Nobleton Clear

A Sad Day for Our Environment

2010-01-22T16:01:00.002-05:00

The supreme court ruled in favour of the mining company so that Dease lake can become a toxic waste dump. this is a trout lake that will be used for years as a dump. Fresh water is Canad's most important natural resource. this waste full display by the BC and Harper Government is unacceptable. Having said that I should expect no less from the Harper Government, the Government of Corporate rape of the Canadian environment. We need a new government that will put the Environmental integrity of our country the number one priority.

One More Example of anti Enviromental Protection

2009-10-17T08:27:00.002-05:00

More of our fresh water is under attack. Citizens have had to resort to an appeal to the Supreme Court to get the Federal Government to follow the law. The case in point is the Red Crisp mine in Iskut BC and the mines owners desire desire to turn Klueta Lake into a toxic dump. The Federal Government decided to make a bureaucratic ruling and not have public input and an EAP by changing the terms of the project into individual parts. Fortunately environmental groups have stepped up to challenge this ruling and argue a full environmental review with public input is required under the laws of the land. The ruling will effect all our fresh water sources which is a diminishing resource and must be protected.
This is one more example of the Conservatives attack on our precious environment. It goes in hand with the cancelling of the Navigable Water Protection Act in the January budget. Water is our most precious resource. Where is the Liberal Party policy on protecting our environment and re instituting the protections under the Laws of our land? The people of Canada need to see who will stand up for Canada's environment and our children's future.

We have Lost a Great Canadian

2009-06-24T12:36:00.002-05:00

My sympathy goes to the Le Blanc Family as Romeo Le Blanc has passed away. He served Canada as a dedicated servant always focusing on what is best for all Canadians. His leadership and understanding will be missed.

My Cancer Isotopes

2009-06-09T12:48:00.002-05:00

The Conservatives have been putting the treatment of my cancer and the treatment thousands of other Canadians at risk for the last 30 months. First they fired the head of the safety watch dog commission on safety who said all was not right at Chalk River. then the Conservatives said fire up the old reactor with out fixing it.
Next they cancelled the funding for Maple Leaf 1 and Maple Leaf 2 reactors that were being built to replace the old reactor. One of which these is ready to fire up.
You have Teneycke saying they could not get another reatcor one on line but people a t AECL say they have one of the Maple Leaf reactors that could be brought into service.
Why put so many Canadian lives at risk?? The current government is callous and arrogant.

A Better Investment

2009-06-02T09:55:00.002-05:00

We invest $10 billion of my tax$ in a bankrupt company that I was told we had been bailing out for the past few months so it wouldn't go bankrupt. The investment of my taxes into an industry that has had poor visioning and lack of over site is in itself a poor decision. My taxes would be much better spent on corporate welfare that goes to new idea research at our higher education facilities, green technology manufacturing, like Zen cars, and public transit. Imagine the number of spin off jobs that would created from such an investment. such an investment would also align with a world where oil will be $150.00 + a barrel and the car, as we know it, will become redundant.

Abandoning Canadian Leadership

2009-05-28T13:58:00.001-05:00

There is talk today the Conservatives want to sell off another of our leadership industries. They have been systematically undermining the ability to keep our nuclear industry as a world leader. They have been constantly under funding the research and earlier they cancelled the Maple Leaf project. Now our reactor is down that makes so much of the world's medical isotope they are ready to abandon it rather than buil a new modern one. The Harper Government does nothing but belittle our great industrial heritage. We need a government that will stand up for our scientists and the future of our industrial leadership.

Systematic Environmental Degradation

2009-05-26T09:33:00.002-05:00

The Government has targeted the environment in its budget package. The Conservatives weakened laws that protect waterways and fisheries by undermining the Navigable Waters Protection Act. The amendments had no place in the budget and should have been debated separately as a change to environmental assessment policy. Also Federal environment Minister Jim Prentice announced that Ottawa would eliminate environmental assessments from90% of the "Building Canada" stimulus plan.Under the cover of job creation the Conservatives are reversing our environmental protection.
We stand to lose many of our steams and rivers to unfetter pollution.

Tories Continue Anti-Enviroment Campaign

2009-05-22T10:21:00.002-05:00

Last week we saw additional evidence that the Harper Tories have no intention of protecting the Canada's environment. Environmental Commissioner Scott Vaughan reported the Governments 's environmental programmes would not get the results the Tories claimed. At the same time Environment Minister Jim Prentice's goes to Washington to object to the new U.S. act that would impose charges on imports from countries with weaker emission regulations. As we have such water down targets obviously Prentice went to complain about these "boarder adjustments" because Tories have no environmental protection plans.
Lets get a new Government that will put in strong environmental legislation and turn back all the Tory cancellations like the changes to the Navigable Waters Act.

Anti Job Creation Move

2009-04-16T14:08:00.002-05:00

I have been a bit behind in my reading. I see the McGuinty Government is again working against the creation of jobs in Ontario's manufacturing sector. The Zenn car has been regulated out of the market so we loose jobs in Ontario. The decision is also an environmental green industry disaster. An opportunity to be a world automotive leader has been lost missed! At the same time we give my tax dollars to over incompetent CEOs to run crumbling enviromentally poor companies.

Water Water not Much Left.

2009-04-08T10:46:00.003-05:00

I was at an investment conference on the weekend. The main gist was invest in infrastructure like water projects. The following statistics was shared with us: 97% of the world's water is in the oceans, 3% of the world's is fresh most of which is in the ice caps and of the remainder of the 3% ,75% is polluted. As fresh water becomes our most important resource our government has forced through legislative changes to weaken water protection. under the ammendments to the Navigatable water Protection Act they have given the environment minister the right to stop or bypass environmental assessments. This is a moral crime as we need stronger protection of our fresh water not less.

Conservatives Hate Canadianism

2009-03-26T12:54:00.002-05:00

The lack of support for the CBC is to be expected from the Liberals. After all in the last election they ran on a policy of cutting cultural subsidies. Now our television industry as a whole is in trouble they have no desire to help it out. They will however, give tax dollars to large foreigner corporations that are privately held like Chrysler. Our television industry is important to our national identity and the ability to create our own productions. CBC should be given the loans and an additional form of funding given to the private sector through the carriage fees.

Talking of a Hurry When He stalled for Months

2009-03-12T13:05:00.002-05:00

Suddenly Harper is in a Hurry
Last fall when we didn't need an election. Mr Harper broke his law and called one. He told us the economic fundamentals were sound and ridiculed those of opposing views. When Parliament opened in November he introduced a budget calling for a surplus and denied the economic woes. When the other parties called him on his inaccuracies he ran to the Governor General to prorogue parliament.He then did nothing to stimulate the economy for 6 weeks. In January his government brings forward a new budget and he and his finance minister are suddenly being impatient. Yesterday he claimed the economy would recover soon if the stimulus budget passed quickly. To day Mr. Page's report is not nearly as glowing indicating the economic downturn is more sever than Mr Harper would have us believe.
I feel Mr Harper is again misleading the country to cover up his own inept actions and constant misunderstanding of the economic situation.

Liberal's Strength Undeer Lseter Pearson

2009-03-02T14:45:00.002-05:00

I got a letter from Michale Ignatieff as part of the Victory Fund campaign in which he refers to canvassing for the Liberals in the 60s. I remember those years well, Mr. Person never won a Majority and in 57 lead the party to the worst defeat ever but the party stuck by him. He built a strong Liberal party by recruiting and encouraging others to step up for Canada in public life. He also built a strong allegiance to the party on behalf of Canadians by having a progressive social platform. We saw the creation of the CPP., OAS. strengthen UIC, guaranteed income supplement, student loans, medicare and promotion of a national pride through our new flag and the strength of character to stand up for our beliefs. He told DeGaul to go home. He went to the United States and made a speech telling Johnson to stop bombing North Vietnam.
I would like to see a Liberal platform that lived up to the underlying principles of a Canada where we look after those in need, protect our economy and environment. This would mean amending the current Bill C10 to stop the cancellation of pay equity, to stop the Conservatives giving the Minister of Environment the right to allow damming and dumping in rivers, and have an extension of the UIC to its former standards of the 1990s.

