And the point is that by speaking up and making this visible -the banks and insurance ompanies changed their minds PR
Widows of soldiers killed in Afghanistan face fight with banks over mortgages - Yahoo! Canada News: "Widows of soldiers killed in Afghanistan face fight with banks over mortgages Sun Feb 11, 6:04 PM
By Alison Auld
HALIFAX (CP) - Widows of Canadian soldiers killed in Afghanistan are tied up in a confusing fight of their own with banks that have delayed payment of their mortgages or claim they're not covered by insurance at all because their husbands died in combat.
Several women say they've been told by their financial institutions the mortgage insurance they've spent years paying into does not apply because their spouses died while at war. "
Monday, February 12, 2007
Saturday, February 10, 2007
Travellers face 2-month wait for passports - Yahoo! Canada News
Travellers face 2-month wait for passports - Yahoo! Canada News: "Travellers face 2-month wait for passports
Fri Feb 9, 11:53 PM
Canadians scrambling to obtain passports before a March break holiday may be out of luck, with waiting times now stretching to 60 days, Passport Canada says.
ADVERTISEMENT
Passport Canada spokeswoman Francine Charbonneau said the agency is receiving high volumes of applications, averaging about 21,000 a day. On a busy day last year, the office would have received about 13,000 applications
'At this point your only chance if you want to travel for March break is to apply in person and even that's not a guarantee because of these backlogs,' she said.
If an application has recently been submitted by mail, people can call a 1-800 number to have their passport application returned to them.
In the case of an emergency such as a death in the family, illness or a last-minute business trip, passport officers can fast-track applications.
'It's up to the discretion of the passport officer,' Charbonneau said, noting that a last-minute flight to Florida would not qualify as an urgent situation.
Print centres running round-the-clock
While the office hired 200 new officers in November to help with the deluge, they're still having trouble meeting the demand.
'We're doing everything we can,' she said, noting that the office's print centres in Mississauga, Ont., and Gatineau, Que., have boosted their production.
'We are running our print centres on 24-hour clocks, which is something that's never been done before,' Charbonneau said.
A U.S. law that took effect on Jan. 23, 2007, requires that all Canadians flying to the U.S. have a valid passport."
Fri Feb 9, 11:53 PM
Canadians scrambling to obtain passports before a March break holiday may be out of luck, with waiting times now stretching to 60 days, Passport Canada says.
ADVERTISEMENT
Passport Canada spokeswoman Francine Charbonneau said the agency is receiving high volumes of applications, averaging about 21,000 a day. On a busy day last year, the office would have received about 13,000 applications
'At this point your only chance if you want to travel for March break is to apply in person and even that's not a guarantee because of these backlogs,' she said.
If an application has recently been submitted by mail, people can call a 1-800 number to have their passport application returned to them.
In the case of an emergency such as a death in the family, illness or a last-minute business trip, passport officers can fast-track applications.
'It's up to the discretion of the passport officer,' Charbonneau said, noting that a last-minute flight to Florida would not qualify as an urgent situation.
Print centres running round-the-clock
While the office hired 200 new officers in November to help with the deluge, they're still having trouble meeting the demand.
'We're doing everything we can,' she said, noting that the office's print centres in Mississauga, Ont., and Gatineau, Que., have boosted their production.
'We are running our print centres on 24-hour clocks, which is something that's never been done before,' Charbonneau said.
A U.S. law that took effect on Jan. 23, 2007, requires that all Canadians flying to the U.S. have a valid passport."
Wednesday, February 07, 2007
Osprey Media. - Brantford Expositor
Amazing - so why not hire more Justice of the Peaces or lay less frivolous or vexatious charges or reduce the number of laws which serve no purpose other then gouging more money from the victims who are trapped in the speedy justice system . PR
Osprey Media. - Brantford Expositor: "Justice of the peace shortage causing backlog in Norfolk court
Local News - Wednesday, February 07, 2007 Updated @ 9:25:12 AM
A provincewide shortage of justices of the peace is creating a backlog of cases in Norfolk's provincial offences court and costing the county money.
Council learned Tuesday that the local POA court is only staffed by justices of the peace once a week, on Thursday. When the responsibility for POA courts was first transferred from the province in 2001, justices of the peace were provided on other days when a lengthy or multi-day trial was scheduled.
But that changed in 2006 because there weren't enough JPs to go around. As a result, these matters were added to the schedule of regular trial matters, which has overloaded the docket.
Frank Gelinas, the county's general manager of corporate services, said some trial matters - including serious highway traffic offences - may have to be adjourned or withdrawn if the county can't schedule a trial within a reasonable time frame. 'Norfolk County loses its ability to administer justice in a fair and equitable manner and loses revenue as a result,' he said in his report to council. "
Osprey Media. - Brantford Expositor: "Justice of the peace shortage causing backlog in Norfolk court
Local News - Wednesday, February 07, 2007 Updated @ 9:25:12 AM
A provincewide shortage of justices of the peace is creating a backlog of cases in Norfolk's provincial offences court and costing the county money.
Council learned Tuesday that the local POA court is only staffed by justices of the peace once a week, on Thursday. When the responsibility for POA courts was first transferred from the province in 2001, justices of the peace were provided on other days when a lengthy or multi-day trial was scheduled.
But that changed in 2006 because there weren't enough JPs to go around. As a result, these matters were added to the schedule of regular trial matters, which has overloaded the docket.
