60 Replies to “Reader Tips”

  1. A tri-party dinner party
    May bought auction meal with Layton, intends to invite Dion and his wife
    […]
    And as much as Mr. Layton would likely rather not sit down for dinner with Mr. Dion and Ms. May, it might be hard for him to get out of it, as Ms. May spent $1,000 for the prize in an impromptu auction during the press gallery dinner on Saturday night.[…]
    Ms. May said Monday she had already planned to make a $1,000 donation to the scholarship as she and Mr. Bueckert were old friends, so the auction was perfect.
    “I decided I’ll go as high as $1,000,” she said. “If anyone goes higher than that, I can’t afford it.” …-
    http://thechronicleherald.ca/Canada/975442.html
    Menu: Le Diner Triage:
    Vin Rouge/Verte d’Outremont
    Salade de Hot Dog a la Swiss Chalet GST
    Soupe de Taliban Goat
    Ragout de Citoyen Dion’s Chef aux Marx
    GG’s Dessert Haitian/CIDA
    Apres Diner Sorbet with Toothpicks d’Emerson
    Entertainment: Music by the Librano$ and a cast of 1,000s.
    It’s a cover for the left marriage with Lizzy, the novice priest as the marriage broker.

  2. This man is a friendly atheist!! Haven’t come across too many atheists like him who can write or speak without sneering. (Oh, I forget, we can’t call them atheists any more, we must call them “brights” — as dear Dawkins so modestly requests.)
    “Unlike most of the non-religious people I know, I am not opposed to religion. In fact, I tend to prefer believers to agnostics and atheists. They don’t seem to be nearly as self-righteous and self-important. Perhaps it’s unavoidable that if a man doesn’t believe in a superior power, it tends to make him view himself as the center of the universe.”
    http://www.townhall.com/columnists/BurtPrelutsky/2007/10/29/ann_coulters_big_no-no

  3. Here is something to have any AGW follower to have a look at.
    CARL SAGAN’S BALONEY DETECTION KIT
    Based on the book The Demon Haunted World by Carl Sagan
    The following are suggested as tools for testing arguments and detecting fallacious or fraudulent arguments:
    * Wherever possible there must be independent confirmation of the facts
    * Encourage substantive debate on the evidence by knowledgeable proponents of all points of view.
    * Arguments from authority carry little weight (in science there are no “authorities”).
    * Spin more than one hypothesis – don’t simply run with the first idea that caught your fancy.
    * Try not to get overly attached to a hypothesis just because it’s yours.
    * Quantify, wherever possible.
    * If there is a chain of argument every link in the chain must work.
    * “Occam’s razor” – if there are two hypothesis that explain the data equally well choose the simpler.
    * Ask whether the hypothesis can, at least in principle, be falsified (shown to be false by some unambiguous test). In other words, it is testable? Can others duplicate the experiment and get the same result?
    Additional issues are
    * Conduct control experiments – especially “double blind” experiments where the person taking measurements is not aware of the test and control subjects.
    * Check for confounding factors – separate the variables.
    Common fallacies of logic and rhetoric
    * Ad hominem – attacking the arguer and not the argument.
    * Argument from “authority”.
    * Argument from adverse consequences (putting pressure on the decision maker by pointing out dire consequences of an “unfavourable” decision).
    * Appeal to ignorance (absence of evidence is not evidence of absence).
    * Special pleading (typically referring to god’s will).
    * Begging the question (assuming an answer in the way the question is phrased).
    * Observational selection (counting the hits and forgetting the misses).
    * Statistics of small numbers (such as drawing conclusions from inadequate sample sizes).
    * Misunderstanding the nature of statistics (President Eisenhower expressing astonishment and alarm on discovering that fully half of all Americans have below average intelligence!)
    * Inconsistency (e.g. military expenditures based on worst case scenarios but scientific projections on environmental dangers thriftily ignored because they are not “proved”).
    * Non sequitur – “it does not follow” – the logic falls down.
    * Post hoc, ergo propter hoc – “it happened after so it was caused by” – confusion of cause and effect.
    * Meaningless question (“what happens when an irresistible force meets an immovable object?).
    * Excluded middle – considering only the two extremes in a range of possibilities (making the “other side” look worse than it really is).
    * Short-term v. long-term – a subset of excluded middle (“why pursue fundamental science when we have so huge a budget deficit?”).
    * Slippery slope – a subset of excluded middle – unwarranted extrapolation of the effects (give an inch and they will take a mile).