Bill C10 and the Conservative Agenda

2009-02-27T13:54:00.002-05:00

The conservatives are using the budget to be sneak and push forward their Conservative agenda. The Liberal party is complicit in the action. Women will no longer be able to appeal to the Human rights Commission to get equal pay for equal work. they will have to go through the bargaining process which failed before which is why the pay equity changes were originally put in place. Why shouldn't women get equal pay for equal work? We know women earn about 30% less than men performing the same work making it much more likely that single mothers and their children will live in poverty. This means the children will not perform as well in school, and if we do not have a well educated population we will have less ability to get out of this recession in an expedient manner.
The pledge by Ignatieff to support the budget makes this a Liberal-Conservative Budget, which means the current Liberal leadership is divesting itself of true Liberal principles. The Liberal party was once the party that looked after all in society with a commitment to raise the welfare of all Canadians not to deliberately push some down. Why are we not seeing Liberal amendments to this legislation?

Where is Walter Gordon

2009-02-25T09:48:00.002-05:00

In Yesteryear a the Liberal party was the party of economic sovereignty. In the recent conservative budget there are clauses to weaken the review of foreign take overs by raising the amount from $295 million to $1 billion and raising the foreign ownership of domestic airlines fro 25 to 49 per cent. If we loose control of our resource companies and innovative companies we loose our ability to focus future economic growth.
I hope to see the Liberals oppose these measures in the committee stage of the budget process and put forward amendments to protect our Canadian ownership.

Environmental Hypocracy

2009-02-18T13:27:00.002-05:00

The Current Conservative Government is using the budget now before Parliament to undermine our environmental protection. The Budget will amend the Navigable Waters Protection Act to let cabinet exempt certain rivers and lakes from regulations that limit dumping and damming. Can't you just see what the oil industry will do to the Athabasca River when they get it exempted. The whole MacKenzie River system will be destroyed.

At the same time Transport Minister John Baird is considering cutting back the breadth and scope of environmental assessment laws in the name of removing red tape.

It will be open season on our fresh water rivers!

I ask how can the Liberals be supporting this budget with out amendments??

hope for Transparency

2009-02-17T13:34:00.002-05:00

President Obama will visit this week so it is a time for a new hope for some transparency. The secret integration of Canada's regulations with the US regulations, through the Security and Prosperity Partnership dilutes our sovereignty. The regulatory agreements reached during this process are made in secret and are not ratified or debated in parliament. It is time to have an end to the behind closed doors changes.

At the same time why not put some other outstanding issues on the table, such as, access to pubic owned fresh water being a right of citizenship, to ban bulk water exports and ensure public services like medicare and education remain in the pubic sector and out of the hands of foreign companies.

Don't Let Politicans Off the Hook

2009-02-05T11:41:00.002-05:00

Woodland Caribou, song birds, Spotted Owls and boreal forests have no votes which is why our Government has a moral responsibility to protect our environment. The Conservatives will excuse their inaction toward global warming, protection of clean water, protection of natural spaces and in action under the Species at Risk Act as an economic necessity.This dancing around environmental issues puts our children's health at risk.

A Pestilence of Opportunity is Upon Us!

2009-02-02T13:40:00.002-05:00

As US raises the protectionist flag it is time to revisit NAFTA and the Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP) agreements. These two have cost Canada too much sovereignty. As the rules are changing we should scrap Chapter 11 and put a hold on any more deep integration of our regulations through SPP with the US. We need a full public debate on Canadian economic sovereignty.
On the Green agenda we need to ensure fresh water becomes a Fundamental Right of all Canadians and not allow bulk exports of this crucial resource. We need to protect our health care from privatization. We need to become petroleum self sufficient so we do not have to import oil to the east coast. Finally lets go green starting with a ban on bottled water, installing modern sewage plants in all municipals areas ie, so Victoria doesn't put raw sewage in the ocean, and clean up the dirty oil production of the tar sands.

Trust!

2009-01-27T14:46:00.001-05:00

Today we slip into hearing about the balance of a new budget. Do the opposition parties support it or don't they? The real question is can Mr. Harper be trusted? I say the best proof is past behaviour, so no we can't. He called an election before a fixed date. In the last election he stated the fundamentals of our economy were sound and ridiculed others of opposing views. He said they would never have a deficit. I don't believe he will implement this budget and the money will stay in federal coffers. I also believe the budget could be better crafted to meet Canadians needs.

The opposition parties should use their majority on the Parliamentary committees. They should use that majority to amend the budget to make it more appropriated with time lines to ensure the money reaches the people and projects to help communities, individuals citizens and industries in need.

Why the Great Variation in Gas Prices.

2009-01-21T11:06:00.002-05:00

Last Friday I past gas stations near Totonto going up highway 27 where the prices was $.81 per liter, and bought at gas $.73 in Wasaga Beach and the next day in Coborg I paid $.65 a liter at Canadian Tire. I drive back to Totonto on Saturday night and it is $.81. Who is getting riped off here?? Why the price gouging when the cost of crude is so much lower now?

Tax Cuts Are Wrong!

2009-01-21T10:09:00.002-05:00

Tax cut will not stimulate the economy. Past experience has shown that at most tax cuts have only a 20% stimulus and at times of economic uncertainty and low consumer confidence only up to a 10% stimulus. Most tax cuts will go to pay down debt, go into savings, like TFSA which will further reduce government revenue, and if spent go on imports that will stimulate other economies.
A true stimulus package looks for ways to get Canadians working. Infrastructure is an excellent way. There are many municipal projects across Canada from new roofs on arenas or libraries to new roads, sewers and transit that have already had their EA assessments completed. Shovels can go into the ground very quickly generating jobs and construction material demands. Then there are the soft infrastructure projects, such as, affordable day care so parents can work, higher education and job retraining,and social housing which support those in need and less affluent.
These types of projects create immediate jobs for Canadians who become tax payers which help us pay down the deficit. This will prepare Canada for the new greener economic structure as many of those manufacturing jobs lost will not return, just as they didn't after the last Conservative recession in 1991.

Shown Wanting Again

2009-01-15T15:37:00.002-05:00

Canada has given a new contract to North Star to build trucks for the army. The trucks will built in Texas and the company will close its Catham plant in Ontario. Where is the thinking of this Government? Canadian Tax $ help US recover. What about Canadian workers?? Where was the clause they use the Canadian plant so we get the value of the government contract?
Conservatives have to go!

Tough Decisions at Home

2009-01-13T13:54:00.002-05:00

Trying to stay focused on major issues facing Canada with all the international distractions is a tough job. It won't be long till we are back to political brinkmanship. Canadians really need a Government who's goalies to help Canada adjust to the economic restructuring. To this end we need a major investment in concrete and social infrastructure. There are the quick shovel in the ground needs of municipalities to upgrade roads, sewers, arenas, libraries, harbours etc.. Then there are the soft infrastructure projects that are critical for us as a society: Child care, job retraining, social housing, higher education flexible use of UIC that kicks in earlier and for longer.
Tax cuts will not help. There is a low stimulus return to cuts because people we them to pay down debt, save for rainy days and if there is a little spent it is most often on imported consumer goods TVs, iPods and so on.
Canadians have a history of looking at the greater good rather than the selfish me first. I hope this is what we will get.

