Saturday, August 23, 2008

Daily Digest August 23, 2008


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

EDITORIALs

CHARLOTTETOWN GUARDIAN -
Now is the time to protect our coastlines

CAPE BRETON POST -
U.S. bluster is embarrassing

HALIFAX CHRONICLE HERALD -
Shift tactics on Taliban

AMHERST DAILY NEWS -
Meat scare has more meaning

Taliban plan all about PR

KINGSTON WHIG STANDARD-
ELECTION WOULD MOVE US FORWARD

JUST DO IT, STEPHANE

TORONTO STAR -
The law gets Googled

NIAGARA FALLS REVIEW -
Canada can and should do more in Afghanistan

Despite fixed election date, an early vote might be best

K-W RECORD -
Vote, or no vote, Harper must decide

WINDSOR STAR -
Afghanistan our resolve can't diminish  

SUDBURY STAR -
No mission impossible

WINNIPEG FREE PRESS -
Bottle ban all wet
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/editorial/story/4217001p-4810059c.html

WINNIPEG SUN-
CMA doc ready to rock health boat

CALGARY HERALD -
Canadian soldiers need all clear to fight for a chance at winning  

EDMONTON JOURNAL -
Is there a 'right to repair'?  

RED DEER ADVOCATE -
Civilian deaths troubling
 
LETHBRIDGE HERALD -
Paying taxes more costly than you think


ISSUES

ABORIGINAL AFFAIRS -          
First Nation seeks oilsands permit inquiry 


AFGHANISTAN -
Kabul: a city under siege from the Taliban
Rockets, guile and the lessons of history:

Group claims 78 Afghan civilians killed
U.S. denies toll in joint operation was more than 5

Afghan ministry says air strike killed civilians  

ANA open fire on Shindand protesters, Karzai worried

The keys to rebuilding a functioning Afghanistan  

US killed 50 kids - Afghan govt

Afghan president Karzai condemns civilian deaths

Security tops agenda for new Kandahar governor 

Militants ready for Pakistan's war

They Can't Handle "The Truth"
http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=Mzk4YmY2MGM5NTU4M2U3NmI3MzNhZjQyYzUwOGQwN2E =


CANADIAN FORCES
Flying the flag in Arctic no longer symbolic for Canadian Forces 

2,500 Canadian troops set to leave for Afghanistan over the next five weeks

Death of combat engineers will leave huge rift
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=743191


CANUSA/USACAN
Toward a new North America  


ECONOMIC AFFAIRS
Something fishy in seafood market

Builders call for update of GST rebate thresholds


FOREIGN AFFAIRS
Nations fail to agree on India nuclear pact  
Deal would allow exports of atomic fuel, technology

Canada's broken China policy 
Critics assail the PM's refusal to enage China, while others say his approach plays well to his political base. But most observers agree that the real problem with Canada's China policy is that we don't have one

Modern states built on mud and sand  

Israel and Iran: the Armageddon scenario 

Ukraine appeals for Nato to save it from Russia


HEALTH CARE RELATED
Five deaths linked to bacteria outbreak

Canada officials seek source of listeria outbreak


JUSTICE SYSTEM
Identity thieves cashing in on Canadians' info online, police warn


MIGRATION
New class for would-be immigrants represents major shift in policy
For detailed information about the proposed stream, visit the immigration department website at http://cic.gc.ca/english/DEPARTMENT/MEDIA/RELEASES/2008/2008-08-12.ASP You can also read the fine print in the government newspaper the Canada Gazette, where all proposed regulatory changes are published: canadagazette.gc.ca /partI/2008/20080809/html/ regle1-e.html.


POLITICS IN THE PROVINCES
Province has trucks, but no cargo, says director

It's time for some civil behaviour 

Selective Human Rights- Fraudulent Democracy


PARTY POLITICS
Fall vote likely, PMO hints  

Tories set up early election call

MacKay calls Brison 'a political windsock'

The shape of things to come
Harper swings through southwestern Ontario with a preview of what voters can soon expect


POLITICAL OPINION -
New Afghan crisis may be real election issue

Afghanistan explodes onto agenda

Harper's flyer a dishonest abuse of taxpayers  

Nasty showdown between two undesirable leaders

National issues dominate by-election in Guelph

Tories set up early election call
Harper swings through southwestern Ontario with a preview of what voters can soon expect

DON VALLEY WEST
A stuffed toy could win, if it's not a Tory
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20080823.BARBER23/TPStory/TPEntertainment/Politics/


PROGRAMMES
Industry calls Tory proposal for food-labelling dangerous

Natural health products deadly, Health Canada warns  

Kava preparation and consumption

Ephedrine mode of action

New class for would-be immigrants represents major shift in policy


PRESSURE POINTS
Weathering the storm  
Canadians take for granted the infrastructure their quality of life depends on -- but there is much to do to defend it in an increasingly unsettled climate


OPINION AND INFORMATION
Conservative agenda is changing Canada

Forestry workers adapt to a new reality

 Prejudices dog ex-convicts after debts paid to society
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/subscriber/westview/story/4216486p-4809399c.html

Gamesmanship Has Business Praying for Election

Brutal truths  

2010 Political Games underway

Georgia not much on Canada's mind

Is this CRTC's breast effort?

Standing on guard for Canadian porn

Russia's rapacity

Hey, where's my grant? I can be creative  


INFOS 
Le Bloc veut faire entendre sa voix à la commission Mulroney-Schreiber

André Arthur à TQS: Duceppe critique

Des élections déclenchées le 2 septembre?

Rumeurs d'élections: Duceppe fustige Harper

Les talibans ont refait leurs forces à Kandahar

Harper songerait à des élections aussi rapidement que le début septembre
http://info.branchez-vous.com/Nationales/080822/N0822154AU.html

Il serait arrogant de déclencher hâtivement les élections, selon Layton
http://info.branchez-vous.com/Nationales/080822/N0822108AU.html

Des poissons vendus en épicerie ou dans les restaurants sont mal étiquetés
http://info.branchez-vous.com/Nationales/080822/N0822136AU.html

Gilles Duceppe déplore l'attitude du gouvernement Harper
http://info.branchez-vous.com/Nationales/080822/N082290AU.html

Ottawa engrange un surplus budgétaire de 1,7 milliard $ en juin
http://info.branchez-vous.com/Nationales/080822/N0822126AU.html

Aux urnes le 6 octobre?
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/article/20080823/CPACTUALITES/808230761/1025/CPACTUALITES

Les machines électorales s'emballent à Ottawa
http://www.ledevoir.com/2008/08/23/202663.html

La Teoria Conspiratoria


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From: "Michael Watkins"

On Sat, August 23, 2008 12:24 am, Joe Hueglin wrote:
> CANDIDATES BY ELECTION OR SELECTION?

Look not only to Halton but also Quadra where rumours persist that David
Emerson will be run. He'll be "selected" not elected, if so, for the
riding.

If so, I'll be rather busy rallying forces to remind Quadra and other
Vancouver area voters that the Conservative Party of Canada believes in
real democracy about as much as China does.

Conservative Party polls in the area might be giving them more confidence
that Emerson can win in Quadra than is warranted. On the ground experience
in the Vancouver area demonstrated quite clearly that Emerson's immediate
post-election defection met with overwhelming disapproval across all of
B.C., not just Vancouver-Kingsway or the Vancouver area itself. Even in
staunchly "Conservative" ridings public opinion was 75% against the move
made by Harper and Emerson.

