Prison ombudsman accuses prison system of ‘institutionalized discrimination’: "Meagan Fitzpatrick,
Font: * * * * OTTAWA -- Canada’s jail system routinely discriminates against aboriginal offenders, according to the federal prison watchdog. In his annual report released Monday, ombudsman Howard Sapers outlined a number of concerns but chose to focus on aboriginal Canadians, saying they are over-represented in the justice system and treated unfairly within it.
Sapers said the general picture is one of 'institutionalized discrimination.'
'Aboriginal people are routinely disadvantaged once they are placed into the care and custody of the correctional service,' he said.
Aboriginal offenders are more often placed in maximum security prisons and in segregation than non-aboriginal offenders, Sapers reported, and that 'severely limits access to rehabilitative programming and services.' He also said aboriginal inmates are not always given the same chance at parole as non-aboriginal offenders.
Sapers said Canada’s correctional service is not responsible for the social conditions and the policy decisions which contribute to its offender population, but it is responsible for ensuring that all offenders are treated fairly.
'It is, therefore, with grave concern that today I am underscoring that the Correctional Service of Canada falls short of this standard of care by allowing for systemic discrimination against aboriginal inmates,' he said.
Sapers said his recommendations must be acted upon swiftly. Among changes to the system, Sapers wants to see more aboriginal people employed in the correctional service.
"My message to the correctional service today is to walk your talk and make real progress a priority in this area. My message to the government is to give the service the resources they need to get the job done," he said
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Osprey Media. - Brantford Expositor
One year from now we can effect change PR
Osprey Media. - Brantford Expositor: "McGuinty plots out re-election campaign
James Wallace
Queens Park - Tuesday, October 10, 2006
Dalton McGuinty leans back in his chair, turns slightly and nods out the
window behind him.
'You're here today, in my office, overlooking the lawn of Queen's Park,' the
Premier tells a visitor, then pauses to make a point.
'It's pretty quiet out there.'
McGuinty's Liberal government moved into the fourth and final year of its
mandate this past week. Less than a year from now, voters will get a chance
to weigh the accomplishments and failings of his party, which convinced
voters to 'choose change' in 2003.
In an exclusive interview with Osprey News, McGuinty reflected on his coming
campaign for re-election and the broad messages he'll be bringing to voters.
'For the last year, we will continue to drive hard on our original mandate,
particularly when it comes to the fundamentals,' he said, 'Getting class
sizes down, test scores up, getting wait times down, getting nurses hired
and graduating more physicians.'
'We also want to continue to work with labour and business to continue to
grow the economy, whether it's in the auto sector, manufacturing, forestry
or agriculture.'
'Beyond that, we will use that as a foundation on which we'll build our next
platform and our next set of commitments,' he said.
Those will be unveiled in the coming months but more broadly, the thrust of
McGuinty's campaign message will be twofold.
First, elaborating on his point about the relative absence of pro"
The other key theme in his campaign will directly address his greatest vulnerability - broken promises. Conservative leader John Tory recently foreshadowed what's coming at a press conference at his Queen's Park caucus office by lining the walls with signs listing broken Liberal promises. "I won't raise your taxes," one cried. "Stop school closings," said another. Others said "Unclog emergency rooms," "Balance the budget," "Provide a new funding formula for rural and northern schools," "Divert 60% of municipal garbage to recycling by 2005," "Tackle gridlock," "Close coal-fired electricity plants by 2007." Tory called McGuinty's decision to break a campaign promise by creating a new, $2.4 billion health care tax a "gross betrayal of the people" and predicted debate over broken promises in the coming campaign will be "vigorous." McGuinty made promises without thinking through their consequences and as a result was repeatedly forced to break them, he said. "I would never govern that way," Tory said. "I couldn't afford to run a business that way. I couldn't afford to run a football league that way, I couldn't afford to run charitable organizations that way." "In fact nobody runs things that way in their lives, they don't run their family life that way and yet he thinks he can run the Province of Ontario that way, Tory said. McGuinty, understandably, will ask the public to view things differently. "The other thing I would ask people to note, as they come to learn a little bit more about me. I'm not going to shrink from tough decisions," he said. "I didn't raise a health tax because I thought it would be warmly embraced by my mother, or all Ontarians," he said. "I did it because I honestly believed it was the best thing for us to do in the circumstances." Finally, McGuinty will run on a record of "recognizable improvement" in health care, education and other areas of provincial responsibility. No other government, he said, has done that - set goals, measured the results and reported back to voters. "You can count the kids in a classroom, you'll be able to do that at election time; count the test scores, count the graduations, count the wait times, count the doctors, count the nurses," he said. Come Oct. 4, 2007, all that will be left to do is count the votes.
Osprey Media. - Brantford Expositor: "McGuinty plots out re-election campaign
James Wallace
Queens Park - Tuesday, October 10, 2006
Dalton McGuinty leans back in his chair, turns slightly and nods out the
window behind him.
'You're here today, in my office, overlooking the lawn of Queen's Park,' the
Premier tells a visitor, then pauses to make a point.
'It's pretty quiet out there.'
McGuinty's Liberal government moved into the fourth and final year of its
mandate this past week. Less than a year from now, voters will get a chance
to weigh the accomplishments and failings of his party, which convinced
voters to 'choose change' in 2003.
In an exclusive interview with Osprey News, McGuinty reflected on his coming
campaign for re-election and the broad messages he'll be bringing to voters.
'For the last year, we will continue to drive hard on our original mandate,
particularly when it comes to the fundamentals,' he said, 'Getting class
sizes down, test scores up, getting wait times down, getting nurses hired
and graduating more physicians.'
'We also want to continue to work with labour and business to continue to
grow the economy, whether it's in the auto sector, manufacturing, forestry
or agriculture.'
'Beyond that, we will use that as a foundation on which we'll build our next
platform and our next set of commitments,' he said.
Those will be unveiled in the coming months but more broadly, the thrust of
McGuinty's campaign message will be twofold.
First, elaborating on his point about the relative absence of pro"
The other key theme in his campaign will directly address his greatest vulnerability - broken promises. Conservative leader John Tory recently foreshadowed what's coming at a press conference at his Queen's Park caucus office by lining the walls with signs listing broken Liberal promises. "I won't raise your taxes," one cried. "Stop school closings," said another. Others said "Unclog emergency rooms," "Balance the budget," "Provide a new funding formula for rural and northern schools," "Divert 60% of municipal garbage to recycling by 2005," "Tackle gridlock," "Close coal-fired electricity plants by 2007." Tory called McGuinty's decision to break a campaign promise by creating a new, $2.4 billion health care tax a "gross betrayal of the people" and predicted debate over broken promises in the coming campaign will be "vigorous." McGuinty made promises without thinking through their consequences and as a result was repeatedly forced to break them, he said. "I would never govern that way," Tory said. "I couldn't afford to run a business that way. I couldn't afford to run a football league that way, I couldn't afford to run charitable organizations that way." "In fact nobody runs things that way in their lives, they don't run their family life that way and yet he thinks he can run the Province of Ontario that way, Tory said. McGuinty, understandably, will ask the public to view things differently. "The other thing I would ask people to note, as they come to learn a little bit more about me. I'm not going to shrink from tough decisions," he said. "I didn't raise a health tax because I thought it would be warmly embraced by my mother, or all Ontarians," he said. "I did it because I honestly believed it was the best thing for us to do in the circumstances." Finally, McGuinty will run on a record of "recognizable improvement" in health care, education and other areas of provincial responsibility. No other government, he said, has done that - set goals, measured the results and reported back to voters. "You can count the kids in a classroom, you'll be able to do that at election time; count the test scores, count the graduations, count the wait times, count the doctors, count the nurses," he said. Come Oct. 4, 2007, all that will be left to do is count the votes.
Thursday, September 14, 2006
winnipegsun.com - Editorial - Let�s not point fingers
winnipegsun.com - Editorial - Let�s not point fingers: "Students at Montreal�s Dawson College are too young to remember the terrible massacre at the city�s L�Ecole Polytechnique on Dec. 6, 1989 � but yesterday�s shootings recalled that tragedy for us all.
This time, the carnage was mercifully less than when Marc Lepine opened fire that night, killing 14 women and injuring other students, male and female, before finally killing himself.
But that is ultimately little comfort, as yesterday�s rampage by a lone gunman (who was killed by police at the scene) took at least one innocent life and left up to eight others critically injured, with 20 people shot in all. "
This time, the carnage was mercifully less than when Marc Lepine opened fire that night, killing 14 women and injuring other students, male and female, before finally killing himself.
But that is ultimately little comfort, as yesterday�s rampage by a lone gunman (who was killed by police at the scene) took at least one innocent life and left up to eight others critically injured, with 20 people shot in all. "
Thursday, September 07, 2006
Bush calls CIA prisons 'vital' tool - Yahoo! News
Bush calls CIA prisons 'vital' tool - Yahoo! News: "Bush calls CIA prisons 'vital' tool "
Graham, R-S.C., said withholding evidence from a war criminal sets a dangerous precedent other nations could follow. "Would I be comfortable with (an American service member) going to jail with evidence they never saw? No," Graham said.
Also on Wednesday, the
Pentagon' name=c1> SEARCHNews News Photos Images Web' name=c3> Pentagon put out a new Army field manual that spells out appropriate conduct on issues including prisoner interrogation. The manual applies to all the armed services but not the CIA. It bans torture and degrading treatment of prisoners, for the first time specifically mentioning forced nakedness, hooding and other procedures that have become infamous during the war on terror.
Graham, R-S.C., said withholding evidence from a war criminal sets a dangerous precedent other nations could follow. "Would I be comfortable with (an American service member) going to jail with evidence they never saw? No," Graham said.
Also on Wednesday, the
Pentagon' name=c1> SEARCHNews News Photos Images Web' name=c3> Pentagon put out a new Army field manual that spells out appropriate conduct on issues including prisoner interrogation. The manual applies to all the armed services but not the CIA. It bans torture and degrading treatment of prisoners, for the first time specifically mentioning forced nakedness, hooding and other procedures that have become infamous during the war on terror.
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
Wages seen rising in tight labour market - Sympatico / MSN Finance
Wages seen rising in tight labour market - Sympatico / MSN Finance: "Wages seen rising in tight labour market
Posted 8/31/2006
By Louise Egan
OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canadian companies in need of new talent will raise salaries by 3.5 percent next year to attract and keep skilled staff in a tight labour market, according to a survey released on Thursday.
With the unemployment rate at a 30-year low and a booming oil and gas industry in Western Canada sucking up new blood, many firms are hard-pressed to fill vacant positions.
The salary increase, based on forecasts of employers surveyed by Watson Wyatt Worldwide, would come on top of a higher-than-expected 3.6 percent average wage hike in the June 2005 to June 2006 period."
Posted 8/31/2006
By Louise Egan
OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canadian companies in need of new talent will raise salaries by 3.5 percent next year to attract and keep skilled staff in a tight labour market, according to a survey released on Thursday.
With the unemployment rate at a 30-year low and a booming oil and gas industry in Western Canada sucking up new blood, many firms are hard-pressed to fill vacant positions.
The salary increase, based on forecasts of employers surveyed by Watson Wyatt Worldwide, would come on top of a higher-than-expected 3.6 percent average wage hike in the June 2005 to June 2006 period."
Sunday, September 03, 2006
Osprey Media. - Brantford Expositor
Great trend
Laurier driving growth Susan Gamble
Local News - Saturday, September 02, 2006 @ 01:00 Eight years ago, 39 students were rattling around in a newly created university that had little more than high hopes and great expectations. But what started so small and so slowly has burgeoned into an innovative, booming movement thats almost totally responsible for driving downtown redevelopment. And the flood of student residences, faculty buildings, classrooms, food services and resources isnt slowing, say those involved. Were in a situation where we can grow to the extent that we have buildings, says Lauriers principal, Leo Groarke. Although its still in the planning stages, this week Laurier president Bob Rosehart released the conceptual drawings of the universitys next dream project -- a massive five-storey creation to be built on Dalhousie Street, just across from the call centre in the downtown mall. The tentatively named Academic Building will have more residence beds, teaching space, a library area and a food vendor. *** First it was Laurier, then Nipissing University and then Mohawk College throwing their mortarboards into the core. Today, with close to 1,800 students flooding into the downtown for classes, the impetus of the schools is the main factor behind all downtown development, says Mayor Mike Hancock. Although plans for Laurier and Mohawk to renovate the old PUC building fell through earlier this year, that building is being eyed very seriously by Nipissing University. I can hardly wait to see a Nipissing sign on that building, says the mayor. But, he hastily adds, whats happening is about more than just buildings. This is a commitment to the city, Hancock says. The buildings are great because they keep the character of the community, but its the life thats energized here and the momentum were feeling. Its changed how we view ourselves as a city. The growth has spurred on private development, private student residences, restaurants and services. And theres no signs of that growth spurt abating. In fact, says the mayor, with the civic square work, theres been a renewed interest in the dilapidated south side of Colborne Street. With Nipissing looking to expand, the possibilities are endless. *** The numbers substantiate that optimism.
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From 39 full-time students in 1999, Laurier has leapt forward with 103 students in 2000; 200 in 2001; 295 in 2002; 632 in 2003; 922 in 2004 and 1,263 in 2005. This fall, there are 1,653 students enrolled, plus about 100 part-timers. Nipissing started with 30 students in 2002 enrolled in a concurrent program with Laurier -- so theyre counted in the Laurier total -- and thats jumped to 565 students this fall, plus an additional class of 35 area students that is an overflow from the enrolment in North Bay. Add in Mohawk students who have traditionally stayed in the east end of the city and have been coming into the core for classes at the Odeon building for the last few years. This year there are about 25 Mohawk kids in the core. This weekend marks the beginning of a mass influx of students as they return to the downtown. Laurier and Nipissing first years are assured of a residence bed, providing a more protected environment, says principal Groarke. First year is a transition year and we provide a more structured environment with dons and people watching over the students who might face issues of alcohol, drugs, gambling or sex. After that year, theyre expected to go and find accommodations elsewhere in private residences. To accommodate those second, third and fourth year students, private residences have cropped up all through the downtown -- from the 30-bed Rizzo Building on Colborne Street to a multitude of three and four bedroom houses converted for student use. Many are listed on a North American website called www.places4students.com. Some landlords, like Harold Mannen, have found creating small student residences to be a perfect sideline. I have 39 beds in the area but not all are targeted at students, says Mannen, who started the projects because of Laurier. I really love it and the kids are great. Ive had no trouble whatsoever. Mannen is also a downtown businessman, owner of the John Peel Restaurant. Theres now a vitality about the downtown that wasnt there before. Look at all the new buildings. Theres renewal happening all over and its not because of the casino. Every bit of it is due to Laurier. *** Growth doesnt always come evenly in the downtown. Groarke describes the process in terms of steps where, for a while, the schools are short of beds and classrooms, then theres a building boom and, for a while, there are too many beds and classrooms. When we started, the issue was trying to attract students. Very quickly that turned to having a problem finding buildings to fit the students. Despite the new Wilkes House and Faculty House that are just online, Laurier is back at capacity again. New housing at Lucy Marco Place (the old Y building) and the new East civic square building are welcome, but theyve come online a bit late for this year, Groarke says. Residence beds, classroom space and faculty offices have to keep apace of each other. Nipissing is also bursting at the seams, says Sandra Reid, the director of the Brantford campus. In a perfect world wed have five more offices in our building, at least three more classrooms, a gym and some large group instruction rooms. The cramped quarters mean the school is constantly problem-solving and partnering. For example, it uses the Brant Community Church when bringing large groups of students together. Aside from about 580 students who are also counted as Laurier students, Nipissing has a new class of 35 area students who are an overflow class from the North Bay campus after that location was swamped with acceptances. As well, Nipissing does a huge business in Additional Qualification courses or professional development for teachers. During the summer, for instance, 150 teachers from around southern Ontario were in the downtown upgrading their skills in Nipissing courses. Offering the concurrent courses for Laurier students to get a bachelor of education was a winning idea. With just 30 students in the program in the fall of 2002, Nipissing is growing at a dizzying pace and a switch to a five-year program for the B.Ed means automatic growth. Well have 700 students here next year and were developing whatever new courses the area school boards tell us they need for additional qualifications, says Reid. *** Laurier didnt want to own any Brantford buildings when it came to town. Now, it owns seven facilities and is planning the eighth. Part of the campuss huge success, says Groarke, is being creative in both programs and solutions. We havent duplicated Waterloo here. If youre willing to be inventive and creative and look for programs that are a little bit outside the box, you can keep attracting students. Groarke said some programs, like criminology, have been highly successful while others, like the education program done with Nipissing, hit the jackpot. President Rosehart predicts the school will soon move into the 2,500-student range which will make it more of its own entity, rather than a satellite campus. *** Theres plenty of talk about how much money the city has contributed to Lauriers growth. Rosehart calculates Brantford has corporately invested between $10 million and $12 million, but he is quick to point out that that amount is almost the same as Lauriers investment so far. The citizens of Brantford have invested privately, as well, contributing between $3 million and $4 million in donations and scholarships. Nipissing paid for the total renovation of its Market Street building -- about $1.4 million -- and expects to be sinking more into the area. Everyone is hoping the provincial government will eventually pony up some capital funds for new buildings. But in the meantime, the schools point out they and the students are making a giant contribution to the Brantford economy. A study released last year by Adventus Research in Guelph showed that construction and renovation costs are bringing millions into the downtown and the economic impact of the students, teachers and programs is between $39 million and $49 million each year. Spin off effects include restaurants, the retail food industry, housing units, retail clothing and transportation. People who dont frequent the downtown can barely believe the changes happening -- including having to make a lunch reservation at some eateries if you want a seat. Other cities are beginning to study Brantfords success in order to recreate it for their own downtowns. Theres even, says Mayor Hancock, renewed interest in the south side of Colborne Street -- the remaining dregs of the once worst downtown in Canada. Come back in 100 years and see our growth.