    * Confusion of correlation and causation.
    * Straw man – caricaturing (or stereotyping) a position to make it easier to attack..
    * Suppressed evidence or half-truths.
    * Weasel words – for example, use of euphemisms for war such as “police action” to get around limitations on Presidential powers. “An important art of politicians is to find new names for institutions which under old names have become odious to the public”

  4. Pollution blamed as China confronts surge in number of deformed babies
    Babies born with conditions such as cleft palates and extra fingers and toes now account for up to 6 per cent of births each year, according to statistics published yesterday. And the number of babies born with disabilities has increased by 40 per cent since 2001 – a period that has coincided with China’s meteoric economic growth – to between two and three million a year. Up to 12 million more develop defects in childhood.
    …
    Mr Li’s commission reported that, nationwide, the rate of defects has increased from 104.9 per 10,000 births in 2001 to 145.5 in 2006. When combined with other visible defects and problems that show up a few months after birth, this figure rises to between 4 and 6 per cent of all births. Of these 30 per cent would die and 40 per cent be disabled. The World Health Organisation estimates that between 3 and 5 per cent of children worldwide are born with birth defects.
    The top five birth conditions among Chinese babies are cleft palate, neural tube defects, extra fingers or toes, congenital heart disease and water on the brain. It was not clear which, if any, could be linked to polluted water and air. Mr Li said: “We need time to carry out research on what kind of pollution may lead to which kind of defects.”
    http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/china/article2767159.ece

  5. with remembrance day approaching many communities & R.C.Legions observe the sunday before as Remembrance Church parade & Church services, We remember & pray for those that have served current & past & those that gave the ultimate sacrifice. Consult your local branch of the Royal Canadian Legion to see if your comunnity observes this day. Please try to attend & please try to attend November 11th. Wear your poppy with pride on the left side.
    We will Remember Them

  6. The following appeared in Saturday’s Toronto Star in the “Ethically Speaking” advice column. I suppose the answer should come as no surprise given the source…here is the link:
    http://www.thestar.com/article/270942 (second question)
    Q: I run a small child care business in my home: I have three kids (3-year-olds), plus my own each day. One of the kids comes from a Muslim home. When the family contacted me in September, they asked me to promise I would not “indoctrinate” their child by celebrating religious holidays; our family is agnostic so that was easy. Last week, I sent home a note suggesting the kids come in Halloween costumes next Wednesday so we could have a little party. All the kids were excited, but the Muslim parents accused me of “breaking my promise” and demanded I cancel the party. I consider this ridiculous — Halloween has nothing to do with Christianity! I tried to explain, but they were adamant.
    Must I deprive the rest of the kids (and myself — I love Halloween) just to satisfy misinformed parents?
    A: Halloween becomes more like Christmas every year. Both have origins in pagan festivals. Both are fun for kids, involving late-night illuminations, the giving of gifts, and over-consumption of unhealthy foods. Neither has much to do with Christianity.
    But Halloween’s roots are planted firmly in the soil of ancient religious practice — both Celtic and Roman. It’s certainly become part of Western culture.
    And it plays a major role in the dominant religion of our day: Consumerism. For all these reasons, some Muslims consider Halloween as “dangerous” a holiday as Christmas. The latter, at least, has a flickering connection with the birth of a man considered a prophet by Islam.
    So yes, you are stuck with your promise. Cancel the party.

  7. Thanks, Ewok.
    But AGW has become a religion for lots of them, and using logic against this kind of blind belief isn’t allowed.
    *sigh*

  8. Lets talk about ear wax.
    It’s reported in our newspapers that Kevin Rudd, expected to win over Howard in the Aussie election, You Tube has him digging his ear and succeeding in getting a blob of wax which he put in his mouth.
    Maybe not as gross as snot but pretty close.
    Now the incident happened six years ago, but he was an adult so it’s not a kid thing.
    Whether this will gross out enough Aussies to change their vote is another question.

  9. Bombardier: The Darling Tax Sewer of the Librano$.
    Unsafe at any speed.
    …-
    Bombardier called to ‘crisis meeting’ on air safety
    Canada.com – 7 hours ago
    The European Aviation Safety Agency has summoned Bombardier Inc. to what it’s calling a “crisis meeting” next week after a Scandinavian airline grounded its entire fleet of Q400 turboprops. (google news)

  10. WELL WORTH THE READ:
    http://tinyurl.com/2xuttf
    “”Businessmen or manufacturers can either be genuine free enterprisers or statists; they can either make their way on the free market or seek special government favors and privileges. They choose according to their individual preferences and values. But bankers are inherently inclined toward statism.””