Stack a bunch of forced or "selected" riding candidates in a row, throw in
Emerson and Fortier, plop Harper in the front centre seat, and for good
measure dump Dion and his hand chosen few in the lineup too, and you've
got something akin to a Politburo photo op in China with an equivalent
lack of democracy

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

Daily Digest August 22, 2008


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

EDITORIALs

MONTREAL GAZETTE -
National co-operation needed on food safety  

OTTAWA CITIZEN -
We have seen the wind  

TORONTO STAR -
Put public safety before ideology

Doctoring medicare

GLOBE & MAIL -
Harper & an election
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080822.weelection22/BNStory/specialComment/home

FIXED ELECTION DATES
Power to dissolve
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20080822.EELECTION22/TPStory/TPComment/Politics/

Food safety and risk management

TORONTO SUN -


Put a lid on banning bottled water
WINNIPEG FREE PRESS -
A lesson in food safety
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/editorial/story/4216444p-4809450c.html

WINNIPEG SUN -
Election? Are you kidding?

REGINA LEADER-POST -
Ailing health system needs fresh diagnosis  

CALGARY HERALD -
Ground this bad idea  

EDMONTON JOURNAL -
Meat recall hurts inspection plans  

VANCOUVER SUN -
Mental illness retains a social stigma that must be eliminated  



ISSUES

AFGHANISTAN -
Lack of troops a 'political failure'

UK Army chief: We cannot beat the Taliban without reinforcements

'Taliban more aggressive, not stronger'

Leave Afghanistan now, Alexandre Trudeau says  

The challenge of winning an irregular war  


CANADIAN FORCES
Relative, troops in Edmonton struggle with latest soldier deaths in Afghanistan

Canadian Deaths in Afghanistan: The race between firepower and armour
http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/fullcomment/archive/2008/08/22/matt-gurney-on-canadian-deaths-in-afghanistan-the-race-between-firepower-and-armour.aspx


FOREIGN AFFAIRS
Canada's Arctic sovereignty bid begins in 'busy place'

Canada begins mapping Arctic sea floor  

Russia not the only bad guy in the Georgia skirmish  

A war in two acts – with different plots
Russian, Western telecasts showed totally different versions of the fighting in Georgia
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080822.wrussia23/BNStory/International/home

Beyond 'Great Power' politics
http://www.nationalpost.com/todays_paper/story.html?id=740712


HEALTH CARE RELATED
Billions of dollars fail to fix medical imaging deficiency

Private care gains support: new CMA boss


POLITICS IN THE PROVINCES
Quebec, Ontario culture ministers blast Tory arts cuts

Quebec asked to reconsider safe-injection site
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=743097

Tory leaves McGuinty in the dust
http://www.thestar.com/comment/article/483376


PARTY POLITICS
Expect election unless Dion acts, PMO warns

Harper weighing snap election call

PM Harper mulling possibility of election call after Labour Day

Election call possible after Labour Day, sources say

PM to meet with opposition leaders; may force fall vote

Layton wants Harper to allow Parliament to resume in mid-September

Dion asks Harper to state his views on abortion

Blackburn Clears Decks for Election Call

Flaherty cuts economic forecast

Federal surplus slashed to $1.2B

Ritz praises public servant for outing source of CFIA leak

NS premier "fully bought and paid for," says Brison

Dion pitches Green Shift

Opposition MPs blast Tories over pamphlets


POLITICAL OPINION -
National issues dominate by-election in Guelph

We don't need an election

Conservatives' tough talk on drugs is a cheap political ploy  

Conservatives' Election Law: Stephen Harper needs to fish or stop using folksy 19th-century American idioms
http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/fullcomment/archive/2008/08/21/daniel-goldbloom-on-the-conservatives-election-law-stephen-harper-needs-to-fish-or-stop-using-folksy-19th-century-american-idioms.aspx

Parties get set for fall election
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=743173

Campaign notebook: The Green Shift starts here?
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=743190

Tories preaching to the converted
http://www.thestar.com/Canada/Columnist/article/483524

Was it all a 'pious hope' dream?
Harper chose the fixed date path. And it's a matter of honour that he now follow it
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080822.wcomurph23/BNStory/specialComment/home


PROGRAMMES
Ottawa to shift arts funds to Olympic programs

Cabinet Urged To Block Porn Channel
http://www.nationalpost.com/todays_paper/story.html?id=740624

Navy's support ship replacement program scuttled
Government says bids significantly higher than money set aside for project; tender call for Coast Guard ships also cancelled
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080822.wscuttle22/BNStory/National/home


OPINION AND INFORMATION
We want choice

Tories stuck on blind ideology could learn from Saskatchewan  

Wall betrays Sask. on equalization  

The Harper government is headed the right way in the battle against drugs  

Preston Manning
Reinventing Canada's political circus
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080822.wcomanning23/BNStory/specialComment/home

Pre-emptive censorship is offensive to Muslims
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080822.wcomanji23/BNStory/specialComment/home


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CANDIDATES BY ELECTION OR SELECTION?

The following post was received this afternoon. 

The preface to the prediction of what may be is in process in Halton Riding is public knowledge. 

The role of what is called the "grassroots", the membership, has been significantly reduced from what it was in both of what are termed the "legacy parties". 

Holding nomination meetings it seems can't be done without approval. Candidate's names can be placed in nomination only after approval. There appears to be an if you lose you're ineligible rule. Candidates nominated by the membership can be removed without consultation.

None of these are a legacy from the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada to my knowledge that extended from 1968 to December 7, 2003.  Nor are they from the Reform Party where. unless I misread, decision making was to flow upward, not downward
 
What has occurred makes the scenario said to be underway in Haltion Riding not unimaginable but rather what may well be another instance of  a local riding's affairs being run from above.

Is it so?  While you very well may know from recent experience the degree of probability, I do not.

Though what I do know is that healthy grassroots are vital for both for lawns and political parties to flourish.

         Joe

_______________________________
Date: Fri, 22 Aug 2008 16:08:32 -0400
Subject: FYIDo The Tories Have A Death Wish?They are planning to appoint another candidate ­ in Halton this time.
From: Charles Conn <cwc@ceconn.com>
To: <joe.hueglin@bellnet.ca>



Do The Tories Have A Death Wish?

They are planning to appoint another candidate ­ in Halton this time.

The federal riding of Halton lies west of Toronto. The city of Milton is in the centre and corners of Oakville and Burlington lie on its southern border. The rest is farm, estate and small village country. It's a natural Tory stronghold and the Tories are doing everything they can to hand it over to the Liberals.

It's Garth Turner's riding. He was a staunch Tory until he offended some sensitive person(s) in the PMO and the Party threw him out. Now he's a staunch Liberal.

It must be quite puzzling for the 'smart guys' in the Tory PMO to see the polls continuing to show them lagging the Liberals in 98-seat southern Ontario. Let me venture an opinion. It's not just the avalanching list of errors of omission and commission made by the Harper-quarterbacked government. It's also the thuggish behaviour of Doug Finley who runs the Party's political operations ­ PoliOps in bureaucratic newspeak. He and his gang of yespersons are alienating riding memberships so much that they will not work for appointed "Stars". And grassroots do feed the lawn!

By his disdainful contempt for the membership in ridings like Toronto Centre, Guelph, Mississauga East-Cooksville, Mississauga South, Halton  and who knows how many others, Finley is virtually guaranteeing the Tories will do even less well in southern Ontario in October 2009 than they did in January 2006. Quebec won't offset and they'll be lucky to maintain a minority government.

The pattern of misbehaviour varies only slightly in detail.

In Toronto Centre, Mark Warner was duly elected as their candidate by the membership. PoliOps threw him out and appointed a non-resident. He lost a by-election. (Hal Jackman was not pleased!)

