Missing the big point, while grubbing in the minutiae
Yes, Judy Sgro and her cohorts are probably misusing their ministerial powers with the Romanian stripper and the felonious Mr. Singh, among others. However the entire refugee / immigration program is the real disaster. Through a deeply myopic system of admitting bogus immigrants and refugees we have allowed an entire sub-culture to arise -- one over whom our authorities, including the police, have little control. Who, for instance, decided that so many of the most lawless people in the world, the Somalians, should be allowed into this country, holus-bolus? Their major success, to my knowledge, was to perpetrate the largest phone scam in Canadian history. This was done by a bunch of Somalian taxi drivers out of Yellowknife--of all places. Then we took in the clan of warlord Aidid, who worked the welfare system to the tune of hundreds of thousands. Remember the movie Black Hawk Down? Well, this is the guy whom the Yanks were trying to capture for looting the foreign aid. But we are compassionate people, right? So a guy who shoved women and children in front of Marine fire to kill 28 of them becomes a worthy refugee to Canada? I must have missed the sob story component to that decision. Meanwhile, the police admit that the numerous immigrant / refugee gangs in the big cities are almost impossibe to control because of cultural and language limitations. Besides which, these gangs do not hestitate to threaten their victims with death should they cooperate with authorities. That works wonders.
The list of woes that our inadequate immigration / refugee control has brought us is ever-growing. Ressam, who conned the welfare system, along with his Algerian counterfeiting gang, only wanted to blow up the LA airport. Even when they were caught in the credit card scam they escaped detention, let alone deportation. The single greatest mass murder in Canadian history was committed by an Algerian, Gamil Gharbi, a.k.a. Marc Lepine. The single greatest terrorist attack in our history was the Sikh bombing of two Air India planes. As for "charity drives" the award for the two greatest contributers to terrorism has to be split between the Tamil Tigers and the Palestinians. The list of Canada's welcomed immigration groups that are a danger or a drag on our welfare state is a long one--e.g. the biggest ATM theft was accomplished by a bunch of Romanian "refugees".
What we have here is an out-of-control IRB, employees who are either brain dead, or overly-influenced by the huge immigrant / refugee lobbyists. I really don't believe that Trudeau meant his Charter of Rights and Freedoms to be distorted in this way. If this cascade of criminality is not reversed, we are in for a very hard time ahead. Already influenced unduly by the swelling immigrant voters. our politicians can be counted on to become even more spineless in halting the excesses down the line.
By the way, how have our nefarious gypsy immigrants fared -- the ones who were so subject to "racism" in Europe?
The Happy Hooker and Multiculturalism, South African Style
I ran across these lines in Paul Theroux's travel novel, Dark Star Safari--Overland from Cairo to Capetown. Theroux was reading The Johannesburg Star, which had the following front page story, according to Theroux:
The front page was filled with a story on prostitution, one of the growth industries of a shaky economy. The story was surprisingly upbeat, the women speaking in a positive way about their jobs as hookers. "With this job I will never be made retrenched (laid-off), and there is no need for a CV or formal education. You work your own chosen hours and you can drink on the job."
As if in support of this career choice, half of the classified page was full of explicit ads for prostitutes, escorts, brothels, promises of threesomes, Greek, bondage, punishment, pleasure, gays, blacks, Malayas, Indians, Chinese, "Zulus", whites, "Europeans", and whole columns headed "Horny college girls" and "Bored housewives". I suppose it to be a mark of successful urbanization, if not civilization, that so many diverse sexual tastes were catered to. And by the way, these humid classifieds seem to express the epitome of multiculturalism."
Who controls Google's Blogger? When I publish articles on certain subjects, I notice something odd seems to happen. Today, after three attempts, Update 2 still does not show up? I have checked a fourth time and still, it does not show.
I shall try publishing once more; if nothing comes up, I shall guess at what is happening.
Later: Still nothing came up. I checked a fifth time and no update.
Much later: This shows now in a webpage; still, I wonder. Problems occur at the "oddest" times -- such as when I am posting items on China. To whose benefit?
Does Blogger owe Canada's PM a favour--not publishing anything that questions what is going on--now that Paul Martin is off to China for the platinum plate dinner--reportedly, a $20,000 a place--in Beijing -- and to promote "business partnerships"?
Of course, Paul Martin, himself, is no longer in the CSL shipping business, having sold CSL to his sons. By the way, who in his family is going to Shanghai to check progress on the keel repair on the Sheila Anne, a CSL ship? Will we get a photo op?
Update 2: China's risky scramble for oil -- "the growing demand for oil is leading to a growing global conflict"
[. . . . ] So as the 2.4 billion Chinese and Indians move to improve their living standards, they're going to want more oil - likely more than can be produced.