    Remember this when you see protectionist domestic policy or nepotistic trade policy…remember how good the Powercorp PMs were at shaping policy to enrich their investments and their patron’s interests.

  11. WELL WORTH THE READ:
    http://tinyurl.com/2xuttf
    “”Businessmen or manufacturers can either be genuine free enterprisers or statists; they can either make their way on the free market or seek special government favors and privileges. They choose according to their individual preferences and values. But bankers are inherently inclined toward statism.””
    Remember this when you see protectionist domestic policy or nepotistic trade policy…remember how good the Powercorp PMs were at shaping policy to enrich their investments and their patron’s interests.

  12. With the fall update due out today with a rumored further reduction in the Gst & now the crowning of Duncan as Ontario’s new finance minister don’t be surprised that there is not an increase in the Ontario Pst.

  13. Global warming could wipe out species even before we know what they taste like barbequed!

  14. Garth Turner’s list on 199 reasons NOT to vote Liberal BEFORE he was one:
    199 reasons…
    posted by Garth Turner on 12.26.05 @ 5:49 pm |
    1. Cancelling the Sea King replacement
    2. Sponsorship scandal
    3. Gun Registry
    4. HRDC boondoggle
    5. Problems with Transition Job Funds program
    6. Tainted blood
    7. Radwanski Spending Affair
    8. Pearson Airport
    9. GST Flip Flop
    10. Airbus Investigation
    11. Voting against Red Book promise of independent Ethics Commissioner
    12. Irving fishing lodge stays/travel on Irving jets for cabinet ministers
    13. Martin traveling on private corporate jets as Finance Minister
    14. Don Boudria’s stay at Boulay owned chalet
    15. Denis Coderre staying with Boulay
    16. Alfonso Gagliano being appointed Ambassador to Denmark
    Gagliano
    17. Shawinigate
    18. Claude Gauthier (PM’s friend)’s Transelec getting CIDA grant that was
    questioned by the Auditor General and even CIDA.
    19. Liberal fundraiser Pierre Corbeil charged with fraud by RCMP after he
    approached several Quebec companies seeking federal job training grants and
    asking for payments to Liberal Party, having gotten the names from senior
    Quebec Liberal Minister, Marcel Massé.
    20. Michel Dupuy, Heritage Minister, lobbying the CRTC.
    21. Tom Wappel refusing to help blind veteran
    22. Gagliano’s son benefiting from contracts from his father’s department
    23. Gagliano’s former speechwriter, Michèle Tremblay was on a $5,000 a month retainer with the Canada Lands Company to provide speeches for the Minister.
    Former President John Grant let her go saying “we got nothing in return.”
    Grant claimed that all Crown Corporations reporting to Mr. Gagliano were
    told to put Ms. Tremblay on a monthly retainer.
    24. Iltis replacement
    25. Purchase of new Challenger jets for the Prime Minister and cabinet
    26. NATO Flying Training program contract
    27. Liberal friends appointed as IRB judges being investigated by RCMP
    28. Hedy Fry’s imaginary burning crosses
    Fry
    29. Maria Minna’s improper municipal vote
    30. Minna giving contracts to two former campaign staffers for public
    relations work for a conference that had already been held
    31. Lawrence MacAulay and contracts directed to Holland College
    32. Lawrence MacAulay and Tim Banks
    33. Lawrence MacAulay hired his official agent, Everett Roche, for $70K, but
    Roche never did any work for it. (Oct 2002)
    34. Art Eggleton and contracts to his ex-girlfriend
    35. Copps’ aide Boyer’s spending habits
    36. Collenette resigns for breach of ethical guidelines involving a letter
    he wrote to the Immigration and Refugee Board
    37. APEC Inquiry
    38. Andy Scott’s 1998 resignation that came eight weeks too late, after a
    media circus wore him down for indiscreetly shooting his mouth off on an airplane.
    39. Anti-American comments by Liberal MPs, officials, and the former
    Minister of Natural Resources.
    40. Rock and the Apotex/Cipro affair
    41. Rock giving Health Canada contract to car cleaning company.
    42. Manley lobbying CIBC on behalf of Rod Bryden
    43. Manley’s fundraiser suggesting donors to his leadership write it off as
    a business expense.