Laurier driving growth Susan Gamble
Local News - Saturday, September 02, 2006 @ 01:00 Eight years ago, 39 students were rattling around in a newly created university that had little more than high hopes and great expectations. But what started so small and so slowly has burgeoned into an innovative, booming movement thats almost totally responsible for driving downtown redevelopment. And the flood of student residences, faculty buildings, classrooms, food services and resources isnt slowing, say those involved. Were in a situation where we can grow to the extent that we have buildings, says Lauriers principal, Leo Groarke. Although its still in the planning stages, this week Laurier president Bob Rosehart released the conceptual drawings of the universitys next dream project -- a massive five-storey creation to be built on Dalhousie Street, just across from the call centre in the downtown mall. The tentatively named Academic Building will have more residence beds, teaching space, a library area and a food vendor. *** First it was Laurier, then Nipissing University and then Mohawk College throwing their mortarboards into the core. Today, with close to 1,800 students flooding into the downtown for classes, the impetus of the schools is the main factor behind all downtown development, says Mayor Mike Hancock. Although plans for Laurier and Mohawk to renovate the old PUC building fell through earlier this year, that building is being eyed very seriously by Nipissing University. I can hardly wait to see a Nipissing sign on that building, says the mayor. But, he hastily adds, whats happening is about more than just buildings. This is a commitment to the city, Hancock says. The buildings are great because they keep the character of the community, but its the life thats energized here and the momentum were feeling. Its changed how we view ourselves as a city. The growth has spurred on private development, private student residences, restaurants and services. And theres no signs of that growth spurt abating. In fact, says the mayor, with the civic square work, theres been a renewed interest in the dilapidated south side of Colborne Street. With Nipissing looking to expand, the possibilities are endless. *** The numbers substantiate that optimism.
');
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on error resume next
MM_FlashCanPlay = ( IsObject(CreateObject("ShockwaveFlash.ShockwaveFlash." & MM_contentVersion)))
From 39 full-time students in 1999, Laurier has leapt forward with 103 students in 2000; 200 in 2001; 295 in 2002; 632 in 2003; 922 in 2004 and 1,263 in 2005. This fall, there are 1,653 students enrolled, plus about 100 part-timers. Nipissing started with 30 students in 2002 enrolled in a concurrent program with Laurier -- so theyre counted in the Laurier total -- and thats jumped to 565 students this fall, plus an additional class of 35 area students that is an overflow from the enrolment in North Bay. Add in Mohawk students who have traditionally stayed in the east end of the city and have been coming into the core for classes at the Odeon building for the last few years. This year there are about 25 Mohawk kids in the core. This weekend marks the beginning of a mass influx of students as they return to the downtown. Laurier and Nipissing first years are assured of a residence bed, providing a more protected environment, says principal Groarke. First year is a transition year and we provide a more structured environment with dons and people watching over the students who might face issues of alcohol, drugs, gambling or sex. After that year, theyre expected to go and find accommodations elsewhere in private residences. To accommodate those second, third and fourth year students, private residences have cropped up all through the downtown -- from the 30-bed Rizzo Building on Colborne Street to a multitude of three and four bedroom houses converted for student use. Many are listed on a North American website called www.places4students.com. Some landlords, like Harold Mannen, have found creating small student residences to be a perfect sideline. I have 39 beds in the area but not all are targeted at students, says Mannen, who started the projects because of Laurier. I really love it and the kids are great. Ive had no trouble whatsoever. Mannen is also a downtown businessman, owner of the John Peel Restaurant. Theres now a vitality about the downtown that wasnt there before. Look at all the new buildings. Theres renewal happening all over and its not because of the casino. Every bit of it is due to Laurier. *** Growth doesnt always come evenly in the downtown. Groarke describes the process in terms of steps where, for a while, the schools are short of beds and classrooms, then theres a building boom and, for a while, there are too many beds and classrooms. When we started, the issue was trying to attract students. Very quickly that turned to having a problem finding buildings to fit the students. Despite the new Wilkes House and Faculty House that are just online, Laurier is back at capacity again. New housing at Lucy Marco Place (the old Y building) and the new East civic square building are welcome, but theyve come online a bit late for this year, Groarke says. Residence beds, classroom space and faculty offices have to keep apace of each other. Nipissing is also bursting at the seams, says Sandra Reid, the director of the Brantford campus. In a perfect world wed have five more offices in our building, at least three more classrooms, a gym and some large group instruction rooms. The cramped quarters mean the school is constantly problem-solving and partnering. For example, it uses the Brant Community Church when bringing large groups of students together. Aside from about 580 students who are also counted as Laurier students, Nipissing has a new class of 35 area students who are an overflow class from the North Bay campus after that location was swamped with acceptances. As well, Nipissing does a huge business in Additional Qualification courses or professional development for teachers. During the summer, for instance, 150 teachers from around southern Ontario were in the downtown upgrading their skills in Nipissing courses. Offering the concurrent courses for Laurier students to get a bachelor of education was a winning idea. With just 30 students in the program in the fall of 2002, Nipissing is growing at a dizzying pace and a switch to a five-year program for the B.Ed means automatic growth. Well have 700 students here next year and were developing whatever new courses the area school boards tell us they need for additional qualifications, says Reid. *** Laurier didnt want to own any Brantford buildings when it came to town. Now, it owns seven facilities and is planning the eighth. Part of the campuss huge success, says Groarke, is being creative in both programs and solutions. We havent duplicated Waterloo here. If youre willing to be inventive and creative and look for programs that are a little bit outside the box, you can keep attracting students. Groarke said some programs, like criminology, have been highly successful while others, like the education program done with Nipissing, hit the jackpot. President Rosehart predicts the school will soon move into the 2,500-student range which will make it more of its own entity, rather than a satellite campus. *** Theres plenty of talk about how much money the city has contributed to Lauriers growth. Rosehart calculates Brantford has corporately invested between $10 million and $12 million, but he is quick to point out that that amount is almost the same as Lauriers investment so far. The citizens of Brantford have invested privately, as well, contributing between $3 million and $4 million in donations and scholarships. Nipissing paid for the total renovation of its Market Street building -- about $1.4 million -- and expects to be sinking more into the area. Everyone is hoping the provincial government will eventually pony up some capital funds for new buildings. But in the meantime, the schools point out they and the students are making a giant contribution to the Brantford economy. A study released last year by Adventus Research in Guelph showed that construction and renovation costs are bringing millions into the downtown and the economic impact of the students, teachers and programs is between $39 million and $49 million each year. Spin off effects include restaurants, the retail food industry, housing units, retail clothing and transportation. People who dont frequent the downtown can barely believe the changes happening -- including having to make a lunch reservation at some eateries if you want a seat. Other cities are beginning to study Brantfords success in order to recreate it for their own downtowns. Theres even, says Mayor Hancock, renewed interest in the south side of Colborne Street -- the remaining dregs of the once worst downtown in Canada. Come back in 100 years and see our growth.
Saturday, September 02, 2006
Thursday, August 31, 2006
Telecom Decision CRTC 2006-XX
Your communication rights - use them follow this link for the full crtc ruling . A move in the right direction for customers at long last - PR
Telecom Decision CRTC 2006-XX: "Your right to register a dispute or complaint
You have the right to dispute charges and to file a complaint about the service you receive. There are processes in place to assist you if you are having difficulties getting service or answers from your phone company.
Disputing phone charges
You have the right to dispute any telephone charges on your billing statement that you believe are incorrect. If you dispute a telephone charge, the phone company will investigate your claims, and will make the results of its investigation available to you. The phone company cannot consider the charges that you are disputing to be past due, but you are required to pay the undisputed portion of your bill.
As a general rule, the phone company cannot threaten to suspend or cut off your phone service over any amounts that you are disputing (see 'Your rights when the phone company wants to cut off your phone service' section).
Various scams and frauds exist that may affect your telephone service and could lead to additional charges on your phone bill. You are responsible for keeping yourself informed and protecting yourself against various scams and fraud. For more information about known scams and fraud, contact your phone company.
Complaints
You also have the right to complain to the phone company if you have any problems with the service you receive. If you have a dispute or complaint, the first step is to speak to your phone company. If the representative handling your call cannot resolve the problem to your satisfaction, you can ask to speak to the service manager or a supervisor in the customer service department.
If you are still not satisfied with the answer you are getting, you can contact the CRTC. The CRTC will ask the phone company to respond to your concern shortly thereafter. You should receive "
Telecom Decision CRTC 2006-XX: "Your right to register a dispute or complaint
You have the right to dispute charges and to file a complaint about the service you receive. There are processes in place to assist you if you are having difficulties getting service or answers from your phone company.
Disputing phone charges
You have the right to dispute any telephone charges on your billing statement that you believe are incorrect. If you dispute a telephone charge, the phone company will investigate your claims, and will make the results of its investigation available to you. The phone company cannot consider the charges that you are disputing to be past due, but you are required to pay the undisputed portion of your bill.
As a general rule, the phone company cannot threaten to suspend or cut off your phone service over any amounts that you are disputing (see 'Your rights when the phone company wants to cut off your phone service' section).
Various scams and frauds exist that may affect your telephone service and could lead to additional charges on your phone bill. You are responsible for keeping yourself informed and protecting yourself against various scams and fraud. For more information about known scams and fraud, contact your phone company.
Complaints
You also have the right to complain to the phone company if you have any problems with the service you receive. If you have a dispute or complaint, the first step is to speak to your phone company. If the representative handling your call cannot resolve the problem to your satisfaction, you can ask to speak to the service manager or a supervisor in the customer service department.
If you are still not satisfied with the answer you are getting, you can contact the CRTC. The CRTC will ask the phone company to respond to your concern shortly thereafter. You should receive "
CRTC unveils phone "Bill of Rights"
If you are tired of being abused by the telephone monopoly -It seems that you ahve some tools to fight back . Please do so
PR
CRTC unveils phone "Bill of Rights": "CRTC unveils phone 'Bill of Rights'
16 rights cover everything from rules about protecting privacy to right to service for disabled"
PR
CRTC unveils phone "Bill of Rights": "CRTC unveils phone 'Bill of Rights'
16 rights cover everything from rules about protecting privacy to right to service for disabled"
Thursday, August 10, 2006
Privacy advocates warn of Big Brother
Why do we bother with a bill of rights? PR Privacy advocates warn of Big Brother: "Internet and privacy experts also fear the federal government will revamp Internet surveillance legislation as early as this fall, giving law enforcement officials and Canadian Security and Intelligence Service agents access to personal information without a warrant.
Deisman, an Internet law expert, says Internet providers have been 'intimidated' into complying with the incoming surveillance act.
'There were even suggestions that Internet service providers would have to keep people on staff to respond to police warrants on a 24-7 basis,' he said.
'If we read between the lines of this legislation, this is how the government has scared them into doing this on their own.' "
Deisman, an Internet law expert, says Internet providers have been 'intimidated' into complying with the incoming surveillance act.
'There were even suggestions that Internet service providers would have to keep people on staff to respond to police warrants on a 24-7 basis,' he said.
'If we read between the lines of this legislation, this is how the government has scared them into doing this on their own.' "
Value for money? Which deadbeat are you happy with?
Ombudsman Rips Family Responsibility Office
Ontario’s Ombudsman, André Marin, released a scathing report today on the province’s Family Responsibility Office (FRO).The agency is charged with enforcing child support orders in the province and, Marin found, is fundamentally failing to do its job.Here are a few facts and quotes from Marin’s press conference.
Support payment arrears are at an “all-time historical high” of $1.35 billion because of the agency’s “lackadaisical” attitude toward collection.
Welfare payments are up $200 million as a consequence and “dead beats in this province have been having a free ride on the backs the citizens of Ontario,” he said.
Just 70 per cent of the 185,000 support orders filed annually with the office are compliant, which the FRO defines as someone who pays at least 85 per cent of order. Marin found one instance where a prison inmate was deemed to be “compliant” because he was in no position to pay, and thus took the agency’s numbers “with a grain of salt.”
When confronted with specific problems, FRO offered “platitudinous excuses or outright evasions,” Marin said.“I can tell you for the last decade it has been the bane of existence for overseers in this province,” he said.“It has been a money pit for the government and it has been the source of immense frustration for those receiving child support payments.”“We need to fix this and put it to rest once and for all,” Marin said.
Ontario’s Ombudsman, André Marin, released a scathing report today on the province’s Family Responsibility Office (FRO).The agency is charged with enforcing child support orders in the province and, Marin found, is fundamentally failing to do its job.Here are a few facts and quotes from Marin’s press conference.
Support payment arrears are at an “all-time historical high” of $1.35 billion because of the agency’s “lackadaisical” attitude toward collection.
Welfare payments are up $200 million as a consequence and “dead beats in this province have been having a free ride on the backs the citizens of Ontario,” he said.
Just 70 per cent of the 185,000 support orders filed annually with the office are compliant, which the FRO defines as someone who pays at least 85 per cent of order. Marin found one instance where a prison inmate was deemed to be “compliant” because he was in no position to pay, and thus took the agency’s numbers “with a grain of salt.”
When confronted with specific problems, FRO offered “platitudinous excuses or outright evasions,” Marin said.“I can tell you for the last decade it has been the bane of existence for overseers in this province,” he said.“It has been a money pit for the government and it has been the source of immense frustration for those receiving child support payments.”“We need to fix this and put it to rest once and for all,” Marin said.
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
Alberta Mounties retain jobs despite criminal convictions, investigation finds
are there different standards for government organizations? PR
Alberta Mounties retain jobs despite criminal convictions, investigation finds: "Alberta Mounties retain jobs despite criminal convictions, investigation finds
* * * * Jason van Rassel, CanWest News Service; Calgary Herald
Published: Monday, August 07, 2006
CALGARY -- Assault and impaired driving convictions led to reprimands and pay deductions but no firings for Alberta RCMP members disciplined in the past 18 months.
The Calgary Herald used access-to-information legislation to obtain written decisions involving 10 Alberta RCMP members who have been disciplined since the beginning of 2005 four of whom were also criminally charged in connection with their conduct.
During the past 18 months, nine officers and one civilian employee appeared before a three-member RCMP panel that hears cases alleging serious breaches of the force's code of conduct."
Alberta Mounties retain jobs despite criminal convictions, investigation finds: "Alberta Mounties retain jobs despite criminal convictions, investigation finds
* * * * Jason van Rassel, CanWest News Service; Calgary Herald
Published: Monday, August 07, 2006
CALGARY -- Assault and impaired driving convictions led to reprimands and pay deductions but no firings for Alberta RCMP members disciplined in the past 18 months.
The Calgary Herald used access-to-information legislation to obtain written decisions involving 10 Alberta RCMP members who have been disciplined since the beginning of 2005 four of whom were also criminally charged in connection with their conduct.
During the past 18 months, nine officers and one civilian employee appeared before a three-member RCMP panel that hears cases alleging serious breaches of the force's code of conduct."
Saturday, August 05, 2006
Creative approaches to age discrimination
Job search techniques: Smashing the gray ceiling
Article By: Virginia Bola
For decades, women have chaffed at the invisible glass ceiling which prevents their moving into the high executive brackets that their competence, knowledge and skills have earned. The same amorphous barrier confronts older workers both in terms of advancement within a company and, most especially, when a job change is required. There is an adage in the military that if a rank above major has not been obtained within 20 years, it never will be. The ranks of early military retirees are sprinkled with majors who knew that 10 or 15 more years would never bring a Colonel's cluster.
How can such "unwritten rules" be fought? No lawsuit can prove that you were the best individual for the job. No employer is unintelligent enough to state that your age is the stumbling block. You sense the discrimination, you become aware of the sideways glances and the emotional response of an interviewer, but you feel powerless to change their perspective and their bias.
Sitting across an interviewing desk, often facing an individual the same age as your son, your esteem erodes and your confidence self-destructs. Impotent, humiliated, and angry, you accept that nothing you can say is going to change anything. You continue job hunting with a mounting sense of frustration and an indisputable anticipation of failure.
