Saturday, March 31, 2018
JUDGE ALLOWS CLIMATE CHANGE AS LEGAL DEFENCE
The protesters, including Karenna Gore, the daughter of former Vice President Al Gore, were facing charges of trespassing and disturbing the peace after climbing into a construction trench. On Tuesday, prosecutors asked a judge to convert the criminal charges into civil infractions, saying in the event of a conviction they were unlikely to ask for any further punishment. After allowing the motion, Judge Mary Ann Driscoll found the defendants not responsible, saying she agreed with their argument that their actions were necessary to combat climate change.
CHINA'S FALLING SPACE STATION
Update for 12:55 pm. EDT: New re-entry forecasts by the European Space Agency and Aerospace Corp. are converging on a late Sunday/early Monday re-entry for China's falling space station Tiangong-1
Although the Pacific Ocean is the most likely location for Tiangong-1's demise, Muelhaupt emphasized it's hard to say where the station will re-enter Earth's atmosphere. The station is constantly orbiting Earth at an inclination between 43 degrees north and 43 degrees south latitudes, which includes the United States and much of the civilized world.
CURIOUS FBI POLICY OF NOT RECORDING INTERVIEWS
The jury that acquitted Noor Salman of aiding and abetting her husband’s slaughter at the Pulse Nightclub believed that she was aware of what her husband was planning, but based on the detailed jury instructions and the nature of the evidence they were presented, they had no choice but to deliver a “not guilty” verdict. We know this now because the Orlando Sentinel received a statement from the foreman, which is presented in its entirety below. But what leaped out at me was a single sentence criticizing the FBI, that comes 294 words into the statement.
"I wish that the FBI had recorded their interviews with Ms. Salman as there were several significant inconsistencies with the written summaries of her statements."
Many readers may recall from the FBI’s handling of the Hillary Clinton email scandal that no recordings were made of the FBI’s interview with her(or with any other witnesses, for that matter). This is because the only record of subject interviews that the FBI makes are Form 302s, notes prepared by an agent.
Readers may also recall that according to two investigative reporters, Sara Carter and Mike Cernovich, fired FBI deputy director Andrew McCabe has been accused of asking FBI agents to alter 302 reports. It is not clear if this accusation was part of the Inspector General’s report that led to McCabe’s firing, nor is it clear that it actually happened.
AVOIDING UNINTENTIONAL DATA SHARING
If you’re concerned about companies learning too much about you, you might want to consider ditching your credit and debit cards — and your phone, too.
Ann Cavoukian, Ontario’s former Information and Privacy Commissioner and current head of the Privacy by Design Centre of Excellence at Ryerson University in Toronto. OPC has plenty of advice for privacy-conscious Canadians, but a lot of it involves reading the fine print and asking pointed questions.
But people shouldn’t have to wade through pages of legalese to figure out what personal data they’re giving up and how it’s going to be used, said Cavoukian.
Ann Cavoukian, Ontario’s former Information and Privacy Commissioner and current head of the Privacy by Design Centre of Excellence at Ryerson University in Toronto. OPC has plenty of advice for privacy-conscious Canadians, but a lot of it involves reading the fine print and asking pointed questions.
But people shouldn’t have to wade through pages of legalese to figure out what personal data they’re giving up and how it’s going to be used, said Cavoukian.
Instead of putting it on customers to find the opt-out option, lawmakers should make privacy the default setting, she added.
DENMARK HURRYING VERY SLOWLY ON DECISION
BRUSSELS/COPENHAGEN (Reuters) - Denmark is under pressure to rule on whether a new Russian pipeline supplying gas to Germany can be built near its Baltic coast, a decision that puts it in the line of fire from friend and foe alike.
Denmark does not want to act alone in resolving one of the biggest foreign policy quandaries that the small European Union nation has faced since the Cold War.
But its search for a united EU stance on the proposed pipeline is deadlocked by divisions among member states over whether to do more business with Moscow despite its military incursions in Ukraine and Syria and accusations it used a nerve agent in an attempted assassination on British soil.
Denmark does not want to act alone in resolving one of the biggest foreign policy quandaries that the small European Union nation has faced since the Cold War.
But its search for a united EU stance on the proposed pipeline is deadlocked by divisions among member states over whether to do more business with Moscow despite its military incursions in Ukraine and Syria and accusations it used a nerve agent in an attempted assassination on British soil.
OPERATION EZRA: BRINGING YAZIDIS TO CANADA
The first Yazidi family privately sponsored by the Winnipeg group arrived in July 2016. Thursday’s arrival of Khudida’s family was the 10th and final group Operation Ezra had applied to bring to Canada — but it won’t be the last, its spokesman said.
"It’s because of our ability to continue raising funds and also the interest of many people in the community and volunteers who want to do more" that the group hopes to soon sponsor some 20 more people, Aziza said.
"Many of the families are gainfully employed," he said. "They can help us now."
And they want to help, said Naso, who arrived in Manitoba as a refugee in 1999 when she was a child.
"The families are very happy, grateful and ready to pay it forward," Naso said.
"It’s because of our ability to continue raising funds and also the interest of many people in the community and volunteers who want to do more" that the group hopes to soon sponsor some 20 more people, Aziza said.
"Many of the families are gainfully employed," he said. "They can help us now."
And they want to help, said Naso, who arrived in Manitoba as a refugee in 1999 when she was a child.
"The families are very happy, grateful and ready to pay it forward," Naso said.
Friday, March 30, 2018
KARMA IS A BITCH, EH GUCCI GRACE?
Harare — A farm in Mazowe that belongs to former first lady Grace Mugabe has been invaded by illegal gold miners estimated to number about 400 which are conducting gold panning activities on the property.
The Smithfield farm invasion poses a threat to the Mugabe’s farming activities in the Mazowe area, which is the heart of their business empire. It is also a marked turn of fortunes for the once powerful couple that rubber-stamped and oversaw the often violent seizure of white-owned farms in 2000 in the country.
The Smithfield farm invasion poses a threat to the Mugabe’s farming activities in the Mazowe area, which is the heart of their business empire. It is also a marked turn of fortunes for the once powerful couple that rubber-stamped and oversaw the often violent seizure of white-owned farms in 2000 in the country.
About 4 500 white commercial farmers were estimated to have been forcibly removed from their farms during the war veterans led seizures of 2000. Zimbabwe’s agricultural output plummeted as a result of the farm invasions.
HARD THINGS ARE HARD
OTTAWA — Neither Ottawa nor the provinces have really assessed the risks a changing climate poses to the country and have no real idea what might be needed to adapt to it, said a new audit released Tuesday.
The joint audit, conducted by federal environment commissioner Julie Gelfand and auditors general in nine provinces, looks at climate change planning and emissions reduction progress between November 2016 and March 2018.
It says while many governments have high-level goals to cut emissions, few have detailed plans to actually reach those goals, such as timelines, funding or expected results from specific actions.
Environment Minister McKenna said the plan addresses many of the concerns in the audit, including outlining how certain policies will achieve specific emissions cuts.
"The previous government did nothing for a decade but we're 100 per cent committed to our target," McKenna said. "Hard things are hard, we have a plan and we're already seeing measurable results."
The joint audit, conducted by federal environment commissioner Julie Gelfand and auditors general in nine provinces, looks at climate change planning and emissions reduction progress between November 2016 and March 2018.
It says while many governments have high-level goals to cut emissions, few have detailed plans to actually reach those goals, such as timelines, funding or expected results from specific actions.
Environment Minister McKenna said the plan addresses many of the concerns in the audit, including outlining how certain policies will achieve specific emissions cuts.
"The previous government did nothing for a decade but we're 100 per cent committed to our target," McKenna said. "Hard things are hard, we have a plan and we're already seeing measurable results."
ASKING QUESTIONS OF BULLSH!TTING IDIOTS
When he was campaigning to become prime minister, Trudeau would attack Stephen Harper and the Conservatives for not trusting scientists, not basing their policies on evidence or facts. Yet now we have Justin Trudeau and his cabinet unable to answer what should be basic questions about the evidence behind one of their biggest policies, a price on carbon.
The Conservatives have a basic question, how much will greenhouse gas emissions go down as a result of the $50 a tonne carbon tax that Trudeau is bringing in.
If the policy is based on science, on evidence, then the answer should be easy to provide.
But the Liberals can’t or won’t give an answer.
The Conservatives have a basic question, how much will greenhouse gas emissions go down as a result of the $50 a tonne carbon tax that Trudeau is bringing in.
If the policy is based on science, on evidence, then the answer should be easy to provide.
But the Liberals can’t or won’t give an answer.
WYNNE'S DIVISIVE, AGEIST COMMENTS
Brian Lilley: Kathleen Wynne visited Humber College on Friday and relayed a bizarre and disturbing message to the young and ethnically diverse student body, if you don’t vote then old white people will decide the election. She even put in a plug for them to vote for her.
Even after listening to the audio several times, even after taking into account what I am sure she felt was a breezy and light-hearted tone, the words themselves are shocking coming from a politician. More than shocking they are incredibly divisive, ageist and said in another context by another politician they would have been denounced as racist.
When Wynne said these comments the room was filled with reporters, cameras, phones with recording apps on them and yet there hasn’t been much coverage of this. That’s shameful but it is also telling that in the coming election most of the media can be expected to look the other way at Wynne’s mistakes.
Even after listening to the audio several times, even after taking into account what I am sure she felt was a breezy and light-hearted tone, the words themselves are shocking coming from a politician. More than shocking they are incredibly divisive, ageist and said in another context by another politician they would have been denounced as racist.
When Wynne said these comments the room was filled with reporters, cameras, phones with recording apps on them and yet there hasn’t been much coverage of this. That’s shameful but it is also telling that in the coming election most of the media can be expected to look the other way at Wynne’s mistakes.
INVESTIGATING THE CLINTON FAMILY FOUNDATION
Documents obtained from the State of Georgia show that Clinton Foundation directors grievously failed to protect the federal, state and foreign tax-exempt status of the Arkansas Foundation on or after early November 2013. In the initial 2012 tax filing submitted in 2013 and the amended 2012 tax filing submitted in 2015 the Arkansas Clinton Foundation claimed just three directors: Bruce Lindsey (also a paid officer), then-Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe (a long-time friend, political ally, and fundraiser) and daughter Chelsea Clinton.
According to the Georgia records, effective Nov. 2, 2013, the Clinton Foundation attempted to concentrate control over its operations in the hands of Bill, Hillary and Chelsea Clinton by naming these three family members “Class A directors.”
They also awarded extraordinary powers to the Clintons as Class A directors, including authority to control all aspects of the charity’s work in between official meetings of the board without oversight of Class B directors.
Records available through the New York State Attorney General Charities Database (insert “Clinton Family Foundation” or “30-0048438” into relevant search fields) show that the Clinton Family Foundation contributed a total of $3,365,000 in 2014 and 2015 to an entity incorrectly described as the “William J. Clinton Foundation.”They also awarded extraordinary powers to the Clintons as Class A directors, including authority to control all aspects of the charity’s work in between official meetings of the board without oversight of Class B directors.