Frank Gelinas, the county's general manager of corporate services, said some trial matters - including serious highway traffic offences - may have to be adjourned or withdrawn if the county can't schedule a trial within a reasonable time frame. 'Norfolk County loses its ability to administer justice in a fair and equitable manner and loses revenue as a result,' he said in his report to council. "
Osprey Media. - Brantford Expositor
Disaster strikes again - more for less - why not get rid of the redundant staff PR
Osprey Media. - Brantford Expositor: "Brant homeowners face 3.2 per cent tax increase
By John Paul Zronik
Local News - Wednesday, February 07, 2007 Updated @ 11:43:50 PM
Brant County homeowners will receive a 3.2 per cent tax increase this year, about $75 on a home assessed at $211,000.
Politicians passed the county’s 2007 budget during a meeting in Paris on Tuesday. Councillors approved an operating budget of about $48 million for 2007. Almost $29.5 million of that money will be raised through taxes, the rest through grants and other sources of revenue. "
Osprey Media. - Brantford Expositor: "Brant homeowners face 3.2 per cent tax increase
By John Paul Zronik
Local News - Wednesday, February 07, 2007 Updated @ 11:43:50 PM
Brant County homeowners will receive a 3.2 per cent tax increase this year, about $75 on a home assessed at $211,000.
Politicians passed the county’s 2007 budget during a meeting in Paris on Tuesday. Councillors approved an operating budget of about $48 million for 2007. Almost $29.5 million of that money will be raised through taxes, the rest through grants and other sources of revenue. "
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
News & Features - Rights activists urged to get serious - ArcaMax Publishing
News & Features - Rights activists urged to get serious - ArcaMax Publishing: "Rights activists urged to get serious
KASARANI, Kenya (UPI) -- Social justice groups must finally learn to take themselves seriously, a delegate to the anti-globalization World Social Forum in Kenya says.
They must realize how important their role is in a world in which the rich countries are increasingly withdrawing their financial support for public services, while the public sector in poor countries often fails, Filippo Addarii, an Italian professional from London, tells the German publication Der Spiegel.
The forum challenges global policies and assumptions that it says undermine the environment, labor rights, national sovereignty, the Third World and other concerns. "
KASARANI, Kenya (UPI) -- Social justice groups must finally learn to take themselves seriously, a delegate to the anti-globalization World Social Forum in Kenya says.
They must realize how important their role is in a world in which the rich countries are increasingly withdrawing their financial support for public services, while the public sector in poor countries often fails, Filippo Addarii, an Italian professional from London, tells the German publication Der Spiegel.
The forum challenges global policies and assumptions that it says undermine the environment, labor rights, national sovereignty, the Third World and other concerns. "
Sunday, January 28, 2007
Taxes skimmed?
Amazing!! Great integrity from the Tax collectors -at least they caught it -PR
winnipegsun.com - Winnipeg News - Taxes skimmed?: " Sun, January 28, 2007
Taxes skimmed?Winnipeg employee faces fraud charges
By KATHLEEN HARRIS, NATIONAL BUREAU
Canada Revenue Agency's Winnipeg Tax Centre. Documents reveal an employee was able to pocket fraudulent refunds. (JON SCHLEDEWITZ, SUN)
OTTAWA -- A Canada Revenue Agency employee is accused of bilking taxpayers of more than $100,000, Sun Media has learned.
Documents obtained under Access to Information refer to a 'sensitive file' involving the 'fraudulent reassessment of client tax returns' by an employee at the Winnipeg Tax Centre.
According to one 2005 memorandum to then-CRA Commissioner Michel Dorais, adjustments of 18 client accounts resulted in $131,871 in fraudulent refunds being deposited into the employee's bank account.
Another document shows affected individuals were to be advised their records were corrected and that an investigation was underway.
'They will be advised that they may be contacted by a CRA investigator, and will be asked to monitor their tax records and contact CRA if they notice anything that appears unusual,' it reads.
The documents were requested by Sun Media last fall after the federal government's Public Accounts listed a loss of $119,399 due to 'theft of taxpayer remittance.'
The records listed $27,322 as recovered in 2005-2006, and another $92,077 that was to expected to be recovered in subsequent years.
FEW AND FAR BETWEEN
Emilia Kotris, a spokesman for the Winnipeg Tax Centre, would not provide details on the case because it is before the courts. But she stressed breaches by employees are few and far between.
"It's a very rare occurrence and in no way reflects on the integrity and professionalism of the thousands of other employees we have working with us," she said.
Kotris would not say if the employee is still employed with the CRA, but offered a general comment on potential repercussions for staff who break the rules.
"All CRA employees are subject to very strict standards of conduct and conflict of interest guidelines and any employee who violates those guidelines faces severe consequences up to and including dismissal and prosecution," she said.
The federal government documents state that CRA planned to "fully examine" existing procedures, access profiles and mainframe systems to improve and augment existing safeguards.
Michelle Mariano faces 28 charges under the Income Tax Act and the Criminal Code, including breach of trust by a public officer, fraud over $5,000 and making false or deceptive statements, for alleged offences between 2002-2005.
The next court date is scheduled for March 19.
winnipegsun.com - Winnipeg News - Taxes skimmed?: " Sun, January 28, 2007
Taxes skimmed?Winnipeg employee faces fraud charges
By KATHLEEN HARRIS, NATIONAL BUREAU
Canada Revenue Agency's Winnipeg Tax Centre. Documents reveal an employee was able to pocket fraudulent refunds. (JON SCHLEDEWITZ, SUN)
OTTAWA -- A Canada Revenue Agency employee is accused of bilking taxpayers of more than $100,000, Sun Media has learned.
