Saturday, September 30, 2017
TESLA BRIBES
But when you read a car review to help figure out which set of wheels you're going to buy next, you would probably prefer that the writer of that review not be receiving payments, cash or otherwise, directly from the company producing the vehicle he's reviewing, right? Unfortunately, that's not so much the case when it comes to Tesla.
While it's no surprise that the writers of Electrek are big Tesla cheerleaders, as Jack Baruth of TTAC points out today, what may be surprising is just how much those writers receive from Tesla via their very generous referral program in return for their perpetually rosy commentary.
While it's no surprise that the writers of Electrek are big Tesla cheerleaders, as Jack Baruth of TTAC points out today, what may be surprising is just how much those writers receive from Tesla via their very generous referral program in return for their perpetually rosy commentary.
EXPOSING THE SLIMY BUSINESS OF RUSSIA-GATE
As the U.S. government doles out tens of millions of dollars to 'combat Russian propaganda', one result is a slew of new 'studies' by 'scholars' and 'researchers' auditioning for the loot...
A SOCIETY TOO STUPID TO SURVIVE
STEYN: So, in the space of about 20 minutes, we have gone from the Confederate flag is racist to ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ is racist. We’ve gone from General Lee is racist to Dr. Seuss is racist
GAS PLANTS TRIAL UPDATE
NP, BLATCHFORD: The week before David Livingston and Laura Miller allegedly hired her spouse to wipe hard drives in the office of former Ontario premier Dalton McGuinty, Livingston was sharply warned by senior public servants to preserve documents tied to the gas plants debacle.
The Jan. 31, 2013 email from the province’s corporate chief information officer, David Nicholl, was formally made an exhibit Friday at Livingston’s and Miller’s criminal trial.
The Jan. 31, 2013 email from the province’s corporate chief information officer, David Nicholl, was formally made an exhibit Friday at Livingston’s and Miller’s criminal trial.
THE END OF FLORIDA ORANGE JUICE?
Unfortunately for Florida’s citrus growers, the damage caused by Irma exacerbated declining output caused by an epidemic of “citrus greening” that’s in its twelfth year. The state’s increasingly exasperated farmers are now facing an unprecedented squeeze, as damage caused by the storm disrupted research into a genetically modified, greening-resistant orange tree.
Meanwhile: Ontario has the most culturally diverse population in Canada.
Meanwhile: Ontario has the most culturally diverse population in Canada.
FLYING PIGS AT THE GOVERNMENT TROUGHS
Every country that has an aerospace industry, subsidizes it.
That is the first thing that must be said when looking at Boeing's allegations against Bombardier.
Both Boeing and Bombardier have enjoyed the largesse of national and sub-national levels of government, repeatedly.
That is the first thing that must be said when looking at Boeing's allegations against Bombardier.
Both Boeing and Bombardier have enjoyed the largesse of national and sub-national levels of government, repeatedly.
MORNEAU'S RENDEZ-VOUS WITH REALITY
Canada's finance minister got a grilling Friday from taxpayers who are boiling mad about the Liberal government's proposed tax changes for small businesses.
Bill Morneau was in Oakville, Ont., for a town hall meeting where a question-and-answer session boiled over more than once into a shouting match. Some were bellowing at Morneau to answer their questions, while others tried to shout them down to let the minister talk.
Bill Morneau was in Oakville, Ont., for a town hall meeting where a question-and-answer session boiled over more than once into a shouting match. Some were bellowing at Morneau to answer their questions, while others tried to shout them down to let the minister talk.
REIMBURSING FARMERS FOR PREDATION LOSS
To that end, the township passed a resolution asking the province to rely on municipal investigators and accept partial carcasses as proof of loss after receiving a number of complaints about the new system, which locals say has seen Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) evaluators disallowing claims if only a partial rather than the whole carcass has been found.
McNiven said the rejections are becoming too regular an occurrence.
"It's absolute garbage. They're turning down legitimate claims and not listening to their investigators. All through 2017, it's been a real gong show getting producers compensation."
McNiven said the rejections are becoming too regular an occurrence.
"It's absolute garbage. They're turning down legitimate claims and not listening to their investigators. All through 2017, it's been a real gong show getting producers compensation."
Friday, September 29, 2017
DROWNING IN GRAIN
The bin-busting harvests of cheap corn, wheat and soybeans are undermining the business models of the world’s largest agriculture firms and the farmers who use their products and services. Some analysts say the firms have effectively innovated their way into a stubbornly oversupplied market.
LIBERAL TAX PLAN SALVAGE
It may not feel that way now, but the high-pitched political debate over Finance Minister Bill Morneau’s tax changes to private corporations will likely end with proposals that could have both the Conservatives and the Liberals claiming victory.
By all indications, the government will try to salvage enough of its current plan to say with a more or less straight face that it has fought the good fight for tax fairness while taking care to minimize unintended collateral damage.
By all indications, the government will try to salvage enough of its current plan to say with a more or less straight face that it has fought the good fight for tax fairness while taking care to minimize unintended collateral damage.
GRADE-RIGGING SCANDAL IN BALTIMORE
A high-level district administrator, who works in inside the school system says Project Baltimore now has “concrete evidence” of grade manipulation through 13 report cards obtained from Calverton Elementary/Middle School in west Baltimore.
For each report card, Project Baltimore has two versions, one which teachers submitted, and a second version, where every single failing grade was changed to a passing mark.
For each report card, Project Baltimore has two versions, one which teachers submitted, and a second version, where every single failing grade was changed to a passing mark.
PUNCH THEM IN THE WALLET
It begins. We suspect NFL owners, and their media lapdogs, may be about to start paying attention to what President Trump (and the fans of the game) are saying (and doing).
First, Bloomberg reported overnight that fans who agree with Trump shared lists of advertisers on social media networks while calling for boycotts along with hashtags like #PunchThemInTheWallet.
Richard Levick, a crisis communications expert, says the NFL deftly navigated the weekend’s challenges but expects no shortage of hazards ahead.
First, Bloomberg reported overnight that fans who agree with Trump shared lists of advertisers on social media networks while calling for boycotts along with hashtags like #PunchThemInTheWallet.
Richard Levick, a crisis communications expert, says the NFL deftly navigated the weekend’s challenges but expects no shortage of hazards ahead.
THE PERILS OF DRUNKEN CANOEING
Knocking back a few brews and taking the canoe out for a paddle is still a terrible idea, but it may no longer run you the risk of having your driver’s licence suspended and car impounded.
FEDS WANT REVIEW OF POLICE RAID QUASHED
The Canadian government is challenging a decision by the Canadian Human Rights Commission to launch an investigation into allegations that law enforcement used racial profiling when they raided the home of an Ottawa man in connection to the October 2014 attack on Parliament Hill.
Thursday, September 28, 2017
LIBERAL SNOWFLAKES
When it comes to intolerance, look no further than the Liberal and NDP MPs who walked out of a meeting simply because the meeting’s chair, Rachael Harder, opposes abortion and backed a bill to impose stricter penalties for crimes committed against pregnant women.
Intolerant NDP and Liberal MPs refused to be in the room with Harder simply because she holds a different view — a view shared by millions of Canadians of all political stripes.
Conservative Senator Linda Frum framed the incongruity of the Liberal position well on social media: “I’m a Conservative woman. I’m pro-choice: for abortion rights but also freedom of conscience. Anyway I thought diversity was our strength.”
Intolerant NDP and Liberal MPs refused to be in the room with Harder simply because she holds a different view — a view shared by millions of Canadians of all political stripes.
Conservative Senator Linda Frum framed the incongruity of the Liberal position well on social media: “I’m a Conservative woman. I’m pro-choice: for abortion rights but also freedom of conscience. Anyway I thought diversity was our strength.”
MIDDLE CLASS PAYING MORE DESPITE LIBERAL CLAIMS
The Fraser Institute study finds 81% of middle-income Canadians are paying an average of $840 more a year in income taxes after Ottawa’s changes.
GROOM IS A HERO
Wedding photos are meant to capture romantic memories of a couple leaping into the next step of their relationship, but for one Ontario couple their wedding photos actually caught a heroic moment when the groom saved a young boy who fell into a river.
HYPOCRITICAL NDP OFFENDS BC GREENS
Weaver, whose friendly power-sharing deal gives the NDP the votes to stay in power, levelled scathing criticism Wednesday at Premier John Horgan’s administration for giving dozens of taxpayer-paid jobs to party workers and loyal supporters when Horgan used to strongly condemn the same practice under the Liberal government.
GERMANY'S SOCIALISTS' KNICKERS IN A KNOT
Malu Dreyer has a blunt reaction to recent elections in Germany as it comes to grips with the "shock" of a far-right party's electoral breakthrough.