That perceived shortage is setting off an intensifying scramble to tie up oil reserves around the world. So far, China has been the most aggressive player. But the competition is just getting going.
The pattern is clear. China has been weighing buying Unocal, a major US oil firm. Last month in Beijing, Venezuela's President Hugo Chávez promised to open that nation's oil and natural gas fields to China. Russia, in effect renationalizing the giant oil subsidiary of Yukos, may offer China a 20 percent chunk of the new firm.
[. . . . ] Oil has often influenced history. An American and British oil embargo on Japan, which was close to running out of fuel for its growing navy and empire, was one reason that island nation advanced a plan to attack Pearl Harbor to Dec. 7, 1941. That move brought the US into World War II, at a time when world oil output still was rising. A peak - when it comes - will be a major event shaping geopolitical policy and future prices. . . .
And what has Canada's PM been busy promoting? Look for more Canada-China "partnership" announcements. He is no statesman concerned for the future of Canada.
Aside from what this short-sighted leader trolling for votes is doing, what are the rest of us doing to cut down on our dependence on oil?
* How many cars do you need in your household? Time to share and to consider doing without -- even when you want something. I have been told that curbing one's wants and sharing build strong character.
* Do you turn down the thermostat in rooms not used during the day, encouraging the family to get together for or sharing activities in one area? Or does each child and adult use private space and entertainment such as TV, increasing heating and electrical bills--all increasing oil consumption in some way?
* Do you drive an SUV or any other gas guzzler? Do you encourage family and neighbourhood sharing of rides? Co-operation to save gas?
* Do you limit vehicle trips by planning, listing what you need so as to making fewer trips?
* Do you turn down your thermostat and wear wool or do you still expect to dress in winter as you did in summer in your home? Do you even try to buy wool any more? Do you knit and ask for wool, not more acrylic yarns, in the stores where you buy? Demand drives purchases. Wool is much warmer than acrylics; I don't care what advertisers say. So is mohair -- particularly if the yarns are washed before knitting.
You will probably think of a few more ideas yourself to reduce reliance upon oil.
Compilation 2: Polygamy-Same Sex 'Marriage', Terror Threats-Border, UNSCAM-Reid Morden, Tsunami Arrivals-Medical Care, Iraqi Reality
Note that there are two compilations.
List of Articles:
* Polygamy coming, Grits fear -- Liberals launch study in advance of legalization of same-sex marriage
* Polygamy -- here it comes -- William Watson
* Cars speeding through Quebec border crossing -- Are some testing responses and response timing?
* Search underway for six who may pose terrorist threat to Boston -- "The FBI has triggered a massive manhunt for six people -- four Chinese and two Iraqis -- who may pose a terrorist threat to the city of Boston, law enforcement officials briefed on the threat said today."
* Iraqi-American pleads guilty in U.N. oil-for-food probe -- Samir Vincent a former Olympic athlete
* Medical Care
* Tsunami arrivals get fast benefits -- Of course they'll be thoroughly screened to make sure there are no terrorists amongst them, won't they? -- And they won't jump the queue over those who have paid for it, will they?
* Doctor wants to get tough with government -- health care trade off suggested
* Just wait and see -- longer wait times and dirtier hospitals to come?
* Group fights to get parents into Canada
* Teen huddled in a doorway
* Canadian oil-for-food investigator, Reid Morden, says "all this stuff" is imputing UN integrity -- UN actions had nothing to do with this?
* Media's coverage has distorted world's view of Iraqi reality -- LTC Tim Ryan
Polygamy coming, Grits fear -- Liberals launch study in advance of legalization of same-sex marriage
OTTAWA - Just weeks before it introduces divisive same-sex marriage legislation, the Martin government has launched an urgent study into the legal and social ramifications of polygamy.
Critics say the study underscores a deep concern in the federal government that legalized homosexual marriage may lead to constitutional challenges from minority groups who claim polygamy as a religious right.
It also suggests the government is suspicious that multiple marriage is more commonplace in Canada than is widely realized.
[. . . . ] Sayd Mumtaz Ali, president of the Canadian Society of Muslims, said he opposes same-sex marriage, but said if it is legalized in Canada, polygamists would also be within their rights to challenge for their choice of family life to be legalized.
I have mentioned before that Muslims in Canada will want plural wives; this has been mentioned by Dr. Mohamed Elmasry of the University of Waterloo and leader of the CIC, who expressed the opinion that there is no good reason not to allow Muslims to have their views accepted on a man's right to multiple wives -- plural marriage in Canada. Read on.
