The Canada thread

[Jeff]

I've been expecting this. Bloomberg headline today: Canada Studying Private Firms for Prisons as Budgets Fall.

Michael Harris on the Death of Evidence rally:

So why did so many scientists who usually leave the sordid chaos of what public affairs has become to the ink-dogs and the snake oil salesman, to the lobbyists and low-lifes, gather in large numbers to speak out against the guys who control the grant money? The answer is simple: the scientists are the first professional group in Canada to realize with the full force of incontrovertible evidence that a tyrant is at the helm, or more precisely, a wannabe tyrant. And they are also the first, non-partisan group who have drawn a line in the sand beyond which they will not assume the position.

Stephen Harper has provided the data needed to justify their conclusion on the basis of an experiment he himself has been running. How much can he deliver to the 1 percent before the 99 percent will wake up, let alone rise up? How many lies and liars can be protected by the PMO? It is one thing to have different policies, even stealthy ones never announced in election campaigns, but it is quite another to unilaterally dismantle our system of governance and pander exclusively to regime favorites. After all, Harper is a leader who believes in neither free speech nor Parliament. As former Speaker Peter Milliken recently told me “He can’t go much further in undermining Parliament. If he does, it will become completely dysfunctional. For that reason, I think it will become necessary for someone else to undo the things he has done.”

Journalists who have decided their job is to protect the flanks of this klepto-corporate cult known as the Harper government find such talk over-the-top. I find their quibbles craven and irresponsible. How about when over-the-top is right on the money? Dr. Vance Trudeau started his remarks at the Death of Evidence rally by saying that the scientists were very peaceful but not very happy. He explained why he was there. “My friends can’t speak out.” The government was using propaganda not facts to devise policy. It was silencing people who opposed them. It was, Dr. Trudeau, observed, a little like the ghost of Duplessis was abroad in the land. That should even get John Ibbitson’s blood boiling. Doesn’t he make his living practising free speech? If free speech is at bay, isn’t the house on fire John, your house and mine?

http://www.ipolitics.ca/2012/07/12/mich ... in-ottawa/

[Jeff]

Anti-Harper rally on Canada Day in Vancouver. Posting for the beautiful Libby Davies, who speaks at about 8:00.

[Jeff]

The New Villain at Guantanamo Is Canada
By the Editors Jul 15, 2012 6:30 PM ET

...

So, that’s one down and 168 prisoners to go. Another is poised to leave the prison, if only one of the U.S.’s closest allies will stop blocking his repatriation.

Omar Khadr is a Canadian citizen who was 15 when he was captured in 2002 in Afghanistan. In 2010 Khadr pleaded guilty to five charges, including murder, in a deal that made him eligible for transfer to a Canadian prison (and possible parole) after one year. In diplomatic notes to the U.S., the Canadian government indicated it would “favorably consider” Khadr’s return.

Now, however, Minister of Public Safety Vic Toews is singing a different tune, in fluent bureaucratese. Citing the need for a report from Canada’s prisons agency, he is refusing to formally ask for Khadr’s transfer, a diplomatic necessity. Rising public opposition is doubtless a factor -- 53 percent of respondents to an Abacus Data poll conducted in May considered Khadr a security threat.

Canada’s hesitation has had a dangerous ripple effect at Guantanamo. The chief U.S. prosecutor, Brigadier General Mark R. Martins, has wisely sought to reach plea bargains with detainees willing to testify against inmates considered higher up the al- Qaeda ladder. By leaving Khadr in limbo, Canada has jeopardized similar deals with other inmates.

...

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-07-1 ... anada.html

[Jeff]

So there's an election in Quebec today. It's a relatively close three-way race, but the corrupt ancien régime of Jean Charest and the Liberal Party will almost certainly be defeated, and possibly have a historically poor result. The PQ will likely win, though with the new right-wing, post-sovereigntist CAQ still polling high, whether they can win a majority remains uncertain.

The NDP doesn't have a provincial wing in Quebec. I think that's a good thing, and I hope Mulcair rethinks launching one before the next election, because IMO there's already a wonderful choice on the left, Quebec Solidaire. (And many of the NDP's sitting members from Quebec, including former interim leader Nycole Turmel, have been or are QS supporters.) QS is sovereigntist, but unlike the PQ, it's also internationalist, and rejects the chauvinism of identity and language. And instead of a referendum, they propose a national constituent assembly to determine the national question. I think that's an idea overdue for all of Canada.

