Fuck Yeah Canadian Politics!

lessthanawake: Haper is building the foundation for constant...

Tue, 31 Jul 2012 19:24:59 -0700

Haper is building the foundation for constant war

“Six and half years into Harper’s Conservative government, Canada has become so militaristic that the head of the armed forces can demand a new war and few bat an eye.

On July 7, Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Walter Natynczyk told the Canadian Press, “We have some men and women who have had two, three and four tours and what they’re telling me is ‘Sir, we’ve got that bumper sticker. Can we go somewhere else now?’”

The General added, “You also have the young sailors, soldiers, airmen and women who have just finished basic training and they want to go somewhere and in their minds it was going to be Afghanistan. So if not Afghanistan, where’s it going to be? They all want to serve.”

It is not surprising that the head of the military would want to go to war—that’s his job after all. What’s troubling is that Gen. Natynczyk felt comfortable saying so in public, and that neither the opposition parties nor any mainstream commentators criticized his call to arms.

The chief of the defence staff’s war cry is the logical outgrowth of the Conservative bid to make Canadian society more militaristic. During the Conservatives’ first six years in office, the military budget increased from $15 billion to $23 billion, and the number of troops rose about one quarter to 95,000. The special forces, which Ottawa can deploy abroad in total secrecy, more than doubled.

An increase in the size and strength of the military makes war more likely. In a recent article, leading foreign policy journalist Lee Berthiaume reported that the Harper government’s 2007 decision to acquire four massive C-17 Globemaster military transport planes spurred the plan to establish bases around the world.

“The decision to acquire four C-17s (CC177) for strategic airlift indicates the government’s intention to utilize the CF more extensively off continent,” read a May 2010 briefing note signed by Gen. Natynczyk, initiating the international base plan. Dubbed Operational Support Hub, the goal is to set up permanent bases in up to seven countries.

In recent months, Canada has signed an agreement to house soldiers and equipment in Kuwait, Jamaica, and Germany, and is negotiating to set up bases in Singapore, South Korea, Tanzania, Senegal, and Kenya.

According to a military briefing note obtained by Postmedia, the bases are designed to improve the Canadian Forces’ “ability to project combat power/security assistance and Canadian influence rapidly and flexibly anywhere in the world.” Publically, Defence Minister Peter MacKay called the base initiative part of expanding “our capability for expeditionary participation in international missions…. We are big players in NATO.”

By setting up overseas bases and increasing the military’s size, the Conservatives are preparing for future wars. They’ve also built the cultural and ideological foundation for constant war.

In one of innumerable examples, the updated 2011 citizenship handbook Discover Canada: the Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship praised this country’s military history. It includes 20 photos of armed forces personnel, which is 20 more than the previous edition of the manual.

Similarly, over the past few years soldiers have regularly appeared at major sporting events rappelling down from the rafters or in sombre moments of silence for the fallen. Incredibly, reports Embassy, the CF admits to having spent $353.6 million and directed 661 staff members to promoting the armed forces in 2010-11.

The Conservatives’ militarism is unrelenting. After waging war in Libya, they organized an $850,000 nationally-televised celebration for Canada’s “military heroes,” which included flyovers from a dozen military aircraft.

Harper told the 300 military personnel brought in from four bases: “We are celebrating a great military success…soldier for soldier, sailor for sailor, airman for airman, the Canadian Armed Forces are the best in the world.”

As part of his push to define Canada as a warrior nation, at the June 2011 Conservative convention Harper mentioned “courageous warrior” as a founding Canadian principle.

Asked to explain this position by Maclean’s editor Kenneth White, the prime minister cited Canada’s role in fighting fascism and the Cold War. “The real defining moments for the country and for the world are those big conflicts where everything is at stake and where you take a side and show you can contribute to the right side.”

Asked whether we are in a great conflict or heading towards one, Harper responded “I think we always are.”

Taking his cue from the prime minister, the head of the military wants to get to work. The question is, will anyone say no?

Yves Engler’s the author of a number of books on Canadian foreign policy, including The Ugly Canadian: Stephen Harper’s Foreign Policy, which will be published in October.”

socialuprooting: The growing mobilization against...