It's amazing what you see in the subject lines of e-mail these days. Internet drugs, cheap Rolexes, penis enlargement therapies, requests for research proposals on polygamy. Yes, you read that last one right. The other day the bureaucracy at my university (McGill) forwarded a request from the Policy Research Fund at Status of Women Canada (minister: Liza Frulla) requesting proposals for research into polygamy. "This subject has been identified as an urgent issue requiring immediate policy research," said the covering letter. [. . . . ]
Just read what Watson has to say about what has turned into a slippery slope -- and incidentally about "research", the aims of the Policy Research Fund at Status of Women Canada (minister: Liza Frulla) and "building a case".
Cars speeding through Quebec border crossing -- Are some testing responses and response timing?
Guards with the Canadian Border Services Agency say that in the last three weeks, cars have whizzed past them at the Lacolle border crossing between Quebec and New York state.
Saint-Bernard-de-Lacolle is Quebec's busiest border crossing, and the Canadian government says it is "an important link between Montréal and the and the American East."
Cars coming from Canada going into the United States illegally are likely to be chased down by police, or even a Blackhawk helicopter patrolling the border between Quebec and New York state. U.S. security has been stepped up since 9/11.
But cross back into Quebec without stopping, and border guards say chances are, you'll get through.
The guards say some days are worse than others. On New Year's Eve, they say five cars ran the border. On Boxing Day, it was a bus running through their check point.
Canadian border guards say they have the authority to arrest and detain, but they don't have the equipment or the mandate to make a vehicle chase. They would have to call the police for such events.
Last year the RCMP suspended its routine patrols along Quebec's border with the U.S. [. . . . ]
Who benefits? How much is our PM's trip to China costing? If he is not in business himself, does he need to be along to facilitate -- or for photo ops? Could that money not have better put toward security?
Search underway for six who may pose terrorist threat to Boston -- "The FBI has triggered a massive manhunt for six people -- four Chinese and two Iraqis -- who may pose a terrorist threat to the city of Boston, law enforcement officials briefed on the threat said today."
The six are suspected of having come into the United States from Mexico, and may have headed to New York and then to Boston, the target of a planned attack that could involve a lethal substance, possibly chemical or biological or explosive, three law enforcement officials briefed on the threat said.
The tip about the threat was given to the FBI by only one person, the officials said, and it had not been corroborated as of this afternoon.[. . . . ]
Iraqi-American pleads guilty in U.N. oil-for-food probe -- Samir Vincent a former Olympic athlete
Samir Vincent entered the guilty pleas to four charges Tuesday in U.S. District Court in New York, including engaging in prohibited financial transactions with Iraq, acting as an unregistered agent of a foreign government and making false statements on his income tax returns.
During his plea, Vincent implied that he was aware of an unnamed U.N. official who may have been bribed by the Iraqi regime.
Vincent told Judge Denny Chin that in return for millions of dollars in cash payments and Iraq's permission to buy its oil, he lobbied U.S. and U.N. officials to have stringent international economic sanctions repealed.
He did not register as an agent for a foreign government, Vincent told the court, because "I understood that the Iraqi government did not want some of my activities on their behalf to become public."
In describing his deal with Baghdad, Vincent said that he and others were to receive millions of dollars once the oil for food program was successfully launched in 1996. [. . . . ]
Tsunami arrivals get fast benefits -- Of course they'll be thoroughly screened to make sure there are no terrorists amongst them, won't they?
PROVINCIAL officials are working to get immediate OHIP coverage for the thousands of tsunami survivors expected to arrive in Canada soon. As many as 5,000 people are being fast-tracked and are expected to arrive in March or April, immigration officials said.
Some 2,500 of the immigrants are expected to remain in Toronto with family members, organizers said.
Community organizers said the immigrants will require urgent health or dental care. [. . . . ]
Dental care? What about Canadians' dental care which is not covered in health coverage? A sure vote getter.
There is a shortage of doctors in the province of Ontario. The Ontario Medical Association (OMA) estimates that the province is short approximately 2,000 family practitioners. The problem is especially acute in smaller centres and rural areas.
Dr. Ken Milne, a family physician in Goderich Ontario says that during the past two years, six of the 13 doctors in his area have left and he estimates that over half of the population of 7,500 is without the services of a family doctor.
Milne is urging his fellow practitioners to refuse to treat Liberal MPPs and replace the parliamentarian/patients with those who otherwise do not have the services of a family doctor.[. . . .]
There is nothing unethical or unprofessional in Milne’s suggestion. He is not advocating refusing treatment to a Liberal Member of Parliament in emergency situations, something that inevitably puts him at odds many other residents of Ontario. Doctors are not required to treat each and every patient that seeks their services. [. . . . ]
Despite all the preaching to the contrary, Canada does have a two-tiered medical system with the second tier located south of the border.
Make that a four tier health system, one for MPs and who-knows-what other VIP's, one south of the border, one that includes dental care, apparently, for tsunami victims, and the rest for the great unwashed.
Just wait and see -- longer wait times and dirtier hospitals to come?