More reasons why I love QS: it doesn't have a leader, but rather male and female cospokespersons. Feminism and socialism are its founding principles. QS unambiguously supported, without co-opting, the student strike. Its campaign posters feature unretouched candidate photos, like Manon Masse's, who "wears a jean shirt in her poster photo and her hair is undone, loose strands roaming freely...."

Then there's the facial hair, visible above her lips. The picture has drawn a hail of insults and one-liners on social media sites.

The community activist and mother of two, Masse says she wears her moustache proudly as a statement against "transphobia" — a fear of people who transgress traditional gender norms.

"We are politicians who are very different," said Masse, 49.

"We're not here to fit into heterosexual norms."

Currently QS has only one elected member of the National Assembly, co-spokesperson Amir Khadir. (Both he and his daughter were arrested during the strike.) They're polling around 8% now, and will likely also elect co-spokesperson Françoise David and possibly one or two more.



RIers in Quebec, please correct any of my misconceptions.

[Jeff]

Well, let's see.

The Conservatives have cancelled the contracts of non-Christian chaplains at federal prisons. Cost-saving rationale, of course, though the saving is in the thousands, not millions.

The minister strongly supports the freedom of religion for all Canadians, including prisoners. However, the government … is not in the business of picking and choosing which religions will be given preferential status through government funding. The minister has concluded … chaplains employed by Corrections Canada must provide services to inmates of all faiths.

Except, um - never mind.

Calgary Conservative MP (for 15 years!) Rob Anders mused aloud that Thomas Mulcair "hastened" Jack Layton's death. Harper's office issued a Rob speaks for himself, nudge-nudge non-apology.

The Conservatives have been, you know, getting government off the backs of meat packers, by streamlining food inspection. (Including permitting the processing of pre-deceased cattle.) And now, due to contamination at a Calgary slaughterhouse, there's the largest beef recall in our history. The problem was caught only by American inspectors. Federal meat inspection is still being cut. Rather than answer why, the government is using Question Period to trash talk the NDP, which in turn has begun shaming Conservative backbenchers who play Harper's game:

New Democrat Matthew Kellway was up next and used his statement to mock Tory backbenchers for "making up policies or fantasies about commies hiding under their beds" in their daily "fact-free statements." He then questioned whether they have nothing better to do.

"Since the E. coli crisis began, the New Democrats have asked 33 questions about tainted meat, Conservatives not one. Are they talking about the economy or health care? No. Conservatives have made 32 statements and asked 10 questions, 1 out of every 4 Conservative questions (has been) about us, the New Democrats.

"For my colleagues across the way, I ask if this is really what they wanted to do with their life in elected office, indulging the fantasy life of the kids in the PMO?"

And Justin Trudeau announced this week he's seeking the Liberal leadership. His father had gravitas, charisma and a political philosophy. Justin has his name (a Kennedy-like cache to Canadian liberals), good looks, money and the media in his corner. The Conservatives, too. Because whatever success he enjoys will only hurt the NDP, split the anti-Harper vote and likely ensure another Conservative victory. And should he win, the change he represents is a shallow Obama-style rebranding. (And Trudeau has an even thinner resume than had Obama. Before becoming a backbencher with a junior critic portfolio he was a substitute drama teacher.)

Though the Liberals have been reduced to third party, they are still out-fundraising the NDP, because money hasn't abandoned them. And money likes to market the appearance of choice.

The election is expected in 2015 - Harper could always break his word again and call it earlier - so there's time for the Trudeau bubble to burst. But it will be a much harder road to defeat the Conservatives if Trudeau wins the leadership. And It's difficult to conceive of him losing.

[12#4]

Source: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ontario-premier-dalton-mcguinty-resigns/article4614086/
Ontario Premier Dalton McGuy resigns

In a surprise move, Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty announced his resignation Monday evening.

Just one year after winning a third mandate, Mr. McGuinty called his caucus together around the dinner hour at Queen's Park. With his wife, Terri, sitting in the front row, he said he plans to step down as Premier and as leader of the Liberal Party. He will hold on to his seat in the legislature, representing Ottawa South.

“It's time for renewal,” he said. “It's time for the next Liberal premier, it's time for the next set of Liberal ideas to guide our province forward.”

