Canada: Celebrating What we Love & Protect

Today we celebrate being Canadian -- or what is left of it.

May you have a happy day surrounded by those you love, along with lashings of great food and drink. For me, today is very special -- a day of reminiscences and thoughts of what has value.



Precious



Flutter by



To protect it all, meet Cat -- who refuses to say whether the gun is registered, on the grounds that this information is protected by the privacy act. Cat learned that watching CPAC.

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Mugesera: "Refugee", & Video, Iraqis Mex. Border, Political Bloggers, Media & Frankfurt School Philos. Notes

Note: I have added new posts below. Also, to supplement the information on Mugesera, Rwandan "refugee", see the following.

Film: Hotel Rwanda

Book: Shake Hands with the Devil: a Failure of Humanity in Rwanda by Romeo Dallaire




Of course Mugesera wants to stay in Canada. Why has he been able to stay here so long? Do not miss the video which gives some suggestions as to how that may have occurred.

Mugesera wants to be tried in Canada -- To avoid deportation to Rwanda -- "Leon Mugesera who allegedly used the rhetoric of violence and aggression to rally his fellow Hutus into slaughtering the Tutsi minority in Rwanda" Martin Ouellet, National Post / CP, June 30, 05

The video: 'The spokesman of hatred' -- "Mugesera fled Rwanda for Canada in November 1992 and obtained permanent-resident status in 1993" broadcast Jan. 22, 2001 via National Post

'The spokesman of hatred' - Fleeing Justice: War Criminals in ...
Reporter Carol Off explores how Mugesera came to Canada and why he is still ... They also concluded that Mugesera's speech, heard in this CBC Television ...

Search / listen for mention of:

the National University of Rwanda , linguistics , founded in the 1960's by Canadian priests from Laval Univeristy , 800,000 people killed in 100 days , Ed Broadbent , lawyer William (Shabes? Chavez?) , incited a massacre , immigratin hearing , priest, Georges Henri Levesque , government of Lester Pearson , jewel in our foreign aid crown , ties , bursaries to study at Laval , political activists , important contacts , Allain Landry Assistant Deputy Minister of Citizenship (It is worth listening to all the sections involving him and the other Rwandans in Canada sections.) , lawyer Guy Bertrand , speech he gave in November 1992 (Mugesera) , Nyabarongo River , corpses were floating down



Public interest group gives Shapiro 30 days to investigate his own office or resign




Would this mean that CSL could have work done in Canada, not in China?

Shipbuilding subsidies target

The federal government is joining OECD-sponsored trade talks regarding shipbuilding, with the goal of curbing state-sponsored subsidies. Such a result would help enhance the competitiveness of the Canadian shipbuilding sector [. . . . ]

2 Iraqis held trying to cross Mexico border Jerry Seper, Washington Times, June 30, 2005

Mexican authorities said investigators were told the Iraqis had been advised by an unidentified person in Baghdad that he could arrange for them to be smuggled across the U.S. border once they got to Mexico.

Search: "the international street gang Mara Salvatrucha, also known as MS-13"

What reputation do you think Canada's "refugee" system has? Her border and ports? Her overall security? Remember, RCMP are being pulled back from the border in several places. Re-deployed, I believe, is the term Deputy PM McLellan uses for this.




Ink-Stained Retches

Today's unanticipated factoid: among the people increasingly "less trusting of the professional behavior" of journalists are . . . journalists! A survey of professional journalists by Euro RSCG Magnet, a PR and marketing outfit, and Columbia University, found that "45 percent of journalists are less trusting of the professional behavior of their own colleagues -- up from 34 percent in 2003."

Follow a link to Best Political Blogs: DC Journalists Pick Their Favorites

Captain's Quarters, InstaPundit, PowerLine, Little Green Footballs, Free Republic . . . and more.


"The Frankfurt School is not a place but a school of thought, a group of similar theories that focus on the same topic. The thought of the Frankfurt school is a dialogue, that resulted after Karl Marx added his proverbial "two cents" to the ongoing conversation of philosophy."

and Important Philosophical Notes -- worth reading

The following notes are meant to clue you in on what has been discussed before you entered the "conversation." The Frankfurt school based it theories on the work of Karl Marx, who in turn relied heavily on Hegel’s dialectic. Hegel was responding to Immanuel Kant;who was trying to straighten out those darn Metaphysicians; who thought they were Neo-Platonist, but that’s going back too far, so we’ll just start with Hegel.

This is clear, not abstruse, as is usually the case with philosophical / explanatory discussion.

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Nuclear Fusion Reactor, France, Canada, AECL, G-8 Summit

Does this mean Canada's AECL is not involved -- after the last very advantageous-to-China deal?

France chosen as site for a nuclear fusion project -- "Nuclear Energy Center of Cadarache near Aix-en-Provence, southern France" AP, Moscow, Jun 29, 2005, Page 6

[. . . . ] The project is funded by a consortium comprised of Japan, the US, South Korea, Russia, China and the EU, but the six parties had been divided over where to put the test reactor.

[. . . . ] Japan, the US and South Korea wanted the facility built at Rokkasho in northern Japan. Russia, China and the EU wanted it at Cadarache, in southern France.

Related links: Frost Hits the Rhubarb, June 14, 05 -- search AECL

http://frosthitstherhubarb.blogspot.com/2005_06_12_frosthitstherhubarb_archive.html

China shuts out AECL on $5-billion reactors -- Second major loss this year for company; Chrétien had lobbied hard to make deal Simon Tuck, June 13, 05

The sale is believed to be worth about $5-billion, one of the industry's biggest deals in years. The contract now appears to be headed to one of three other foreign bidders, all of whom offer pressurized-water technology as opposed to Candu's heavy-water version, which relies on natural uranium. [. . . . ]

Is ZENON involved? See yesterday's post which mentions ZENON and "ZeeWeed Tertiary Treatment".



G8 being 'hijacked': Concern grows that Live 8's Africa agenda is overtaking bigger economic hazards

There is growing unease in financial circles next week's G8 summit will be hijacked by the Africa agenda and fail to properly address the biggest threats facing the world economy, including global spending and saving imbalances and surging oil prices. [. . . . ]

China and Unocal -- Remember when the Japanese bought Rockefeller Center? by Irwin M. Stelzer, 06/27/2005

Irwin M. Stelzer is director of economic policy studies at the Hudson Institute, a columnist for the Sunday Times (London), a contributing editor to The Weekly Standard, and a contributing writer to The Daily Standard.

. . . . Once again, politicians and policy wonks are up in arms about a foreign takeover of an American company, in this case the attempted acquisition of Unocal by China's National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC). . . . "It's déja vu all over again," to borrow from the Yankee sage, Yogi Berra.

That might just be dangerously wrong. The current Chinese takeover movement is different from the earlier buying spree by Japanese companies. Japan was not a rival for influence in Asia, or in the world; China is. Japan was not a major competitor for scarce resources such as oil; China is. Japanese companies were privately owned; China's acquirers are state-run entities. [. . . . ]

The Shanghai challenge Washington Times, Ariel Cohen, June 30, 2005

Ariel Cohen is senior research fellow at the Heritage Foundation and editor of "Eurasia in Balance," Ashgate, 2005

The leaders of China, Russia and five Central Asian states meet July 5 in Kazakhstan for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit. They will be joined by the leaders of India, Pakistan and Iran, the SCO observer members.

The SCO, established in June 2001 by China and Russia, ostensibly to fight terrorism in Central Asia, has thus far refused to allow U.S. participation as an observer. Instead, Iran, China and Russia are interested in creating a geopolitical counterweight to the United States.

However, important U.S. interests are at stake in Eurasia's heartland. These are support for U.S. presence in Afghanistan, neutralizing the growing Islamist influence in Central Asia, and prevention of a Russian-Chinese-Iranian "condominium" there. [. . . . ]

Search: Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan , Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan



China's two-pronged offensive By Michael A Weinstein

[. . . . ] Following the acquisition in May of IBM's personal computer business by China's Lenovo Group, the bid for Maytag by Haier America Trading - the US arm of appliance giant Haier - and the move to acquire Unocal by China National Offshore Oil Company (CNOOC) mark a new stage in Beijing's export-driven strategy of economic development that is geared to make China an "all-round" great power with state-of-the-art industries in all strategic sectors over the next 20 years.

