Adscam Sponsorship Scandal $$$ Contracts, Refugee: Can Canada Deport Anyone? Port of Vancouver & Security, Sharia for Canada? Global Warming Tax

Update:

One Canadian's Thoughts on AdScam DoubleZero, April 8, 2005

I just finished reading the book 'Hot Money' by R.T. Naylor. This highly informative and detailed book explains how tax revenues are systematically looted by government officials, their business cronies, and banks in Latin America, Europe, Asia, the Caribbean, the United States, and Africa. Canada is barely mentioned in the book, but perhaps in the next edition, it should be. What I read on the Captain's Quarters blog was shocking. You expect this sort of thing from municipal politicians and corporate executives, but not from the federal government. [. . . . ]

Greet the hydrogen economy, end addiction to Mid-East oil

Don't miss this and link to these.

In Reply to: Re: Greet the hydrogen economy, end addiction to Mid-East oil Posted by Richard D. Masters on 13:17:02 2005/04/06

The International Clearinghouse for Hydrogen Based Commerce





Adscam on radio

Captain's Quarters is still following up -- scroll down April 9, 05.

Of COURSE it stopped with Chretien's staff.

Just like it stopped with Haldeman and Ehrlichman.

Check other comments.




'Nasty secret' nothing new ad insiders: Pro-bono work done in exchange for contracts Siri Agrell, National Post, April 09, 2005

[. . . . ] "For decades, the largest advertising agencies in Canada, all based in Toronto, have been giving free services to political parties during an election. If they were lucky enough to support the party that formed the government, they were rewarded with the advertising contracts for large government accounts."

Mr. McKerracher said he spoke out about the practice as early as 1978, during his tenure as president of the institute.

"All that the Quebec agencies have done, in my opinion," he wrote, "is refine the system." [. . . . ]

Quebec pq seeks list of groupaction employees -- Wants to return $100K Kevin Dougherty, CanWest News Service, April 09, 2005

QUEBEC - Stung by accusations it accepted $100,000 in illegal contributions from Groupaction Marketing Inc., the Parti Quebecois announced yesterday it wants to return the money.

PQ vice-president Marie Malavoy has written to Justice John Gomery, asking for the names of shareholders and employees of Groupaction from 1994 onward. [. . . . ]

Search:

Societe des alcools du Quebec (SAQ) liquor monopoly
Jean Charest's 1998 election campaign
Liberal Party of Quebec," said party director-general Robert Parent.
PQ fundraiser Michel Hebert, "Jean Lambert, another Groupaction executive
violated the financing law




Where did all the money go? Andrew Coyne, National Post, April 09, 2005

Thanks to Jean Brault, a great many things have become clearer. It is now clear, for example -- assuming his testimony is to be believed -- that we have been governed for more than a decade by a criminal organization. Or at any rate, by a political party that was willing to use criminal means to sustain itself in power.

Some other points of clarity: [. . . . ]

Search:

not a rogue operation
the contract to promote the gun registry
Chretien-era hangers-on and Gagliano family members
saving the country, Ms. Brouillet




Can Canada Deport Anyone?

His fear of torture seems to take precedence over our security.

"In 1990, he arrived in Canada and was granted refugee status."

Alleged assassin aims to stay here -- Fighting Deportation: Sri Lankan was a hit man for Tamil Tigers, police say Stewart Bell,National Post, April 07, 2005

LINDSAY - Niranjan Claude Fabian does not dispute that he did bad things after coming to Canada as a refugee. He was a member of a violent Tamil gang called the VVT that shot up and terrorized Toronto neighbourhoods.

He was involved in the illicit Canadian passport trade and was convicted of conspiracy and obstruction of justice. And now he is confined to a prison northeast of Toronto while immigration authorities try to deport him to Sri Lanka.

[. . . . ] Fabian, 36, is one of dozens of Sri Lankans whom police and immigration authorities are trying to deport more than three years after they were arrested in a series of raids that aimed to crush the Tamil street gangs emerging in Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and Vancouver. His deportation is being held up by the same question clogging immigration courts across Canada: Can Ottawa deport those who fear torture? [. . . . ]

Port Security Vancouver

Shipping groups troubled by Ottawa's security proposals -- More bottlenecks seen Chris Sorensen, Financial Post, April 06, 2005

[. . . . ] As part of its effort to boost security at major entry points into the country, Transport Canada recently unveiled plans that would involve vetting of all port workers, including extensive criminal record checks of employees and possibly their family members. The proposed measures, similar to the ones used at Canadian airports for more than a decade, are part of a broader initiative aimed at making Canadian ports less vulnerable to terrorists.

[. . . . ] Tom Dufresne, president of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union of Canada, had previously said his members would refuse to comply with the new measures -- even if it meant shutting down the Port of Vancouver, Canada's largest port.

[. . . . ] At present, each port is responsible for its own security. The Port of Vancouver, with a workforce of about 27,000, requires employees in certain designated areas to carry photo identification issued by the port authority.

Shari'a law for Canada?

Triple-pronged Jihad -- Military, Economic and Cultural April 5th, 2005

In a wide ranging interview with Islamic scholar Bat Ye'or comes a frank discussion of Eurabia: what it is, and what it means for Americans. Interview by Alyssa A. Lappen

In her new book, Eurabia: The Euro-Arab Axis, Bat Ye'or takes a sweeping view of history,

Q. Right, but in the U.S. we also have the World Bank, the North American Free Trade Agreement which is going to be expanded to South America, and I presume that will have links to the EU and those things are not followed here, either.

A. We live in a global world, and international organizations develop. Americans should be aware of these developments and be diffident of the United Nations, which is an extremely corrupted organization, which works according to different standards. Here, it must be clearly stated that the Arab Muslim countries, 56 countries, and the Palestinian Authority, which will become a state soon, probably, operate according to Koranic justice, which is not what we consider justice. It is based on the superiority of Islam over non-Muslim countries, it justifies jihad and jihadists' values. Those whom we call terrorists, are called freedom fighters, because fighting against non-Muslims countries is a “just war”. This is why the Palestinians have a “just cause” and conduct a “just war.” The same in Darfur, in Sudan. As long as we have different values, it will be difficult to agree on what is just. For Muslim countries, Sharia rules take precedence over any other rules, especially over man-made rules. They consider Western rules inferior to their God given rules. For this reason, America is right to refuse to participate in the International Court of Justice, which is dominated by Islamic and European nations, both abiding to the Islamic principles of justice [. . . . ]

Global Warming Tax April 08, 2005, Steven Milloy, FoxNews.com

Steven Milloy publishes JunkScience.com and is an adviser to the Free Enterprise Action Fund

Duke Energy, a leading U.S. electricity and gas utility, announced this week its support for a global warming tax (search) — essentially a consumption tax on consumers of gasoline, oil, natural gas and coal. The tax is intended to reduce energy use and resulting emissions of greenhouse gases.

[. . . . ] But science is about data, not humility — and the scientific debate continues to rage over whether humans are adversely affecting global climate. Just a few weeks ago, for example, the Wall Street Journal reported that a key computer model relied on by global warming believers, is seriously flawed, predicting global warming no matter what data are entered into it.

Search:

corporate appeasement tax
global warming hysteria
Kyoto Protocol
carbon dioxide emissions
$100 trillion
the politics of global warming
Chevron-Texaco, Anadarko, Apache, Unocal, Marathon, and Tesoro
withdrew their shareholder resolutions
Fidelity Investments

The Marxist Strikes Back -- & Listen to Giacomo Puccini: Tosca

Giacomo Puccini: Tosca
Metropolitan Opera: Saturday, April 9, 2005

You don’t have to be at The Met to experience The Met! -- links for the 2004–2005 Radio and Television Season

Metropolitan Opera International Radio Broadcast Information Center Station Finder

via District of Columbia, Washington, Listen Live

via Direct CBC.ca URLs for listening to CBC Radio




The Marxist Strikes Back or here Tzvi Kahn, FrontPageMagazine.com and Campus Watch.org, April 7, 2005

Tzvi Kahn is an intern with the Middle East Forum. This was written on behalf of Campus Watch, a project designed to critique and improve Middle East Studies at North American colleges and universities.