Documents obtained under Access to Information refer to a 'sensitive file' involving the 'fraudulent reassessment of client tax returns' by an employee at the Winnipeg Tax Centre.
According to one 2005 memorandum to then-CRA Commissioner Michel Dorais, adjustments of 18 client accounts resulted in $131,871 in fraudulent refunds being deposited into the employee's bank account.
Another document shows affected individuals were to be advised their records were corrected and that an investigation was underway.
'They will be advised that they may be contacted by a CRA investigator, and will be asked to monitor their tax records and contact CRA if they notice anything that appears unusual,' it reads.
The documents were requested by Sun Media last fall after the federal government's Public Accounts listed a loss of $119,399 due to 'theft of taxpayer remittance.'
The records listed $27,322 as recovered in 2005-2006, and another $92,077 that was to expected to be recovered in subsequent years.
FEW AND FAR BETWEEN
Emilia Kotris, a spokesman for the Winnipeg Tax Centre, would not provide details on the case because it is before the courts. But she stressed breaches by employees are few and far between.
"It's a very rare occurrence and in no way reflects on the integrity and professionalism of the thousands of other employees we have working with us," she said.
Kotris would not say if the employee is still employed with the CRA, but offered a general comment on potential repercussions for staff who break the rules.
"All CRA employees are subject to very strict standards of conduct and conflict of interest guidelines and any employee who violates those guidelines faces severe consequences up to and including dismissal and prosecution," she said.
The federal government documents state that CRA planned to "fully examine" existing procedures, access profiles and mainframe systems to improve and augment existing safeguards.
Michelle Mariano faces 28 charges under the Income Tax Act and the Criminal Code, including breach of trust by a public officer, fraud over $5,000 and making false or deceptive statements, for alleged offences between 2002-2005.
The next court date is scheduled for March 19.
Public Works launches investigations into leaks of government information - Yahoo! Canada News
Loose lips sink ships - tell that to the Gomery commission .
The public has the right to know how their money is being spent. PR
Public Works launches investigations into leaks of government information - Yahoo! Canada News: "Public Works launches investigations into leaks of government information
Sat Jan 27, 3:16 PM
By Dean Beeby
ADVERTISEMENT
OTTAWA (CP) - The Public Works Department has launched at least four 'loose lips' investigations in the last two years, as it tries to staunch leaks of government information to opposition politicians, lobby groups and journalists.
Records released under the Access to Information Act show investigators have pounced on even minor cases, mirroring the tight control of information that characterizes the current Conservative administration.
In June last year, for example, Liberal MPs Denis Coderre and Ujjal Dosanjh held a news conference complaining that the government's proposed purchase of four Boeing C-17 transport aircraft for the military would also give the maintenance contract to U.S. firms.
The two politicians released parts of a confidential April 10 briefing note, created to help ministers respond to Opposition attacks during question period in the House of Commons.
The incident triggered an internal investigation at Public Works, which determined that the document had not been previously released under the Access to Information Act and was therefore improperly leaked.
Censored records of the investigation do not indicate who made the complaint. A Public Works spokesman said only that it came from 'someone who works in the department.'
The inquiry was eventually abandoned when a senior official said the leak was 'minor' and 'mentioned that the information supplied during the news conference had been known by most members of Parliament as it was in the Conservative electoral platform.'
Considered far more serious was an anonymous fax sent to New Democrat MP Pa"
The public has the right to know how their money is being spent. PR
Public Works launches investigations into leaks of government information - Yahoo! Canada News: "Public Works launches investigations into leaks of government information
Sat Jan 27, 3:16 PM
By Dean Beeby
ADVERTISEMENT
OTTAWA (CP) - The Public Works Department has launched at least four 'loose lips' investigations in the last two years, as it tries to staunch leaks of government information to opposition politicians, lobby groups and journalists.
Records released under the Access to Information Act show investigators have pounced on even minor cases, mirroring the tight control of information that characterizes the current Conservative administration.
In June last year, for example, Liberal MPs Denis Coderre and Ujjal Dosanjh held a news conference complaining that the government's proposed purchase of four Boeing C-17 transport aircraft for the military would also give the maintenance contract to U.S. firms.
The two politicians released parts of a confidential April 10 briefing note, created to help ministers respond to Opposition attacks during question period in the House of Commons.
The incident triggered an internal investigation at Public Works, which determined that the document had not been previously released under the Access to Information Act and was therefore improperly leaked.
Censored records of the investigation do not indicate who made the complaint. A Public Works spokesman said only that it came from 'someone who works in the department.'
The inquiry was eventually abandoned when a senior official said the leak was 'minor' and 'mentioned that the information supplied during the news conference had been known by most members of Parliament as it was in the Conservative electoral platform.'
Considered far more serious was an anonymous fax sent to New Democrat MP Pa"
Nothing is free!
Buyer beware
Nothing is free!: "Nothing is free!
Investors warned about seminars
View Larger Image
If the public has any information regarding the investment scheme described in this alert, they should report or forward the information to their offices, regulators said.
Photograph by : Getty
Canadian Press
Published: Friday, January 26, 2007 Article tools
Printer friendly
E-mail
Font: * * * * VANCOUVER -- The British Columbia Securities Commission and the Alberta Securities Commission warned investors yesterday to beware of a 'suspicious' investment scheme offered at free seminars that involves moving money offshore to avoid taxes.