The test of the JL-2 missile, which has a 6,000 mile (9,656 kilometer) range, advances toward Beijing's aim of enhancing China's military capabilities in order to make the country the dominant power in East and Southeast Asia, gradually eroding US influence. [. . . . ]

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Passport Boondoggle? Drugs, Money Laundering, Frum-PM & More

ALLEGATIONS OF PASSPORT BOONDOGGLE -- “The allegations are serious enough to our national security that I decided to turn over all documentation to the Auditor General for verification” 24 June 2005

Security Breaches . . . .
Improper Hiring . . . .
Misinformation Given to Standing Committee on Public Accounts . . . .
Whistleblower Wrongly Suspended . . . .

Drugs & Money Laundering -- Check the graphics. Check the change in drug consumption, the move toward . . . well, check these out. We should be concerned.

World Drug Report Vol. 1

Vol. 2: statistics

World Drug Report Executive Summary




Money Laundering: The washing machine

In explosive excerpts from his new book, Nick Kochan [The Washing Machine: How Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Soils Us, by Nick Kochan, Texere, £19.95] digs the dirt on how an army of criminals has broken into the world's financial system, and investigates the Square Mile's growing addiction to criminal cash

Sunday June 5, 2005
http://www.observer.co.uk/
The Observer

Money laundered through the world's financial system has now reached stratospheric levels, trillions rather than billions. Fresh figures from the International Monetary Fund put it at the $2 trillion mark. But when you include the cost of fighting money laundering, the number reaches $2.5 trillion. That is approaching 10 per cent of global GDP, according to the IMF.

These numbers indicate the amount of global crime where there is a financial component. That includes everything from tax evasion and very basic fiddles to money made from computer-game counterfeiting, people-smuggling and drug-dealing. [. . . . ]

CAFTA's Covert Opponent: China by John J. Tkacik, Jr. WebMemo #778, Heritage Foundation, June 28, 05

In the Multi Fiber Arrangement world of quota-free trade in yarns, fabrics, and finished textiles, the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) represents a direct threat to China’s growing power—indeed, its near-monopoly—in world textile production. If passed, CAFTA would enhance the competitiveness of Central American factories that pay higher wages than China and predominantly use U.S. cotton. But if CAFTA fails, U.S. cotton exports to Central America will come to an end, while U.S. imports of Chinese textiles—with little or no U.S. content—soar. [. . . . ]

Canada's unhappy birthday David Frum, June 28, 2005, National Post

[. . . . ] The Canadian federal government created by the British North America Act has evolved into the least representative and least accountable national government in the advanced democratic world.

Unlike the presidents of France and the United States, Canada's chief executive is not elected by the people at large.

Unlike the prime ministers of [. . . . ]

There is so much more -- excellent.

Search: cabinet , senior civil service , the Charter , private property , free speech and the free press , secrecy , disaster

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Oh, Canada!

Even Reuters knows which side the Globe is on

Congratulate yourself. You are part of the most diverse, tolerant and open-minded place on earth. And yesterday proved the thesis once again," wrote John Ibbitson, columnist for the Globe and Mail newspaper, which traditionally backs the ruling Liberal party.

Innovation -- Aboriginal Literacy Programs -- Learning Aboriginal Languages -- Inuktitut in Paris?

Update 1: There was an error in the link below. Here is the corrected link.

Captain's Quarters, April 10, 2005



Innovation Policy Briefing

Innovation - Policy Briefing PDF, Industry Minister David Emerson on Canada's future innovation economy, the Hill Times, March 2005

See article: "Notable statistics, budgets on Canada’s innovation economy" and search:

ACOA , NRC’s technology based clusters in Atlantic Canada , Canadian Space Agency , "Funding for Technology Partnerships Canada, the government’s main vehicle to help companies commercialize new technologies" , Canada Foundation for Innovation and the Canada Research Chairs , "International Polar Year (IPY), set to take place in 2007-2008"



Aboriginal Literacy Programs -- Learning Aboriginal Languages -- Inuktitut in Paris?

The NWT Literacy Council

MULTIPLE LITERACIES -- Improving our support for Aboriginal literacy in the NWT

This is not too lengthy and worth reading. All emphasis is mine.

Table of Contents
PART I INTRODUCTION TO THE PROJECT
1.0 Introduction
1.1 The NWT Literacy Council
1.2 The project
PART II BACKGROUND RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS
2.0 Language in People’s Lives
2.1 The importance of language
2.2 Aboriginal languages in Canada
2.3 Aboriginal languages in the NWT
3.0 Language and Literacy
3.1 English literacy in the NWT
3.2 Aboriginal literacy in the NWT
3.3 Multiple literacy practices
4.0 Supporting Aboriginal Literacy
4.1 Models from other literacy coalitions
4.2 Funding for Aboriginal language activities in the NWT
4.3 GNWT initiatives
4.4 Aboriginal language communities’ plans
PART III CONSULTING LANGUAGE COMMUNITIES
5.0 Consulting Language Communities
5.1 The consultation process
5.2 Language issues, possible roles and suggested activities for the NWT Literacy
Council
PART IV A FRAMEWORK FOR CHANGE
6.0 Developing a Framework to Improve Our Support for Aboriginal Literacy
6.1 Our strengths and challenges
6.2 A framework for change
7.0 Conclusion
8.0 Appendices
8.1 Appendix A: Mother Tongue and Home Language by Age
8.2 Appendix B: Supporting Aboriginal Literacy in the NWT: Consultation Questions
8.3 Appendix C: Contacts

1.1 [. . . . ]

Since 1989, we have supported Aboriginal literacy directly by:

• Working with Aboriginal people to plan and deliver Aboriginal language writing
workshops.
• Publishing books in Inuktitut, Inuinnaqtun, Chipewyan, South Slavey, Dogrib and Bush Cree.
• Including Aboriginal language books, where possible, as part of book bags for children.
• Promoting Aboriginal languages in print, on radio and on TV.
• Encouraging stories in Aboriginal languages as part of the NWT Writing Contest.
• Publishing Languages of the Land: A Resource Manual for Aboriginal Language Activists, which several language communities used when they developed their multi-year plans.
• Encouraging community family literacy projects in Aboriginal languages. [. . . . ]


4.2 Funding for Aboriginal language activities in the NWT

Most funding for Aboriginal language work comes through the GNWT. In 2001-2002, through the Canada-NWT Cooperation Agreement for French and Aboriginal Languages in the NWT, the federal government provided approximately $2.3 million for Aboriginal languages, which the GNWT administered. About 50% of federal money funds Aboriginal language community initiatives. The remainder goes to teaching and learning centres, language instructor training, Aboriginal broadcasting, language research and language promotion.

In addition, the GNWT provides funding for Aboriginal language work, much of which supports school programming. In 2001-2002, the GNWT allocated about $7.1 million for Aboriginal language programs. It also funds the office of the Languages Commissioner 25. The Assembly of First Nations administers funding from the federal government for Aboriginal languages, some of which is available through the Dene Nation. Other funding for language programming is available through programs like the Aboriginal Head Start program.

Philpott Report, Newfoundland / Labrador & Aboriginal Languages

Philpott Study -- "Dr. Philpott said the report is the largest educational study of its kind ever conducted on aboriginal youth in Canada"



Newfoundland and Labrador Gazette January 21, 2005, PDF



Educational reform in Labrador


Researchers developing Innu dictionary or here

Thirty-five per cent of Innu children in Labrador never attend school, partly due to being "plunged into an alien culture and language." [. . . . ]


Now researchers in Memorial's Department of Linguistics and Faculty of Education, working in partnership with Labrador Innu communities, are developing tools that will aid in the enhancement of literacy of the Innu in their own language, Innu-aimun. The research team, led by Dr. Marguerite MacKenzie, head of Memorial's Department of Linguistics, was awarded a
Community-University Research Alliances (CURA) grant of $996,992 over five years from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) for the project Knowledge and Human Resources for Innu Language Development. The primary endeavour of the group will be to develop a comprehensive tri-lingual (Innu-aimun, English, French) dictionary.