[. . . . ] Rarely in LeVine’s work do we see any discussion of Islamic fundamentalism and religious extremism that inspires terrorism. LeVine can’t imagine that Islamic terrorists might attack the West on the basis of precepts derived from religious ideologies. For him, it simply isn’t possible that Islamic fundamentalists oppose not American “imperialism,” but the values of individual rights and freedom that America stands for. Likewise, for LeVine, it isn’t remotely possible that corrupt, dictatorial Arab governments play a greater role in promoting global instability than America and Israel. Four days after 9/11, in fact, LeVine called upon Americans “to engage in the honest introspection of what our role has been in generating the kind of hatred that turns commuter jets into cruise missiles.” For LeVine, Osama bin Laden’s aggression derives not from Islamic ideologies, but from American political dominance and globalization in the Middle East. [. . . . ]

More from the Gomery Commission

Ex-PM's staff named -- GOMERY IS TOLD CHRETIEN AIDES TOOK CASH FOR 1993 ELECTION April 9, 2005, Stephanie Rubec, Senior Political Reporter, Toronto Sun

STAFFERS OF former PM Jean Chretien received secret payments to fund his victorious 1993 Shawinigan election campaign from a Montreal ad firm lobbying for federal contracts, the Gomery inquiry heard yesterday. Former Groupaction Marketing employee Alain Renaud said two years after the election, Chretien's brother Gabriel personally set up meetings for him with a senior PMO staffer and top Liberal officials in a bid to open the floodgates of federal contracts. [. . . . ]

Search: Michel Beliveau, Chretien's then chief of staff Jean Pelletier, Daniel-Yves Durand, a meeting with the PM's then-chief of operations Jean Carle




Money went to Chrétien: adman Brian Daly, CP, April 8, 2005

MONTREAL -- Jean Brault, whose dramatic testimony at the sponsorship inquiry has rocked the country, donated $30,000 to ex-prime minister Jean Chretien's victorious 1993 campaign in the hopes of landing future federal contracts, the inquiry was told Friday.

Former Groupaction employee Alain Renaud testified that a year after the Liberals swept to power in 1993, Brault showed him a $30,000 cheque payable to Michel Fournier, who served as Chretien's chief of staff when he was Opposition leader. [. . . . ]

"Were these cheques for the campaign of the Liberal party or Mr. Chretien's campaign?" Roy asked.

Renaud replied: "Mr. Chretien's campaign."

As the Gomery Commission moves along -- not over by a long shot

Inquiry told PMO involved in sponsorship contracts Apr. 8, 05, CBC News

[. . . . ] Alain Renaud said he was paid handsomely - more than $1 million - to open doors for Groupaction in Ottawa and sniff out government contracts.

[. . . . ] Renaud's testimony is some of the strongest to allege a connection between those close to Chrétien and the sponsorship money. [. . . . ]

Search: Jacques Corriveau, Jean Lambert, Health Canada, a 25 per cent cut




MP Email Addresses

38th Parliament Members of the House of Commons Alphabetical Listing by province -- email addresses

Hansard April 7, 2005 Question Period -- Relentless Questions & Empty Answers

Paul Martin and Stephen Harper attended the Pope's funeral today.

CPAC.ca CPAC is still carrying Gomery Inquiry today.


Note: I have omitted much but this is still lengthy; nevertheless, I wanted you to notice who questioned, the relentlessness and the calibre of the questions on the scandal, the emptiness and repetitiveness of the responses . . . . many words but little substance. Check what Mr. Brison and Ms. McLellan actually say . . . over and over. Lines and emphasis are mine. NJC

Hansard April 7, 2005 Question Period

The third link is the one you want but it may not work. Instead, follow these steps. Just copy and paste if necessary.

Step 1

http://www.parl.gc.ca/common/chamber.asp?Language=E

Step 2

http://www.parl.gc.ca/38/1/parlbus/chambus/house/debates/078_2005-04-07/ques078-E.htm

Hansard April 7, 2005 (1420) to (1505)

http://www.parl.gc.ca/38/1/parlbus/chambus/house/debates/078_2005-04-07/ques078-E.htm

Scroll down for (1420) to (1505).

Sponsorship Program

Mr. Peter MacKay (Central Nova, CPC): Mr. Speaker, now that the publication ban at the Gomery commission has been partially lifted and the stench and the rot of corruption is starting to leak out, I would like to ask the Prime Minister if he is prepared to disclose whether there are senior members of the staff of ministerial offices who have been released or taken a leave of absence as a result of being implicated in the sponsorship scandal, and will he list those names?

Hon. Anne McLellan (Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, first, the Gomery commission was established by the Prime Minister so we could get to the bottom of what happened.

[. . . . ] We want as much testimony as possible on the public record, [. . . . ]

Mr. Peter MacKay (Central Nova, CPC): Mr. Speaker, there is a mountain of evidence that the Liberal government is involved in a criminal conspiracy of the like never seen in this country before.

[. . . . ] The Speaker: [. . . . ] Suggesting that there is some kind of conspiracy going on among any members of the House that is of a criminal nature he knows would be out of order and improper.[. . . . ]

Mr. Peter MacKay: Mr. Speaker, Groupe Everest employees have pointed out that the Prime Minister himself was setting up meetings to end Groupaction's monopoly and divvy up lucrative sponsorship contracts.

The Prime Minister has acted in this way before on behalf of Groupaction. He intervened in 1994 in the national unity fund contract. His office actively campaigned to have Groupe Everest added to the list of advertising agencies.

How can the Prime Minister continue to deny knowledge--

(1420)

[. . . . ] Hon. Anne McLellan . . . . absolutely untrue. . . . unsubstantiated allegations, . . . .

[. . . . ] Mr. Peter MacKay (Central Nova, CPC): Mr. Speaker, that feigned outrage is not cutting it anymore. There is evidence the Prime Minister was involved in spreading the dirty money around.

[Translation]

There are documents from the Quebec chief electoral officer to prove that the Parti Québécois got thousands of dollars from at least seven Groupaction employees, who were apparently reimbursed afterward by their employer.

Can the Prime Minister assure us that none of the money paid out by the sponsorship program went to bankroll the separatists' agenda?

Hon. Scott Brison (Minister of Public Works and Government Services, Lib.): . . . . They are engaging in petty politics.

There is one politician who wants to get to the bottom of all this, our Prime Minister. He appointed Justice Gomery and fully supports what he is doing.

[English]

Mr. Stockwell Day (Okanagan—Coquihalla, CPC): Mr. Speaker, it is very clear now, and we have information, that over the last two years at least seven employees of Groupaction generously donated to the Parti Québécois and some of the money indeed may well have been used and funnelled through the sponsorship fund.

The Prime Minister can tone down the temperature of all of this if we could simply get this assurance, that not one cent of taxpayer money was used to fund the Parti Québecois in its fight to break up our country. Could we just get that assurance?

Hon. Scott Brison . . . . unproven allegations. . . . We will not have the facts until Justice Gomery provides us with his report.

[. . . . ] Prime Minister is committed to getting to the bottom of this issue.

Mr. Stockwell Day (Okanagan—Coquihalla, CPC): Again, no specific response, Mr. Speaker.

[Translation]

Once he was backed into a corner, the Prime Minister promised that the Liberal Party would pay the dirty sponsorship money back to the Canadian taxpayers.

Will the Prime Minister also make a commitment to pay back the sponsorship money that went to finance the Quebec separatists?

Hon. Scott Brison . . . . have made it clear: we want to get to the bottom of this. If . . . .

It is, however, impossible to do anything without all the facts. We must wait for Justice Gomery's report.

Mr. Michel Gauthier (Roberval—Lac-Saint-Jean, BQ): Mr. Speaker, according to the testimony of Jean Brault, between 1995 and 2002, the owner of Groupaction and his businesses paid $2.2 million in tainted money to the Liberal Party, which forms the government.

In light of such serious revelations about the Groupaction connection, I ask the Prime Minister if he intends to return the $2.2 million to its rightful owner.

[. . . . ]

(1425)

Hon. Scott Brison. . . . not appropriate to consider these allegations facts; the truth is what we need. We must wait for Justice Gomery's report.

Mr. Michel Gauthier (Roberval—Lac-Saint-Jean, BQ): Mr. Speaker, let us talk about the real issues. It has been revealed that, in order to get that $2.2 million, the Liberal Party of Canada made use of political contributions, cash, phony invoices, falsified professional fees, the payment of Liberal Party bills, and the hiring of people who never worked for Groupaction but did work for the Liberal Party.