NANNY STATE; LOOTING THE FUTURE
Mark Steyn checked in with John Oakley at Toronto's Global News Radio 640. In light of Ontario's new "free" government daycare plan, they discussed the western world's cradle-to-grave welfare programs, where they're headed, and how they corrode the character of a people. But they also found time for some cheap Justin Trudeau cracks, and contrasted his falling numbers with Trump's rising ones.
EPA SET TO REJECT FUEL EFFICIENCY RULES
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is expected to use a Virginia car dealership on Tuesday as the setting to tout its rejection of the Obama administration’s landmark vehicle fuel efficiency rules, a move that could put automakers in the middle of a battle between the Trump administration and California.
Auto industry executives have not publicly sought specific reductions in the requirements negotiated with the Obama administration in 2011. But they have urged Pruitt and U.S. President Donald Trump to revise the Obama standards to make it easier and less costly to meet complex targets, which vary depending on the size of vehicles and whether they are classified as cars or trucks.
Overall, the Obama rules called for roughly doubling by 2025 to about 50 miles (80 km) per gallon the average fuel efficiency of new vehicles sold in the United States. But the Obama rules included a review by April 2018 as to whether the final years were feasible or not.
Auto industry executives have not publicly sought specific reductions in the requirements negotiated with the Obama administration in 2011. But they have urged Pruitt and U.S. President Donald Trump to revise the Obama standards to make it easier and less costly to meet complex targets, which vary depending on the size of vehicles and whether they are classified as cars or trucks.
Overall, the Obama rules called for roughly doubling by 2025 to about 50 miles (80 km) per gallon the average fuel efficiency of new vehicles sold in the United States. But the Obama rules included a review by April 2018 as to whether the final years were feasible or not.
Thursday, March 29, 2018
VANHULST: RIGHTEOUS AMONG THE NATIONS
AMSTERDAM, Netherlands — Johan van Hulst, a Dutch seminary leader who saved hundreds of Jewish children during the Holocaust and later became a senator, has died at the age of 107.
Van Hulst and resistance activists smuggled the children to safety over several months. He was the director of a Protestant religious seminary in Amsterdam with a yard that bordered on the nursery section of a facility in which the Nazis and collaborators imprisoned Jews before their dispatch to concentration camps.
The late director, who died Thursday, hid in his school the children from the nursery of the Hollandsche Schouwburg, whom he and his helpers would hoist over the hedge that separated the two yards. From there, resistance activists and fighters would smuggle the children to safehouses, sometimes in laundry baskets and other times on bicycles, pretending that the children were their own.
Van Hulst and resistance activists smuggled the children to safety over several months. He was the director of a Protestant religious seminary in Amsterdam with a yard that bordered on the nursery section of a facility in which the Nazis and collaborators imprisoned Jews before their dispatch to concentration camps.
The late director, who died Thursday, hid in his school the children from the nursery of the Hollandsche Schouwburg, whom he and his helpers would hoist over the hedge that separated the two yards. From there, resistance activists and fighters would smuggle the children to safehouses, sometimes in laundry baskets and other times on bicycles, pretending that the children were their own.
TRUMP PLAYING 3D CHESS
Coulter: I can’t wait to see Trump’s next move in his game of “3-D chess”!
You see, it only looks like Trump is The Worst Negotiator God Ever Created. Instead of telling Democrats, “I won’t even talk about DACA until we have the border wall,” Trump has repeatedly given up the wall, aka The Central Promise of His Campaign, Without Which He Would Not Be in the White House.
He has now signed a spending bill that, if it actually did what it claims to do, prohibits him from building the wall, hiring any new ICE agents capable of making arrests, and building any new detention facilities for illegal aliens.
You see, it only looks like Trump is The Worst Negotiator God Ever Created. Instead of telling Democrats, “I won’t even talk about DACA until we have the border wall,” Trump has repeatedly given up the wall, aka The Central Promise of His Campaign, Without Which He Would Not Be in the White House.
He has now signed a spending bill that, if it actually did what it claims to do, prohibits him from building the wall, hiring any new ICE agents capable of making arrests, and building any new detention facilities for illegal aliens.
EXPOSING THE BIAS OF FACT-CHECKERS
Sometimes you have to check the fact-checkers.
More and more, major news outlets are relying on “fact checkers” to, allegedly, ensure that the news is factual, sources are reliable, and statements are accurate.
In theory, this is admirable. In practice, it has proven to be simply another opportunity for the media to push their leftist agenda.
Fact checking groups — such as PolitiFact — routinely cast judgments while failing to disclose their own left-wing bias. Their allies in the media try to cast these groups as neutral third parties when, in fact, they are card-carrying members of the liberal echo chamber.
It’s no wonder that the public has so little faith in the fact-checkers. A 2016 Rasmussen poll found that an astonishing 62% of American voters think the fact-checkers are biased.
More and more, major news outlets are relying on “fact checkers” to, allegedly, ensure that the news is factual, sources are reliable, and statements are accurate.
In theory, this is admirable. In practice, it has proven to be simply another opportunity for the media to push their leftist agenda.
Fact checking groups — such as PolitiFact — routinely cast judgments while failing to disclose their own left-wing bias. Their allies in the media try to cast these groups as neutral third parties when, in fact, they are card-carrying members of the liberal echo chamber.
It’s no wonder that the public has so little faith in the fact-checkers. A 2016 Rasmussen poll found that an astonishing 62% of American voters think the fact-checkers are biased.
$1BILLION /MONTH: INTEREST ON ONTARIO'S DEBT
Toronto Sun: By the time Sousa projects the Liberals will run a balanced budget, in 2024, Ontario’s debt will be $400.2 billion, up from $308 billion the Liberals claim for the 2017 fiscal year, already making them the world’s most indebted sub-sovereign (non-national) government.
The Liberals say paying interest on debt — not a penny of which reduces the debt, or funds public services like health care or education, or finances tax cuts — will cost taxpayers $12 billion this year — $1 billion a month.
The Liberals say paying interest on debt — not a penny of which reduces the debt, or funds public services like health care or education, or finances tax cuts — will cost taxpayers $12 billion this year — $1 billion a month.
PETITION TO END PASSPORT BABIES IN BC
Should foreign mothers be allowed to buy their children citizenship by intentionally giving birth in Canada?
That's the question being asked by a Richmond woman fighting to eliminate birth tourism, backed by hundreds who've signed her petition and by a Liberal MP.
The online petition sponsored by Steveston-Richmond East representative Joe Peschisolido has garnered signatures from across Canada, including nearly 1,000 from B.C. by Wednesday morning.
The call for change was spearheaded by Kerry Starchuk, a community advocate who says the for-profit business of bringing in paying women to have children in Canada a serious issue with a rash of potential unintended and unknown consequences. The petition calls it "abusive and exploitative."
That's the question being asked by a Richmond woman fighting to eliminate birth tourism, backed by hundreds who've signed her petition and by a Liberal MP.
The online petition sponsored by Steveston-Richmond East representative Joe Peschisolido has garnered signatures from across Canada, including nearly 1,000 from B.C. by Wednesday morning.
The call for change was spearheaded by Kerry Starchuk, a community advocate who says the for-profit business of bringing in paying women to have children in Canada a serious issue with a rash of potential unintended and unknown consequences. The petition calls it "abusive and exploitative."
JAGMEET SINGH, THE HYPOCRITE
It’s ironic and hits a whole new level of hypocrisy.
HARD TO BELIEVE THEY DID NOT WANT HIM
Former NDP and Green Party candidate Mario Leclerc announced back in January he was switching parties in order to seek the Liberal nomination for Stormont-Dundas-South Glengarry because, he said, it was impossible for the NDP to win. At the time, a somewhat surprised Liberal riding association welcomed Leclerc’s candidacy, but stressed other candidates were expected to throw their hats into the ring as well.
Three months later, no other candidates have been publicly announced so far, and Leclerc is taking his hat and going home.
When asked if a lack of enthusiasm for his candidacy may have been the result of his being a former NDP candidate, Leclerc said that if that’s the case the Liberal riding association is being short-sighted. Leclerc feels he had a “winning formula” for defeating Conservative incumbent Guy Lauzon.
His NDP background could have brought the progressive vote to the Liberals. He also suggested he would have an easier time getting traditionally conservative voters.
“To be quite honest with you, I’m a white male and this is part of the winning formula,” he said. “Most people know this, but don’t want to bring it up.”
Three months later, no other candidates have been publicly announced so far, and Leclerc is taking his hat and going home.
When asked if a lack of enthusiasm for his candidacy may have been the result of his being a former NDP candidate, Leclerc said that if that’s the case the Liberal riding association is being short-sighted. Leclerc feels he had a “winning formula” for defeating Conservative incumbent Guy Lauzon.
His NDP background could have brought the progressive vote to the Liberals. He also suggested he would have an easier time getting traditionally conservative voters.
“To be quite honest with you, I’m a white male and this is part of the winning formula,” he said. “Most people know this, but don’t want to bring it up.”
THE PRIME MINISTER'S COURAGE
MONTREAL — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau touted his government's commitment to transparency and its tough stance on the wealthy at a high-priced fundraiser Wednesday attended by some of Montreal's elite.
Before beginning his remarks to the roughly 150 Liberal party donors in attendance, Trudeau thanked Stephen Bronfman, a major party fundraiser and well-known businessman and financier.
Tickets to the event were $1,500 per person over 35 years old and $750 for anyone under that age. The room was mostly filled with people over 35.
"I know it can be frustrating," Trudeau told the crowd. "The first thing we did when we got elected is raise taxes on the wealthiest one per cent and lowered them for the middle class."
After Trudeau's remarks, Bronfman took the stage and thanked the prime minister for his "courage."
Before beginning his remarks to the roughly 150 Liberal party donors in attendance, Trudeau thanked Stephen Bronfman, a major party fundraiser and well-known businessman and financier.
Tickets to the event were $1,500 per person over 35 years old and $750 for anyone under that age. The room was mostly filled with people over 35.
"I know it can be frustrating," Trudeau told the crowd. "The first thing we did when we got elected is raise taxes on the wealthiest one per cent and lowered them for the middle class."
After Trudeau's remarks, Bronfman took the stage and thanked the prime minister for his "courage."
Wednesday, March 28, 2018
BURNABY TAKES PIPELINE FIGHT TO SUPREME COURT
CALGARY — Alberta Premier Rachel Notley says a decision by the city of Burnaby, B.C., to take its fight over the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion to the Supreme Court is showboating.
The city has said it will ask the country’s highest court for leave to appeal a lower court ruling last week.
The Federal Court of Appeal dismissed a bid by Burnaby and the B.C. government to challenge a National Energy Board decision that cleared the way for Kinder Morgan to bypass local bylaws during pipeline construction.
The city has said it will ask the country’s highest court for leave to appeal a lower court ruling last week.
The Federal Court of Appeal dismissed a bid by Burnaby and the B.C. government to challenge a National Energy Board decision that cleared the way for Kinder Morgan to bypass local bylaws during pipeline construction.
NOTLEY'S $96BILLION DEBT ENDS HER CREDIBILITY
Calgary Herald: It may still be more than a year away, but Rachel Notley has already lost the next election.
Last week’s provincial budget, with its projected $96-billion debt by 2023, killed whatever credibility the premier has built up — especially within the business community.
Last week’s provincial budget, with its projected $96-billion debt by 2023, killed whatever credibility the premier has built up — especially within the business community.