Dr. MacKenzie and her team have been
closely collaborating with the Sheshatshiu Innu Nation, the Innu Education Authority in Sheshatshiu and the Institut Culturel et Éucatif Montagnais in Quebec.

[. . . . ]

Search: Montagnais-French dictionary , readers, classroom materials and other teaching aids


Captain's Quarters, April 10, 2005 -- a speech by Joyal

Take a look at these excerpts from a speech made by Trudeau's last Secretary of State. The speech was made in French to The Acadian Association of Nova Scotia on November 13, 1982. (This Association is funded to the amount of half-a-million dollars per year by you the Canadian taxpayer.) A copy of the speech which, was not printed in any English newspaper, was sent to me by one of the few members of Canada's Parliament who had any inkling of what was happening in Canada, or cared. The relevant excerpt fom Mr. Joyal's speech are as follows: [. . . . ]

"The Canada of minorities is the Canada of tomorrow." [. . . . ]

Do not miss reading the rest.



The Canadian Geographic: Global Citizen edition, Nov./Dec. 2004
Education: Language of love
Why are there more students of Inuktitut in Paris than in Toronto, Montreal or Vancouver? Ask their teacher, a feisty Quebecer
by Michel Arseneault, 132

[Michele] Therrien learned Inuktitut in an odd way. When she first went to northern Quebec in 1969, Quebec's Ministry of Education was setting up schools to counter federal English-only institutions. The new provincial schools were eager to teach Inuit children in their own language, but there were no Inuktitut-speaking teachers around. So the Ministry recruited francophones, including the young Therrien, who ended up in the little town of Salluit on the northern Ungava coast. She taught all her lessons in French, and an interpreter translated every word. "I'm not sure that my pupils learned very much," she confesses. "But by hearing my own words repeated over and over again, I ended up learning Inuktitut." [. . . . ]

French President Jacques Chirac was the first head of state to visit Nunavut, barely five months after it was created in April 1999. [. . . . ]

Search: Institut National des Langues et Civilisation Orientales


When I searched for more information, these appeared; they may or may not be relevant. I ran out of time to read further.

May 3, 05


May 9, 05


HRDC: "Expenditures contained in this report include direct financial support to individuals and financial assistance to employers/sponsors for labour market ... " pdf


Public Accounts Transfer Payments 2001-2002

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PMO News

Recommended film: "Hotel Rwanda"

Canada, Mexico, U.S. release blueprint for tight economic and security ties National Post, June 28, 05

Canada, the United States and Mexico are committing to much broader and deeper economic and security integration to eliminate what Industry Minister David Emerson calls the "tyranny of small differences."

Prime Minister to travel to Ireland and attend G8 Summit in Scotland

NEWS RELEASE
June 28, 2005
Ottawa, Ontario

Prime Minister Paul Martin today announced that he will be in Dublin, Ireland, from July 4 to 5, 2005, and then in Perthshire, Scotland, to attend the Gleneagles G8 Summit from July 6 to 8, 2005.

[. . . . ] At the G8 Summit, the Prime Minister and the other G8 leaders will discuss climate change and Africa. Mr. Martin will focus on the urgent need to address climate change and on building momentum toward a successful United Nations Climate Change Conference to be held in Montreal later this fall. With regard to Africa, the Prime Minister will stress the importance of the long-term G8-New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) partnership based on mutual accountability. Other issues to be addressed include the global economy, non-proliferation and counterterrorism.

[. . . . ] The G8 is an informal group of eight developed democracies: Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. [. . . . ]

June 27, 05
Joint Statement by Canada and Vietnam
Ottawa, Ontario

Prime Minister Paul Martin held talks today with Prime Minister Phan Van Khai of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, during the first official visit to Canada by a Vietnamese Head of Government. [. . . . ]

Prime Minister Martin welcomed the positive momentum of Vietnam’s economic, legal and judicial reforms and its significant achievements in poverty reduction, and noted Canada’s contribution to this process through its Judicial Education and Grassroots Development project announced in November 2004. Both leaders recognized the importance of Official Development Assistance to the bilateral relationship. Prime Minister Martin noted that Vietnam is one of 25 key development partners where Canadian assistance will be concentrated, in accordance with Canada’s new International Policy Statement. He committed to continuing to assist Vietnam in important areas of governance, rural development and basic education, as well as addressing the regional challenge of transnational health issues. The Prime Ministers witnessed the signature of two Memoranda of Understanding between the Canadian International Development Agency and the Government of Vietnam on banking reform and food and agriculture products quality and control.

The Prime Ministers also discussed Canada and Vietnam’s growing trade and investment relationship [. . . . ]

The two leaders noted their countries’ constructive cooperation in international fora such as the United Nations, La Francophonie, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, and APEC, which Vietnam will host in 2006. Prime Minister Martin also reiterated that Canada looks forward to working closely with Vietnam as its next ASEAN coordinating country. [. . . . ]

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HOC/CDC Committee Reports -- & -- Bud Talkinghorn: Abbas & Necessary Steps

HOC/CDC Committee Reports

Standing Committee on Public Accounts Committee Report:
Chapter 2, National Security in Canada - The 2001 Anti-Terrorism Initiative: Air Transportation Security, Marine Security, and Emergency Preparedness of the April 2005 Report of the Auditor General of Canada

Standing Committee on Transport Committee Report: Subcommittee on Human Rights and International Development of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade

Committee Report: Mining in Developing Countries - Corporate Social Responsibility



The necessary steps that Abbas must take in Palestine

The situation in the Palestinian territory is deteriorating quickly. Despite the planned Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, the various terrorist groups like Hama, keep lobbing rockets into the Jewish settlements and mounting attacks against other targets. Last week the Israelis captured a female suicide bomber, who was palnning to blow up an Israeli hospital. A hospital, by the way, where she was receiving health care. If the terrorists want to inflict another injury on their people, then that is a good way to do it. In many cases, the Jewish hospitals are the only ones that offer certain medical procedures. If this woman had succeded, a no-Palestinian patients policy would soon follow. However, bringing grief to their own people is nothing new. In their mad desire to eliminate all Israel Jews, the well-being of the rest counts as necessarily enforced martyrdom. That same insane reasoning, which allows al-Zarqawi to bomb away his co-religionists, is evident in Iraq.

Unfortunately, even if Abbas really wanted to create a stable, prosperous Palestine, he would have to wage a civil war. As it stands, Gaza is controlled by the Hamas gunmen, who are now poised to win at the ballot box. Gangsterism is rampant through the cities, while tribal elders rule many of the rural areas. To top it off, corruption in the Palestinian Authority is out of control. Should it come to a power struggle, Abbas can't even count on his Fateh military, seeing as its off-shoot, the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, is aligned withthe terrorists. Meanwhile his failure to control the armed militias has given Sharon the green light to arrest and assassinate the followers of these groups. The result of all these factors will be an unstable, desperately poor Palestine in perpetuity. The only 'solution' might be Iran getting the nuclear bomb and trying to wipe Israel off the map with it. Seeing as that would effectively kill most Palestininas as well, the problem would be solved. Especially, if in their final death throes, Israel decided to eliminate Syria, Southern Lebanon, and most of Iran with their nuclear arsenal. Their dropping a few on Iraq's Sunni triangle, as a thank you for the US helping bomb Iran back to the Stone age, would solve that problem as well.

© Bud Talkinghorn--It is sad to think my bloody-minded scenarios probably have greater future promise than peace in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

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Hansard, TPC, Audit, Secrecy & the Missing Link, Other links to TPC & ZENON, Bombardier & More

Today, I read something very disturbing; information that had been available on a government website had disappeared -- and this is not the first time this has happened. One of the dangers of storing information online is that it can be caused to disappear at the click of a mouse. What happens to documentation and accurate history if this is the case? What happens to the people's right to know and to take action if they see something that their government is doing of which they disapprove? Whoever controls the website and the documents determines the history.

