Updated: ACOA, Privacy, Guite, Gov Hiring, Drugs, Svend's Tears, Aid & Politics, Guatemala

Update 3: ACOA


Leaving no paper trail..................... from Newsbeat1

"Federal officials are under fire for a $132,000 contract signed with an outside consultant that specifies the firm must leave no paper trail in government offices.

The deal Indian and Northern Affairs Canada signed with Ottawa-based Totem Hill Inc. explicitly states that "presentations shall be oral with supporting material provided to aid comprehension but not retained by the department."

The contract from earlier this year ensures there are no documents in office filing cabinets that auditors can later verify and citizens can consult through requests under the Access to Information Act." [. . . . ]

Update 2: Our lack of privacy

What is RFID? -- An overview from CASPIAN's Spychips website Canada Free Press Cover Story

Spychips Wednesday, October 12, 2005

RFID stands for Radio Frequency IDentification, a technology that uses tiny computer chips smaller than a grain of sand to track items at a distance. RFID "spy chips" have been hidden in the packaging of Gillette razor products and in other products you might buy at a local Wal-Mart, Target, or Tesco - and they are already being used to spy on people. [. . . . ]

Let's fight back before big corporations track our every move.

Where are those Gillette razors made?

There are so many good articles on the Canada Free Press website that I can only say "Go".

Also, for an extensive array of news items updated daily, check Jack's Newswatch



Update 1: Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics

Study on the possible merger of the Offices of the Information and Privacy Commissioners

Report of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2005



Privacy for Ordinary Citizens

Editorial: Brother gets bigger -- Do you trust this government enough for this level of loss of privacy? Check the tie-ins already in place, IMHO, between the internet service providers (among other ties such as are already in place with the mainstream media) and the governing scamsters. Then, think some more. Canadians are rapidly losing too much to their government.

Note how often "privacy concerns" protect government and the bureaucracy, but not ordinary citizens. Check articles on Chuck Guite today. We expect our schools to make impartial evaluations of children but we cannot trust our courts to make an impartial evaluation of Mr. Guite's part in the sponsorship scandal? But, then, he was part of government, and thinks he deserves extra protections.

Guite wants first crack at Gomery Report



Brison and Privacy for Government Employees

Bureaucrats disciplined ahead of Gomery report: Brison
By BRUCE CHEADLE

[. . . . ] An official later confirmed four employees at Public Works have been disciplined in connection with the sponsorship program, but cited privacy issues in refusing to say who, when or the form of punishment. [. . . . ]

Gov Hiring

Editorial: End postal-codeism -- end government hiring by postal code location which limits hiring to a particular area(s)



Drugs

The war on drugs cannot be won -- Do we just give up and give in? Still, the writer makes some valid points.

Canadians arrested in Spain

Four Canadians are under arrest. Authorities believe the ring had operations in the Netherlands, France, the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada.

VANCOUVER (CP) - RCMP and U.S. and Spanish police say they have dismantled an international drug trafficking ring that tried to smuggle a tonne of cocaine into Spain.

[. . . . ] When the arrests were made last week police seized highly pure cocaine, high-performance vehicles, computer equipment and cash.

Barbara Kay: The crying game -- on Svend, Boisclair, tears, and public "confession" -- also try to find her article on the GG's installation speech -- both good articles. Search columnists for it.



Aid and Votes -- Pakistan & Guatemala

Don Martin: Politics and what is right -- A11, Liberal empathy motivated by political considerations? I'm a cynic. -- Also, on the same page, see the list "UN disaster appeal"

By the way, Santiago de Atitlan has disappeared in Guatemala; yet, that area is hardly making the radar screen in cries for aid money. No political need for Paul Martin and team to worry about votes in that community in Canada? What has become of Panajachel? Chichicastenango? No damage?

I searched Google for "damage, Guatemala, Panajachel, Chichicastenango". There are several links. I had time to look at only one webpage but it has several photographs of what the area was. Look at other webpages. It was unique, the most engaging area of Central America with the most delightful people, to me.

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