The AfD won over 12 per cent of votes, entering the German parliament for the first time in over half a century. Dreyer, who has been an enthusiastic backer of German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s relatively liberal refugee policy, called the election result a “watershed moment” and “something like a disaster.”
The AfD won over 12 per cent of votes, entering the German parliament for the first time in over half a century. Dreyer, who has been an enthusiastic backer of German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s relatively liberal refugee policy, called the election result a “watershed moment” and “something like a disaster.”
“But at the same time, I think it’s very important to take into account the fears people have, and — whether you like them or not — to integrate them into your political thinking. This does not mean posing any restrictions on our own liberal thinking.”
BROKEN ACCESS TO INFORMATION ACT
The Liberals are blaming the previous Harper government for the failing grade they received in an independent audit of compliance with the Access to Information Act, saying the Conservatives left behind a badly damaged system.
The national freedom of information audit found the federal access system is bogged down to the point where, in many cases, it simply doesn't work.
The national freedom of information audit found the federal access system is bogged down to the point where, in many cases, it simply doesn't work.
MADURO THREATENS USA
After barely managing to scrape together the nearly $200 million needed to make a bond payment earlier this month (the country made the payment a week late), Embattled Venezeulan President Nicolas Maduro is refocusing his attention on the US, warning military leaders Tuesday to begin preparing for war with the US.
Wednesday, September 27, 2017
UK-EU DIVORCE TALKS
The European Union will lose more than twice as many jobs as Britain after a hard Brexit, research by one of the world’s leading universities found as tough UK-EU divorce talks begin in Brussels.
TRIUMPH OF HOPE OVER MONEY
The campaign of Roy Moore was overwhelmed by a flood of GOP Establishment political cash, but it was not defeated. Millions were squandered in an effort to beat back Moore, but in the end it was the GOP Establishment that was vanquished.
BORDER WALL PROTOTYPE CONSTRUCTION
The construction of President Donald Trump’s promised prototype border wall began on Tuesday. Six companies that won the competitive bidding process will begin testing various types of walls.
REVIEWING CANADIAN HEALTH-CARE
While highly regarded, Canada’s health-care system is expensive and faces several challenges. These challenges will only be exacerbated by the changing health landscape in an aging society. Strong leadership is needed to propel the system forward into a sustainable health future.
TALES FROM PARLIAMENTARY HISTORY
The 'deputy streaker' and more: Stories of sex, violence and stonework from parliamentary history
MINISTERS REVIEW THEIR OWN EXPENSES
The federal health and public safety ministers are leading special reviews of their own institutions this year, looking for wasteful spending and obsolete programs, while Treasury Board President Scott Brison oversees their work.
The government finally announced on Sept. 22 the three federal institutions that are under scrutiny this year as part of the spending reviews announced in the 2017 budget: Health Canada, the Canada Border Services Agency, and the Canada School of the Public Service.
The government finally announced on Sept. 22 the three federal institutions that are under scrutiny this year as part of the spending reviews announced in the 2017 budget: Health Canada, the Canada Border Services Agency, and the Canada School of the Public Service.
219% DUTY ON BOMBARDIER CSERIES
OTTAWA — Bombardier's hopes for breaking into the U.S. commercial aviation market took a massive blow on Tuesday, as the U.S. Department of Commerce proposed a hefty 219 per cent duty on its CSeries jets.
The department ruled in a preliminary decision that Bombardier benefited from improper government subsidies, which gave the Montreal-based company an unfair advantage when selling south of the border.
The department ruled in a preliminary decision that Bombardier benefited from improper government subsidies, which gave the Montreal-based company an unfair advantage when selling south of the border.
WYNNE'S STRETCH FACTS
The second is the Canadian Taxpayers Federation revealing Wynne got basic facts wrong in a recent U.S. speech touting free trade by claiming an Ontario firm — Leland Industries — invested $46 million in Illinois last year.
CEO Byron Nelson said that was “completely false”.
Leland Industries’ Nelson said he was “astonished” Wynne would spread false information about Leland without contacting it.
CEO Byron Nelson said that was “completely false”.
Leland Industries’ Nelson said he was “astonished” Wynne would spread false information about Leland without contacting it.
Tuesday, September 26, 2017
APOLOGIZE & PAY REPARATIONS CANADA
The United Nations Human Rights Council says Canada should apologize and pay reparations for slavery and other forms of “anti-black racism
FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE SURVEILLANCE ACT
Intelligence Director Dan Coats Monday urged Congress to tread carefully as it considers imposing limitations on surveillance authorities enjoyed by the nation’s spy agencies for nearly a decade.
NORMALIZING SHARIA LAW IN CANADA
Leftist elites in Canada have launched a campaign to normalize Sharia law – the illiberal and often barbaric set of laws enforced in Islamic dictatorships.
In Ottawa, the Trudeau government is in the middle of what feels like a show-trial designed to make “Islamophobia” illegal – a term the government itself has failed to define.
In Ottawa, the Trudeau government is in the middle of what feels like a show-trial designed to make “Islamophobia” illegal – a term the government itself has failed to define.
GENEROUS ONTARIO TAXPAYERS
Ontario’s Liberal government has earmarked $5.5 million to advertise cuts to hydro bills — ads the opposition says use public money to make the Liberal party look good.
MODELS ON THE HOT SIDE
NP: From a number of venues normally in robotic lockstep with the great consensus of settled science, the London Times, the Washington Post, and even the maniacally warmist The Independent, a story emerges that the famous models of the global warming industry may have overstated the degree of global warming in the past two decades.
Monday, September 25, 2017
WHEN NFL CHILD STARS DISRESPECT THE AMERICAN FLAG
The point that Mnuchin is missing is that the players can exercise their right of free speech all they want. But there is nothing in the Constitution that guarantees there won't be consequences for exercising that right. That's what these child stars in the NFL really want. They want people to love them for dissing the flag. They can't stand the fact that people just might disagree with their protest and want them silenced.
TRUMP PLACES 8 MORE COUNTRIES ON TRAVEL BAN
WASHINGTON — Citizens of more than half a dozen countries will face new restrictions on entry to the U.S. under a proclamation signed by President Donald Trump on Sunday that will replace his expiring travel ban.
The new rules, which will impact the citizens of Chad, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Syria, and Yemen — and some from Venezuela — will go into effect on October 18.
The new rules, which will impact the citizens of Chad, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Syria, and Yemen — and some from Venezuela — will go into effect on October 18.
AIMING AT DAIRY SUPPLY MANAGEMENT
The first punches in what promises to be a bitter fight over Canada's protected dairy industry are expected to be thrown during this week's third round of North American Free Trade talks in Ottawa.
The U.S. dairy lobby says it wants the elimination of Canada's supply management system — which slaps imports with a 270 per cent duty — and it says it has the support of its government as NAFTA talks begin in earnest.
The U.S. dairy lobby says it wants the elimination of Canada's supply management system — which slaps imports with a 270 per cent duty — and it says it has the support of its government as NAFTA talks begin in earnest.
BOMBARDIER MERGED WITH FEDS?
There is a strange fever in the air, a hint of the inexplicable, as if not all were quite what it seemed: as if Bombardier were not merely a failing plane-maker and the government not really the government. We must conclude there has been some sort of merger behind the scenes, or perhaps a takeover.
Two possibilities present themselves. Either Bombardier is no longer a private company but an arm of the government. Or — as seems equally plausible — the government of Canada at some point became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bombardier.
Two possibilities present themselves. Either Bombardier is no longer a private company but an arm of the government. Or — as seems equally plausible — the government of Canada at some point became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bombardier.
Sunday, September 24, 2017
USA AUTO DEMANDS FOR NAFTA
U.S. President Donald Trump wants more U.S. content in autos, citing trade deficits of $64 billion with Mexico and $11 billion with Canada. Trump, who says NAFTA is weighted against his country, has threatened to walk away from the agreement.
MERKEL WINS FOURTH CONSECUTIVE TERM
Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservatives secured a fourth consecutive term in office on Sunday in an election that brought a far-right party into the German parliament for the first time in more than half a century, exit polls indicated.
BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU
Tom Harris: In December, 2015 while in Paris attending counter conferences to the United Nations’ climate meetings, I learned the environmental organization Ecojustice had registered a complaint with the Competition Bureau on behalf of six prominent Canadians against the International Climate Science Coalition, Friends of Science, and the Heartland Institute.
Ecojustice claimed we presented “climate science misrepresentations” which “promote the denier groups’ own business interest” and “promote the business interests of deep-pocketed individuals and corporations that appear to fund the denier groups.”
We were simply exercising our rights under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms to express our opinions. That is what science is all about, the opinions of experts based on their interpretations of observations.
Ecojustice claimed we presented “climate science misrepresentations” which “promote the denier groups’ own business interest” and “promote the business interests of deep-pocketed individuals and corporations that appear to fund the denier groups.”
