[. . . . ] Yesterday, Martin changed his tune and says he's ready to talk with Williams about offshore energy revenues but he added: "I do not believe the Canadian flag should be used as a lever in any federal-provincial negotiations."
It's a pretty precious comment coming from
a man who lowered the Canadian flag on seven of his company's ships for crass profit reasons to avoid paying Canadian taxes.
Then there was the use of the flag by the Liberals to steal $250 million from the taxpayers under the ruse to plaster Quebec with the maple leaf. Sheesh. [. . . . ]
News from a Newfoundlander is included.
Rock star Williams' flag stunt about justice -- Licia Corbella
[. . . . ] His controversial and symbolic gesture was
done to protest Prime Minister Paul Martin reneging on a deal made June 5, during the federal election campaign that Newfoundland could keep 100% of its provincial share of offshore oil revenues, rather than having most of it taken by the feds who then dole it out again as provincial "equalization" payments in an effort to keep the islanders beholden to the Liberal party.[. . . . Details of the deals, past and promised are here.]
"The premier's actions are disrespectful of our most treasured national symbol," Martin said in a statement last month. "It is even more disappointing that (Williams) would use the Canadian flag in this way."
Curious comments coming from the leader of the Liberal government that used the Canadian flag as the excuse to steal more than $100 million of taxpayers' money in the sponsorship scandal which it doled out to Liberal-friendly advertising agencies in Quebec who in turn gave a lot back to the Liberal party.
But it's even more disgusting coming from Martin, whose company -- Canadian Steamship Lines (which he has since handed over to his sons), lowered the Canadian flag on seven of his tankers, hoisting up other flags of "convenience" in order to avoid paying Canadian taxes altogether and to avoid adhering to Canadian environmental and labour laws.
Privileging death over life
[. . . . ] If denial of private-clinic abortion funding constitutes a violation of liberty and security of the person, then why doesn't the same hold for, say, heart surgeries? Why does our health policy demand that everybody wait in one long public line, but when it comes to abortion, then all options -- including the grand bogeyman of them all, American provision -- must be fully funded? [. . . . ]
Cogent.
Bell wants to scrap old services faster -- But CRTC needs to speed approvals
[. . . . ] Bell said it wants the Canadian Radio-television Telecommunications Commission to implement a two-tiered process so the Montreal-based company can quickly react to market changes.
[. . . . ] Bell said it needs faster decision-making from the CRTC so it can shut down older networks. The phone giant is adopting networks based on Internet Protocol, a move that makes older services redundant as costs fall.
Bell claims it has to move faster as competition increases. [. . . . ]
I think land lines are on the way out, as wireless becomes more predominant. Would telcos not be tied to a set fee for monthly local service then? Have you noticed that cellphone service appears to be quite reasonable -- right now. Is it controlled by the CRTC? What will happen if telcos are free to charge whatever they wish--where that one company predominates, overwhelmingly? What will happen with prices in underpopulated areas? The North? The Maritimes? Given the tie-ins between governments and telcos--at least in some areas--companies from "away" might upset the status quo. Must keep pesky foreign companies from muscling in on what appears to be a cozy existing arrangement. Or is this not the case all across Canada? Perhaps, I am wrong in thinking so.
Let's see, now, Microsoft, which runs the operating system--and more--of most of our PCs, has teamed up with Bell/Sympatico and its subsidiaries or provincial branches. Bell already has had market share since, for many, its local branch has been the only show in town. I smell CONTROL and data mining and more.