What I found interesting--if you skim down--is that the usual company names pop up: ZENON ( Check Maurice Strong), RIM (Check NTP patent or copyright problem), Bombardier . . . even something to benefit CSL, and more.

Why are the taxpayers of Canada funding a company, ZENON, pursuing business in China?

Or is this not significant? Is anything else being shared with China in other TPC agreements? Was any lobbyist paid to help get agreements?



Background: Hansard and news articles

Hansard June 27, 2005: Technology Partnerships Canada

Mr. James Rajotte (Edmonton—Leduc, CPC): Mr. Speaker, last week I searched the Technology Partnerships Canada website for a list of current repayments of the more than $2.7 billion that has been loaned out. There was a link, but it did not work.

Today the link on the TPC website to the repayment schedule has been erased completely, as if it was never there in the first place. Why did Industry Canada remove the link to the list of TPC repayments? What is the minister trying to hide?

Hon. David Emerson (Minister of Industry, Lib.): . . . I am unaware of. . . .

Mr. James Rajotte (Edmonton—Leduc, CPC): Mr. Speaker, this vanishing link to repayments is a classic example of the mismanagement and secrecy that surrounds this whole program. They did the same thing when we asked about job creation figures. They removed that from the website.

The industry minister refuses to release the results of the forensic audit of TPC. Now he even refuses to allow the public to see how much of its money has been repaid under this program. Will the industry minister commit today in the House to put the repayments back on the website and will he release the results of this audit today? [. . . . ]

Mr. Werner Schmidt (Kelowna—Lake Country, CPC): Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Industry has acknowledged in this House that $2 million of TPC money has been paid to the wrong people and not to legitimate companies seeking funding. [. . . . ]

Mr. Werner Schmidt (Kelowna—Lake Country, CPC): Mr. Speaker, that is typical Liberal rhetoric. Despite admitting that $2 million in TPC funds has already been misappropriated in the form of kickbacks to Liberal lobbyists, the minister refuses to put a stop to it.

Now he is asking the public to trust an audit conducted by his own office. When will the minister take responsibility for his department's failure, ask the Auditor General of Canada to conduct a full audit and stop the misappropriation of these TPC funds? [. . . . ]

End of the Hansard excerpt




via Surfwax Accounting News

Massive audit into federal technology fund remains shrouded in secrecy Jun 20, 2005

Massive federal audit shrouded in secrecy Jun 19, 2005

Industry Canada hired an accounting firm, Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton, to examine the books of 47 companies receiving money from Technology Partnerships Canada, a multibillion-dollar fund to promote research and development. Advertisements. (Globe and Mail)

Hansard: Technology Partnerships Canada -- (1440) Scroll down.

Mr. James Rajotte (Edmonton Leduc, CPC): Mr. Speaker, yesterday the industry minister admitted that consulting fees have been paid to some lobbyists as a reward if their clients were successful in securing a grant from Technology Partnerships Canada. Media reports state that at least $3.7 million in commissions have been paid to certain lobbyists, yet rewarding lobbyists for getting government grants is a breach of contract under TPC's own guidelines.

Will the industry minister reveal how many millions have been paid to lobbyists for securing government grants and which lobbyists have received this money?

Hon. David Emerson (Minister of Industry, Lib.): [. . . . ] We are investigating the matter. We will be releasing our forensic audit. We will be releasing further audit details in the fall. [. . . . ]

Massive audit into technology fund shrouded in secrecy -- "improper commissions paid on government funds?" Dean Beeby, June 20, 05

Technology Partnerships Canada has been dogged by controversy since its founding in 1996 to promote innovation in aerospace, automotive, defence and high-tech companies.

The government has contended that the seed money it provides to technology projects will be paid back — up to twice over, in some cases — in the form of royalties based on commercial success.

But as of January, only $95-million of the $2-billion paid out since the fund opened shop has been returned. Critics have charged that the program is nothing but a giant subsidy fund for Liberal-favoured corporations, such as Bombardier and Pratt and Whitney Canada.

Massive audit into federal technology fund remains shrouded in secrecy June 19, 2005, DEAN BEEBY

OTTAWA (CP) - Improper commissions paid on government funds? Federal money siphoned off to middlemen?

No, it's not the Gomery inquiry. Industry Canada has ordered a massive audit into $490 million in handouts to dozens of technology firms to determine whether any tax dollars were misused.

The investigation into the 58 projects got under way last August, just before the Gomery commission began public hearings - but unlike Gomery, the audit remains shrouded in secrecy

Massive audit into federal technology fund remains shrouded in secrecy June 28, 05, Dean Beeby


www.moneysense.ca/news/shownews.jsp?content=b061


Caveat: I know virtually nothing about auditing nor auditors -- but what is listed does look intriguing. I came to this through a Google search of "Technology Partnerships Canada, audit, forensic"

Richard Hawkins Research -- See "Appendix contents" (subject to change without notice):

The above led to a Google search for "Technology Partnerships Canada" -- first from that department's own website.

Technology Partnerships Canada [Created: 2005-06-23 Updated: 2005-06-27 ]

TPC's main R&D program . . . . The program focuses on key technology areas such as Environmental Technologies, Aerospace and Defence Technologies and Enabling Technologies, which includes biotechnology and health related applications, as well as manufacturing and communications technologies. [. . . . ]

Scroll down and check the menu.

Government of Canada Invests in Clean Heavy Oil Recovery Technology
Calgary, Alberta | April 1, 2005

This Technology Partnerships Canada (TPC) investment is part of a $44.7-million development and demonstration project being undertaken by Petrobank Energy and Resources Ltd. of Calgary. The WHITESANDS pilot project will field demonstrate Petrobank’s patented THAI™ (Toe-to-Heel Air Injection) heavy oil recovery process in the Christina Lake area, south of Fort McMurray.

(Also, I searched Google for Petrobank and Petrobank: Beneficiary of Plan Petroleum in Putumayo -- which led to information on a program of "aerial fumigation campaign" in Columbia and a connection to Petrobank Energy, which may be interesting from the point of view of the law of unintended consequences.

Petrobank background information

Petrobank acquired rival Western Canadian explorer Barrington Petroleum (with oil and gas assets in Alberta) in 2001. . . . It has moved into Colombia as a new focus of exploration and production, and has established two producing fields and three exploration blocks.)

Government of Canada Invests in Research to Combat Antibiotic Resistance
Vancouver, British Columbia | April 1, 2005 MIGENIX Inc


Government of Canada Invests $28.3 Million in Innovative Technology in British Columbia
Ottawa, Ontario | June 14, 2005

CellFor Inc. [. . . . ] In addition, TPC will invest in two hydrogen fuel cell technology research projects with the potential to advance the hydrogen economy, leading to reduced greenhouse gas emissions and contributing to a sustainable environment.

Minister Emerson Announces Investment for R&D in Display Technologies
Ottawa, Ontario | June 24, 2005

Drawing on the expertise gained in developing its thin film electroluminescent (TFEL) technology, Luxell will apply existing technologies in new combinations, resulting in innovative solutions to the challenges of current flat panel display technologies. These technologies are used in a variety of applications, from cell phones to airplane cockpits, [. . . . ]

The three key desired outcomes of this project include the development of a tool kit that allows flat panel display components to be cost-effectively adapted for use in a variety of settings; an active-matrix liquid crystal display (AMLCD) process that permits reconfiguration of components and alleviates obsolescence issues; and (TFEL) technologan organic light-emitting diode (OLED) process that enables use in the harshest of environments.

Government of Canada Helps Small Aerospace Firm Seize Giant Technological Opportunity
Ottawa, Ontario | June 28, 2005

[. . . . ] GasTOPS Ltd., of Ottawa, to further develop its MetalSCAN sensor technology that detects metallic debris in lubricating oil systems thereby protecting mission-critical equipment. The company will improve the technology base of its system and then (TFEL) develop specific applications for use in the F-35 aircraft being produced by Lockheed Martin.