Is the government going to reimburse the $2 million in tainted money?

Hon. Scott Brison. . . . only allegations. . . .

[. . . . ] Hon. Scott Brison (Minister of Public Works and Government Services, Lib.): [. . . . ] if the Bloc wants to take allegations as fact, [. . . . ]wait for Justice Gomery's report. [. . . . ]

Mr. Michel Gauthier (Roberval—Lac-Saint-Jean, BQ): Mr. Speaker, I would like the minister to know that the Bloc is going to clean house in Ottawa.

The system set up by Brault and Corriveau involved the highest circles in the Liberal Party. The PMO awarded contracts and they were funded by the unity reserve. It approved budgets and, the organizers set up a fund-raising system. Reimburse the dirty money. That is what people want.

[. . . . ]

(1430)

[English]

Hon. Anne McLellan (Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, it was the Prime Minister who established the Gomery Commission. It was the Prime Minister who said that we would get to the bottom of this. It is our party that today had our counsel before the Gomery Commission arguing for a lifting of the publication ban. We want the testimony in the public domain. We want to receive Mr. Justice Gomery's report. We want to get to the bottom of this.

[. . . . ] Hon. Jack Layton (Toronto—Danforth, NDP): Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister's pathetic plans and performance should concern all honest federalists in the country. What Canadians are about to see unfold before them through the media is an example of the Liberals treating the public purse as their private piggy bank. It is about to leave the impression that federalism is corrupt.

[. . . . ] Mr. Vic Toews (Provencher, CPC): Mr. Speaker, the evidence is now public. We know that misappropriated sponsorship money funded the Liberal campaigns in 1997 and 2000. Jean Brault said he knew that sponsorship money his company received was to go to the Liberal Party.

Will the Liberal Party and the government commit today that every dollar taken will be returned forthwith?

Hon. Scott Brison (Minister of Public Works and Government Services, Lib.): [. . . . ] If witnesses' testimony, according to the Conservative Party deputy leader and leader, is lies and shams, then why should we not wait until Justice Gomery completes his work so that we can really rely on the facts, the analysis and all the testimony?

[. . . . ] Mr. Vic Toews (Provencher, CPC): Mr. Speaker, Jean Brault flowed sponsorship money through his corporation which landed up in the pockets of the Liberal Party. Jean Brault donated over $1 million to the Liberal Party, all donated under the table. Will this government commit itself to returning every cent today?

Hon. Scott Brison . . . . the fact is that the party has been very clear and the government has been very clear. If partisan funds were received inappropriately, they will be returned to the Canadian taxpayer, but that cannot be done until we have all the facts. What the hon. member is referring to are allegations. They are not facts.

[. . . . ]

(1435)

Ms. Helena Guergis (Simcoe—Grey, CPC): Mr. Speaker, a Liberal supporter admitted publicly that his company, Groupaction, gave thousands of dollars of sponsorship money, tax dollars, to separatists in Quebec. The Prime Minister yesterday agreed that both the Liberals and the separatists received tax dollars.

Canadians want to know which party will this government proceed against first to recover the tax dollars, the Liberals or the separatists?

Hon. Scott Brison (Minister of Public Works and Government Services, Lib.): . . . . If [. . . . ]

Ms. Helena Guergis (Simcoe—Grey, CPC): Mr. Speaker, yesterday we had a disgraceful display of government members applauding reports that Canadian tax dollars went to separatists. It is like giving ammunition to the enemy. So is it not true that the biggest allies to Quebec separatists are the federal Liberals and their twisted sponsorship program?

Hon. Scott Brison (Minister of Public Works and Government Services, Lib.): . . . . we are not afraid of the truth. . . .

[. . . . ]

(1440)

[. . . . ] Mr. Monte Solberg (Medicine Hat, CPC): Mr. Speaker, one of the issues that we are trying to determine is the degree to which contracts were tied to donations back to the Liberal Party. A report that has been moved today says that Benoît Corbeil, the executive director of the party's Quebec wing, once asked for a $400,000 donation and promised that he would get him a $3 million sponsorship contract; this is Jean Brault. The commission Mr. Brault would earn on that contract was to compensate for the donation.

Is the executive director of the Quebec wing of the Liberal Party, Mr. Corbeil, one of these rogue groups of parallel Liberals?

The Speaker: [. . . . ] It does not appear to deal with the recovery of government funding. The hon. member may have a supplementary that is in order, but I do not believe this one is.

Mr. Monte Solberg (Medicine Hat, CPC): Mr. Speaker, this is not just about dirty money going to the Liberal Party or to the Parti Québécois and it is not just about enriching Liberal friends.
When will the government admit that the party that claimed it wanted to address the democratic deficit was using stolen money to undermine democracy in two successive elections?

---

[. . . . ] Government Appointments [Patronage appointments, it seems. NJC]

Mr. Bob Mills (Red Deer, CPC): Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister said he would not tolerate patronage, promotions and appointments based on who one knows in the PMO. He said to let committees review appointments. The environment committee found Mr. Murray unqualified for that patronage job. Parliament yesterday voted 143 to 108 to remove him.

---

[. . . . ] Sponsorship Program

Hon. Bill Blaikie (Elmwood—Transcona, NDP): Mr. Speaker, all this House and all the Canadian people ask of this Liberal government is one ounce of humility, one ounce of collective responsibility, one ounce of realizing that what is at stake here is not just the Liberal Party but the face of federalism in Quebec and across the country.

For the sake of Canada, for the sake of federalism and for the sake of integrity in Canadian politics, will someone get up and accept the collective responsibility for what has gone on and promise to repay the money, put it aside and put it somewhere where we can get access to it when we know what finally happened?

Hon. Scott Brison (Minister of Public Works and Government Services, Lib.): [. . . . ] our Prime Minister, who appointed Justice Gomery and who continues to support Justice Gomery.

[. . . . ] we want the truth.[. . . . ] The Prime Minister stands with Canadians and with Justice Gomery because we look forward to his report.

Hon. Bill Blaikie (Elmwood—Transcona, NDP): Mr. Speaker, I was hoping to get something from the Deputy Prime Minister instead of the clown prince of spin over there. What we want from the Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Minister and the Liberals is one simple act of contrition.

This is the same government that hired an army of lawyers to hold the churches responsible collectively for everything that was done in their name. Yet, as far as they are concerned, it is only individual Liberals who can commit a wrong.

It is not the Bloc that is tarnishing federalism in Canada. It is the Liberal Party. It is about time it took credit for it.

(1450)

Hon. Anne McLellan (Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, as has been said in this House many times before, it was this Prime Minister and this government that created the Gomery commission.

[. . . . ]

---

* * *

Air-India

Mr. Russ Hiebert (South Surrey—White Rock—Cloverdale, CPC): Mr. Speaker, on Monday the Deputy Prime Minister rejected our call for a public inquiry into the Air-India fiasco.

This smokescreen of an advisor is just more stalling. Why can she not make up her own mind? Has she caught a bad case of the dithers from the Prime Minister?

Air-India was the largest terrorist attack in Canadian history. Yet, no one has been brought to justice. Nothing less than a full public inquiry is acceptable. Why is the minister dithering on this critical issue?

Hon. Anne McLellan (Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, on serious matters such as this, I would appreciate it if members of the opposition who ask questions would actually get their facts straight. In fact, Mr. Reyat has been convicted in relation to the Air-India events.

[. . . . ] absolutely clear. I have offered to meet with the families. [. . . . ]

---

* * *

Sponsorship Program

Mr. Brian Pallister (Portage—Lisgar, CPC): Mr. Speaker, during his six days of testimony before the Gomery commission, Jean Brault portrayed his firm, Groupaction, as a virtual financial arm of the Liberal Party's Quebec branch. He spoke about hushed up payments being made to the Liberals in unmarked envelopes, bags of money changing hands.

Let us understand the context. The Prime Minister was the number two man in the country at that time for the Liberal Party. He was the senior minister for Quebec.
Does anyone actually believe he knew nothing about this? Does the government plan to continue to defend the Prime Minister on the basis of his incompetence?

[. . . . ] Hon. Scott Brison (Minister of Public Works and Government Services, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, let us be clear, . . . .