Missed Opportunities

2009-01-08T14:47:00.002-05:00

I read today that Norwegian Umoe Solar Inc is buying UPMs paper plants in New Brunswick. Here is a company from a country that has had a Carbon Tax since 1991 and close control of the petroleum industry forcing carbon capturing. Mr Dion wanted to take Canada on a route to be a world leader in green manufacturing and renewable energy. The current government blocks all efforts to clean up our country. Now we have foreign companies buying our companies who have the funds and technologies because their country forced them to be more energy efficient and creative so at a time of economic downturn they make money off our inertia. We need a government committed to the greater good of all Canadian citizens future health and economic opportunities not big polluting multinationals.

Away In The Cold

2009-01-06T14:37:00.002-05:00

To help the Canadian economy our family took our winter break in Quebec. It was a great skiing trip at Le Massif the highest point east of the Rockies, but it was cold!! This is much the way I fear the unemployed, homeless and working poor will feel after the the conservative budget. Those with money will get a tax break and the poor will pay for the public deficit for years to come with no relief in sight.

We need a conservation oriented, green infrastructure stimulus plan to be implemented last December. When will ordinary Canadians get relief?

Conservative Bankrupt of Original Thought

2008-12-19T14:51:00.003-05:00

We see the Conservative Government's total lack of understanding of the depth of the world wide financial down turn and how to plan for Canada's recovery again yesterday. We have gone form the strong fundamentals to a possible depression to having create a panel of prominent Canadians to help them focus on what to do. If we had elected the Liberals back in October by now a stimulus package for ordinary Canadians would be in place and we would be working to protect the environment.
This Cabinet of Yes "people" has to go!

Canada deserves visionary leadership. A plan to address not only the financial crisis but at the same time the environmental crisis. We can not lose sight of the fact if we don't save our world's environment/climate the financial bailout won't be worth a plugged nickel.

The Dark Side of Ontario's Northern Policy

2008-12-16T13:20:00.002-05:00

McGuinty announced last summer a plan to protect large tracks of northern Ontario's boreal forests through the creation of a plan built on consultation. In essence McGuinty is saying the old cut line is history and the north is open for development and come on in forestry and mining companies. I don't see the current Ministry of Environment or Ministry of Natural Resources protecting our endanger species or the and delicate northern ecology because of their history of justifying environmental abuse in the name of development. Thousands of song birds and other species like the woodland caribou will become just be pictures on the wall.

Environment-Lost In The Carry On

2008-12-15T11:29:00.002-05:00

Our Government was represented by Mr. Prentice recently in Poland as the World tries to grapple with the survival of the world as we know it. Canada was shunned because of our stand on intensity targets and do nothing approach to the Tar Sands environmental disaster. We should look to Norway who has a CO2 capturing programme in place for its oil fields off Stavanger.

Canadian political leaders need to put the environment right at the top of crisis to deal with along with the current financial mess. Both are a result of human greed and the lack of Government oversight.

Ontario Government Drags Its Feet

2008-12-12T13:50:00.002-05:00

Why has it taken nearly a century to update the mining legislation. Until it is passed there should be no mining activities on sensitive and cultural landscapes.
Land owners need to have a say on who walks onto and marks up their land, therefore, prospectors should get informed consent.

Why do we have to wait 15 year to have a land use plan in place for the Boreal forests. This area of Canada houses in is soil and trees the world's larges supply of carbon. In Ontario alone, about 97 billion tonnes. Terrestrial disturbances lick mining, road building, and logging ,disturbs the physical environment releasing carbon into the atmosphere prematurely, where it forms CO2, contributing to global warming. In the 2004 election McGuinty promised there would be no more new logging commitment until a land use plan was in place. This is yet another broken promise from that campaign.

Keep the carbon where it is stored in trees and the soil. this will help us fight climate change.

Green Infastructure

2008-12-11T11:42:00.003-05:00

If Mr Ignafieff is to Mr with Mr. Harper to discuss the new budget I modestly suggest that the environment be at the top of the list. Infrastructure stimulus could focus on technologies, such as, solar,wind and Geo-thermal power, plus green transit construction, bus only lanes, bike lanes, high occupancy lanes, car pooling parking lots, public transit vehicles from our own transit manufacturers.

Selflessness

2008-12-09T14:41:00.002-05:00

As I watch my fellow Canadians I see we are in the season of being egocentric consumerism. The question I ask myself is can we change our behaviour and look at what we can do for our environment. I think it starts with selflessness asking ourselves are my purchasing decisions ones that will have a minimal impact on my environment and therefore, on every one's environment.

Let us all make one decision that is environmentally protecting Canada's ecosystem.

Black Day for Office of Governor General

2008-12-07T15:34:00.002-05:00

Governor General Michaelle Jean diminished the stature of the role of governor General in the manner she handled the request of Harper last week. To not have talked to Her Majesties Loyal Opposition show a lack of understand of that office in the Parliamentary system. To have set a constitutional precedent by proroguing parliament and at the same time being secretive as to the rationale treats the citizens of Canada as if we were in a tin pot third world dictatorship where the elected representatives of the majority of citizens need not be heard from. I am sure if she had called upon the parliamentary constitutional experts available to her a fuller more measured consultative less secretive approach would have been take.

At the end of Michaelle Jean's term the we must have a new Governor General. This Canadian needs to have a fuller knowledge and understanding of the constitutional role of the office and the intricacies of the Parliamentary constitutional precedent. The person must also ensure the decision is open and transparent.

Compare!

2008-12-04T09:58:00.001-05:00

Harper is to Parliamentary decorum AS Avery is to the NHL>

The difference is one is working in the southern USA and the other belongs there.

Quality VS. Quantity

2008-12-02T13:43:00.002-05:00

Our Government in waiting is one that right off the start has demonstrated it understands the need for fiscal responsibility. We will have a Cabinet on third smaller than the current Government dropping from 37 to 24 ministers. The savings in executive branch costs can be use as part of a stimulus package. Mr. Dion has made it clear they will be looking for the most able members to form this coalition government. When you look at the members in both parties there is a a depth of experienced quality to choose from.

Canada will be in good hands.

Two Great Statements

2008-12-01T19:31:00.002-05:00

In an interview with Rick Mercer back in the fall (Prime Minister in waiting) Mr. Dion said "I am always being under estimated."
Today in the Q&A Mr Duceppe said " Mr. Harper has been pulling a lot of rabbits out of his hat lately. We need a Prime Minister no a magician."

Harper "I am not a Dictator"

2008-12-01T19:27:00.001-05:00

I find Mr. Harper’s actions and statements over the last eight weeks to be contradictory and misleading. During the election he was adamant there was no economic crisis and he could never foresee a need for a deficit He then went on to ridiculed the Liberals for putting forward a plan to deal with the crisis which included having a series of meeting. Immediately after the election he declared we had a crisis and implemented the Liberal plan calling a series of meetings.

Mr. Harper also attended a number of international meetings to deal with the global crisis that his Government had not for seen during the election. At each of those meeting with the G 8, G20 and APEC members the message was clear, we have a world wide economic crisis and all Government should implement a stimulus package, not make financial cuts to programmes, not become protectionist and deficit was expected. I clearly remember Mr. Harper in Peru standing at the podium stating he foresaw a deficit as necessary along with a stimulus package.

Mr. Harper also stated after the election he would work in a co-cooperative consultative way with the other parties to make the minority government work. The content and manner of the financial statement delivery is diametrically opposite to his recent statements and opposes the commitments he made in public to our international trading partners. The financial statement included no stimulus package; it did include cuts to programmes and was not built on cooperation with the other elected members of parliament. Instead he used the opportunity to attack things he did not like, such as, pay equity, collective bargaining, and unions.

In the past three elections Mr. Harper has not gained the support and votes of a majority of Canadians and only in the last two elections did his party get more seats. When Martin’s Liberal Government was in a minority position and asked to go to the polls he wrote to the Governor General asking her to ask the opposition to form a government before calling an election. Now he claims it is undemocratic for parties to form a coalition and rule. Yet the other three parties represent 64% of Canadians voters. The election was so recent that for the Governor General not to request the other parties to see if they can form a coalition would not be acceptable and is constitutionally the correct thing to do. He had the nerve to stop parliament and prevent votes because he was not getting his own way. What right does he have to stop our elected representatives from fulfilling their constitutional rights??

