and spirit of the law, which intends that Canadians will not pay at the point of service.

2. Given evidence that private care costs more overall than public care, robs scarce health providers from the public system, and often delivers inferior care, how would your party improve the Canadian health care system without resorting to privatization?

3. Despite progress in decreasing wait times many patients wait too long for services. This can lead to frustration and despair, causing patients and providers to consider private for profit care as an alternative to the public system.  How will you address the remaining problem of wait times for medically necessary procedures?

4. Many patients need prescription medications, home care and long term care. Coverage for these medically necessary services is inconsistent across the country. How would your government ensure that all Canadians are able to access these services regardless of their ability to pay?

5. Millions of Canadians cannot find a primary care provider. How will you address this serious problem?

On behalf of our entire Board of Directors, thank you for your support as we strive to protect and improve Medicare for all Canadians.

Sincerely,

Danielle Martin, MD, CCFP, Chair
Simon Turcotte, MD, Vice Chair
 
----- Original Message -----

A recent Investment Treaty News article states, "In a letter sent to the Canadian government in July 2008 - a so-called Notice of Intent - (American businessman) Melvin J. Howard accuses provincial authorities of putting up 'politically motivated' roadblocks to proposed investments in health-care facilities, in breach of the government's commitments to American investors under NAFTA. The letter sets in motion a 90-day period which must elapse before formally serving a claim. Mr. Howard alleges breaches of the national treatment and most-favoured-nation treatment provisions in NAFTA's Chapter Eleven, and seeks nearly US$ 160 million in damages...Having allowed private investors into the health-care market, Mr. Howard contends that the provincial government of British Columbia was bound to treat American and Canadian investors with the same standard of treatment. He argues that they were not."

 The article continues, "For its part, the Canadian government has only provided a brief comment, saying that they are 'currently assessing this claim and is consulting with the Government of British Columbia'. Canada is gearing up for an election on 14 October 2008, and a spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade said they would not issue any comments that could be used to stoke partisan debates."

 Winnipeg Free Press columnist Frances Russell has written that, "In July, Howard filed legal papers to set the suit in motion and is only awaiting the outcome of the Oct. 14 federal election to start negotiations."

Russell also writes, "Howard and his partners want to open a private surgical centre in B.C. similar to the Cambie Clinic owned by Dr. Brian Day, past-president of the Canadian Medical Association, but are facing what they call anti-American roadblocks in several municipalities." (Please note that an Ontario Health Coalition media release today states, "For more than a year, researchers have worked to find all the private for-profit clinics across the country. The findings are being released in a new report on Monday, Oct. 6. Information includes: How many for-profit clinics are operating in Canada? How many clinics are violating the Canada Health Act? How are the for-profit clinics affecting costs and access in the public system? Where are they recruiting their staff from? What do they mean for the future of our public health system? What are our governments doing about it?")

The full ITN article can be read at http://www.investmenttreatynews.org/cms/news/pages/us-investor-threatens-arbitration-over-investments-in-canadian-health-care-sector.aspx . 

--Background--

EMBASSY MAGAZINE ARTICLE
The full Embassy article can be read at, http://www.embassymag.ca/html/index.php?display=story&full_path=/2008/september/17/nafta/   

 LINDA DIEBEL'S TORONTO STAR BLOG
 The full blog can be read at http://thestar.blogs.com/decoder/2008/09/free-trade-chal.html

FRANCES RUSSELL IN THE WINNIPEG FREE PRESS

 This column can be read at http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/subscriber/columnists/top3/v-printerfriendly/story/4229990p-4871159c.html

OTHER

As posted on the Centurion Health Corporation website, Mr. Howard writes, "We have responded back to the Government of Canada via faxed letter on August 8, 2008 that we are prepared to sit down and meet on the subject matter. As I want our stakeholders to keep fully abreast of the proceeding matter. I intend on addressing this issue with both US Presidential Candidates. Why are there still trade barriers to American health care companies wanting to enter Canada? When indeed these services are being provided privately by Canadian practitioners. If after 90 days we have not heard back from the Government of Canada we will proceed to file for arbitration under NAFTA rules." That 90 day period would elapse on Wednesday November 5, after both the Canadian and American elections have concluded.
This post can be read at http://centurionhealthcorp.blogspot.com/2008/08/melvin-j-howard-responds-back-to.html .  

