More bricks in the Yellow Brick Road, PM at Empire Club, Minister Scott -- & -- Marriage

Poor depiction of Labrador -- a letter which mentions Labrador's great strategic value May 28, 05, National Post, letter

[. . . . ] What do you not understand? That Labrador is a net contributor to Canada? That Labrador is home to one of the biggest Iron Ore supplies in the world, and without them Hamilton, Ont. and Sept-Iles, Que., would likely cease to exist! Do you not think that matters?

How would the mighty Ontario automotive industry fare without steel?

Do you not understand that Labrador's North Coast is home to the Voisey's Bay nickel development, the treasure trove of the north? It is the biggest and most lucrative nickel deposit there is.

Do you not understand the Churchill Falls electricity that powers half the industry in Quebec and New England and lights the Eastern Seaboard?

Does Minister Andy Scott's deal (in the last few months) with the Innu chief from Labrador begin to make more sense? Look for associated announcements of "progress, initiatives, business--even partnerships" . . . the usual . . . and think why . . . what changed the chief's attitude from fury at the feds to acquiescence by the end of his brief meeting with Scott . . . and a new treaty?

Remember, that it was a Metis chief who just won the seat in Newfoundland Labrador for the Liberals . . . and there have been murmurs about helping the Metis.

Connections along the yellow brick road? Watch for further announcements.


Newfoundland and Labrador: "Nunatsiavut agreement ready for signing" -- "a portion of provincial revenues on future resource developments" or here CP, Jan. 20, 05

You will be delighted to know that that post included: "The group recently received $145,000 from the federal government to pay for day-to-day activities and hire a communications officer." -- sorely needed, particularly by the gas sniffing children and the drug abusers.




Now, think about the really important deals of the last while.

Address by Prime Minister Paul Martin to the Empire Club and Toronto Board of Trade -- after he refused to fund any stay-at-home parent but started another gun registry boondoggle with daycare -- and think of the JOBS! that are going to . . . May 26, 2005, Toronto, Ontario

[. . . . The] emergence of China and India. . . . with our small domestic market and our export capacity, I believe it places within our grasp unprecedented potential.

The second force that will influence Canada can be found in our demographics. . . . . New Canadians will soon supply all the net growth in our labour force – we need to help them adapt more easily to living and working in Canada. Young Aboriginal Canadians now comprise the fastest growing segment within our population – we need to help them share more fully in our national prosperity.

[. . . . ] Reinvesting in Canada means . . . . .

The market for high-quality jobs is increasingly global, and the competition is increasingly intense. We have got to stay ahead of the curve. That is why we’re placing such a high priority on early learning, and that is also why we’re increasing our support for post-secondary education. These are investments in our collective future. [. . . . ]

Well, it's a hoot . . . if you just have the right attitude.

Do not miss this response to the PM's efforts at "globalization", if you have not already seen it.

Jack's Newswatch: Little Things -- the toolbox tour



Is there a job opening in Beijing or was it filled in the 'non-patronage' appointments?

Search: "Cdn Diplomat Bolts Beijing" and "Quebec Inuit seek apology, compensation for slaughter of sled dogs"


Related: Search: "The North, Aboriginal Land Claims and Other Demands, Oil, Pipeline" and "Allowing MP Andy Scott, the Minister handling this land claims debate, to bypass Parliament so as to -- There are various links.




Religious freedom and gay marriage

Re: False Fears About Same-Sex Marriage, letter to the editor, May 24.

[. . . . ] The problem is that he, and many proponents of the Bill C-38, take an overly narrow view of (a) what constitutes freedom of religion, and (b) who should be entitled to have it.

Religious freedom should not be defined in the negative. Religious freedom is not the right to refuse to solemnize same-sex marriage. It should include the right to express religious views. Otherwise, religious leaders will be entitled to have views, but will not be allowed to voice them.

Moreover, contrary to what Paul Martin and the Justice Minister claim, Bill C-38 does not even go so far as to protect religious leaders from being compelled to perform same-sex marriage.

The Supreme Court of Canada's . . . marriage is a provincial matter. . . . impossible for the federal government to guarantee the religious freedom of clergy or of anyone else in this respect. . . . The Supreme Court. . . where a conflict arises between sexual orientation equality rights and religious freedom, religious freedom would be limited.

And why should freedom of religion rest only with our religious leaders? What about ordinary citizens of faith? Already, marriage commissioners in B.C., Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Newfoundland have been forced to resign for their unwillingness to perform same-sex marriage.

Look at Chris Kempling, a B.C. teacher . . . .

Freedom of expression is under fire. If same-sex marriage became law, would someone like Mr. Kempling be entitled to refuse to teach a curriculum that endorsed same-sex marriage? There is a difference between tolerance and being forced to affirm something contrary to one's moral beliefs.

Equating the right not to solemnize same-sex marriage with religious freedom is like claiming that the right to keep your mouth shut is the same as freedom of expression. [. . . . ]

The ideas need to be circulated.

---