The private sector — which knows a thing or two about budgets — is widely horrified by the budget presented to Albertans last Thursday.
P!SSING OFF VEGANS IN TORONTO
Michael Hunter, the chef and owner of Antler Kitchen and Bar apparently exasperated at an animal rights protest outside his restaurant, carried what appeared to be a leg of raw venison to the front windows facing the sidewalk. As the protesters watched, he took a knife and began separating the meat from the bone.
As he worked, one of the protesters videoed the scene and gave frantic commentary: “To taunt the activists,” said the man behind the camera in a video posted online and picked up by BlogTO, “he has brought the leg of a recently murdered deer to this dining area.”
As he worked, one of the protesters videoed the scene and gave frantic commentary: “To taunt the activists,” said the man behind the camera in a video posted online and picked up by BlogTO, “he has brought the leg of a recently murdered deer to this dining area.”
ZUCKERBERG FORGETS HIS BBC INTERVIEW
The infamous internet privacy crusader, Edward Snowden posted a 2009 BBC interview of Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg in which he can be heard saying that he would not sell user information to the parties which users don’t want to.
MILLIONAIRE POVERTY PIMPS: SANDERS, WARREN & MOORE
Bernie Sanders, Michael Moore and Elizabeth Warren, three lefty millionaires, got together to solve "income inequality" in a town hall broadcast live from the Capitol visitors center.
Washington D.C., where two out of the three parasites do business, has the worst income inequality in the country. The bottom fifth of Washington D.C. account for just 2% of the city’s income. It has one of the highest poverty rates in the country and the highest food stamp use. And under Obama, the Imperial City of the politicians and the poor was surrounded by some of the wealthiest districts in the country.
If Bernie, Liz and Michael really want to see income inequality, they can take a walk away from the marble and glass edifices of big government to see what big government had wrought. It isn’t any of their usual villains, the corporations and banks, who made Washington D.C. so miserable.
It’s the triumph of socialism.
Washington D.C., where two out of the three parasites do business, has the worst income inequality in the country. The bottom fifth of Washington D.C. account for just 2% of the city’s income. It has one of the highest poverty rates in the country and the highest food stamp use. And under Obama, the Imperial City of the politicians and the poor was surrounded by some of the wealthiest districts in the country.
If Bernie, Liz and Michael really want to see income inequality, they can take a walk away from the marble and glass edifices of big government to see what big government had wrought. It isn’t any of their usual villains, the corporations and banks, who made Washington D.C. so miserable.
It’s the triumph of socialism.
WYNNE'S ORGY OF PROMISED SPENDING
Toronto Sun: Premier Kathleen Wynne believes our votes can be bought — with our money — in the June 7 Ontario election.
Now she’s just negotiating the price.
Her promises include: $2.2 billion for free daycare for children from age 2 1/2 until they enter kindergarten, $2.4 billion to redevelop Sick Kids hospital, part of a $19 billion province-wide hospital capital improvement plan over 10 years an $822 million (4.6%) boost to hospital operating budgets in 2018-19, after years of under-funding.
Now she’s just negotiating the price.
Her promises include: $2.2 billion for free daycare for children from age 2 1/2 until they enter kindergarten, $2.4 billion to redevelop Sick Kids hospital, part of a $19 billion province-wide hospital capital improvement plan over 10 years an $822 million (4.6%) boost to hospital operating budgets in 2018-19, after years of under-funding.
Tuesday, March 27, 2018
GREEN ENERGY IS WYNNE'S MEGA-BLUNDER
Toronto Sun: When it comes to the countless blunders Ontario’s Liberal government has committed on the energy file, its passage of the Green Energy and Green Economy Act in 2009 was its worst blunder of all.
It facilitated the waste of billions of dollars of public money, as documented by two Ontario auditors general.
It denied natural justice to the citizens of rural Ontario, by dictatorially usurping the planning powers of their municipal governments with regard to the location of industrial wind factories and solar farms. SThat turned neighbour against neighbour, as green energy developers quietly signed deals to lease privately-owned lands in rural Ontario for wind factories and solar farms, with the projects then presented to the surrounding community as a fait accompli, in which they had no meaningful say.
It facilitated the waste of billions of dollars of public money, as documented by two Ontario auditors general.
It denied natural justice to the citizens of rural Ontario, by dictatorially usurping the planning powers of their municipal governments with regard to the location of industrial wind factories and solar farms. SThat turned neighbour against neighbour, as green energy developers quietly signed deals to lease privately-owned lands in rural Ontario for wind factories and solar farms, with the projects then presented to the surrounding community as a fait accompli, in which they had no meaningful say.
WYNNE'S DEATHBED CREDIT CARD PROMISE
Toronto Sun: What to make of Kathleen Wynne’s promise to “boost” hospital funding by $822 million or 4.6% to tackle Ontario’s hospital wait time and overcrowding crisis?
Two months before a provincial election vote?
From the same Premier and government that froze Ontario hospital budgets for years – fueling the nursing shortages, bed shortages, overcrowded emergency rooms, cancelled surgeries and declining care responsible for the crisis?
Ontario’s health care system under Wynne has been on life support for years. The patient’s been kept alive but isn’t getting better.
Two months before a provincial election vote?
From the same Premier and government that froze Ontario hospital budgets for years – fueling the nursing shortages, bed shortages, overcrowded emergency rooms, cancelled surgeries and declining care responsible for the crisis?
Ontario’s health care system under Wynne has been on life support for years. The patient’s been kept alive but isn’t getting better.
GOODBYE EMPTY UN BLATHER
Monday’s coordinated Euro-American action against Russia may signal the end of an era: Goodbye, empty UN blather, hello again, coalitions of the willing.
And welcome to John Bolton, President Trump’s soon-to-be national security adviser. Caricatures of his “unilateralism” aside, Bolton is a big proponent of coordinated action among allies, like this week’s bright display of solidarity with Britain.
And welcome to John Bolton, President Trump’s soon-to-be national security adviser. Caricatures of his “unilateralism” aside, Bolton is a big proponent of coordinated action among allies, like this week’s bright display of solidarity with Britain.
IT'S NOT AGAINST THE LAW TO OPPOSE A LAW
NP: If you want to know how the Liberals managed to turn a 20-point lead in the polls into a five-point deficit in little more than a year, a good place to start is their apparently sincere belief that they could blackmail the country’s churches into dropping their opposition to abortion.
The unseriousness that is the distinguishing feature of this government takes many forms — the prime minister’s foppish persona and shallow philosophizing; his habit of announcing sweeping policy changes, without having first thought how to implement them; the casual jettisoning of some of these, where the consequences proved politically bothersome — but among them is a fanatical seriousness on certain issues, a dogmatic insistence on its position, as intense and unyielding as its commitment to others has proved cynical and transitory.
The unseriousness that is the distinguishing feature of this government takes many forms — the prime minister’s foppish persona and shallow philosophizing; his habit of announcing sweeping policy changes, without having first thought how to implement them; the casual jettisoning of some of these, where the consequences proved politically bothersome — but among them is a fanatical seriousness on certain issues, a dogmatic insistence on its position, as intense and unyielding as its commitment to others has proved cynical and transitory.
OBAMA MINIONS, PACK YOUR SH!T
For more than a year now, we have been hearing of Obama-era holdovers still holding jobs in the White House. And not surprisingly, there's been turmoil, with leaks stoking feeding frenzies for the Democratic-operatives-with-bylines known as the press. The latest example of this was in the annoying leak about President Trump refusing to take the advice of these holdovers about not congratulating President Putin for his re-election in Russia. That one not only could have been the work of leftover Obamatons, it could have been the work of #NeverTrump dead-enders or Bush loyalists.
That's why a report from Foreign Policy headlined: "Bolton Expected to 'Clean House'" was so welcome. If this is why Trump is bringing him in, it's good news. I suspect President Trump's previous lieutenants were insufficiently attuned to the need to get rid of these holdovers, whether through thinking them to be competent or imagining that they would behave professionally.
Nope, there has never been a hint from any Democrat in a White House position of being anything but a partisan, whose loyalty points only to other Democrats. It's time for them to go.
That's why a report from Foreign Policy headlined: "Bolton Expected to 'Clean House'" was so welcome. If this is why Trump is bringing him in, it's good news. I suspect President Trump's previous lieutenants were insufficiently attuned to the need to get rid of these holdovers, whether through thinking them to be competent or imagining that they would behave professionally.
Nope, there has never been a hint from any Democrat in a White House position of being anything but a partisan, whose loyalty points only to other Democrats. It's time for them to go.
TRUMP REBUILDS USA MILITARY
After eight long years of Barack Obama decimating the military, President Trump is proudly beginning the process of rebuilding the nation’s armed forces and defense capabilities.
As the president signed the omnibus spending bill Friday that avoided another partial government shutdown and funded the government through the end of the fiscal year Sept. 30, Defense Secretary James Mattis, hailed the measure as “the largest military budget in history, reversing many years of decline and unpredictable funding.”
At the White House Trump explained why such a spending boost was necessary as he reflected on the serious damage that the previous president did to national security and military preparedness.
As the president signed the omnibus spending bill Friday that avoided another partial government shutdown and funded the government through the end of the fiscal year Sept. 30, Defense Secretary James Mattis, hailed the measure as “the largest military budget in history, reversing many years of decline and unpredictable funding.”
At the White House Trump explained why such a spending boost was necessary as he reflected on the serious damage that the previous president did to national security and military preparedness.
FACEBOOK FAVOURS FOR OBAMA
Controversy continues to swirl around how the consulting firm Cambridge Analytica obtained personal data from over 50 million Facebook users without their knowledge and used it to target ads to individuals in an effort to help Donald Trump be elected president in 2016.
But a more serious case of apparent misconduct involves Facebook data going to a different presidential campaign – this time in 2012. In this case, which is getting far less attention, Facebook reportedly voluntarily provided data on millions of its users to the re-election campaign of President Obama.
If true, such action by Facebook may constitute a major violation of federal campaign finance law as an illegal corporate campaign contribution.
According to Carol Davidsen, the former media director for Obama for America, Facebook gave the 2012 Obama campaign direct access to the personal data of Facebook users in violation of its internal rules, making a special exception for the campaign. The Daily Mail, a British newspaper, reported that Davidsen said on Twitter March 18 that Facebook employees came to the campaign office and “were very candid that they allowed us to do things they wouldn’t have allowed someone else to do because they were on our side.”
But a more serious case of apparent misconduct involves Facebook data going to a different presidential campaign – this time in 2012. In this case, which is getting far less attention, Facebook reportedly voluntarily provided data on millions of its users to the re-election campaign of President Obama.
If true, such action by Facebook may constitute a major violation of federal campaign finance law as an illegal corporate campaign contribution.
According to Carol Davidsen, the former media director for Obama for America, Facebook gave the 2012 Obama campaign direct access to the personal data of Facebook users in violation of its internal rules, making a special exception for the campaign. The Daily Mail, a British newspaper, reported that Davidsen said on Twitter March 18 that Facebook employees came to the campaign office and “were very candid that they allowed us to do things they wouldn’t have allowed someone else to do because they were on our side.”