In Guelph, the membership elected Brent Barr to be their candidate by a substantial majority over Gloria Kovach, a local city councillor. PoliOps threw out Barr and installed Kovach. She will lose in the September by-election.

In Mississauga East-Cooksville, PoliOps installed Melissa Bhagat, a Liberal living in Brampton, as the candidate before the new board, never mind the membership, had a chance to organize a candidate search and fair election. She will lose.

It is likely that so much fuss was raised in The Star, the Mississauga News and bloggers about the underhanded treatment of the membership in Mississauga East-Cooksville that PoliOps had to tell Major Ted Opitz of Etobicoke that they couldn't give him an automatic appointment in Mississauga South after all ­ he'd have to campaign for the candidacy! (Mississauga South's two-time candidate, Phil Green, had been unceremoniously told that he wouldn't be allowed to even contest for the candidacy this time in order to give Opitz an opening.) Mississauga South was finally allowed to hold their candidate election June 10 at which date poor Major Opitz was blown away by a resident, Hugh Arrison. So far, PoliOps has not thrown him out. He might have a chance because the membership will work for a candidate they chose.

Halton has suffered a textbook combination of political Dirty Tricks.

First of all the riding's board has been asking PoliOps for permission to hold a candidate election for nearly two years. Their requests have been denied and, most recently, simply ignored. (One might wonder how an unelected, unaccountable staff can deny the elected, accountable representatives of the membership, but that's Tory democracy nowadays under the new Rules & Regulations drafted by [surprise] PoliOps.)

Halton riding has a consistent and active membership of around 550 and a significant amount of money in the bank. It has always had a healthy riding association ­ active in many community events and experienced at winning elections. There have been at least three very well-qualified members who have announced their intention to seek the candidacy for the same two years. All the requirements for holding a candidate selection process have been in place. It is axiomatic that the longer a candidate has to work the riding the more likely he/she is to have a positive influence on the outcome of an election.

However, PoliOps has decided to appoint Lisa Raitt as the Tory candidate in Halton.

Lisa Raitt at least lives in the riding. She is the CEO of the Toronto Harbour Commission. Formerly, she was chief counsel for the THC and was responsible for extracting the $35M penalty from Toronto City Council for their holdup of the Island Airport. Clearly a "Star" candidate!

While at the THC, Ms. Raitt hired two lobbyists ­ Vic Gupta and Mark Spiro. Vic Gupta is the Principal of Prime Strategies - a PR firm in Toronto. Mark Spiro is a Partner at Goodmans LLP in Toronto and ran the Target Management Group for Doug Finley during the 2005-06 election. He has recently backed off from open contact with Ms. Raitt, but is still a key advisor to Doug Finley.

Investigators might possibly find it useful to also probe Toronto city councillors and mayor Miller about Ms. Raitt's tenure at THC.

Now here's where it gets a little complicated. Early in 2008, both Lisa Raitt and the Halton board were told that Lisa Raitt was going to be the Tory candidate in the next election. Ms. Raitt was introduced to the board as such. Only one board member resigned in protest, the rest prepared to dig in their heels.

It is likely that the fuss raised by the newspapers and blogs about the nefarious treatment of the Mississauga East-Cooksville membership caused PoliOps a little temporary concern (see Mississauga South) and sometime in February/March 2008 they told Lisa Raitt she'd have to campaign for the candidacy (like Major Ted Opitz). She flatly refused. She gave the bogus excuse that her position in a government agency didn't allow her to campaign for a political position. This is not true. More likely she was concerned about the optics among Toronto city councillors and/or she simply didn't want to lower herself, or exert herself, to engage in a contest for a position she had previously been assured was hers and that she still wanted to have.

So PoliOps made a tactical shift. The membership in Halton will not be allowed to choose their own candidate. Whenever the writ is dropped for the next federal election, the cover of the call to arms will be used to sneak in Lisa Raitt as the official Party Representative.

Recently, Ms. Raitt has been showing up at community events and behaving for all the world as though she is in fact the Tory candidate for Halton.

Investigators might find it useful to ask Ms. Raitt whether she is going to compete for the nomination or whether she has already been promised the candidacy.

Talk about abusing the membership! 

The National Council of the Conservative Party is elected to serve and protect the interests of the membership and the Party. Instead, as recent events have demonstrated beyond a shadow of a doubt, National Councillors have abdicated their positional responsibility and ceded their authority to the bully-tactics of Doug Finley and his gang of fellow hirelings.

National Councillors know full well what's going on. I for one sent complete details of what transpired in Mississauga East-Cooksville to: Don Plett ­ President, Richard Ciano ­ Vice President, Jean LeBlanc ­ Secretary, Lois Brown ­ Ontario Councillor, Kara Johnson ­ Ontario Councillor and Susan McArthur ­ Ontario Councillor. Not one had the courtesy, never mind the integrity, to respond.

Furthermore, they can read the media accounts that relate the destruction being wrought, not just in southern Ontario, but also in Quebec, the Maritimes, Manitoba, Alberta and B.C. just in the last year. And probably three time as much damage is being done in ridings lacking the juice to fight back or get media attention.

National Councillors and the PMO must soon realize that Finley's actions are wrecking the enthusiasm of party members by denying the memberships and boards the fundamental democratic right to choose who will represent them in elections and parliament. If they don't do something about Finley and his gang they will rightly bear the blame for the next reign of Liberal socialism.

In addition to the persons named above, you may wish to contact:

Keith Hesse, long time and still current Halton board member, 905-876-9900 (home), 905-34-5307 (cell). Lisa Raitt told him she won't declare because she's worried about the media and Toronto Council finding out about her responsibility for the Island Airport. (Rumour has it the Tories want to make her Transport Minister to expand Toronto Island Airport so Porter will buy more planes from Bombardier in Montreal!!!}

Tasha Woodcock, Ontario PoliOps, 613-755-2192.
Wally Butts, south central Ontario Region PoliOps, 519-586-3019
Karma MacGregor, GTA Region PoliOps, 416-846-8236.

Guy Giorno and Tony Kenanke in the PMO with Doug Finley.

Charles W. Conn, Mississauga. August 18, 2008.

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From: "Rebecca Gingrich" <r.gingrich@sympatico.ca>
Subject:DD

Joe--I believe the fixed election date applies to majority governments
only?

Sadly an election would do nothing for us other than to cost us millions
more taxdollars that could be used for Canadians. No matter who 'wins' the
next one we will still be held hostage by incompetence, irrelevance and
stupid!

Why would anyone even bother to vote? What a farce our governments have
become. They are only interested in their own well-being. We are headed
into economic meltdown and we are supposed to worry about the viability of
these overpaid jerks? We will be freezing in the dark this winter and are
supposed to care whose leader can con us the most?

As for the GG--who cares if she is in a quandry. Hopefully she is still
buried under a pile of letters from concerned Canadians over her Order of
Canada to Morgentaler! She is a waste of tax dollars too.
Becky

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

Thursday, August 21, 2008

Daily Digest August 21, 2008


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

EDITORIALs

ST.JOHN'S TELEGRAM -
Who's minding the caffeine?

CORNER BROOK WESTERN STAR -
An historic deal inked

CAPE BRETON POST -
PR strategy part of Taliban plan
http://www.capebretonpost.com/index.cfm?sid=164260&sc=151

HALIFAX CHRONICLE HERALD -
Dysfunctional arguments

Strongman's weakness

MONTREAL GAZETTE -
The logical next step against drunk drivers  

Political will is what's needed to face down the Russian bear  

OTTAWA CITIZEN -
Being practical about our health  

The bear is back  

KINGSTON WHIG STANDARD-
Trickle could become flood

TORONTO STAR -
A carbon election that clears the air

Bottled water drying up

GLOBE & MAIL -
Sarkozy sets an example on Afghanistan
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080821.weafghanistan21/BNStory/specialComment/home

SUDBURY STAR -
Clement climbs slippery slope

WINNIPEG FREE PRESS -
The waste goes on
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/editorial/story/4215880p-4808765c.html

SASKATOON STARPHOENIX -
'Robbing us blind' 

CALGARY HERALD -
Time for PM to scratch that itch?