If you have nothing to lose, why not attack the problem head-on? Prejudice and discrimination survive only in the silence of unexamined judgments and, often unconscious, illogic. Confront the situation and at least you create the opportunity for the white light of reason to enter the fray.
Try these approaches to prompt more honest interaction and possibly more rational conclusions.
1. You need to be the one to put the age issue on the table. Offer it gently, as one area of needed exploration regarding why you fit the employer's needs. Bring it up objectively, as something that can be discussed unemotionally, without triggering lethal interviewer defensiveness.
2. Acknowledge your age as a basis for emphasizing the experience of a lifetime and the value that such experience can provide to any employer. Concentrate on describing how business has changed over the course of years and how deftly you have adapted to those changes and incorporated new ideas and technical advancements into your work performance.
3. Acknowledge common misperceptions about the weaknesses of age: hard-to-break habits, lack of flexibility, technological ignorance, and distrust of authority, especially if young. Then use your sales ability to eliminate those misperceptions, probably already resonating in the interviewer's head.
Habits: Remind your host of the ability to adapt and reshape yourself which has kept your thinking young. Stress your relish for new challenges and innovative approaches. Cite some examples from your past about how smoothly you have been able to change to new workflows and procedures.
Flexibility: Discuss your dislike of unproductive routine and your preference for trying new methods of approaching tasks. Stress those times in the past when you were able to develop creative solutions to long-term problems and how your resourcefulness helped your previous employers.
Technology: Identify new technical advances within your field and address how you have internalized those changes. If you have successfully transitioned from dictating to a secretary to email and instant messaging, if you have moved from a manual adding machine to competent computer literacy, then small changes like learning new software or novel production systems should be a snap.
Authority issues: You have attained authority in the past and you have also worked under a variety of supervisors in your long career life. Clarify your relationship with power: the respect you extend to those who are knowledgeable, the loyalty and support you offer any leader of your team, the self-respect you enjoy which allows you to participate in group goals enthusiastically without feeling that you need to be in charge or command the top title.
4. Once you have demolished the myths of age, emphasize its strengths: reliability, mature judgment, lack of impulsivity, timeliness, a strong work ethic, and the ability to perform without outside distractions such as personal relationship problems, child commitments, and social responsibilities.
Undoubtedly, there are individuals out there who have their own issues with hiring someone who reminds them of their father or who have had problems in the past with an underperforming older worker who was difficult to terminate. There will always be those you cannot reach, no matter how convincing your logic and your presentation.
There are many more who are open-minded and seek not to make rash judgments. Address their semi-conscious fears face to face and the interview may end successfully - for both you and your lucky new employer.
Virginia Bola operated a rehabilitation company for 20 years, developing innovative job search techniques for disabled workers, while serving as a respected Vocational Expert in Administrative, Civil and Workers' Compensation Courts. Author of an interactive and emotionally supportive workbook, The Wolf at the Door: An Unemployment Survival Manual, and a monthly ezine, The Worker's Edge, she can be reached at http://www.virginiabola.com/
Article By: Virginia Bola
For decades, women have chaffed at the invisible glass ceiling which prevents their moving into the high executive brackets that their competence, knowledge and skills have earned. The same amorphous barrier confronts older workers both in terms of advancement within a company and, most especially, when a job change is required. There is an adage in the military that if a rank above major has not been obtained within 20 years, it never will be. The ranks of early military retirees are sprinkled with majors who knew that 10 or 15 more years would never bring a Colonel's cluster.
How can such "unwritten rules" be fought? No lawsuit can prove that you were the best individual for the job. No employer is unintelligent enough to state that your age is the stumbling block. You sense the discrimination, you become aware of the sideways glances and the emotional response of an interviewer, but you feel powerless to change their perspective and their bias.
Sitting across an interviewing desk, often facing an individual the same age as your son, your esteem erodes and your confidence self-destructs. Impotent, humiliated, and angry, you accept that nothing you can say is going to change anything. You continue job hunting with a mounting sense of frustration and an indisputable anticipation of failure.
If you have nothing to lose, why not attack the problem head-on? Prejudice and discrimination survive only in the silence of unexamined judgments and, often unconscious, illogic. Confront the situation and at least you create the opportunity for the white light of reason to enter the fray.
Try these approaches to prompt more honest interaction and possibly more rational conclusions.
1. You need to be the one to put the age issue on the table. Offer it gently, as one area of needed exploration regarding why you fit the employer's needs. Bring it up objectively, as something that can be discussed unemotionally, without triggering lethal interviewer defensiveness.
2. Acknowledge your age as a basis for emphasizing the experience of a lifetime and the value that such experience can provide to any employer. Concentrate on describing how business has changed over the course of years and how deftly you have adapted to those changes and incorporated new ideas and technical advancements into your work performance.
3. Acknowledge common misperceptions about the weaknesses of age: hard-to-break habits, lack of flexibility, technological ignorance, and distrust of authority, especially if young. Then use your sales ability to eliminate those misperceptions, probably already resonating in the interviewer's head.
Habits: Remind your host of the ability to adapt and reshape yourself which has kept your thinking young. Stress your relish for new challenges and innovative approaches. Cite some examples from your past about how smoothly you have been able to change to new workflows and procedures.
Flexibility: Discuss your dislike of unproductive routine and your preference for trying new methods of approaching tasks. Stress those times in the past when you were able to develop creative solutions to long-term problems and how your resourcefulness helped your previous employers.
Technology: Identify new technical advances within your field and address how you have internalized those changes. If you have successfully transitioned from dictating to a secretary to email and instant messaging, if you have moved from a manual adding machine to competent computer literacy, then small changes like learning new software or novel production systems should be a snap.
Authority issues: You have attained authority in the past and you have also worked under a variety of supervisors in your long career life. Clarify your relationship with power: the respect you extend to those who are knowledgeable, the loyalty and support you offer any leader of your team, the self-respect you enjoy which allows you to participate in group goals enthusiastically without feeling that you need to be in charge or command the top title.
4. Once you have demolished the myths of age, emphasize its strengths: reliability, mature judgment, lack of impulsivity, timeliness, a strong work ethic, and the ability to perform without outside distractions such as personal relationship problems, child commitments, and social responsibilities.
Undoubtedly, there are individuals out there who have their own issues with hiring someone who reminds them of their father or who have had problems in the past with an underperforming older worker who was difficult to terminate. There will always be those you cannot reach, no matter how convincing your logic and your presentation.
There are many more who are open-minded and seek not to make rash judgments. Address their semi-conscious fears face to face and the interview may end successfully - for both you and your lucky new employer.
Virginia Bola operated a rehabilitation company for 20 years, developing innovative job search techniques for disabled workers, while serving as a respected Vocational Expert in Administrative, Civil and Workers' Compensation Courts. Author of an interactive and emotionally supportive workbook, The Wolf at the Door: An Unemployment Survival Manual, and a monthly ezine, The Worker's Edge, she can be reached at http://www.virginiabola.com/
Tuesday, August 01, 2006
The Epoch Times | Worse Than Any Nightmare�Journalist Quits China to Expose Concentration Camp Horrors and Bird Flu Coverup
There is true evil in the world. Conentration camps flourish and prisoners organs are harvested for profit. Be aware , tell others of the horror and try to stop it PR
The Epoch Times Worse Than Any Nightmare�Journalist Quits China to Expose Concentration Camp Horrors and Bird Flu Coverup: "Worse Than Any Nightmare�Journalist Quits China to Expose Concentration Camp Horrors and Bird Flu Coverup
Over 6,000 Falun Gong Practitioners Detained in Secret Concentration Camp in China; 425 Bird Flu Patients in Two Facilities
Epoch Times StaffMar 10, 2006
A reporter from China who worked for a Japanese television news agency and specialized in Chinese news recently escaped to the United States after being wanted in China for reporting on controversial issues. (The Epoch Times)
[High-resolution image ] A long-time reporter who worked for a Japanese television news agency and specialized in news on China told The Epoch Times that some little-known and very frightening things are happening in China today. To protect his identity, The Epoch Times will refer to him as Mr. R."
The Epoch Times Worse Than Any Nightmare�Journalist Quits China to Expose Concentration Camp Horrors and Bird Flu Coverup: "Worse Than Any Nightmare�Journalist Quits China to Expose Concentration Camp Horrors and Bird Flu Coverup
Over 6,000 Falun Gong Practitioners Detained in Secret Concentration Camp in China; 425 Bird Flu Patients in Two Facilities
Epoch Times StaffMar 10, 2006
A reporter from China who worked for a Japanese television news agency and specialized in Chinese news recently escaped to the United States after being wanted in China for reporting on controversial issues. (The Epoch Times)
[High-resolution image ] A long-time reporter who worked for a Japanese television news agency and specialized in news on China told The Epoch Times that some little-known and very frightening things are happening in China today. To protect his identity, The Epoch Times will refer to him as Mr. R."
Monday, July 31, 2006
Court crisis?
Why not fix it ? How about regular business hours - and special courts to deal with less serious matters? PR
Osprey Media. - Brantford Expositor: "Courts in crisis over judicial shortage
James Wallace
Queens Park - Saturday, July 22, 2006
For the past decade, a succession of elected officials helped butter their
political bread by announcing crack downs on all manner of crime.
They've targeted child pornographers, marijuana grow house operators, street
racers and even pit bulls.
They've put more cops on street, built more jails, not only to deal with
increasing and increasingly complex crimes but to cope with a population
that has grown by several million people over that time.
Inexplicably, the same politicians have resisted hiring more judges to hear
the inevitable increase in new cases created by their crackdowns and
population growth.
As a consequence, courts across Ontario are struggling with crushing
backlogs, Crowns are increasingly being forced to plea bargain, police are
letting petty criminals off the hook and children and families are being
forced to wait for justice.
'The whole system is off balance,' Heather McGee, president Ontario Bar
Association, told Osprey News.
'It's been running thin for so long that all it takes is one major trial or
an incremental increase in population and you lose the ability to deal with
things in a timely and effective manner,' McGee said.
The current and looming judicial shortage is a significant part of the
problem.
'Our judicial complement has been more or less static for the last decade,'
McGee said.
'I think the last time new positions were created was 1999, only two positions were created.' "
Osprey Media. - Brantford Expositor: "Courts in crisis over judicial shortage
James Wallace
Queens Park - Saturday, July 22, 2006
For the past decade, a succession of elected officials helped butter their
political bread by announcing crack downs on all manner of crime.
They've targeted child pornographers, marijuana grow house operators, street
racers and even pit bulls.
They've put more cops on street, built more jails, not only to deal with
increasing and increasingly complex crimes but to cope with a population
that has grown by several million people over that time.
Inexplicably, the same politicians have resisted hiring more judges to hear
the inevitable increase in new cases created by their crackdowns and
population growth.
As a consequence, courts across Ontario are struggling with crushing
backlogs, Crowns are increasingly being forced to plea bargain, police are
letting petty criminals off the hook and children and families are being
forced to wait for justice.
'The whole system is off balance,' Heather McGee, president Ontario Bar
Association, told Osprey News.
'It's been running thin for so long that all it takes is one major trial or
an incremental increase in population and you lose the ability to deal with
things in a timely and effective manner,' McGee said.
The current and looming judicial shortage is a significant part of the
problem.
'Our judicial complement has been more or less static for the last decade,'
McGee said.
'I think the last time new positions were created was 1999, only two positions were created.' "
Words of wisdom
Classic Quotes by Milton Friedman(1912- ) US economist
A major source of objection to a free economy is precisely that group thinks they ought to want. Underlying most arguments against the free market is a lack of belief in freedom itself. ------------------------- Concentrated power is not rendered harmless by the good intentions of those who create it. ------------------------
- Governments never learn. Only people learn. ------------------------
- Hell hath no fury like a bureaucrat scorned. ------------------------
- History suggests that capitalism is a necessary condition for political freedom. Clearly it is not a sufficient condition. ------------------------
- I am favor of cutting taxes under any circumstances and for any excuse, for any reason, whenever it's possible. ------------------------
- I'm in favor of legalizing drugs. According to my values system, if people want to kill themselves, they have every right to do so. Most of the harm that comes from drugs is because they are illegal. ------------------------
- Inflation is the one form of taxation that can be imposed without legislation. ------------------------
- Many people want the government to protect the consumer. A much more urgent problem is to protect the consumer from the government
Saturday, July 22, 2006
Osprey Media. - Brantford Expositor
Osprey Media. - Brantford Expositor: "
City man to face justice in U.S.
By Susan Gamble
Local News - Saturday, July 22, 2006 @ 01:00
Brantfords Shane Ferras has lost the last of his appeals in a bid to avoid being extradited to the U.S. following a Supreme Court decision Friday morning.
Ferras, now 41, soon will be moved from the Brantford jail, where he stepped into custody on Thursday evening, to New York State to face trial on charges of fraud and money laundering as part of a high-pressure stock brokerage in the mid-1990s.
He has no further recourse, Ferrass lawyer, Brian Greenspan, said in a telephone interview from Toronto.
Theyll transfer him to the United States and, hopefully, hell get a trial as quickly as possible so the matter is resolved.
Greenspan said his client is a relatively young man with a young family and a bright future.
Working hard
While fighting his extradition order, which was signed in 2002, Ferras has been working hard as a businessman in sales, said Greenspan.
The Brantford-born Ferras was a two per cent owner in a New York brokerage house clearing $2.3 million in his few years with the company, according to court documents.
On Feb. 15, 2001, all 29 of the companys stockbrokers were arrested, including Ferras, who was back in Brantford at the time.
Despite an order in 2002 committing Ferras to be extradited, his lawyers argued that their client shouldnt been sent to the U.S. based on a case relying on hearsay evidence some of it from alleged co-conspirators who have co-operated with the American investigation.
In a surprising move, this weeks Supreme Court decision agreed to some extent. "
The trial usge must consider the las and the facts and not just be a rubber stamp
City man to face justice in U.S.
By Susan Gamble
Local News - Saturday, July 22, 2006 @ 01:00
Brantfords Shane Ferras has lost the last of his appeals in a bid to avoid being extradited to the U.S. following a Supreme Court decision Friday morning.
Ferras, now 41, soon will be moved from the Brantford jail, where he stepped into custody on Thursday evening, to New York State to face trial on charges of fraud and money laundering as part of a high-pressure stock brokerage in the mid-1990s.
He has no further recourse, Ferrass lawyer, Brian Greenspan, said in a telephone interview from Toronto.
Theyll transfer him to the United States and, hopefully, hell get a trial as quickly as possible so the matter is resolved.
Greenspan said his client is a relatively young man with a young family and a bright future.
Working hard
While fighting his extradition order, which was signed in 2002, Ferras has been working hard as a businessman in sales, said Greenspan.
The Brantford-born Ferras was a two per cent owner in a New York brokerage house clearing $2.3 million in his few years with the company, according to court documents.
On Feb. 15, 2001, all 29 of the companys stockbrokers were arrested, including Ferras, who was back in Brantford at the time.
Despite an order in 2002 committing Ferras to be extradited, his lawyers argued that their client shouldnt been sent to the U.S. based on a case relying on hearsay evidence some of it from alleged co-conspirators who have co-operated with the American investigation.
In a surprising move, this weeks Supreme Court decision agreed to some extent. "
The trial usge must consider the las and the facts and not just be a rubber stamp
Friday, July 21, 2006
Sell the World Who You Really Are
Sell the World Who You Really Are: "Sell the World Who You Really Are
by Don Sexton, PhD
Bedrock marketing insights from the author of Trump University Marketing 101
When I was growing up, my family had a business installing water systems for country clubs, farms and housing developments. Whenever I went and worked alongside my father at those places, I could see how much people respected him for his honesty and integrity. He delivered what he promised. If a system failed at any time of the day or night, his customers knew they could call him and he would arrive promptly to fix the problem.
At that time, I had no idea what marketing was. I certainly had no idea that my father, through his honesty and integrity, was actually marketing on a very high level. But he was - and as effectively as any Fortune 500 company.
Today, I teach state-of-the-art marketing techniques at Columbia University and Trump University. But even the most advanced marketing approaches are closely tied to what my father was doing. Through his actions, he told the world that he had something special to offer.
Stop for a moment and think about the businesses in your area. There are dry cleaners, hardware stores and the rest. But are some of them known for doing something special? Is a certain dry cleaner known for its ability to get a spot out of any kind of fabric? Is a certain hardware store known for having experts on staff who patiently answer questions from do-it-yourselfers? Local merchants who differentiate themselves in that way are miles ahead of other businesses that just open their doors and wait for customers to arrive.
That ability to be special, which I learned from my father, is actually the bedrock of good marketing.