LONGER WAIT times and dirtier hospitals may be the future for patients as the hospital sector seeks to eliminate 8,700 positions over the next two years. Ontario Hospital Association president Hilary Short said there could be longer waiting times for services outside the five areas protected by the province -- cardiac care, cataracts, hip and knee replacement, MRI/CT scans and cancer treatment. [. . . . ]
Group fights to get parents into Canada -- for babysitting
A TORONTO immigrant group is trying to overturn a federal policy against parental sponsorships. Eugenia Yakhnin, 48, of Toronto, said under Judy Sgro, who stepped down as immigration minister last week, the number of parents being admitted to Canada plummeted from 19,300 in 2003 to 6,800 this year.
[. . . . ] Yakhnin said many immigrant women cannot work because their families aren't here to look after their children. [. . . . ]
There was an article in the National Post this morning suggesting that Ms. Sgro was only 'allegedly' guilty of anything which should bring about a cabinet minister's resignation and should not have had to resign until this was proven. You can decide for yourself. In this case, if Ms. Sgro was trying to cut down on aging or aged parents immigrating to Canada and who would become another drain on the health system, she was being realistic.
Jessica Krawchuck's ordeal began Monday afternoon when the 15-year-old, who has learning disabilities, was upset over an incident and left Markham District High School near Hwy. 7 and McCowan Rd., police said.
[. . . . ] Another 97 shelter beds were kept open in Toronto last night as street patrols worked to help bring homeless people inside.
Canadian oil-for-food investigator, Reid Morden, says "all this stuff" is imputing UN integrity -- UN actions had nothing to do with this?
[. . . . ] Morden, who came out of retirement to lead the probe under the chairmanship of former U.S. Reserve Bank head Paul Volcker, was former Canadian deputy foreign affairs minister and ex head honcho of Canada’s main spy agency, the Canadian Security and Intelligence Service (CSIS).
"…Like most Canadians, he regarded the UN as key to the nation’s cherished middle-power role as a peacemaker," Handelman wrote.
No polls exist showing that "most Canadians" see the UN as the key to Canada’s cherished role as a peacemaker. More likely, most Canadians do not know or even care what the UN is.
Morden, interviewed by the Star columnist in "a relaxed conversation over café au lait at a crowded New York brasserie", was waxing sanctimonious. [. . . . ]
Media's coverage has distorted world's view of Iraqi reality -- LTC Tim Ryan
World Tribune Editors' Note: "LTC Tim Ryan is Commander, Task Force 2-12 Cavalry, First Cavalry Division in Iraq. He led troops into battle in Fallujah late last year and is now involved in security operations for the upcoming elections."
All right, I've had enough. I am tired of reading distorted and grossly exaggerated stories from major news organizations about the "failures" in the war in Iraq. "The most trusted name in news" and a long list of others continue to misrepresent the scale of events in Iraq. Print and video journalists are covering only a fraction of the events in Iraq and, more often than not, the events they cover are only negative.
The inaccurate picture they paint has distorted the world view of the daily realities in Iraq. The result is a further erosion of international support for the United States' efforts there, and a strengthening of the insurgents' resolve and recruiting efforts while weakening our own. Through their incomplete, uninformed and unbalanced reporting, many members of the media covering the war in Iraq are aiding and abetting the enemy.
The fact is the Coalition is making steady progress in Iraq, but not without ups and downs. So why is it that no matter what events unfold, good or bad, the media highlights mostly the negative aspects of the event? The journalistic adage, "If it bleeds, it leads," still applies in Iraq, but why only when it's American blood? [. . . . ]
* Terrorists behind Tamil fundraising group, RCMP says -- Seeking charity status: 'Front' controlled by Tamil Tigers, expert testified in 1999 -- "Tamil MPs in Sri Lanka asked Mr. Martin to grant temporary charity status to the TRO in Canada."
* Police linked Sgro's accuser to smuggling ring -- 17 fake passports found in raid: Five-year-old police statements accuse Singh of leading double life * Skimp on the cheese.....
* School bombing was terrorism -- judge: Montreal Jewish facility: Nineteen-year-old sentenced to 40 months in jail for April attack
* Our meddling ministers -- A sordid system
* Judge refuses to release alleged terrorist over destroyed CSIS notes -- Somebody's finally got some backbone
* Lawyer faces hearing for criticizing judges -- Constitutional expert outraged over possible sanctions
* Whistleblowers aren't protected in Canada "Whistleblowers talked to PMO about Sgro: report" * Same-sex marriage issue dogs Martin tour
* Pipeline decisions to be swift -- Efford: US$20B Alaska project: Regulatory moves by end of month, Minister says -- Is this a Chretien "Legacy" to thwart PM Martin? * Liberal governments in Ottawa don't seem to have much luck with public inquiries. Or do they?