Mr. McGuinty, who won the leadership of his party 16 years ago, said he will stay on until a successor is chosen.

He said he also met with Lieutenant-Governor David Onley earlier Monday to ask him to prorogue the legislature. Mr. McGuinty said he wants his government to be able to pursue its plans to freeze wages for public sector workers “free of the heightened rancour that has sadly too frequently characterized our legislature of late.”

Mr. McGuinty invited reporters into the caucus meeting to hear the announcement, which was made well into his remarks to caucus members. “Are you ready for this?” he joked. He did not immediately take any questions from the media.

Mr. McGuinty said there was no magic in resigning Monday. He also defended his decision to prorogue the legislature saying Ontario sits more than any other in Canada. He added the move will give the party time to develop a new agenda.

Mr. McGuinty would not say when he will recall the legislature and will leave that up to the new leader.

When asked specifically if he was interested in the federal Liberal leadership race, Mr. McGuinty said he "has no plans whatsoever." However, he did not specifically rule out entering the race, insisting only that he has no plans beyond serving as premier until a new leader is in place.

Mr. McGuinty was pressed repeatedly on the federal leadership race but only smiled and said he has "no plans."

First elected premier with a majority government in 2003, he won a second term in 2007 but was reduced to a minority last year.

Last month, his party missed a chance to secure a majority when it lost a by-election in Waterloo.

Mr. McGuinty met with his caucus after a series of dramatic developments throughout the day at the provincial legislature. The opposition accused senior cabinet ministers of misleading the legislature by insisting that they had disclosed all documents relating to two cancelled power plants when in fact they were aware that was not the case.

The Progressive Conservatives initiated a process that could ultimately lead to cabinet ministers being found in contempt of Parliament, when Tory MPP Todd Smith called on Speaker Dave Levac to rule there is evidence government members misled the legislature.

“I am of the belief that the government misled the House,” Mr. Smith told the legislature.

Energy Minister Chris Bentley is already facing a rare censure over his refusal to release documents to a legislative committee last May. The Finance Committee has until Nov. 19 to determine whether he should be held in contempt.

The controversy surrounding the cancelled projects deepened on Friday after the government released another 20,000 pages of documents that were not identified as part of the initial search.

With the legislature now prorogued, all business grinds to a halt, including the move to find Mr. Bentley in contempt of parliament.

“There is no reason to shut this place down,” Progressive Conservative Leader Tim Hudak told reporters Monday night. He vowed that his party will pursue the contempt issues, saying they won’t go away just because Mr. McGuinty has prorogued the legislature.

NDP leader Andrea Horwath also criticized Mr. McGuinty for proroguing the legislature. "The people who make this province work everyday sent us here to do a job. And that work shouldn't stop while the Liberal party focuses on their leadership race," Ms Horwath said. She also said it crossed her mind that Mr. McGuinty prorogued the legislature to avoid contempt issues that have embroiled the legislature lately.

Former PC leader John Tory said last night that Ontarians should acknowledge the sacrifices Mr. McGuinty and his family have made in the cause of public service.

“There will be plenty of time in the weeks and months ahead to judge his record in office. Like any such record, there are good parts and those not so good,” he said.

“Part of that record will be the decision to prorogue the Legislature at this time when we need transparency and accountability more than ever. While there may be practical reasons behind that decision, I don't think it will be seen as a good decision, short or long term."

[MinM]

*‏@AP_Sports: Former #NHL star Fleury urges tougher penalties for perverts, says Canada is like a 'Disneyland for pedophiles'
http://apne.ws/SJa6CB

https://twitter.com/AP_Sports/status/276769260397809665

***

Disney World is just like Vegas for kidz. - Joe Wilson

viewtopic.php?f=17&t=32946

Disney is CIA for kidz!

[IanEye]

"Guy Branum is a funny, funny comic and writer. You might have seen him on Chelsea Lately a lot; and he worked at G4.
He's a great comic.

He also knows some seriously obscure facts about Canada.
Probably not obscure if you're Canadian.

It’s excellent. Enjoy." - Jackie Kashian

more on Ms. Kashian here.

[Jeff]

*‏@AP_Sports: Former #NHL star Fleury urges tougher penalties for perverts, says Canada is like a 'Disneyland for pedophiles'
http://apne.ws/SJa6CB

28 arrested in Spain for alleged link to Toronto-based child porn network

Saturday December 08, 2012
Alyshah Hasham

Spanish police have arrested 28 people and charged 10 others in connection with an international child pornography network allegedly headquartered in Toronto.