    44. Manley using his pre-budget consultations as Minister of Finance to solicit support for his leadership bid.
    Manley
    45. Coderre’s relationship with Group Everest
    46. Martin’s fundraiser/employee of Finance Jim Palmer
    47. Martin’s “blind trust” and his relationship with CSL.
    48. Gerry Byrne requesting fundraising money be sent to his home address,
    with no records kept.
    49. Gerry Byrne pouring bulk of ACOA money into his own riding.
    50. Virginia Fontaine Addictions Foundation
    51. Prime Minister’s former assistant, Denise Tremblay’s huge travel
    expenses on Veterans Review and Appeal Board as Minister pleaded poverty to
    veterans’ widows.
    52. Chrétien appointing Hon. Roger Simmons (former Trudeau minister
    convicted of income tax evasion) as Consul-General in Seattle
    53. Chrétien trying to bring hit-and-run driver Carignan back into caucus.
    54. The RCMP is investigating possible fraud and bribery within Industry
    Canada, involving possible “overpayments” to recipients of federal business
    grants. The probe centres on the National Research Council, which hands out
    federal grants to small- and medium-sized businesses.
    55. More than half a dozen bureaucrats have been “removed” from their jobs
    at a Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC) in Toronto following a police
    investigation into projects funded under one of the department’s grants and
    contributions programs
    56. Revenue Minister Elinor Caplan called in the RCMP and ordered a sweeping
    security review after four tax department computers were stolen containing
    confidential personal information on more than 120,000 Canadians.
    57. More than $7 billion stashed in Foundations by Finance Minister Paul
    Martin with little or no accountability
    58. Dhaliwal overseing Richmond-airport-Vancouver transit line while being
    owner of the airport limousine service
    59. Tom Rosser, former Dhaliwal advisor lobbying Natural Resources department and minister on environmental issues only months after leaving
    government.
    60. $5.3 million GG northern travel
    61. GG budget doubles in 5 years
    62. Robert Thibault giving a grant as ACOA minister to a wharf and boatyard where his brother-in-law has a monopoly.
    63. Royal LePage contract, which the government was forced to cancel in the
    wake of serious concerns being raised.
    64. Shutting down the Somalia Inquiry
    65. Home heating rebate, which was sent to prisoners and deceased.
    66. Martin firing Bernard Dussault, Chief Actuary of CPP
    67. Ethel Blondin-Andrew buys fur coat on government credit card
    Blondin
    68. Chrétien’s imaginary homeless friend.
    69. Liberal MP Rick Laliberte’s extensive travel budget
    70. Liberal Senator Thompson living in Mexico
    71. Vendetta against former BDC President François Beaudoin
    72. The flag give-away – which estimates suggest might now have cost $45
    million instead of the promised $6 million, and reportedly involved fake
    invoices.
    73. Gagliano’s two week trip, at taxpayers’ expense, for a two day event
    with the head of the Royal Canadian Mint and Maurizio Caruso.
    74. Secretary of State for multiculturalism and status of women Sheila
    Finestone using government car (which junior ministers are only allowed to
    use for government business) to drive home to Montreal, which even Sheila
    Copps criticized. (Ottawa Citizen, May 22, 1994)
    75. Liberal MP Jag Bhaduria’s hate mail to his former employers, wishing
    that they had been shot by killer Marc Lepine
    76. Liberal MP Jag Bhaduria making false claims about his academic
    qualifications.
    77. Paul Martin and Maria Minna attending fundraising dinner for group
    linked to Tamil Tigers in May 2000 (National Post, Sept. 8th, 2001).
    78. David Anderson, as National Revenue Minister, suing the government for
    lost wages after being removed as IRB appointee by Conservative government
    seeking $454,000 from a deficit-ravaged federal treasury. (Vancouver Sun,
    July 24, 2004). Anderson eventually agreed to drop the suit.
    79. David Anderson suggesting that the BC doesn’t need extra House of
    Commons seats, because they wouldn’t be worth much given the poor quality of
    most West Coast MPs. (Vancouver Sun, July 24, 2004)
    80. A consultant on an executive interchange program persuaded Natural
    Resources to undertake a $700-million reorganization of its research
    facilities for which no business case had been made. The program was
    fast-tracked because he had developed a social relationship with the deputy
    minister. He was eventually charged with diverting $525,000 to a numbered
    company he controlled. (Globe and Mail, May 30, 2005)
    And the list continues under Prime Minister Martin:
    81. Raid on reporter Juliet O’Neill’s home by RCMP
    82. Permanent Resident Cards
    83. Judy Sgro going on vacation as cards became mandatory and landed
    immigrants were left stranded
    Sgro
    84. Minister Frulla’s renovations
    85. Pay raises for chiefs-of-staff in ministers offices, while spending is
    frozen for public service.