Mon, 30 Jul 2012 21:36:41 -0700

socialuprooting:

The growing mobilization against Harper

Scientists. Doctors. Nuclear engineers. Academics. Researchers. Stephen Harper has a big problem.

He has ticked them all off. And they are not suffering their grievances or concerns for informed, fact-based public policy and decision-making, the environment, the health of Canada’s most vulnerable citizens and the safety of all of us in silence.

No. Instead they are protesting, marching, disrupting government news conferences. They are mobilizing.

Their website notes that the only specific evidence “Mr. Harper wants the public to know about is that which supports his political objectives and ideology. That’s not science, that’s propaganda.”

Olivia Chow Interview

Sat, 28 Jul 2012 12:14:46 -0700

Olivia Chow Interview:

Hey followers, do you love Olivia Chow as much as I do? I doubt it, because my love for Olivia Chow is just massive.

This is a link to an interview she did with Grid Toronto. She discusses Toronto’s transit, a recent poll suggesting Torontonians would elect her mayor in a heartbeat, and her phobia: Stephen Harper.

Read it!

Federal EI reforms - not good for Atlantic provinces

Fri, 27 Jul 2012 13:23:00 -0700

The Atlantic premiers have been vocal in their opposition to the changes and the impact they will have on their economies. Mr. Ghiz has said he’s concerned that if people are encouraged to leave for jobs in other parts of the country, they may not return.

Source @ Globe and Mail

Article @The Tyee

Wed, 25 Jul 2012 00:22:00 -0700

Article @The Tyee

lessthanawake: Mayor Rob Ford Says Gang Members Should Leave...

Wed, 18 Jul 2012 20:52:40 -0700

lessthanawake:

Mayor Rob Ford Says Gang Members Should Leave the City

“Continuing his tough talk in response to the Scarborough shooting that killed two and injured 23, Mayor Rob Ford called Wednesday for gang members to leave the city.

Ford also said he will meet with Premier Dalton McGuinty on Monday to ask for more money for policing, not for social programs.

Speaking to CP24’s Stephen LeDrew, Ford said his visit to the crime scene affected him deeply.

“It just tore my heart apart. And I just thought, this is not the city that we live in, this is — I was mad. More than upset, I was mad. I said, ‘Enough’s enough.’ I’m lookin’ around, and I said, ‘I’m not gonna sit here, I’m gonna be proactive.’ I talked to the premier, got a hold of the premier, called the prime minister’s office, I said, ‘I want meetings. I want something to be done.’ I want these people out of the city. And I’m not going to stop. Not put ’em in jail, then come back and you can live in the city. No. I want ’em out of the city. Go somewhere else. I don’t want ’em living in the city anymore,” Ford said.

He returned to the point later in the interview. “We have to send a message. Three years for possession of a handgun? That’s nonsense. You should do some serious hard time, and not come back here. Once you come out, out of jail, get out of the city. Go somewhere else,” he said.

It was not clear if Ford meant that he wants legislative changes to prevent convicted gang members from returning. His spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment.

Ford said he will ask Prime Minister Stephen Harper to lengthen sentences for gun offences. He said he will ask McGuinty for more funding for the Toronto Anti-Violence Intervention Strategy (TAVIS) police teams that target high-crime neighbourhoods.

McGuinty’s government announced last year that it was giving another $10 million to TAVIS over two years, bringing the total to about $35 million since 2006. McGuinty suggested Tuesday that expiring funding for programs in Toronto’s 13 “priority neighbourhoods” could now be extended, but Ford indicated Wednesday that he is not interested in the offer.

“I don’t really believe that handing out free money is a solution,” Ford said...”

(Continue reading)

Ford’s solution to gang violence? Kick them out of Toronto and spend more on policing and putting people in jail. Start a “war” against violence— not put money into social programs which help parents, kids, and communities, and help fix the root problem. I guess it’s easier to just sweep things under the rug. If we can’t see them from here, then they wont be our problem! No need to waste money on solving issues in our society or anything. It’s what the taxpayers want, right?

Also, a curfew? Seriously?

filzahforpm: “Jason Kenney is killing compassion with his...