This man has shown a total disregard for the majority of Canadian voters. He has shown disrespect toward the institution of parliament by continually being obstreperous, belligerent toward the majority our elected representatives.

Times of Crisis Calls for a Coalition

2008-11-28T18:49:00.002-05:00

In World War I, a time of world wide crisis, Canada had a coalition Government. We are in a world wide crisis again and world leaders have been meeting to try and resolve the crisis through economic stimulus packages.

Mr. Harper did not bring forth an economic stimulus package and he refuses to meet the elected representatives instead he dissolves Parliament for a week when a motion not to his liking is put forth. How can he be so undemocratic and delay the vote of the people's elected representatives. The last 2 elections made it clear Canadians do not want Harper to have a majority.

I for one look forward to a coalition that will respond to support ordinary Canadians in a time of crisis.

Time For Canadian Nationalism

2008-11-27T13:45:00.003-05:00

The question is has NAFTA really helped Canada? I think not. The most important factors that led to expanded trade over the last 20 years were the cheap Canadian $, publicly funded health care, and the insatiable US appetite for oil, gas and other resources. Our $ started to climb 24 months ago and our manufacturing was in trouble. US housing slowed and our lumber industry stumbled. Previously The US imposed tariffs on our lumber that were illegal under NAFTA before that because they are protectionist by nature.

Now is a time to open up NAFTA to get rid of Chapter 11 and the proportional sharing clause that requires we maintain the flow of energy to US at our expense. Since free trade came into effect close to 70% of Canada's crude and 60% of our natural gas goes to US which is an increase from 33% and 25% in 1985.

Federal governments over the last 25 years have lost their vision to provide good government for all Canadians to protect us by ensuring national policies are strengthened in a variety of sectors; energy, equal health care accessibility, a national communication plan, a new national public transportation system (pipelines, rail and road). We now export ample amounts of oil to make the country self sufficient but we import 49% of our oil needs. At the same time the National Energy Board has been undermined so pipe lines to the US are built before our own national needs are secured.

The opening of NAFTA can be used to strengthen our national security while at the same time a full disclosure of regulator integration changes under the Security Prosperity Partnership negotiations should come to Parliament for approval.

Governments have a moral responsibility to enhance Canada's sovereignty and national interests by strengthening the fundamental structures, institutions and values that make us distinct.

Truth by Example

2008-11-25T15:06:00.002-05:00

A Little over a month ago Mr. Harper said Canada was never going to have deficit under his watch. Now one is mandatory because he said the fundamentals are strong only a month ago! He says we need restraint in spending and he appoints a larger cabinet.Chretien had 23 ministers and Harper has 36. each minister comes at a cost of an extra $75,000 in salary per plus deputy minister and office staff. Yet we must see a smaller civil service and and lower demands by the bargaining units.
How can this man be a leader let alone expect us to trust him.

Canada For Sale

2008-11-18T13:59:00.002-05:00

I was in Windsor on the weekend and pick up a copy of The Windsor Star to see a list of Canadian assets that Flaherty is reviewing for sale. A sale that is considered forced by the Conservatives two year spending spree and the unwarranted tax cuts that destroyed the surplus the Liberals had built up so they can try to avoid the defict they caused. Items on the list showed that the Conservatives truly do not respect Canadian cultural institutions. We have things such as, The Museum of Civilization,which includes the War Museum, The National Gallery, the National Museum of Science and Technology, which includes the Aviation Museum and Agriculture Museum, and the Museum of Nature on the block.
I believe Canada has a wonderful depth of museums that help us identify who we are as a nation. This is why past governments that understood the importance of the government establishing and running institutions that make us proud to be Canadian. I do not believe we can put a dollar value on our national heritage.

Harper Keeps his Promise

2008-11-12T14:22:00.002-05:00

Last Friday Nov. 7th at about 6:30pm after everyone goes home and Parliament is not sitting the Harper government announces it is cancelling the Portrait Gallery. True to his word Harper cuts the Arts. Here was an opportunity to display some of the hundreds of our Nation's portraits many of which would have been of veterans.

No matter they dress it up ,tight economic times, to do it at that hour when parliament is not sitting and MPs are not available to comment, shows the dark side of this Conservative Parties disregard for our history, culture, and institutions of the Country.

A Moment of Quite

2008-11-11T11:32:00.002-05:00

I had the opportunity this morning to attend a Remembrance Day Service in an elementary school. The children were very respectful and sang beautifully! Durimg the time of silence I thought about the grandparents, uncles, cousins, and parents who fought in the wars some of whom never came home, others who carried injury disabilities and scars for the rest of their lives.

We owe them so much and continue to do so today.

Intoleranace and Subtle Racism

2008-11-06T07:56:00.002-05:00

English speaking Canadians remind me of ugly Americans sometimes. When they travel they expect everyone to speak English. English speaking Canadians expect everyone to spake clear non dialect accented English. How often have you hear the words, "Can't understand a word he is saying", Can't speak English and you want to live in this country??

This intolerance is part of the reason Dion lost the election. The attitude toward non-English speaking Canadians when we have tow official languages is subtle racism. An English speaking politician going into Quebec is cut slack and we say "at least he tried" but for a French speaking Canadian/ politician who speaks our other official language English Canadians not cut them the same slack. As Gilles Duceppe put it in Canada there are two official languages, English and simultaneous translation. The demand that Dion speak perfect English and the lack of tolerance for his disability to hear certain sounds and therefore miss certain parts of words/questions makes me sad to be a Canadian.

Dion may not have done as well in Englich speaking Canada but he improved the party's position in Quebec. Fellow Qubecers acepted the professors ideas and vision he had for a better Canada.

Unexpectedly Methane Gas Levels Rise

2008-11-04T13:47:00.002-05:00

I recently read about the rise in methane gas levels in the atmosphere. Up until now the levels have stayed stable but are now rising.As methane is a much great contributor to climate change than CO2 the rise is a major concern. Some of this can be coming from the northern hemisphere, Canada and Siberia, as the perma frost melts and the trapped gs in the rotting vegetation escapes.

I tremble when I think of our current Government's total lack of commitment to real CO2 emissions cuts to slow and reverse global warming and to protect our world. We missed a golden opportunity in the last election to take positive action with a new vision for Canada.

CRTC's Partial Backbone

2008-10-31T10:22:00.002-05:00

I have listened with some relief that the CRTC did not give the cable companies what they wanted and will continue to regulate the industry. However, the packages will now be a la carte with a minimal 51% majority having to be Canadian. Maybe packages should have been 66% or more. On the other hand the increase in funding for Canadian productions to support local markets is a step in the right direction. The CRTC is to be applauded for this.

The recent elections showed us that the support and fostering of Canadian culture is a priority with Canadians. We have seen what deregulation has done to other sectors and in my view greater regulation and enforcement by the CRTC to promote Canadian would be most acceptable.

Harper's A B T

2008-10-29T08:47:00.002-05:00

Some of the dust has settled after the election and we now have a very clear picture of Harper's answer to Danny's ABC it is ABT (Anything but the TRUTH). Harper said the economy was sound and now he uses the "R" word. Harper said he would never have a deficit and now Flaherty tells us we can expect one. Harper ridiculed Mr Dion's plan for the economic crisis and then steals it for his plan. Note his meeting with the premiers and the bail out to the banks at the end of the campaign.

This man can not be trusted. His Government impemented massive tax cuts and went on a huge spending spree. This demolished the $12 billion surplus he inherited. The two moves undermined the ability of his Government to react in a non deficit way to the global economic restructuring without using programme cuts. I expect his ideology to lead the way with extensive social programme cuts when the country could have used intervention through extended social programmes, ie. retaining, and targeted infrastructure funding like social housing, water purification and pubic transit. Just imagine how many MIR machines we could have had for the $300 million spent on an election he legislated to be next year.