We were simply exercising our rights under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms to express our opinions. That is what science is all about, the opinions of experts based on their interpretations of observations.
CRITICISM OF SITE C DAM PROJECT
Robert McCullough of the Oregon-based firm McCullough Research, taking part in a public input session about the $8.8-billion project in Vancouver on Saturday, said that building dams for energy is an outdated practice.
He said the cost of renewable energy sources like wind and solar have decreased dramatically in the last five years and building a dam over the Peace River doesn’t make sense.
He said the cost of renewable energy sources like wind and solar have decreased dramatically in the last five years and building a dam over the Peace River doesn’t make sense.
TIME FOR A TAX REVOLT
Somebody forgot to tell Morneau and Trudeau that professional corporations aren’t just used by the super-rich top 1% of Canadians, but by all manner of small- and medium-sized business owners and entrepreneurs: Middle-class, hard-working Canadian entrepreneurs who create most of the country’s employment, who are not wealthy, who more than pay their fair share of the tax load … who pay for the ever-growing army of fully-pensioned, all-benefited, impossible-to-fire public-sector employees – the new “haves” of the 21st Century.
WYNNE'S CAP-AND-TRADE STRETCH FACTS
The government says cap and trade will cost the average Ontario household $156 this year alone.
Its own numbers, however, suggest the cost is $357. That is, $2 billion in new government revenue from cap and trade, divided by Ontario’s 5,598,391 households, according to the 2016 census.
Its own numbers, however, suggest the cost is $357. That is, $2 billion in new government revenue from cap and trade, divided by Ontario’s 5,598,391 households, according to the 2016 census.
HILLIER WILL NOT BE INTIMIDATED
The critic is MPP Randy Hillier, who finds himself dragged into an investigation under the Occupational Health and Safety Act for alleged workplace harassment.
Too indignant to remain silent, the Lanark-area MPP sent a news release this week admitting he is the subject of an inquiry into a complaint by one or more employees in the township’s building and planning departments.
A keen defender of individual rights and freedoms, Hillier is aghast at the township’s reaction, arguing he’s only doing his job. “I will not be intimidated from representing my constituents on matters of provincial jurisdiction, and I cannot allow injustice to prevail because opposing it may hurt someone’s feelings.”
Too indignant to remain silent, the Lanark-area MPP sent a news release this week admitting he is the subject of an inquiry into a complaint by one or more employees in the township’s building and planning departments.
A keen defender of individual rights and freedoms, Hillier is aghast at the township’s reaction, arguing he’s only doing his job. “I will not be intimidated from representing my constituents on matters of provincial jurisdiction, and I cannot allow injustice to prevail because opposing it may hurt someone’s feelings.”
Saturday, September 23, 2017
GLOBAL WARMING DENIERS HAVE WON
Financial Post: Paris came to New York this week, with leaders of countries signing the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement coming to the United Nations to chide, nudge or beseech Donald Trump in hopes he would reverse his decision to scrap the agreement.
The U.K.’s Theresa May, France’s Emmanuel Macron and Justin Trudeau, among others, could have saved their breath. Since his pullout in June, Trump has repeatedly reaffirmed the wisdom of pulling out of the “bad deal” for the U.S. that was Paris. All the evidence that has since come down only bolsters his case.
The U.K.’s Theresa May, France’s Emmanuel Macron and Justin Trudeau, among others, could have saved their breath. Since his pullout in June, Trump has repeatedly reaffirmed the wisdom of pulling out of the “bad deal” for the U.S. that was Paris. All the evidence that has since come down only bolsters his case.
INVESTIGATING MORTGAGE FRAUD AT HOME CAPITAL
More than two weeks before the public would get the first inkling of problems at Home Capital Group Inc., the alternative mortgage lender found itself under heightened scrutiny — and not for the first time — from Canada’s top banking regulator.
The Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions detailed the concerns that were building around the company.
“Significant corporate governance issues, AML (anti-money laundering) concerns and internal control breakdowns pertaining to practices in underwriting residential mortgages” had been identified at Home Trust, Home Capital’s fully owned subsidiary, OSFI wrote in the letter.
And the regulator was taking action.
Grab a coffee.
The Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions detailed the concerns that were building around the company.
“Significant corporate governance issues, AML (anti-money laundering) concerns and internal control breakdowns pertaining to practices in underwriting residential mortgages” had been identified at Home Trust, Home Capital’s fully owned subsidiary, OSFI wrote in the letter.
And the regulator was taking action.
Grab a coffee.
GAS PLANTS TRIAL
TORONTO - Two senior Ontario Liberal political staffers — under pressure to produce internal emails on the billion-dollar gas plants boondoggle — instead deliberately and illegally destroyed relevant public records, prosecutor Sarah Egan alleges.
David Livingston, chief of staff to former premier Dalton McGuinty, and Laura Miller, his deputy chief of staff, appeared in a Toronto courtroom Friday on charges of breach of trust, mischief to data and unauthorized use of data.
David Livingston, chief of staff to former premier Dalton McGuinty, and Laura Miller, his deputy chief of staff, appeared in a Toronto courtroom Friday on charges of breach of trust, mischief to data and unauthorized use of data.
TRUDEAU'S UN FLOP
It was quite the study in contrasts. Last Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump stood in front of a packed house at the United Nations to deliver a stinging indictment of North Korea, the harms of socialism and the threat of radical Islamist terrorism. Then, on Thursday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke to a half-filled room in the same hall to deliver a stinging indictment of... Canada.
EFFICIENCY OF TORONTO CITY WORKERS
A Freedom of Information request on the costs, obtained by the Toronto Sun, shows the city was billed 82.5 hours overtime for union staff to demolish the eight wooden steps originally installed by senior Adi Astl.
The staff needed included a lead hand, a heavy equipment operator, a welder, a construction coordinator and a general handyworker.
The staff needed included a lead hand, a heavy equipment operator, a welder, a construction coordinator and a general handyworker.
WYNNE'S EXPENSIVE GREEN EGO
Ontario, Quebec and California signed an agreement Friday to create the world's second largest carbon market, with their leaders dismissing naysayers and predicting that more provinces and states would soon join
Critics in Ontario have slammed both the cost to consumers — an extra 4.3 cents per litre to the price of gasoline and about $80 a year to natural gas home heating costs, as well as indirect costs — and the potential cost to the economy.
The auditor general has said that when Ontario links its market with Quebec and California, an estimated $466 million will leave the Ontario economy over three years
Critics in Ontario have slammed both the cost to consumers — an extra 4.3 cents per litre to the price of gasoline and about $80 a year to natural gas home heating costs, as well as indirect costs — and the potential cost to the economy.
The auditor general has said that when Ontario links its market with Quebec and California, an estimated $466 million will leave the Ontario economy over three years
LIBERALS STILL WON'T DEFINE MIDDLE CLASS INCOME
The Liberals speak constantly of strengthening the Canadian middle class, but any precise definition of that amorphous category of people getting all the attention has always been ambiguous at best.
Friday, September 22, 2017
FACEBOOK THINKS YOU'RE A MORON
Last week we jokingly wrote about a Facebook press release that was apparently an honest effort by the social media giant intended to summarize Russian efforts to undermine the 2016 election using their social media platform. That said, at least to us, it seemed as though Facebook unwittingly proved what a farce the entire 'Russian collusion' narrative had become as, after digging through advertising data for the better part of full year, Facebook reported that they found a 'staggering' $50,000 worth of ad buys that "MAY' have been purchased by Russian-linked accounts to run 'potentially politically related' ads.
WYNNE'S DELUSIONS OF POWER
Wynne, her personal popularity circling the bowl, is heading to the polls next year.
So, she is creating her own headlines — like how Ontario will increase all monetary penalties and suspensions for impaired driving once the Trudeau Liberals get their pot legislation passed.
Like how she will enforce zero tolerance for all commercial drivers who have a detectable presence of drugs or alcohol in their system, and how novice drivers and anyone under the age of 21 will be in her sights.
The fact that she has absolutely no jurisdiction or legal authority over any of these matters appears to not concern her a whit.
So, she is creating her own headlines — like how Ontario will increase all monetary penalties and suspensions for impaired driving once the Trudeau Liberals get their pot legislation passed.
Like how she will enforce zero tolerance for all commercial drivers who have a detectable presence of drugs or alcohol in their system, and how novice drivers and anyone under the age of 21 will be in her sights.
The fact that she has absolutely no jurisdiction or legal authority over any of these matters appears to not concern her a whit.
$185M SPENT ON PHOENIX PAY SYSTEM
The massive 1,700-page IBM Phoenix contract provides new insight into the federal pay system failures, with dozens of amendments to the deal and costs that jump by tens of millions of dollars at a time.
Since Phoenix launched in February 2016, the system has not worked properly, and today more than 1,000 software glitches remain. The IBM contract started at $5.7 million for the first stage of the deal, but after 39 amendments over the past six years, the deal is worth $185 million.