CALGARY SUN -
Group asks Canada for more aid, observers, in Georgia

GRANDE PRAIRIE DAILY HERALD TRIBUNE -
AIDS does exist in Canada - Federal gov't ought to do more to help the cause

EDMONTON JOURNAL -
Intriguing oilsands interest  

LETHBRIDGE HERALD -
A welcome second look at medical mystery

ASIAN PACIFIC POST -
The madness on our streets


ISSUES

AFGHANISTAN -
Taliban forces, battle experience growing ­ report

In Afghanistan, blurred lines cost lives

Afghan numbers don't add up

Goodbye Musharraf, hello Taliban


CANADIAN FORCES
Three Canadian soldiers killed in Afghanistan

40-year-old aircraft will have to keep flying in arctic until at least 2015


FOREIGN AFFAIRS
US faces up to life without Musharraf

U.S.-India nuclear deal a non-proliferation disaster

Georgia's role makes it no squeaky clean statelet  

Georgia conflict has NATO on ropes
Divide between 'new,' 'old' Europes may KO organization

Group asks Canada for more aid, observers, in Georgia

The outlook on a triple-superpower world


HEALTH CARE RELATED
Outgoing CMA chief inspired a better approach to health-care financing

Canada has more MRI and CT scanners but still lags other OECD nations


POLITICS IN THE PROVINCES
N.S. premier slams Liberal carbon tax plan


PARTY POLITICS
Dion links Walkerton, planned cuts to food scrutiny

Layton against early election call

Dion asks Harper to state his views on abortion

Dion test-drives green pitch

Tories pushing fall election to shut down probe, MPs say

Federal election? We're 'well prepared,' Bloc leader insists

POLITICAL OPINION -
Is the fix in on fixed election law?

PM eager to escape his own trap

Liberals must convince voters the Green Shift is not the shaft 

Liberal tax plan so much hot air  

Conservative agenda is changing Canada

There's no telling where Qu?bec's votes would go

Flaherty's $50,000 challenge
http://www.nationalpost.com/opinion/columnists/story.html?id=67793cff-2765-40f4-b7c4-da81bc190f09

Tories pushing fall election to shut down probe, MPs say
Witnesses can't be held responsible for boycotting hearing if Parliament dissolved
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20080821.CONTEMPT21/TPStory/TPNational/Politics/

Party leaders' fates hang on results of a fall election


PROGRAMMES
Planned cuts to food scrutiny questioned
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20080821.RECALLOTTAWA21/TPStory/TPNational/Politics/

Tories coy about plan to shift food inspection powers to industry

Law setting federal election date not binding

Docs condemn unborn crime bill


OPINION AND INFORMATION
You may know how you'll vote before you know it

Ignoring the harsh reality of a failing Afghanistan  

Sensitive documents  

Why can't we fight the Taliban at home?


INFOS 
Trois soldats canadiens meurent en Afghanistan

Harper prêt à plonger avant la rentrée
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/article/20080821/CPACTUALITES/80820286/1025/CPACTUALITES

Soutien aux arts
Québec fustige Ottawa
http://www.radio-canada.ca/nouvelles/Politique/2008/08/20/002-Culture-st-Pierre.shtml

Des électeurs indécis qui ne le sont pas vraiment, selon une nouvelle étude
http://info.branchez-vous.com/Nationales/080821/N0821115AU.html



BELOW(30)(30)(30)(30)(30)30)(30)(30)(30)(30)(30)30)(30)(30)(30)(30)(30)30)(30)(30)(30)(30)(30)(30)(30)(30)30)(30)(30)(30)(30)30)30)(30)(30)(30)(30)(30)(30)(30)

Promise Keeper><Promise Breaker

Should the Governor General be asked by the Prime Minister to issue writs of election  
do you see him being viewed as forced to do so in order to keep promises or otherwise?

                                                      Joe


Stephen Harper is considering call an election before Parliament resumed on 15 September. His decision will depend on its imminent meetings with the heads of three opposition parties, it was said yesterday in La Presse. Everything will depend on the results of meetings with heads of other parties, "said Conservative strategist yesterday.
http://translate.google.ca/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cyberpresse.ca%2Farticle%2F20080821%2FCPACTUALITES%2F80820286%2F1025%2FCPACTUALITES&sl=fr&tl=en&hl=en&ie=UTF-8

The theoretical power of dissolution might remain, but the bill was a solemn declaration of Stephen Harper's intent. "This Prime Minister," Mr. Nicholson insisted, "will live by the law and the spirit of this particular piece of legislation." Another Conservative MP declared that Mr. Harper was giving up a power "that past prime ministers ... have used like a club." Months earlier, the Prime Minister himself told the House that "the government is clear that it will not be seeking an early election. At any time, Parliament can defeat the government and provoke an early election, if that is what the opposition irresponsibly chooses to do."

So the fixed election law - which the government probably introduced with half-innocent good intent in its early months of power - has become an awkward burden for the Prime Minister. Mr. Dion's erratic conduct on confidence votes has riled Mr. Harper. Does that justify the Prime Minister in violating the spirit of the election law?

The Governor-General, no doubt, is taking fresh advice on that question from her constitutional advisers. Could she reject the Prime Minister's advice to dissolve Parliament without a government defeat? Does the new law make any difference? There is only one answer: Despite the law, she would be obliged to do what the Prime Minister asks. She has no power, in this situation, to challenge the political judgment or the moral subtlety of the Prime Minister. Mr. Harper, like other prime ministers before him, can still wield the big club. The new law is a nullity without prime ministerial self-restraint. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080821.wcoelection21/BNStory/specialComment/?page=rss&id=RTGAM.20080821.wcoelection21

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From: "Rebecca Gingrich"
Subject:  DD

Joe--in our great zeal to take 'democracy to Afghanistan', we forgot to keep
any democracy for ourselves!  The very fact that we have been told that
Afghanistan has to be forced to accept 'democracy' proves that our great
'leaders' in the West know nothing of democracy.  Greed is the only driving
force for getting our children killed in the war for oil.

Sadly, even if asked what our opinion is in this 'war', it would be jury
rigged or ignored. Since when is it important for our leaders to know what
Canadians 'think'?  Remember how the Liberals always told us what 'Canadians
want'?  And now we are told what we will think!

The pipeline is the ONLY driver of this 'war'.  We as Canadians are told
that we are there so women and children can be educated and to rid the
region of opium.  We are told to forget that the Taliban erased almost
totally the growing of opium poppies before we even got there.  We are fed
pap to make us ignore the reality of the situation.  That reality being our
soldiers are cannon fodder for oil interests in the area, and that the very
people we are there to 'educate' are being slaughtered by us.

Of course the excuses  for these murders are fed to us with 'a spoonful of
sugar'!  We line the roadway when our dead soldiers return in a coffin and
don't think past our noses to the real reason our children are dead--that
being greed and power.

I doubt our 'leaders' are even made aware of our concerns.  Who are we to
question the dictates of the Corporatocracy that rules this country?  I never
get a response to my emails other than 'we have received your letter'!  We
are not worth of taking part in any discussion.

Our children and grand children will continue to be deployed to protect
corporate interests, innocent people will continue to be murdered in any
country that has what our 'leaders' want and we will be patted on the head
and told to go away.  No one wants to hear from us.  Just shut up and keep
paying taxes!