[. . . . ] We will continue to stand up for the taxpayer [. . . . ]

(1455)

Mr. Brian Pallister (Portage—Lisgar, CPC): Mr. Speaker, when the Liberals try to wrap themselves in the flag, they soil it with their presence inside it. This is outrageous. The Liberals have put this country at risk with their ridiculous crazy schemes.

Will the government commit to recovering every single cent of the money, plus interest, to the wall on this issue?

Hon. Scott Brison . . . . government launched action, [. . . . ]

[Translation]

Mr. Gilles Duceppe (Laurier—Sainte-Marie, BQ): Mr. Speaker, in order to pay at least $2.2 million of dirty money to the Liberal Party, Jean Brault says that no stone was left unturned, from political contributions, to cash, fake invoices, phony professional fees, bill payments on behalf of the Liberal Party and the hiring of individuals who never actually worked for Groupaction.

Now that we know what methods were used and how much money was involved in the Groupaction case alone, will the Prime Minister at least order the Liberal Party to contribute $2.2 million to the dirty money trust fund?

[English]

Hon. Scott Brison. . . . allegations, the same types of allegations that say that the Parti Québécois in Quebec similarly received funds inappropriately.

[. . . . ] Until we have the report, we can only deal with allegations. I would think now that there are fingers being pointed at the Parti Québécois that the hon. member would understand that principle.

[Translation]

Mr. Gilles Duceppe (Laurier—Sainte-Marie, BQ): Mr. Speaker, let me say to the minister what his mother probably often said to him when he was not being sensible, “Nonsense”.

In 1998, at the request of a Liberal Party official, Groupaction paid a $24,000 invoice for the production of a video by a close relation of Gagliano for the Liberal Party of Canada.

When will the government ask the Liberal Party to pay back the dirty money obtained by the Liberals through the sponsorships?

[. . . . ] Mr. David Anderson (Cypress Hills—Grasslands, CPC): Mr. Speaker, Jean Brault, the former head of Groupaction Marketing, has testified that the scheme to funnel taxpayers' dollars to the Liberal Party in the 1997 and 2000 federal election campaigns continued until as recently as 2002. He said, “If it wasn't for our contributions to the party, we never would have had such a big piece of the sponsorship pie”.

Will the government now finally admit that this was just a systematic scheme to take taxpayers' money from them and get it back to the Liberal Party?

Hon. Scott Brison (Minister of Public Works and Government Services, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, once again, these are allegations. They are not facts.[. . . . ]

---

[. . . . ] Fisheries

Mr. Randy Kamp (Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge—Mission, CPC): Mr. Speaker, there is more bad news for British Columbia's Fraser River. Last season more than a million sockeye salmon went missing and on Monday it was named B.C.'s most endangered river. The fisheries committee's unanimous report and the Williams report that was just released all conclude that inadequate enforcements and DFO mismanagement are serious problems.

With the fishing season just weeks away, can the minister assure this House that he will accept the recommendations and properly enforce the Fisheries Act and regulations?

(1500)

Hon. Geoff Regan (Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, Lib.): . . . . I launched the post-season review.. . . . I am looking forward to looking at both reports. . . . . as we move toward reform of the salmon fishery.

[. . . . ] National Defence

Mr. Gordon O'Connor (Carleton—Mississippi Mills, CPC): Mr. Speaker, there must be a byelection coming in Labrador because the Minister of National Defence is finally showing some interest in Goose Bay.

In press releases the minister says he is actively promoting flying training with NATO countries. I must ask, where was his government when the Dutch pulled out, and where is it now that the British have pulled out? The answer is nowhere.

Will the minister explain why training and employment under Liberal management continues to decline at Goose Bay?

Hon. Bill Graham (Minister of National Defence, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, . . . . I have intervened with every foreign defence minister in respect of this file. Personally, we have taken this to their air forces.

Sponsorship Scandal: More Smoking Guns, Costs of Kyoto, Oil, CA-India Open Skies, China, South America & More, CRTC, Crack Cocaine

Note:

Sometimes these links are showing as a rusty-wine colour. I don't know why and I have not had time to try to fix it.

Simply run your mouse over and the link will be readily seen.





Greg Weston: Public purse purge -- A TAXPAYER'S WORST NIGHTMARE, GREG WESTON BELIEVES April 8, 2005

(Morselli was also the unfortunate owner of a car that mysteriously blew up in his driveway in 1989, but that's another story.)

This time Brault was coughing up the first of $5,000 in monthly cash payments he had agreed to make to the Liberal Party at Morselli's request.

Search: CHRETIEN KIN, niece

On an instinctive level, didn't you know this all for a long time?


Increasing from $5 billion and it hasn't started yet -- another $2 million gun registry unfolding

Ottawa's Kyoto plan to cost between $8B and $10B Apr. 8, 2005, CBC

OTTAWA - The federal government plans to spend between $8 billion and $10 billion by 2012 to carry out its Kyoto commitments, CBC News has learned.

[. . . . ] Under former prime minister Jean Chrétien's first plan, large industries, including the oil and gas sector, had to cut 55 megatonnes of greenhouse gas emissions by installing new clean-air equipment.

Search: private industry, build east-west, Climate Change Fund, a partnership fund for provinces



Kyoto's outcome in one word -- recession: 'The costs are huge' Paul Vieira, Financial Post, April 08, 2005

OTTAWA - The House of Commons environment committee was warned yesterday the economy could shrink annually by over 5% until the end of the decade if Ottawa insists on meeting the short-term obligations under the Kyoto environmental protocol.
The evidence, tabled by Kyoto critic and climate change expert Ross McKitrick from the University of Guelph, painted a dire economic portrait of what Kyoto means to Canadian households -- and that is, undoubtedly, a recession.

"People would be astonished if they understood what Kyoto entails," said Mr. McKitrick, an economics professor. "The costs are huge."

[. . . . ] Canada is a signatory to the accord, as are Russia and most of the European Union. However, Canada's biggest trading partner, the United States, is not, and neither are the emerging economic powers of China, India and Brazil -- countries Canadian industry will be forced to compete against in the decades to come.

Stephane Dion, the Environment Minister, is scheduled to release the Liberal government's strategy to honour Kyoto next Wednesday -- nearly two months after the environmental accord went into force worldwide.

Search: set aside $5-billion, buy emission credits

Read the details. This is a huge story that is being outshone by the corruption. But then, that has happened with many items of crucial importance to this country -- for years.




Any "Business Network" Connections in this? Any "Partnerships"? any "Technology Partnerships" $$$ ?

Note that anything which includes trade also includes SHIPping. Just musing -- yet.

Or has this government just increased my cynicism?

Canada, India to begin talks on open skies -- Move comes as Ottawa seeks to expand ties Chris Sorensen, Financial Post, April 08, 2005

Canada and India are looking to lift restrictions on air travel between the two countries, a move that comes as Ottawa seeks to expand its economic relationship with one of the world's fastest-growing economies.

Search: an increase in trade and commerce between, Canada's trade with India, an application to Transport Canada and the Greater Toronto Airport Authority, Philippe Sureau, a spokesman for Transat, access to China


The Greater Toronto Airport Authority was privatized a few years ago, wasn't it? There have been complaints from the airline industry that the fees are too high, I believe. If you don't ship by air, you could ship by . . . . ah, cynicism, again. Check the ownership of Transat and where is it based?

Little happens with government that doesn't reveal a web of political connections. Think about what you know already. Making money from Canadian taxpayers is paramount; they do not want care about Canada.

The government has left people who have been following its shenanigans with nothing but cynicism. Is this not sad?





The oil well has no bottom Sherry Cooper, Financial Post, April 08, 2005

Sherry Cooper is global economic strategist and executive vice-president, BMO Financial Group and chief economist of BMO Nesbitt Burns.

Much of the current debate regarding the future of commodity prices, particularly oil, hinges on the continued strength of the developing world. This, itself, is a presumption, and it may not be the sole or even primary determinant.