Since Phoenix launched in February 2016, the system has not worked properly, and today more than 1,000 software glitches remain. The IBM contract started at $5.7 million for the first stage of the deal, but after 39 amendments over the past six years, the deal is worth $185 million.
WHAT'S A FEW BILLION?
A big Canadian player has quietly picked up his chips and is heading for the exit amid the tumult over the Trudeau government's controversial tax proposals.
A business owner has informed John Manley, the head of an organization representing Canada's largest corporations, that he has moved billions of dollars outside the country since the Liberals formally proposed their tax changes in mid-July.
Manley, a former Liberal finance minister in the Chretien government, said the elements of the government's plan to tighten rules on passive investment portfolios and the transfer of family businesses have created worries for some members of his organization, the Business Council of Canada.
A business owner has informed John Manley, the head of an organization representing Canada's largest corporations, that he has moved billions of dollars outside the country since the Liberals formally proposed their tax changes in mid-July.
Manley, a former Liberal finance minister in the Chretien government, said the elements of the government's plan to tighten rules on passive investment portfolios and the transfer of family businesses have created worries for some members of his organization, the Business Council of Canada.
LIBERALS SPEND $2M ON HEADHUNTING
As part of the much-scrutinized process that led to Madeleine Meilleur being nominated as Canada’s official languages commissioner this spring, the federal government spent almost $77,000 on a headhunting firm, part of more than $2 million spent on “executive search” services this year alone.
Thursday, September 21, 2017
OH CANNABIS!
Premier Kathleen Wynne said Monday there will be zero tolerance for youths aged 21 and under, novice drivers and all commercial drivers in Ontario who have a detectable presence of drugs or alcohol in their system. The province will also increase all monetary penalties and suspensions for impaired driving offences.
CHINA'S SOARING DEBT GROWTH
Four months after Moody's downgraded China to A1 from Aa3, unwittingly launching a startling surge in the Yuan as Beijing set forth to "prove" just how stable China truly is, moments ago S&P followed suit when the rating agency also downgraded China from AA- to A+ for the first time since 1999 citing risks from soaring debt growth, less than a month before the most congress for Chiina's communist leadership in the past five years is set to take place.
HURRICANE MARIA'S RAMPAGE
Sleepless Puerto Ricans awoke Wednesday knowing to expect a thrashing from the most ferocious storm to strike the island in at least 85 years. They met nightfall confronting the ruin Hurricane Maria left behind: engorged rivers, blown-out windows, sheared roofs, toppled trees and an obliterated electric grid that cut power to every one of the island’s 3.4 million people.
SAMANTHA POWER'S DEDICATION
In a July 27 letter to Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats, House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes, R-Calif., said the committee had learned "that one official, whose position had no apparent intelligence-related function, made hundreds of unmasking requests during the final year of the Obama Administration."
That one official is widely believed to be Power.SUPPLY SHIPS & ICEBREAKER FOR CANADIAN NAVY
Still, federal officials admit they do not know when the supply ships or the icebreaker will be finished, or how much they will ultimately cost.
Any delay would represent more bad news for the navy, which has been without any resupply ships for the past three years, as well as the coast guard, whose only heavy icebreaker is nearly 50 years old.
Stop-gap measures are in the works, including delivery this winter of a converted civilian ship that the navy will lease as an interim resupply vessel, but those won't provide the same capabilities.
Any delay would represent more bad news for the navy, which has been without any resupply ships for the past three years, as well as the coast guard, whose only heavy icebreaker is nearly 50 years old.
Stop-gap measures are in the works, including delivery this winter of a converted civilian ship that the navy will lease as an interim resupply vessel, but those won't provide the same capabilities.
ANTI-RACISM HEARINGS
Parliamentary hearings on Islamophobia and systemic racism in Canada kicked off this week, with two days of meetings presenting wildly different interpretations on the issue of anti-Muslim discrimination in Canada.
THE MIDDLE CLASS PM
“While answering media questions yesterday, the prime minister described his ‘family fortune,’ which is held in at least three separate numbered companies,” Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer said on Wednesday.
“He confirmed that he will not be affected by the tax changes he claims are intended to make wealthy Canadians pay more,” Scheer asked. “How is that fair?”
“He confirmed that he will not be affected by the tax changes he claims are intended to make wealthy Canadians pay more,” Scheer asked. “How is that fair?”
Wednesday, September 20, 2017
OH CANNABIS!
Premier Kathleen Wynne said Monday there will be zero tolerance for youths aged 21 and under, novice drivers and all commercial drivers in Ontario who have a detectable presence of drugs or alcohol in their system. The province will also increase all monetary penalties and suspensions for impaired driving offences.
FUN & WAR GAMES IN RUSSIA
Reuters reports that a military helicopter on a rural training exercise in western Russia mistakenly fired rockets at a group of parked vehicles, knocking at least one person to the ground, footage posted by Russian news sites and on social media showed.
OBAMACARE DEATH SPIRAL
According to WSJ, the average cost of health coverage offered by employers pushed toward $19,000 for a family plan this year, while the share of firms providing insurance to workers continued to edge lower, according to a major survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation.
CLINTON HYPOCRACY
Hillary Clinton likes to talk a tough game about Russian President Vladimir Putin. And she likes to put him on the list of those at fault for her loss in the election last November to Donald Trump. But that didn’t stop her from inviting him and other top Russian officials to a Clinton Foundation gala right after she became Secretary of State.
GERMAN ELECTION POLLS
German federal elections are Sunday, September 24. The most likely outcome of the election is another “Grand Coalition” but it will be a much-weakened coalition. And If that coalition forms again, the rightwing AfD party is poised to become the largest opposition party.
EARTHQUAKE IN MEXICO
At Least 139 Dead, 60 Pulled Alive From Rubble After Powerful Earthquake Rocks Central Mexico
PRESIDENT TRUMP'S UN SPEECH
President Trump gave his first official speech to the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday morning, and was immediately berated by the New York Times (Trump's "characteristically confrontational message") and the Washington Post ("Trump's menacing United Nations speech, annotated"). Sen. Dianne Feinstein lambasted him for words that "greatly escalated the danger" from Iran and North Korea. And the foreign minister of Venezuela's socialist dictatorship, Jorge Arreaza -- apparently trying to formulate some sort of supreme insult -- compared Trump in 2017 to President Ronald Reagan in 1982.
MANAGING THE TRUDEAU FAMILY FORTUNE
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau laid out his government's parliamentary agenda for the fall Tuesday and quickly found himself answering questions about his own use of the country's tax laws to manage his "family fortune" in light of his proposed tax fairness agenda.
ASYLUM SEEKER NUMBERS STILL RISING
New statistics released Tuesday by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada show that as of August, 27,440 claims for asylum have been filed in Canada, a peak since record highs of between 36,000 and 33,000 in 2008 and 2009.
And the numbers are expected to continue to rise.
And the numbers are expected to continue to rise.
Tuesday, September 19, 2017
CARBON TAXING FARMERS
Agriculture Canada draws a similar conclusion. Even though farmers are already reducing emissions, Ottawa estimates its carbon tax will cost Western Canadian farmers an average of $3,702 per year. While some sectors, such as dairy and poultry, can pass increased costs on to consumers through government-enforced pricing structures, the bureaucrats note that’s not the case for most farmers because “the agricultural sector is trade dependent and exposed to foreign competition.”
FALLING RATES OF FOOD STAMP USE
Food stamp usage has declined every month since President Trump took office in January, according to the latest U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) statistics on food stamp enrollment.
PELOSI RUN OUT OF DACA PRESS CONFERENCE
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi appeared flustered, stunned, and confused Monday as a rambunctious group of undocumented protesters disrupted her press event defending the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program (DACA).
A group of about 100 Dreamers/DACA recipients demonstrated their anger over Democrats working with President Trump to end the Obama-era program. They overtook the stage and eventually ran Pelosi out of her own news event.
REFORMING THE UN
If the U.N. cannot quickly improve its legitimacy and effectiveness, the U.S. should reconsider the manner in which it funds and participates in the organization. President Trump has expressed his opinion of the need for U.N. reform, and his administration has reduced the U.N.'s peacekeeping budget and has begun to apply pressure on the UNHRC. It is my hope that both Trump and U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley will continue to aggressively lead a transformation in the U.N.
ONTARIO GM STRIKE
The strike at General Motors’ CAMI auto assembly plant in Ingersoll, Ont. is ‘the poster child for what’s wrong with NAFTA’ according to the president of its union.
The strike—which began on Sunday night after negotiations broke down – is largely about protecting Canadian jobs from being outsourced to Mexico, Unifor president Jerry Dias told BNN in an interview on Monday.