The Howard Capital Management website notes: "THE HOWARD GROUP SUBMITS INVESTOR CALIM AGAINST CANADA Claim submitted July 14, 2008 amount of damages claim $155,000,000.00." This is at https://sites.google.com/site/thehowardgroupagenda/announcements/THE-HOWARD-GROUP-SUBMITS-INVESTOR-CALIM-AGAINST-CANADA .

 CUPE highlights these concerns in a media release they issued this morning at http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/September2008/18/c5796.html . 

===================================
Posted by at No comments:

Friday, October 3, 2008

Daily Digest October 3, 2008


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


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)30)30)(3

CANUSA/USACAN

No question relating to Canadian American relations was sent in to be a topic of discussion on last night's debate. Either that or somehow or other a higher priority was assigned to what was brought forward.

In my view it ought to have been ahead of "What would your first action as PM be?" or words to that effect.

Now I'll grant you it did come up twice in passing.

Once when there was a difference of opinion concerning who was running the Afghan War -  the U.N., according to Harper. or the Yanks, according to I can't remember who.

The other occasion came up about a Section or Chapter or whatever it is law suit being launched by a health care company in the 'States. It's being denied access to Canadian markets and claims this is against the N.A.F.T.A. Agreement they so scrupulously honor (They spell honour differently and interpret the meaning differently as well I.M.N.S.H.O.) Other than this I can't recall any comment on N.A.F.T.A., though others might.

There were no comments or questions concerning the Security and Prosperity Partnership nor about the agreement with NORCOM US, Canadian forces combined http://users.cybertime.net/~ajgood/forces4.html,

British North America came together to counter belligerency from the U.S. of A..  None of what is proceeding to harmonize Canada with Uncle Sam's way of doing things is discussed in the House of Commons - it takes place through altering regulations.

There has not been time available over the last while to do more than the bare minimum on the Digest but our two weeks of Grandparenting ended to-day.

There was no debate on CANUSA/USACAN relations among the Leaders last night.

You are invited to participate in one on the Digest.  You and any you may be in contact with who may be interested.

To begin an article in the Tyee is included below.

         Joe«
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AFGHANISTAN -
US strikes 'kill 20 in Pakistan'

US conducts two strikes in North Waziristan
http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2008/10/us_conducts_two_stri.php

Destitute and confused: bleak future for refugees caught in the crossfire
Residents of grim camp tell of clashes between coalition forces and the Taliban
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/oct/03/afghanistan.pakistan

 More on Karzai Reaching Out to Taliban (video) - More -

ISAF Commander:  "Any reconciliation efforts should be led by the Afghan government, but that the military would support it." -

EU:  Like the Idea of Talking (But

Don't Talk to Those Who Won't Put Down Arms) -

Taliban Spokesperson:  Thanks, but No Thanks - More

Analysis: "Historically, the Taliban's strengths were their Islamic credentials, their reputation for imposing law and order and their opposition to tribal factionalism. If those three weaken, it is harder to distinguish them from the myriad other tribal militias that have long plagued Afghanistan." (.pdf permalink)

 Company charged with fraud in Afghan war contracts
The Associated Press (10/03/2008)

A Karzai for Iraq or a Maliki for Afghanistan?
Asharq Alawsat (10/02/2008)
[]
Are More Troops the Answer?
Registan.net (10/03/2008)
[]
At Clinton Global Initiative, Global Partnership for Afghanistan
International Business Times (10/03/2008)
[]
Afghan refugees asked to leave Pakistan's tribal region
Xinhua (10/03/2008)
[]
Losing hearts and minds in Afghanistan
The Sydney Morning Herald (10/03/2008)
[]
Taliban leader rejects talks with Afghan government
Reuters (10/03/2008)
[]
Confronting Taliban, Pakistan Finds Itself at War
The New York Times (10/02/2008)