PUTTIN' THE BOOTS TO PUTIN'S DIPLOMATS
WASHINGTON (AP) — From Washington to Warsaw, Western nations banded together Monday to expel more than 100 Russian diplomats they accused of being spies, punishing Moscow for its alleged poisoning of an ex-intelligence officer in Britain.
President Donald Trump, under constant political heat for his reluctance to challenge Russia, ordered 60 of its diplomats out of the U.S. — all of them spies, the White House said. The United States called it the largest expulsion of Russian spies in American history, and also shuttered Russia's consulate in Seattle, deeming it a counterintelligence threat.
All told, at least 21 countries have ousted more than 135 Russians, including 23 kicked out earlier by the U.K.
President Donald Trump, under constant political heat for his reluctance to challenge Russia, ordered 60 of its diplomats out of the U.S. — all of them spies, the White House said. The United States called it the largest expulsion of Russian spies in American history, and also shuttered Russia's consulate in Seattle, deeming it a counterintelligence threat.
All told, at least 21 countries have ousted more than 135 Russians, including 23 kicked out earlier by the U.K.
FCC WANTS CHINESE TECH OUT OF US PHONES, ROUTERS
U.S. officials are discouraging U.S. telephone and internet companies from purchasing Chinese technology that could be used for surveillance, Federal Communications Commissioner Ajit Pai announced Monday.
“Threats to national security posed by certain communications equipment providers are a matter of bipartisan concern,” Pai said. “Hidden ‘back doors’ to our networks in routers, switches — and virtually any other type of telecommunications equipment — can provide an avenue for hostile governments to inject viruses, launch denial-of-service attacks, steal data, and more.”
Pai plans for the FCC to vote next month on a rule that would bar U.S. companies from using a federal subsidy program to purchase equipment from companies entangled with foreign intelligence agencies.
Monday, March 26, 2018
WYNNE SPENDING ONTARIO RICH
Toronto Sun: Premier Kathleen Wynne treats her government’s massive debt as if she’s won the lottery.
To her, runaway debt is a force for good, helping her to treat Ontarians “fairly,” with no economic consequences.But the premier’s belief she can spend Ontario rich is nonsense.
In reality, imposing decades of economic hardship on present and future generations of Ontarians by saddling them with record levels of debt, is the true legacy of 15 years of Liberal rule in Ontario, going back to Dalton McGuinty’s election as premier in 2003.
FTC TO INVESTIGATE FACEBOOK PRIVACY PRACTICES
The Federal Trade Commission has confirmed that it has opened a nonpublic probe into Facebook's privacy practices, saying it's committed to protecting consumers' privacy and data and will hold accountable companies that abuse the FTC guidelines.
In a statement, the FTC said it takes "very seriously" recent press reports raising concerns about the data security at the social media giant
In a statement, the FTC said it takes "very seriously" recent press reports raising concerns about the data security at the social media giant
REFORMING THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM
The federal government is expected to introduce legislation this week to curtail the use of preliminary inquiries in criminal proceedings, as part of an attempt to speed up Canada’s plodding justice system and avoid charges being dismissed because of delays.
The government will also attempt to cut down on the thousands of Canadians each year who clog up the courts over violations of their bail-release conditions, according to a source who was briefed on the proposed changes. In addition, it will seek to reduce the overrepresentation of Indigenous peoples and other racial minorities being denied bail and winding up in custody while awaiting trial, The Globe and Mail has learned.
The long-promised legislation comes in response to a Supreme Court ruling in the summer of 2016, which set new time limits for criminal proceedings. The court said criminal justice suffers from a culture of complacency and delay.
The government will also attempt to cut down on the thousands of Canadians each year who clog up the courts over violations of their bail-release conditions, according to a source who was briefed on the proposed changes. In addition, it will seek to reduce the overrepresentation of Indigenous peoples and other racial minorities being denied bail and winding up in custody while awaiting trial, The Globe and Mail has learned.
The long-promised legislation comes in response to a Supreme Court ruling in the summer of 2016, which set new time limits for criminal proceedings. The court said criminal justice suffers from a culture of complacency and delay.
ONTARIO A-G LYSIK BLOWING LID OFF LIBERAL ACCOUNTING
Ontario’s Office of the Auditor-General said it uncovered irregular and improper accounting during a special audit of the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO), a government body that manages key aspects of Ontario’s electric-power system.
Bonnie Lysyk, the Auditor-General, informed the province’s public accounts committee last week of problems uncovered during the audit, which began late last year and is now nearly complete. Her concerns included incorrect accounting, deceptive and obstructive behaviour by the IESO’s board and management, and poor financial controls. If the improper accounting isn’t corrected, Ms. Lysyk warned, she might issue an adverse opinion on Ontario’s public accounts—the first such opinion on any government’s financial statements in Canadian history.
It’s the latest development in a year-long showdown between the Auditor-General, the IESO and the provincial government over the Fair Hydro Plan, which introduced significant, temporary reductions to Ontarians’ electricity bills. Ms. Lysyk alleged the scheme’s financial and accounting structure was designed to avoid reporting the costs of rate reductions on Ontario’s public accounts, thus allowing the government to falsely claim it had a balanced budget. As of the end of last year, she estimated, Ontario’s deficit would be understated by more than $1.3 billion—an amount that will continue to grow.
Bonnie Lysyk, the Auditor-General, informed the province’s public accounts committee last week of problems uncovered during the audit, which began late last year and is now nearly complete. Her concerns included incorrect accounting, deceptive and obstructive behaviour by the IESO’s board and management, and poor financial controls. If the improper accounting isn’t corrected, Ms. Lysyk warned, she might issue an adverse opinion on Ontario’s public accounts—the first such opinion on any government’s financial statements in Canadian history.
It’s the latest development in a year-long showdown between the Auditor-General, the IESO and the provincial government over the Fair Hydro Plan, which introduced significant, temporary reductions to Ontarians’ electricity bills. Ms. Lysyk alleged the scheme’s financial and accounting structure was designed to avoid reporting the costs of rate reductions on Ontario’s public accounts, thus allowing the government to falsely claim it had a balanced budget. As of the end of last year, she estimated, Ontario’s deficit would be understated by more than $1.3 billion—an amount that will continue to grow.
DUCKING FOR COVER RE LIBERALS' GUN BILL
Hill Times: Liberal MPs from safe rural ridings say they can sell the government’s new gun safety bill to their constituents, while some country Grits who won by slim margins have kept quiet so far about the legislation that two weeks ago scared “the hell” out of the party’s rural caucus.
The NDP will likely support the bill, but the Conservatives have treaded carefully so far in their responses. Only one Conservative MP had spoken out against the bill in the House as of mid-day Friday, the Conservatives didn’t ask any questions about it in Question Period the day it was tabled, and the party’s public safety critic declined to comment on the bill to The Hill Times.
Rural Liberals from competitive ridings still have work to do, however, with one of Canada’s firearm lobby groups promising to attack the weakest 20 ridings they can find over the government’s introduction of bill, and the Conservative Party already running targeted ads against it on Facebook. As expected, opponents of the bill and the Liberals are comparing the bill, C-71, to the long-gun registry established by the Chrétien government that proved extremely unpopular in rural areas of Canada.
The NDP will likely support the bill, but the Conservatives have treaded carefully so far in their responses. Only one Conservative MP had spoken out against the bill in the House as of mid-day Friday, the Conservatives didn’t ask any questions about it in Question Period the day it was tabled, and the party’s public safety critic declined to comment on the bill to The Hill Times.
Rural Liberals from competitive ridings still have work to do, however, with one of Canada’s firearm lobby groups promising to attack the weakest 20 ridings they can find over the government’s introduction of bill, and the Conservative Party already running targeted ads against it on Facebook. As expected, opponents of the bill and the Liberals are comparing the bill, C-71, to the long-gun registry established by the Chrétien government that proved extremely unpopular in rural areas of Canada.
CNN's BIG FAT STORMY NOTHING
After weeks and weeks of relentless hype from the anti-Trump mainstream media, after endless teases about Big Reveals, Sunday night’s 60 Minutes interview with ex-porn star Stormy Daniels ended up being the Al Capone’s vault of anti-Trump news. A big, fat nothing.
When it was convenient to defeat a sitting Republican president in 1992, the media told voters not to care about sex. The media also told us not to care when Clinton had sex with a young intern in the Oval Office just a few rooms away from his wife and daughter.
But now that caring about these things could damage a sitting Republican president, the media demand that we care.
When it was convenient to defeat a sitting Republican president in 1992, the media told voters not to care about sex. The media also told us not to care when Clinton had sex with a young intern in the Oval Office just a few rooms away from his wife and daughter.
But now that caring about these things could damage a sitting Republican president, the media demand that we care.
The problem for the media is this: Americans are not stupid, and the only part of this dumb spectacle we are pointing and laughing at is the spectacle of a disgraced media trying to put toothpaste back into a tube.
Sunday, March 25, 2018
SARKOZY AND THE CLINTONS
When then Secretary-of-State Hillary Clinton spat “We came, we saw, he died,” in the wake of Muammar Gaddafi’s murder, she was not the only psychopath reveling in a bloody victory: Behind her, in the shadows, corrupt leaders like Sarkozy were also cheering.
VOTERS SICK OF CLIMATE CRUSADERS
Solomon, FP: The press once cared about climate change; politicians did, too, whenever it appeared to further their political careers. But the public may never have truly cared, if election results, rather than public opinion polls, are the measure. Canada was a pioneer in proving how little the public cared when, in 2008, Liberal leader Stéphane Dion vowed to introduce a carbon tax if elected prime minister, earning the Liberals’ worst defeat since Confederation. Australia’s Labour Party in 2013 also suffered a crushing defeat when it explicitly made carbon taxes a major campaign issue. Since then, political parties — the Trudeau Liberals included — have prudently downplayed climate-policy costs during their campaigns. There won’t be any downplaying in Trudeau’s next election, though, in 2019, when his carbon taxes will be front and centre.
HE LEFT EMERGENCY WARD & CALLED 911
David Doucette says he would be dead if he hadn't resorted to leaving a Halifax emergency room last July following repeated attempts to be admitted, and then called 911 in a desperate search for medical help.
Only hours after he was returned to hospital by ambulance, the Halifax man was diagnosed with Stage 4 non-Hodgkins lymphoma. There was doubt he would survive the night. His hematologist described him as the sickest patient she's ever seen survive.
Only hours after he was returned to hospital by ambulance, the Halifax man was diagnosed with Stage 4 non-Hodgkins lymphoma. There was doubt he would survive the night. His hematologist described him as the sickest patient she's ever seen survive.
"I guess it wasn't my time yet," said Doucette, 52. "To me, being from here, it's unacceptable. And I'm sure every Nova Scotian would say the same thing."
Political critics and Doctors Nova Scotia have warned repeatedly that some patients could fall through the cracks because of the doctor shortage in Nova Scotia. WYNNE'S ABSURD TAX ON CARBON POLLUTION
Tom Harris:
In its March 19 Speech from the Throne, Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne’s government asserted, “you cannot be serious about lowering emissions and fighting climate change without a price on carbon pollution.”
Nowhere did the speech specify what this supposed pollution actually is. That’s probably because, if it did, millions of Canadians would realize that the Wynne government is wasting billions of dollars trying to control a non-pollutant in the forlorn hope that reducing the province’s minimal contribution to worldwide emissions of this non-pollutant will have a beneficial effect on Earth’s complex and ever-changing climate.