The strike—which began on Sunday night after negotiations broke down – is largely about protecting Canadian jobs from being outsourced to Mexico, Unifor president Jerry Dias told BNN in an interview on Monday.
Monday, September 18, 2017
OH CANNABIS!
How can government tax edible cannabis products? Who will police the lunch kits of the nation?
CANADIAN HOME SALES EXPECTED TO DROP
Canadian home sales are expected to drop to their lowest level in three years in 2018, driven largely by a decline in Ontario, the Canadian Real Estate Association said Friday.
COMMONSENSE FIRE POLICIES
Environmentalists abhor timber cutting on federal lands, especially if trees might feed profit-making sawmills. They would rather see trees burn, than let someone cut them. They constantly file lawsuits to block any cutting, and too many judges are all too happy to support their radical ideas and policies.
Thus, even selective cutting to thin dense stands of timber, or remove trees killed by beetles or fires, is rarely permitted. Even fire fighting and suppression are often allowed only if a fire was clearly caused by arson, careless campers or other human action – but not if lightning ignited it. Then it’s allowed to burn, until a raging inferno is roaring over a ridge toward a rural or suburban community.
Thus, even selective cutting to thin dense stands of timber, or remove trees killed by beetles or fires, is rarely permitted. Even fire fighting and suppression are often allowed only if a fire was clearly caused by arson, careless campers or other human action – but not if lightning ignited it. Then it’s allowed to burn, until a raging inferno is roaring over a ridge toward a rural or suburban community.
JUNCKER'S CHEAP EU TRIUMPHALISM
Commenting on Jean-Claude Juncker’s state of the European Union speech last week, the usually restrained German economic weekly Wirtschafts Woche said the following: “Today the chief of the European Commission gave a great speech… a speech full of great nonsense.” What prompted that staid publication to use such undiplomatic language, especially since the European Parliament gave the speech a standing ovation? Hopefully, it is the realization of more and more Europeans that the cheap EU triumphalism and prescriptions peddled by Juncker are, at best, inappropriate, and at worst, a recipe for disaster.
Sunday, September 17, 2017
THE BUSINESS OF IDENTITY THEFT
Millions of Americans who trusted Equifax with sensitive personal and financial data, including social security numbers and credit-card information, are now nervously wondering whether they will be among the unlucky minority of affected customers whose identities are successfully “repurposed” by online criminal groups.
One researcher from security firm SecureWorks shared some details about today’s burgeoning marketplace for stolen data with Bloomberg, and the conclusion is clear: It is now easier – and cheaper – for criminals to access and abuse illicit data than ever before. In fact, a high-limit American express card with a high chance of working can be purchased online for less than $20. Criminals can buy files with thousands of low-limit card numbers for pennies on the dollar.
One researcher from security firm SecureWorks shared some details about today’s burgeoning marketplace for stolen data with Bloomberg, and the conclusion is clear: It is now easier – and cheaper – for criminals to access and abuse illicit data than ever before. In fact, a high-limit American express card with a high chance of working can be purchased online for less than $20. Criminals can buy files with thousands of low-limit card numbers for pennies on the dollar.
THE SUCCESS OF HUNGARY'S BORDER WALLS
Hungary has slashed illegal immigration by over 99 per cent after rolling out a series of powerful border fences in response to the European migrant crisis, possibly providing a lesson as to the potential impact of constructing President Trump’s much-discussed southern wall in the U.S.
INVESTIGATING CLIMATE CHANGE SKEPTICS IN CANADA
Did you know that in President Bieber’s Canada it is now virtually illegal to express doubts about the existence of ManBearPig?
No, I wouldn’t have believed it either, till I learned via Lorrie Goldstein about the extraordinary criminal action brought in Canada by a bunch of eco-fascistic litigants against three climate skeptical organisations.
No, I wouldn’t have believed it either, till I learned via Lorrie Goldstein about the extraordinary criminal action brought in Canada by a bunch of eco-fascistic litigants against three climate skeptical organisations.
WYNNE NO HERO IN BRIBERY TRIAL
Why, then, would Wynne willingly testify for the prosecution of her two pals? First, to distance herself from the whole bribery allegations, which she arguably did.
Second, to bolster her former henchmen’s defence that this was all about keeping the Ontario Liberal family together.
Wynne testimony, far from being a selfless or risky act was all about helping herself and her former helpers in a friendly atmosphere. That doesn’t make her a hero in my books.
Second, to bolster her former henchmen’s defence that this was all about keeping the Ontario Liberal family together.
Wynne testimony, far from being a selfless or risky act was all about helping herself and her former helpers in a friendly atmosphere. That doesn’t make her a hero in my books.
WYNNE'S $1.5B CARBON TAX GOUGE
Did you know Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne’s government has taken $1.5 billion extra out of our pockets since the start of this year?
By “extra” I mean money her government wasn’t taking from us in 2016, from all sources of government revenue.
This $1.5 billion extra — $1,501,908,017 to be precise — comes from Ontario’s new cap and trade carbon pricing scheme.
By “extra” I mean money her government wasn’t taking from us in 2016, from all sources of government revenue.
This $1.5 billion extra — $1,501,908,017 to be precise — comes from Ontario’s new cap and trade carbon pricing scheme.
TRUDEAU'S LIBERALS: SYMBOLS OVER SUBSTANCE
Less easily dismissed, they ran on a platform that was largely divided between promises they had no intention of keeping — balancing the budget by their fourth year, say, or reforming the electoral system — and promises they hadn’t the first clue how to achieve. This is a government, and a prime minister, much given to the grand gesture, the sweeping statement, with the details left to be filled in later. And it is those “details” that may pose the greater threat. Nobody minds a broken promise half so much as a cocked-up one.
$75 MILLION OVER BUDGET & IT DOESN'T WORK
Another government IT project is going off the rails, this one intended to issue Canadian passports faster and cheaper than the current system.
The so-called Passport Program Modernization Initiative, launched in 2014, is at least $75 million over budget and well behind schedule.
"From its outset, the complexity … was underestimated," says an internal document, explaining a series of setbacks to the ambitious plan.
"The project management capacity and expertise was insufficient for the complexity and scale of the initiative."
The so-called Passport Program Modernization Initiative, launched in 2014, is at least $75 million over budget and well behind schedule.
"From its outset, the complexity … was underestimated," says an internal document, explaining a series of setbacks to the ambitious plan.
"The project management capacity and expertise was insufficient for the complexity and scale of the initiative."
Saturday, September 16, 2017
DON'T BLAME THE RUSSIANS
The 36-page report entitled: Elections Canada Complaint Regarding Foreign Influence in the 2015 Canadian Election, alleges third parties worked with each other, which may have bypassed election spending limits — all of which appears to be in contravention of the Canada Elections Act.
OH CANNABIS!
The New Brunswick government says it has formed a new Crown corporation to oversee the sale of recreational marijuana.
JUDGE CALLS BULLSH!T ON GREEN CRUSADERS
Sensing that the judge wasn’t going to let them sue ExxonMobil based on climate change, CLF’s lawyers shifted gears early on in the hearing and scrambled to portray their case in a way that didn’t rest on climate change, and was instead about supposed violations of an EPA permit. This change in tactics made clear that CLF – as is always the case with the #ExxonKnew coalitions – isn’t suing ExxonMobil because of climate change. Instead, CLF and others are suing ExxonMobil because it’s ExxonMobil; they will say and do whatever it takes to notch a win against the industry.
MORE CLINTON EMAILS EXPOSED
Judicial Watch says the documents reveal "numerous additional examples of classified information being transmitted through the unsecure, non-state.gov account of Huma Abedin, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s deputy chief of staff, as well as many instances of Hillary Clinton donors receiving special favors from the State Department."
“The emails show ‘what happened’ was that Hillary Clinton and Huma Abedin obviously violated laws about the handling of classified information and turned the State Department into a pay for play tool for the corrupt Clinton Foundation,” Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton said.
ANOTHER ATTENTION SEEKING DINK
A NYC professor has been placed on administrative leave after several shocking anti-cop tweets came to light, prompting the city's largest police union to call for his firing.
Professor Michael Isaacson, who teaches, ironically, at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in Manhattan, tweeted last month that “it’s a privilege to teach future dead cops.”
DFO LOSES PRICEY SUBMERSIBLE
Researchers with Fisheries and Oceans Canada are hoping their fancy new oceanic surveying tool reappears, but there's been no sign of the submersible glider since July 28, and it's likely been lost.
Your first reaction is, you know, shit happened and it will report — you know, we'll get it next time," said Charles Hannah, a research scientist with DFO who heads up the program that deployed the glider. "You kind of get used to losing equipment in the ocean."
Your first reaction is, you know, shit happened and it will report — you know, we'll get it next time," said Charles Hannah, a research scientist with DFO who heads up the program that deployed the glider. "You kind of get used to losing equipment in the ocean."