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Canoe

 Saving the U.S. is the world's only choice

Harper ahead, but May wins the night
all 1,141 news articles »
===================================

Our Sovereignty Secretly at Risk
Harper and Bush: 'The Grand Bargain.'
Biggest voter issue off media's radar? Canada's stealthy 'integration' with US.
http://thetyee.ca/Views/2008/10/01/DeepIntegration/



By Mel Hurtig
Published: October 1, 2008



TheTyee.ca

In February 2003, the vice-president of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, in Canadian Senate hearings, said that de facto integration of Canada with the United States was here already "whether many Canadians realize it or want to accept it" and, anyway, we don't need "duplicate systems of approval."

Got that? No need for duplicate systems of approval. I suppose there's no need for the House of Commons or provincial legislatures either. Let's just rubber-stamp American policies, standards and values.

Earlier, the continentalist Financial Post columnist Diane Francis said that "Canada is more integrated with the United States economically than any two European countries are."

The noted Canadian economist Richard Harris and the Carnegie Endowment long ago both said the same thing, back in 2002.

David O'Brien, chairman of the board of the Royal Bank of Canada, has said that Canada would have to adopt U.S. immigration policies.

We're going to lose increasingly our sovereignty, but it's necessarily so.

Patrick Daniels, president of Enbridge, hilariously complains that Canada pushes its sovereignty a little too far.

In June 2006, the North American Competitiveness Council (NACC), consisting of business leaders from each of the three NAFTA countries, was formed "to advise governments."

Toronto lawyer Paul Bigioni called it "an anti-democratic institution."

Secret summits

On the surface, the NACC appears to be an initiative of government. It is not. It was entirely conceived by the private sector. In 2003, the Canadian Council of Chief Executives launched a sales pitch designed to convince governments to pursue such business-friendly initiatives as "re-inventing" borders, regulatory convergence and energy integration. It is no coincidence that the NACC currently pursues the same objectives.

In fact, all of the Canadians on the NACC are members of the powerful CCCE lobby group, and the CCCE serves as the Canadian secretariat. The big business NACC is the only non-governmental organization making recommendations to the secret, tripartite Security Prosperity Partnership discussions.

Top secret meetings -- behind-closed doors -- have already been held, with more of the same planned for the future. These meetings are designed to further integrate Canada into the United States and have us adopt even more American standards, values and policies, and to give Americans even more guaranteed access to our resources and the unimpeded ability to buy up the ownership and control of even more of our country.

Perhaps you do not know about the three days of highly secret meetings that took place at the Banff Springs Hotel in mid-September 2006, meetings between top-level American, Canadian and Mexican government officials and many senior corporate heads.

In fact, probably you don't know. But, then again, why should you know? Despite the fact that the leaked guest list of very high-level VIPs was sent by me to the media along with the agenda, there wasn't a word about the meetings in our two national newspapers the Globe and Mail or The National Post. There was nothing on CBC television, on CTV or on Global, although all were contacted. (The Tyee did run a report.)

'Not for public release'

The documents that I obtained and sent out had been marked beforehand "Internal Document. Not for Public Release." The three heavyweight co-chairs of the secret meetings were former Alberta Conservative premier and strong pro-FTA advocate Peter Lougheed, former U.S. secretary of state George Shultz and former Mexican secretary of the Treasury Pedro Aspe.

Among the many well-known Canadians scheduled as "participants" were Stephen Harper's Conservative cabinet ministers Stockwell Day (who at first denied attending) and the then-defence minister Gordon O'Connor, deputy ministers (Defence) Ward Elcock, Peter Harder (Foreign Affairs), Associate Deputy Minister William Elliott (Public Security), Liberal continentalist Anne McLellan, Canada's former deputy prime minister and a defender of the oil patch, the Alberta minister of energy, Greg Melchin, General Rick Hillier, Canada's chief of defence staff, former Conservative cabinet minister Perrin Beatty, now president of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, the infamous continentalist Thomas d'Aquino, head of the Canadian Council of Chief Executives, Rear Admiral Roger Girouard, Maj.-Gen. Daniel Gosselin, plus numerous top corporate heads, lawyers, petroleum industry officials and others.