Aerospace & Defence

[. . . . ] TPC is also supporting projects by Canadian companies taking part in the multinational Joint Strike Fighter program. The goal of this program is to develop a new line-up of fighter jets that minimizes fabrication and life cycle costs.

Aerospace & Defence Project List

The following is a listing of TPC’s investments in the area of aerospace and defence [. . . . ]

Clean Drinking Water Around The World -- ZENON in which Maurice Strong has an interest.

[. . . . ] ZENON Environmental Inc., based in Oakville, Ontario, develops water filtration technologies that protect our drinking water supply and reduce the impact of human activities on local aquifers.

TPC Stories -- Success Stories

Search: There is a long list which includes:

ZENON

Advanced Membrane Technologies for water and water treatment -- China ia undertaking a massive program to improve its infrastructure as the country prepares to host the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.


ZENON to install its technology for Olympic Village -- China's Olympic Village for 2008

OAKVILLE, Ontario, June 21, 2005 – ZENON Environmental Inc. (TSX: ZEN and ZEN.NV.A; OTC: ZNEVF and ZNEAF) has received a purchase order to provide its ZeeWeed membrane for tertiary treatment in China’s Olympic Village. The order is valued at approximately $5 million.

ZeeWeed Tertiary Treatment


INCO (The road to a sustainable future - hybrid cars are leading the way)

RIM

OSL -- Off Shore Limited "OSI Navigation is the pioneer in geo-spatial intelligence and the world-leading fleet supplier of electronic chart systems for navigation and situational awareness . . . ECPINS") -- e.g. customers

COMMERCIAL CUSTOMERS

Our commercial customers include some of North America's leading shipping operators:

* American Steamship Company
* B.C. Ferry Corporation
* Canada Steamship Lines
* Great Lakes Transportation
* Oglebay Norton
* USS Great Lakes

Allan Rock and Herb Dhaliwal Announce $19.77 Million for British Columbia Companies to Foster Cutting-Edge Research and Development

A $5.59-million investment in new technologies for air traffic management products, to meet the future needs of both civilian and military applications, while providing increased safety, will help Raytheon Canada Limited of Richmond, British Columbia, continue to compete successfully with new and innovative products.

The $3.19-million investment in advanced research and development for aircraft components will help Avcorp Industries Incorporated, of Delta, British Columbia, as it increasingly becomes a supplier of choice for major aircraft manufacturers.

Technology Partnerships Canada's investment of $1.14-million in materials for industrial and military infrared imaging and seeking systems will assist Firebird Semiconductors Limited, of Trail, British Columbia, in strengthening its position as a world leader.

Search:

"3 - Mapping the North: A Challenge on a Grand Scale"

"6 - RADARSAT-2 Polarimetry Workshop"


Canada–Finland Collaboration

Remote Sensing Technology Geomatics


RADARSAT

---

Hansard June 27, 2005: Charter of Rights, Same Sex Marriage, Religious Rights -- Tsunami Relief

Stockwell Day on Marriage


Same Sex Marriage and Religious Rights

(1335)

Mr. Art Hanger (Calgary Northeast, CPC): Madam Speaker, it is interesting that the hon. member said that we should get on with the affairs of the House. It is the Prime Minister that dragged Parliament and the entire country into this debate. The general populace did not ask for it by any stretch of the imagination.

The member spoke about protection of religious freedoms and worship, which means quite a lot to me. It means a preacher is able to state the truth in the scripture. I can relate to an incident in Calgary. I am sure everyone in the House has heard of Bishop Henry. He made a statement in a letter. I will quote his comment to the media:

In one of my previous letters I wrote “Since homosexuality, adultery, prostitution and pornography undermine the foundations of the family, the basis of society, then the state must use its coercive power to proscribe or curtail them in the interests of the common good”.

He indicated very clearly what the coercive powers of the state are, which include every area of the Criminal Code and every area of law that deals with traffic, tax policy, education, communications and a whole list of other areas, including marriage. The powers for those who engage in marrying people on the civil side come from the state.

Bishop Henry clearly is a preacher who feels strongly about the word of God and has certainly preached that in all its truth. I know where he got his quote. We only need to look at 1st Corinthians, chapter 6, verses 8 and 9, which talk about that. Bishop Henry will continue to preach from the scriptures. Should he be hauled before the courts for preaching from the scriptures? The member talked about defence of religion. This man has already been hauled before a human rights tribunal twice because somebody did not like what he had to say. Bishop Henry is called to say what the truth is, whether anybody likes it or not. That is the issue at hand.

When it comes to this particular bill, I have a question about the protection of religious freedom. There is none. [. . . . ]

(1340)

Mr. Vic Toews (Provencher, CPC): Madam Speaker, I have a few comments that I would like to make prior to getting into the substantive debate. The member indicated that he had not heard of anyone who had been disciplined or brought before commissions or courts because of their views in respect of marriage or the nature of homosexual or heterosexual relationships.

I do not know where this member was, but we heard it constantly. Not only did we hear it constantly before the justice committee, but we heard it constantly before this legislative committee. We have heard about Bishop Henry. He is facing two hearings in front of the Human Rights Commission in Alberta. We have heard that the Knights of Columbia in British Columbia are being taken before the Human Rights Commission because of their refusal to rent their property to celebrate and gay and lesbian marriage.

We have heard about Camp Arnes in Manitoba which has been brought before the Human Rights Commission because it refused to rent its church-sponsored facilities to a gay and lesbian choir. We have heard about the Brockie case, and here we are talking about individuals who for reasons of conscience refuse to do certain things, that has been brought in front of human rights commissions and in fact disciplined.

We have heard about the Saskatchewan bumper sticker case. We have heard of a number of cases. Some of these are still pending, but the point is that these cases are being brought before human rights tribunals on a regular basis. We have heard about Chris Kempling. The B.C. Court of Appeal said freedom of religion only goes so far and upheld the discipline of his losing his job for three months.

I want to move on, however. The issue that this is somehow a human right is something that I find very curious, given the Liberal government's position on this matter.
The Prime Minister and the Minister of Justice say this is a matter of human rights. If this were a matter of human rights, would the government give its backbenchers the right to freely vote on this issue? If this were a fundamental human right, it would stand up and insist that every member must vote because this is a matter of fundamental human rights.

This is a social policy issue that is being dressed up under the charter of rights. The court in the reference case never characterized this as a fundamental human right. To characterize it in that fashion is a fraud. Quite frankly, the approach that the Liberal government has taken by saying that this is a human right but not demanding that its members vote that way demonstrates what kind of a fraud this is.

In respect of the evidence that was heard, we have heard it said there were about 500 witnesses. In fact, the justice committee, which was never allowed to report back because the government put a stop to those hearings, heard approximately 450 or so witnesses, but it never dealt with the bill. It dealt with the general principle of whether or not there should be same sex marriages. So that dealt with not a legislative focus but indeed on the entire concept of same sex marriage.

At second reading this House accepted in principle that there would be same sex marriages and passing it to the committee. In committee, my focus, and many of the members' focus, was not as much on the issue of how we redefine marriage, but how to protect those who for reasons of conscience and religion had concerns about this change. We had approximately 40 witnesses, and it was stated that would be it. It was through the Conservative efforts that another 20 witnesses, and I might say significant witnesses, were brought forward.

We were only allowed to bring 20 witnesses forward because an agreement was made that those 20 would be allowed to appear if we agreed to some kind of closure. That was not my preference, but that is in fact what happened.

In respect of this bill, and the significance and the consequences of this bill, we have heard less than 60 witnesses. This idea that we have been talking about this bill for the past three or four years is simply not correct.