WYNNE'S TRADE STRATEGY
Ontario might respond with its own protectionist measures if the U.S. implements the Buy American policies favoured by President Donald Trump, Premier Kathleen Wynne said Thursday.
In an interview in Washington, Wynne said she had told Trump Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross an hour earlier that “we will retaliate if necessary.”
MORNEAU'S END GAME
The Morneau corporate tax initiative is not about closing loopholes, or making the tax system more “fair,” as the minister likes to claim. Its underlying objective is higher taxes on the rich — the top five per cent, the top one per cent and the top 0.1 per cent. Having raised the top marginal rate as promised, the government is now pushing more Canadians into the top rate through the corporate reforms. And there is more to come.
Friday, September 15, 2017
REALITYOF MEMBERSHIP IN THE EUROPEAN UNION
What the likes of Jean-Claude don’t seem to be willing to contemplate, let alone understand or acknowledge, is that the EU is a union of sovereign countries. The meaning of ‘sovereignty’ fully escapes much of the pro-EU crowd. And if they keep that up, it will break the union into pieces.
The European Court of Justice has ruled that Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary must accept their migrant ‘quota’, as decided in Brussels, and that, too, constitutes an infringement on these countries’ sovereignty. And don’t forget, sovereignty is not something that can be divided into separate parts, some of which can be upheld while others are discarded. A country is either sovereign or it is not.
The European Court of Justice has ruled that Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary must accept their migrant ‘quota’, as decided in Brussels, and that, too, constitutes an infringement on these countries’ sovereignty. And don’t forget, sovereignty is not something that can be divided into separate parts, some of which can be upheld while others are discarded. A country is either sovereign or it is not.
ONTARIO LIBERALS' GAS PLANT SCANDAL
The trial of two aides of former Ontario premier Dalton McGuinty is likely to lay bare some inner workings behind the politicized management of Ontario’s power system over the past 10 years.
WYNNE'S TESTIMONY AT BRIBERY TRIAL
Wynne had a narrow tightrope to walk: Separate herself from any taint of wrongdoing without throwing her good friend, Sorbara, and Lougheed, an important party powerbroker, under the bus.
But try as she might, by the end of her testimony, the smell of road kill was heavy in the air.
But try as she might, by the end of her testimony, the smell of road kill was heavy in the air.
IRMA'S STAGGERING TOLL
Irma has finally relinquished its grip, but the storm that tore a massively destructive and deadly path from the small Caribbean island of Barbuda to Florida, South Carolina and Georgia continues to exact a staggering toll.
TRUDEAU PLEASING THE UNIONS
Canada’s unions are welcoming the federal government’s plan to close tax loopholes for very high-income earners, saying it’s an important first step toward bringing more fairness to Canada’s tax system.
It’s pretty easy to see the game here. Partly it’s no game: a lot of Liberals simply continue to see organized labour as a powerful partner in improving life for ordinary Canadians. But partly it’s strategic, too: labour support can translate into votes, and it can help give the general impression that a government Stands Up For The Little Guy.
It’s pretty easy to see the game here. Partly it’s no game: a lot of Liberals simply continue to see organized labour as a powerful partner in improving life for ordinary Canadians. But partly it’s strategic, too: labour support can translate into votes, and it can help give the general impression that a government Stands Up For The Little Guy.
DEFENDING CANADA
Conservative MP James Bezan asked St-Amand whether he agreed with the common Canadian perception that the Americans would shoot down an incoming intercontinental ballistic missile heading for a Canadian city, even though Canada is not a participant in the U.S.’s ballistic missile defence program. His response jolted the committee members from their late-summer stupor.
“I’m being told in Colorado Springs that U.S. policy is not to defend Canada. That’s fact I can bring to the table,” he said
“I’m being told in Colorado Springs that U.S. policy is not to defend Canada. That’s fact I can bring to the table,” he said
Thursday, September 14, 2017
VENEZUELA NOT ACCEPTING DOLLARS FOR OIL PAYMENTS
“Venezuela is going to implement a new system of international payments and will create a basket of currencies to free us from the dollar,” Maduro said in a multi-hour address to a new legislative “superbody.” He reportedly did not provide details of this new proposal.
And today, as The Wall Street Journal reports, in an effort to circumvent U.S. sanctions, Venezuela is telling oil traders that it will no longer receive or send payments in dollars, people familiar with the new policy said.
AMAZON ADJUSTING CLINTON BOOK RATINGS
In what many have dubbed a flagrant intervention by Amazon itself to seemingly boost the rating of Hillary Clinton's new book "What Happened", the Telegraph first reported, and subsequently many others observed first hand, that Amazon has been monitoring and deleting 1-star reviews of Hillary Clinton's new book "which was greeted with a torrent of criticism on the day it was released."
Reviews of What Happened have been mixed, with some accusing Clinton of using it as an opportunity to blame others – such as former FBI head James Comey, Bernie Sanders, Vladimir Putin, social media and pretty much everything else – for her failure, rather than herself. Even The New York Times, which supported Clinton's campaign, wrote that the book is "a score-settling jubilee".
Reviews of What Happened have been mixed, with some accusing Clinton of using it as an opportunity to blame others – such as former FBI head James Comey, Bernie Sanders, Vladimir Putin, social media and pretty much everything else – for her failure, rather than herself. Even The New York Times, which supported Clinton's campaign, wrote that the book is "a score-settling jubilee".
CLINTON STATE DEP'T SECURITY LAPSES IN BENGHAZI
Five years after the Benghazi terror attack, two American security contractors have finally come forward to talk about the shocking security lapses of Hillary Clinton’s State Department and how they faced pressure to stay silent. The pair didn't speak out sooner out of fear that the Obama administration would retaliate against their firm, Torres Advanced Enterprise Solutions.
THE LANGUAGE OF LOSING
Steyn: By that he means "safe havens" in Afghanistan. But the reason the west's enemies are able to pile up a continuous corpse count in Paris, Nice, Berlin, Brussels, London, Manchester, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Orlando, San Bernadino, Ottawa, Sydney, Barcelona, [Your Town Here] is because they have "safe havens" in France, Germany, Britain, Scandinavia, North America, etc. Which "safe havens" are likely to prove more consequential for the developed world in the years ahead?
In Afghanistan, we're fighting for something not worth winning, and we're losing. In Europe, Islam is fighting for something very much worth winning, and they're advancing. And, according to all the official strategists in Washington and elsewhere, these two things are nothing to do with each other.
In Afghanistan, we're fighting for something not worth winning, and we're losing. In Europe, Islam is fighting for something very much worth winning, and they're advancing. And, according to all the official strategists in Washington and elsewhere, these two things are nothing to do with each other.
BUSINESS AS USUAL IN ONTARIO POLITICS
The Premier, who waived her parliamentary privilege so she could testify, told the court there was "disarray" in the local riding and that party brass did not think Mr. Olivier was the best option. "He wasn't a great candidate in the election and we were looking for a candidate to win," Ms. Wynne said.
Mr. Thibeault and Ms. Wynne are not charged with any offences. While the court has heard that Mr. Thibeault had asked for a stipend from the Liberals to run, as well as jobs for two of his federal constituency staffers, he has denied any wrongdoing.
SENATOR SPEAKS ABOUT THE INDIAN ACT INDUSTRY
After vowing to take the summer months to meet with Indigenous people after a series of controversial remarks, Conservative Sen. Lynn Beyak says she now believes First Nations should give up their Indigenous rights and integrate into Canadian society
"The real problem, as identified in letters from the grassroots across the nation, and which no government has had the courage to address, is what they themselves identify as the Indian Act Industry in Ottawa, all living and working together comfortably, huge bureaucracies, massive expense accounts, fully assimilated to the ways of the white and Indigenous worlds, with available 5-star accommodations and business class travel, while the Indigenous population is constantly reminded that integration or assimilation is not good for them," she wrote.
"The real problem, as identified in letters from the grassroots across the nation, and which no government has had the courage to address, is what they themselves identify as the Indian Act Industry in Ottawa, all living and working together comfortably, huge bureaucracies, massive expense accounts, fully assimilated to the ways of the white and Indigenous worlds, with available 5-star accommodations and business class travel, while the Indigenous population is constantly reminded that integration or assimilation is not good for them," she wrote.
Wednesday, September 13, 2017
ONTARIO'S JUDICIAL SNOWFLAKES
A Hamilton judge who wore a hat in court bearing Donald Trump’s “Make America Great Again” slogan has been suspended without pay after an oversight body ruled his behaviour constituted a “single aberrant and inexplicable act of judicial misconduct.”
DUKE U. DORKS
Over the course of the nine-week program, men will participate in weekly discussion groups conducted through an “intersectional feminist lens,” with the hope of helping male students learn an “intersectional understanding of masculinity” and creating “spaces to destabilize masculine privilege.”