The regulators said they have received reports about a scheme being offered at free public seminars, in which investors are told they can participate in 'extraordinary investment returns' by joining an organization that allows them to learn about and access a system to become 'portfolio account managers' and restructure their assets.
These investors are told they can do so through a variety of methods, including investments in the precious metals industry, consumer debt or capital markets and international mutual funds, the regulators said.
If the public has any information regarding the investment scheme described in this alert, they should report or forward the information to their offices, the regulators said."
Nothing is free!: "Nothing is free!
Investors warned about seminars
View Larger Image
If the public has any information regarding the investment scheme described in this alert, they should report or forward the information to their offices, regulators said.
Photograph by : Getty
Canadian Press
Published: Friday, January 26, 2007 Article tools
Printer friendly
Font: * * * * VANCOUVER -- The British Columbia Securities Commission and the Alberta Securities Commission warned investors yesterday to beware of a 'suspicious' investment scheme offered at free seminars that involves moving money offshore to avoid taxes.
The regulators said they have received reports about a scheme being offered at free public seminars, in which investors are told they can participate in 'extraordinary investment returns' by joining an organization that allows them to learn about and access a system to become 'portfolio account managers' and restructure their assets.
These investors are told they can do so through a variety of methods, including investments in the precious metals industry, consumer debt or capital markets and international mutual funds, the regulators said.
If the public has any information regarding the investment scheme described in this alert, they should report or forward the information to their offices, the regulators said."
Thursday, January 25, 2007
You can smoke at the Casino because it is a factory
More Hypocracy and broken promises
It is interesting to note that whenever the government "take " grap or revenue is threatened "new self-serving rules' can be applied to protect their own money making monopoly. It is okay to smoke in government cash making Casinos but not private bars or places that would cater to smokers . Casinos are " legal " factories to make money for the government.
Therefore , I suggest that everyone who wants to cater to these customers declare themselves a factory and make the whole area a smoker's designated meeting place. Lets learn from the hypocrites and use their same rationale against them. Fight fire with fire. or better yet just fire them in the next election and bring back reasonable laws of conduct that apply equally to everyone - people and businesses .
It is interesting to note that whenever the government "take " grap or revenue is threatened "new self-serving rules' can be applied to protect their own money making monopoly. It is okay to smoke in government cash making Casinos but not private bars or places that would cater to smokers . Casinos are " legal " factories to make money for the government.
Therefore , I suggest that everyone who wants to cater to these customers declare themselves a factory and make the whole area a smoker's designated meeting place. Lets learn from the hypocrites and use their same rationale against them. Fight fire with fire. or better yet just fire them in the next election and bring back reasonable laws of conduct that apply equally to everyone - people and businesses .
Poker - the government rules
Osprey Media. - Brantford Expositor: "OPP warns about poker events
Local News - Thursday, January 25, 2007 Updated @ 11:10:29 AM
Thinking about holding a poker event to raise money for some worthy cause?
If so, the OPP is advising you to think again and check with legal counsel because such an event could be illegal.
Casino nights run by charitable groups with games including blackjack and Crown and Anchor are exempt with a licence for gambling issued by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO).
However, there are no such exemptions for poker-type events. Therefore, it is illegal under the Criminal Code to hold such events, the OPP said in a statement released Thursday.
Any gambling in a licensed establishment is illegal under the Liquor Licence Act of Ontario. An establishment that directly or indirectly charges a fee or is paid by players for the privilege of playing or participating in a poker game including donations, is also considered illegal under the Criminal Code of Canada. Even in the event the entry fees are returned to the players as prizes doesn’t make the event legal.
Any organization should consult with legal counsel prior to holding any poker gaming event to ensure it won’t violate the criminal code.
Licensing information can be obtained by calling 1-800-522-2876. "
Local News - Thursday, January 25, 2007 Updated @ 11:10:29 AM
Thinking about holding a poker event to raise money for some worthy cause?
If so, the OPP is advising you to think again and check with legal counsel because such an event could be illegal.
Casino nights run by charitable groups with games including blackjack and Crown and Anchor are exempt with a licence for gambling issued by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO).
However, there are no such exemptions for poker-type events. Therefore, it is illegal under the Criminal Code to hold such events, the OPP said in a statement released Thursday.
Any gambling in a licensed establishment is illegal under the Liquor Licence Act of Ontario. An establishment that directly or indirectly charges a fee or is paid by players for the privilege of playing or participating in a poker game including donations, is also considered illegal under the Criminal Code of Canada. Even in the event the entry fees are returned to the players as prizes doesn’t make the event legal.
Any organization should consult with legal counsel prior to holding any poker gaming event to ensure it won’t violate the criminal code.
Licensing information can be obtained by calling 1-800-522-2876. "
Sunday, January 14, 2007
winnipegsun.com - Editorial - Corporate welfare in the billions
winnipegsun.com - Editorial - Corporate welfare in the billions: "
Sun, January 14, 2007
Corporate welfare in the billions
The Canadian Taxpayers Federation put out a report last week that should curl the hair of any taxpayer who hates government waste.
The CTF has compiled a list of financial assistance paid out by Industry Canada to private companies covering a period from 1982 to 2005.