[. . . . ] To be sure, G7 growth is slowing, and so is emerging market growth. The developing world is growing at twice the pace of the developed world, it represents 87% of the world's population, and it uses twice as much raw material per dollar of GDP than the G7; in the case of oil, usage is roughly three times as much. China is now the largest consumer of cement, iron ore, steel, aluminum, tungsten and coal. It is the second-largest consumer of energy at 12% of the global supply. But developing economies represent only one-fifth of global GDP. The combined industrial production growth of China, India, Brazil and Russia--the four largest developing economies--is slowing and the United States consumes 24% of the world's supply of oil, twice the level of China. So the more the United States slows, so will U.S. consumer demand for Chinese and other foreign imports; the bigger the U.S. slowdown emanating from rising gasoline prices and interest rates, the bigger the slowdown in China and the rest of the world. This is the equilibrating mechanism that the triple-digit oil price crowd plays down. Or, at least, if oil hits triple digits, it will soon be on its way back down to US$30 a barrel. [. . . . ]

China's move on Latin America -- Beijing alliances have U.S. intelligence nervous WorldNetDaily.com

Is it just about raw materials? Is it just about oil? Or is there much more to China's growing interest and alliances in Latin America?

Some U.S. intelligence sources are sure there is much more than meets the eye.
Last November, Chinese President Hu Jintao toured Latin America and completed a number of economic deals. Hu's first stop was Brazil to meet with Fidel Castro acolyte President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva to renew the "strategic partnership," which had been declared during Lula's visit to China earlier last year.

[. . . . ] Deals were struck to assure China's growing need for food was satisfied in part by Brazil's exports of chicken, beef, soy beans. There were also deals for minerals, including more oil.

Search: unfair advantage, second-generation 094 nuclear, Cuba, Iran, Burma, and North Korea, Argentina where another "strategic partnership", Chile where a "free trade" agreement, "Hugo Chavez, a Fidel Castro acolyte", By utilizing stolen, "a gigantic harbor in Gwadar, Pakistan", oil fields of Kazakhstan, through Pakistan





CRTC sets May 12 for Internet phone ruling Kevin Restivo, Financial Post, April 8, 2005

[. . . . ] The CRTC set the May deadline as part of a response to a request by Cogeco Cable Inc., Quebecor Media Inc. and the Canadian Cable Telecommunications Commission that Bell Canada be prevented from offering its Digital Voice Internet phone service in three Quebec cities.

Free samples of crack cocaine handed out near Winnipeg school 08 Apr 2005, CBC News

WINNIPEG - Police in Winnipeg have arrested two men they say were handing out free samples of crack cocaine near a high school.

[. . . . ] Crack is an extremely addictive and relatively cheap form of cocaine.

What has been done about this? Our policing and security have been of somewhat less interest than "saving Quebec from separatism", I suppose. Sentencing? . . .

#2 Bombshell: It's the Corruption, Stupid!

Note:

These links are sometimes showing as a rusty-wine colour. I don't know why and I have not had time to try to fix it.

Simply run your mouse over and the link will be readily seen.



Don't Miss!

Press Display -- it's the corruption, stupid!

These are priceless. Save for posterity!



Don Martin: Canada's Watergate Don Martin, National Post, April 8, 2005

[. . . . ] When Justice John Gomery lifted his own publication ban Thursday on jaw-dropping testimony by Groupaction president Jean Brault, a nightmare of allegations against the federal Liberal party gushed forth into the public domain in a firestorm of ferocity.

[. . . . ] While the tentacles reach high into Jean Chretien's organizational chart, it must be stressed they stop short of touching Paul Martin. That might not matter. This is one heavy albatross Martin will haul into the next election -- and while I'd never underestimate the Ontario voters' ability to forgive the Liberals almost anything, this is going to be harder for Martin to overcome than his 2004 sponsorship mea culpa.

Keep digging; you just don't know yet how HIGH all the corruption will reach--and in more than the Gomery inquiry has revealed--in my humble opinion, of course. NJC




Note: While the first two are available now, I think most of the rest will be available later, so I am including the links and whether it is "subscriber only" content.

Canada's Watergate

Testimony puts Montreal eatery on national map

Adman says he paid Liberals' salaries subscriber only content -- search later
Adman says he paid Liberals' salaries subscriber only content -- search later
Gomery Inquiry
Jean brault star witness takes no prisoners subscriber only content -- search later

Grits accused of 'criminal conspiracy' subscriber only content -- search later
Only John Grisham could make this stuff up subscriber only content -- search later
Liberals 'not a victim of collusion,' Tory MP says subscriber only content -- search later
An incredible gift to the separatist cause subscriber only content -- search later

Former Mulroney aide picked to advise on national security

OTTAWA - A former aide in the Mulroney government was named Canada's new National Security Advisor yesterday. Lawyer William Elliott takes over from Robert Wright as Prime Minister Paul Martin's senior advisor on security issues, a position created in 2003 as part of a series of counter-terrorism reforms. The appointment comes two days after Auditor General Sheila Fraser identified "serious weaknesses" in Canada's defences against terror. [. . . . ]

Let's see, now, which one has the better connections with the ********** "business" network?

Alaska fight takes off -- TransCanada says it can build more quickly, efficiently Claudia Cattaneo and Jon Harding, Financial Post, April 08, 2005

CALGARY - TransCanada Corp. launched a counterattack yesterday against pipeline rival Enbridge Inc. over who gets to build the US$20-billion Alaska gas pipeline.

The company defended its legal rights to build it under the Northern Pipeline Act (NPA), a law passed more than 25 years ago, and ruled out any co-operation with Enbridge, which has proposed a competing project with the support of Alaska natural gas producers.

"We are not a Johnny-come-lately that has just shown up and decided to throw up a proposal for building a pipeline down the Alaska Highway," Hal Kvisle, CEO of TransCanada, said yesterday, breaking the firm's silence in the hotly contested battle. "We have been at this diligently for 25 years. We have invested more than $2-billion."

There are many posts on this site concerning the background to this brouhaha.




Other Items

CRTC sets May 12 for Internet phone ruling Kevin Restivo, Financial Post, April 8, 2005

[. . . . ] The CRTC set the May deadline as part of a response to a request by Cogeco Cable Inc., Quebecor Media Inc. and the Canadian Cable Telecommunications Commission that Bell Canada be prevented from offering its Digital Voice Internet phone service in three Quebec cities.

Search: unfair advantage

Have you noticed the tie-in--whether formal or otherwise, it is there--between the CBC, the Globe and Mail, and Bell tel? Listen for what CBC praises, mentions often . . . you know the drill. Lately, I have begun to hear of Sirius (online radio) as including CBC and partners. Check. I may have misremembered the details but not the free advertising by our taxpayer funded Liberal Propaganda Wing.




Milk and money: It worked for Australia's dairy industry and our wine producers; here's why we should wean dairy farmers off supply management

BOMBSHELL The Fallout from the Gomery Inquiry & Canada's True Heroine: Sheila Fraser

Just go out and buy several newspapers this morning. Save them for your children.

The National Post has a great front page -- simply the word BOMBSHELL followed by the quotation below. The newspapers are filled with information on the corruption. Nothing proven, all alleged as yet, but . . .

BOMBSHELL "There was no doubt in my mind. My understanding was that these amounts were destined for the Liberal Party of Canada." Jean Brault

"We want to get to the bottom of this."

"I am mad as hell that some people did this."
Prime Minister Paul Martin

Vigilance, Sheila-style -- BOB MACDONALD ADMIRES AUDITOR GENERAL'S CRITIQUE OF LIBERALS' SORRY SECURITY RECORD SINCE 9/11 April 7, 2005

THANK GOD for Sheila Fraser. Canada's fearless and highly competent auditor-general proved once more this week that she and her auditors care about a group of oppressed people -- Canadian taxpayers.

Of course, it was Fraser's earlier reports that exposed damning evidence that led to the present AdScam political corruption inquiry. She noted that in the $250-million the federal Liberal regime spent on a propaganda campaign in Quebec, $100 million of it went to Liberal-friendly Quebec ad firms that did little or nothing for the money. [. . . . ]

Search: wrong equipment, airport screeners, chemical, biological or nuclear disasters, magnifying glasses, Pierre Pettigrew, other international criminals, terrorists and foreign intelligence services

Auditor General of Canada Reports


Greg Weston: It's enough to make an Angel cry April 7, 2005

[. . . . ] The biker gang's Toronto chapter is so peeved at the PM that it has adorned its website with a doctored photo of Martin, decked out in a bandanna, over the caption: "Pirate of Canada." [. . . . ]

Secret testimony revealed Tu Thanh Ha, Apr. 7, 05

Search: Benoît Corbeil, Mr. Chrétien, Tony Mignacca, Joseph Morselli, Mr. Carle, Mr. Renaud, Mr. Corriveau, Serge Gosselin, Stéphane Dion, Mr. Corbeil, bonuses, Mr. Boudreault, Ms. Brouillet, Daniel Dezainde, Ms. Gallo, Mr. Roy and Mr. Bisson, Thalie Tremblay, Gaby Chrétien, professional honoraria, the choo-choo man, an envelope of cash on the table, Mr. Wiseman

Montreal — A Montreal ad executive at the heart of the federal sponsorship scandal says Liberal organizers pressed him into secretly donating more than a million dollars to them through various covert methods that included envelopes full of cash, fake invoices and putting phony employees on his payroll.