In a March 14 press release, Wynne said that her government is “building a cleaner, low-carbon Ontario.” But carbon is not unclean. Carbon is a solid, naturally occurring, non-toxic element found in all living things. It forms thousands of compounds – far more than any other element. Medicines, trees, oil, natural gas, plastics, paints, food crops, and even our bodies are made of carbon compounds.
In its March 19 Speech from the Throne, Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne’s government asserted, “you cannot be serious about lowering emissions and fighting climate change without a price on carbon pollution.”
Nowhere did the speech specify what this supposed pollution actually is. That’s probably because, if it did, millions of Canadians would realize that the Wynne government is wasting billions of dollars trying to control a non-pollutant in the forlorn hope that reducing the province’s minimal contribution to worldwide emissions of this non-pollutant will have a beneficial effect on Earth’s complex and ever-changing climate.
In a March 14 press release, Wynne said that her government is “building a cleaner, low-carbon Ontario.” But carbon is not unclean. Carbon is a solid, naturally occurring, non-toxic element found in all living things. It forms thousands of compounds – far more than any other element. Medicines, trees, oil, natural gas, plastics, paints, food crops, and even our bodies are made of carbon compounds.
USA CHARGES IRANIAN HACKERS
WASHINGTON—The Trump administration announced criminal charges and sanctions Friday against Iranians accused in a hacking scheme to pilfer sensitive information from hundreds of universities, private companies and American government agencies.
The nine defendants, accused of working at the behest of the Iranian government-tied Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, hacked the computer systems of about 320 universities in the United States and abroad to steal expensive science and engineering research that was then used by the government or sold for profit, prosecutors said.
The hackers also are accused of breaking into the networks of government organizations, such as the Department of Labor, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the United Nations, and private sector entities including technology companies and law and consulting firms.
The Justice Department said the hackers were affiliated with an Iranian company called the Mabna Institute, which prosecutors say contracted with the Iranian government to steal scientific research from other countries. The institute was founded by two of the defendants.
The nine defendants, accused of working at the behest of the Iranian government-tied Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, hacked the computer systems of about 320 universities in the United States and abroad to steal expensive science and engineering research that was then used by the government or sold for profit, prosecutors said.
The hackers also are accused of breaking into the networks of government organizations, such as the Department of Labor, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the United Nations, and private sector entities including technology companies and law and consulting firms.
The Justice Department said the hackers were affiliated with an Iranian company called the Mabna Institute, which prosecutors say contracted with the Iranian government to steal scientific research from other countries. The institute was founded by two of the defendants.
WE'RE SAFE, GOODALE IS ARMED WITH TOUGH QUESTIONS
Amid allegations that the personal data of 50 million Facebook users was improperly accessed as part of a plot to influence voters ahead of the U.S. election, Canada’s Public Safety minister says the social media giant could be more forthcoming with governments when it comes to information about data security.
“They have an enormous number of very serious questions to answer,” Ralph Goodale, whose department oversees cybersecurity threats
Goodale said the issue of cybersecurity will likely feature prominently at the June G7 summit in Charlevoix, Que., and at an October meeting of the Five Eyes intelligence alliance, which consists of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States.
“They will have some very pointed questions,” Goodale said of Canada’s allies.
“They have an enormous number of very serious questions to answer,” Ralph Goodale, whose department oversees cybersecurity threats
Goodale said the issue of cybersecurity will likely feature prominently at the June G7 summit in Charlevoix, Que., and at an October meeting of the Five Eyes intelligence alliance, which consists of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States.
“They will have some very pointed questions,” Goodale said of Canada’s allies.
BC PREMIER IGNORING THE OBVIOUS
Alberta Premier Rachel Notley says if British Columbia wants to keep gasoline prices low it should stop opposing the Kinder Morgan oil pipeline expansion.
B.C. Premier John Horgan said Thursday he would like to see the federal government step in to deal with high gas prices. "I would certainly love to see the federal government take some leadership in this regard," Horgan said in Victoria.
Alberta Opposition United Conservative Party Leader Jason Kenney laughed when asked about Horgan's concerns about high gasoline prices.
"You can't make this stuff up. It's like comedy hour coming out of Victoria. They're trying to shut down their major source of oil. They are increasing their carbon tax while telling ordinary British Columbians they're concerned about high gas prices?" he said.
"I just can't believe how stupid that remark is coming from the premier of British Columbia."
B.C. Premier John Horgan said Thursday he would like to see the federal government step in to deal with high gas prices. "I would certainly love to see the federal government take some leadership in this regard," Horgan said in Victoria.
Alberta Opposition United Conservative Party Leader Jason Kenney laughed when asked about Horgan's concerns about high gasoline prices.
"You can't make this stuff up. It's like comedy hour coming out of Victoria. They're trying to shut down their major source of oil. They are increasing their carbon tax while telling ordinary British Columbians they're concerned about high gas prices?" he said.
"I just can't believe how stupid that remark is coming from the premier of British Columbia."
BLAMING OPIOID EPIDEMIC ON CLIMATE CHANGE
Just in case you thought the climate movement and Penn State University couldn’t sink any lower:
America’s opioid epidemic has dominated the news media in recent years, as drug overdose deaths have escalated, decimating lives and families. And while climate change may not be top of mind in discussions about how to effectively deal with this crisis, it’s a factor that shouldn’t be ignored. Global warming spawns extreme weather, which begets destruction and despair, a dangerous scenario for people looking for a way to numb their emotional pain.
America’s opioid epidemic has dominated the news media in recent years, as drug overdose deaths have escalated, decimating lives and families. And while climate change may not be top of mind in discussions about how to effectively deal with this crisis, it’s a factor that shouldn’t be ignored. Global warming spawns extreme weather, which begets destruction and despair, a dangerous scenario for people looking for a way to numb their emotional pain.
His data, which examined the trends for all U.S. counties over four decades, show an increase in drug-related deaths associated with natural disasters, particularly in rural areas. “Given that, in the United States, climatic disasters dominate disaster declarations and some of them — precipitation, floods, droughts — may become more frequent and intense due to climate change, our results do indicate we may see increased deaths from opioids, all else unchanged,” he said.
Saturday, March 24, 2018
DEAR LEADER
Video of the event clearly shows Trudeau leave his seat, storm across the aisle, grab Brown by his arm, push through the assembled NDP MPs, and in so doing, elbow NDP MP Ruth Ellen Brosseau in the chest.You can see her say, “ouch,” as she recoils in pain.
Several MPs allege that Trudeau said, “get the f–k out of my way,” to the MPs as he plowed through them. Trudeau eventually apologized and the whole sorry mess dissipated amidst the “right” to be killed by your physician — something that was a crime just hours earlier.
A crack in the veneer of Trudeau’s “sunny ways” started to show that day and his top-down, bullying tendencies started to poke through.
Several MPs allege that Trudeau said, “get the f–k out of my way,” to the MPs as he plowed through them. Trudeau eventually apologized and the whole sorry mess dissipated amidst the “right” to be killed by your physician — something that was a crime just hours earlier.
A crack in the veneer of Trudeau’s “sunny ways” started to show that day and his top-down, bullying tendencies started to poke through.
NAFTA NEGOTIATIONS & SUPPLY MANAGEMENT
FP: Lost in the Trump/Trudeau collaboration is any talk of reforming Canada’s supply management system for farm products.
Trudeau is big on defending steel workers, not so hot on Canadian dairy consumers and jobs. Canada is “totally committed” to supply management, Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland said last year, and Ottawa has given no indication that it is willing to change a system that, by design, protects the entire Canadian dairy supply chain from competition and dings consumers with some of the highest dairy prices in the world.
Instead of holding town halls in steel plants to promote Canada’s fight for free trade in steel, Trudeau and his ministers should be out in the farm belts of the nation explaining how opening the dairy industry to trade liberalization would produce major benefits for consumers, the dairy industry and the economy.
The case for ending the current regime has been made many times. Now a new research paper nicely summarizes the basis for a campaign to instruct Canadians on the realities of supply management.
Trudeau is big on defending steel workers, not so hot on Canadian dairy consumers and jobs. Canada is “totally committed” to supply management, Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland said last year, and Ottawa has given no indication that it is willing to change a system that, by design, protects the entire Canadian dairy supply chain from competition and dings consumers with some of the highest dairy prices in the world.
Instead of holding town halls in steel plants to promote Canada’s fight for free trade in steel, Trudeau and his ministers should be out in the farm belts of the nation explaining how opening the dairy industry to trade liberalization would produce major benefits for consumers, the dairy industry and the economy.
The case for ending the current regime has been made many times. Now a new research paper nicely summarizes the basis for a campaign to instruct Canadians on the realities of supply management.
PUNISHED FOR DEFENDING THE RIGHT TO DISSENT
NP: OTTAWA — The NDP has punished one of its MPs for voting his conscience, against party lines, on a motion condemning the Liberal government’s new requirements for Canada Summer Jobs grants.
David Christopherson will no longer serve as deputy chair of the powerful procedure and House affairs committee, a decision made this week, the party confirmed Friday.
Although the party was hesitant to confirm a link, the move appears to be a direct consequence of Christopherson’s decision earlier this week to vote against the rest of his caucus and support a Conservative motion.
The motion protested a new funding prerequisite that groups applying for Canada Summer Jobs grants attest, by checking a box on the application form, that their core mandate respects rights and freedoms, including abortion rights.
David Christopherson will no longer serve as deputy chair of the powerful procedure and House affairs committee, a decision made this week, the party confirmed Friday.
Although the party was hesitant to confirm a link, the move appears to be a direct consequence of Christopherson’s decision earlier this week to vote against the rest of his caucus and support a Conservative motion.
The motion protested a new funding prerequisite that groups applying for Canada Summer Jobs grants attest, by checking a box on the application form, that their core mandate respects rights and freedoms, including abortion rights.
ONLINE PRIVACY DIFFICULT TO PROTECT
FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Anyone tempted to #DeleteFacebook after the personal data of millions of users fell into the hands of a political consultancy is still likely to be monitored by the social network, which tracks nearly 30 percent of global website traffic.
And Google (GOOGL.O), in various guises, shadows 64 percent of all web-browsing worldwide, a recent study (www.ghostery.com/lp/study) of 200,000 German users by Cliqz, using its anti-tracking product Ghostery, said.
A larger study of web trackers by researchers at Princeton University in 2016 produced similar results, with Google Analytics and other Google trackers taking the top five places, followed by Facebook.
And Google (GOOGL.O), in various guises, shadows 64 percent of all web-browsing worldwide, a recent study (www.ghostery.com/lp/study) of 200,000 German users by Cliqz, using its anti-tracking product Ghostery, said.
A larger study of web trackers by researchers at Princeton University in 2016 produced similar results, with Google Analytics and other Google trackers taking the top five places, followed by Facebook.
PUBLICITY HOUND ELIZABETH MAY LOOKING BUSY
BURNABY, B.C. — Green Party Leader Elizabeth May and a New Democrat MP were arrested Friday at a protest against Kinder Morgan’s expansion of the Trans Mountain pipeline in British Columbia.