Tue, 17 Jul 2012 01:00:37 -0700

filzahforpm:

“Jason Kenney is killing compassion with his health care cuts!”

Bashir Mohamed, a 17 year old Canadian who was arrested after interrupting Jason Kenney to protest refugee health cuts.

A young person in Canada speaks up and he is painted as a kid who doesn’t know what he’s talking about, who should sit down, shut up and let the “adults” do their job. Even people who agree with Mohamed seem to believe that “his methods were flawed.” They are trying to claim that Mohamed should leave the protesting of refugee cuts to doctors, who “know what they are talking about.” But medical professionals have a responsibility to speak up about this issue. They are a discredit to their profession if they don’t. Mohamed has no such responsibility. He is doing this because he cares about Canada. What people fail to realize is that Mohamed was speaking out in the only way he can. He is trying to bring attention to an issue he cares about. That a 17 year old would risk so much because he believes its important that, to me is incredible. There is hope for this country.

SOLIDARITY WITH BASHIR MOHAMED.

âpihtawikosisân: Blog post on AFN election race

Sun, 15 Jul 2012 10:56:41 -0700

Totally informative blog post that makes me really dislike Patrick Brazeau: AFN election history and present day race

Bonus:Aboriginal Issues Primer

"Of the various provisions contained in the bill, the intercept capability requirements are of..."

Fri, 13 Jul 2012 17:38:53 -0700

“Of the various provisions contained in the bill, the intercept capability requirements are of primary importance to the Service and critical to national security.”

- Richard Fadden (CSIS Director) on Bill C-30. More @ CBC.ca

Mulcair predicts demise of Northern Gateway pipeline project

Thu, 12 Jul 2012 18:58:33 -0700

Mulcair predicts demise of Northern Gateway pipeline project:

youth-in-politics:

Federal NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair has waded into the controversial Northern Gateway pipeline debate, predicting the demise of the project as he attempted to rally support in British Columbia on Wednesday.

“I don’t think the Northern Gateway is on,” Mr. Mulcair said after a news conference in Vancouver.

“The smart money is on that project not going through.”

Mr. Mulcair seized on a report this week from the U.S National Transportation Safety Board criticizing the company’s handling of a 2010 spill in Michigan to back his view that the project is unsound.

While the NDP leader said he will await a federal review of the proposed 1,170-kilometre pipeline between Calgary and the B.C coast central to the project, he said he doubted anything in it would soften his opposition.

“We’re going to read it with great interest, but it’s not going to change my fundamental view that Northern Gateway is not a good project,” he said during a news conference outside the Kitsilano coast guard station to criticize federal plans to close it.

Vic Toews' government is bad at math, bragging about it?

Wed, 11 Jul 2012 22:55:01 -0700

Vic Toews' government is bad at math, bragging about it?

BC Premier discusses recent Enbridge oil pipeline spill in Michigan

Wed, 11 Jul 2012 19:02:08 -0700

The American safety board said Enbridge failed to deal adequately with structural problems detected on the pipeline years before the rupture and then failed to respond appropriately to the catastrophe.

The board’s report said Enbridge didn’t realize the oil was pouring into the Michigan river until a worker from another company called in the alert, and during the time Enbridge control centre personnel twice pumped more oil into the ruptured line.

The spill fouled more than 50 kilometres of waterways and wetlands. About 320 people reported symptoms from crude oil exposure. Enbridge’s cleanup costs have exceeded $800 million.

I was impressed with quotes by Christy Clark @ CTV.ca Apparently this is the first time she or any BC liberals have expressed opposition to the proposed pipeline. Obviously her response was quite mild, and a bit delusional. If Enbridge does build the pipeline, British Columbians have every reason to expect similar results.

Stephen Harper Faces Revolt by Scientists

Mon, 09 Jul 2012 18:22:11 -0700

The scientists plan to march through Ottawa in white lab coats on Tuesday in the second big protest in a month against the Harper government’s science and environmental agenda.

Harper is accused of pushing through a slew of policies weakening or abolishing environmental protections – with an aim of expanding development of natural resources such as the Alberta tar sands.