The devastating testimony Jean Brault gave at the Gomery inquiry had been kept secret until now because of a publication ban so it wouldn't prejudice criminal proceedings against him.

The process was lucrative for Mr. Brault. From 1995 to 2001 the federal government granted his firm $112-million in advertising contracts and $60-million in sponsorship contracts. During that period, he and his wife paid themselves $5.7-million in salary, bonuses and dividends. [. . . . ]

Gee, do you suppose the minister could give this guy citizenship papers before the government is turfed?

Alleged assassin aims to stay here Apr. 8, 05

Read the details on this Tamil Tiger / LTTE gift to Canada.


Competition heats up for Forces planes Apr. 8, 05


Remember the contract that ex-Prime Minister Jean Chretien ripped up -- after promising not to honour it? It had been signed by the previous conservative government but JC showed his power and his contempt. Think of the ancient helicopters while PM JC and PM PM fly the Bombardier Challenger jet. Think of the the fire on the submarine and one dead officer. Think. Think. Think.

Don't allow the corrupt ones to prepare the way and sign another contract for anything -- before you toss them out. Avoid a repetition of the situations where the benefits run to "friends".

Then watch all new MP's like hawks. Monitor all by giving your Auditor General's department, the MP's you send to the House of Commons, and your parliamentary committees real independence to do what is right; then hold them accountable. Support all of them with adequate whistleblower legislation. There is more but that is a start.



Horsemen -- enjoy



National Post's Best Letter This Morning

'House arrest' in Ottawa National Post, April 7, 2005

The Liberals might yet give new meaning to the term "House arrest," . . . . Yet I note that not a single Liberal caucus member has crossed the floor, or even quit the Liberal party to sit as an independent. The Liberals are no more contrite over the sponsorship scandal than they are over their more quotidian misdemeanours; they actually believe this is standard operating procedure for government. That's why they deserve to be on the outside looking in for a decade or two.

Grant A. Brown, Edmonton.

Not ready for a joint a day
Apr. 6, 05, AP

Low doses of the main active ingredient in marijuana slowed the progression of hardening of the arteries in mice, suggesting a hint for developing a new therapy in people.

[. . . . ] The mouse work is presented in Thursday's issue of the journal Nature by Dr. François Mach of Geneva University Hospital in Switzerland and colleagues. [. . . . ]

This is sick! Get the drug dealers behind bars.

B.C. School board says female students trading sex for drugs Apr. 8, 05

I am so tired of drug dealers ruining so many of our children. Teens need parental protection, safe environments and drug dealers behind bars -- squatting like monkeys while teens throw garbage at them. When they tire of it, the rest of us will take over.




U.S. blog website gets a lot of northern hits Apr. 6, 05, Peter Rakobowchuk

"The notion that a grown-up can't make a decision based on what's presented in court because he happened to read about a story in a newspaper two months ago or three weeks ago is silly." [. . . . ]

Blog: Help the people of Lebanon win their independence -- In Beirut
April 7, 2005

Jim Hake and I have arrived in Beirut, Lebanon where we kicked off the project to help the Lebanese people in their fight for independence.

We met one of the opposition leaders for lunch and asked him what, more than anything else, he wants the rest of the world to know. The most important thing, he said, is that the world must not forget about them. The democratic activists are beyond the point of no return. They will fight Syrian occupation and infiltration of their country all the way to the end no matter what happens, whether they are abandoned or not. But nothing will help them more than continued exposure and our continued support.

Mugged by la Réalité -- The unreported race riot in France. From the April 11, 2005 issue, Olivier Guitta, 04/11/2005, Volume 010, Issue 28 -- via Small Dead Animals

FREDERIC ENCEL, PROFESSOR OF international relations at the prestigious Ecole Nationale d'Administration in Paris and a man not known for crying wolf, recently stated that France is becoming a new Lebanon. The implication, far-fetched though it may seem, was that civil upheaval might be no more than a few years off, sparked by growing ethnic and religious polarization. In recent weeks, a series of events has underlined this ominous trend.

[. . . . ] Another attacker explained the violence by saying that "little whites" don't know how to fight and "are afraid because they are cowards." Rachid, an Arab attacker, added that even an Arab can be considered a "little white if he "has a French mindset." The general sentiment was a desire to "take revenge on whites." [. . . . ]

This applies to any search engine, not just Google

Search engine linked to criminal activities John Millar, Special to the Free Press

Internet search engine Google has seen its name attached to a technique used to gather information that may be used for identity theft and other criminal activity. "Google hacking" refers to Internet search-based efforts to gather enough sensitive information about a person or a business to steal the person's identity or gain access to the company's resources.

The name Google hacking is not meant to refer exclusively to use of Google's search engine. Virtually any search engine can be used. [. . . . ]

Web pages will include any data that a government or company has left open on computers configured for public web access. [. . . . ]

If you think Google hacking can't happen to you, here are some recent examples: . . . .

Google incorporates satellite maps into search engine

Google maps: try out Michael Liedtke

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Online search engine leader Google has unveiled a new feature that will enable its users to zoom in on homes and businesses using satellite images, an advance that may raiseprivacy concerns as well as intensify the competitive pressures on its rivals.

The satellite technology, which Google began offering late Monday at http://mapsDOTgoogleDOTcom, is part of the package that the Mountain View-based company acquired when it bought digital map maker Keyhole Corp. for an undisclosed amount nearly six months ago. [. . . . ]

Search: Keyhole






Lawyers targeted for money laundering -- RCMP report Adrian Humphreys, National Post, April 7, 2005

Lawyers are making themselves targets for unrelenting strong-arming and bribery from powerful mobsters and terrorists by insisting they alone be exempt from strict anti-money-laundering regulations, a confidential RCMP report says. [. . . . ]

Search: challenged in court by lawyers' groups



Would you like a mortgage with that wrench?

Retailer pushes deep into financial services -- May offer mortgages Barbara Shecter, Financial Post

Canadian Tire Corp. is making an even bolder move into financial services, testing banking mainstays such as taking deposits and extending mortgages, as part of its $1.75-billion overhaul aimed at boosting profits.

Shoppers are considered good targets for credit, and that relationship -- often spurred by loyalty programs -- could be tapped to offer other financial services, industry players said.

Financial services can be lucrative. Keith Howlett, a retail analyst at Desjardins Securities, recently suggested PC Financial, a partnership between CIBC and grocery retailer Loblaw Cos. Ltd., has become a significant contributor to Loblaw's earnings growth. Bank of Montreal has forged a similar in-store branch partnership with grocer Sobeys Inc. [. . . . ]

Feedback for MP's & China’s Canadian Adventure

Feedback for MP's

To make your concerns and feelings known -- email addresses.

38th Parliament Members of the House of Commons Alphabetical Listing by province -- email



China’s Canadian Adventure Frederick W. Stakelbeck Jr., FrontPageMagazine.com, April 7, 2005

During a Canada-China Business Council dinner held in January, Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin jubilantly exclaimed, “From British Columbia, Canada is the ideal gateway from China to North America. Thanks to 15 years of free trade, and a decade of NAFTA, Canada can provide assured access to a continent [North America] that is largely barrier free.”

[. . . . ] Unfortunately, the recent increase in Chinese immigration to Canada and the adoption of a more open tourism policy are more likely to have an adverse impact on North American security and sovereignty by promoting one of China’s emerging cottage industries – spying and espionage. [. . . . ]

Search: Chinese scientists and students to act as spies, uranium mines and oil reserves, China Minmetals, Inmet Mining Corp. and Teck Cominco Ltd. , Canadian Industry Minister David Emerson , Canadian Auto Workers Union, China’s increasing presence in the Western Hemisphere, the risks, actions designed to disrupt

Below, there are other articles with links, some related.