What nerve to mention 'corruption in Afghanistan!  We should clean our own
country up first.

becky

===================================
Subject: "earthworm" 08 8 17

Publisher is Alan Heisey, 38 Avoca Avenue, L.P.H #6, Toronto, ON, 
Canada, M4T 2B9   * N.B.: This email address, <hize@earthlink.net>
proving most reliable!
Personal phone 416 923 5381, fax 416 944 0133, south 239 513 0444  

I welcome comments, always, on contents and how to improve presentation.


ON Tories should pack Winnipeg: prepare for floorfights!

I hope the following is a realisitc description of probabilities in 
Winnipeg when it comes to giving Ontario five regionally elected 
councillors where we now have four elected province-wide.

I think it will take an epic gathering of our best and brightest to 
propel Ontario actually into increased and better focused roles for 
our population in the party’s National Council.

I advise all Ontarions delegates, alternates and others who care, to 
register for the convention by this coming Thursday, for the lowest 
rates because there are signs that some in other regions of the party 
have difficulty in seeing electoral justice carried out for our 12 
million Ontarions.

The first sign is that the party’s central philosophical thrust is 
enhancing the roles of the provincial and territorial governments 
versus the national government, as distinct from the quite different 
concept of rigorously representing populations as gathered in 
municipalities and other local governments. The clearest expression of 
this is the watering of Bill C-22’s proposed representation of 
Ontario voters in the national parliament, keeping the province’s 
seats some 10% fewer than any other province in relationship to our 12 
million+ population. Ontario will not be a province like the others, 
it will, for marvelously arcane considerations, be 10% under-
represented! I devoutly hope the present bill is withdrawn, quick!

One can piously hope that the party’s constitution committee will see 
the reasonableness of addressing this population imbalance in the 
party’s formal council structure by endorsing the resolution from 
Whitby-Oshawa which will in effect raise the constituted provincial 
councillors from Ontario from the present four to a more equitable five.

However, the very well understood concept of rep by pop had no place 
in the setting up of this same constitution committee because all the 
provinces have two provincial representatives, meaning eight from 
Atlantic Canada to two for Quebec and two for Ontario!

 Whitby-Oshaswa and St. Paul’s both submitted amendments to the 
constitution committee before the end of last year favouring the 
proposed five Ontario councillors also being elected from five 
separate geographic districts, to clarify exactly which Ontario 
councillor is responsible for the individual areas of the province. 
The St. Paul’s proposal rigorously balances the populations of the 
five districts while the Whitby-Oshawa proposal is less attentive to 
this aspect. (Please understand that I drafted the St. Paul’s 
proposal which its president forwarded to the constitution committee.) 
My proposed five regions are detailed in an addendum to this edition.

There is said to be interest in regionally electing provincial 
councillors in the three other provinces with two or more councillors 
now constituted. Very recent enquiries by me to one of the Ontatio 
chairs of the constitution committee clarify that no information has 
yet been available on its processes, or thinking. A recent email to 
one of the two Toronto organizers enquiring as to the probability of 
regional meetings before the Winnipeg meet on constitutional issues 
was not replied to, so this absence of any provisional information 
leaves an open field for fresh thinking.

I like to think that the interest in the four largest provinces in 
regionally electing provincial councillors will encourage fresh 
thinking about Ontario’s case for five councillors. It should be 
clear that organizing voting from these provinces by regional 
districts at this convention would be no big deal, however some might 
fuss!



Tri-Spa’s Doug Lowry differs on M.P. Goodyear’s denial!

The recent imbroglio in which the party’s assigned spokesman M.P., 
Gary Goodyear (Cambridge) issued a statement, challenged at least by 
Toronto Tory Doug Lowry, will not likely cause us any lasting pain. 
However, there is enough embarrassment to leave our caucus thoroughly 
irritated at the party’s organizers publicly identified as doing what 
Goodyear said we did not do!

It all boils down to the handling of party funds, a subject on which I 
am persuaded that we are, all, grossly hobbled by excessive rules and 
regulations. The hero of this tale, from my point of view is Tri-Spa 
president Doug Lowry who felt obliged to attend a parliamentary 
committee summons, although at least three others so identified were 
told not to attend by a Toronto organizer - according to Lowry.

This public disagreement, at least in part on the front page of one of 
the Toronto dailies, will, as one observer sees it, “add to the 
cynicism”. As a longtime fan of Lowry I nominate him, if I can for 
one of the “Maple Leaf Awards” to be announced at the Winnipeg 
meeting. When it comes to whom one takes orders from, Lowry listened 
to a parliamentary committee, rather than our organizers, setting a 
splendid example when we may need it again!

More attention to edas needed in party constitution

(I reproduce a large section of my December 23 2007 issue which gave 
attention to a lot of party constitutional issues about which we, out 
on the mushroom farm, know zip about where the great minds are tonight!)

This windy edition presents my thoughts for 2008 on how we  strengthen 
the ongoing activities of the citizen party, get S to give them some 
bigtime, continuing media attention, and watch how our national 
ratings in the polls tick upwards inexorably to whatever magic number 
sees the plug pulled!!

I decry a specific neglect of our constitution!:
HQ ‘big 3’ short-shrift section 6.1.2

Preparing for the recent meeting of the Whitby-Oshawa-Ajax policy 
committee meeting I read over very carefully every word of the 
party’s constitution.
Our three key leadership groups ignore the last component of paragraph 
6.1.2. The paragraph and context read as follows:
6.1.The governance of the Party shall adhere to the following 
objectives:
6.1.1 full representation of the interests and views of members;
6.1.2 direct regular communication from National Council, Conservative 
Fund Canada and the Leader to electoral district associations and 
members to ensure accountability;

I contend, as a “lay” member of a Toronto area electoral district 
association, that there is virtually no “direct, regular 
communication” from the party’s “big 3”, listed above, to this 
interested member, nor to, apparently, literally many thousands of 
other members.

I understand the subtleties of our language well enough to know that if 
the drafters of this paragraph intended that “members” were to 
receive communications through their local electoral district 
associations the statement could have been set out accordingly.

As it is the paragraph should be refined to make it clear exactly who 
the drafters intended as “electoral district associations” as 
distinct from the general membership of each association.

In practise this phrasing has been used in the Toronto area to 
authorize in some cases the presidents of associations to distribute 
communications to the 30 members of the board of directors who elected 
them to their positions, but not to their general memberships.

(However a late Saturday (yesterday) afternoon survey of nearly a 
dozen random members of Toronto’s 23  eda boards suggests that 
literally none of them has in fact received two recent, outstanding 
emails from Ottawa!)

The two emails I have received, from two other associations than my 
own, concern the Constitution committee and the Policy committee.The 
three-page constitution committee email of August 1, 2007 I forwarded 
with “earthworm” on September 30th and I attach the policy 
committee’s 3-page email, apparently undated email, hereto!
The two emailings reveal very careful, national, orderly approaches to 
inviting new submissions from associations for consideration in the 
late 2008 annual convention. Interestingly, there is no mention of the 
secrecy which overwhelmed all discussions of policy last time round. 
Is it possible that media  or un-washed, non-members could observe any 
of our policy discussions this time?

For the country’s 308 district associations, emailings to all the 
directors suggest that some 9,000 party members are eligible to 
receive the communications but not the membership at large!! (I have 
grave doubts that even a majority of the party’s eda directors are 
seeing these reports, going by what I sampled in Toronto yesterday!)