    86. The government’s changing numbers on how much money has gone to CSL
    87. Lobbyists in Paul Martin’s transition team being allowed to return to
    lobbying immediately, after being involved in process of picking new cabinet
    and senior staff.
    88. Minister Comuzzi’s anti-Quebec comments
    89. Martin government using closure after only six days in the House of
    Commons, followed by using time allocation in the Senate.
    90. Problems with DND’s contracts with Compaq Computers that may have cost
    taxpayers up to $159 million for work not performed.
    91. Martin using government jets to tour the country campaigning before
    election, spending up to $1 million for air travel alone.
    92. Martin’s relationship with Earnscliffe
    93. Questionable contracts to Earnscliffe
    94. The appointment of former Liberal MLA Howard Sapers as the Correctional
    Investigator of Canada
    95. Pierre Pettigrew’s flip flopping on health care
    96. David Dingwall’s expenses as head of Royal Canadian Mint
    97. Liberals planning to give David Dingwall a severance package after he
    resigned
    98. The secret National Unity Fund reserve
    99. Calling an early election after earlier promising first to get to the
    bottom of the sponsorship scandal
    100. Martin suggesting changes to legislation and introducing bill that
    benefited CSL, despite concerns from his own Deputy Minister that he was in
    a conflict-of-interest (Ottawa Citizen, May 26, 2004)
    And here are 99 more
    101. $99 million Public Works contract that went to company overseen by Liberal fundraiser and future Senator Paul Massicotte (Montreal Gazette,June 26, 2004)
    102. Parliamentary Secretary Dan McTeague’s 3-person, $224 trip to a Pizzeria
    103. Immigration Minister Judy Sgro’s staff being allowed to stay on
    “extended travel” benefits, letting them bill taxpayers’ for thousands of
    dollars in hotel rooms and meals, because they didn’t want to move from
    Toronto to Ottawa until after the election.
    104. Correctional Service of Canada Commissioner Lucie McClung’s travel
    expenses
    105. Contracting irregularities on more than two dozen projects at DND worth tens of millions of dollars, showing over-billing, profit excesses,
    unauthorized additional work, lack of accounting records, spiralling cost overruns, etc. (Globe and Mail, July 14, 2004).
    106. ACOA Minister Joe McGuire canceling ACOA loan and grant to ABL
    Industries Inc. because it would compete with company in his riding.
    (Fredericton Daily Gleaner, July 17, 2004).
    107. Andy Mitchell’s chief of staff’s $22,000 in expenses to commute to
    Ottawa (Toronto Star, August 2, 2004).
    108. André Ouellet’s travel and hospitality expenses at Canada Post.
    109. Government delaying release of audit on Ouellet until after the
    election (Globe and Mail, July 31, 2004).
    110. Martin’s principle secretary Francis Fox’s sister getting untendered
    contracts (The Province, July 27, 2004).
    111. Continuing problems in advertising files at Public Works (Ottawa Sun,
    July 26, 2004).
    112. A Liberal Party of Canada fundraising letter signed by Paul Martin,
    asking potential contributors to offer $7,000, $7,100 or $7,200 in
    contributions – far in excess of donation limits passed by the very same
    Liberal government
    113. Liberal Senator Raymond Lavigne violating municipal bylaws.
    Municipality pursuing legal action against him. (Ottawa Citizen, August 19,
    2004).
    114. Spa Days for inmates approved by the Correctional Service of Canada,
    which on Aug. 21 invited inmates at the Grand Valley Institution for Women
    in Kitchener, Ont., to dabble with manicures, pedicures and aromatherapy,
    not to mention cups of tea served in fine china, all accompanied by a harp
    serenade. (National Post, September 9, 2004).
    Spa days
    115. Five employees in the ”overwhelmed” immigration section of Canada’s
    embassy in Iran have been fired over the past year after they each were
    caught breaching federal ethics rules (National Post, September 13, 2004).
    116. Questionable contracts and spending from the Canada Investment and
    Savings group set up by Martin in 1996 (Globe and Mail, September 13, 2004)
    117. Questionable contracting practices at Canada Information Office (The
    Hill Times, September 13, 2004).
    118. A top Canadian diplomat based in China has resigned amid reports he is
    being investigated for allegedly taking bribes to help Chinese nationals
    enter Canada illegally. (Vancouver Sun, September 22, 2004).