DVDs sold though the network via three websites have been distributed to 94 countries for an estimated annual income of $1.6 million, the Spanish Ministry of the Interior said on Saturday.

According to the ministry, the investigation began when Interpol passed on information from Toronto police to Spanish authorities about a network selling child pornography videos based in Toronto that had been in operation since 2004.

Many of the DVD purchases on the websites came from Spain, said the ministry. Some users had spent thousands of dollars. The police tracked the purchases back to the addresses from which they were made in various cities across the country.

The videos were made by exploiting boys from the Ukraine, Romania and Germany. Most children have been identified and rescued in their respective countries, says the ministry.

Some of the individuals arrested are also accused of recording their own child pornography, or attempting to pay or force minors into sex. In addition to the arrests, police seized several video cameras, computers, hard drives, mobile phones and USB keys.

Toronto police, who investigate child pornography cases domestically and internationally, did not comment Saturday.

...

http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/article ... rn-network

[Jeff]

As horrible as things are here, it still warms me a little to hear No Pasaran! and see clenched fists from the benches of the official opposition.

[Handsome B. Wonderful]

Bill C-45 has been passed and awaits a signing by the Governor General to become law by January 6, 2013.

What does this mean for ALL CANADIANS? It is my understanding that First Nation reserves will become de facto municipalities. Since there is so much unemployment on reserves, where is the revenue going to come from? Aboriginal people will be forced to leave their homes to seek employment elsewhere. But how can they, when it is their home? The home of their ancestors. It's not much now, but it's still home to them.

Once they're gone, mining companies will be able to enter these precious lands and mine them, destroying the environment. I strongly believe that First Nations people and their Treaties are the last wall between corporations and them getting their greedy hands on the resources. I also believe it will not benefit Canadians, only the top few richest. China will own Canada before long.

It is truly awful and a sad commentary on what has happened to this country.

[Handsome B. Wonderful]

The Statement CUPW delivered to Chief Spence: 'The Canadian Union of Postal Workers honour Chief Theresa Spence of Attawapiskat for her courageous stand in defense of the land against the moral bankruptcy of the Canadian state. We recognize the racist and genocidal history of Canada and that the attempts to assimilate and silence Indigenous voices have been rife with
failure and abuse. The ongoing theft of Indigenous lands, the refusal to honour agreements made in the name of the British Crown reveal a sadly dishonest and indefensible relationship. It seems nothing is sacred in the eyes of the greedy.

Now this latest government after their so-called "apology" without substance are making another kind of attempt to forever extinguish rights and title to your land while continuing the poverty, illness, homelessness, disappearances of Indigenous women, and imprisonment that it has wrought. Everyone who identifies as "
Canadian" should be deeply ashamed of this sad performance but shame is not enough.

Our organization will not lend our name to that destruction or defend a morally bankrupt government and system. We will not be a party to traumatizing whole populations and can no longer deny or remain silent over the fact the homes of the settlers were built on the ruins of others.

No re-writing of history will change what we all know. These territories were unjustly seized and exploited while accompanied by ongoing attempts to erase history. We hope that we will learn better to develop customs and practices to guide our relationship. When Indigenous peoples stand to defend the land and Mother Earth it is our duty to stand with them in order to de-colonize ourselves and recognize this complicity of silence that has occurred for generations is not acceptable.

We honour you Chief Spence, driven to this measure, and with humility and gratitude thank you for your courageous defense of the knowledge you have kept alive, for trying to protect places that future generations will enjoy and though it is maybe not your intent, to know that your actions are now speaking for all of us, for everyone who wants and deserves a sustainable way of life in harmony and respect with the earth. We add our name to those who will not stand for taking away sovereignty and the inherent right to land and resources from First Nations peoples in this abusive and indefensible relationship.

In solidarity and gratitude,

Denis Lemelin
National President
Canadian Union of Postal Workers

[Handsome B. Wonderful]

http://www.cbc.ca/strombo/canada/its-be ... ation.html

This is an issue that affects all Canadians. Not just Aboriginals.

[Laodicean]

Commander Chris Hadfield bids farewell from International Space Station, makes first ever music video from space.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/story ... field.html

[MinM]