Effective marketing does not live or die on clever ads or databases. It hinges on your ability to tell customers that you have to sell that makes you different. It is a way of telling the world what you have to offer, and who you really are."
by Don Sexton, PhD
Bedrock marketing insights from the author of Trump University Marketing 101
When I was growing up, my family had a business installing water systems for country clubs, farms and housing developments. Whenever I went and worked alongside my father at those places, I could see how much people respected him for his honesty and integrity. He delivered what he promised. If a system failed at any time of the day or night, his customers knew they could call him and he would arrive promptly to fix the problem.
At that time, I had no idea what marketing was. I certainly had no idea that my father, through his honesty and integrity, was actually marketing on a very high level. But he was - and as effectively as any Fortune 500 company.
Today, I teach state-of-the-art marketing techniques at Columbia University and Trump University. But even the most advanced marketing approaches are closely tied to what my father was doing. Through his actions, he told the world that he had something special to offer.
Stop for a moment and think about the businesses in your area. There are dry cleaners, hardware stores and the rest. But are some of them known for doing something special? Is a certain dry cleaner known for its ability to get a spot out of any kind of fabric? Is a certain hardware store known for having experts on staff who patiently answer questions from do-it-yourselfers? Local merchants who differentiate themselves in that way are miles ahead of other businesses that just open their doors and wait for customers to arrive.
That ability to be special, which I learned from my father, is actually the bedrock of good marketing.
Effective marketing does not live or die on clever ads or databases. It hinges on your ability to tell customers that you have to sell that makes you different. It is a way of telling the world what you have to offer, and who you really are."
Saturday, July 01, 2006
winnipegsun.com - Editorial - A little gift for us
winnipegsun.com - Editorial - A little gift for us: "The tax cut will benefit everyone and will make a small dent in the overall tax burden suffered by Canadians. Almost every time we make a purchase, we'll keep some cash that otherwise would have been sucked into the bottomless money pit that is the federal government. That is a good thing.
The Harper Tories promised the GST cut as part of their election platform and, to their credit, they managed to make good on it quickly, despite presiding over a minority government.
It's no accident that the tax cut is taking effect on Canada Day.
The symbolism is just too good for the government to pass up. What better day is there for the Harper government to demonstrate in a real and meaningful way that it's committed to reducing taxes than on our nation's birthday?
As far as we're concerned, then, it's just one more reason to celebrate living in such a great nation that's full of fantastic people and beautiful landscapes.
And if all goes according to plan, we hope to get another Canada Day birthday present in the years ahead, as the Tories have promised to reduce the hated tax by another one point, to 5%, within five years. With any luck, that would be as soon as next year. "
The Harper Tories promised the GST cut as part of their election platform and, to their credit, they managed to make good on it quickly, despite presiding over a minority government.
It's no accident that the tax cut is taking effect on Canada Day.
The symbolism is just too good for the government to pass up. What better day is there for the Harper government to demonstrate in a real and meaningful way that it's committed to reducing taxes than on our nation's birthday?
As far as we're concerned, then, it's just one more reason to celebrate living in such a great nation that's full of fantastic people and beautiful landscapes.
And if all goes according to plan, we hope to get another Canada Day birthday present in the years ahead, as the Tories have promised to reduce the hated tax by another one point, to 5%, within five years. With any luck, that would be as soon as next year. "
Osprey Media. - Brantford Expositor
All about the ta assessment rip off -PR
Osprey Media. - Brantford Expositor: "Despite that worry, Haggart said the move had to be made.
�The whole system needs to be re-evaluated. It always was hard to explain. Each time I get questions from a taxpayer I take a shot at it. They look at me while I�m talking and say, Yeah, sure.�
�It�s so confusing nobody believes anything they see or what they�re told. That�s why the system needs to be fixed.�"
Osprey Media. - Brantford Expositor: "Despite that worry, Haggart said the move had to be made.
�The whole system needs to be re-evaluated. It always was hard to explain. Each time I get questions from a taxpayer I take a shot at it. They look at me while I�m talking and say, Yeah, sure.�
�It�s so confusing nobody believes anything they see or what they�re told. That�s why the system needs to be fixed.�"
Monday, June 26, 2006
winnipegsun.com - Editorial - Tories earn healthy mark
And now if we can just clean up the provincial messes and we might be in for a real service for the public or people by the government. Hmmm- lets start with an accountability act for the justice system and get our basic liberties back-food for thought . PR
winnipegsun.com - Editorial - Tories earn healthy mark: "Harper took us all by surprise with his well thought out top-secret visit to rally the troops in Kandahar, where he also met with leaders of Afghanistan and Pakistan.
In mid-April, his government scored a diplomatic coup when it negotiated an end to the decades-long softwood lumber dispute with the U.S.
And in May we got a budget that, while short on the kinds of tax cuts and spending restraints we'd prefer, at least offered a variety of targeted cuts plus a $100-a-month allowance for parents with preschoolers.
We have also seen the government deliver on its key campaign promises, including a GST reduction that takes effect in a week, an accountability act to prevent a repeat of odious events like the sponsorship scandal, legislation to get tough on crime and a bill to dismantle the costly and pointless gun registry.
Opposition parties, meanwhile, have been unable to mount any kind of meaningful attack against the government. In one memorable moment they collectively dozed off and missed the passage of a budget they had vowed to fight.
Overall we'll give the Tories a B-plus for a strong first term. Liberal, NDP and Bloc Quebecois members will have to settle for a collective D. "
winnipegsun.com - Editorial - Tories earn healthy mark: "Harper took us all by surprise with his well thought out top-secret visit to rally the troops in Kandahar, where he also met with leaders of Afghanistan and Pakistan.
In mid-April, his government scored a diplomatic coup when it negotiated an end to the decades-long softwood lumber dispute with the U.S.
And in May we got a budget that, while short on the kinds of tax cuts and spending restraints we'd prefer, at least offered a variety of targeted cuts plus a $100-a-month allowance for parents with preschoolers.
We have also seen the government deliver on its key campaign promises, including a GST reduction that takes effect in a week, an accountability act to prevent a repeat of odious events like the sponsorship scandal, legislation to get tough on crime and a bill to dismantle the costly and pointless gun registry.
Opposition parties, meanwhile, have been unable to mount any kind of meaningful attack against the government. In one memorable moment they collectively dozed off and missed the passage of a budget they had vowed to fight.
Overall we'll give the Tories a B-plus for a strong first term. Liberal, NDP and Bloc Quebecois members will have to settle for a collective D. "
winnipegsun.com - Editorial - Stick to the plan, Stephen
winnipegsun.com - Editorial - Stick to the plan, Stephen: "We think governments, at whatever level, ought to be providing basic services and letting the private sector take care of the rest.
That approach means the government can leave more money in the pockets of ordinary taxpayers to spend as we see fit.
The alternative -- and we've seen plenty of examples how it works -- is for government to tax, tax, tax and then spend, spend, spend on programs that inevitably grow out of control. "
That approach means the government can leave more money in the pockets of ordinary taxpayers to spend as we see fit.
The alternative -- and we've seen plenty of examples how it works -- is for government to tax, tax, tax and then spend, spend, spend on programs that inevitably grow out of control. "
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
winnipegsun.com - Editorial - Guilt beyond Guite?
And the fall guy is -take your pick ! Bureacracy the new form of despotism. As usual nobody is in charge when it comes to accepting responsibility. PR
winnipegsun.com - Editorial - Guilt beyond Guite?: "Is it true?
So we'd like to hear from the Liberal candidates. Do they agree with Chretien that the 'system' is working? If not, what are they going to do when they become leader to ensure that every person responsible for AdScam, has his (or her) day of reckoning? "
winnipegsun.com - Editorial - Guilt beyond Guite?: "Is it true?
So we'd like to hear from the Liberal candidates. Do they agree with Chretien that the 'system' is working? If not, what are they going to do when they become leader to ensure that every person responsible for AdScam, has his (or her) day of reckoning? "
Tuesday, June 20, 2006
winnipegsun.com - Editorial - Tax freedom? Yeah, sure
Discusting - time for change
winnipegsun.com - Editorial - Tax freedom? Yeah, sure: "In other words, when you tally up all the taxes -- income taxes, property taxes, sales taxes, as well as profit taxes, health, social security and employment taxes, import duties, licence fees, sin taxes on the consumption of alcohol and tobacco, natural resource fees, fuel taxes, hospital taxes, and a host of other levies -- you turn over almost as much to various governments in a year as you keep for yourself. Or to be precise, 46%.
Is it any wonder that we taxpayers are in a grumpy mood? Particularly when we look around and see almost daily examples of how governments at all three levels are wasting our money.
Every so often they make "
winnipegsun.com - Editorial - Tax freedom? Yeah, sure: "In other words, when you tally up all the taxes -- income taxes, property taxes, sales taxes, as well as profit taxes, health, social security and employment taxes, import duties, licence fees, sin taxes on the consumption of alcohol and tobacco, natural resource fees, fuel taxes, hospital taxes, and a host of other levies -- you turn over almost as much to various governments in a year as you keep for yourself. Or to be precise, 46%.
Is it any wonder that we taxpayers are in a grumpy mood? Particularly when we look around and see almost daily examples of how governments at all three levels are wasting our money.
Every so often they make "
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
Terror suspects strike back at anti-terrorism law
And the price of freedom is? Seurity certificates are a bad precedent.PR
Terror suspects strike back at anti-terrorism law: "Society's interest in employing the best available truth-determining mechanisms is greatly elevated in the tumultuous struggle against terrorism,'' Paul Copeland argues.
``While the courts have generally deferred to governments on the issue, the reality is that national security claims and privilege claims have frequently been made to shield government or government officials from appropriate and necessary oversight.''
In the last 25 years, the federal government has issued about two-dozen security certificates, most of which have been upheld by the Federal Court and used to deport refugees and landed immigrants alleged to have terrorist links"
Terror suspects strike back at anti-terrorism law: "Society's interest in employing the best available truth-determining mechanisms is greatly elevated in the tumultuous struggle against terrorism,'' Paul Copeland argues.
``While the courts have generally deferred to governments on the issue, the reality is that national security claims and privilege claims have frequently been made to shield government or government officials from appropriate and necessary oversight.''
In the last 25 years, the federal government has issued about two-dozen security certificates, most of which have been upheld by the Federal Court and used to deport refugees and landed immigrants alleged to have terrorist links"
Monday, May 15, 2006
Osprey Media. - Brantford Expositor
With all the real health services that they could fix- the ministry of health parasites have decided to go after farmers markets and other "free"markets". Stop them now before they cause more damage and hardship-PR
Osprey Media. - Brantford Expositor: "
Province Targets Farmers' Markets
James Wallace for the Osprey News Network
Queens Park - Saturday, May 13, 2006
On any given weekend, thousands of Ontario families hike out to a local farmers' market to shop for vegetables, crafts, meats, furniture, maple syrup and the usual soup to nuts piled on wooden stands and displayed under linen tents.
They have been enormously popular with urban and rural consumers for decades, serve as important tourist attractions in many communities, contribute significantly to regional economies and put a few bucks into the pockets of farmers, craftsmen and local merchants.
So it should come as absolutely no shock whatsoever that the provincial government is contemplating plans to regulate, red tape and otherwise drive farmers' markets out of existence.
Proposed food safety guidelines in a 48-page draft document prepared in March for the Ministry of Health will require farmers' markets to meet the same stringent measures applied to restaurants, grocery stores and large scale commercial food producers and distributors.
They contemplate, for example, lab tests for home-made jelly, that honey made by local bees contain no more than 17 per cent moisture, recommendations that every market have two bathrooms (one for staff, one for the public), sinks and hand-washing facilities, log books to record food thermometer temperatures during cooking and that farmers and merchants take courses to become certified food handlers.
Bob Runciman, the MPP for Leeds Grenville, said the reach of the proposed measures also won't end at farmers' markets.
'It's pretty expansive,' Runciman said. 'They'll be"
Osprey Media. - Brantford Expositor: "
Province Targets Farmers' Markets
James Wallace for the Osprey News Network
Queens Park - Saturday, May 13, 2006
On any given weekend, thousands of Ontario families hike out to a local farmers' market to shop for vegetables, crafts, meats, furniture, maple syrup and the usual soup to nuts piled on wooden stands and displayed under linen tents.
They have been enormously popular with urban and rural consumers for decades, serve as important tourist attractions in many communities, contribute significantly to regional economies and put a few bucks into the pockets of farmers, craftsmen and local merchants.
So it should come as absolutely no shock whatsoever that the provincial government is contemplating plans to regulate, red tape and otherwise drive farmers' markets out of existence.
Proposed food safety guidelines in a 48-page draft document prepared in March for the Ministry of Health will require farmers' markets to meet the same stringent measures applied to restaurants, grocery stores and large scale commercial food producers and distributors.
They contemplate, for example, lab tests for home-made jelly, that honey made by local bees contain no more than 17 per cent moisture, recommendations that every market have two bathrooms (one for staff, one for the public), sinks and hand-washing facilities, log books to record food thermometer temperatures during cooking and that farmers and merchants take courses to become certified food handlers.
Bob Runciman, the MPP for Leeds Grenville, said the reach of the proposed measures also won't end at farmers' markets.
'It's pretty expansive,' Runciman said. 'They'll be"
Sunday, May 14, 2006
Tax relief is needed- PR
Sun, May 14, 2006 Time for gov't gouging to stop By TOM BRODBECK
If you want to find out how much the federal government has been over-charging us as taxpayers, check out the latest 2006 budget papers.
There's a whole section on how Ottawa has consistently been racking up massive budget surpluses since it balanced the books in 1997.
That in itself is no great secret. We've heard about larger than anticipated surpluses for years.
But what the budget does this year is take a closer look at the issue, including what can be done to end this perpetual over-charging.
Every year since 1997, the federal government has projected a modest surplus, including a $3-billion contingency fund which, if not used, went to pay down the debt.
It was good policy. And debt has been paid down to some extent (although we've still got a very long way to go).
Trouble is, because of high taxation -- including more than a decade where tax brackets weren't indexed to inflation -- and the massive employment insurance surplus racked up every year, Ottawa was taking in billions more a year than it projected.
Which simply means we were over-taxed.
On average, since 1997, the federal government's surplus was a staggering $5.6 billion more than projected. Over eight years, that's nearly $45 billion.
It's a massive amount of money. And it came right out of our pockets.
Instead of giving it back, though, they spent most of it, usually in a year-end frenzy to shore up political support.
Polite way
"This reduced the scope for parliamentarians and Canadians to have an informed debate on how these fiscal dividends were allocated," the 2006 budget says.
That's a polite way of putting it.
Another way of putting it is that taxpayers were screwed.
We paid far more than we should have.
There are valid reasons why government can have unanticipated surpluses. The economy can do better than expected, for example, generating more tax revenue than estimated.
That's fine. It's going to happen.
But when it happens every year, and at such high levels, there's a systemic gouging going on that has to stop.
The explanation in the budget, based on an independent review by the International Monetary Fund, is that the federal government's fiscal projections have been more cautious than other countries since the mid-1990s.
In plain English, that means Ottawa was deliberately underestimating its revenues in order to keep taxes high, knowing full well that by the end of the year, they would be awash in taxpayer dough.
And why would they do that?
Because if you believe in big government, if you think government should play a significant role in people's lives, you need the money to spend on big, universal programs, such as the so-called national child-care program.
By consistently underestimating revenues, government every year had a whack of money to splurge on all kinds of federal programs, with the hope of winning political credit for their efforts.
What they should have done is used realistic projections and given us our money back by way of broad-based tax relief.
At the very least, we should have all received rebate cheques in the mail.
If you want to find out how much the federal government has been over-charging us as taxpayers, check out the latest 2006 budget papers.
There's a whole section on how Ottawa has consistently been racking up massive budget surpluses since it balanced the books in 1997.
That in itself is no great secret. We've heard about larger than anticipated surpluses for years.
But what the budget does this year is take a closer look at the issue, including what can be done to end this perpetual over-charging.
Every year since 1997, the federal government has projected a modest surplus, including a $3-billion contingency fund which, if not used, went to pay down the debt.
It was good policy. And debt has been paid down to some extent (although we've still got a very long way to go).
Trouble is, because of high taxation -- including more than a decade where tax brackets weren't indexed to inflation -- and the massive employment insurance surplus racked up every year, Ottawa was taking in billions more a year than it projected.
Which simply means we were over-taxed.
On average, since 1997, the federal government's surplus was a staggering $5.6 billion more than projected. Over eight years, that's nearly $45 billion.
It's a massive amount of money. And it came right out of our pockets.
Instead of giving it back, though, they spent most of it, usually in a year-end frenzy to shore up political support.
Polite way
"This reduced the scope for parliamentarians and Canadians to have an informed debate on how these fiscal dividends were allocated," the 2006 budget says.
That's a polite way of putting it.
Another way of putting it is that taxpayers were screwed.
We paid far more than we should have.
There are valid reasons why government can have unanticipated surpluses. The economy can do better than expected, for example, generating more tax revenue than estimated.
That's fine. It's going to happen.