But then again this is Harper's ABT.

Courage

2008-10-25T15:06:00.002-05:00

To stand up for ones beliefs and principles in the face of a constant bi rage of criticism takes tremendous courage. Mr Dion's proposed carbon tax was such an action.

Canada needs a new environmental direction amidst the current economic restructuring. To do nothing on the emissions side is not a zero risk. It is a huge risk. If we are going to handle the challenge of climate change we need to think differently than we have up until this time.

I applaud Mr. Dion for having taken up the challenge.

Chance Missed

2008-10-21T14:43:00.002-05:00

Canada is worse for the loss of Green Shift. Mr Dion's honesty, integrity and vision was a becon and insiration to all enviromentalists. We had an opportunity to move forward and leave our country in better shape for the next generation. Now with Harper at the helm our beautiful country is at risk of further rape and plunder.

I hope we have a Liberal leadership race soon and a fresh commitment to the environment that sustains us all

The Liberal's Home Base Is?

2008-10-17T12:58:00.002-05:00

The Just Society of the liberal party has got lost in the last 2 decades. Through out the 20th century the liberal Party readily took social polices under its wing and made them part of the Canadian social fabric. King brought in UIC, Family Allowance, and pensions. then Pearson brought in universal heath care and public housing and Trudeau a women's right to chose and the Charter of Rights. The party in the 90's became very fiscally conservative to bring back the needed fiscal responsibility. The result was a number of essential social programmes were cut or gutted or underfunded and we got use to an idea that smaller government assistance to the less able was alright. This allowed the public to support a hard line conservatism and legitimised Harperism.

In the past we took good CCF/NDP ideas and adopted them. This allowed the Liberals to maintain a centrist position keeping the left in a more fringe position. As the Liberals moved more right we have lost the centre left support in regions with a high social consciousness, such as, Sask, Man. and BC. The party needs to take the progressive centre left view with regards to the environment because the is obviously a strong public sentiment there. At the same time we need to be more socially conscientious continuing with things like universal daycare, a catastrophic drug plan, social housing,court challenges programme, literacy and a high minimum wage.

Wind Power Is Only at Queens Park

2008-10-17T12:46:00.002-05:00

I see in today's Star that another wind power project is halted in Ontario due to the delays by intergovernmental red tape. If the McGuinty government was really serious about conservation and green house gas emissions they would clear the bureaucratic blockages so all Government Ministries put environmental preservation first. It is just another example of saying one thing and doing the other. It is just like the Zen cars they won't allow on Ontario's city streets which may mean a Canadian invention with Canadian manufacturing will leave to more amenable location ie. NY.

Questioning David Herle

2008-10-16T13:52:00.002-05:00

One of the reason the Liberal Party has been in disarray Since 2001 is the group that was around Martin and the vindictive nature of their purging of others views. This took place with the blessing of the Senior members of the party and we wonder why there is a disconnect for the voter base.
David Herle was part of that Martin inner circle that lead us to the slippery slope decline toward minorities and opposition. For him to be pronouncing on the party problem further undermines it credibility of that group when you can't see you are the causes of part of the problem.

Gas Prices are a Rip Off

2008-10-16T13:46:00.002-05:00

I just don't get it If the price of crude has dropped in half since summer to less that $70.00 why an I still paying over a $1.00 at the pumps? I should be paying only about $.64 a litre. This is a ripe off!!!

I am sure that the Harper Government will do nothing to regulate the price gouging of the oil companies. This is the new government looking out for ordinary Canadians.

Sad Day

2008-10-15T08:23:00.002-05:00

In my riding, Oakridges Markham, we lost a good MP in Lui Temelkovski. He worked hard for his constituents and always supported the community events. There was slippage and a no show in Liberal vote and he lost by a mere 430 votes. Lui we thank you and wish you and your family all the best.

Now is a time to look at the range of parties in opposition and ask ourselves how do we re energize our Liberal base to encompass and unite those with inclusive, Canadian oriented, progressive policies opposed to the belligerent, divisive, Conservative right.

Time to Vote. Go Liberals Go!

2008-10-14T07:30:00.003-05:00

We have seen a myrid of polls and today we get the only one that counts. For it to be a good poll acurate to the needs of Canada we need all Liberals to come to the aid of their party. Strategic voting is a very real reality this time with internet swapping we have seen. With the three alternatives it is important to make sure our votes count to stop Harper and his band of yes people. Lets get out the vote for the Liberals In some ridings it is better to vote NDP or Bloc to stop the liberals. I understand if you check on line at the following site you can see which party has the best chance to stop Harper. democraticSPACE's strategic voting guide.
GO VOTE!

Bothsides of the Mouth Harper

2008-10-10T13:06:00.003-05:00

When a $25 billion is not a bailout is when the fundamentals are good. I would hate to see what he would give away in tax payers money to the profit gouging banks who won't pass on the interest rate cuts if there was a problem.

This is strong leadership????

Harper Relating to Candians

2008-10-08T13:44:00.003-05:00

Last night on CBC national Harper was interviewed by Peter Mansbridge. Now this was instead of Your Turn where everyday Canadians get to ask the questions. Mr Harper didn't want that so he would only come for and interview (Control ).The gist of the first question was how do you relate to everyday Canadians in the current circumstances. It struck me as ironic he would explain how he related when he didn't wan the Your Turn format to answer Canadian voters directly.

The icing was his comment about bargains and buying opportunities. He obviously has not been to the smaller manufacturing centres in Canada where the lead plant has down sized or shut down causing major economic and social upheaval.

The Endangered Enviroment

2008-10-07T07:26:00.001-05:00

I was reading the story about the number of endangered mammals in the world on cbc.ca/technology/story/2008/10/08mammalsthreatened and shocked by the number of mammals at risk of extinction. The main cause is human behaviour from habitat destruction to insecticides. It speaks clearly to the immediate need for a strong environmental plan to address all aspects of conservation. We must not be just concerned about the climate rming but our water supply the chemical we use daily that go into the worlds habitat. If that number of mammals are vulnerable then what about the many many smaller forms of life that make up our personal habitat.

When I see governments like the McGunity here in Ontario say they will take 15 year to come up with a plan for Northern Ontario's boreal forest while the habitat for thousands of song birds and many mammals like the woodland caribou are being decimated. You realize they just don't get it.

I bet the Conservative platform to be realsed tday will not address the enviroment satisfacrially to revese the desigration of Canada's environment.

Hiding the Tory Secrests

2008-10-06T09:35:00.002-05:00

The advanced polls have been open and we have seen many voters take advantage of them. These Canadian citizens had to vote without knowing the details and cost of what the Tories would do. Now tomorrow Mr. Harper will release the Tory platform.

I ask "Why so Late?" Maybe he will give another new date for the withdrawal from Afghanistan. Then again it maybe his new social programme focus is coming: cutting funding for social housing, employment training, UIC benefits, more of the arts, infrastructure and transit to cities, training programmes for new immigrants, firring public health officials and food inspectors, copping welfare payments and cutting health transfers to the provinces.

This seems like a solid Citizens Coalition programme to me, one Harper would early endorse.

Dangerous Vandalism

2008-10-05T19:34:00.002-05:00

What kind of people is it who would attack Liberal supports by cutting break lines. this is a very dangerous act putting lives at risk. I only hope the authorities catch the people involved before someone is injured!