You may want to sit down for this:
The CTF report notes that between 1982 and 2005, 'Ottawa authorized $18.4 billion in grants and loans to various companies and organizations. Of this, only $7.1 billion is repayable. However, to date, less than $1.3 billion has been repaid to taxpayers.'
The CTF found that almost $10 billion of the $18 billion paid out was basically free money -- grants and contribution that never had to be repaid.
That's scary enough, but the report notes that 'these numbers do not include handouts and loans made through Ottawa's regional development agencies' such as Western Economic Diversification.
So the actual amount of corporate welfare in this country is even higher than $18.4 billion.
The top 50 recipients of cash from Industry Canada comprise a who's who of corporate Canada, and those companies are not only highly profitable, but they account for one-third of all assistance.
Why on Earth major major manufacturers, huge electronics firms, and giant computer companies need money from the government of Canada is beyond us. But it's all there in black and white. (For the full details, see the CTF's website: www.taxpayer.com.)
In the report, the CTF correctly identifies why corporate welfare is bad policy: market decisions end up being made by bureaucrats and politicians, not investors; the decision"
Sun, January 14, 2007
Corporate welfare in the billions
The Canadian Taxpayers Federation put out a report last week that should curl the hair of any taxpayer who hates government waste.
The CTF has compiled a list of financial assistance paid out by Industry Canada to private companies covering a period from 1982 to 2005.
You may want to sit down for this:
The CTF report notes that between 1982 and 2005, 'Ottawa authorized $18.4 billion in grants and loans to various companies and organizations. Of this, only $7.1 billion is repayable. However, to date, less than $1.3 billion has been repaid to taxpayers.'
The CTF found that almost $10 billion of the $18 billion paid out was basically free money -- grants and contribution that never had to be repaid.
That's scary enough, but the report notes that 'these numbers do not include handouts and loans made through Ottawa's regional development agencies' such as Western Economic Diversification.
So the actual amount of corporate welfare in this country is even higher than $18.4 billion.
The top 50 recipients of cash from Industry Canada comprise a who's who of corporate Canada, and those companies are not only highly profitable, but they account for one-third of all assistance.
Why on Earth major major manufacturers, huge electronics firms, and giant computer companies need money from the government of Canada is beyond us. But it's all there in black and white. (For the full details, see the CTF's website: www.taxpayer.com.)
In the report, the CTF correctly identifies why corporate welfare is bad policy: market decisions end up being made by bureaucrats and politicians, not investors; the decision"
Osprey Media. - Brantford Expositor
Osprey Media. - Brantford Expositor: "Delhi family can stay in country
By Michael-Allan Marion
Local News - Friday, January 12, 2007 Updated @ 11:40:41 PM
A Delhi family of seven won’t be deported to its native Holland after a flurry of phone calls and letters straightened out a mix-up over paperwork.
“We are very happy,” Jo Geven said Thursday, only a few hours after getting a call from an Immigration Canada official.
Geven said he was told that the paperwork surrounding his application for an extension of his work permit has been processed and the family won’t have to leave.
“He told me, ‘don’t worry',' he said. 'All the papers will be sent to their office in London and put in order.
“We had talked a lot of times on the phone over the past few days, but hearing those words was so good.”
After getting the news, the family had a party, said Geven. "
By Michael-Allan Marion
Local News - Friday, January 12, 2007 Updated @ 11:40:41 PM
A Delhi family of seven won’t be deported to its native Holland after a flurry of phone calls and letters straightened out a mix-up over paperwork.
“We are very happy,” Jo Geven said Thursday, only a few hours after getting a call from an Immigration Canada official.
Geven said he was told that the paperwork surrounding his application for an extension of his work permit has been processed and the family won’t have to leave.
“He told me, ‘don’t worry',' he said. 'All the papers will be sent to their office in London and put in order.
“We had talked a lot of times on the phone over the past few days, but hearing those words was so good.”
After getting the news, the family had a party, said Geven. "
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
It’s not just the money, it’s the way they go about it
Wouldn't it be nice if we actually got some results for what we pay for ?
OspreyBlogs » Blog Archive » It’s not just the money, it’s the way they go about it: "“Being an MP is a vast subsidized ego-trip. It’s a job that needs no qualifications, it has no compulsory hours of work, no performance standards, and provides a warm room, a telephone and subsidized meals to a bunch of self-important windbags and busybodies who suddenly find people taking them seriously because they’ve go the letters ‘MP’ after their name.”
The best comedy does strike close to home, don’t you think?
Politicians claim they deserve respect. They want us to believe they work hard and earn their money. Yet why must they pull these strokes, and always in between elections? Why must they dodge and weave and duck and fudge the truth and in some cases just outright lie? I don’t think it’s necessarily the money that voters resent (although that surely is a contentious issue for many), but the way politicians go about getting it.
They want more money? Fine. Bring it up during a campaign. Tell us what they want to do. Show us how hard they work. Justify the pay. Hold public hearings.
Let the public have input into what it will pay its representatives. Quit being so sneaky. Quit behaving like, well, like politicians.
Maybe that’s asking too much.
To see the Coulter Osborne report on MPP salaries is at http://oico.on.ca/oic/oicweb2.nsf/(CommReports)/35/$FILE/report.pdf?OpenElement"
OspreyBlogs » Blog Archive » It’s not just the money, it’s the way they go about it: "“Being an MP is a vast subsidized ego-trip. It’s a job that needs no qualifications, it has no compulsory hours of work, no performance standards, and provides a warm room, a telephone and subsidized meals to a bunch of self-important windbags and busybodies who suddenly find people taking them seriously because they’ve go the letters ‘MP’ after their name.”