But when it happens every year, and at such high levels, there's a systemic gouging going on that has to stop.
The explanation in the budget, based on an independent review by the International Monetary Fund, is that the federal government's fiscal projections have been more cautious than other countries since the mid-1990s.
In plain English, that means Ottawa was deliberately underestimating its revenues in order to keep taxes high, knowing full well that by the end of the year, they would be awash in taxpayer dough.
And why would they do that?
Because if you believe in big government, if you think government should play a significant role in people's lives, you need the money to spend on big, universal programs, such as the so-called national child-care program.
By consistently underestimating revenues, government every year had a whack of money to splurge on all kinds of federal programs, with the hope of winning political credit for their efforts.
What they should have done is used realistic projections and given us our money back by way of broad-based tax relief.
At the very least, we should have all received rebate cheques in the mail.
Focus on Outcomes - Rev. Harry Lehotsky - Outcomes a better measure of success
Ecellent idea for making government work PR
winnipegsun.com - Rev. Harry Lehotsky - Outcomes a better measure of success: "Things will never change if we don't start focusing more on outcomes than process.
I felt like shouting 'Amen!' But I wasn't in church, and such enthusiasm for common sense seemed like it might not be appropriate.
This Wednesday I attended the 10th anniversary of Opportunities for Employment -- an employment training program that embodies what happens when you focus more on outcomes than process.
The organization was founded on a revolutionary principle. The agency would make itself as accountable for their performance with their clients as their clients would have to be in the workforce. Opportunities for Employment would get paid only if their clients succeeded in holding a full-time job for at least six months. "
winnipegsun.com - Rev. Harry Lehotsky - Outcomes a better measure of success: "Things will never change if we don't start focusing more on outcomes than process.
I felt like shouting 'Amen!' But I wasn't in church, and such enthusiasm for common sense seemed like it might not be appropriate.
This Wednesday I attended the 10th anniversary of Opportunities for Employment -- an employment training program that embodies what happens when you focus more on outcomes than process.
The organization was founded on a revolutionary principle. The agency would make itself as accountable for their performance with their clients as their clients would have to be in the workforce. Opportunities for Employment would get paid only if their clients succeeded in holding a full-time job for at least six months. "
Getting our ship in order Strong dollar speaks volumes
winnipegsun.com - Editorial - Strong dollar speaks volumes: "Under Liberal prime minister Jean Chretien and finance minister Paul Martin, the Canadian dollar sank to less than 63 cents US at various times. What a disgrace. How embarrassing. No wonder financial experts around the globe talked about us having a 'northern peso.'
We had one of the largest federal accumulated debts in the industrialized world, our combined federal, provincial and municipal taxes were the highest in the G-7 -- and on average 20% higher than in the U.S. Coincidentally, our productivity was 20% lower than in the U.S., which certainly told a story. "
It is no coincidence our 90-cent dollar has arrived just three months after Prime Minister Stephen Harper's Conservatives won the Jan. 23 federal election and just a week after Finance Minister Jim Flaherty unveiled his first budget.
From New York to Zurich to Hong Kong, the world now knows we are getting our ship in order.
We had one of the largest federal accumulated debts in the industrialized world, our combined federal, provincial and municipal taxes were the highest in the G-7 -- and on average 20% higher than in the U.S. Coincidentally, our productivity was 20% lower than in the U.S., which certainly told a story. "
It is no coincidence our 90-cent dollar has arrived just three months after Prime Minister Stephen Harper's Conservatives won the Jan. 23 federal election and just a week after Finance Minister Jim Flaherty unveiled his first budget.
From New York to Zurich to Hong Kong, the world now knows we are getting our ship in order.
Friday, May 12, 2006
winnipegsun.com - Editorial - The right to judge judges
winnipegsun.com - Editorial - The right to judge judges: "The rule of law requires judges to uphold unwritten constitutional norms, even in the face of clearly enacted laws or hostile public opinion. There is certainly no guarantee or presumption that a given list of constitutional principles is complete, even assuming the good faith intention of the drafters to provide such a catalogue ... Judges have the duty to insist that legislative and executive branches of government conform to certain established and fundamental norms, even in times of trouble.'
Some might say McLachlin was simply saying judges must follow the spirit as well as the letter of the law and rule based not on what is popular, but on what is constitutional.
Others might say she was defending such controversial decisions as the Supreme Court 'reading in' sexual orientation into the charter, which many people saw as judges improperly exercising 'godlike' power.
That's the view Vellacott expressed and it's a valid one.
At least it would be, if our politicians truly believed in another charter right -- free speech. "
Some might say McLachlin was simply saying judges must follow the spirit as well as the letter of the law and rule based not on what is popular, but on what is constitutional.
Others might say she was defending such controversial decisions as the Supreme Court 'reading in' sexual orientation into the charter, which many people saw as judges improperly exercising 'godlike' power.
That's the view Vellacott expressed and it's a valid one.
At least it would be, if our politicians truly believed in another charter right -- free speech. "
Tories smell new scandal over gun registry costs
At least we can clean it up-no meetings just do it PR
Tories smell new scandal over gun registry costs: "'When they gave out that $273-million contract, they broke every rule in the book,' Breitkreuz said, echoing the phrase that Fraser made famous in her audit of the $250-million sponsorship program."
Tories smell new scandal over gun registry costs: "'When they gave out that $273-million contract, they broke every rule in the book,' Breitkreuz said, echoing the phrase that Fraser made famous in her audit of the $250-million sponsorship program."
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
globeandmail.com : Attack on judiciary shatters strategic silence
What are the unwritten constitional principles? PR This will make for a livly debate in the future.
globeandmail.com : Attack on judiciary shatters strategic silence: "Mr. Vellacott was apparently drawn out by a speech Chief Justice McLachlin delivered in New Zealand in December. It explored the notion of 'unwritten constitutional principles' -- principles thought to be so fundamental to society that judges may occasionally use them to underpin a ruling.
Chief Justice McLachlin reasoned that laws cannot encompass all possible situations. 'In sum, the rule of law requires judges to uphold unwritten constitutional norms, even in the face of clearly enacted laws or hostile positive opinion,' she said.
To those of conservative mind, the speech was a red flag to a bull; a declaration that all manner of cases can be justified by reference to vague, 'unwritten constitutional principles.'
Ironically, Chief Justice McLachlin is widely seen as being loathe to strike down legislation under the Charter of Rights, often taking pains to bow in the direction of Parliament and its legislative agenda.
The best-known use of unwritten principles in recent years was the Quebec Secession Reference ruling, where the court cited four unwritten principles -- federalism, democracy, the rule of law and respect for minorities -- to create a blueprint for the possible partition of Canada.
However, University of Toronto law professor Sujit Choudhry noted that in a 2005 ruling pitting the B.C. government against several tobacco companies, the court also took a strong position against 'trivializing' the Constitution with extravagant interpretations of unwritten principles.
Mr. Vellacott's attack brought a highly unusual retort from Chief Justice McLachlin: She categorically denied his allegation that she had ever referred to judges as having 'almost God-like powers.'
Prof. Levy said the response can b"
globeandmail.com : Attack on judiciary shatters strategic silence: "Mr. Vellacott was apparently drawn out by a speech Chief Justice McLachlin delivered in New Zealand in December. It explored the notion of 'unwritten constitutional principles' -- principles thought to be so fundamental to society that judges may occasionally use them to underpin a ruling.
Chief Justice McLachlin reasoned that laws cannot encompass all possible situations. 'In sum, the rule of law requires judges to uphold unwritten constitutional norms, even in the face of clearly enacted laws or hostile positive opinion,' she said.
To those of conservative mind, the speech was a red flag to a bull; a declaration that all manner of cases can be justified by reference to vague, 'unwritten constitutional principles.'
Ironically, Chief Justice McLachlin is widely seen as being loathe to strike down legislation under the Charter of Rights, often taking pains to bow in the direction of Parliament and its legislative agenda.
The best-known use of unwritten principles in recent years was the Quebec Secession Reference ruling, where the court cited four unwritten principles -- federalism, democracy, the rule of law and respect for minorities -- to create a blueprint for the possible partition of Canada.
However, University of Toronto law professor Sujit Choudhry noted that in a 2005 ruling pitting the B.C. government against several tobacco companies, the court also took a strong position against 'trivializing' the Constitution with extravagant interpretations of unwritten principles.
Mr. Vellacott's attack brought a highly unusual retort from Chief Justice McLachlin: She categorically denied his allegation that she had ever referred to judges as having 'almost God-like powers.'
Prof. Levy said the response can b"
globeandmail.com : PM's spring cleanup casts pall over Ottawa
globeandmail.com : PM's spring cleanup casts pall over Ottawa: "PM's spring cleanup casts pall over Ottawa
JANE TABER
From Wednesday's Globe and Mail
Ottawa � The Harper government's new accountability measures are creating an atmosphere in political Ottawa where accepting free tickets to gala concerts, fundraising dinners and other cultural events is frowned upon."
JANE TABER
From Wednesday's Globe and Mail
Ottawa � The Harper government's new accountability measures are creating an atmosphere in political Ottawa where accepting free tickets to gala concerts, fundraising dinners and other cultural events is frowned upon."
Saturday, May 06, 2006
Brault sentenced to 30 months for sponsorship fraud
Brault sentenced to 30 months for sponsorship fraud: "Ad man Jean Brault got 30 months in prison after a judge condemned him Friday as one of the greedy masterminds who became rich off sponsorship fraud.
Brault, 52, was sentenced for stealing at least $1.2 million from money meant to raising the profile of the federal government in the wake of the 1995 referendum. "
Brault, 52, was sentenced for stealing at least $1.2 million from money meant to raising the profile of the federal government in the wake of the 1995 referendum. "
Thursday, May 04, 2006
Tory Budget
globeandmail.com: "For him, Mr. Flaherty and Mr. Harper score 6.5 out of 7 in being good conservatives. The budget, he said, passes the conservative test by cutting taxes; assuming that people can spend their money more effectively than the state; allocating serious money toward debt reduction; planning to withdraw from areas of provincial jurisdiction; reining in runaway spending; and funnelling tax relief to promote a more competitive economy."
Tuesday, May 02, 2006
winnipegsun.com - Editorial - Lighten our load, Mr. Harper
Relief please- We need the money more then you do PR
winnipegsun.com - Editorial - Lighten our load, Mr. Harper: "Anyone who thinks Canadians aren't ready for major tax relief in today's budget -- the first federal Conservative budget in 13 years -- needs a reality check.
Most taxpayers are more than ready -- as indicated by the Fraser Institute study released last week showing that the total tax hit is now approaching 50% of the average Canadian family's income. And these aren't 'rich' people.
They're average families earning just under $61,000 per year, who now pay $28,467 in total taxes, more than they spend on food, shelter and clothing combined. "
winnipegsun.com - Editorial - Lighten our load, Mr. Harper: "Anyone who thinks Canadians aren't ready for major tax relief in today's budget -- the first federal Conservative budget in 13 years -- needs a reality check.
Most taxpayers are more than ready -- as indicated by the Fraser Institute study released last week showing that the total tax hit is now approaching 50% of the average Canadian family's income. And these aren't 'rich' people.
They're average families earning just under $61,000 per year, who now pay $28,467 in total taxes, more than they spend on food, shelter and clothing combined. "
Thursday, April 27, 2006
Senate Panel Says FEMA Is Beyond Repair - Yahoo! News
Senate Panel Says FEMA Is Beyond Repair - Yahoo! News: "Senate Panel Says FEMA Is Beyond Repair By LARA JAKES JORDAN, Associated Press Writer
1 hour, 40 minutes ago
WASHINGTON - Hurricane Katrina turned FEMA into a 'symbol of a bumbling bureaucracy' so far beyond repair that it should be scrapped, senators said Thursday. They called for creation of a new disaster relief agency as the next storm season looms on the horizon.
ADVERTISEMENT
The push to replace the beleaguered agency was the top recommendation of a hefty Senate inquiry that concluded that top officials from New Orleans to Washington failed to adequately prepare for and respond to the deadly storm, despite weather forecasts predicting its path through the Gulf Coast.
'The first obligation of government is to protect our people,' said Sen. Susan Collins (news, bio, voting record), R-Maine, chair of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs investigation. 'In Katrina, we failed at all levels of government to meet that fundamental obligation.'
She added: 'We must learn from the lessons of Katrina so that next time disaster strikes, whether it's a storm that was imminent and predicted for a long time, or a terror attack that takes us by surprise, government responds far more effectively.'
The bipartisan report's executive summary gives President Bush a mixed review for his performance. It credits him for declaring an emergency before the hurricane's landfall, but faults him for waiting until two days after it hit to return to Washington and convene top officials to coordinate the federal response."
And the message here is if it is broken fix it - bungling is not an option - accountability is PR
1 hour, 40 minutes ago
WASHINGTON - Hurricane Katrina turned FEMA into a 'symbol of a bumbling bureaucracy' so far beyond repair that it should be scrapped, senators said Thursday. They called for creation of a new disaster relief agency as the next storm season looms on the horizon.
ADVERTISEMENT
The push to replace the beleaguered agency was the top recommendation of a hefty Senate inquiry that concluded that top officials from New Orleans to Washington failed to adequately prepare for and respond to the deadly storm, despite weather forecasts predicting its path through the Gulf Coast.
'The first obligation of government is to protect our people,' said Sen. Susan Collins (news, bio, voting record), R-Maine, chair of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs investigation. 'In Katrina, we failed at all levels of government to meet that fundamental obligation.'
She added: 'We must learn from the lessons of Katrina so that next time disaster strikes, whether it's a storm that was imminent and predicted for a long time, or a terror attack that takes us by surprise, government responds far more effectively.'
The bipartisan report's executive summary gives President Bush a mixed review for his performance. It credits him for declaring an emergency before the hurricane's landfall, but faults him for waiting until two days after it hit to return to Washington and convene top officials to coordinate the federal response."
And the message here is if it is broken fix it - bungling is not an option - accountability is PR
winnipegsun.com - Manitoba - Drinking, drugging cost big
winnipegsun.com - Manitoba - Drinking, drugging cost big: "Drinking, drugging cost bigSubstance abuse adds up
By ADAM CLAYTON, STAFF REPORTER
A new study suggests substance abuse is setting Manitobans back a whopping $324 million a year.
A national study reveals the total annual cost of substance abuse --including alcohol, illegal drugs and tobacco -- was $281 for each person in Manitoba in 2002. The study, conducted on behalf of the Addictions Foundation of Manitoba and other organizations, examined the direct impact of substance abuse on health care and law enforcement as well as indirect costs such as loss of productivity.
Across Canada, the total cost of substance abuse increased from $18.5 billion in 1992 to $39.8 billion a decade later.
The study found 61% of that amount stems from productivity losses from death or illness caused by substance abuse.
LEGAL DRUGS
By comparison, the provincial budget for Manitoba in 2002 was $6.9 billion.
John Borody, CEO of the Addictions Foundation, said most people think substance abuse mainly affects 'street people' when it in fact costs each and every Manitoban.
'They don't realize it's also people wearing business suits, it's people working in manufacturing -- it affects us all,' he said. 'And sometimes it's your family member.'
The study showed approximately 80% of the costs of substance abuse stem from the use of legal drugs -- alcohol and tobacco. Borody said most individuals seeking treatment through AFM have alcohol problems.
The study found that health-care costs attributed to alcohol abuse were nearly $114 million in Manitoba in 2002. An estimated 30% of all recorded criminal offences were alcohol related, at a cost of $28.5 million.
The study showed approximately 80% of the costs of substance abuse stem from the use of legal drugs -- alcohol and tobacco. Borody said most individuals seeking treatment through AFM have alcohol problems.
The study found that health-care costs attributed to alcohol abuse were nearly $114 million in Manitoba in 2002. An estimated 30% of all recorded criminal offences were alcohol related, at a cost of $28.5 million.
Illegal drug use set the provincial health-care system back nearly $35 million while the cost of crime related to drug use was pegged at $24.5 million.
Interesting article .The question becomes what do we do about it. Rather then increase taxes,tack on punnative tolls with rules that do not work-ie more studies with no action -why not get better services that work or deliver their stated objectives , PR
By ADAM CLAYTON, STAFF REPORTER
A new study suggests substance abuse is setting Manitobans back a whopping $324 million a year.
A national study reveals the total annual cost of substance abuse --including alcohol, illegal drugs and tobacco -- was $281 for each person in Manitoba in 2002. The study, conducted on behalf of the Addictions Foundation of Manitoba and other organizations, examined the direct impact of substance abuse on health care and law enforcement as well as indirect costs such as loss of productivity.
Across Canada, the total cost of substance abuse increased from $18.5 billion in 1992 to $39.8 billion a decade later.
The study found 61% of that amount stems from productivity losses from death or illness caused by substance abuse.
LEGAL DRUGS
By comparison, the provincial budget for Manitoba in 2002 was $6.9 billion.