Organizers warn that the program isn’t for the faint of heart, explaining that the discussion groups will make men feel “vulnerable” and “will be challenging,” and should thus be “taken seriously.”
Organizers warn that the program isn’t for the faint of heart, explaining that the discussion groups will make men feel “vulnerable” and “will be challenging,” and should thus be “taken seriously.”
EQUIFAXS' DATA BREACH: PROTECTING YOURSELF
What’s so despicable about this is how Equifax , one of three credit agencies that we are forced to provide this information to if we want to get credit, failed to protect the data. It’s not as if they didn’t have warnings. This is the third time that their computers were hacked over the past two years. You wonder who's managing their security.
But it gets worse. When they discovered that there was a theft of all their data, they waited six weeks before informing anyone. That’s a long time and it allowed the thieves to take their data, package it, and go to the underground web and sell it.
HURRICANE SEASON; CUE THE CLOWNS
Last week, media personality Bill Nye "the science guy" waded into meteorology, claiming that man-made climate change is directly responsible for the strength of hurricanes Harvey and Irma.
"It's the strength [of these hurricanes] that's almost certainly associated with global warming," Nye told Dan Rather in a radio interview. "Global warming and climate change are the same thing. As the world gets warmer and there's more heat energy in the atmosphere you expect storms to get stronger."
Tuesday, September 12, 2017
CREAKY START TO GAS PLANT SCANDAL
The two gas plants were re-contracted and relocated at an estimated cost that could hit $1 billion. The decision wasn’t just enormously expensive, but also controversial, and though McGuinty and the Liberals were narrowly re-elected, the lasting political fallout and government stalling to produce documents saw two Conservative MPPs finally make a formal complaint to the OPP in 2013.
That in turn led to an investigation that lasted more than two years and resulted in Livingston, McGuinty’s former chief of staff, and Miller, his former deputy chief of staff, being charged in December 2015.
That in turn led to an investigation that lasted more than two years and resulted in Livingston, McGuinty’s former chief of staff, and Miller, his former deputy chief of staff, being charged in December 2015.
Monday, September 11, 2017
PASS THE LUBE
Finance Minister Bill Morneau says two-thirds of Canada’s small business owners, including farmers and physicians need not worry about the proposed federal changes to the tax system because they won’t be impacted “at all” by what the Liberals have put on the table.
LIBERALS ON TRIAL
On Monday, two top aides to Wynne’s chief enabler, former premier Dalton McGuinty, will appear in a criminal court to answer charges of breach of trust and mischief.
Mischief? David Livingston, McGuinty’s former chief of staff, and Laura Miller, his deputy, are accused of destroying government documents about the cancellation of two gas-fired power generating plants by allegedly purging damaging e-mails from hard drives.
Some mischief.
Mischief? David Livingston, McGuinty’s former chief of staff, and Laura Miller, his deputy, are accused of destroying government documents about the cancellation of two gas-fired power generating plants by allegedly purging damaging e-mails from hard drives.
Some mischief.
ESCAPING NORTH KOREA
North Koreans who escape from Kim Jong Un’s regime, by way of China, there is no quick flight onward.
Instead, they embark on a gruelling journey that – best-case scenario – involves travelling almost 4,300 km on buses, motorbikes and boats, in taxis and on foot over mountains, on a roundabout route that scores of North Koreans each month are embracing as the best possible way to reach South Korea, where they will immediately become South Korean citizens.
Instead, they embark on a gruelling journey that – best-case scenario – involves travelling almost 4,300 km on buses, motorbikes and boats, in taxis and on foot over mountains, on a roundabout route that scores of North Koreans each month are embracing as the best possible way to reach South Korea, where they will immediately become South Korean citizens.
LIBERALS MAKING RULES FOR LIBERALS
Before becoming prime minster, Mr. Trudeau promised free, fair, and open nomination contests in all 338 ridings across the country. But prior to the 2015 election, there were numerous ridings across the country where unsuccessful nomination contestants accused the party leadership of playing favourites. Now, it remains to be seen if the party leadership protects incumbent MPs from nomination challenges before the 2019 election, or sets targets that could save them from going through the divisive process
Sunday, September 10, 2017
CANADA'S 100,000 JOBLESS ENERGY WORKERS
More than 100,000 oilpatch employees — roughly one in three — lost their jobs during the oil downturn of the past three years, according to estimates by the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP) and the Canadian Society of Unconventional Resources (CSUR).
Energy prices are recovering, but many are still out of a job, gave up looking for work, retired early or are starting over in entry-level positions in other industries at a fraction of their previous salaries.
Meanwhile, green and other new economy jobs promised by governments as part of their push to transition toward renewable energy have been slow to materialize, and they usually go to better-qualified candidates from other industries when they do.
Energy prices are recovering, but many are still out of a job, gave up looking for work, retired early or are starting over in entry-level positions in other industries at a fraction of their previous salaries.
Meanwhile, green and other new economy jobs promised by governments as part of their push to transition toward renewable energy have been slow to materialize, and they usually go to better-qualified candidates from other industries when they do.
CANADIANS' ATTITUDES ON OIL, PIPELINES & CLIMATE
Abacus research: Canadians are becoming more convinced that oil will experience a decline in demand in the next few decades. Ten years from now, equal numbers believe demand for oil will be rising (31%) as believe it will be falling (32%). This represents a striking 15-point increase in the number who believe demand will be falling, compared to our result in April of this year.
HURRICANE IRMA'S SLOW RUINOUS MARCH
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Announcing itself with roaring 130 mph winds, Hurricane Irma plowed into the mostly emptied-out Florida Keys early Sunday for the start of what could be a slow, ruinous march up the state’s west coast toward the heavily populated Tampa-St. Petersburg area.
POLITICIANS WHO ARE EASILY COWED AND LEAD
A majority of Toronto school board trustees, without waiting for the results of their own review of whether police school resource officers (SROs) are a good idea, recently decided to suspend the program.
Clearly not wanting to be confused by facts, even facts they had asked for, their minds were already made up.
Clearly not wanting to be confused by facts, even facts they had asked for, their minds were already made up.
BLASTING NEB HANDLING OF ENERGY EAST
TransCanada filed a letter to the NEB asking for a 30-day suspension for the project so it can study how the NEB's decision on greenhouse gas emissions will affect "costs, schedules and viability." The request was accepted in a decision late Friday.
The Calgary-based company is calling the changes to the regulatory process "significant," and warns that the entire project and related Eastern Mainline pipeline project could be cancelled.
The track record for resurrecting projects that are placed on hold is not promising.
The Calgary-based company is calling the changes to the regulatory process "significant," and warns that the entire project and related Eastern Mainline pipeline project could be cancelled.
The track record for resurrecting projects that are placed on hold is not promising.
ANOTHER ONE OF WYNNE'S STRETCH GOALS
The Toronto Sun’s Freedom of Information request revealing, essentially, that Ontario’s Liberal government doesn’t have a hope in hell of hitting its own target for electric vehicle purchases — let alone getting the public to buy them — demonstrates two things.
The first is hypocrisy. The government is asking the public to do something it is not prepared to do itself.
The second is stupidity.
The first is hypocrisy. The government is asking the public to do something it is not prepared to do itself.
The second is stupidity.
LIBERALS WALK AND CHEW GUM SIMULTANEOUSLY
“If we don’t secure an agreement on the fundamentals of trade to insure that the hundreds of thousands of jobs in Canada are maintained and enhanced, we then can’t work on the extra items that are also important like environmental issues. The priority needs to be on jobs,” O’Toole said.
He suggested the “extra” chapters be negotiated after the big things are settled.
“Many of them [the priorities] aren’t related to trade, they’re not related to market access… that has to be the focus here. Many of them are signature pieces for Mr. Trudeau from his campaign, but that has to be secondary to the jobs that we need to keep from NAFTA,” he said.
McKenna called this suggestion “crazy,” because “the key priorities are the same. The environment is the economy.”
He suggested the “extra” chapters be negotiated after the big things are settled.
“Many of them [the priorities] aren’t related to trade, they’re not related to market access… that has to be the focus here. Many of them are signature pieces for Mr. Trudeau from his campaign, but that has to be secondary to the jobs that we need to keep from NAFTA,” he said.
McKenna called this suggestion “crazy,” because “the key priorities are the same. The environment is the economy.”
Saturday, September 9, 2017
BIOMASS: LIBERAL GIBBERISH FOR CUTTING TREES
Atikokan, located between Thunder Bay and Fort Frances, is home to the largest 100 per cent wood biomass generating facility in North America — but between 80 and 90 per cent of the time, it generates nothing at all. Thunder Bay boasts a state-of-the-art advanced biomass station, but for approximately 98 per cent of the year, it, too, lies idle.