Among the many scheduled American participants were the political advisor to the head of the U.S. Northern Command, the president for the Americas of Lockheed Martin Corporation, the senior director for the Western Hemisphere of the American National Security Council, the U.S. Deputy Under Secretary of Defense Carla Hills (who was the primary U.S. NAFTA negotiator), the senior United States Air Force military assistant to the then secretary of defense Donald Rumsfeld, the commander of U.S. Northern Command, the chair of the President's Council of Advisors on Science & Technology, Dr. James Schlesinger, the former American secretary of energy & defense, the deputy secretary of energy, plus many other top business, government and military officials, plus representatives of similar groups from Mexico.

In the intended-to-be-secret "internal agenda document" were plans for detailed discussions about economic, energy, security, military and other forms of integration.

'If it isn't a conspiracy...'

After I distributed the list of participants and the agenda to the media and to my e-mail list, many concerned people across Canada phoned the participants seeking more information. Almost no calls were returned, and those that were produced zero answers to the many questions asked as to what was decided at the three-day meeting, who paid for the meetings, who organized them, and why every attempt was made to keep them secret.

Six months after the meetings, Ottawa Citizen reporter Kelly Patterson revealed that:

"Organizers of a controversial summit of top Canadian, U.S. and Mexican politicians, military brass and business executives hired a consulting firm to keep the proceedings secret, access to information documents show.

"A 'media management plan' for the event in Banff last fall imposed a gag order on all participants who were directed 'to avoid direct media engagement where feasible.'"

After I sent him the information I had about the meetings, Peter C. Newman wrote to me: "I tried phoning people I trusted and I thought trusted me, and no one would tell me anything. IF it isn't a conspiracy, they're doing their best to make it appear like one."

A halt to law changes and debate

In February 2007, Teresa Heely of Social and Economic Policy at the Canadian Labour Congress wrote about more closed door meetings. The "Security and Prosperity Partnership" meetings seek "to avoid legislative change and public debate. Democratic debate and decision is making way for privileged corporate access and new rules that undermine sovereignty and human rights."

Knowing that a new government treaty like the FTA or NAFTA for further Canada-U.S. integration would never survive the opposition in Parliament, "Proponents have moved underground to promote 'deep integration.' ...policy harmonization that increasingly opens social life across the continent to the discipline of the market. It is about increasing the power of corporations and ongoing de-regulation."

What 'deep integration' aims to achieve

The so-called "NAFTA-plus" or "deep integration" or "Grand Bargain" being promoted and discussed at these secret meetings plans for the elimination of barriers to even greater foreign ownership and foreign control, the slashing of government spending on social programs, the weakening of prospective environmental regulation, (ensuring there are no barriers to increased energy and resource exports from Canada), and many other policies that will result in even greater control of Canada by the U.S.

This is integration by the powerful via secrecy and stealth, planned by and for the likes of the Canadian Council of Chief Executives, the U.S. Council of the Americas and the Center for Strategic Studies, clearly under the guidance and with the financing of the U.S. government in Washington, D.C.

Author Silver Donald Cameron says of the "Security and Prosperity Partnership": "The SPP is the new name for the old American project of Manifest Destiny -- absolute control over the whole continent."

Cameron calls the CCCE, "The Canadian Council of Collaborators."

The backlash in the US

While our own government in Ottawa silently condones the plans for further integration with the U.S., and while our provincial governments continue to be completely sound asleep on this vitally important topic, irony of ironies, at this writing 15 U.S. states have expressed concern that the big business sponsored Security and Prosperity Partnership is a process that, wait for it, is a threat to states' rights and to the sovereignty of the United States. And in July 2007, the U.S. House of Representatives cut some SPP funding because of the group's failure to consult Congress, and the complaint that "They have been intransigent, they have been unresponsive and frankly, they have been secretive."