Harper's Silence is Scary

2008-10-05T19:24:00.002-05:00

As I reflect on the debate I realize how scary it is that Harper and the Conservatives have no plan for the current economic crisis. The financial credit tightening has resulted in the American consumer being unable to buy our goods and our manufacturers as not able to get the line of credit to hire and expand. At the same time the commodity prices are falling so we lose as the $ tumbles. Harper relies on the his laissez-faire attitude as the Canadian economy unravels. It is time to vote with your mind and heart. Protect ordinary Canadians and elect a Liberal Government.

a Modest Proposal

2008-10-03T15:31:00.002-05:00

In last nights debate Mr. Harper made the statement that the tax credit that parents can get on their income tax for children enrolled in dance lesson or sports activities etc. is a form of cultural support. The concern I have with the credit is that not all parents can afford such activities. their is a current Canadians Tire add that claims that 1 out of 3 parents can't afford to enrol their children in hockey so they have the Jump Start programme. It seems to me that all tax payers end up subsidizing those parents who have the money to enroll their children through the GST, Gas taxes or excise taxes plus income taxes. If instead of giving the credit the government took the $s the credit costs in revenue and gave it to municipalities then the costs for programmes could be reduced and more could afford to go. As is is now the poor and those of us who are retired or without children are making a cash transfer to those who are wealth enough to have children in programmes. This seems the wrong way to have wealth redistibution.

The Environment is Central to Our Economic Future

2008-10-02T10:40:00.002-05:00

In last nights debate Mr Harper stated his Governments intensity emission control plan would work and all other plans would be bad for the economy. We know that the climate change currently taking place is creating an economic cost to us now.

In the October edition of the Canadian Geographic www.candiangeogaphic.ca on page 28 ,the Discovery section, there is an article about the town of Salluit in northern Quebec. The town has had to move 20 homes, the floor of the fire station has collapsed and the 2 year old road to the airport is twisted with dips all as a result of the thawing permafrost.

As a Canadian this is an economic cost to me. The only really viable plan is that put forth by the Liberal part to start to arrest the dramatic changes taking place.

The Recession Is Already Here

2008-10-01T10:02:00.002-05:00

Mr Harper claims the fundamentals of the Canadian economy are good and that a change will lead to a recession. I contend that the fundamentals are good because of the solid capability of economic management of the previous Liberal Governments.

I also believe the recession is already hear and we are seeing it unfold. For example yesterday another multi-national, Volvo, announced it is closing their heavy machinery plant putting an additional 500 people out of work. In the last 18 months under the Tory watch credit has tightened making the cost of reinvestment more expensive for the private sector. Also under the Harper Government he has promoted tax subsidies to the oil sector and refused to implement a realistic environmental plan to cut emissions which has fueled the oil sector pushing up the value of the Canadian $ removing the competitive edge our manufacturers had on the world stage. This has resulted in massive unemployment in the manufacturing heartland with the parallel loss of revenue to all levels of government coffers. Harper has announced that he did not like the price for the new ships for the armed forces from Canadian manufacturer so he will look off shore. This will lead to higher unemployment which will cost us UIC payments,. We will also loose tax revenue from the manufacturers who would build the ships. We loose the income taxes from the laid off workers. The personal and corporate taxes will go to the country where the ships will be built. Harper economics is forcing us into a recession. He must go!

Harper Avoids the Voters

2008-09-30T09:35:00.002-05:00

Last night on the National Peter Mansbridge announced that Harper refused to come on the Your Turn interview. I can only think this is because Harper does not want to answer question directly from the public because he can't control the information that may be asked for.

the Real Mr Harper Stood Up!!

2008-09-28T14:25:00.002-05:00

Last week we saw the real Mr Harper that the Conservatives adds had tried to cover up come to the for. If a bully is someone who picks on those less able, vulnerable and different than themselves then Mr Harper is a true bully. He would throw the 14 year olds who are not old enough to vote or drive in jail as adults because they can't resist or express their views as voters. He had party members blame the new guy on the block for problems and you have Richardson blaming crime on the new immigrants. He ridiculed and sneered at those who enjoy cultural activities .
These comments are upsetting, divisive and distortions of a reality needed to build a future Canada as they pit one Canadian against another.
Let us watch Dion's integrity and honest vision of how to build a better united Canada shine through in this weeks debate.

Up Up and Away

2008-09-27T14:47:00.002-05:00

The stage is set for a very offensive hard nosed attack as the Liberals move into the final weeks of the campaign. Vigorous impassioned articulation of our policies will win the day. Clear repetition of the message we are the best managers of the economy, having given the Tories a 12 billion dollar surplus, and the party with a vision of Canada for tomorrow benefiting all Canadians will be heard.

When will I See a Full Environmental Plan

2008-09-25T13:46:00.002-05:00

There has been considerable talk about the Green Shift and Carbon Tax to address global warming but the burning of fossil fuels is only a part of a needed total environmental plan. Where is a plan to address habitat destruction, such as, the clear cutting of our virgin forests, strip mining, contamination of our fresh water, the loss of our prime fertile farm land and raw sewage dumping by cities like Victoria. With the loss of habitat we loose species vital to the integrity of our ecosystem. Environmental protection is more that a Carbon Tax.

The Real Mr Harper Came Out

2008-09-24T07:34:00.002-05:00

Mr. Harper's comments about arts funding showed the mean spirited side we are use to in the commons and when ever he does not like the way Canadians voice a concern that is dear to them. Ordinary Canadians are people who go to and support to local theater or local museum or local sports teams. We are not on a gala circuit. Harper can not be trusted

We Are moving Forward

2008-09-21T18:20:00.002-05:00

The newest polls reflect the electorate has put trust as a key issue with the conservatives. This past week brought us two more apologies and show us the Conservatives are a party without any quality depth in the ranks. The stumbling economy to the south with massive nationalization of major financial institutions( bailouts) leaves Canadians wondering if the deregulation of food inspection is the tip of the iceberg here in Canada.
At the same time Dion reiterated his commitment to the environment and a green innovative economy. The Liberal team seen this week demonstrates the depth,quality and strength of the Liberal party. These two differences provide the voter with a clear choice. A strong party with good policies or a bullying leader with no vision for a future Canada.

Can We Tust the Tories

2008-09-19T12:49:00.004-05:00

I believe past behaviour is the best indicator of future behaviour. Which means I believe that Mr. Harper will change his mind and even go against the laws of the land to get power ( the investigation in to last election's spending by the Tories and the election we have now that was not due yet).
He is ideologically driven in the belief good government is less government. Last April the meat packing industry was given the green light to self inspect and by the summer we have death and sickness across Canada as a result of listeria. Families of average Candaians suffer unduley and as tax payers additional health care tax costs will flow our way as well as the costs up coming law suits. .
We need a leader who up hold the laws of the land and believes the lives and health of Canadians is more important than strict objective regulated industries.

Foreign Investment Change & MacDonal Dettiwler

2008-09-17T13:35:00.002-05:00

So Mr Harper wants to change the rules for foreign investment. I guess he really did want to give a US arms manufacturer control of tax payer created Canadian innovative technologies. Canadians must keep control of our inventions and leadership in communications technologies.

Economic Nationalism should be an Election Issue

2008-09-15T09:43:00.002-05:00

Last Friday Harper announced he would make it easier for foreign take overs. Foreign ownership results in reinvestment decision making moving offshore along with the profits. If Canada is to stay competitive and dynamic we need reinvestment by the Canadian private sector and the government. Unfortunately a lot of our manufacturing is owned offshore and we have seen a steady decline in our manufacturing capacity as the production is move to low cost labour markets. this at a time we have a Government that is ideologically against government participation in the economy and has cut taxes to the point it has curb its financial ability to respond to changing economic stresses with out running up a deficit. The net result is less money for infrastructure, incentives or services to keep Canada competitive.
I would like to see a nationalist economic policy clearly articulated /debated as part of the campaign. Canadians need to know where the next government will stand to promote and support creativity and competitiveness beyond just cutting taxes.