The best comedy does strike close to home, don’t you think?
Politicians claim they deserve respect. They want us to believe they work hard and earn their money. Yet why must they pull these strokes, and always in between elections? Why must they dodge and weave and duck and fudge the truth and in some cases just outright lie? I don’t think it’s necessarily the money that voters resent (although that surely is a contentious issue for many), but the way politicians go about getting it.
They want more money? Fine. Bring it up during a campaign. Tell us what they want to do. Show us how hard they work. Justify the pay. Hold public hearings.
Let the public have input into what it will pay its representatives. Quit being so sneaky. Quit behaving like, well, like politicians.
Maybe that’s asking too much.
To see the Coulter Osborne report on MPP salaries is at http://oico.on.ca/oic/oicweb2.nsf/(CommReports)/35/$FILE/report.pdf?OpenElement"
Retirement Gordon Powers - Sympatico / MSN Finance - Seven tax breaks you've been missing
Retirement Gordon Powers - Sympatico / MSN Finance - Seven tax breaks you've been missing: "Seven tax breaks you've been missing By Gordon Powers December 05, 2006
Although April is traditionally when people think of taxes, there's actually very little you can do after December 31st to reduce your tax bite. Making some smart moves before the end of the year – particularly after some recent rule changes – can make a difference though." (check it out )
Although April is traditionally when people think of taxes, there's actually very little you can do after December 31st to reduce your tax bite. Making some smart moves before the end of the year – particularly after some recent rule changes – can make a difference though." (check it out )
Iraq to hang two Saddam aides Thursday - Yahoo! Canada News
Iraq to hang two Saddam aides Thursday - Yahoo! Canada News: "Saddam's half-brother and former head of intelligence, Barzan Ibrahim al-Tikriti, and Awad Ahmed al-Bandar, the former chief judge of revolutionary court, will be hanged at dawn on Thursday, the official said Wednesday."
Saturday, December 30, 2006
Residents threaten legal action if church shelters homeless - Yahoo! Canada News
Residents threaten legal action if church shelters homeless - Yahoo! Canada News: "TORONTO (CBC) - A Toronto church's plan to shelter a dozen homeless people once a week during the cold winter months has been met by threats of an injunction from some area residents.
ADVERTISEMENT
Plans for the temporary shelter at St. Aidan's Anglican Church, located in the affluent Beach neighbourhood, have been put on hold after a group of neighbours threatened the church with a legal injunction.
Toronto lawyer Peter Silverberg, who represents the group of residents threatening legal action, told the Toronto Star their concerns did not stem from the 'not in my backyard syndrome,' but rather from the lack of consultations and questions over whether the program is the best use of resources. He refused to speak with the CBC.
The project would have been part of the Out of the Cold program, under which dozens of churches and synagogues throughout the city open their doors to provide shelter and food to the homeless."
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Plans for the temporary shelter at St. Aidan's Anglican Church, located in the affluent Beach neighbourhood, have been put on hold after a group of neighbours threatened the church with a legal injunction.
Toronto lawyer Peter Silverberg, who represents the group of residents threatening legal action, told the Toronto Star their concerns did not stem from the 'not in my backyard syndrome,' but rather from the lack of consultations and questions over whether the program is the best use of resources. He refused to speak with the CBC.
The project would have been part of the Out of the Cold program, under which dozens of churches and synagogues throughout the city open their doors to provide shelter and food to the homeless."
Tuesday, December 26, 2006
Investing Insight - Sympatico / MSN Finance - U.S. housing market drop tops the year's business news, says AP survey
Investing Insight - Sympatico / MSN Finance - U.S. housing market drop tops the year's business news, says AP survey
1 Housing slips Lower since the great depression
2. ENRON'S FINAL ACT
Convictions of former CEOs Jeff Skilling and Ken Lay looked like the final act of the Enron drama, but Lay died in Aspen before he was sentenced and a federal judge vacated his conviction, halting a federal effort seeking millions from Lay's estate. Skilling, 53, reported to a Federal prison in Minnesota Dec. 13 to begin a sentence of 24 years and four months.
3. BACKDATING SCANDAL
News that executives and directors manipulated their option grants to inflate their gains rocked the executive suite. At least 195 companies disclosed federal or internal investigations and at least 59 senior executives or directors have left their companies as of Dec. 19. Among the highest profile to fall were UnitedHealth Group Inc.'s William McGuire, who was pushed out as the company's chairman and CEO, and Jacob (Kobi) Alexander, the former CEO of Comverse Technology Inc., who fled to Namibia, where he is fighting extradition.
4. AUTO WOES
Demand for U.S. auto makers' vehicles, especially sport utility vehicles, shrunk and their market share eroded. About 38,000 unionized Ford Motor Co. workers, more than half the company's U.S. hourly work force, said they would take buyouts. Through buyouts and early retirement, General Motors Corp. cut 35,000 jobs, nearly one-third of its hourly U.S. workers. Companies' bonds sunk into "junk" ratings and they were reduced to using plants or inventories as loan collateral.
5. OIL PRICES
War in the Middle East and soaring demand sent oil prices above $78 a barrel, an all-time record. The big winner from the sky-high prices were oil companies, whose profits hovered near their 2005 records. Oil prices have since fallen, but the summer's run has renewed rumblings about conservation and oil dependency.