May and New Democrat MP Kennedy Stewart acknowledged they risked arrest by joining activists at a Trans Mountain pipeline terminal in Burnaby after the B.C. Supreme Court placed limits on where demonstrators could protest.
As she was led away by police, May said the permits issued for the project to proceed did not respect the rights of Indigenous people on their territory.
May and New Democrat MP Kennedy Stewart acknowledged they risked arrest by joining activists at a Trans Mountain pipeline terminal in Burnaby after the B.C. Supreme Court placed limits on where demonstrators could protest.
As she was led away by police, May said the permits issued for the project to proceed did not respect the rights of Indigenous people on their territory.
BAN ON MOST TRANSGENDER SERVICE MEMBERS
WASHINGTON -- With pending lawsuits blocking implementation, the Trump administration released tonight its decision to enshrine in policy a ban on most transgender service members in the military.
"Today, the president rescinded his previous memorandum on transgender service in the military in order to allow Secretary Mattis to implement a new policy developed through extensive study by senior uniformed and civilian leaders, including combat veterans," White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said in a statement this evening. "The experts’ study sets forth a policy to enhance our military’s readiness, lethality, and effectiveness. On the advice of these experts, the secretary of Defense and the secretary of Homeland Security have concluded that the accession or retention of individuals with a history or diagnosis of gender dysphoria — those who may require substantial medical treatment, including through medical drugs or surgery — presents considerable risk to military effectiveness and lethality."
"Today, the president rescinded his previous memorandum on transgender service in the military in order to allow Secretary Mattis to implement a new policy developed through extensive study by senior uniformed and civilian leaders, including combat veterans," White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said in a statement this evening. "The experts’ study sets forth a policy to enhance our military’s readiness, lethality, and effectiveness. On the advice of these experts, the secretary of Defense and the secretary of Homeland Security have concluded that the accession or retention of individuals with a history or diagnosis of gender dysphoria — those who may require substantial medical treatment, including through medical drugs or surgery — presents considerable risk to military effectiveness and lethality."
Friday, March 23, 2018
TRUMP SIGNS 2232 PAGE, $1.3TRILLION OMNIBUS BILL
President Donald Trump signed Congress’s $1.3 trillion omnibus spending bill on Friday afternoon, despite widespread criticism of the legislation from his supporters.
The president described the 2,232-page bill as “ridiculous” but said he felt the need to sign it because of his duty to protect the country.
Trump spoke at length about the bill, specifically pointing out the increases in military spending.
The president stunned Washington on Friday morning, after he raised problems with the bill, threatening to veto the legislation after it did not offer protections for DACA recipients and funding for his long-promised wall.
The president described the 2,232-page bill as “ridiculous” but said he felt the need to sign it because of his duty to protect the country.
Trump spoke at length about the bill, specifically pointing out the increases in military spending.
The president stunned Washington on Friday morning, after he raised problems with the bill, threatening to veto the legislation after it did not offer protections for DACA recipients and funding for his long-promised wall.
CHINA LIKELY TO IMPOSE $BILLIONS MORE IN TARIFFS
This morning the market has been on edge over, and traders are obssessed with just one question: how will China retaliate to Trump's trade war and tariffs... further. After all, the initial response of a modest 15-25% tariff on $3 billion in 128, mostly agricultural, products, seemed laughably small and appeared to be more of a warning shot than a real response to Trump's $50BN in Section 301 tariffs.
One answer was revealed moments ago when as we reported that China’s ambassador to the US Cui Tiankai did not rule out the possibility of scaling back purchases of Treasuries in response to Trump's tariffs.
But the more likely reaction is that China will simply escalate with a "brute force" tit-for-tat retaliation, and as Citi notes, the editor-in-chief of the state-controlled Chinese newspaper Global Times, Hu Xijin, confirmed precisely that when he tweeted: "I learned that Chinese govt is determined to strike back."
One answer was revealed moments ago when as we reported that China’s ambassador to the US Cui Tiankai did not rule out the possibility of scaling back purchases of Treasuries in response to Trump's tariffs.
But the more likely reaction is that China will simply escalate with a "brute force" tit-for-tat retaliation, and as Citi notes, the editor-in-chief of the state-controlled Chinese newspaper Global Times, Hu Xijin, confirmed precisely that when he tweeted: "I learned that Chinese govt is determined to strike back."
SEVERED HANDS WASH UP ON RUSSIAN ISLAND
The sinister discovery is ‘not criminal’ says the Investigative Committee, claiming the limbs were wrongly disposed of by a forensic lab.
The hands, severed at the wrist, were found on an island in the Amur, close to Khabarovsk, some 30 kilometres downstream from the Chinese border.
The hands, severed at the wrist, were found on an island in the Amur, close to Khabarovsk, some 30 kilometres downstream from the Chinese border.
But now the Investigative Committee, which probes serious crimes in Russia, suggests there was nothing abnormal in storing severed hands - only in the way they were disposed of.
It says that ‘these biological items (human hands) do not have a criminal background’ - yet it gave little extra detail.
This appears to allude to a little-known procedure in Russia to cut the hands off unknown corpses as a means of retaining fingerprints if needed after burial.
It says that ‘these biological items (human hands) do not have a criminal background’ - yet it gave little extra detail.
This appears to allude to a little-known procedure in Russia to cut the hands off unknown corpses as a means of retaining fingerprints if needed after burial.
OH NOOOO, NOT MORE CANADIAN CONTENT
Ottawa Sun: Netflix, the popular streaming service, valued at more than $100 billion, has been operating in Canada under circumstances that would be the envy of any company: It is not collecting sales taxes from customers and it is not paying corporate taxes on its Canadian revenue.
As speculation mounted last year about how the government would deal with Netflix, the company announced it would spend $500 million over the next five years on creating new shows in this country.
Netflix and Canadian Heritage Minister Mélanie Joly have both publicly stated there has been no quid pro quo, and that the company has not received a tax exemption.
As speculation mounted last year about how the government would deal with Netflix, the company announced it would spend $500 million over the next five years on creating new shows in this country.
Netflix and Canadian Heritage Minister Mélanie Joly have both publicly stated there has been no quid pro quo, and that the company has not received a tax exemption.
RECYCLING PLANT WOES
Prior to 2018, China bought roughly two-thirds of North America’s recyclable materials, but as of Jan. 1, the country has imposed strict new standards for the quality of paper-based materials it will accept. China has reduced its acceptance of most recycled material to 1/10th of one percent of the tonnage it accepted in the past. The country has also said it will stop accepting plastic containers such as bottles and bags entirely.
OTTAWANS ON THE SUNSHINE LIST
Ontario government published the annual Sunshine List on Friday, revealing the public servants who made $100,000 or more in 2017.
Ottawa residents will recognize familiar names among the local earners. As always, the health bigwigs are among the top.
Ottawa Hospital president Jack Kitts pulled in $630,485 in salary, plus $69,108.37 in taxable benefits.
Ottawa residents will recognize familiar names among the local earners. As always, the health bigwigs are among the top.
Ottawa Hospital president Jack Kitts pulled in $630,485 in salary, plus $69,108.37 in taxable benefits.
CANADIANS DETEST THEIR PREMIERS
NP: Six Canadian premiers have approval ratings lower than Donald Trump, according to a new poll released by the Angus Reid Institute.
The U.S. president, who famously broke records for low approval in his inaugural year, currently has a 40 per cent approval rating. By contrast, at least 50 per cent of Canadian premiers cannot claim approval ratings of more than one third.
The only premiers liked by more than half their constituencies, in fact, were the two rookies. B.C.’s John Horgan and Saskatchewan’s Scott Moe both scored 52 per cent, but both have been in the premier’s chair for less than a year.
The U.S. president, who famously broke records for low approval in his inaugural year, currently has a 40 per cent approval rating. By contrast, at least 50 per cent of Canadian premiers cannot claim approval ratings of more than one third.
The only premiers liked by more than half their constituencies, in fact, were the two rookies. B.C.’s John Horgan and Saskatchewan’s Scott Moe both scored 52 per cent, but both have been in the premier’s chair for less than a year.
Thursday, March 22, 2018
A policy that allows Service Canada officers to conduct surprise inspections and require employers of temporary foreign staff to allow investigators to search their computers, electronic devices and all documents — or risk losing their workers — is causing serious concern within this country’s agriculture industry.
RELATED: "Hello Peoplekind"
RELATED: "Hello Peoplekind"
LIBERALS "LIKE" FACEBOOK
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Liberals used government funds to pay $100,000 to the firm of Facebook data whistleblower Christopher Wylie.
Wylie has been in the news this week after admitting to helping political parties score electoral wins by exploiting the private information of millions of Facebook users.
RELATED: How important was Facebook to the Trudeau team?
Wylie has been in the news this week after admitting to helping political parties score electoral wins by exploiting the private information of millions of Facebook users.
RELATED: How important was Facebook to the Trudeau team?
OH CANNABIS!
Just about went up in smoke. However:
The Liberal government avoided a disastrous result for its marquee marijuana bill Thursday, as the legislation to legalize recreational cannabis passed a key stage in the Senate. It's now headed to five separate committees for further study.
The Liberal government avoided a disastrous result for its marquee marijuana bill Thursday, as the legislation to legalize recreational cannabis passed a key stage in the Senate. It's now headed to five separate committees for further study.
Wednesday, March 21, 2018
NICOLAS SARKOZY ARRESTED
Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy was taken into police custody Tuesday over allegations he illegally accepted 50 million euros ($68.5 million) from the government of the late Libyan leader Moammar Gaddafi to finance his successful 2007 presidential campaign.
NAFTA NEWS
A potential breakthough to an impasse over automobiles has created a new sense of optimism in the NAFTA negotiations, with different players declaring themselves more hopeful of a deal than they have been in some time.
THE SLOW DEATH OF SMALL TOWNS
Its population whittled down to just 700, Mulgrave is battling a long list of ills, among them potholed roads, abandoned houses, empty storefronts, an aging population, an impending school closure and an overall, understandable lack of optimism.
Monday, March 19, 2018
SESSIONS MAKES HIS MOVE
Back in 2011, the indomitable Peter Schweizer published Throw Them All Out, a detailed examination of political corruption as it is actually practiced in the halls of Congress.
In his investigation, Schweizer found one single member of Congress against whom no allegations could be held – who had never taken a dime that was not his, had never cut any backroom deals, had never, simply put, played the game.
That individual was Jeff Sessions.
In his investigation, Schweizer found one single member of Congress against whom no allegations could be held – who had never taken a dime that was not his, had never cut any backroom deals, had never, simply put, played the game.
That individual was Jeff Sessions.
AMAZON DELETES CONSERVATIVE AUTHORS
Amazon frightened many conservative authors this week in a mass deletion of reviews. Some authors lost almost 100 reviews on their published works. Others lost all the reviews they had ever written on Amazon. Some lost both. Information about the purge began to trickle out in the closed Conservative Libertarian Fiction Alliance (CLFA) Facebook group. Member after member began reporting the losses at the same time. Marina Fontaine, whose credits include the dystopian Chasing Freedom, the pro-Trump fiction anthology MAGA 2020, and moderating the CLFA page, reported many members experiencing losses.
Amazon refuses to put an end to speculation that conservatives are being targeted, saying only, "There won't be any additional insight or action we can offer on the matter."