John Borody, CEO of the Addictions Foundation, said most people think substance abuse mainly affects 'street people' when it in fact costs each and every Manitoban.
'They don't realize it's also people wearing business suits, it's people working in manufacturing -- it affects us all,' he said. 'And sometimes it's your family member.'
The study showed approximately 80% of the costs of substance abuse stem from the use of legal drugs -- alcohol and tobacco. Borody said most individuals seeking treatment through AFM have alcohol problems.
The study found that health-care costs attributed to alcohol abuse were nearly $114 million in Manitoba in 2002. An estimated 30% of all recorded criminal offences were alcohol related, at a cost of $28.5 million.
The study showed approximately 80% of the costs of substance abuse stem from the use of legal drugs -- alcohol and tobacco. Borody said most individuals seeking treatment through AFM have alcohol problems.
The study found that health-care costs attributed to alcohol abuse were nearly $114 million in Manitoba in 2002. An estimated 30% of all recorded criminal offences were alcohol related, at a cost of $28.5 million.
Illegal drug use set the provincial health-care system back nearly $35 million while the cost of crime related to drug use was pegged at $24.5 million.
Interesting article .The question becomes what do we do about it. Rather then increase taxes,tack on punnative tolls with rules that do not work-ie more studies with no action -why not get better services that work or deliver their stated objectives , PR
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
globeandmail.com : Death and taxes ... with an emphasis on the taxes
And the institutional terror ontinues -and the peasants - the tax serfs say nothing PR
globeandmail.com : Death and taxes ... with an emphasis on the taxes: "Death and taxes ... with an emphasis on the taxes
TERRY WEBER
Globe and Mail Update
The total tax bill for Canadian families has risen 1,600 per cent over the past 45 years so that taxes now account for more of the family budget than food, shelter and clothing combined, the Fraser Institute said Wednesday.
According a report released by the public policy centre, that increase translates into an additional $26,792 in taxes for the average Canadian family.
Over the same period, the average family's expenditures on shelter rose 1,006 per cent, while food costs climbed 481 per cent and spending on clothing climbed 439 per cent.
In 1961, the average Canadian family had an income of $5,000 and paid $1,675 � 33.5 per cent � of that in taxes. In 2005, the average family income was $60,903, of which 46.7 per cent or $28,467 went to the federal, provincial and municipal coffers.
The report comes just days before Prime Minister Stephen Harper's minority Conservatives deliver their first federal budget. Tax issues are likely to be front and centre in the financial blueprint, with the Tories promising to make good on a campaign vow to cut the GST by 1 per cent.
The government has heralded the cut as the best way to deliver broad tax relief to all Canadians. Critics, however, have argued that the move is likely come at the expense of personal income-tax reductions planned by the previous Liberal government.
Wednesdays report said income taxes � while the biggest single tax paid by Canadians � account for less than half of their total tax bill.
In 2005, income taxes made up 32 per cent of the total paid by an average Canadian family.
�All those other, not so obvious, taxes accounted f"
globeandmail.com : Death and taxes ... with an emphasis on the taxes: "Death and taxes ... with an emphasis on the taxes
TERRY WEBER
Globe and Mail Update
The total tax bill for Canadian families has risen 1,600 per cent over the past 45 years so that taxes now account for more of the family budget than food, shelter and clothing combined, the Fraser Institute said Wednesday.
According a report released by the public policy centre, that increase translates into an additional $26,792 in taxes for the average Canadian family.
Over the same period, the average family's expenditures on shelter rose 1,006 per cent, while food costs climbed 481 per cent and spending on clothing climbed 439 per cent.
In 1961, the average Canadian family had an income of $5,000 and paid $1,675 � 33.5 per cent � of that in taxes. In 2005, the average family income was $60,903, of which 46.7 per cent or $28,467 went to the federal, provincial and municipal coffers.
The report comes just days before Prime Minister Stephen Harper's minority Conservatives deliver their first federal budget. Tax issues are likely to be front and centre in the financial blueprint, with the Tories promising to make good on a campaign vow to cut the GST by 1 per cent.
The government has heralded the cut as the best way to deliver broad tax relief to all Canadians. Critics, however, have argued that the move is likely come at the expense of personal income-tax reductions planned by the previous Liberal government.
Wednesdays report said income taxes � while the biggest single tax paid by Canadians � account for less than half of their total tax bill.
In 2005, income taxes made up 32 per cent of the total paid by an average Canadian family.
�All those other, not so obvious, taxes accounted f"
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
OSC warns fraud victims against becoming repeat targets in 'double-dip' investment schemes - Sympatico / MSN Finance
Private scammers -caveat emptor PR
OSC warns fraud victims against becoming repeat targets in 'double-dip' investment schemes - Sympatico / MSN Finance: "By Ontario Securities Commission (OSC)
It's Fraud Awareness Month
Toronto � The Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) warns that investment fraud is a growing problem, as the latest OSC public inquiries data shows more than a 50 per cent increase last year in inquiries and complaints about investment-related fraud. Common complaints involve tax avoidance schemes, �prime bank� fraud, offshore investments, high-pressure sales tactics, Ponzi schemes, as well as fraudulent high-return, no-risk investments. Inquiries about �double-dip� schemes (scams where victims are targeted more than once) are increasing, and investors should be aware of common double-dip tactics scam artists use to manipulate their victims.
Double-dip schemes often begin with an unsolicited, persuasive phone call geared to attracting people to a fake investment opportunity. The pitch may include promises of a future stock market listing and big profits. The scam artist requests money; once received, he or she may hold onto the victim list to expand his or her scam in the future, or possibly sell it to other scam artists for profit. In either case, the same victims are contacted again (the double-dip) and are manipulated into believing an anonymous investor is ready and prepared to pay a fabulous price for the shares, as long as a transaction fee (or a fee to remove a restriction) is paid up front by the victims. In reality, the scam artist pockets this �fee� (in addition to the original �investment�) and may target the same victims several more times by requesting even more money for �fees�, �taxes� etc., turning it into a triple or quadruple-dip scheme.
Any type of financial loss resulting from in"
OSC warns fraud victims against becoming repeat targets in 'double-dip' investment schemes - Sympatico / MSN Finance: "By Ontario Securities Commission (OSC)
It's Fraud Awareness Month
Toronto � The Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) warns that investment fraud is a growing problem, as the latest OSC public inquiries data shows more than a 50 per cent increase last year in inquiries and complaints about investment-related fraud. Common complaints involve tax avoidance schemes, �prime bank� fraud, offshore investments, high-pressure sales tactics, Ponzi schemes, as well as fraudulent high-return, no-risk investments. Inquiries about �double-dip� schemes (scams where victims are targeted more than once) are increasing, and investors should be aware of common double-dip tactics scam artists use to manipulate their victims.
Double-dip schemes often begin with an unsolicited, persuasive phone call geared to attracting people to a fake investment opportunity. The pitch may include promises of a future stock market listing and big profits. The scam artist requests money; once received, he or she may hold onto the victim list to expand his or her scam in the future, or possibly sell it to other scam artists for profit. In either case, the same victims are contacted again (the double-dip) and are manipulated into believing an anonymous investor is ready and prepared to pay a fabulous price for the shares, as long as a transaction fee (or a fee to remove a restriction) is paid up front by the victims. In reality, the scam artist pockets this �fee� (in addition to the original �investment�) and may target the same victims several more times by requesting even more money for �fees�, �taxes� etc., turning it into a triple or quadruple-dip scheme.
Any type of financial loss resulting from in"
Monday, April 24, 2006
Milgaard questioned own innocence
Milgaard questioned own innocence: "Milgaard questioned own innocence
Time spent in prison led to doubts
View Larger Image
David Milgaard is seen in this October 2005 file Canadian Press
Published: Monday, April 24, 2006
SASKATOON - David Milgaard says he began to question his own innocence at times during his two decades unjustly behind bars.
Testifying via videotape at the inquiry into his wrongful murder conviction, Milgaard says prison played with his sanity.
He says he knew he was not guilty, but he began to doubt himself after being misdiagnosed with so many different psychological problems.
Milgaard appears calm on the tape and shows little anger about what happened to him.
He sympathizes with the friends who testified against him at his original trial, calling them ``victims.'' "
Time spent in prison led to doubts
View Larger Image
David Milgaard is seen in this October 2005 file Canadian Press
Published: Monday, April 24, 2006
SASKATOON - David Milgaard says he began to question his own innocence at times during his two decades unjustly behind bars.
Testifying via videotape at the inquiry into his wrongful murder conviction, Milgaard says prison played with his sanity.
He says he knew he was not guilty, but he began to doubt himself after being misdiagnosed with so many different psychological problems.
Milgaard appears calm on the tape and shows little anger about what happened to him.
He sympathizes with the friends who testified against him at his original trial, calling them ``victims.'' "
Atlantic Think tanks thoughts on fishery "food for thought"
It is FARMING, not Fishing: Re-thinking how we view Canada’s aquaculture industry.
The latest AIMS paper in the How to Farm the Seas series shows how Canada is missing the boat on what could be a lucrative industry.
Author Robin Neill, professor of Economics at UPEI, examines the bureaucracy surrounding the industry in Canada and calls for a fundamental reorientation. Aquaculture in Canada needs to be recognized for what it is: farming. He says aquaculture needs to be separated from the administration of the wild fishery, which means taking it out of the jurisdiction of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO). He concludes:
“Aquaculture in Canada is being held back by a dysfunctional government bureaucracy, by an obsolete property rights system, and by the machinations of environmental activists operating through pressured, unthinking mass media.
"As one critic put it, the government’s oversight of aquaculture is analogous to ‘a chicken farm being managed by the Migratory Birds Act’," Neill says. "In Canada, fish farming falls under the jurisdiction of the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans, not the Department of Agriculture as are other types of farmed animals, such as hogs, chickens and cattle."
The latest AIMS paper in the How to Farm the Seas series shows how Canada is missing the boat on what could be a lucrative industry.
Author Robin Neill, professor of Economics at UPEI, examines the bureaucracy surrounding the industry in Canada and calls for a fundamental reorientation. Aquaculture in Canada needs to be recognized for what it is: farming. He says aquaculture needs to be separated from the administration of the wild fishery, which means taking it out of the jurisdiction of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO). He concludes:
“Aquaculture in Canada is being held back by a dysfunctional government bureaucracy, by an obsolete property rights system, and by the machinations of environmental activists operating through pressured, unthinking mass media.
"As one critic put it, the government’s oversight of aquaculture is analogous to ‘a chicken farm being managed by the Migratory Birds Act’," Neill says. "In Canada, fish farming falls under the jurisdiction of the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans, not the Department of Agriculture as are other types of farmed animals, such as hogs, chickens and cattle."
Saturday, April 22, 2006
Editorial - Don't get used to it
winnipegsun.com - Editorial - Don't get used to it: "Canadians know Harper can't control the global price of gasoline, but they also want to know their governments aren't profiteering from high energy prices. Right now, federal and provincial taxes account for about 38% of the pump price of gas.
Cutting the GST from 7% to 6%, as Harper has promised, will save taxpayers about $220 million in federal gasoline taxes.
But, according to John Williamson of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, eliminating the GST tax on a tax and scrapping the deficit elimination tax would save the public up to $1 billion more in federal gasoline taxes, or about three cents a litre.
That's what Harper could do right now. There are sufficient surplus funds in Ottawa -- money Canadians were overtaxed in the first place -- to cut the GST, provide specific tax relief on gasoline prices and reduce income taxes. "
Cutting the GST from 7% to 6%, as Harper has promised, will save taxpayers about $220 million in federal gasoline taxes.
But, according to John Williamson of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, eliminating the GST tax on a tax and scrapping the deficit elimination tax would save the public up to $1 billion more in federal gasoline taxes, or about three cents a litre.
That's what Harper could do right now. There are sufficient surplus funds in Ottawa -- money Canadians were overtaxed in the first place -- to cut the GST, provide specific tax relief on gasoline prices and reduce income taxes. "
Cynical public sees public servants seen as lazy, overpaid
Cynical public sees public servants seen as lazy, overpaid: "Cynical public sees public servants seen as lazy, overpaid
demands action not words Jack Aubry, CanWest News Service; Ottawa Citizen
Published: Friday, April 21, 2006 Article tools
OTTAWA - Canadians have become hardened cynics about government accountability and the public service and only want to see action and results, a newly released government report warns.
Canadians also see the public service as disconnected, lazy and overpaid.
Based on focus groups and interviews with members of the general public and public servants across the country, the report says Canadians have reached a defining moment.
''In other words, Canadians are saying to the government: 'Don't tell me what you're going to do or how you're going to do it. Just do it. Then tell me what you've done and how it makes a difference to me','' says the frank report conducted for Treasury Board.
The 60-page paper describes Canadians as ''deeply cynical'' and mistrustful of the government because of its mismanagement in such matters as the sponsorship scandal, the Human Resources and Development Canada ''billion-dollar boondoggle'' and the federal gun registry.
However, anger over the sponsorship scandal had dissipated, it said, and the public was now looking for ''swift and firm action.''
The study also found a huge chasm between the perceptions of the public and public servants. Public servants see the public service as accountable and willing to serve Canadians while the public views it as wasteful or dishonest. Government workers see themselves as ''people like you and me,'' while the general public reportedly sees them as ''disconn"
demands action not words Jack Aubry, CanWest News Service; Ottawa Citizen
Published: Friday, April 21, 2006 Article tools
OTTAWA - Canadians have become hardened cynics about government accountability and the public service and only want to see action and results, a newly released government report warns.
Canadians also see the public service as disconnected, lazy and overpaid.
Based on focus groups and interviews with members of the general public and public servants across the country, the report says Canadians have reached a defining moment.
''In other words, Canadians are saying to the government: 'Don't tell me what you're going to do or how you're going to do it. Just do it. Then tell me what you've done and how it makes a difference to me','' says the frank report conducted for Treasury Board.
The 60-page paper describes Canadians as ''deeply cynical'' and mistrustful of the government because of its mismanagement in such matters as the sponsorship scandal, the Human Resources and Development Canada ''billion-dollar boondoggle'' and the federal gun registry.
However, anger over the sponsorship scandal had dissipated, it said, and the public was now looking for ''swift and firm action.''
The study also found a huge chasm between the perceptions of the public and public servants. Public servants see the public service as accountable and willing to serve Canadians while the public views it as wasteful or dishonest. Government workers see themselves as ''people like you and me,'' while the general public reportedly sees them as ''disconn"
globeandmail.com : PM looks to sweeten tax plan
globeandmail.com : PM looks to sweeten tax plan: "PM looks to sweeten tax plan
STEVEN CHASE
Globe and Mail Update
Ottawa � The federal government is looking at ways to beef up its tax-cut package for the spring budget to bolster Conservative claims that their plan will leave Canadians better off than measures enacted by the former Liberal government.
Options being considered include cutting tax rates for the two middle-income-tax brackets.
In 2006, Canadians will pay income tax at a rate of 15 per cent on the first $36,378 of taxable income, 22 per cent on additional earnings up to $72,756 and 26 per cent on anything above that, up to $118,285. After that, the top rate of 29 per cent applies.
The changes being considered would mean trimming the 22-per-cent and 26-per-cent tax rates.
The Tories had pledged to repeal Liberal income-tax breaks to fund a promise to cut the goods and services tax by one percentage point this year, but the government remains concerned it will stand accused of hiking taxes.
�On the income-tax side there is a problem because if the Liberal-initiated income taxes are repealed and only the GST is cut, then what [Prime Minister] Stephen Harper has been saying about Canadians being better off is not true and that circle must be squared before budget day,� a source familiar with deliberations said."
STEVEN CHASE
Globe and Mail Update
Ottawa � The federal government is looking at ways to beef up its tax-cut package for the spring budget to bolster Conservative claims that their plan will leave Canadians better off than measures enacted by the former Liberal government.
Options being considered include cutting tax rates for the two middle-income-tax brackets.
In 2006, Canadians will pay income tax at a rate of 15 per cent on the first $36,378 of taxable income, 22 per cent on additional earnings up to $72,756 and 26 per cent on anything above that, up to $118,285. After that, the top rate of 29 per cent applies.
The changes being considered would mean trimming the 22-per-cent and 26-per-cent tax rates.
The Tories had pledged to repeal Liberal income-tax breaks to fund a promise to cut the goods and services tax by one percentage point this year, but the government remains concerned it will stand accused of hiking taxes.
�On the income-tax side there is a problem because if the Liberal-initiated income taxes are repealed and only the GST is cut, then what [Prime Minister] Stephen Harper has been saying about Canadians being better off is not true and that circle must be squared before budget day,� a source familiar with deliberations said."
PM looks to sweeten tax plan
STEVEN CHASE
Globe and Mail Update
Ottawa — The federal government is looking at ways to beef up its tax-cut package for the spring budget to bolster Conservative claims that their plan will leave Canadians better off than measures enacted by the former Liberal government.