6. GAS PRICES
Summer gas prices hit highs of $3.04 a gallon thanks to soaring crude oil prices, tight refining capacity and fears of another disastrous hurricane season. Increased prices began to sour the U.S. romance with gas-guzzling SUVs, hitting U.S. auto makers with another blow. Gas prices have since dropped, too, but drivers remain nervous.
7. FED HALTS
The Federal Reserve halted the rate hikes that had lifted its target short-term interest rate from one per cent in early June 2004 to 5.25 per cent in June 2006. While stock traders saw a slowing economy and looked forward to rate cuts, the Fed's Bernanke said the central bank was keeping a sharp eye on inflation, which could take rates higher.
8. HP SPYING
HP's boardroom infighting ended in humiliation. Chairwoman Patricia Dunn was hauled before Congress, ousted from her office and indicted for her role in a boardroom spying scandal in which private investigators lied and schemed to obtain the phone records of directors and reporters. Now the company's CEO is being asked to tell Congress about the $1.37 million worth of options he exercised just before the scandal became public.
9. CHINA TIGER
China's economy continues to grow more than 10 per cent a year and its trade surplus with the U.S. is the largest ever. While officials are trying to slow growth and questions linger about whether Chinese banks are too loose with loans, the economy has showed only modest signs of slowing.
10. RECORD DOW
The Dow Jones industrial average climbed above 12,000 for the first time ever, outpacing broader indexes. The Standard & Poor's 500 edged closer to its 2000 high and the Nasdaq composite index was miles behind its own record
1 Housing slips Lower since the great depression
2. ENRON'S FINAL ACT
Convictions of former CEOs Jeff Skilling and Ken Lay looked like the final act of the Enron drama, but Lay died in Aspen before he was sentenced and a federal judge vacated his conviction, halting a federal effort seeking millions from Lay's estate. Skilling, 53, reported to a Federal prison in Minnesota Dec. 13 to begin a sentence of 24 years and four months.
3. BACKDATING SCANDAL
News that executives and directors manipulated their option grants to inflate their gains rocked the executive suite. At least 195 companies disclosed federal or internal investigations and at least 59 senior executives or directors have left their companies as of Dec. 19. Among the highest profile to fall were UnitedHealth Group Inc.'s William McGuire, who was pushed out as the company's chairman and CEO, and Jacob (Kobi) Alexander, the former CEO of Comverse Technology Inc., who fled to Namibia, where he is fighting extradition.
4. AUTO WOES
Demand for U.S. auto makers' vehicles, especially sport utility vehicles, shrunk and their market share eroded. About 38,000 unionized Ford Motor Co. workers, more than half the company's U.S. hourly work force, said they would take buyouts. Through buyouts and early retirement, General Motors Corp. cut 35,000 jobs, nearly one-third of its hourly U.S. workers. Companies' bonds sunk into "junk" ratings and they were reduced to using plants or inventories as loan collateral.
5. OIL PRICES
War in the Middle East and soaring demand sent oil prices above $78 a barrel, an all-time record. The big winner from the sky-high prices were oil companies, whose profits hovered near their 2005 records. Oil prices have since fallen, but the summer's run has renewed rumblings about conservation and oil dependency.
6. GAS PRICES
Summer gas prices hit highs of $3.04 a gallon thanks to soaring crude oil prices, tight refining capacity and fears of another disastrous hurricane season. Increased prices began to sour the U.S. romance with gas-guzzling SUVs, hitting U.S. auto makers with another blow. Gas prices have since dropped, too, but drivers remain nervous.
7. FED HALTS
The Federal Reserve halted the rate hikes that had lifted its target short-term interest rate from one per cent in early June 2004 to 5.25 per cent in June 2006. While stock traders saw a slowing economy and looked forward to rate cuts, the Fed's Bernanke said the central bank was keeping a sharp eye on inflation, which could take rates higher.
8. HP SPYING
HP's boardroom infighting ended in humiliation. Chairwoman Patricia Dunn was hauled before Congress, ousted from her office and indicted for her role in a boardroom spying scandal in which private investigators lied and schemed to obtain the phone records of directors and reporters. Now the company's CEO is being asked to tell Congress about the $1.37 million worth of options he exercised just before the scandal became public.
9. CHINA TIGER
China's economy continues to grow more than 10 per cent a year and its trade surplus with the U.S. is the largest ever. While officials are trying to slow growth and questions linger about whether Chinese banks are too loose with loans, the economy has showed only modest signs of slowing.
10. RECORD DOW
The Dow Jones industrial average climbed above 12,000 for the first time ever, outpacing broader indexes. The Standard & Poor's 500 edged closer to its 2000 high and the Nasdaq composite index was miles behind its own record
Monday, December 25, 2006
Blogger: Venusian Issues :: Manage life positively
Merry Xmas everyone - you can make a difference next year -stand tall and firm on your positive convictions--PR
Blogger: Venusian Issues :: Manage Posts: "Arnold Toynbee, the historian, developed what he called the 'challenge-response theory' of history. In studying the rise and fall of 20 major world civilizations, Toynbee concluded that each civilization started out as a small group of people - as a village, as a tribe or in the case of the Mongol empire, as just three people who had survived the destruction of their small community. Toynbee concluded that each of these small groups faced external challenges, such as hostile tribes. In order to survive, much less thrive, these small groups had to reorganize themselves to deal positively and constructively with these challenges. By meeting each of these challenges successfully, the village or tribe would grow. Even greater challenges would be triggered as a result. And if this group of people continued to meet each challenge by drawing upon its resources and winning out, it would continue to grow until ultimately it became a nation-state and then a civilization covering a large geographical area.