Is there something you might learn in these particular links?

There must be something in one of these links worth reading. Repeatedly, a few links develop changes, extra code added.

These link changes occur even after I have checked that they are correct. Perhaps I was careless -- but I do not think so on this one. I had even made a point of correcting links and including a note on what to do if it occurs. Yet, I noted today that the same error had occurred AGAIN and I have fixed it AGAIN. The link errors involve these dates on News Junkie Canada: See archives for March 1, March 9, March 28, October 24 all from 2004, not 2005

The added [< / AND br>] error causes the link not to work.

What follows is the pertinent section with links corrected.


#2 Sponsorship Program -- Gomery Inquiry -- Canadian Security -- The Time Has Come When the Frost Hits the Rhubarb

News Junkie Canada, March 28, 2004: Corruption and Cover Up -- What follows will give you an idea of what is included for the link.

Please note that there is a link error within (Background for Global Sunday Program Mentioned Below ); use this link instead -- Several New Excerpts: Ex-PM, Jean Chretien, and His High-Powered Business Associates

Search:

Background for Global Sunday Program Mentioned Below

8. Robert Read Asian Triads: list of articles related to Sidewinder, Cpl. Read, the RCMP, Liberals and Canada's security and 9. 3,500 Chinese spy companies identified in Canada and U.S. -- [8. Robert Read Asian Triads: list of articles related to Sidewinder, Cpl. Read, the RCMP, Liberals and Canada's security]

[Here is information on] Whistleblower Legislation and Qui Tam

1. Whistleblower Protection

2. Whistleblowers, Check out Qui Tam and the Qui Tam Information Center

3. Update: Does the Slush Fund Government Really Want Effective Whistleblower Legislation?

4. Does the Slush Fund Government Really Want Effective Whistleblower Legislation?

There is more here, as well.

Passport of Convenience: Canadian Citizenship and Canadians Who Endorse Terror

The Power Elite: A Cozy Little Network

[. . . . ] Stewart Bell's book, [. . . ] Cold Terror: How Canada Nurtures and Exports Terrorism to the World

[. . . . ] Canada: Insecurity Rules

Whenever you link from some webpage and it doesn't work, you may find that the link has developed an added [< / AND br>]. (Amazing how those things happened, even after I had checked that they were all correct when posted. NJC)

Copy the link and remove the extra [ %3Cbr%20/%3E ] which creates the problem.

Interestingly, just about every time there was a post of extreme importance and interest to Canadians, things happened to the links.

Correct link:

Use this link for News Junkie Canada, March 1, 2003 -- Do not miss: "Note Before You Begin:" -- intended to make skimming easier.


News Junkie Canada, October 24, 2004

Note to help guide you because this is lengthy. Section 5 and Section 6 have much and many links on security.

Here is a note from that page on how to get through it quickly.

Note if you are pressed for time:

* Scroll to the links in "List of sections:" after you read the following suggestions.

* Read Section 1: Hansard Peter MacKay (Pictou—Antigonish—Guysborough, PC) -- Oct. 14, 2004.

* Scroll down to Section 4: Mr. Peter MacKay (Pictou—Antigonish—Guysborough, PC), Apr. 30, 1998 which has comments also.

* Then skim Section 5: Reference material. [Section 5 ]

* Read Section 6 subheadings -- You will get the idea. (Section 6: More security and related material with links for reference) -- [Section 6 ]

* In the excerpts from Hansard, see inserted subheadings, an aid.

Oil & Alternatives, Hybrid Cars, Port Infrastructure, Demanding the Truth, Eternal Values & Rome, Fighting Same Sex Sex?

Welcome to InstaPundit visitors.



Oil Prices, Hybrid Cars

Oil prices too high? Get used to it -- The world will need a new Saudi Arabia every two years Diane Francis, Financial Post, April 7, 2005

Where are oil prices going? Guess whether Saudi Arabia's corrupt regime will last beyond a year. A meltdown there would spark massive, permanent price increases. [. . . . ]

Search: underperform its potential due to corruption, China, speculated a base case price (Note discrepancies in forecasts.), wage and price controls, Ottawa's ruinous National Energy Program, contango, seeds for higher prices have been partially sown by

Combine this with yesterday's Diane Francis column and the future does not look promising for most who won't be able to afford new hybridized or otherwise altered enviro-friendly cars.

But wait a minute, all is not glum -- for a few. A Canadian just happens to have a business connection to China's relatively new hybridized car industry, in the form of a vehicle for sale now--or soon--in North America -- and he is the mentor of our ditherer -- who now is trying to arrange Kyoto so that we pay China for pollution credits -- or something like that -- and then, we will buy enviro-friendly cars to take the 'one tonne challenge', or is it all to enrich what has now become a global network?

Bah! Humbug! "Them what has, gits!", as some of my favourite rednecks say.




Oil and what to do about it

"Washington need only do two things that will keep prices down, protect economic growth, save their auto industry and help solve their trade deficit problem:"

Politics trumps oil prices -- Governments need to act now to protect their economies Diane Francis, Financial Post, April 05, 2005

Politics always trumps oil prices and at a forecasted possible price of US$105 a barrel in a few years, Washington should, and will, impose draconian action by mandating the use of hybrid cars and trucks.

Such hybrids cut fuel consumption in half or less and, if universally used, would keep oil prices at a reasonable level. [. . . . ]

Search: hybrid vehicles only, a floor price

Read her whole article; it makes sense. It is just that I feel that those in the know who get to make the rules on pollution can arrange it so certain companies can make a lot of money out of the pollution solution. Remember the special tax agreements with only a few countries such as Barbados. This favours companies that register their ships abroad, for example.

Can't Canadians develop something from grains or other plants that would run a car? We have to do something but it would be nice to see the local lads make a few bucks.




Greet the hydrogen economy Alastair Gordon, Financial Post, April 04, 2005

Alastair Gordon is president of the Canadian Coalition for Democracies, Toronto

Re: Terence Corcoran, Hydrogen Bomb; Jon Hykawy, Why It Won't Work, March 24.

Terence Corcoran and John Hykawy are correct that hydrogen will be a bust if, as they suggest, it is extracted from natural gas. However, hydrogen offers a future of clean vehicles and greater global security if it is created using nuclear energy.

Small, intrinsically safe Candu reactors could produce an infinite supply of hydrogen through electrolysis, with absolutely no emissions and no depletion of natural gas.

The same reactors could provide the energy for compressing the hydrogen to a density where it would be a viable fuel for vehicles. The whole notion of "efficiency" becomes moot when nuclear energy is used. [. . . . ]

Link for the rest.




Why do I think Canadians are being softened up for more "investment initiatives" in port facilities -- Vancouver? Prince Rupert? -- Think imports from China -- $$$ -- needed to accommodate whose ships?

Maybe I would not be so jaundiced in my view if our PM did not have a shipping company and have business interests in China -- Oh, I almost forgot; his sons own CSL -- no problem -- no business connection at all.

Port of Seattle's ship has come in -- Container traffic spiked 44% in first two months of year John Greenwood, Financial Post, April 05, 2005

VANCOUVER - Helped by investment in infrastructure by importers, the Port of Seattle increased its lead on rival Vancouver this year, posting a whopping 44% hike in container traffic in the first two months.

"It's just been going really strong," said Mick Shultz, a spokesman for the port, who credits the growth to the recent construction of huge warehouses by importers such as Wal-Mart Stores Inc., Target Corp. and Home Depot Inc. that increase the efficiency in the flow of goods.

[. . . . ] The Port of Vancouver handled 265,463, up 8% from last year. For the whole of 2004, Canada's busiest port reported an 11% increase in container traffic, slipping behind Seattle, which chalked up 18% growth.

[. . . . ] both the federal and provincial governments have announced plans aimed at helping it grab a bigger share of that lucrative business.

[. . . . ] Earlier this year, TSI Terminal Systems Inc., which operates two of the biggest container terminals in the port, was forced to reduce by 25% the amount of freight it handled in order to get rid of a massive backlog sitting on its docks. [. . . . ]

......and the Truth as it relates to Canada also

'The Truth' -- A simple demand from the Lebanese and oppressed people everywhere. Claudia Rosett, Apr. 6, 05

. . . along the frontiers of human freedom--which over the past few decades have been edging out dictatorships from Asia to Latin America to Eastern Europe.