    119. Abuse of government credit cards by staff at Fisheries Department (CP
    Wire, September 24, 2004).
    120. Canada’s questionable hiring of the niece of Syria’s foreign affairs
    minister to work at the embassy in Damascus (Globe and Mail, October 5,
    2004)
    121. Hélène Scherrer using Challenger to fly to Banff during election to
    give partisan speech
    122. Abuse of Challengers by Paul Martin and various ministers (eg. Andy
    Mitchell, Claudette Bradshaw)
    123. Abuse of Challenger jets for political business instead of government
    business (Le Devoir, October 4, 2005)
    124. Paul Martin taking Challenger jets to Liberal fundraisers
    125. Challenger food bill of $508 per flight
    126. Expenses during election filed by aide to Ralph Goodale
    127. Questionable expenses during election filed by aides to Judy Sgro
    128. Ongoing problems and safety concerns with the submarine program
    129. Various federal departments reported in excess of $1.1 million in theft
    of computers in 2003, but the information is potentially more valuable than
    the hardware (Vancouver Sun, October 14, 2004).
    130. According to the latest public-accounts-of-Canada reports for the
    period March 2004 and March 2005, over 700 laptops, desktops and central
    processing units went missing from 35 federal government agencies — worth
    $6 million. (The Province, October 19, 2005)
    131. Federal government has lost track of $587 million a year in EI overpayments and underpayments at the Department of Human Resources. (Ottawa
    Citizen, October 12, 2004). However, the government defends itself by
    stating that in fact it has only lost track of $25 million a year and
    collects the other overpayments. (Ottawa Citizen, October 13, 2004)
    132. $133,000 grant to a Toronto film company that used classified ads to
    search for the “perfect” thingy. (National Post, October 14, 2004).
    133. Man convicted of fraud against government hired to teach ethics course
    to public servants (National Post, October 20, 2004).
    134. Public Works selling confiscated grow-op equipment to drug traffickers.
    (National Post, October 21, 2004).
    135. Pressure by Liberal MPs and ministers on ACOA to make funding decisions
    based on politics (New Brunswick Telegraph Journal, October 25, 2004).
    136. Paul Martin’s Director of Communications Scott Reid insulting Premier
    of Newfoundland and Labrador (Toronto Star, October 28, 2004)
    137. The Martin government spent $127,223 on a poll last February testing
    ways to diffuse negative reaction to the bombshell auditor-general’s
    report — which included the finding the Liberals ignored their own rules
    prohibiting the use of tax dollars on partisan polls (Vancouver Sun,
    November 8, 2004).
    138. Judy Sgro’s campaign volunteer (a stripper) getting ministerial permit
    139. Sgro’s senior policy advisor going to strip club to meet with owner to
    discuss bringing more strippers into Canada. (National Post, November 25,
    2004). Subsequent revelations indicate that he went to at least one other
    strip club to conduct similar meetings (Toronto Sun, December 7, 2004)
    140. Sgro giving out details of private immigration files, violating Privacy
    Act
    141. Allegations that Sgro broke the elections law in failing to properly
    identify the source of a campaign contribution. (Toronto Star, December 8,
    2004).
    142. Revelations that the program to bring in foreign exotic dancers was
    created under pressure from organized crime (National Post, December 18,
    2004)
    143. Irwin Cotler appointing his former chief-of-staff to federal court
    (National Post, November 23, 2004).
    144. Heritage Minister Liza Frulla giving grant to magazine that put her on
    the cover and made her honourary president (Ottawa Citizen, November 25,
    2004)
    145. Despite promising an end to cronyism and patronage, Martin appointing
    Liberal MP John Harvard as Lt-Governor of Manitoba, in order to get him to
    step aside for “star” candidate Glen Murray.
    146. Despite promising an end to cronyism and patronage, Martin appointing
    Liberal MP Yvon Charbonneau to UNESCO, in order to get him to step aside for
    Martin crony Pablo Rodriguez.
    147. Despite promising an end to cronyism and patronage, Martin appointing
    former Liberal MP Karen Kraft-Sloan as Ambassador for the Environment.
    (Department of Foreign Affairs Press Release, February 16, 2005).