Options being considered include cutting tax rates for the two middle-income-tax brackets.
In 2006, Canadians will pay income tax at a rate of 15 per cent on the first $36,378 of taxable income, 22 per cent on additional earnings up to $72,756 and 26 per cent on anything above that, up to $118,285. After that, the top rate of 29 per cent applies.
The changes being considered would mean trimming the 22-per-cent and 26-per-cent tax rates.
The Tories had pledged to repeal Liberal income-tax breaks to fund a promise to cut the goods and services tax by one percentage point this year, but the government remains concerned it will stand accused of hiking taxes.
“On the income-tax side there is a problem because if the Liberal-initiated income taxes are repealed and only the GST is cut, then what [Prime Minister] Stephen Harper has been saying about Canadians being better off is not true and that circle must be squared before budget day,” a source familiar with deliberations said.
“The government is not going to table a budget that leaves any taxpayers worse off than they currently would be. So while the Liberal measures might be withdrawn, something else will be put in.”
Globe and Mail Update
Ottawa — The federal government is looking at ways to beef up its tax-cut package for the spring budget to bolster Conservative claims that their plan will leave Canadians better off than measures enacted by the former Liberal government.
Options being considered include cutting tax rates for the two middle-income-tax brackets.
In 2006, Canadians will pay income tax at a rate of 15 per cent on the first $36,378 of taxable income, 22 per cent on additional earnings up to $72,756 and 26 per cent on anything above that, up to $118,285. After that, the top rate of 29 per cent applies.
The changes being considered would mean trimming the 22-per-cent and 26-per-cent tax rates.
The Tories had pledged to repeal Liberal income-tax breaks to fund a promise to cut the goods and services tax by one percentage point this year, but the government remains concerned it will stand accused of hiking taxes.
“On the income-tax side there is a problem because if the Liberal-initiated income taxes are repealed and only the GST is cut, then what [Prime Minister] Stephen Harper has been saying about Canadians being better off is not true and that circle must be squared before budget day,” a source familiar with deliberations said.
“The government is not going to table a budget that leaves any taxpayers worse off than they currently would be. So while the Liberal measures might be withdrawn, something else will be put in.”
Thursday, April 20, 2006
Osprey Media. - Brantford Expositor
With due respect -It is just another broken promise like MRI funding - not daves's fault if he can't get through to the decision makers at Queen'spark - at least he tried. PR Osprey Media. - Brantford Expositor: "Downtown education centre project dead
By Michael-Allan Marion, expositor staff
Local News - Thursday, April 20, 2006 @ 01:00
City council is seeing red over the provincial government�s refusal to chip in more than $6 million toward The Brantford Centre post-secondary education project -- a decision that kills the project.
�What upsets me is the utter failure of the province to support the growth of post-secondary education in this community,� said Coun. John Starkey after reading a letter jointly signed by Laurier Brantford, Mohawk College and Grand Valley Educational Society officials."
By Michael-Allan Marion, expositor staff
Local News - Thursday, April 20, 2006 @ 01:00
City council is seeing red over the provincial government�s refusal to chip in more than $6 million toward The Brantford Centre post-secondary education project -- a decision that kills the project.
�What upsets me is the utter failure of the province to support the growth of post-secondary education in this community,� said Coun. John Starkey after reading a letter jointly signed by Laurier Brantford, Mohawk College and Grand Valley Educational Society officials."
Fines boost a cash grab
Let's make our laws for the purpose intended- orderly governance of the social order. Laws should not be used as hidden or invisible taxes or revenue cash cows for unaccountable government agencies PR
winnipegsun.com - Editorial - Fines boost a cash grab: "But we draw the line at increasing fines simply to raise more money for government coffers. A fine is a sanction applied to someone who has broken the law. It's meant as a penalty to denounce the offence and to deter the individual and the public at large from committing future offences. Increasing fines with the stated objective of raising money for a government program is little more than a cash grab. "
winnipegsun.com - Editorial - Fines boost a cash grab: "But we draw the line at increasing fines simply to raise more money for government coffers. A fine is a sanction applied to someone who has broken the law. It's meant as a penalty to denounce the offence and to deter the individual and the public at large from committing future offences. Increasing fines with the stated objective of raising money for a government program is little more than a cash grab. "
Osprey Media. - Brantford Expositor
Good for the officers- the serve and protect motto obviously means something to them. I wonder how they would have felt when they saw the man they saved - a person who was obviously mentally imbalanced or sick paraded in chains without his clothes and further humiliated at the Brantford Court house. Maybe swimming the polluted Mohawk is a better alternative then going through the Brantford justice system -whose bail procedure is conducted like a and has the attributes of a old fashioned slave market with freedom for sale to the highest bidder by the unorganized and harried practitioners.
Osprey Media. - Brantford Expositor: "Police officers dive in to rescue drowning truck driver
By Vincent Ball, expositor staff
Local News - Thursday, April 20, 2006 @ 01:00
Constables Mark Baxter and Chris Grantham braved the frigid, murky and heavily polluted waters of Mohawk Lake to save a city man.
�I think he had just about had it when we got to him. He had already gone under four or five times,� Baxter said Wednesday.
�When we pulled him ashore, he was pretty exhausted and he kept saying he couldn�t swim. He had all his clothes on, too, weighing him down.�
The two officers rescued a man who had driven a stolen pickup truck into the lake following a short police pursuit at about 6 p.m. Monday evening. The man was about 50 to 60 metres from shore and appeared to be swimming to the other side of the lake when the officers spotted him. "
Osprey Media. - Brantford Expositor: "Police officers dive in to rescue drowning truck driver
By Vincent Ball, expositor staff
Local News - Thursday, April 20, 2006 @ 01:00
Constables Mark Baxter and Chris Grantham braved the frigid, murky and heavily polluted waters of Mohawk Lake to save a city man.
�I think he had just about had it when we got to him. He had already gone under four or five times,� Baxter said Wednesday.
�When we pulled him ashore, he was pretty exhausted and he kept saying he couldn�t swim. He had all his clothes on, too, weighing him down.�
The two officers rescued a man who had driven a stolen pickup truck into the lake following a short police pursuit at about 6 p.m. Monday evening. The man was about 50 to 60 metres from shore and appeared to be swimming to the other side of the lake when the officers spotted him. "
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
Tax money - real value for the money please
You'd think that, by now, we'd have gotten over our ability to be amazed at the ways in which our federal government can waste money.
After the sponsorship scandal and the Human Resources boondoggle, the gun registry and the national defence computer fiasco we should have grown so accustomed to mismanagement that we'd just shrug and say "So what."
But then we stop and remember where the money comes from to finance all these dodgy schemes -- from your pockets and our pockets -- and we get all twitchy again and start to hyperventilate and come very close to screaming.
The most recent extravagance to catch our eye demonstrates again that when it comes to our tax dollars, the prevailing attitude is still easy come, easy go.
As the Sun's Greg Weston detailed yesterday (Not much action from feds' integrity officer), it's tough to believe we're getting value for money when we take a look at the budget and the caseload of Edward W. Keyserlingk, federal public service integrity officer.
Keyserlingk's office was established in 2001, ostensibly to give public servants a forum to report government waste and mismanagement. Good idea, right? As with most federal programs, yes, at least in theory.
Keyserlingk was recruited for the job by Jean Chretien's government and started to cost us money right away when he refused to move to Ottawa, preferring to bill taxpayers $30,000 annually in hotel and commuting expenses between Ottawa and Montreal.
Last year, the office worked on 44 files, completing 30 of them. Twelve were dismissed, leaving 18 to be tackled by the nine-member staff, with an annual budget of just over $1.4 million.
Out of that total, there were three cases where the allegations were found to have merit -- none of which could be considered as anything more than trivial.
Just a little something to keep in mind as we sign off on our 2005 federal tax returns.
After the sponsorship scandal and the Human Resources boondoggle, the gun registry and the national defence computer fiasco we should have grown so accustomed to mismanagement that we'd just shrug and say "So what."
But then we stop and remember where the money comes from to finance all these dodgy schemes -- from your pockets and our pockets -- and we get all twitchy again and start to hyperventilate and come very close to screaming.
The most recent extravagance to catch our eye demonstrates again that when it comes to our tax dollars, the prevailing attitude is still easy come, easy go.
As the Sun's Greg Weston detailed yesterday (Not much action from feds' integrity officer), it's tough to believe we're getting value for money when we take a look at the budget and the caseload of Edward W. Keyserlingk, federal public service integrity officer.
Keyserlingk's office was established in 2001, ostensibly to give public servants a forum to report government waste and mismanagement. Good idea, right? As with most federal programs, yes, at least in theory.
Keyserlingk was recruited for the job by Jean Chretien's government and started to cost us money right away when he refused to move to Ottawa, preferring to bill taxpayers $30,000 annually in hotel and commuting expenses between Ottawa and Montreal.
Last year, the office worked on 44 files, completing 30 of them. Twelve were dismissed, leaving 18 to be tackled by the nine-member staff, with an annual budget of just over $1.4 million.
Out of that total, there were three cases where the allegations were found to have merit -- none of which could be considered as anything more than trivial.
Just a little something to keep in mind as we sign off on our 2005 federal tax returns.
Property assessment out of control
It is time that we do something about it - Unfair,unresponsive and out of control -lets do something -the home yousave may be your own.PR
Osprey Media. - Brantford Expositor: "Ontario Makes Plans to Pick Up the Pieces
James Wallace
Queens Park - Tuesday, April 18, 2006
MPPs from around the province have fielded calls with increasing regularity in
recent days from disgruntled home owners, especially seniors, complaining about crippling property tax assessment hikes.
The calls have come from retired people worried about losing their homes, from
middle class families who find the tax bill on their home has become unaffordable and cottage owners worried about having to sell the property that�s been in their family for generations.
Little surprise then that MPPs from all three parties this week supported second reading of a private member�s bill by Erie-Lincoln MPP Tim Hudak to cap assessment increases."
Osprey Media. - Brantford Expositor: "Ontario Makes Plans to Pick Up the Pieces
James Wallace
Queens Park - Tuesday, April 18, 2006
MPPs from around the province have fielded calls with increasing regularity in
recent days from disgruntled home owners, especially seniors, complaining about crippling property tax assessment hikes.
The calls have come from retired people worried about losing their homes, from
middle class families who find the tax bill on their home has become unaffordable and cottage owners worried about having to sell the property that�s been in their family for generations.
Little surprise then that MPPs from all three parties this week supported second reading of a private member�s bill by Erie-Lincoln MPP Tim Hudak to cap assessment increases."
Saturday, April 15, 2006
winnipegsun.com - Editorial - $2-M questions
Did you know that everything is for sale in Ontario.
winnipegsun.com - Editorial - $2-M questions: "Canadians have a few simple questions for Ontario Attorney General Michael Bryant in the wake of the deal by which Louise Russo will receive $2 million compensation from the five men responsible for shooting her in April 2004:
First: Where did they get the money? "
winnipegsun.com - Editorial - $2-M questions: "Canadians have a few simple questions for Ontario Attorney General Michael Bryant in the wake of the deal by which Louise Russo will receive $2 million compensation from the five men responsible for shooting her in April 2004:
First: Where did they get the money? "
Thursday, April 13, 2006
Editorial - Honesty on the table
After the unforgivable scandals that rocked the previous regime, there is nothing more important than restoring public trust in our federal government.
This, we hope, will be the start of a more honest era in Canadian politics. We all agree PR
winnipegsun.com - Editorial - Honesty on the table: "Honesty on the table
Tuesday was the biggest day so far in the life of this young Conservative government. It was also a memorable day for Canadians who long for an end to government corruption and the imposition of controls that will stop politicians and bureaucrats straying from the straight and narrow.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper promised his government's 252-page Accountability Act would 'replace the culture of entitlement that took root under the previous government with a culture of accountability.'
The act will, among other things, end secret donations to political parties, reduce the influence of lobbyists and beef up the role of the ethics commissioner.
It will also provide protection for whistleblowers and make the awarding of government grants more transparent. "
This, we hope, will be the start of a more honest era in Canadian politics. We all agree PR
winnipegsun.com - Editorial - Honesty on the table: "Honesty on the table
Tuesday was the biggest day so far in the life of this young Conservative government. It was also a memorable day for Canadians who long for an end to government corruption and the imposition of controls that will stop politicians and bureaucrats straying from the straight and narrow.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper promised his government's 252-page Accountability Act would 'replace the culture of entitlement that took root under the previous government with a culture of accountability.'
The act will, among other things, end secret donations to political parties, reduce the influence of lobbyists and beef up the role of the ethics commissioner.
It will also provide protection for whistleblowers and make the awarding of government grants more transparent. "
Wednesday, April 12, 2006
Incompetence leaving?
globeandmail.com: "Harper aims to pull a thorn from his side
GLORIA GALLOWAY
OTTAWA -- The Conservative government has found a way to dispense with the Liberal-appointed Ethics Commissioner without a vote in the House of Commons.
The proposed accountability act will eliminate the position held by Bernard Shapiro and combine it with that of the Senate Ethics Officer to create a new office -- and only those with a 'judicial or quasi-judicial' background need apply.
Mr. Shapiro has a doctorate in education and has held numerous posts in that field, including that of principal and vice-chancellor of McGill University in Montreal. But he is not a judge.
When asked at a news conference yesterday whether Mr. Shapiro's days are numbered, Prime Minister Stephen Harper said the current Ethics Commissioner does not have the required qualifications."
GLORIA GALLOWAY
OTTAWA -- The Conservative government has found a way to dispense with the Liberal-appointed Ethics Commissioner without a vote in the House of Commons.
The proposed accountability act will eliminate the position held by Bernard Shapiro and combine it with that of the Senate Ethics Officer to create a new office -- and only those with a 'judicial or quasi-judicial' background need apply.
Mr. Shapiro has a doctorate in education and has held numerous posts in that field, including that of principal and vice-chancellor of McGill University in Montreal. But he is not a judge.
When asked at a news conference yesterday whether Mr. Shapiro's days are numbered, Prime Minister Stephen Harper said the current Ethics Commissioner does not have the required qualifications."
Tuesday, April 11, 2006
Federal Accountability Bill
Highlights of Federal Accountability Act
Canadian Press Ottawa —
Reform financing of political parties to reduce big-money influence by banning secret donations and donations from companies, unions and associations. Also limit individual donations to $1,000.
Reduce the influence of lobbyists by toughening the Lobbyists Registration Act.
Strengthen the role of the federal Ethics Commissioner with a new Conflict of Interest Act and a new Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner.
Create a parliamentary budget officer to ensure objective analysis on government finances.
Ensure government appointments are based on merit.
Create a clean, transparent process for awarding government contracts, including appointing a procurement auditor.
Provide protection and a $1,000 reward for whistleblowers who disclose government wrongdoing.
Expand access to information legislation to cover some Crown corporations, federal foundations, and agents of Parliament such as the Auditor-General.
Give the Auditor-General more power.
Canadian Press Ottawa —
Reform financing of political parties to reduce big-money influence by banning secret donations and donations from companies, unions and associations. Also limit individual donations to $1,000.
Reduce the influence of lobbyists by toughening the Lobbyists Registration Act.
Strengthen the role of the federal Ethics Commissioner with a new Conflict of Interest Act and a new Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner.
Create a parliamentary budget officer to ensure objective analysis on government finances.
Ensure government appointments are based on merit.
Create a clean, transparent process for awarding government contracts, including appointing a procurement auditor.
Provide protection and a $1,000 reward for whistleblowers who disclose government wrongdoing.
Expand access to information legislation to cover some Crown corporations, federal foundations, and agents of Parliament such as the Auditor-General.
Give the Auditor-General more power.
winnipegsun.com - Editorial - Two tax cuts are better than one, Mr. Harper
The bottom line is that our taxes are way too high for the services that are delivered. Lets get some of our money back and reverse the government people inflation. Go Harper go. PR
winnipegsun.com - Editorial - Two tax cuts are better than one, Mr. Harper: "Prime Minister Stephen Harper's new Conservative government came to power on a bold promise of tax cuts -- including an immediate 1% reduction in the GST. And unlike their predecessors, who famously promised to scrap the GST but never touched it in 13 years (instead becoming its biggest boosters), the Harper Tories intend to keep their promise in their first budget a few weeks from now.
Unlike the Liberal hypocrites and their supporters who preach that a GST cut is inferior to a broad-based income tax cut, we're all for cutting the GST. We're all for cutting any tax -- actually doing it, that is; not merely talking about it, or making small cuts here while raising pension premiums there, etc. "
winnipegsun.com - Editorial - Two tax cuts are better than one, Mr. Harper: "Prime Minister Stephen Harper's new Conservative government came to power on a bold promise of tax cuts -- including an immediate 1% reduction in the GST. And unlike their predecessors, who famously promised to scrap the GST but never touched it in 13 years (instead becoming its biggest boosters), the Harper Tories intend to keep their promise in their first budget a few weeks from now.