(1345)

I want to talk about how Bill C-38 approaches the problem. This bill is full of unconstitutional provisions. The reason those unconstitutional provisions are put in there is to give the people of Canada hope. Unfortunately, it is false hope, dealing both with the preamble section which talks about the freedom of conscience and religion and, in particular, the freedom of members of religious groups to hold and declare their religious beliefs and the right of religious officials to refuse to perform same sex marriage. Clause 3 states:

It is recognized that officials of religious groups are free to refuse to perform marriages that are not in accordance with their religious beliefs.

The Supreme Court of Canada, in the reference case, specifically held that whether that section is substantive or declaratory it is unconstitutional. What the Government of Canada tried to do is hoist this on Canadians and said that it is protecting our religious freedoms and that Canadians do not need any more protection other than what is stated in that.

Clearly, a proper reading of the Supreme Court of Canada decision says this is unconstitutional. I am surprised that the Minister of Justice has not moved his amendment to remove that now that this fraud has been exposed. It is better to have the plain truth staring at us, than to sugar coat it in this type of a fraudulent manner.

The next point I would like to make deals with clause 3.1. Again, this deals with exactly the approach that the Liberal government has taken to this issue. The amendment reads:

For greater certainty, no person or organization shall be deprived of any benefit, or be subject to any obligation or sanction, under any law of the Parliament of Canada solely by reason of their exercise, in respect of marriage between persons of the same sex, of the freedom of conscience and religion guaranteed under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms or the expression of their beliefs in respect of marriage as the union of a man and woman to the exclusion of all others based on that guaranteed freedom.

The charter of rights is a constitutional document that protects citizens against the government. We do not violate the charter of rights, as some Liberals have suggested, by expanding the rights given under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The Charter of Rights and Freedoms is a floor. It is the lowest common denominator that is accepted as the floor of our guarantees.

It says that we can have no greater right of freedom of religion or freedom of conscience or freedom of expression than that which is guaranteed by the charter. It establishes a floor and this section confirms the lowest common denominator.

What many have found out, as Mr. Kempling found out by the B.C. Court of Appeal and others have found out, by saying that we have freedom of religion and freedom of expression, is that what was said or what a person's religious beliefs are, they are beyond the scope of that freedom of expression. It is freedom that goes beyond what is entrenched in the charter.

It gives no more rights and freedoms that are already guaranteed in the charter of rights. That charter has been hollow in terms of protecting rights and freedoms of people like Mr. Kempling. It simply has not granted them.

What needs to happen, if this is to have any substance, is to have the reference removed limiting that right to the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and saying Canadians have the right to their freedom of religion without this kind of limitation which we know that the courts consistently put into second place when religious rights collide with equality rights.

This will essentially confirm the continued practice of the courts to affirm equality rights at the expense of religious freedom whenever those two rights collide. It is because equality rights are the new religion of the courts and the Liberal government. They will stomp on religious rights at every opportunity and the courts have demonstrated that in a number of cases. [. . . . ]

(1350)

Mr. Vic Toews: Madam Speaker, let me deal with the comment that the member has made that our party is not in favour of full equality. Again, he is suggesting that this is a fundamental human right and placing it on the Conservative Party as being the only one in the House who do not accept this as a human right.

There are some members of the Liberal Party, some members of the Bloc and at least one member of NDP who were silenced by their leaders that this simply does not fall within the scope of human rights. This is a social policy issue. We do not need to take the word of the Conservative Party in that respect. There is no other court in the world that has seen this as a human right.

Indeed, the UN has clearly demonstrated, in its decisions through its courts, that this is not a human right. This is a social policy matter that Parliament essentially must determine. The member now stands up and says, “Shame on the Conservative Party. It does not recognize this as a human right”. His own government, not by its words, in which it says it is a human right, but by its actions demonstrate that it is a social policy issue. The member needs to deal with the inconsistency in his own question before he asks questions like that. [. . . . ]

(1355)

Mr. Vic Toews: Madam Speaker, I suggest the member take a look at some of the debates that occurred when the Charter of Rights was enacted. There were a number of votes and debates that dealt with exactly to what extent the Charter of Rights should constitutionalize or institute constitutionally certain rights and freedoms.

There was a discussion about that. Section 15 was a clearly drawn document. There were a number of discussions about sexual orientation and the definition of marriage. It was concluded that those were issues that did not fall within the scope of the charter. That is where I start the argument. The Parliament that granted the courts this jurisdiction made it very clear what the definition of equality was in the country in terms of a constitutionally protected human right. That formulation was very consistent with the documents of the United Nations.

What we have seen is an attempt by the courts to enlarge that constitutional framework. I would appreciate it if the Liberals were honest about that in the House. This has nothing to do with the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. This has everything to do with a social policy and they should not attempt to masquerade it as a matter of human rights. It was a matter of social policy that was specifically left within the jurisdiction of Parliament to determine. [. . . . ]




From the same webpage:

Make Poverty History Campaign

Ms. Helena Guergis (Simcoe—Grey, CPC): [. . . . ] Just last week we learned how the government has failed to deliver almost two-thirds of its tsunami relief. In fact, the Liberal government's record on international assistance is the worst in our nation's history. [. . . . ]

---

MSM and Harper, Immigration, Birth Citizenship & Visas, Transparency & Governance, RCMP

Update 2:

Question Period: Harper Asks about Air India Disaster and Hep C Compensation related to the following:

Compare the speed of the government's responses to requests for action / taxpayer money:

Hep C blood scandal victims and the survivors of the Air India terrorist bombing victims who wanted justice

versus

Jean Chretien and others who were scheduled to appear before Justice Gomery at the Inquiry into the Sponsorship Fund: They wanted taxpayers's money for expenses.

Canadian taxpayers' $$$ for those petitioners vs genuine victims? No contest. Speed was of the essence and there was no delay in granting the $$$ for those appearing before the Gomery Inquiry.

Question(s) re:

Belinda Stronach's family business Magna & Paul Martin's family business CSL

versus

The PM and Minister Stronach's Conflicts of Interest -- Both are in important positions determining the rules related to business and employment -- related to employees in the family businesses.

According to PM/PM, eveything will be taken care of because the Ethics Commissioner will look into any potential conflicts.

We can rest easy.




CBC: the Kathleen Petty Show -- Security Certificates & Mohammed Harkat

CBC suckers me again

I mentioned a while ago that I enjoyed Kathleen Petty's call-in show. It is solely because the callers did not seem to be filtered. Today's show (June 27, 05) disabused me of my belief, however. First, Petty interviews David Harris, former Chief of Strategic Planning for CSIS. Harris is allowed to explain that the media has (purposely?) distorted the reality of the Security Certificate. This certificate is issued when CSIS/RCMP have evidence that the individual in question--in this case, a Muslim--is part of a "sleeper cell" or actively engaged in a future attack on Canada. Harris explained that all these suspects have the right, voluntarily, to be deported to their home countries. Not one has taken that option. Also the full charges against the detainee are given to him; therefore, the nonsense media spin, that they have no idea what charges they face, is patently false. He went on to show that the certificate evidence claim must be seen by a federal judge(s) to be extremely strong.

So much for Harris and most callers; a "special caller" is allowed on. This is suspect Mohamed Harkat's wife. She is given what seems like ten full minutes to tell us what a good man Harkat is. "Gentle" and "a man of peace" were two accolades tossed out. Informatively, she said she knew the other four suspects, as well, and they were good guys too. She keeps interesting company. Sorry, but after that advertisement there was time only for three callers. The first one was some guy who started off balanced enough--"After Sept 11, blah, blah, blah", but soon segued into talk about our "Islamic gulag" and other descriptions only mouthed by the loony left. The next chap simply thought there should be trials, while the last "caller" just happened to be some Canadian-Islamic honcho. Forget the federal judges -- as they are all controlled by CSIS. These detainees are all good boys was the gist of his testimonials. Then it was "Sorry, but we are out of time," so all you future callers, try to get your speed dials working, or forget about your viewpoint being presented.

© Bud Talkinghorn



David Harris explained very briefly and clearly how Security Certificates work. There are requirements to be met, oversight and a federal court judge has access to ALL the detail.