    148. Despite promising an end to cronyism and patronage, Martin appointing
    defeated Liberal candidate Dave Haggard as the chair of a newly created
    Advisory Committee on Apprenticeship. (OIC 2005-0001)
    149. Despite promising an end to cronyism and patronage, Martin appointed
    his friend Dennis Dawson to the Senate
    150. Despite promising an end to cronyism and patronage, Martin appointed
    his former Principal Secretary Francis Fox to the Senate
    151. Despite promising an end to cronyism and patronage, Martin appointed
    disgraced former cabinet minister Art Eggleton to the Senate
    152. Martin and his wife complaining about having to live in 24 Sussex
    (Edmonton Journal, November 17, 2004)
    153. Millennium Bureau spending done with same lack of controls and
    oversight of sponsorship program
    154. The RCMP has charged a senior Immigration Canada manager and four
    accomplices in an alleged bribes-for-status scheme in which Arab immigrants
    paid up to $25,000 to have their claims fast-tracked and approved (National
    Post, December 17, 2004)
    155. Making widows of RCMP officers killed in the line of duty pay for their
    husbands’ funerals (Under pressure from the Conservative Party, the
    government reversed this policy)
    156. Martin patronage-appointee Jim Walsh breaking ethics guidelines and
    attending Liberal Christmas Party (St. John’s Telegram, January 20, 2005).
    157. Port authority losing more than $60,000 in public funds on the stock
    market. When Central Cape Breton Community Ventures took over the port in
    Iona in 2000, the private agency deposited only $5,000 of the $245,000 it
    received from Transport Canada into a designated bank account. The federal
    funding was meant to cover the port’s maintenance, insurance and
    professional services costs (Chronicle-Herald, January 31, 2005).
    158. Canadian flag lapel pins being made in China. Only under pressure,
    Scott Brison flip flops and agrees to have them made in Canada again.
    159. Questionable dealings around the privatization of the Digby Wharf,
    which even Liberal MP Robert Thibault wants the RCMP to investigate
    (Chronicle-Herald, February 10, 2005).
    160. Adrienne Clarkson spending $17,500 to evaluate cleaning at Rideau Hall
    (Ottawa Sun, February 19, 2005)
    161. Martin patronage appointee Glen Murray breaking ethics guidelines and
    attending Liberal Convention as delegate
    162. Martin ignoring parliamentary committee and appointing Glen Murray as
    chair of the National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy
    163. Marlene Jennings, the Parliamentary Secretary for Canada-U.S.
    relations, making anti-American remarks
    164. Government knowing about details of torture and murder of Zahra Kazemi
    back in November and still sending ambassador back to Iran
    165. Government knowing about details of torture and murder of Zahra Kazemi
    back in November but doing nothing
    166. Tens of thousands of dollars were spent on questionable acquisitions at
    CFB Borden (Ottawa Sun, April 18, 2005).
    167. Joe Volpe keeping stripper visa program operating, despite having
    promised to shut it down (CTV.ca, March 5, 2005)
    168. Jean Lapierre acting as lobbyist without registering
    169. Joe Volpe trying to intimidating Sikh community
    170. In the spring of 2003, the RCMP investigated allegations that Liberal
    MP Gurbax Malhi had requested favours and financial support for Paul
    Martin’s 2003 leadership campaign in exchange for helping Indian nationals
    get these temporary resident permits (Globe and Mail, March 10, 2005).
    171. Liberals spending $443,237 to change the name Passport Office to
    Passport Canada (Montreal Gazette, April 21, 2005).
    172. Ken Dryden’s chief of staff charged with careless driving (Ottawa
    Citizen, March 22, 2005)
    173. Liberals trying to buy off Conservative MPs with offers of patronage
    positions
    174. Liberals handling of the submarine program
    175. Public Service Integrity Officer’s travel expenses (Ottawa Sun, May 4,
    2005)
    176. Liberal Senator Michel Biron going to hearing to support killer Karla
    Homolka (CTV News, June 9, 2005)
    177. Public Works contract watchdog Consulting and Audit Canada violating
    contracting rules (Toronto Star, July 4, 2005)
    178. Technology Partnerships Canada rules being violated to pay lobbyists
    (Globe and Mail, June 24, 2005)
    179. Former Indian and Northern Affairs Minister Robert Nault is working as
    a paid lobbyist for Nelson House First Nation in what some allege is an
    apparent violation of a federal code of conduct. Among the federal
    departments Nault is lobbying is the Indian and Northern Affairs department
    he headed until December 2003, according to a lobbying report Nault filed
    with the federal government. Nault registered as a lobbyist for Nelson
    House, now known as Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation, on July 18, 2005 — one
    year and seven months after leaving his cabinet post. Under the Conflict of
    Interest and Post-Employment Code for Public Office Holders, Nault is barred
    from working for any entity with which his department had “direct and
    significant official dealings” for two years after leaving office. He is
    also barred for two years from lobbying his former department or any of his
    former cabinet colleagues (Winnipeg Free Press, September 14, 2005)
    180. According to documents obtained by the Globe and Mail, Pierre Pettigrew
    billed Canadian taxpayers for $10,000 for trips for his driver in 2001 and
    2002. Pettigrew took his driver to South America and Europe, even though the
    driver didn’t do any driving on the trips. (Globe and Mail, September 14,
    2005)
    181. Joe Volpe’s questionable hospitality expenses (Globe and Mail,
    September 21, 2005)
    182. According to media reports, Industry Canada has frozen federal
    financing for research projects by an Ontario biotechnology firm pending the
    outcome of an investigation into the company’s agreement to pay $350,000 in
    lobbying “success” fees to former Liberal cabinet minister David Dingwall.