In August 2007, 22 members of the House of Representatives asked George Bush to back away from the SPP because of their concerns that it may undermine U.S. sovereignty and their strong objections about important discussions continuing "out of public view and without congressional oversight or approval" or the "proper transparency and accountability."

Does anyone think a single person in the entire Harper government has uttered a similar word of complaint? Not a chance.

An insider's notes

On the surface it may appear that not much happened at the August 2007 SPP meetings at Montebello. But Thomas d'Aquino gave the Globe and Mail a hint about what is really happening behind the scenes:

"A lot of work is going on, on the regulatory front, the environmental front, the energy front, the border front... There is a big selling job that has to be done." And he told the National Post that "The Montebello Summit produced significant progress across a range of policy areas.

Shortly after 9-11, he called for "more fundamental harmonization and integration with the U.S." to keep the borders open.

All of this covert, under-the-table planning is happening in Canada despite the fact that the overwhelming majority of Canadians, year after year, in poll after poll after poll, show that they believe that Canada has been too good a country for us to surrender to our greedy and selfish big-business leaders whose values are so very different from those of most Canadians who are still very proud of our country, our culture, our history, our values, our civility and tolerance, and are not the slightest bit interested in further "harmonization and integration" with the U.S.

Democracy eroded

Alas, the compradors, the neo-cons and the continentalists are powerful, well-organized and very well-financed. We now know that the initial SPP agenda included over 300 items. As a spokesman for the CCCE told a House of Commons committee: "Many of these represent very small steps... On the other hand, even 300 small steps, if we take them all, add up to a pretty giant leap for North America."

Testifying to the same Commons committee on the same day, Bruce Campbell, executive director of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, said of the SPP:

"I never hear talk about measures that would encourage upward harmonization of labour or environmental standards... tax measures that would prevent corporations from engaging in transfer pricing or discourage shifting profits to tax havens. This type of cooperation is not on the SPP agenda, and it begs the question: prosperity for whom?

"Convergence and harmonization means... Canada bending its regulations or simply adopting U.S. federal regulations, and I ask the question: at what point does the narrowing of policy room to manoeuvre fundamentally compromise democratic accountability in our political system?"

Voices of dissent

In 2007, a group of well-known Canadians including authors, academics, musicians and former politicians joined forces to oppose further integration with the U.S. They issued a statement:

"Canada faces a stark choice. We can be gradually assimilated and lose our identity as a nation, or we can retain our independence and renew our own unique vision of what we wish for Canada's future... a vision of strong communities, tolerance, equality, environmental stewardship, and a peaceful and constructive role in the world.

"We believe that in spite of recent developments, Canadians believe passionately in the traditional values that guided this country in its post-war nation building.

"The Security and Prosperity Partnership will give us neither security nor prosperity, nor is it a genuine partnership. We stand against this scheme and urge other Canadians to join us."

In August 2007, the National Council of Women of Canada summed it all up nicely in a single paragraph:

"This agreement has not been debated in or sanctioned by our Parliament. We believe that it threatens our sovereignty and puts control of our natural resources such as the Tar Sands and water at risk. For the U.S. government to negotiate a trade agreement manifestly to the advantage of international business interests using the "motherhood and apple pie" issue of security and prevention of terrorism is highly suspect. It's the 21st century version of "if you're not for us, you're against us." For a Canadian government to agree to such an undebated surrender of our sovereignty is shameful and unacceptable.

"We demand that all SPP discussions be brought into the legislative and public domains immediately."

A key election

All of this said, if we use it properly, the one very important thing we have on our side -- democracy -- can overwhelm our own selfish sellouts. Changes in election financing would be a huge step towards diminishing the influence of those who are now actively planning to give our country away.

There's no doubt in my mind that we can stop these sellouts. But for us to do so requires nothing less than a very substantially heightened degree of direct political activism by people who really care about the survival of our country.