Ecojustice Releases Waterproof Report Card

2008-09-14T09:39:00.004-05:00

Ecojustice has put out it Waterproof II report card. There are some bright spots and most jurisdictions are showing positive movement to protect our most valuable resource. The one notable exception is our federal government that received an F grade. Fresh water is a limited diminishing vital resource. It should be a right of all Canadians to have access to safe portable fresh water.

Click to enlarge:

Conservative Budget= Predicted Deficit for 2009

2008-09-13T09:28:00.003-05:00

I was putting out last week's papers in the recycling when and article by James Daw in the Toronto Star's Business section caught my eye.
The article outlines how the Conservatives inherited a surplus that had been fritter away. It quotes a David Wolf of Merill Lynch predicting a potential deficit of up to 6 Billion with those less pessimistic saying the deficit would be 2.5 billion deficit.
No wonder the Conservatives cancelled the new supply ships our military needs to get the supplies to Afghanistan and cancelled the Coast Guard new equipment putting our national security at risk
You can be sure the next fiance minister will have to cut programmes. to control the deficit. The Conservatives will go after social programmes and the arts with a vengeance.
Save Canada's finances Vote Liberal!

Save your Money Vote Liberal

2008-09-12T18:40:00.003-05:00

This week in the King Weekly Peter Van Loan Said "the Conservative Party is responsible for Canada's economic position."

For all of our retired citizens who had their retirement income destroyed by the scrapping of Income trusts,

For all of our community members who have lost their jobs in the manufacturing sector,

For all of you who like paying and extra 13 cents a litre for gas when the price of crude is going down,

save your money Vote Liberal

2008-09-12T07:05:00.000-05:00

Keep up the tradition Vote Conservative for Recession

History is set to repeat it self. If we can learn anything from history it is that to vote conservative is to have an economic slow down/recession/ depression:
1911 Borden, 1930 Bennett, 1957 Diefenbaker, 1988 Mulroney, 2008 Harper. We are in another economic slowdown the stewardship of which belongs with the current government. Keep the tradition vote conservative have a recession.

2008-09-10T07:18:00.000-05:00

Green Party Should Be in the Debate

I strongly believe that the green party should be in the nationally televised debates and that the networks have it all wrong. I have four reasons for this belief.
First, the Green Party is a national party with candidates across the county and a sitting MP.
Second, the Green Party receives tax payer money as a result of the votes they got in the last election and I should see what I am paying for.
Third, in a poll I saw lat night on A channel the Green Party had 9 % of the decided voters the same as the Bloc which is only a regional party dedicated to the break up of the country.
Fourth, in a democracy we should see that legitimate parties are not discriminated against and prevented from having their platform, values and beliefs exposed to public scrutiny..
.

2008-09-03T17:38:00.000-05:00

Harper’s rush to call the election could disenfranchise our youth.
With many of our young voters heading off to college and university away from home they will be hard pushed to be able to vote. As our youth is more concerned about the environment, is this not a deliberate attempt by Harper to reduce or nullify their vote because of the total lack of any Conservative environmental plan to reverse the effects of climate change?

2008-09-02T18:40:00.001-05:00

Can we afford any more time with a Conservative government?

I have been away and come back in dismay to see the Minister of Agriculture defend the processing industries right to self inspect in the face of the Listeria outbreak at Maple Leaf Packing. The Canadian public’s health is at risk by this Conservative Government and we drive up our public health care costs solving the results of a very bad policy shift. Inspectors should be under Health Canada not the Department of Agriculture and fully independent of the company they are inspecting.

2008-04-15T12:26:00.001-05:00

Sun Shine

As I sit here in the sun today I wonder where is our Solar Energy Policy? Renewable energy is an area we have not seen fit to sufficiently exploit. The current Conservative Government is asleep at the switch. With proper incentives we could have a booming industry that would develop new technologies and reduce our fossil fuel dependence. It is time for an election for a new nationalist focused government with a revolutionary approach to Canada's energy self sufficiency.

2008-04-14T15:48:00.001-05:00

Take a Stroll

With the coming of the warmer weather here in Ontario go out and take a stroll along one of the many trails in all our communities. Listen to the sounds of spring. We can keep our Space Ship Earth and all its myriad of inhabitants safe and healthy by all doing a little bit. Have you put in low energy light bulbs?

2008-04-11T10:08:00.000-05:00

Why Sustainable Development: Just the Facts

-Two thirds of the worlds forests are gone and since 1950 in Canada we have removed 50% of Canada’s forests.
-85% of the world’s fish stocks have been fished out
-since 1970 every species except humans is declining.
- Canada’s production and known reserves of natural gas pecked in the early 90s
- half of the oil on earth has been used
- grain production has been declining since 1985.due to densification in Africa and Australia.
-food grain supplies are shrinking as more grain production goes into ethanol
- Safe drinking water is becoming scarcer.

The Conservative government reduced corporate, personal and GST taxes saving us $60billion but left us with insufficient funds to implement a sustainable environmental policy even if they had one! Prime Minister Harper does not demonstrate that environment matters as shown by his lack of participation in Earth Hour.
Where is the political leadership to save us??

2008-04-10T12:56:00.001-05:00

What Happened to Peace, Order and Good Government?

The BNA Act states that our governments are to provide Peace, Order and Good Government, yet when I see the number of times our various levels of government are told by courts to live up to the letter of the law I wonder what kind of message they are giving by continuously flaunting laws. For example, the BC government has been ordered by the Privacy Commissioner to cease blocking the required release of information and to be more transparent with environmental requests.. On other fronts, Environment Minister John Bairds' decision to only order and environmental assessment on the wharf portion and not on the total new refinery to be built by Irving is in court, while Ontario recieved a the scathing report by NAFTA's environmental watchdog that Ontario's forestry policies are inadequate to protect birds nest and in violation of NAFTA's environmental regultions. It is time we did not have to go to court to get our governments to follow the laws of the land.

2008-04-08T09:18:00.000-05:00

Little Things Help
Have you checked the pressure in your tires lately? By having your tires properly inflated you not only improve your mileage but save your tires by reducing the tire ware. Both this help our environment.

2008-04-06T11:46:00.001-05:00

Forest Loss is Dramatic.
We have one of the worlds largest boreal and mountain forests which can be great carbon sink. However, we are losing them at an alarming rate. Governments need to implement a cutting policy that is sustainable. The current clear cutting not only destroys large tracts of virgin forest that take generations to recover but destroy the habitat of millions of song birds and push species, such as, the Woodland Caribou onto the endangered list. This practice of clear cutting in hand with the advance of the pine beetle is stripping future generations of a vital resource that will be needed for future utilization and provide a source of employment. Governments need to implement a green sustainable forestry policy now so this sector does not go the way of the cod fishery!

2008-04-05T17:38:00.000-05:00

Global dimming is a fact of life now. The particles form aerosol cans are the major factor creating the smog that reduces the amount of sunlight reaching the earth’s surface. The particles from the cans adds to the soup in our air that is attributed between 800 and 1,700 deaths in Toronto a year. On top of this are the millions of dollars lost to our economy due to respratory sickness and demands on our medical system. The dimming is also blamed for reductions in water evaporating which leads to less rain and therefore the droughts we have experienced which in turn leads to reduce crop yields.. Some statistics suggest that rice production in China is down 30% and 10% in India. All levels of Government have to act now to improve the quality of our air.

2008-04-03T13:23:00.001-05:00

I am embarrassed and ashamed of the position Canada took at the UN Human Right Commission meeting. We are the nation that blocked a resolution supported by all the other members of the UN Human Rights Commission that water have declared that water is a basic human right. If Canada does not support that water be a basic human right then does that mean the conservatives want water to be considered a commodity because if so this would be a disaster. Under NAFTA and the current SPP negations it would open our fresh water up to North American bulk exports. Net result Canada lose sovereign control over a critical resource and how it will be used for our citizens.