Personally, I support the need for Security Certificates which have been in use since the late 1960's, at least. I also support detaining those affected. They used to be immediately deported. Now, the problem comes in with the need to deport individuals who might face harm in the countries from which they came, if deported. The push is for releasing these people into Canadian society, with some restrictions. Our security appears less important than his.

'Balance' from the CBC. It is the illusion of balance. Bah! NJC




Update 1:

Never take water, food safety for granted 2005-06-25, JIM TAYLOR, For the London Free Press

[. . . . ] We learned that a shortage of inspectors to keep an eye on the system was not unusual.

And now it seems the same holds true for inspections of places where food is served, such as restaurants and fast-food outlets, day-care centres and nursing homes. [. . . . ]

Apparently, Essex county in Ontario did not fare very well. If I were sending a child to daycare, I would be concerned. As for restaurants, fast food outlets, and nursing homes, well, this whole report is disturbing, given that so many eat out and that, with an aging population, nursing home care is rising for the elderly. The facts need more exposure.




Cops wounded in Ontario shootings Winnipeg Sun, Canada, June 27, 05

LONDON, Ont. (CP) - At least two people were killed and two police officers wounded in a shooting that left "multiple deceased persons" in a home on a quiet street near the city's downtown early Monday.

Police said they received a 911 call from a child at about 2:30 a.m. reporting an apparent assault. [. . . . ]

MSM and Harper visit to Toronto

For more positive press or headlines, maybe Harper should be trying to court ethnic voters with OPM's $$$ -- PM style?

Harper plays same-sex card to woo Muslims at convention

MISSISSAUGA - While hundreds of thousands of gays partied at the pride parade in downtown Toronto yesterday, federal Tory leader... [. . . . ]

Compare the emphasis in the above headline with these.

From the National Post: I stand with you on traditional marriage, Harper tells Muslims



Tories in no hurry to vote on same-sex bill James Brown, June 27, 05

[. . . . ] The time required to deal with the legislation could be even shorter if the Liberals bring in closure, as they did last week to cut off debate and ram through key budget legislation.

That ploy left the Conservatives fuming when they were caught without enough members in the House to head off the move.

[. . . . ] In Toronto on Sunday, party leader Stephen Harper took a miss on the city's flamboyant Gay Pride Parade, but did weigh in on the issue in a speech to thousands attending the 29th Annual Ahmadiyya Muslim Convention, calling on all religious groups to protect and preserve the traditional definition of marriage. [. . . . ]

Harper comes to T.O. Megan Thomas, June 25, 05, CNEWS

TORONTO (CP) - Tory Leader Stephen Harper continued his image makeover tour Saturday after an embarrassing week that saw his party ambushed on a budget bill it had promised to defeat.

[. . . . ] The embattled leader, who plans to hit the barbeque and festival circuit this summer in an effort to lighten his staid image, wore a suit but left the tie at home and unbuttoned the collar of his dress shirt. [. . . . ]

Comuzzi expected to resign over same-sex bill The Hill Times, Angelo Persichilli, June 27th, 2005

Would this put the Liberals in trouble?



Link for policy briefings



Native soldiers weren't fools Doug Fisher, June 12, 05, Sun Ottawa Bureau

[. . . . ] My summation would be that the residential schools and their staffs did a lot of good. Those who attended them were better ready to function in the bush, on a reserve, or in an urban setting. Thus, I think a blanket payment to every former student is generosity and guilt run wild.

By all means, compensate those who were demonstrably mistreated or sexually abused, but it's nonsense to pay the rest "compensation" for getting a very basic Canadian education.

European holder of original Maple Leaf flag in 'no hurry' to return it to Ottawa June 27, 05 -- Lucien Lamoureau's (sp?) widow -- Pension money is involved, I believe, but check.

Update & correction: I had written Claude Lamoureau above; I just corrected this, July 1, 05. Lucien Lamoureau was a former Speaker of the House of Commons. Apparently, the flag is now going to be returned. Of course, he should not have had the flag in the first place. It belongs to Canadians. . . not that that kind of fine point stops those with power in Ottawa.




Editorial on RCMP: Why the Mounties can't get their men

No white males policy . . . . Bilingualism is a key to selection for command.

Worth reading.




Immigration, Birth Citizenship and Visas

Getting into Canada through the back door Diane Francis, June 27, 05, National Post

Granting automatic citizenship to the children of all foreign mothers who give birth in Canada . . . . Last week, Vancouver immigration lawyer Richard Kurland publicized a case, in several e-mails sent to the media, involving two pregnant relatives of a notorious Syrian military officer who were given visitor's visas from the Canadian embassy in Damascus.

[. . . . ] In Canada, citizenship is like winning the lottery: Lucky recipients are entitled to privileges such as the right to remain a resident or return in the future; free health care; free education; welfare; access to work opportunities, as well as the right to sponsor relatives as immigrants. [. . . . ]

Search: "birth citizenship"



Who in the PMO turned down Wons' resignation? And why would Ihor Wons ever want to put the credibility of his candidate in danger? Angelo Persichilli, Hill Times, Jun. 27, 05 -- Ihor Liard Wons, aide in Judy Sgro's constituency office

TORONTO--Aristotle once said that "a living being is a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts." If you apply this concept to the Judy Sgro affair, you'd be left with some concerning questions about the role played by the national Liberal campaign and, later, the Prime Minister's Office. [. . . . ]

Transparency & Governance

Canada's first billionaire Cabinet minister to disclose by fall - Download PDF Kady O'Malley, June 20, 2005

'Belinda's portfolio is as thick as the Manhattan phonebook,' says NDP MP Pat Martin

Parliament Buildings renovations to cost 'much more'-- Download PDF Paco Francoli, June 27th, 2005

Original $1.6-billion, 23-year plan to renovate Parliament Buildings is about to get 'much more' expensive and to take several more years to complete, says Liberal MP Walt Lastewka.

Upcoming Policy Briefings

Alternative Energy July 11th, 2005
Climate Change August 8th, 2005
Aerospace August 22nd, 2005
Defence September 26th, 2005
Automotive Industry October 17th, 2005
Labour, Education and Skills Training October 31st, 2005
Transportation November 14th, 2005
Natural Resources December 5th, 2005

---

Energy, Aid & its Aftermath, Nigeria, China, Corruption, Nortel & Merry Glory, Whistleblowers

Rumour: There is a rumour that a company from India may be contracted to work on Lepreau -- Check further. Is it Deccan? From the Deccan? Or?

Energy PDF Hill Times

These are but three items.

* Canada’s Federal Energy Minister John Efford says ‘great opportunities for Canadian nuclear industry to come’

* Focus North: The Yukon is coming of age, says Fentie
North wants Mackenzie Gas and Alaska Highway Pipeline projects, integral parts of economy

* Harper says feds don’t have an energy policy framework
And Conservative Party Leader Stephen Harper says Canada won’t reach Kyoto’s ‘unrealistic’ targets




Sharia law by stealth Posted by Al Gordon on 18:56:07 2005/06/26 -- including article, Twisted 'tolerance', by Diana West June 24, 2005"

[. . . . ] In outlawing criticism of Islam -- which, so far, is the effect of the law -- Victoria has not only codified a peculiarly strong resistance to reality, but it has also adopted the practice of sharia-ruled states. This makes for a startling spectacle of free people placing a muzzle on speech, a limit on faith and a damper on inquiry.

Douglas Wood lost his freedom at gunpoint; Danny Nalliah and Daniel Scot lost theirs by court-ordered political correctness. We know who rescued Mr. Wood; who will save the pastors?

Aid and Its Aftermath -- Corruption Indices

Nigerian leaders looted $500B David Blair, June 25, 05, A14, Ottawa Citizen

ABUJA, Nigeria - The scale of the task facing western leaders in their drive to help Africa was laid bare yesterday when it emerged that Nigeria's past rulers stole or misused about $500 billion.

[. . . .] The stolen fortune tallies almost exactly with the $500-billion of western aid given to Africa between 1960 and 1997. That amounted to six times the American help given to post-war Europe under the Marshall Plan.