Amazon refuses to put an end to speculation that conservatives are being targeted, saying only, "There won't be any additional insight or action we can offer on the matter."
LIBERAL GUN CONTROL LAWS MAKE RURAL CRIME WORSE
The federal Liberals’ upcoming gun control legislation and the recent spike in rural crime are closely related.
No, I don’t mean that if the Libs can just do something about getting guns under control, they will reduce the rural crime rate, which has risen by more than 20% in many rural parts of the country over the past five years.
Nope. From that aspect, past Liberal gun control measures have actually made rural crime worse.
No, I don’t mean that if the Libs can just do something about getting guns under control, they will reduce the rural crime rate, which has risen by more than 20% in many rural parts of the country over the past five years.
Nope. From that aspect, past Liberal gun control measures have actually made rural crime worse.
DATA THAT FACEBOOK COLLECTS
WASHINGTON — Facebook on Sunday faced a backlash about how it protects user data, as American and British lawmakers demanded that it explain how a political data firm with links to President Trump’s 2016 campaign was able to harvest private information from more than 50 million Facebook profiles without the social network’s alerting users.
Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, a Democratic member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, went so far as to press for Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook’s chief executive, to appear before the panel to explain what the social network knew about the misuse of its data “to target political advertising and manipulate voters.”
The calls for greater scrutiny followed reports on Saturday in The New York Times and The Observer of London that Cambridge Analytica, a political data firm founded by Stephen K. Bannon and Robert Mercer, the wealthy Republican donor, had used the Facebook data to develop methods that it claimed could identify the personalities of individual American voters and influence their behavior. The firm’s so-called psychographic modeling underpinned its work for the Trump campaign in 2016, though many have questioned the effectiveness of its techniques.
But Facebook did not inform users whose data had been harvested. The lack of disclosure could violate laws in Britain and in many American states.
Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, a Democratic member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, went so far as to press for Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook’s chief executive, to appear before the panel to explain what the social network knew about the misuse of its data “to target political advertising and manipulate voters.”
The calls for greater scrutiny followed reports on Saturday in The New York Times and The Observer of London that Cambridge Analytica, a political data firm founded by Stephen K. Bannon and Robert Mercer, the wealthy Republican donor, had used the Facebook data to develop methods that it claimed could identify the personalities of individual American voters and influence their behavior. The firm’s so-called psychographic modeling underpinned its work for the Trump campaign in 2016, though many have questioned the effectiveness of its techniques.
But Facebook did not inform users whose data had been harvested. The lack of disclosure could violate laws in Britain and in many American states.
GERMAN POLITICIAN CALLS FOR NATIONAL BORDER CONTROLS
Germany's populist, anti-immigrant AfD Party placed third in the recent elections, but judging by some recent by the newly-formed German government, they may as well have won.
Last Friday Germany's new Interior Minister Horst Seehofer - a member of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s CSU Bavarian allies who are further to the right than her own Christian Democrats - declared that "Islam does not belong to Germany", contradicting former German president Christian Wulff who fueled a debate over immigration in 2010 by saying "Islam was part of Germany" and also set out hardline immigration policies in his first major interview with Bild published last week.
Over the weekend Seehofer again caused controversy by calling for national border controls, just as the EU wants them to be eased: "the EU was failing to control the external border" Germany's new interior minister said.
"Not that many border points in Germany are permanently occupied," Seehofer told German weekly newspaper Die Welt am Sonntag, adding: "We will now discuss whether that needs to change."
Last Friday Germany's new Interior Minister Horst Seehofer - a member of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s CSU Bavarian allies who are further to the right than her own Christian Democrats - declared that "Islam does not belong to Germany", contradicting former German president Christian Wulff who fueled a debate over immigration in 2010 by saying "Islam was part of Germany" and also set out hardline immigration policies in his first major interview with Bild published last week.
Over the weekend Seehofer again caused controversy by calling for national border controls, just as the EU wants them to be eased: "the EU was failing to control the external border" Germany's new interior minister said.
"Not that many border points in Germany are permanently occupied," Seehofer told German weekly newspaper Die Welt am Sonntag, adding: "We will now discuss whether that needs to change."
Sunday, March 18, 2018
SHOCKER: PUTIN WINS RUSSIA'S ELECTION
How to win an election Vladimir Putin-style: Wrestlers, nuns and 'independent' monitors are caught on video fixing votes and stuffing ballot boxes as Russian strongman is set to rule for another six years.
PROBLEMS WITH COMEY'S INVOLVEMENT WITH HOAX DOSSIER
James Comey took to Twitter on Saturday to respond to an earlier tweet by President Donald Trump about the Russia probe, with the former FBI director exclaiming that the “American people will hear my story very soon.”
“And they can judge for themselves who is honorable and who is not,” Comey added.
Comey was responding to Trump’s charge that the ex-FBI chief was aware of illicit activity at the FBI regarding the probe into unsubstantiated claims of Russian collusion.
Below, in no particular order, are nine major problems with Comey’s actions in the Russia probe. This while he tweets about determining who is “honorable.”
“And they can judge for themselves who is honorable and who is not,” Comey added.
Comey was responding to Trump’s charge that the ex-FBI chief was aware of illicit activity at the FBI regarding the probe into unsubstantiated claims of Russian collusion.
Below, in no particular order, are nine major problems with Comey’s actions in the Russia probe. This while he tweets about determining who is “honorable.”
LEFTIES TEARING DOWN NEW CIA DIRECTOR
While the media was chasing fake feminism, President Trump nominated Gina Haspel as the first female head of the CIA. And instead of celebrating this amazing milestone, the media wasted no time before smearing an accomplished woman who had succeeded in one of the country’s most dangerous fields.
The media’s idea of a feminist heroine is Linda Sarsour. And Sarsour’s idea of feminism was protecting a sexual harasser, praising Saudi Arabia and Farrakhan. That’s also Tamika Mallory’s idea of feminism. Gina Haspel’s idea of feminism was going after the Islamic terrorists looking to realize Sarsour and Farrakhan’s idea of a perfect Islamic society where women and non-Muslims know their place.
Gina Haspel’s nomination sends a message to Islamic terrorists and their domestic collaborators. And it shows that real feminism looks nothing like the Women’s March. It looks like the new head of the CIA.
The media’s idea of a feminist heroine is Linda Sarsour. And Sarsour’s idea of feminism was protecting a sexual harasser, praising Saudi Arabia and Farrakhan. That’s also Tamika Mallory’s idea of feminism. Gina Haspel’s idea of feminism was going after the Islamic terrorists looking to realize Sarsour and Farrakhan’s idea of a perfect Islamic society where women and non-Muslims know their place.
Gina Haspel’s nomination sends a message to Islamic terrorists and their domestic collaborators. And it shows that real feminism looks nothing like the Women’s March. It looks like the new head of the CIA.
CANADIAN TAXPAYERS FUNDING $500MILLION IN GREEN PROGRAMS
Ottawa is offering $500 million to businesses, local governments and advocacy groups for new ideas on how to cut Canada's carbon footprint.
Environment Minister Catherine McKenna says the government's Low Carbon Economy Challenge will dole out the money over the next four years to fund projects aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions, while also saving energy and creating green jobs.
She says the government wants to hear the country's best ideas for reducing carbon pollution, building a more sustainable world and spurring the clean growth economy.
Environment Minister Catherine McKenna says the government's Low Carbon Economy Challenge will dole out the money over the next four years to fund projects aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions, while also saving energy and creating green jobs.
She says the government wants to hear the country's best ideas for reducing carbon pollution, building a more sustainable world and spurring the clean growth economy.
EXPLAINING PEACEKEEPING TO LIBERALS
The Conservative defence critic, James Bezan, is questioning the Trudeau government's decision to send peacekeeping troops to the troubled West African nation of Mali.
Bezan said the Conservatives want to see Canada involved in more peacekeeping, including in Ukraine. But he said it must be in the national interest and in some cases, it may be preferable to fight under Canadian instead of UN command.
"We know that this is incredibly dangerous," Bezan said. "We support our troops and know they are completely capable of doing it. But we are hesitant about putting our troops in harms way under UN command."
"There is concern about how we are going to keep the peace when we have insurgencies, terrorism, failed states and multiple different missions going at the same time and no answers of how this is in Canada's national interest," he said.
Bezan said the Conservatives want to see Canada involved in more peacekeeping, including in Ukraine. But he said it must be in the national interest and in some cases, it may be preferable to fight under Canadian instead of UN command.
"We know that this is incredibly dangerous," Bezan said. "We support our troops and know they are completely capable of doing it. But we are hesitant about putting our troops in harms way under UN command."
"There is concern about how we are going to keep the peace when we have insurgencies, terrorism, failed states and multiple different missions going at the same time and no answers of how this is in Canada's national interest," he said.
MOE SUPPORTS NOTLEY IN PIPELINE BATTLE WITH BC
In early February, B.C. Premier John Horgan proposed restrictions on bitumen shipments that would flow through the expanded pipeline from Alberta to the West Coast. In response, Premier Notley pulled Alberta back from purchasing hydro power and wine from its western neighbour.
The war escalated a few weeks later when Notley floated the idea of cutting oil shipments from Alberta entirely.
Though the issue revolves around the two westernmost provinces, Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe said he'd back Notley if she decided to cut oil supplies to any market.
Though Saskatchewan isn't connected to Kinder Morgan's Trans Mountain pipeline, the delays in getting the $7.4 billion expansion completed are affecting rail shipments of grain and other products in and out of the province because a lot of oil is moving by train, Moe said.
The war escalated a few weeks later when Notley floated the idea of cutting oil shipments from Alberta entirely.
Though the issue revolves around the two westernmost provinces, Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe said he'd back Notley if she decided to cut oil supplies to any market.
Though Saskatchewan isn't connected to Kinder Morgan's Trans Mountain pipeline, the delays in getting the $7.4 billion expansion completed are affecting rail shipments of grain and other products in and out of the province because a lot of oil is moving by train, Moe said.
ELECTION DAY IN RUSSIA - ANY IDEA WHO WILL WIN?
YEKATERINBURG, Russia -- Vladimir Putin's victory in Russia's presidential election Sunday isn't in doubt. The only real question is whether voters will turn out in big enough numbers to hand him a convincing mandate for his fourth term -- and many Russian workers are facing intense pressure to do so.
Polls opened at 8 a.m. Sunday in RMore than 1,500 international observers are joining thousands of Russian observers to watch the vote. The government wants to ensure that this election is clean after ballot stuffing and fraud marred the last Russian presidential election in 2012.
A Russian election monitoring group said Saturday it has registered an "alarming" rise in recent days in complaints that employers are forcing or pressuring workers to vote. Grigory Melkonyants, co-chair of the independent Golos centre said his own group has come under increasing pressure as the election approached, and warned that independent observers may be targeted by some kind of "attack" on voting day. He didn't elaborate.
Polls opened at 8 a.m. Sunday in RMore than 1,500 international observers are joining thousands of Russian observers to watch the vote. The government wants to ensure that this election is clean after ballot stuffing and fraud marred the last Russian presidential election in 2012.
A Russian election monitoring group said Saturday it has registered an "alarming" rise in recent days in complaints that employers are forcing or pressuring workers to vote. Grigory Melkonyants, co-chair of the independent Golos centre said his own group has come under increasing pressure as the election approached, and warned that independent observers may be targeted by some kind of "attack" on voting day. He didn't elaborate.