There is a standard warning on all such emails from headquarters which 
makes it quite clear that informing other members of each eda is 
forbidden, if not illegal:
Confidentiality Warning: This message and any attachments are intended 
only for the use of the intended recipient(s), are confidential, and 
may be privileged.  If you are not the intended recipient, you are 
hereby notified that any review, retransmission, conversion to hard 
copy, copying, circulation or other use of this message and any 
attachments is strictly prohibited.  If you are not the intended 
recipient, please notify the sender immediately by return e-mail, and 
delete this message and any attachments from your system.  Thank you.

I accept that various communications from one or more of the “Big 
3” into elements of the national party must have varying levels of 
restricted distribution.

I have long felt that the concept of leaving it to the president alone 
for each eda to determine who is to have Ottawa communications passed 
on leaves the communications chain vulnerable to a president who, for 
whatever reason, does not forward communications to his/her board. A 
backup arrangement might be for the board Secretary and Financial 
Officer to also receive all such communications.

The Crying Shame of It All is that these two constructive invitations, 
apparently to the whole party, have been deliberately held back from 
the general membership, meaning there will be much less participation 
than could otherwise be the case.
It Beats Me why the party does not release these invitations via the 
mass media to illustrate the positive processes open to members only, 
to encourage membership and participation!

Constitution/policy issues bubble

If you are not one of the chosen to have already received the policy 
committee’s latest memo you will find that it is in fact the fifth in 
a series and gives edas the right to add until February 15th, 2008, an 
additional policy proposal to those that have already been received, 
huh!? The report includes a most fascinating list of policy topics 
which have been already received, meaning some tories, somewhere, are 
being plugged in right along

The constitution committee’s deadline, please note, for new 
statements, stays at January 1, 2008!! I pressed Ontario’s 
constitution committee co-chair Jason Hickman on this deadline and he 
undertook to make minor allowances, but has no authority to have a 
deadline parallel to the policy committee’s.

Out here, in our party’s nationwide “mushroom farm”, I find  that 
our caucus and leader are doing a solid job on most policy issues. 
After all they have the backing of substantial civil service and 
consultant resources - as long as they keep cutting the capital gains 
tax firmly in mind!

The one policy exception is their continuing plan to short change 
Ontario some 10 additional seats after the next re-distribution. I 
address this issue in a separate section, and pray for a change of 
heart - or should I call it a new song sheet? - wherever it is needed.
My fallback plan is prodding and pushing some powerful Grit friends to 
have their beat-up leader score some big points across Ontario by 
announcing soon that their caucus will move an amendment to bill C-22 
to give the population the seats they are entitled to, if Peter Van 
Loan does not see the error of his ways!

Seeing policy processes flow at the eda level is a special interest. 
As policy vp of Tri-Spa’s p-cs I drafted the following which 
president Arnold Kwok emailed to all members:

To Arnold Kwok, president Trinity-Spadina Provincial PC Association
and to all members of the association ,  cc Sean Martin, St. Paul’s 
association                                  07 12 15

A, To stimulate interest in policy activities of our association in 
the new year I set out here a brief review of two useful events this 
past year.

First was a single “Policy Lite” event which we held mid June in 
the garden at 38 Avoca Avenue. We had three formal motions submitted, 
discussed, voted and then adjourned for coffee and dessert.

Second item was the adoption and dissemination of a formal motion from 
our policy committee, and endorsed by the riding executive, to the 
Prime Minister and to the leader of our party in Ontario, asking for a 
larger number of M.P.s to be planned for Ontario. This past week our 
Ontario caucus supported a Liberal motion thereon.

Membership in our policy committee was deemed by myself to consist of 
those riding residents who chose to attend one or both “policy 
lite” events of the past two years: They are Robert Aterman, Ken 
Chan, Sam Goldstein, Alan Heisey, Arnold Kwok, Luc LeClair, Doug 
Lowry, Adrienne Snow.  (The 2007 event attracted five members of the 
adjacent St. Paul’s asociation.)

This coming year we should try to convene quarterly “policy lite” 
meetings, preferably in member’s homes, or party rooms. I favour 
encouraging new members to participate by proposing their own favorite 
issue for consideration and votes!

These could include urban and other levels of government or items 
built around news, such as the Robert Latimer case. The essential 
point is that until a topic of discussion is formally constructed as a 
motion and voted it cannot  be forwarded to the Tri-Spa board of 
directors for further consideration.

Everyone who is a member of the association should consider this a 
formal invitation to join the committee and develop policy processes 
more effectively, Of course, public meetings should be considered when 
an issue is of sufficient import and the board wants to put one on! I 
am willing to serve this coming year or cheerfully defer to a fresh 
face! Cordially, hize

Constitutional issues are an entirely different matter! The party’s 
constitution, in contrast to government policy, has few apparent 
devotees in the ranks of our professional politicians, since it is 
mostly for and about us amateurs and our roles.

As a longtime student of the Progressive Conservative and our party’s 
constitutions I find a lot which needs early attention. Much the 
biggest shortfall is the general tenor of  “Section 5, Electoral 
District Associations”, which I reproduce here.
(The pdf of the constitution is so rigged that one cannot copy and 
paste any portion of it, meaning that I have transcribed this section, 
an unnecessary obstruction!)

“Conservative Party of Canada Constitution

5. Electoral district associations

5.1 The electoral district association is the primary organization 
through which the rights of members are exercised.

5.2 Recognition may be granted by the National Council to one 
electoral district association in each federal electoral district, and 
such recognition may be revoked, purusuant to rules and procedures set 
out by by-law.

5.3 Electoral district associations shall comply with such 
requirements as to their governance, financial management and 
reporting, as may be implemented by National Council by by-law or 
otherwise.”

The present section 5 of the constitution gives short shrift to the 
vital roles of the local EDAs and offers a head office view of 
ensuring that they act in accordance with the National Council.

The following re-draft starts with:
recognition of the individual and their family, and clarification of 
their immediate opportunity to serve and support their own address, as 
a Steward, rather than the militaristic term, “poll captain”;
introduces as the name of the governing group within the eda, a 
deliberate shift away from “Board”, with all its connotations of 
corporate structures and secrecy, to District Council, as more clearly 
a local counterpart to the National Council, and as resonating with 
community councils and their open operating characteristics;
introduces some needed balance into the importance of serving the 
continuing political aspirations of our citizen members, as well as 
the priority of electing a professional to represent them in parliament;
and reminds all that authority flows upward within the party as well 
as downward!


5. Individuals and their roles in Electoral District Associations

5.1 The central element in the Canadian community is the individual 
citizen and their family.

5.2 Individuals and families substantially sharing the beliefs 
expressed in the the Party’s constitution are welcome to join and 
participate in their local electoral district Conservative Association.

5.3 Individuals members can serve vital, immediate neighbourhood roles 
when elected as a continuing Steward for their particular apartment 
building, or city block, or concession.

5.3 The Association in each electoral districts enables members to 
participate fully in the citizen processes of the federal government. 
This participation is led by a members-elected District Council.

5.4 A priority in that participation is successfully nominating, 
electing and sustaining a Conservative Member of Parliament to 
represent their overall community in the Parliament of Canada.

5.5 Other priorities include providing forums for members and for 
others to nurture national and local values and priorities in public 
life, assisted by regular communication with the local communities at 
large.

5.6 Electoral district associations through the body of laws and 
practices delegate authority to the Leader, National Council, and 
Conservative Fund Canada which in turn establish national models and 
bylaws for the recognition and operation of the local associations.

Never having received even a single sentence from my own eda about the 
processes for reviewing proposed constitutional amendments - and with 
the deadline only a few days away - I intend submitting this re-
statement of section 5 direct to the policy committee chair in Otawa 
though I have also forwarded a draft of it to Jason Hickman.