* Fox News Enters the Canadian Media Henhouse -- "The CBC will undoubtedly question * Fox News' claim of "fairness and balance." It will be like Saddam Hussein complaining about naked pyramids at Abu Ghraib prison violating Iraqi human rights."
* Andrew McIntosh: Lebanese postal workers hurt by deal
* Western aid will never end world poverty
* Clarkson snubbing Alberta -- MP: 'She doesn't care': Not attending memorial service for Lt.-Gov. Lois Hole
Terrorists behind Tamil fundraising group, RCMP says -- Seeking charity status: 'Front' controlled by Tamil Tigers, expert testified in 1999 -- "Tamil MPs in Sri Lanka asked Mr. Martin to grant temporary charity status to the TRO in Canada."
[. . . . ] During testimony at a refugee hearing, Fred Bowen, then an RCMP sergeant and Tamil Tigers expert, said "a lot" of the money raised by the Tamil Rehabilitation Organization (TRO) in Canada was sent to the guerrilla group.
The TRO, he added, "is controlled by the Tigers." The Tamil Tigers is an armed separatist faction responsible for conscripting child soldiers, killing two world leaders and carrying out more suicide bombings than any other terrorist group.
[. . . . Brown] testified that his information came from his contacts with current and former members of the LTTE in Canada as well as Tamil community members who oppose the Tigers, but he would not name his informants.
He also said that coded information about the TRO was found on a laptop computer seized during a police search at the home of Muralitharan Nadarajah, an alleged LTTE activist who is being deported from Canada.
But he would face post tsunami hardship -- wouldn't he? That has stopped deportations from Canada to Sri Lanka lately. Election coming?
The Tamil Tigers also raise money by smuggling migrants to Canada, he testified. One smuggler alone had brought "thousands" of Tamils illegally to Canada over the previous 15 years, he said.
"The smugglers only operate with the blessing of the Tigers. There's several of the smugglers I know in Toronto, one has bragged that he's given over $7-million to the cause for the Tigers."
The Post revealed this week that a migrant smuggling ring run by the Tamil Tigers, which tried to bring suspected members of the armed group to Toronto through Mexico and California, had been shut down following a joint U.S.-Canadian investigation. [. . . . ]
Police linked Sgro's accuser to smuggling ring -- 17 fake passports found in raid: Five-year-old police statements accuse Singh of leading double life
[. . . . ] claiming to be a persecuted refugee from India while secretly travelling back to his homeland. . . . massive counterfeit credit card operation.
[. . . . ] found numerous passports, immigration stamps and "stolen IMM 1000 forms" that "directly related back" to Mr. Singh, according to Sergeant Braden Baron's affidavit.
[. . . . ] Mr. Singh's daughter, for example, was pictured on three of the passports, Sgt. Baron wrote.
. . . testified he had never been back to India since arriving in Canada in 1988. But . . . person carrying that passport was arrested by Indian authorities in August, 1995, for trying to smuggle a four-year-old boy out of the country. His fingerprints were identical to Mr. Singh's. [. . . . ]
Watch next week's issue of the Standard for Kevin Steel's excellent story about the anti-slavery groups that are digging up all kinds of dirt on the Liberals' complicity with international organized criminals. Gangsters have been using the stripper visa exemption to smuggle underage girls into Canada and force them into prostitution and pornography.
[. . . . ] Volpe, the HR minister, was actually the main advocate of closing the exotic dancer loophole after he woke up to the fact that it was being worked by traffickers. But, as Bob Fife noted in the Post in December:
"Human Resources Minister Joe Volpe killed the stripper program on Dec. 15, but sources say he had to fight his own officials, who claimed intimidation by organized crime led to its creation."
Did anyone notice the story out of Quebec yesterday about a 10 year old girl married off to a man in his fifties? -- if I remember correctly. There was no mention of her parents, who should be charged with aiding child abuse (or whatever the charge should be called), I would think. What childhood memories can this girl have?
School bombing was terrorism -- judge: Montreal Jewish facility: Nineteen-year-old sentenced to 40 months in jail for April attack
[. . . . ] El-Merhebi, 19, crafted a bomb from kerosene canisters to torch the United Talmud Torahs elementary school last April 5, leaving behind a letter denouncing ''Israelis and Zionists'' and threatening to strike harder ''the next time.'' The fire caused more than $600,000 in damage and traumatized Montreal's Jewish community.
Judge Jean Sirois of Quebec Court said the attack was not mere vandalism, as suggested by a psychiatrist who assessed El-Merhebi on the defence's behalf.
''The tract left on the scene is unequivocal; it aims to spread terror by threatening to strike harder next time,'' Judge Sirois said.