Toynbee looked at the 21 great civilizations of human history, ending with the American civilization, and concluded that these civilizations began to decline and fall apart when their citizens and leaders lost the will or ability to rise to the inevitable external challenges occasioned by their very size and power.
Toynbee's theory of civilizations can be applicable to our life as well. You are continually faced with challenges and difficulties, with problems and disappointments, with temporary setbacks and defeats. They are an unavoidable and inevitable part of being human. But, as you draw upon your resources to respond effectively to each challenge, you grow and become a stronger and better person. In fact, without those setbacks, you could not have learned what you needed to know and developed the qu"
Blogger: Venusian Issues :: Manage Posts: "Arnold Toynbee, the historian, developed what he called the 'challenge-response theory' of history. In studying the rise and fall of 20 major world civilizations, Toynbee concluded that each civilization started out as a small group of people - as a village, as a tribe or in the case of the Mongol empire, as just three people who had survived the destruction of their small community. Toynbee concluded that each of these small groups faced external challenges, such as hostile tribes. In order to survive, much less thrive, these small groups had to reorganize themselves to deal positively and constructively with these challenges. By meeting each of these challenges successfully, the village or tribe would grow. Even greater challenges would be triggered as a result. And if this group of people continued to meet each challenge by drawing upon its resources and winning out, it would continue to grow until ultimately it became a nation-state and then a civilization covering a large geographical area.
Toynbee looked at the 21 great civilizations of human history, ending with the American civilization, and concluded that these civilizations began to decline and fall apart when their citizens and leaders lost the will or ability to rise to the inevitable external challenges occasioned by their very size and power.
Toynbee's theory of civilizations can be applicable to our life as well. You are continually faced with challenges and difficulties, with problems and disappointments, with temporary setbacks and defeats. They are an unavoidable and inevitable part of being human. But, as you draw upon your resources to respond effectively to each challenge, you grow and become a stronger and better person. In fact, without those setbacks, you could not have learned what you needed to know and developed the qu"
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
Public Porkers News Alert- sad humour
Public Porkers
our mission statement
“Always enjoy the feast at customers expense”
How to stop the Government spending crisis
How not to save public money- being the politically farsighted and specially “gifted” person that you have become
Learn how to spend it even more unwisely by:
Promising what you can not deliver
Give yourself and your staff more money-a minimum of 25% or more should do
Pretend to give services that don’t exist-afterall a public sucker is born every minute
Pretend to be service oriented and friendly by having impersonal phone answering systems in place to minimize customer contact and increase annoyance levels so they don’t call back
Confuse and scare customers and everyone with irrelevant ,high sounding Jargon
Hire more people to insulate yourself from the customers or people you are serving
Hire more friendly outside consultants to propagate and expand your government legacy
Use proven concepts that work in industry and subvert them to a lower government standard
Buy out all competition using your political and public money strengths
Fine or Jail anything that competes with you if they don’t run away , pay homage or conform to your wishes
Stifle any opposition by starving them to death with talk or by wasting their resources
Pretend to care about what people really want and need
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
Editorial - Federal reforms warrant debate
Any change in representation of government needs public debate-
winnipegsun.com - Editorial - Federal reforms warrant debate: "Harper introduced Senate-reform legislation this month that puts us on the road to having an elected upper chamber. He is also in favour of fixed election dates for general elections, as well as giving more autonomy to individual MPs.
An elected Senate. Fixed election dates. A national legislature where the power resides in individual lawmakers, not the parties.
Each of these changes may seem relatively minor in isolation. But, taken together, they add up to a U.S. form of government -- or at the very least a hybrid that would function in a different manner than the Parliament we now have.
Nobody should be opposed to change. Canada's federal government, patterned after the British model, has evolved over the decades by taking on new wrinkles that serve the needs of Canadians. The structure of our government should never be frozen in time; it should continue to evolve.
And there's nothing necessarily wrong with becoming more like the United States. It's perfectly fine to adopt practices from other countries if they suit our requirements.
The point is that there's a fundamental question underlying all of the reforms that Harper would like to introduce.
And before we go modifying our institutions beyond recognition, all Canadians should have the opportunity to discuss the pros and cons before we move forward."
winnipegsun.com - Editorial - Federal reforms warrant debate: "Harper introduced Senate-reform legislation this month that puts us on the road to having an elected upper chamber. He is also in favour of fixed election dates for general elections, as well as giving more autonomy to individual MPs.
An elected Senate. Fixed election dates. A national legislature where the power resides in individual lawmakers, not the parties.
Each of these changes may seem relatively minor in isolation. But, taken together, they add up to a U.S. form of government -- or at the very least a hybrid that would function in a different manner than the Parliament we now have.
Nobody should be opposed to change. Canada's federal government, patterned after the British model, has evolved over the decades by taking on new wrinkles that serve the needs of Canadians. The structure of our government should never be frozen in time; it should continue to evolve.
And there's nothing necessarily wrong with becoming more like the United States. It's perfectly fine to adopt practices from other countries if they suit our requirements.
The point is that there's a fundamental question underlying all of the reforms that Harper would like to introduce.
And before we go modifying our institutions beyond recognition, all Canadians should have the opportunity to discuss the pros and cons before we move forward."
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