The “Peter Tudisco Amendment” Two weeks ago in Whitby,
the Whitby- Oshawa and Ajax edas adopted the thrust of the motion I had proposed 
on regional elections for the desired five national councilllors for 
Ontario on the national council. Their amendment calls for a different 
way of balancing the populations of the five regions from the strict 
balance I had proposed. I will forward a resetting of my statement so 
that the committee can evaluate which approach they may choose to put 
before the convention.

Election at large of both the national party president and  electoral 
district associations presidents. James Small, vice president of the 
St. Paul’s e.d.a. suggested informally to me some months ago that the 
national president should be elected by all the delegates to the 
national convention rather than by a decision of the elected members 
of the national council. I support this reversion to the approach of 
the former federal Progressive-Conervative Party. This would create 
the office of the president of the national party as a powerful, 
citizen counterbalance to that of the national leader!
I strongly favour also changing the method of election of the 
president, and probably all officers of the individual eda executive, 
to at-large, meaning by all members present at the annual meeting of 
each association rather than the present method of election from among 
the maximum 30 members of the board. This would serve to remind the 
officers that their base of authority is the entire membership of the 
local association not just the comparative handful elected to serve on 
the board.

Election of national directors from regions is known to have support 
in Britich Columbia and Alberta so will probably be in the recommended 
changes put to next autumn’s national convention.
On the other hand, direct election of the national president and of 
the presidents of individual edas would benefit from endorsements by 
whatever number of constituency committees and associations are taking 
a direct interest in the work of the constitution committee.

Improving communications between the “big 3” and both individual 
edas and individual members.
I charge the Ontario and national constitution committees and the 
“big 3” with the need to urgently address the gulfs in 
communication between the pious statement in present section 6.1.2 and 
the realities.
===================================

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Daily Digest August 20, 2008


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

EDITORIALs

HALIFAX CHRONICLE HERALD -
Chretien the critic

AMHERST DAILY NEWS -
Let's get it over with already

OTTAWA CITIZEN -
These are real illnesses  

TORONTO STAR -
Debate Canada's next Afghan role

The Taliban's big lie

GLOBE & MAIL -


No reason to scold doctors, Mr. Clement

NATIONAL POST -
Election, anyone?
http://www.nationalpost.com/opinion/story.html?id=727765

TORONTO SUN -


Rent-a-cops expose a beggar issue
SASKATOON STARPHOENIX -
Political dysfunction  

REGINA LEADER-POST -
Harper helps foment election cynicism 

CALGARY HERALD -
Holy! If this is culture, then Canada's in trouble  

EDMONTON JOURNAL -
Argue ideas, don't attack MD ethics 

Dear Taliban:  
 
LETHBRIDGE HERALD -
Give parliamentary committees star power

VANCOUVER SUN -
Simplistic solutions to complex problems won't win votes  


Conservative campaign flyer brings thinking straight out of the '50s to deal with the troubled Downtown Eastside

VANCOUVER PROVINCE -
Being right can be all wrong  


ISSUES

ABORIGINAL AFFAIRS -          
Mounties tout 'Marshall Plan' to solve aboriginal woes

Don't dig us a new hole


AFGHANISTAN -
Afghan War Escalates With Worst Taliban Raid in 6 Years
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/20/world/asia/20afghan.html?ex=1219809600&en=6a04c52d56c36806&ei=5070&emc=eta1

10 French soldiers die, 21 hurt in Afghan ambush

US faces up to life without Musharraf

In Afghanistan, blurred lines cost lives

Security fears paralyze Kabul

Taliban insurgency enters chilling new phase,

NATO examines friendly fire report in French deaths

Taleban grow more brazen

Insurgents at Kabul's doorstep

Isaf troops in Afghanistan


CANADIAN FORCES
MacKay launches Arctic sovereignty operation Nanook in Iqaluit Audio


CANUSA/USACAN
Prentice counters anti-NAFTA talk


ECONOMIC AFFAIRS
Energy deals with Russia could be at risk 

Japan to label goods' carbon footprints: official
http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=080819093128.5xf1wcko&show_article=1

GST among friendliest taxes to deal with: survey
http://www.financialpost.com/small_business/story.html?id=734896


FOREIGN AFFAIRS


Russia Missile Warning

US blamed over S Ossetia crisis
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/americas/2008/08/2008812204333715324.html

Sending the U.S. to war is not the president's call

Russia watched 'closely' in Arctic  

How the U.S. turned to Mush
Americans used outgoing Pakistani leader in war on terror

PAKISTAN'S POLITICAL CRISIS



The party's over for Europe: The bear is back

Canada and Arctic sovereignty

Polish, U.S. missile shield irks Moscow

Russia, Iran become regional superpowers

Georgian debacle could destroy NATO

HEALTH CARE RELATED
Incoming CMA head says private-public mix will help ailing health care system

Some doctors wary new CMA president will expand private delivery 

Politicians urged to make health care part of election campaigns
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20080820.CMA20/TPStory/TPNational/Politics/

JUSTICE SYSTEM
Lawyers tear into federal justice minister

Quebec's top jurist urges journalist to publicize how cuts have hamstrung his court
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20080820.JUSTICE20/TPStory/TPNational/Politics/


POLITICS IN THE PROVINCES
Put sovereignty on backburner, says PQ stalwart

N.L. premier signs Hebron offshore oil deal

NBers oppose carbon tax: NB premier

If election called, McGuinty vows to crusade for Ontario


PARTY POLITICS
Harper not required to abide by election date law
all 625 news articles »

Canadians unhappy with Tories: Poll

A formula for Tory gains

Harper touts legislative gains just days after calling Parliament dysfunctional -

Harper, Dion both pondering election timing -

Harper, Dion trade election threats  

Harper casts Conservatives as force for unity, multiculturalism

MPs launch formal complaint over Conservative flyers

Energy firms met with PMO as gas prices rose  

Personal financial interest behind Chrétien attack on PM, Kenney says

Tories, Grits spar over Chretien's China remarks

Be ready for fall election, Harper warns

Dion afraid of an election, Harper says at Tory rally
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20080819.NATS19N-2/TPStory/TPNational/Politics/

Harper to meet Dion before return of Parliament

Bumbling Grits give Team Harper an economic free ride
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20080820.COMARTIN20/TPStory/TPComment/Politics/

Be ready for fall election, Harper warns
All bets are off on fixed voting date as PM backtracks on promise to wait until October, 2009; decision expected within weeks
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20080820.HARPER20/TPStory/TPNational/Politics/

PM fears scandals, Dion says


Harper, Dion swap threats over election



Grits giving Harper an economic free ride

Harper, Dion blame each other for paralyzing Parliament

POLITICAL OPINION -
Stephen Harper's urban test

Clement questions MDs who favour safe injection sites

MDs call Clement 'off base' for stand on safe-injection sites

Canadians warming to federal election, poll says

Casey says election will happen this fall


It's time, Mr. Harper: Call the election

Harper tries to sell success as failure

Time to Feed the Fish: Kinsella's election speculation

Election drums beating

The ever-growing enemies list
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080819.WBwbradwanski20080819124000/WBStory/WBwbradwanski/

Many ways to cook up a federal vote: experts
Chinese paper reports Harper snub

PROGRAMMES
Public Safety Committee meeting set for Monday morning

Major loophole in new federal lobbying law even surprises lobbyists

Ottawa promises new $1-billion bridge in Quebec by-election riding

Ottawa under pressure to change criteria for Agent Orange compensation

Tories slashing $44.8-million in arts spending


PRESSURE POINTS
RCMP got special warrant in terror case: documents  

Stop taking water for granted, report warns Ottawa

Mutated fish caught in lake downstream of Alberta's oilsands


OPINION AND INFORMATION
Asia's new 'great game' is all about pipelines
Secure routes needed to move Central Asia's vast energy resources to international markets

Refusing to do harm  

A guide to the Middle East  

The end of climate change hysteria

Warning signals!