[. . . . Lebanon] They are demanding, simply: "The Truth."

It bears noting under despotic regimes anywhere, the most common reason for which democratic dissidents are jailed is simply that they have dared to tell the truth. Tyrants depend on fictions, on the lies that all their subjects support them, that they have a legitimate monopoly on power and that what they do is for the best. When that facade cracks, there is an opportunity for genuine liberation. [. . . . ]

Ah, truth. Therein lies the rub. Just think about the media's treatment of certain groups and their leaders -- in the service of political ends, I think.

Consider the agreements with various native groups in the north signed -- and my goodness, guess what? -- mining/oil/diamonds -- who knows what else is up there for "business"? Monkey business, I predict, and only a few will benefit when, if the natives had transparent, accountable governance, they might reap the benefits -- If they were part of the mainstream, even, bad as its governance seems to be, there is some likelihood of information getting out, eventually.




Rome, Fundamental and Eternal Values

Why Rome Still Matters John Andrews, The Claremont Institute -- For the Study of Statesmanship and Political Philosophy

[. . . . ] Ancient, pagan Rome mattered greatly in the American Founding, of course. Not only to Adams, Madison, and Washington, but to their whole generation, it helped teach the meaning of a republic, of law, of civic virtue. It furnished the political wisdom of Cicero and the soldierly example of Cincinnatus. But the heroic life and brave death of Pope John Paul II should remind us that modern, Christian Rome still matters a lot to Americans today.

These are not easy times for the fundamental ideas that sustain our form of government and way of life. Intellectual elites increasingly dismiss them -- the ideas that immutable truth exists and is knowable to the human mind, that all persons are created equal and endowed with unalienable rights.

By contrast, no institution on earth has proclaimed those ideas longer and more faithfully than the Catholic Church. No regime or throne has defended them more steadily than the Popes from Peter's time till now, especially during this 26-year papacy of John Paul II.

[. . . . ]




The Marriage 'Saviours' -- What is his game? Stan Persky, Jan. 31, 05, TheTyee.ca

Be real. They’re not against same sex marriage. They’re fighting same sex sex.

[. . . . ] But if the opposition to same sex marriage isn’t about protecting the sanctity/purpose/tradition/celestialjoys of marriage, then what is it about?
It’s about, sigh, homosex.

[. . . . ] If there’s not really a marriage argument, is there a homosex argument? I’m not the marrying kind, but I’m the homosex kind, so here I have an interest. So far, I haven’t heard the argument, and I’ve been listening for a long time. The argument, given that we live in the kind of democracy we do, would have to show that homosex causes harm, direct and measurable harm of the sort that leads us to criminalize certain acts. If homosex doesn’t cause harm, democratic logic goes, then gays ought to have the same rights as everybody else, including the right to a marriage license.

Of course, so far, nobody’s been able to show that homosex causes harm or is unnatural or warps the fabric of society, or whatever. All that people are able to show is that some people don’t like it, and think that God thinks it wrong. They’re also able to show that statistically it’s a minority sexual passion. But that’s not good enough for winning an argument in a multi-cultural, democratic society committed to constitutionally protected individual rights. In such societies, you can do what you want as long as you don’t cause direct, measurable harm to others. Everything else is a matter of taste. As for maintaining tradition, a vague final cri de coeur by anti-gay conservatives, we’ve altered lots of traditions, such as not letting women or aboriginal people vote, without the country going to hell in a handbasket. [. . . . ]

His whole article is worth reading. There are arguements concerning disease. Check for the research.

Auditor General Reports, Gomery Inquiry: Ban "mostly lifted", Jean Chretien & Rot, Intelligence Gathering, Bre-X No Fraud Class Action Suit

Auditor General Reports April 2005

April

A Message from the Auditor General of Canada
Chapter 1 — Natural Resources Canada—Governance and Strategic Management
Chapter 2 — National Security in Canada—The 2001 Anti-Terrorism Initiative: Air Transportation Security, Marine Security, and Emergency Preparedness
Chapter 3 — Passport Office—Passport Services
Chapter 4 — National Defence—C4ISR Initiative in Support of Command and Control
Chapter 5 — Rating Selected Departmental Performance Reports
Chapter 6 — Indian and Northern Affairs Canada—Development of Non-Renewable Resources in the Northwest Territories

2005 Status Report

A Message from the Auditor General of Canada
Chapter 1 — Information Technology Security
Chapter 2 — Transport Canada—Overseeing the National Airports System
Chapter 3 — Modernization of Human Resources Management: Managing the Reforms
Chapter 4 — Accountability of Foundations
Chapter 5 — Canadian International Development Agency—Financial Compliance Audits and Managing Contracts and Contributions
Chapter 6 — Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission—Power Reactor Regulation
Chapter 7 — Governance of Crown Corporations
Chapter 8 — Managing Government: Financial Information

Each has a link so you may read the conclusions, at least, or download the .pdf files.




Gomery Inquiry: Ban "mostly" lifted -- whatever that means

CBC will begin the whitewash now? Listen for it; I heard that the Liberal Party took a "small percentage" -- not much in the scheme of things really. Perhaps I misread the tone. Check for more.

Adscam: It's Not Just For Liberals Any More April 06, 2005

The Toronto Sun has developed its own independent sources into the Sponsorship Program scandal, uncovering . . . .

Gomery - Jean Chretien

Government lawyers seek expedited hearing of bias charges made by Chretien Glen McGregor, CanWest News Service, April 05, 2005

Government lawyers will appear in Federal Court this morning to request an expedited hearing of bias charges made by former prime minister Jean Chretien against the judge heading the inquiry into the sponsorship scandal. Under the timetable to be proposed today, the court would hear the allegations against Judge John Gomery in June, before he can write his report [. . . . ]

Before the truth comes out -- of course.



Editorial: The rot runs deep National Post, April 05, 2005

[. . . . ] It is looking more and more as if Adscam was in large part a scheme to funnel money from the federal fisc to elements within the Quebec branch of the Liberal Party. It will be months before we know the size of the payoffs and the identities of all the wrongdoers. Still, it appears that the scheme was of such a magnitude that it necesarily involved dozens of players. As such, it betrays a deep rot that must be purged from our governing party. [. . . . ]

Intelligence Gathering

Proposed panel to oversee intelligence gathering James Gordon, CanWest News Service, April 05, 2005

OTTAWA - The federal government is moving ahead with plans to create a joint parliamentary committee to oversee Canada's intelligence gathering and analysis agencies. Public Safety Minister Anne McLellan tabled a proposal in the House of Commons yesterday that calls for unprecedented oversight by members of Parliament and senators. The proposed nine-member panel, composed of Liberal and opposition parliamentarians, would take an oath of secrecy to protect sensitive information and in turn be given unfettered access to intelligence information. Agencies under scrutiny would include the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), the RCMP, Communications Security Establishment (CSE) and Canada Border Services Agency. Legislation is being developed to implement the complicated project, and a spokesman for Ms. McLellan said there is no set timetable for its completion. [. . . . ]

Don't forget there is no adequate Whistleblowing Legislation in Canada. What if something is discovered and those responsible want to keep it under wraps? This proposal might be positive but, given what we are learning about how this government operates, I am leery. Will it be gerrymandered so as to hide government incompetence and overweaning contempt for Parliament? Remember how it stacks and thwarts Parliamentary committees? Can this government be trusted?



Bre-X fraud

U.S. court again denies Bre-X fraud class action -- 'This should finally be the end of it' Sandra Rubin, Senior Business Writer, Financial Post, April 7, 2005

Note the last paragraph. US or Canada -- it makes a difference.

A U.S. Federal Court judge has again declined to certify the Bre-X Minerals Ltd. fraud as a class action, all but ending the seven-year quest to put the giant Canadian mining scandal before a Texas jury.

The lawsuit naming company insiders as well as BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc., Barrick Gold Corp., SNC Lavalin and J.P. Morgan & Co. Inc. was filed in Texarkana, Tex., in 1998.

[. . . . ] He said class definition remained a stumbling block because the U.S. lawyers leading the suit did not show how they intend to prove where U.S. shareholders had bought their stock. The lawyers were asking the court to assume the stock was purchased on NASDAQ for certification purposes, even though many more shares of Bre-X were actually traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange.

The decision does not seem right for those who lost so much. To pursue this as individuals is prohibitively expensive. Money triumphs again.