Don't be misled by intentionally leaked reports out of Washington that the SPP is dead. The likes of Tom d'Aquino, Raymond Chrétien, John Manley and Allan Gotlieb are powerful, persistent, tenacious and well-connected in both countries. At this writing there are at least 20 cross-border committees working on integration.

Let's be certain that Canadians know of and understand their plans, and let's be certain that we never allow them to succeed.

As this federal election unfolds, Harper has all the advantages of incumbency, a huge war chest of election funds and polls that show Canadians would much prefer him to Mr. Dion as prime minister. Most pundits predict another minority or even a majority Conservative government. If you care about Canada, now is the time to go to work to preserve our sovereignty, our independence, our cherished and special values, and our economic, social and political integrity.

Related Tyee stories:
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Thursday, October 2, 2008

Daily Digest October 2, 2008


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

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Totally irrelevant to the election but there's a movement to negotiations, aside from the American's who are into widening conflict into Pakistan on the one hand and renting tribesmen with the other. Wonder which the Government of Canada supports as the best means of getting out at the end of 2011?

New head of ISI; Karzai calls for Taliban talks
Eric Margolis: Political stability is unattainable in Afghanistan without dialog with the Taliban
http://therealnews.com/t/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=31&Itemid=74&jumival=2455&updaterx=2008-10-02+12%3A18%3A45

AFGHANISTAN -
Kabul and the coming chaos
The Guardian (10/02/2008)
[]
A Surge of Will in Afghanistan
Council on Foreign Relations (10/02/2008)
[]
Petraeus's next war
The Economist (10/02/2008)
[]
Talking to the Taliban
The Economist (10/02/2008)
[]
"The Afghan Plight - Why the West is on the verge of failing at the Hindukush"
United Press International (10/02/2008)
[]
Afghanistan's Very Careful Tour Guides
TIME (10/02/2008)
[]
Afghan dictator a better bet: envoy
The Age (10/02/2008)
[]
British ambassador warns against Afghan surge
The Independent, UK (10/02/2008)
[]
NATO Aims at Afghans Whose Drugs Aid Militants
The New York Times (10/02/2008)
[]
Chorus of failure grows ever louder over Afghanistan
The Sydney Morning Herald (10/02/2008)



Election Coverage

CTV Coverage
CBC Coverage
G&M Coverage
Maclean's Coverage
Nat-Post Coverage
Canada.com
Sun Media
Canoe


How they played in Quebec
A special post-debate edition of our regular look at what the francophone press is saying about the federal campaign
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081002.WFrancais02/BNStory/Front

French-language debate breakdown
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081002.WStrategists02/BNStory/politics/home

Welcome to Harper's bubble
Nothing unexpected, no one uninvited, everything in its place
http://www.macleans.ca/canada/national/art icle.jsp?content=20081001_11108_11108

Dion the Clear Winner: Ipsos Reid Poll
An Ipsos Reid poll for Canwest News Service and Global National late Wednesday night found Liberal Leader Stephane Dion emerged as the clear winner of the French debate. MORE...
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Wednesday, October 1, 2008

Daily Digest October 1, 2008


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

 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)

To: dwatch@web.net
From: Democracy Watch <dwatch@web.net>
Subject: News release re: illegal election call court case

NOTE: Democracy Watch has filed a motion to have a hearing of its application before the October 14th voting day.  The motion will be considered by the Federal Court on Thursday, October 2, 2008 at The D'Arcy McGee Building, 90 Sparks St. in Ottawa after 9:30 am.