Friday, September 8, 2017
PARTNERSHIPS IN THE TAXMAN CROSSHAIRS ALSO
Husband/wife, parent/child, brother/sister… any and all variations of partnerships (formal and informal) with related persons are now also caught under the new “income sprinkling” proposals.
EU ORDERS MEMBER STATES TO ACCEPT MIGRANTS
The European Union's highest court has rejected a complaint by Hungary and Slovakia over the legality of the bloc's mandatory refugee quota program, which requires EU member states to admit tens of thousands of migrants from Africa, Asia and the Middle East.
WHEN THE POT INVESTIGATES THE KETTLE
Canada’s independent competition watchdog says it doesn’t have enough resources to investigate false advertising by climate deniers, and is calling on the public for help.
After more than a year of investigating, the Competition Bureau abruptly dropped its inquiry earlier this summer into three groups that had displayed information in public raising doubts about the international scientific consensus on climate change.
THE FUTURE OF ENERGY EAST PIPELINE
The future of the Energy East pipeline has been thrown into question after TransCanada Corp. announced it wants to suspend for now its application to build the $15.7-billion project.
In a statement Thursday, Calgary-based TransCanada (TSX:TRP) says it filed a letter to the National Energy Board asking for a 30-day suspension for the proposed the 4,500-kilometre pipeline which would carry crude from Alberta and Saskatchewan to refineries in Eastern Canada.
The company says it wants to study how the NEB's decision last month to consider the Energy East's contribution to upstream and downstream greenhouse gas emissions will affect "costs, schedules and viability."
In a statement Thursday, Calgary-based TransCanada (TSX:TRP) says it filed a letter to the National Energy Board asking for a 30-day suspension for the proposed the 4,500-kilometre pipeline which would carry crude from Alberta and Saskatchewan to refineries in Eastern Canada.
The company says it wants to study how the NEB's decision last month to consider the Energy East's contribution to upstream and downstream greenhouse gas emissions will affect "costs, schedules and viability."
Thursday, September 7, 2017
**CRICKETS** FROM MSM
The man in question is Val Trudeau, who the government's database lists as the Director of Shared Services Canada. He's also the president of the Glengarry—Prescott—Russell provincial Liberal riding association.
HURRICANE IRMA
Hurricane Irma killed eight people on the Caribbean island of Saint Martin and left Barbuda devastated on Thursday as one of the most powerful Atlantic storms in a century took aim at Florida.
Television footage of the Franco-Dutch island of Saint Martin showed a damaged marina with boats tossed into piles, submerged streets and flooded homes. Power was knocked out on Saint Martin, Saint Barthelemy and in parts of the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico.
ONTARIANS LIVING PAYCHEQUE TO PAYCHEQUE
The Canadian Payroll Association says Ontarians are not immune to a national trend of spending too much and saving too little.
The association's ninth annual survey found 42 per cent of people living in Ontario spend all of their net paycheque, right in line with the national average of 41 per cent.
The association's ninth annual survey found 42 per cent of people living in Ontario spend all of their net paycheque, right in line with the national average of 41 per cent.
CARBON TAX WILL SHRINK ECONOMY
The introduction of a federal carbon tax could “shrink” Canada’s GDP by as much as $3 billion in 2018 and lead to a slight depreciation of the Canadian dollar, a new report says.
In a study released Tuesday, the Conference Board of Canada said the tax could cause a broad slowdown in economic activity as “higher energy prices ripple throughout the economy.” Prices for natural gas, gasoline, electricity and other goods will rise, collectively raising costs of goods and services.
In a study released Tuesday, the Conference Board of Canada said the tax could cause a broad slowdown in economic activity as “higher energy prices ripple throughout the economy.” Prices for natural gas, gasoline, electricity and other goods will rise, collectively raising costs of goods and services.
TAX GRABBING LIBERALS TARGET SMALL BUSINESS
Small business contributes about 30% of our country’s GDP, with the average worker toiling a minimum of 50 hours a week to stay afloat compared to a public-sector employee who won’t work a minute past their 37-hour commitment to the taxpayers who front their wages, benefits and oft-mentioned gold-plated pension plans.
Small business does not have taxpayer-funded pension plans. Most have no pension plans at all, other than working to their graves in order to keep paying the bills and their ever-increasing taxes.
Small business does not have taxpayer-funded pension plans. Most have no pension plans at all, other than working to their graves in order to keep paying the bills and their ever-increasing taxes.
BECAUSE OF TRUDEAU'S BIG MOUTH...
The federal government is laying the groundwork for an attempt to dissuade more diaspora groups in the United States from fleeing to Canada.
While it is not yet clear which communities the government plans to target, U.S. temporary protected status for citizens from nine other countries – El Salvador, Honduras, Nepal, Nicaragua, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, Syria and Yemen – is set to expire over the next year
While it is not yet clear which communities the government plans to target, U.S. temporary protected status for citizens from nine other countries – El Salvador, Honduras, Nepal, Nicaragua, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, Syria and Yemen – is set to expire over the next year
Wednesday, September 6, 2017
WYNNE BLOWING SMOKE AGAIN
Instead of pursuing meaningful reforms that will provide relief from Ontario’s skyrocketing electricity bills, the Wynne government is betting on energy efficiency programs to try to provide a low-cost means of managing power needs.
Ontario’s energy efficiency programs are costly and will likely result in minimal energy savings for residents and businesses.
Ontario’s energy efficiency programs are costly and will likely result in minimal energy savings for residents and businesses.
PREPARING FOR HURRICANE IRMA
Irma is a Category 5 storm as it barrels toward the Leeward Islands east of Puerto Rico, including the U.S. and British Virgin Islands, Barbuda and Antigua, Saint Kitts, Dominica and Montserrat. A hurricane warning is in effect for the Leewards, Puerto Rico, Vieques and Culebra, while a hurricane watch is in effect for Guadeloupe and the Turks and Caicos Islands as well as parts of the Dominican Republic, Haiti and Bahamas.
Tuesday, September 5, 2017
PULLING CLIMATE BARBIE'S CHAIN
Environment Minister McKenna was responding to comments O'Toole made to The Canadian Press in which he accused the government's push for environmental protections, Indigenous rights and gender equality as "virtue signalling" as part of the image-building machinery around Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
"And so done with ridiculous language from #CPC like 'virtue signalling,'" McKenna tweeted. "We will continue to stand up for Canadian values at home & abroad."
"We are currently witnessing the largest forest fire in British Columbia's history, the Atlantic Ocean recording record temperatures, and the second flood of the century in 12 months in Windsor," McKenna wrote. "And the conservatives are still saying that the environment and the economy can be separated! Climate change is real and environmental protection is essential. It is time for the conservatives to understand the message."
"And so done with ridiculous language from #CPC like 'virtue signalling,'" McKenna tweeted. "We will continue to stand up for Canadian values at home & abroad."
"We are currently witnessing the largest forest fire in British Columbia's history, the Atlantic Ocean recording record temperatures, and the second flood of the century in 12 months in Windsor," McKenna wrote. "And the conservatives are still saying that the environment and the economy can be separated! Climate change is real and environmental protection is essential. It is time for the conservatives to understand the message."
WHEN IT COMES BACK TO BITE YOU IN THE ASS
A Georgia high school teacher is getting a lot of heat from online users and the school district she works for after she kicked out two students in her class for wearing shirts with President Trump’s signature campaign slogan.
A NEW WAY TO TRANSGRESS
For those wondering "What's Next?" when it comes to new ways for white people and men to transgress against minorities and women, two academics have come up with an answer.
They call them "invisibility microaggressions," which basically means anything not covered under previous definitions of "microaggressions" -- and even perhaps what you thought was being on the safe side -- is now covered.
TRADE UNION CALLING THE SHOTS AT NAFTA NEGOTIATIONS
Re NAFTA negotiations: Jerry Dias, the leader of Canada's largest private-sector trade union, said Ottawa's negotiators are: pushing Mexico on its corporate-sanctioned unions, which are accused of negotiating collective agreements unfavourable to workers; agitating for both countries to offer a year of paid family leave, as Canada does; and targeting American right-to-work laws that allow workers in unionized shops to refuse to pay dues, draining money from unions.
Monday, September 4, 2017
NEW NGO RACKET: SMUGGLING INC.
Yet, this summer, even more than in previous years, it has become plain that some of the NGOs working in the Mediterranean are acting as something more than intermediaries. Many have in fact been acting as facilitators. Agents who have infiltrated the NGO groups have found collusion between the NGOs and the smugglers networks, including coordination with these brutal and mercenary organisations. Investigations have found NGOs to have been breaking their own agreed operating rules by coordinating locations to meet and pick up vessels sent out by the smugglers. This makes the NGOs effectively no more than the benign face of the smuggling networks. Undercover workers have also discovered NGOs handing vessels back to the smugglers' networks, effectively helping them to continue their criminal enterprise indefinitely.
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