''There is a distinction to be drawn between vandalism and terrorism: One seeks to destroy stupidly, the other to intimidate, to sow terror for a political goal. Terrorism is much more dangerous to a society; it attacks its foundations.'' [. . . . ]
Our meddling ministers -- A sordid system
What about the crooks and terrorists who get in? Once upon a time immigrants and refugees came here to improve their lives and that of their families and, in the process, all of Canada. Instead, in the past number of years people have been allowed in who scam the system and others want to kill us; yet, our government has done nothing to improve the system in 10 years. Do they not take this seriously?
[. . . . ] I hope I will not be accused of prejudging the guilt or innocence of Ms. Sgro if I point out that the present mess is one in a long line of similar Liberal scandals, all of which turn on a much narrower, and simpler issue: the discretion we allow Cabinet ministers to intervene in the decisions of their departments.
[. . . . ] We have at last got our minds around the idea of banning large corporate contributions to political parties. But we have yet to wake up to the strange latitude we afford ministers of the Crown, not to say ordinary members of Parliament, to interfere in matters that are properly none of their business. If a minister were to intervene with a judge, after all, it is -- still -- regarded as an abuse of office, and a resigning offence. The same restriction applies, somewhat hazily, with regard to quasi-judicial tribunals.
But it was only under extreme duress that the previous Prime Minister was persuaded that ministers should be required to keep their hands off of Crown corporations (you will recall his ethics counsellor had earlier absolved him of breaking any rules in the matter of the Business Development Bank, on the grounds that there were no rules in place), and when it comes to their own departments, it's pretty much open season.
The immigration minister, in particular, has almost unbridled discretion to issue "special ministerial permits," allowing people to immigrate to Canada who would not be admitted under normal rules and procedures. [. . . . ]
Judge refuses to release alleged terrorist over destroyed CSIS notes -- Somebody's finally got some backbone
MONTREAL (CP) -- The destruction of interview notes by Canada's spy agency doesn't justify throwing out the case against alleged terrorist Adil Charkaoui, Federal Court Justice Simon Noel ruled on Tuesday.
"The court rejects the cancellation of the certificate and as a consequence the release of Mr. Charkaoui,'' he said as the detained Moroccan shook his head in frustration.
[. . . . ] Charkaoui has been in detention since May 2003 on a national security certificate and is alleged to be a sleeper agent who can be activated at any time by al-Qaida.
More than 20 people have offered bail for Charkaoui, including former Liberal solicitor general Warren Allmand, former Conservative cabinet minister Flora MacDonald and documentary filmmaker Brian McKenna. Together, they offered more than $50,000 in bail. [Who would you believe -- Charkaoui or CSIS?]
[. . . . ] The government says Charkaoui knew terrorists and that his photo was recognized by prominent al-Qaida members, including jailed millennium bomber Ahmed Ressam. The defence would like to question these witnesses but must petition the court since the government refuses to provide access.
[. . . . ] CSIS officials have said the destruction of interview notes is standard procedure, since the agency is not a police force.
Government lawyer Daniel Roussy said the action doesn't violate Charkaoui's Charter rights and wasn't done in bad faith.
"We are not in a criminal matter here,'' he told Noel. "We are in an immigration matter.''
Lawyer faces hearing for criticizing judges -- Constitutional expert outraged over possible sanctions
Free speech goes only so far -- certainly not as far as the justices, nor any politically identifiable voting bloc, I would add -- especially if what is said is uncomfortable truth.
This is what is wrong with Canada -- too many sacred groups whom one criticizes at one's peril. How dare the justices think they are above comment. This is supposed to be a citizen run democracy. What makes them think they are above a healthy dose of criticism? They are political appointees.
[. . . .] Jerome Kennedy, a prominent St. John's criminal lawyer, faces a rare disciplinary hearing today by the Law Society of Newfoundland for publicly stating that some trial judges are biased or incompetent, partly because they owe their jobs to political patronage.
[. . . . ] A director of the Ottawa-based Association In Defence of the Wrongly Convicted, Mr. Kennedy has been a major figure in an ongoing Newfoundland inquiry into the wrongful murder convictions of three men between 1989 and 1995.
[. . . . ] "Why is it that every other factor in the wrongful conviction problem can be examined, but not the judiciary?"
Mr. Russell said the federally run appointment process for trial judges in senior Canadian courts remains flawed, despite a set of largely ignored, 20-year-old recommendations of the Canadian Bar Association to rid the system of patronage.
Because the federal Cabinet still controls the appointment of trial judges in senior courts, he says, poorly qualified people are sometimes elevated to the bench.
[. . . . ] "We, as lawyers, have a duty to point out to the public the failings in the system. Why should we be afraid to say these things?" [from another lawyer. . . . ]
Whistleblowers aren't protected in Canada "Whistleblowers talked to PMO about Sgro: report"
More than one whistleblower presented the Prime Minister Paul Martin's office with "firm evidence" of improprieties in immigration cases the Toronto Star reported Wednesday.