HORWATH'S UNFUNDED PROMISES GET WYNNE'S APPROVAL
TORONTO – Ontario’s New Democrat leader says her platform will include improved public services, deprivatizing Hydro One and universal benefits for workers.
Andrea Horwath says if it’s elected, the NDP would implement universal pharmacare and dental coverage for workers, stop cuts to health care and convert student loans into grants.In a statement released after Horwath’s announcement, Wynne says she welcomes “many of the ideas brought forward by the NDP.”
TRUMP DID NOT START THE TRADE WAR
Donald Trump is a protectionist, virtually all agree, a menace to the international order whose America First stance threatens to launch trade wars and plunge the world into chaos. As decreed by pundits, economists and other experts throughout the world, a bizarro Trump inhabits “an alternate universe.”
In truth, it is these critics who inhabit an alternate universe. They need to open their eyes and see the world as it really is — dominated by protectionists.
Take automobiles, one of the world’s largest industries. American automakers selling into the European Union face a 10-per-cent tariff, four times that faced by European car makers selling into the U.S. American car makers selling into China face a 25-per-cent tariff. But these high tariff barriers are better, in a way, than the hurdles American automakers face when they sell into Japan, which has no tariff at all yet effectively shuts out U.S. exporters: Toyota sells more cars in a single California dealership than all U.S. automakers sell in Japan.
Instead of tariff barriers, the highly disciplined, uniquely structured Japanese economy employs non-tariff barriers — a host of formal regulations and informal understandings. Korea likewise employs non-tariff barriers, despite (or perhaps, because of) KORUS, the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement. As put last year by American Automotive Policy Council President Matt Blunt, “Clearly, KORUS has had mixed results for America’s automakers and it has failed to live up to expectations.
In truth, it is these critics who inhabit an alternate universe. They need to open their eyes and see the world as it really is — dominated by protectionists.
Take automobiles, one of the world’s largest industries. American automakers selling into the European Union face a 10-per-cent tariff, four times that faced by European car makers selling into the U.S. American car makers selling into China face a 25-per-cent tariff. But these high tariff barriers are better, in a way, than the hurdles American automakers face when they sell into Japan, which has no tariff at all yet effectively shuts out U.S. exporters: Toyota sells more cars in a single California dealership than all U.S. automakers sell in Japan.
Instead of tariff barriers, the highly disciplined, uniquely structured Japanese economy employs non-tariff barriers — a host of formal regulations and informal understandings. Korea likewise employs non-tariff barriers, despite (or perhaps, because of) KORUS, the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement. As put last year by American Automotive Policy Council President Matt Blunt, “Clearly, KORUS has had mixed results for America’s automakers and it has failed to live up to expectations.
Saturday, March 17, 2018
AG SESSIONS GIVES FBI"S MCCABE THE BOOT
Attorney General Jeff Sessions, acting on the recommendation of the FBI’s Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR), fired former FBI Deputy Director Andrew “Andy” McCabe Friday.
By dismissing McCabe – who was set to retire at the end of the month – before Sunday, Sessions may have jeopardized McCabe’s ability to draw a pension. Speculation Sessions might make this move has stirred since the Department of Justice Inspector General’s report, which is yet to be publically disclosed, was reported to have recommend McCabe be fired over his handling of press disclosures during his investigation of the Clinton Foundation. The OPR, upon reviewing the IG’s report, issued a recommendation to fire McCabe.
By dismissing McCabe – who was set to retire at the end of the month – before Sunday, Sessions may have jeopardized McCabe’s ability to draw a pension. Speculation Sessions might make this move has stirred since the Department of Justice Inspector General’s report, which is yet to be publically disclosed, was reported to have recommend McCabe be fired over his handling of press disclosures during his investigation of the Clinton Foundation. The OPR, upon reviewing the IG’s report, issued a recommendation to fire McCabe.
DEMANDING MAXINE WATERS DENOUNCE LEFTIST HATE SPEECH
The head of a coalition of black pastors says Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) and the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) must end their “partisan hypocrisy” and denounce “leftist hate speech” such as that proclaimed by anti-Semite and Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan.
Rep. Waters’ refusal to speak out against Farrakhan and other extremist hate speech is the perfect example of the hypocrisy and moral cowardice of the Congressional Black Caucus,” Owens says. “Rep. Waters lives in a multi-million dollar home, a stark contrast to the poor district she represents. She manipulates African American voters for her own gain. And she’s just one of many black leaders who have sold out our values.”
In the meantime, Democratic policies reduced our inner cities to crumbling, crime-ridden, economic wastelands. And yet, we are supposed to continue on, not questioning the policies or politicians that brought us to this point? African American voters have had enough of the double standards and hypocrisy. There is a great hunger for moral leadership in this country. If the Congressional Black Caucus does not step up to meet that demand, they will find themselves in need of new jobs.
Rep. Waters’ refusal to speak out against Farrakhan and other extremist hate speech is the perfect example of the hypocrisy and moral cowardice of the Congressional Black Caucus,” Owens says. “Rep. Waters lives in a multi-million dollar home, a stark contrast to the poor district she represents. She manipulates African American voters for her own gain. And she’s just one of many black leaders who have sold out our values.”
In the meantime, Democratic policies reduced our inner cities to crumbling, crime-ridden, economic wastelands. And yet, we are supposed to continue on, not questioning the policies or politicians that brought us to this point? African American voters have had enough of the double standards and hypocrisy. There is a great hunger for moral leadership in this country. If the Congressional Black Caucus does not step up to meet that demand, they will find themselves in need of new jobs.
PM BACKS STEEL WORKERS; OIL WORKERS HEAR CRICKETS
Rex Murphy, NP: PM Trudeau tells steel workers he’s “got their backs,” . And good for him! That’s what a prime minister should do for a Canadian industry and the people who work in it.
And it shows in his approach to it. There is to be no “feminist gender analysis” for steel. No talk of upstream and downstream emissions. No national steel tax. No weaning the steel industry off coal. And therefore, at one of Trump’s many flighty musings, the PM undertook a full emergency tour with all the apparatus of his office, attended by national and local press, to assure all he is fighting for steel and its jobs. As said, he’s got their backs.
Does he have the Trans Mountain pipeline and the future of the oil industry’s back? Has the PM he gone to B.C. to state and insist on the national interest in completing the pipeline? Has he confuted the relentless propaganda of its permanent opponents? Has he ever argued with Greenpeace, Sierra Club, had one of his “conversations” with Aboriginal protestors where he made the case for the pipeline? Has he lived up to his deal with Rachel Notley? “No” to all these questions.
Does he have the Trans Mountain pipeline and the future of the oil industry’s back? Has the PM he gone to B.C. to state and insist on the national interest in completing the pipeline? Has he confuted the relentless propaganda of its permanent opponents? Has he ever argued with Greenpeace, Sierra Club, had one of his “conversations” with Aboriginal protestors where he made the case for the pipeline? Has he lived up to his deal with Rachel Notley? “No” to all these questions.
NDP UNPREPARED FOR SIKH INDEPENDENCE CONTROVERSY
STAR: Singh is a federal rookie whose only political experience prior to becoming NDP leader was in opposition at the provincial level. At the time of his first-ballot victory he may have been unaware of the heightened degree of media scrutiny that attends a national leadership position.
But the NDP does not lack for seasoned strategists who would or should have known better. A minimum amount of due diligence in the aftermath of that initial CBC interview would likely have unearthed the time bombs that exploded in the party’s face this week.
To be forewarned is to be prepared. Judging by the scrambling that attended the Globe and Mail revelations that Singh had — in recent years — attended international events that featured speakers who openly advocated advancing the Sikh cause by violence means, the NDP brain trust was as unprepared to manage the issue as it was on the week after he became party leader.
But the NDP does not lack for seasoned strategists who would or should have known better. A minimum amount of due diligence in the aftermath of that initial CBC interview would likely have unearthed the time bombs that exploded in the party’s face this week.
To be forewarned is to be prepared. Judging by the scrambling that attended the Globe and Mail revelations that Singh had — in recent years — attended international events that featured speakers who openly advocated advancing the Sikh cause by violence means, the NDP brain trust was as unprepared to manage the issue as it was on the week after he became party leader.
CAMPUS MOBS: MODERN DAY BOOK BURNERS
Conservative speakers aren’t the only ones at risk of getting shouted down on college campuses.
Last week, Dr. Christina Hoff Sommers, a Democrat and self-described feminist, attempted to give a speech at Lewis &Clark Law School in Portland, Ore. She’s on the left side of the political spectrum but is willing to challenge some of its sacred cows. The pinned tweet on her Twitter profile reads, “Want to close wage gap? Step one: Change your major from feminist dance therapy to electrical engineering. #NationalOffendACollegeStudentDay”
That was too much for some students. Nine student groups called her a “known fascist” and demanded the Federalist Society withdraw her invitation. Protesters interrupted her with songs and chants. Janet Steverson, the law school’s dean of diversity and inclusion, eventually asked Ms. Sommers to cut her remarks short and take student questions. So much for diversity of thought and inclusion.
Last week, Dr. Christina Hoff Sommers, a Democrat and self-described feminist, attempted to give a speech at Lewis &Clark Law School in Portland, Ore. She’s on the left side of the political spectrum but is willing to challenge some of its sacred cows. The pinned tweet on her Twitter profile reads, “Want to close wage gap? Step one: Change your major from feminist dance therapy to electrical engineering. #NationalOffendACollegeStudentDay”
That was too much for some students. Nine student groups called her a “known fascist” and demanded the Federalist Society withdraw her invitation. Protesters interrupted her with songs and chants. Janet Steverson, the law school’s dean of diversity and inclusion, eventually asked Ms. Sommers to cut her remarks short and take student questions. So much for diversity of thought and inclusion.
MASSIVE LAYOFFS OF SHOCKINGLY USELESS MEDIA
We will start with the Denver Post, which announced Thursday that, between April 9 and July 1, 30 jobs will be cut from its newsroom. That is a massive 30 percent cut of its current staff of 100 journalists. Just 10 years ago according to the far-left Washington Post, the Denver Post employed 600 journalists. That is close to a 90 percent reduction in only a decade.
On our cable dials, while Fox News and MSNBC are open about their respective biases and thrive, the far-left CNN is not only collapsing in the ratings but dealing with some massive layoffs of its own. Over the past few years, CNN, which continues its ludicrous pose as an objective news organization, has been in a credibility death spiral, and that is finally starting to take a real tool on the anti-Trump cable channel
Americans are tired of the media lying to them, misleading them, lecturing them… Today, there are plenty of alternative sources of news. No one needs to put up with what is called the MSM anymore.
On our cable dials, while Fox News and MSNBC are open about their respective biases and thrive, the far-left CNN is not only collapsing in the ratings but dealing with some massive layoffs of its own. Over the past few years, CNN, which continues its ludicrous pose as an objective news organization, has been in a credibility death spiral, and that is finally starting to take a real tool on the anti-Trump cable channel
Americans are tired of the media lying to them, misleading them, lecturing them… Today, there are plenty of alternative sources of news. No one needs to put up with what is called the MSM anymore.
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