Bev Oda deserves a defence

Fri, 06 Jul 2012 13:06:21 -0700

Bev Oda deserves a defence :

filzahforpm:

-Elizabeth May

I can’t and won’t explain or defend the $16 orange juice or the limo, but why people focus on that and not the fact that every single day Stephen Harper moves within Ottawa with a motorcade of two black sedans (front and rear) with three smoky-glassed, bullet proof SUVs in between – FIVE vehicles – is beyond me. The reality of our outrage levels are such that $16 orange juice grabs headlines and $20 million a year on the PM’s personal security (more than double previous PMs) rolls right by without notice.

Where I think we need to give our collective head a shake (and here I am looking directly at the national news media reporters) is the forgery of the KAIROS approval documents. The story line from the mainstream press seems to be that Stephen Harper has been putting up with a Minister who makes mistakes and gets into trouble. The inserted “NOT” in the KAIROS document gets remembered as a mistake by Oda for which Stephen Harper defended her.

Please read it to refresh our collective memory. The very most logical conclusion of the train of events is that Bev Oda approved KAIROS funding and someone higher up, someone in the Prime Minister’s Office being the most likely suspect, ordered the Minister’s approval be reversed – resulting in the crude forgery. Harper has not been covering for Oda. She was covering for him. And, in true form, he just threw her under the bus.

Elizabeth May, eloquently reminding us what’s important once again. Bev Oda was awful but not because of the orange juice. Because of the ORIGIANL ODA SCANDAL: KAIROS.

Elizabeth May is the best.

sparklelikeachandelier: 90 physicians protest cuts to refugee...

Tue, 03 Jul 2012 12:40:22 -0700

sparklelikeachandelier:

90 physicians protest cuts to refugee health care

Perfection

Wed, 27 Jun 2012 09:20:08 -0700

Perfection

firstnationsmatterscanada: BARRIERE LAKE ALGONQUIN ACQUITTED...

Tue, 12 Jun 2012 14:32:03 -0700

firstnationsmatterscanada:

BARRIERE LAKE ALGONQUIN ACQUITTED FOR BLOCKADE CHARGES: FORESTRY COMPANY CAUGHT LYING ON THE STAND

VAL D’Or, QC – On June 5 2012, Norman Matchewan, a youth spokesperson for the First Nation of Mitchikanibiko’inik (the Algonquins of Barriere Lake), was acquitted on what community members alleged all along were politically motivated charges. Matchewan was acquitted of mischief and obstruction of justice stemming from a 2009 blockade protecting his people’s territory from illegal logging.

Matchewan was defending the forest from logging that had been unlawfully authorized by Quebec’s Ministry of Natural Resources. The logging was also a violation of a 1991 resource co-management agreement signed in 1991 between Barriere Lake, Quebec and Canada. READ MORE HERE

nativevoice: “Northern prices are frozen. Global warming has no...

Tue, 12 Jun 2012 11:55:25 -0700

nativevoice:

“Northern prices are frozen. Global warming has no effect to melt the prices. HELP!” - protest at Parliament of Canada. June 9,2012

For more information, join Feeding My Family

photo via: Youdon’t Canadian-Beef Knowme

"Bill 78 prevents a group of more than 50 people from protesting without giving advance notice, but..."

Sun, 10 Jun 2012 23:47:01 -0700

“Bill 78 prevents a group of more than 50 people from protesting without giving advance notice, but what does that have to do with 3 people, one with a camera and 2 with a white sign wearing red squares? It seems that for Grand Prix weekend Park Jean-Drapeau was declared a zone where the charter of rights and freedoms doesn’t apply and where no one can demonstrate their disagreement with the event. Or even just filming two people walking with red squares and the political profiling they are victims of.”

- Read more @ Francois Arguin’s testimony of political profiling…

CBC: Oilspill in Alberta

Sun, 10 Jun 2012 11:32:05 -0700

People living downstream from a ruptured pipeline in Alberta can only hope the spill won’t seriously pollute the water they depend on for drinking and recreation.

Officials were alerted Thursday night that the 50-year-old Rangeland line owned by Plains Midstream Canada had ruptured roughly three kilometres north of Sundre, threatening the water supply for more than 100,000 Albertans who live downstream on the Red Deer River.

Read it all @ CBC