An unknown source said several people went to the Prime Minister's Office as early as August with evidence of scandal in former federal Immigration Minister Judy Sgro's election campaign and office.
[. . . . ] According to the source, Sgro's top advisor at the time, Ihor Wons, was asked to explain what was going on, and even asked to sign a letter stating that "everything is above board," said the Star.
"What Conservatives have been hearing from a number of Liberals is that the reason that this man Ihor Wons was not fired last November or earlier is because the Prime Minister's office was directing this entire affair going back as far as last summer," CTV's Mike Duffy said on Canada AM.[. . . . ]
Check my archives, approximately Mar. 10 or Mar. 11, 04, for more on whistleblowing.
NEW DELHI - Prime Minister Paul Martin's push to legalize same sex marriage ran into stiff opposition in India yesterday when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and India's high priest of the Sikh faith spoke out in defence of traditional marriage between a man and a woman. [. . . . ]
Why should any group outside Canada think it should comment? Because they are trying to apply political pressure for Sikhs in Canada -- whose votes Paul Martin courts. Simple.
While many are ambivalent about same sex "marriage" in that we do not hate gays, we simply do not think their claim to "marriage" makes sense since they cannot reproduce. However, we are not ambivalent about this. We do NOT like interference from interest groups abroad to add to the Sikh political pressure applied in Canada.
To the Sikhs in India, take care of India; let Canadians take care of Canada through Parliament.
Pipeline decisions to be swift -- Efford: US$20B Alaska project: Regulatory moves by end of month, Minister says -- Is this a Chretien "Legacy" to thwart PM Martin?
TransCanada obtained a letter a year ago from former prime minister Jean Chretien supporting its position
CALGARY - John Efford, Canada's Natural Resources Minister, said the government doesn't want to stand in the way of the US$20-billion Alaska natural gas pipeline and promised to make key decisions on regulatory issues by the end of the month.
Oil companies with large natural gas reserves in Alaska, Canadian pipeline giants TransCanada Corp. and Enbridge Inc., and the U.S. and Alaska governments, have asked Ottawa to clarify how the line would be permitted so planning can move forward.
[. . . . ] TransCanada claims it obtained rights to build the line under the NPA when a first pipeline was proposed 26 years ago.
However, Enbridge and Alaska producers want the line to be regulated as a new project under the National Energy Board. [Check my posts from the last week or so to see their networks. NJC]
"The NPA remains in full force and effect and will be the mechanism under which the project is constructed through Canada," said Hejdi Feick, spokeswoman for TransCanada. TransCanada obtained a letter a year ago from former prime minister Jean Chretien supporting its position.
But Ken MacDonald, BP PLC's vice-president in Canada for the pipeline, said the NPA in its current form poses unacceptable risks.
"It would be difficult to proceed," he said. "The fundamental risk is that the NPA's certificate is for a project that is different than the project that we are proposing to build today, so there is a risk that people would challenge the use of those certificates for a different project."
[. . . . ] Meanwhile, Mr. Efford announced awards totalling $10.8-million to four oil companies -- U.S. independents Apache Corp. and Anadarko Petroleum Corp., and Canadian producers Penn West Petroleum Ltd. and Suncor Energy Inc. -- to help fund projects using new technology to capture carbon dioxide that is then used to enhance the recovery of oil and gas. [. . . . ]
Liberal governments in Ottawa don't seem to have much luck with public inquiries. Or do they?
Author and journalist Peter Desbarats was a commissioner of the Somalia inquiry from 1995 to 1997.
Liberal governments in Ottawa don't seem to have much luck with public inquiries. Or do they? The current predicament of Mr. Justice John Gomery of the sponsorship inquiry raises the question.
The last high-profile inquiry to run afoul of the government was the Somalia probe of 1995-97. The inquiry was created, in the usual fashion, to cool down a scandal that was embarrassing the government and some of its friends in the bureaucracy - the criminal misbehaviour of some Canadian soldiers during a peace- enforcement mission in Somalia. The inquiry bought time for the government but at the expense of having to face eventual exposure and condemnation at the hands of the inquiry.
[. . . . ] I can't help wondering how the Prime Minister and his government are reacting to all this. Quite well, I would think. Nothing would please the government more, I imagine, than having the inquiry disrupted by lengthy proceedings to challenge its continuation under Judge Gomery. Conceivably, this could take the inquiry right out of the public eye for some time, perhaps even past the date of the next election. In the unlikely event that Judge Gomery is forced to resign, the inquiry would have to start over again, creating an even longer hiatus.