[. . . . ]


Corruption Information Exchange: Nigeria

Corruption costs Nigeria 40 percent of oil wealth, official says.
Nigerian court rules money laundering suspect has immunity

[. . . . ]


Transparency International -- worth bookmarking

Corruption rank for Nigeria -- Nigeria is #90 of 90, while China is #63 along with Egypt, and just above Burkina Faso, Kazakhstan and Zimbabwe which are #65 from 2000. Has it improved since then?

Corruption Information Exchange: Canada

Undoubtedly, there will be more to come, once the PM fixes the "democratic deficit" and the whistleblower legislation is passed.




China -- another recipient of Canadian aid

Part 2: Thefts of U.S. technology boost China's weaponry Bill Gertz, Washington Times, June 27, 05

http://www.washtimes.com
/national/20050627-124855-6747r.htm

[. . . . ] David Szady, chief of FBI counterintelligence operations.
He said the Chinese are prolific collectors of secrets and military-related information. [. . . . ]

China's spies use as many as 3,200 front companies -- many run by groups linked to the Chinese military -- that are set up to covertly obtain information, equipment and technology, U.S. officials say. [. . . . ]

Search: "Chinese visitors, students and other nonprofessional"


Part 1: Chinese Dragon Awakens Bill Gertz, June 26, 05

[. . . . ] The advances give the Chinese military "the ability ... to reach out and touch parts of the United States-- Guam, Hawaii and the mainland of the United States," he said. [. . . . ]

The report stated that China will resort "to extreme, offensive and mercantilist measures when other strategies fail, to mitigate its vulnerabilities, such as seizing control of energy resources in neighboring states."

U.S. officials have said two likely targets for China are the Russian Far East, which has vast oil and gas deposits, and Southeast Asia, which also has oil and gas resources. [. . . . ]

Reformers say China is losing its war on drugs

A Chinese Mata Hari, or just misunderstood? May 3, 03, Caroline Overington, The Age New York correspondent

[. . . . ] Leung's real code names, however, are "Parlour Maid" (which is what the FBI called her) and "Merry Glory", which is what the Canadian telecoms giant, Nortel, called her, when she helped them develop a business in China. [. . . . ]

Nortel, which says it did not know that Leung was an undercover agent, paid her $US1.1 million.

US WB Struggle first then Canadian follows -- several articles 06/22/05 - 08:17:12

This is a Canadian site.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Sibel Edmonds, National Security Whistleblowers Coalition,
sedmonds@nswbc.org , Tel- (703) 519-3640, or, Mike German, National Security Whistleblowers Coalition, [USA]mgerman@nswbc.org
MEDIA ADVISORY

National Security Whistleblowers Demand Protections

Chairman Davis Mounts Sneak Attack on Whistleblowers

WHAT: Prior to a markup on whistleblower protection legislation (H.R. 1317), national security whistleblowers will protest House Government Reform Chairman Tom Davis’ refusal to support legislation to assist them. [. . . . ]

Search:

Teeth for Whistle Blower Law 06/11/05 - 03:49:45

Gov. General Please... 06/03/05 - 02:24:38

---

Update: China Censorship, India, Headlines & More

I mentioned one aspect of the following previously, but something happened to the links which provide the background to what I posted. Maybe that's when MS closed down everything. Or maybe my persistent hackers . . . well, something like this happens often when I post on China.

If you pay no attention to this, where will you turn when your rights are infringed? Already, in Canada there are pressures to prevent speaking the truth if someone might be offended--the current groups to be protected from truth. Expression is often self-censored out of political correctness. This is important.



The Shotgun is banned in China June 22, 2005 -- comments -- TrackBack


Confirmed: All Typepad blogs blocked in China June 22, 2005

Asiapundit first sounded the alarm. Now it's confirmed. All Typepad blogs, including this one, cannot be seen in China. (Note that Blogger has been blocked in China for some time.) . . . . Asiapundit has created a series of graphicslike the one on the right which you can put on your blocked blog to help create awareness of the problem.

Get graphics: this censorship is sponsored by... http://www.asiapundit.com/2005/06/this_censorship.html
Trackback

asiapundits wanted!



Chinese dragon awakens Bill Gertz, Washington Times, June 26, 2005, via The Shotgun Let's All Wake Up Posted by Kate McMillan on June 26, 2005 at 09:36 AM -- Trackback



Looks like this needs to get a thorough review. Who signed the papers? Who approved this?



Not enough decent, hard working, law abiding immigrants available that the government has to allow this type of activity to go on? Reminds one of what . . . . newsbeat1, June 26, 05



Old China file finds new value -- probe into country's potential for espionage here rejuvenated by spy, Peter Worthington says Toronto Sun, June 26, 05



India replacing China as new trade attraction By Christopher C Seeley. Speaking Freely is an Asia Times Online feature that allows guest writers to have their say.

With all the attention on developing and securing trade relationships with China, there has been little room left for anyone else lately. With China-ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) free trade already under way, other free-trade agreements (FTA) that are in the works include China-Australia, China-New Zealand, China-India, China-Pakistan and China-Chile as well as recent initiatives with Iceland, Japan, Korea and Thailand. However, this focus is likely to change, shifting slowly but steadily toward India.

India's economic growth has been the only one to come close and even surpass (the beginning of 2004) that of China's [. . . . ]

Newspaper headlines and the power to influence -- Don't miss this. Jun. 26, 05, Angry GWN -- Check the comments.


www.cbcwatch.ca




Diversion: Thanks, JK

In a UN survey, several countries were asked the following question : "Could you please honestly give your opinion on possible solutions to the lack of food in the rest of the world ?" The result was a total zero due to the following facts :
- in Africa, they didn't know the word 'food'
- in Eastern Europe, they didn't know the word 'honestly'
- in Western Europe, they didn't know the word 'lack'
- in China, they didn't know the word 'opinion'
- in the Mideast, they didn't know the word 'solution'
- in South America, they didn't know the word 'please'


. . . . . and in the US they didn't know what 'the rest of the world' is...

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CFB Gagetown Parliamentary Hearings: Chemical Defoliants Agents White, Orange, Purple

Agent Orange DND Base Gagetown

Agent Orange Gagetown -- Anger flares at N.B. Agent Orange meeting CTV.ca News Staff, June 24, 05

On Tuesday, Karen Ellis, an assistant deputy minister with the Defence Department told a parliamentary committee: "It is extremely unlikely that individuals travelling through the Gagetown test area, even shortly after spraying, could have received exposure to Agent Orange of any health significance. [. . . . ]

Her statement was greeted with derision at the meeting. It seems that spraying was carried out over 30 years and it affected not just the base, but nearby citizens and areas including market gardens whose owners received some monetary compensation at the time. The presentations at the hearings were informative.


Military accused of lying about Agent Orange CBC News, 23 Jun 2005

[. . . . ] The hearing at the base followed a CBC News report that revealed Agent Purple, considered three times more toxic than the cancer-linked Agent Orange, was also sprayed on the base in 1966.

"We cut it, we ingested the fumes, we burned it, therefore we inhaled the smoke ... and when it came time to eat, we sat down among all the toxins and we ate lunch with our bare hands." [. . . . ]

Spraying was 'small scale,' DND says. [. . . . ]

According to an affected individual, there were over 1,000,000 litres of chemical defoliant sprayed in the area over thirty years.

One man brandished documents [obtained from DND, I believe] that estimate more than 6,000 barrels of defoliants were used, starting in the 1950s.

Military accused of lying about Agent Orange CBC News, 23 Jun 2005


N.B. army base sprayed with toxic chemicals -- spraying Agent Purple or Agent Orange. CBC News, 13 Jun 2005

The retired sergeant, [Earl Graves, Black Watch Regiment] who is now president of the regiment's New Brunswick chapter, said the soldiers were told to cover their heads when the planes flew by [. . . . ]

Graves said 170 soldiers in his regiment died of cancer and many of them died young. [. . . . ]

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