2008-04-01T10:24:00.000-05:00

I have decided to post all my blogs for April on the theme of the environment.
I believe that the Canadian public is ahead of the various levels of government in their desire to see change to protect the environment and live greener lives. Experience shows that we can push the legislators to bring in and rigorously enforcemen, tough pollution regulations, stronger building codes, substantial carbon taxes and the removal of subsidies to petroleum companies. In hand with this it is essential new technologies are encouraged and favourably treated as a way of doing business.

2008-03-31T07:50:00.000-05:00

Save us from bad ideas!
Spring is a time we need to think of our space ship earth and how we can all do our bit to protect our life support system. To this end I was hoping that I would be seeing political leadership flowing toward conservation. However, after reading Saturdays Star I see that the current Liberal government in Ontario is giving $17.1 million to Ford to reopen their Windsor engine plant to produce V8 engines. Yes our auto sector needs support but to produce V8 engines I ask you what are they thinking!! Now if it was to produce more efficient 4 cylinder engines or hybrid engines I could see it. With the need to conserve energy and to protect our climate and a trend by the buying public away from larger motors I believe this is good money going after a very bad idea.

2008-03-24T10:49:00.001-05:00

Water for all Canadians is a must policy.

A fundamental right of all Canadians is the right to fresh publicly owned water. It is my belief that Parliament needs to pass a bill to recognize that water is a fundamental right. As the world climate changes and as we use up the finite resources of the world our Government must adopt a Canada first attitude to all resource usage. We must not allow water to become part of NAFTA as the Security and Prosperity Partnership negotiations to harmonized North American regulations are carried on behind closed doors, as is happening with our current government. We need a strong nationalist Government to have a sustainable Canada first resource utilization policy.

2008-03-18T12:39:00.000-05:00

Keep Macdonald Dettwiler Canadian.

I am pleased that Prentice has put a delay on the approval of the sale of MacDonald Dettwiler . this is too important a company to go into foreign hands. We have spent millions of dollars of tax payer's money to develop the satellites to have the ownership go off shore. Canada has bee a leader in satellite communications and the loss of this company would be waste of our tax money and a blow to the control of our innovative knowledge and technologies. To go into the hands of a major US arms manufactures hands is unforgivable. Not to stop the sale would be another blow to Canada's aerospace and reminds me of the decision former Diefenbaker Conservative government that scarped the Arrow. We then saw a flight of some of the best mind in the aerospace industry to the US.

2008-03-03T16:37:00.000-05:00

Memories
As I watch the shenanigans in Ottawa it reminds me that Harper is emulating one republican who must be a hero of his who claimed in the midst of the Watergate scandal “I am not a crook”.
It is time to throw out the crooks!!

2008-01-18T08:30:00.000-05:00

My belief that the Harper Government lacks respect for the objectivity of the civil service and is vindictive was reaffirmed this week with the firing of Dr. Keen. What has not been properly address is when in the spring was Mr. Lunn’s department made aware of AECL’s lack of compliance with a basic safety issue. Dr. Keen was responsible for nuclear safety in our country. Her commission’s role was to identify safety problems and then the responsibility of the operator comes into play and they take corrective action to see the safety issue is resolved. AECL did not act and created the medical crisis. Mr. Lunn’s department is responsible for this company and if AECL was in violation of a nuclear safety order he should be fired for not seeing they complied. Mr. Harper again is showing he is not capable of making objective nonpartisan prime ministerial decisions on be half of the safety of all Canadians.

2008-01-11T12:51:00.000-05:00

I have recently seen more evidence that the Harper Government opposes environmental protection.
First, there is the federal government’s appeal of the Federal Court decision that the Red Chris mine project must have full environmental assessment to proceed. This means public consultation must take place unless the government lawyers win the appeal. I strenuously object to my tax dollars being use on government lawyers to ensure the environment cab be destroyed!
Second, is the governments cutting of the grants to the recovery programme for the Eastern loggerhead shrikes. There are only 24 nesting pairs in the wild and the funding was part of the cost of the captive breading programme through such organizations as the Toronto Zoo. To date 43 of the loggerheads breed in captivity had been released.
Third, is the federal governments failure to protect the Nooksack dace as the government removed specific, key sections from the scientist’s plan to protect its habitate. The dace now joins the spotted owl and piping plover as examples of the government failure to honor a law that requires the identifying and protecting of the homes of endangered species.
We know that the loss of each species puts the risk of a healthy viable environment that we all depend on for our long term well being in jeopardy.

2008-01-06T13:33:00.000-05:00

Conservatives Have put the Economy in Trouble

Well I welcome in a new year but with some trepidation as to the ability of the current government to mange the econaomy.
In November Flaherty brought down a budget that implemented a round of tax cuts. Both he and Harper went out and made speeches about how strong our economy was. Yet, when I read the Toronto Star of Saturday December 22nd I see our surplus had shrunk by $2.7 billion in November after recording the first monthly deficit in the current fiscal year. Last week Harper was our downplaying the strength of the economy to dampen expectations. Lets face it the current Government is fiscally inept! They bring in tax cuts for purely ideological reasons when the economy cannot sustain such cuts.
This does not surprise me as the Conservative governments of the last century have a history of depression/recession economies. We have Bennett in the 30s, Diefenbaker in the late 50s and early 60s then Mulroney in the late 80s and early 90s. We need a change in Government.

2007-12-05T09:28:00.000-05:00

Miller's Report Gives the Ontario Government a Wake Up Call

Yesterday the Ontario Government received a report from their environmental watch dog telling them they need to re look at the Government's priorities. They were cited particularly for policies that promote urban sprawl, not spending enough on public transportation and not protecting our northern forests. Unless we move quickly to protect our boreal forests we will loose a major carbon depository as well as the myriad of wild life that depends on the forests. The lack of focus on effective accessible public transport is leading to the proliferation of roads to support the need for more and more cars and urban sprawl. New rigorous policies to reverse the current ones would go a long way to reduce Ontario's emissions of green house gases, protect our fam land and to make our environment healthier to live in.

2007-11-26T10:43:00.000-05:00

Two Big Carbon Sinks

In Canada we sit on two huge depositories of climate change gases. The first is can be found in our boreal forests peat bogs. The disturbance of these bogs by lumbering operations releases the trapped CO2 gases adding to the green house gas effect. The second is the permafrost in our north. As we experience a warming climate the permafrost melts releasing the methane gases trapped in the ground for which scientists have not been able to calibrate the escalating effect the released methane will have on the warming climate.
We are in a double bind with the Harper Government doing all it can to prevent the true cutting of green house gases by making sure no agreements are reached to set binding targets and the continued destruction of our Boreal forest as the provinces keep issuing more clear cut licenses.
From all I read we are running out of time and yet our Governments are twiddling their thumbs.

2007-11-10T19:13:00.000-05:00

Harper’s Neo-conservatism shows this Week.

I am not surprised by the Harper’s government’s reversal of Canada’s long standing sponsorship of the United Nations resolution to have a moratorium of the death penalty. What I am surprised about is that they say Canada will still vote in favour of the resolution. How can you not support and support the death penalty. The real answer is that the Conservative government supports the death penalty and that is why Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day announced that Canada supports the death penalty of a Canadian on death row in Montana. His announcement in the House of Commons this week means that Canada would not come to defense of a Canadian on death row which is a first in recent Canadian history. It is my view that to not oppose something is to show support it and to not oppose the death penalty for a Canadian is verification of this change in Canadian policy. This is a giant step backwards for a Just Canadian Society

2007-11-06T11:17:00.000-05:00

Steven Harper misleads Canadians

Last night I was watching "Missing" on the History channel. There was a clip of Harper speaking a the Vimy rededication ceremony talking about the freedoms the men fought and died for and therefore how we as a nation are indebted to them. Obviously the right to freedom of speech does not apply to Conservative candidates. We have a Prime Minister who makes a mockery of the sacrifices made by our for fathers. .