Unlike the Liberal hypocrites and their supporters who preach that a GST cut is inferior to a broad-based income tax cut, we're all for cutting the GST. We're all for cutting any tax -- actually doing it, that is; not merely talking about it, or making small cuts here while raising pension premiums there, etc. "
Friday, April 07, 2006
globeandmail.com : Russo deal blasted as attempt 'to buy' better sentence
Just like any other banana republic justice is for sale in Canada- what next -politician indulgences for sale?
globeandmail.com : Russo deal blasted as attempt 'to buy' better sentence: "Attorney-General Michael Bryant refused to respond, saying he could not interfere with the plea-bargaining process.
'Until it's before open court, it would be totally inappropriate for me to speculate about what position we may or may not take.'
New Democrat Leader Howard Hampton, a former attorney-general, said any deal involving payment in return for lighter sentences would distort the principles of the justice system.
He said criminal-court judges are allowed to order restitution to victims but that this normally occurs after a verdict -- not as part of a plea bargain.
'Restitution is a good thing and Ms. Russo deserves some kind of restitution,' Mr. Hampton said, adding that any payments before a verdict 'sends all the wrong type of signals.'"
globeandmail.com : Russo deal blasted as attempt 'to buy' better sentence: "Attorney-General Michael Bryant refused to respond, saying he could not interfere with the plea-bargaining process.
'Until it's before open court, it would be totally inappropriate for me to speculate about what position we may or may not take.'
New Democrat Leader Howard Hampton, a former attorney-general, said any deal involving payment in return for lighter sentences would distort the principles of the justice system.
He said criminal-court judges are allowed to order restitution to victims but that this normally occurs after a verdict -- not as part of a plea bargain.
'Restitution is a good thing and Ms. Russo deserves some kind of restitution,' Mr. Hampton said, adding that any payments before a verdict 'sends all the wrong type of signals.'"
Thursday, April 06, 2006
Osprey Media. - Brantford Expositor
And the economic terror continues with yet more excuses and
faked corncern about equal treatment for property owners . They have the power to reduce taxes but do not want to set a dangerous precedent-doing more for less -like the normal people they supposedly serving. Yawn -get a grip - understand that politicians are again white washing and feather bedding their overly comfortable nests-in anticipation of getting re-elected this fall.
Osprey Media. - Brantford Expositor: "Apartment owners, tenants protest unfair city taxes
By Michael-Allan Marion, expositor staff
Local News - Thursday, April 06, 2006 @ 01:00
Responding to rising ire from apartment building owners and tenants over having to pay much higher property taxes than homeowners, city council is trimming another scheduled tax hike it was about to hand them.
The committee of whole listened this week to an hour�s worth of presentations from a succession of apartment owners with tenants in tow. They were calling for council to institute a longterm plan that will gradually reduce the difference between the higher multi-residential tax rate and the lower residential rate to parity.
After years of uneven increases, the multi-residential tax rate had by 2005 outpaced the residential rate by a ratio of 2.4 to 1.
Even before this week�s meeting, Mayor Mike Hancock and council members were already feeling the heat over higher business taxes from apartment owners and the Chamber of Commerce Brantford-Brant."
faked corncern about equal treatment for property owners . They have the power to reduce taxes but do not want to set a dangerous precedent-doing more for less -like the normal people they supposedly serving. Yawn -get a grip - understand that politicians are again white washing and feather bedding their overly comfortable nests-in anticipation of getting re-elected this fall.
Osprey Media. - Brantford Expositor: "Apartment owners, tenants protest unfair city taxes
By Michael-Allan Marion, expositor staff
Local News - Thursday, April 06, 2006 @ 01:00
Responding to rising ire from apartment building owners and tenants over having to pay much higher property taxes than homeowners, city council is trimming another scheduled tax hike it was about to hand them.
The committee of whole listened this week to an hour�s worth of presentations from a succession of apartment owners with tenants in tow. They were calling for council to institute a longterm plan that will gradually reduce the difference between the higher multi-residential tax rate and the lower residential rate to parity.
After years of uneven increases, the multi-residential tax rate had by 2005 outpaced the residential rate by a ratio of 2.4 to 1.
Even before this week�s meeting, Mayor Mike Hancock and council members were already feeling the heat over higher business taxes from apartment owners and the Chamber of Commerce Brantford-Brant."
No bubble in Canadian house prices
No bubble in Canadian house prices: "Jacqueline Thorpe, Financial Post
Published: Thursday, April 06, 2006
The U.S. housing market may be rolling over but virtually all Canadian cities remain undervalued and could see annual price increases of 4.2% on average through 2010, a new study from Merrill Lynch says.
The study runs contrary to current wisdom that Canada's housing market is boiling over. For example, despite the oil boom, house prices in Calgary are 16% undervalued compared with average historical valuations. Ottawa's market is 13% undervalued, Halifax 12% and Toronto 17%. Merrill found only Victoria to be overvalued."
Published: Thursday, April 06, 2006
The U.S. housing market may be rolling over but virtually all Canadian cities remain undervalued and could see annual price increases of 4.2% on average through 2010, a new study from Merrill Lynch says.
The study runs contrary to current wisdom that Canada's housing market is boiling over. For example, despite the oil boom, house prices in Calgary are 16% undervalued compared with average historical valuations. Ottawa's market is 13% undervalued, Halifax 12% and Toronto 17%. Merrill found only Victoria to be overvalued."
Ethanol industry touted as cure
Will this make a difference?
THE NEW SESSION: FARMERS TAKE STOCK
Ethanol industry touted as cure
Gasoline with 5-per-cent renewable matter would ease farm-income crisis, Tories say
BILL CURRY
OTTAWA -- The Conservative government will soon unveil a plan to promote a domestic ethanol industry as a long-term solution to the financial troubles of Canadian farmers.
Agriculture Minister Chuck Strahl said yesterday that he and Environment Minister Rona Ambrose are preparing to announce how they will implement a campaign promise to require that all gasoline be made up of at least 5 per cent renewable materials.
Mr. Strahl said his plan is to have farmers who grow corn and other crops from which ethanol is made also be involved in its production, so their incomes are not entirely based on selling low-priced crops. Those in the farm industry say that would mean a U.S.-style co-op system.
"The real answer in the long run is not government subsidies. Farmers don't want subsidies. They don't want handouts. They don't want to farm the mailboxes, as they say," said Mr. Strahl, who was responding to a rally on Parliament Hill by a few thousand farmers who blocked traffic for most of the day with their tractors and transport trucks.
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"The solutions that we will bring forward in the days ahead will continue to develop programming and strategies that are going to address things like access to capital and getting farmers more involved in the production chain so they can get more value out of it."
The farmers said it makes little difference whether their crops are sold as food or to produce gas as long as they continue to lose money each year because they cannot compete with U.S. farms. Some farm groups blame U.S. and European farm subsidies for driving down the prices for agricultural products to historic lows. Canadian egg and dairy producers are also protected from foreign competition by the government.
Bob Friesen, president of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture, held a news conference yesterday with other farming leaders, who painted a picture of a shrinking Canadian farm industry where credit-card debts are dividing families and forcing them to sell their farms.
Mr. Friesen said farmers need more than $6-billion to stay in business. Ottawa has promised $2.5-billion over five years, but the farmers say it is not clear whether it is above, or instead of, the billions of dollars in emergency funds received in the past two years.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper responded yesterday to Liberal members of Parliament who urged him to commit more money for farmers.
"In the last [election] campaign, we did commit to increase -- significantly increase -- agricultural funding. We intend to follow through on those commitments. It's a little late for the Liberals to now say they'd like to increase agricultural funding. They had their chance and they've left farmers with the mess we do have today," he said.
Doug Eadie of the Ontario Corn Producers said any push toward more ethanol plants will simply lead Canadian ethanol producers to buy U.S. corn, unless the subsidy issue is addressed to make it financially worthwhile for Canadian farmers.
He said there are only a handful of plants producing ethanol in Canada while the industry booms south of the border as the U.S. seeks to decrease its reliance on oil. The production boom is being tied to an energy bill signed by President George W. Bush that encourages the use of ethanol in gasoline.
The Conservatives promised during the election campaign that they would require all gasoline to be composed of 5-per-cent renewable materials by 2010. Mr. Strahl said yesterday the government will have to act soon to make sure the capacity is in place to meet that target.
"We are going to have to start aggressively this year on a biofuel strategy that will give farmers . . . the crushing plants and the other processing plants in place that should give us enough time by 2010 to meet that target.
"[For] too long they have been the lowest-cost providers, to value-added people who take the money and run, so to speak, and farmers want to be part of this and we are keen to make sure that farmers are part of the biofuel strategy."
THE NEW SESSION: FARMERS TAKE STOCK
Ethanol industry touted as cure
Gasoline with 5-per-cent renewable matter would ease farm-income crisis, Tories say
BILL CURRY
OTTAWA -- The Conservative government will soon unveil a plan to promote a domestic ethanol industry as a long-term solution to the financial troubles of Canadian farmers.
Agriculture Minister Chuck Strahl said yesterday that he and Environment Minister Rona Ambrose are preparing to announce how they will implement a campaign promise to require that all gasoline be made up of at least 5 per cent renewable materials.
Mr. Strahl said his plan is to have farmers who grow corn and other crops from which ethanol is made also be involved in its production, so their incomes are not entirely based on selling low-priced crops. Those in the farm industry say that would mean a U.S.-style co-op system.
"The real answer in the long run is not government subsidies. Farmers don't want subsidies. They don't want handouts. They don't want to farm the mailboxes, as they say," said Mr. Strahl, who was responding to a rally on Parliament Hill by a few thousand farmers who blocked traffic for most of the day with their tractors and transport trucks.
aPs="boxR";
var boxRAC = fnTdo('a'+'ai',300,250,ai,'j',nc);
"The solutions that we will bring forward in the days ahead will continue to develop programming and strategies that are going to address things like access to capital and getting farmers more involved in the production chain so they can get more value out of it."
The farmers said it makes little difference whether their crops are sold as food or to produce gas as long as they continue to lose money each year because they cannot compete with U.S. farms. Some farm groups blame U.S. and European farm subsidies for driving down the prices for agricultural products to historic lows. Canadian egg and dairy producers are also protected from foreign competition by the government.
Bob Friesen, president of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture, held a news conference yesterday with other farming leaders, who painted a picture of a shrinking Canadian farm industry where credit-card debts are dividing families and forcing them to sell their farms.
Mr. Friesen said farmers need more than $6-billion to stay in business. Ottawa has promised $2.5-billion over five years, but the farmers say it is not clear whether it is above, or instead of, the billions of dollars in emergency funds received in the past two years.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper responded yesterday to Liberal members of Parliament who urged him to commit more money for farmers.
"In the last [election] campaign, we did commit to increase -- significantly increase -- agricultural funding. We intend to follow through on those commitments. It's a little late for the Liberals to now say they'd like to increase agricultural funding. They had their chance and they've left farmers with the mess we do have today," he said.
Doug Eadie of the Ontario Corn Producers said any push toward more ethanol plants will simply lead Canadian ethanol producers to buy U.S. corn, unless the subsidy issue is addressed to make it financially worthwhile for Canadian farmers.
He said there are only a handful of plants producing ethanol in Canada while the industry booms south of the border as the U.S. seeks to decrease its reliance on oil. The production boom is being tied to an energy bill signed by President George W. Bush that encourages the use of ethanol in gasoline.
The Conservatives promised during the election campaign that they would require all gasoline to be composed of 5-per-cent renewable materials by 2010. Mr. Strahl said yesterday the government will have to act soon to make sure the capacity is in place to meet that target.
"We are going to have to start aggressively this year on a biofuel strategy that will give farmers . . . the crushing plants and the other processing plants in place that should give us enough time by 2010 to meet that target.
"[For] too long they have been the lowest-cost providers, to value-added people who take the money and run, so to speak, and farmers want to be part of this and we are keen to make sure that farmers are part of the biofuel strategy."
globeandmail.com : PM pummels Grits defending Throne Speech
globeandmail.com : PM pummels Grits defending Throne Speech: "�We have a plan, we have priorities, and Canadians are with us. During the recent election we laid out our priorities and a plan for change. Canadians made it clear they support change, and they want us to act.�
He reiterated his party's plans for providing more open and accountable government, cutting the GST by one percentage point, cracking down on crime, giving parents a child care allowance of $1,200 for each child, and ensuring medically acceptable wait times.
�That's what we promised. That's what we intend to do,� he said."
He reiterated his party's plans for providing more open and accountable government, cutting the GST by one percentage point, cracking down on crime, giving parents a child care allowance of $1,200 for each child, and ensuring medically acceptable wait times.
�That's what we promised. That's what we intend to do,� he said."
Monday, April 03, 2006
Waste from your neighbour
Osprey Media. - Brantford Expositor: "City losing patience with upstream neighbours
By Michael-Allan Marion, Expositor Staff
Local News - Monday, April 03, 2006 @ 01:00
Every few months on a particularly rainy day, some little towns upstream find they just can�t hold it anymore. Like little children caught too far from a bathroom, they open the gates and let go their effluent into the Grand River.
Occasionally, the effluent is fully treated by their own plants, often it�s partially treated and sometimes not at all.
It�s not just a naughty indignity to city officials downstream in Brantford. They treat it as a threat to the municipal water supply, since Brantford gets all its drinking water from the river.
City officials have informed the Ministry of the Environment that these incidents happen far too often for their liking, and they want them stopped or at least severely curtailed.
To environmental services staff and the Grand River Spills Action Centre, each incident is called an �effluent bypass,� which usually occurs during a period of high rainfall.
Most occur during the early spring or late autumn, but they can happen at any time of year.
At a certain point, the usually older, unsophisticated sewage treatment system of a small town can�t take the amount of water coming in or the whole system would back up completely, sending raw sewage up people�s toilets, flooding their homes.
So officials release a certain amount and inform the Spills Action Centre, which in turn informs municipalities downstream so they can take action to protect themselves."
By Michael-Allan Marion, Expositor Staff
Local News - Monday, April 03, 2006 @ 01:00
Every few months on a particularly rainy day, some little towns upstream find they just can�t hold it anymore. Like little children caught too far from a bathroom, they open the gates and let go their effluent into the Grand River.
Occasionally, the effluent is fully treated by their own plants, often it�s partially treated and sometimes not at all.
It�s not just a naughty indignity to city officials downstream in Brantford. They treat it as a threat to the municipal water supply, since Brantford gets all its drinking water from the river.
City officials have informed the Ministry of the Environment that these incidents happen far too often for their liking, and they want them stopped or at least severely curtailed.
To environmental services staff and the Grand River Spills Action Centre, each incident is called an �effluent bypass,� which usually occurs during a period of high rainfall.
Most occur during the early spring or late autumn, but they can happen at any time of year.
At a certain point, the usually older, unsophisticated sewage treatment system of a small town can�t take the amount of water coming in or the whole system would back up completely, sending raw sewage up people�s toilets, flooding their homes.
So officials release a certain amount and inform the Spills Action Centre, which in turn informs municipalities downstream so they can take action to protect themselves."
globeandmail.com : Accountability Act to be Tories' first bill
globeandmail.com : Accountability Act to be Tories' first bill: "The Accountability Act will make changes to several federal laws dealing with donations to political parties, lobbying, whistleblower protection, government contracts, appointments, internal auditing, ethics and access to information.
The proposed law will be coupled with a separate document outlining policy changes that do not require legislation. This will likely include the creation of a Parliamentary budget office and new powers for the Auditor-General.
The Conservatives promised during the campaign that the Auditor-General would be asked to audit all federal grants and contributions.
In a 2004 speech, Mr. Harper estimated such an audit would find about $18-billion in annual spending and that at least $4-billion could be trimmed over a mandate."
The proposed law will be coupled with a separate document outlining policy changes that do not require legislation. This will likely include the creation of a Parliamentary budget office and new powers for the Auditor-General.
The Conservatives promised during the campaign that the Auditor-General would be asked to audit all federal grants and contributions.
In a 2004 speech, Mr. Harper estimated such an audit would find about $18-billion in annual spending and that at least $4-billion could be trimmed over a mandate."
Saturday, April 01, 2006
winnipegsun.com - Editorial - Undoing the damage
winnipegsun.com - Editorial - Undoing the damage: "The lefties may have taken a drubbing in the federal election, but they still want to call the shots. A coalition of activists is urging PM Stephen Harper to backtrack on a number of his priorities, including child care and closer ties with the U.S.
Oh yes, they also want to 'strengthen the CBC with stable, long-term funding.' Maude Barlow, head of the Council of Canadians, claims to 'stand on the side of the majority of Canadians on these issues.'
We beg to differ. "
Oh yes, they also want to 'strengthen the CBC with stable, long-term funding.' Maude Barlow, head of the Council of Canadians, claims to 'stand on the side of the majority of Canadians on these issues.'
We beg to differ. "
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