See the news release set out below with links to all key documents at:
http://www.dwatch.ca/camp/RelsOct0108.html


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                
Wednesday, October 1, 2008

NEWS RELEASE

Democracy Watch Files Court Challenge of Prime Minister's Federal Election
Call -- Violates Both Fixed Election Date Law and Charter Rights

"What we have is a situation where the prime minister is able to choose the date of the election, not based necessarily on the best interests of the country but on the best interests of his or her political party.  I believe Bill C-16 would address those concerns. . .
. . "Instead of the Prime Minister and a small group of advisers being the only ones who know when the country will move into the next general election, when this bill is passed, all Canadians will have that knowledge, which makes it fair. . . . This Prime Minister will live by the law and spirit of this particular piece of legislation.  He and this government are driving this democratic reform. "
Hon. Rob Nicholson (then-Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Minister for Democratic Reform), speaking in the House of Commons on     September 18, 2006 about the fixed election date measures in Bill C-16, which became law on May 3, 2007

OTTAWA - Today, Democracy Watch released details about the application it has filed in the Federal Court of Canada challenging the legality of the recent federal election call. 

    Democracy Watch has filed a motion to have a hearing of its application before the October 14th voting day.  The motion will be considered by the Federal Court on Thursday, October 2, 2008 at The D'Arcy McGee Building, 90 Sparks St. in Ottawa after 9:30 am.

    Democracy Watch has applied for an order that Prime Minister Stephen Harper's advice to the Governor General of Canada on September 7, 2008 to dissolve Parliament and call an election violated the fixed election date measures that Bill C-16 added to the Canada Elections Act because a vote of non-confidence in the Conservative government had not yet occurred in the House of Commons, and therefore the dissolution of Parliament and the calling of the election was illegal.

    Democracy Watch is filing this case not only to challenge the calling of the current election, but also to win a ruling that will prohibit future prime ministers from calling elections before a vote of non-confidence in the House of Commons has occurred.

    Everything Conservative government Cabinet ministers and representatives said about their Bill C-16 in the House of Commons and Senate made it clear that the legal effect of the Bill is to require the government (whether minority or majority) to lose a vote of confidence in the House of Commons before the Prime Minister can advise the Governor General to dissolve Parliament and call an election:

"At this time, there is nothing stopping any Prime Minister who sees an electoral advantage from asking the Governor General to dissolve Parliament and call an election, even though there is no issue that could in any way be described as a confidence matter.  However, under this bill a Prime Minister would be restricted in that situation."
Hon. Rob Nicholson, speaking to a Senate Committee on December 6, 2006
about the fixed election date measures in Bill C-16

    Opposition party members in the House of Commons and Senate repeatedly and specifically questioned Conservative Cabinet Minister Nicholson (who was the Minister responsible at the time for the Bill) about how the Prime Minister would be restricted if Bill C-16 became law, and he consistently said things similar to what he told a Senate Committee on December 6, 2006, that "There would have to be non-confidence votes taken by the opposition parties" before the Prime Minister could advise the Governor
General to call an election.

    Statements at the time by opposition party representatives make it clear that their support of Bill C-16 (which was needed to pass the bill in a minority government situation) was based on the explanations by Minister Nicholson and other representatives of the Conservative government that the Bill prohibits a prime minister from calling an election before a vote of non-confidence in the government occurs in the House of Commons.

    On May 3, 2007, when Bill C-16 became law, the Conservative government issued a news release in which then-Minister for Democratic Reform Peter Van Loan was quoted as saying "This important piece of legislation will ensure fairness in the electoral process by eliminating the power of the governing party to call an election to capitalize on favourable political circumstances."

    In addition, Democracy Watch believes that, given the fixed election date measures, Prime Minister Harper's election call violates section 3 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.  In three past cases, the Supreme Court of Canada has ruled that section 3 includes the right to fair elections.

    As Minister Nicholson said about Bill C-16 in the House of Commons on September 18, 2006: "This legislation provides greater fairness, increased transparency and predictability" for federal elections."  He went on to detail how advance notice of an election is more fair for people who want to run as candidates, volunteer on campaigns, vote or participate in other ways.

    "All of the evidence shows that the intent and effect of the fixed election date measures prohibits the Prime Minister from calling an election before his governing party has lost a confidence vote in the House of Commons, something that did not occur before Prime Minister Harper called the current federal election," said Duff Conacher, Coordinator of Democracy Watch.  "As well, the clear intent of the fixed election date measures was to make elections fair for all political parties and citizens wanting to participate in the election by letting everyone know well in advance when it will happen, something that also did not occur when Prime Minister Harper suddenly called the current federal election."