How would Canadians react to that? With their usual docility, if the Somalia inquiry was any indication.[. . . . ]
Fox News Enters the Canadian Media Henhouse -- "The CBC will undoubtedly question Fox News' claim of "fairness and balance." It will be like Saddam Hussein complaining about naked pyramids at Abu Ghraib prison violating Iraqi human rights."
Five months after Osama bin Laden's propaganda network, Al-Jazeera, was approved for viewing in Canada, Fox News was given the green light. [. . . . ]
Despite the fact that the CBC receives nearly a billion dollars in taxpayers' money to fund programs that are totally ignored by 93 percent of Canadians, they're still transparently petrified of any competition edging in on their "turf."
[. . . . ] The CBC is freaking out with the arrival of Fox. So much so that they're frantically working on a documentary about the Fox News Canadian invasion, in which they will tell Canadians what to think. Given that Fox News is now in direct competition with the CBC for whatever remnants of an audience the CBC has left, this has about as much credibility as Ford doing a documentary about General Motors, telling you that GM cars suck.
The CBC will undoubtedly question Fox News' claim of "fairness and balance." It will be like Saddam Hussein complaining about naked pyramids at Abu Ghraib prison violating Iraqi human rights.
The CBC's idea of balance and fairness in journalism is airing a rabidly anti-Bush documentary entitled "The World Accoding to Bush" three times in the run-up to the last U.S. presidential election. The write-up on the CBC Web site looks as if it was crafted by Michael Moore: [. . . . ]
This is a lengthy article that might bear checking out.
Was the CBC trying to be "understanding"--or "balanced"?--with its presentation of a documentary on one of the Twin Towers terrorist bombers which focused on Jarrah, described by Lyndon McIntyre as a "complex" character, made aware in a German mosque of the "humiliation" of the Arab world, particularly Palestine, and that his terrorism was not not simply illogical hatred, the kind taught to little children throughout the Arab/Muslim world? Did CBC expect viewers to become more understanding? Or to turn to another channel?
Also, what is CBC trying to accomplish with taxpayer funded "comedy"--you know the programs--using "comedy" as an excuse to pillory President Bush, Conservatives, Stephen Harper, and anything that is not liberal/leftist/Liberal? Rick Mercer and the rest of the lefty gang? Neither Israel nor conservative ideas / Conservatives garner as much "understanding" nor "balance" -- or am I not watching carefully enough? No wonder CBC's audience is down. It has lost its claim to balance as far as I can see.
Andrew McIntosh: Lebanese postal workers hurt by deal
OTTAWA - A Canadian consortium's efforts to modernize Lebanon's derelict postal system between 1998 and 2001 had an "alarming" impact on the country's postal workers, even though Canada supplied a $288,000 grant to help retrain them.
Joey Ghaleb, a researcher at the Lebanese Center for Policy Studies in Beirut, studied the 12-year contract awarded in 1998 to a Canadian group led by SNC-Lavalin, Canada Post and Al-Qantara and its impact on Lebanese workers.
[. . . . ] He said studies on retraining programs such as those financed by CIDA "are not conclusive and show mixed results."
"The main criticism of retraining programs is that they are not 'market-oriented' and have been utilized to serve personal and political needs," he wrote. [. . . . ]
[. . . .] Many African countries, meanwhile, continue to argue the West "owes them," in part as compensation for the slave trade and colonial rule. Billions have already been sent to Africa, much of it disappearing into the sinkhole of corruption. For ambitious Africans, joining the kleptocrats and tyrants is a faster track to wealth than launching a legitimate business.
The result is a continent where incomes per head and life expectancy are actually falling. A recent study by the World Bank named only South Africa and Botswana as places where businesses can expect to operate with any level of normality.
[. . . . ] The report's title -- Investing in Development -- seems to suggest its authors have bought into the need for free enterprise to boost development. [. . . . ]
Although the report is being presented as part of an international "security bargain" for the West, it admits increasing cash flows to the governments of failed or failing states, or to highly corrupt countries, is a complete waste.
It names Belarus, Myanmar, North Korea and Zimbabwe as places where aid should be channelled only through charities that can ensure it reaches people in need. This essentially translates to emergency relief. [. . . . ]
Of course, that would eliminate those CIDA and the like jobs abroad, wouldn't it? What the UN really wants is money to dispense as it sees fit -- maybe some to stick . . . . . .
Clarkson snubbing Alberta -- MP: 'She doesn't care': Not attending memorial service for Lt.-Gov. Lois Hole
[Conservative MP John Williams ] said although the Governor-General's attendance at the memorial service would have been largely symbolic, her absence could heighten tensions between the West and the rest of Canada.
"If it was a memorial service for the lieutenant-governor of Ontario or Quebec, you can be pretty sure she would break whatever personal engagement she has to be there," he said.