Let's co-operate in the Arctic waters  


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)(30)(30)(30)(30)(30)(30)(30)

This headline just came in Harper might trigger election this year
if you were in an advisory position
would you say "Go for it!"  to him to Dion?       

Well, no one being prepared to play the role of advisor to either of the men one of whom will be PM after
the election that the media is arguing will be shortly upon us here's another subject for discussion, maybe.

Canada has made a commitment according to this excerpt from a Globe and Mail article posted below.  The
what the promise is related to is in a Letter to the Editor sent out several months ago now.                        

A couple of simple questions for you:                                                                                                    
(1) were you aware it has been made?;                                                                                             
(2) Do you support Canadian Forces being committed to this undertaking?                                           

Joe                                                               

At a donor's conference attended by a Canadian delegation last November, countries committed to "assist Afghanistan to become an energy bridge in the region" and to accelerate work on the TAPI pipeline "to develop a technically and commercially viable project."

There was no public discussion of who would provide the security for the project.
http://statismwatch.ca/2008/06/22/pipeline-opens-new-front-in-afghan-war/

____________________________________________________
Subject: QUESTIONS: A conspiracy theory verified? And if so?
Cc:

Were there legs to the conspiracy theory that a proposed pipeline was a cause for removing the Taliban from the governance of Afghanistan?

An article "Is the Afghan war about an oil pipeline?" - http://www.slate.com/?id=2059487 while dismissing the thought does not mention the breakdown of negotiations with the Taliban in August of 2001.

"Last week, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher said the U.S. government has a "fundamental strategic interest" in Afghanistan that goes well beyond ensuring it is not used as a launching pad for terrorism, which was the original justification for the UN-sanctioned NATO mission of which Canada is a part."
"Pipeline opens new front in Afghan war" http://statismwatch.ca/2008/06/22/pipeline-opens-new-front-in-afghan-war/

Has the pipeline being a prime cause of Operation Enduring Freedom - Afghanistan been verified? If so, should this question be presented to Canadians for their consideration: in that a commercial venture is in process should the task of providing the conditions for its success, making "the path free of Taliban influence", be that of Canadian Forces ?

Joe Hueglin
Tel 905-356-3901


RELATED:
Corruption in Afghanistan a serious problem: Boucher
http://www.pajhwok.com/viewstory.asp?lng=eng&id=56556

Briefing on the International Conference in Support of Afghanistan
Richard Boucher, Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs
http://72.14.205.104/search?q=cache:fryLir30X1QJ:www.state.gov/p/sca/rls/2008/105793.htm+Boucher+fundamental+strategic+interest&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=2&gl=ca

Afghanistan: the pipeline war?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/1626889.stm

About the reason for US war with Afghanistan
http://www.gasandoil.com/goc/news/ntn81969.htm

Afghanistan's new front: natural gas
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080619.wpipelinediscussion0619/BNStory/specialComment/home

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Asia's new 'great game' is all about pipelines
http://www.thestar.com/comment/article/481731

Secure routes needed to move Central Asia's vast energy resources to international markets
Aug 20, 2008 04:30 AM
Comments on this story [] (2)
John Foster

The quest for control of energy resources has been dubbed the "new great game" – a rivalry for pipeline routes to access energy resources in Central Asia and the Caspian Sea.

It's a geopolitical game that is openly analyzed in U.S. think-tanks, widely reported in the Asian press but rarely commented upon in Canada. It began after the Soviet Union broke up and the five "Stans" of Central Asia became independent.

Recent reports have linked the conflict in Georgia with pipelines that bring oil and gas to Europe but the pipeline rivalry extends far beyond Georgia to the vast oil and gas resources of the Caspian region and Central Asia.

When the countries of Central Asia were part of the Soviet Union, their oil and gas flowed only to the north through Soviet-controlled pipelines. After the Soviet breakup in 1991, however, competing world powers began to explore ways to tap these enormous reserves and move them in other directions.

Pipelines are important today in the same way that railway building was important in the 19th century. They connect trading partners and influence the regional balance of power.

Both Georgia and Afghanistan are seen as energy bridges – transit routes for the export of land-locked hydrocarbons.

Washington has long promoted a gas pipeline south from Turkmenistan through Afghanistan to Pakistan and India. It would pass through Kandahar.

Realistic or not, construction is planned to start in 2010, and Canadian Forces are committed until December 2011. Richard Boucher, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State, said last year: "One of our goals is to stabilize Afghanistan," and to link South and Central Asia "so that energy can flow to the south."

Unwittingly or willingly, Canadian forces are supporting American goals.

The BTC (Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan) oil pipeline and South Caucasus gas pipeline that pass through Georgia to Turkey originate in Azerbaijan. Recently built, they are the jewels in the crown of U.S. strategy to secure energy resources that bypass Russia and reduce European dependence on pipelines from Russia.

Two Central Asian countries are rich in hydrocarbons. According to the International Energy Agency, Turkmenistan has the world's fourth largest reserves of natural gas, while Kazakhstan's oil reserves are said to be three times those of the North Sea. Turkmenistan exports virtually all its gas to Russia. Last year, the presidents of Russia, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan agreed on a new gas line north to expand the export system. Construction starts this summer.

China is tapping into Central Asia's treasure, too. There is a new pipeline that brings oil from Kazakhstan to China. And a gas pipeline is being built from Turkmenistan through Kazakhstan to China.

The rivalry continues with plans for new gas lines to Central Europe. The Russians plan a line under the Black Sea to Bulgaria called South Stream, and the EU backs a project called Nabucco that would supply gas via Turkey.

As well, Washington is pushing for new pipelines under the Caspian Sea that would link Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan to Azerbaijan and the pipelines to Europe.

But Russia is blocking these plans. Boucher asserts that European energy security is important to the United States as well as to Europeans and that it "is based on having multiple sources."

The United States expresses great concern about European dependence on oil and gas imports from Russia. But Europe has imported energy from Russia for 40 years. It imports from the Middle East and Africa, too.

Is Russia less reliable? Much is made of Russia's temporary cuts in gas supplies to Ukraine and Belarus, but these countries were enjoying highly subsidized gas (a hangover from the Soviet era) and refusing to pay full European border prices. In similar circumstances, what would Canadian energy suppliers do?

Energy has become an issue of strategic discussions at NATO. At recent NATO summits the United States sought to commit NATO to energy security activities, calling for NATO to guard pipelines and sea lanes.

Last year, Prime Minister Stephen Harper said energy security required "unprecedented international co-operation, ... protecting and maintaining the world's energy supply system."

NATO proposals could have enormous consequences for Canada. U.S. strategic thinking is to get other NATO countries involved in guarding the world's oil and gas supplies. Canada is in danger of being drawn into long-term military commitments relating to energy.

Recently, Defence Minister Peter MacKay told a Halifax talk show that Canadian troops were not in Afghanistan "specifically" to guard a pipeline, but "if the Taliban are attacking certain projects, then yes we will play a role."

Neither Afghanistan nor Georgia is a member of NATO, but both are transit countries in the new great game.

Energy geopolitics are worthy of public discussion. The rivalry for energy resources is a power game – and militarizing energy is a long-term recipe for disaster.

John Foster is an international energy economist and an expert on the world oil scene. He is the author of "A Pipeline Through A Troubled Land: Afghanistan, Canada, and the New Great Energy Game," Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. www.policyalternatives.ca

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