    "For all these reasons, and to prevent future prime ministers from call unfair snap elections, Democracy Watch is applying to the Federal Court for a ruling that the calling of the current federal election was a violation of the fixed election date law and Canadians' rights under the Charter," said Conacher.

    Peter Rosenthal of the Toronto law firm Roach, Schwartz and Associates is Democracy Watch's lawyer for the case.  The case is Federal Court of Canada file number T-1500-08.

- 30 -

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Duff Conacher, Coordinator of Democracy Watch
Tel: (613) 241-5179

Peter Rosenthal, Lawyer for Democracy Watch
Tel: 416-657-1465  Email: <rosent@math.toronto.edu>

See this news release and links to all key documents at:
http://www.dwatch.ca/camp/RelsOct0108.html

***********

Democracy Watch
P.O. Box 821, Stn. B
Ottawa, Canada
K1P 5P9
Tel: (613) 241-5179
Fax: (613) 241-4758
Email: dwatch@web.net
Internet: http://www.dwatch.ca

Since 1993, cleaning up and making governments and corporations more responsible and accountable to you, and making Canada the world's leading democracy -- please donate now at: http://www.dwatch.ca/camp/support.html

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AFGHANISTAN -
The cost of war in Afghanistan
Western governments talk up their efforts to bring stability to Afghanistan. What we don't hear is how little of that assistance is delivered http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/sep/30/afghanistan.internationalaidanddevelopment

Taliban: Baitullah Mehsud alive; US strike in North Waziristan
http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2008/10/taliban_baitullah_me.php

US drone suspected of deadly attack on Pakistan border with Afghanistan
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/oct/01/pakistan.usa
 []
British Ambassador to Kabul 'says Afghanistan mission is doomed' - 'Afghan government had "lost all credit"'
Telegraph (10/01/2008)
[]
Taliban reconciliation 'a political move'
The Courier-Mail (10/01/2008)
[]
Karzai's bid to reach out to Taliban supported by France
AFP (10/01/2008)
[]
Straight-talking from Afghanistan diplomat Sir Sherard Cowper-Coles
Times Online, UK (10/01/2008)
[]
British envoy says mission in Afghanistan is doomed, according to leaked memo
Times (10/01/0108)
[]
Sons Of Afghanistan?
The Washington Independent (10/01/2008)
[]
General wants help in Afghanistan now
The Associated Press (10/01/2008)
[]
Amid Taliban violence, key players differ on containment strategy
The Christian Science Monitor (10/01/2008)
[]
Spanish report: Pakistan helped arm Taliban
The Associated Press (10/01/2008)
[]
Waste management slipping out of control in Kabul
IRIN (10/01/0108)
[]
British diplomat feels Afghan war being lost: report
CBC News (09/30/2008)
[]
Insurgents in Afghanistan Are Gaining, Petraeus Says
The New York Times (09/30/2008)
[]
Trio of warlords blamed for surge in Afghanistan violence
Los Angeles Times (09/30/2008)
[]
Syria, Afghanistan battle for IAEA seat
NDTV (09/30/2008)
[]
The fight goes on, militants tell Pakistan
Asia Times (09/30/2008)[]
[]
A Shakeup at the Top of Pakistan's Powerful Spy Agency
TIME (09/30/2008)


Election Coverage

CTV Coverage
CBC Coverage
G&M Coverage
Maclean's Coverage
Nat-Post Coverage
Canada.com
Sun Media
Canoe

Replay
Canadian election: French-language leaders' debate
http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/posted/archive/2008/10/01/liveblog-leaders-face-off-in-french-language-debate-8-p-m-et.aspx

Dion uses debate to lay out economic plan
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081001.welxnfrdebate1001/BNStory/politics/home

 Harper hammered on economy in leaders' debate

Political Decoder: Blogging the leaders' debate

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