    Such contingency fee payments violate Technology Partnership Canada rules.
    (Globe and Mail, September 23, 2005)
    183. Expenses of chairman of the Royal Canadian Mint Emmanuel Triassi, who
    also approved David Dingwall’s expenses (Globe and Mail, October 4, 2005)
    184. Last week, Public Works was also silent on details of another case
    involving forensic accounting. Government accounts published on Thursday
    showed a department employee had embezzled $3.45 million from Public Works
    office in Koblenz, Germany. Even though the employee was convicted and
    jailed in Germany, Public Works will not name him or give any details of the
    crime (Ottawa Citizen, October 4, 2005)
    185. The federal government inadvertently revealed yesterday that it is
    conducting a large-scale forensic accounting probe into “possibly criminal
    matters” when it published details of a contract intended for a Quebec
    accounting firm. The notice awarding a $2-million contract for forensic
    accounting services was published on the government’s tendering website,
    MERX. It gave notice that Consulting and Audit Canada was planning to award
    the sole-source contract to Leclerc Juricomptable, a Quebec City firm
    specializing in forensic work and litigation support. The contract award
    notice said the work had to be sole-sourced to Leclerc because it is “not in
    the public interest to jeopardize the current investment in the
    investigation or to significantly increase the risk to a successful
    completion of the investigation into possibly criminal matters.” A spokesman
    for the Department of PublicWorks and Government Services said yesterday
    that the notice was published “prematurely” and would be withdrawn last
    night. He could not say, however, what is under investigation, but said the
    contract was not tied to another scandal that has kept Quebec forensic
    accountants busy over the past years. “It’s not related to sponsorship or
    Gomery, that I can tell you,” said spokesman Pierre Teotonio (Ottawa
    Citizen, October 4, 2005). It was subsequently revealed that the department
    involved was CIDA (CP Wire, October 4, 2005)
    186. Questions about campaign funds from Raymond Chan’s campaign going to
    his companies (Vancouver Sun, October 7, 2005)
    187. Questions about a possible conflict-of-interest between Chan’s
    activities as minister on behalf of possible business associates (Vancouver
    Sun, October 7, 2005)
    188. Questions about the report that Chan filed with the Ethics Commissioner
    (Vancouver Sun, October 7, 2005)
    189. Government giving out contract that specifies no paper trail to be left
    in government offices (Vancouver Province, October 11, 2005)
    190. Questionable travel expenses at the Department of Fisheries and Oceans
    (CP, October 16, 2005)
    191. Two employees at DFO fired for making fraudulent travel claims (CP, The
    Province, October 18, 2005).
    192. Lobbyist registrar Michael Nelson has launched investigations of four
    people for eight possible breaches of the ethics guidelines for lobbyists,
    the first such investigations ever launched under the code. (Globe and Mail,
    October 18, 2005)
    193. According to media reports, the federal government has terminated two
    contracts with a consulting firm that used to be run by Liberal MP David
    Smith and now run by his wife, following a forensic audit of the contracting
    practices at a federal agency (Globe and Mail, October 19, 2005)
    194. ATI requests by prisoners for information on prison system and guards,
    when information is actually disclosed
    195. Liberal candidate Richard Mahoney lobbying for satellite radio company
    for a month before registering (Ottawa Citizen, October 19, 2005)
    196. Delays and ballooning costs mean a giant software project at National
    Defence will eclipse its original budget and won’t meet its goals until
    2011 — if at all. An internal audit obtained by Canadian Press raises red
    flags about a new system designed to streamline computer tracking of
    military inventory and purchases. MASIS — or Materiel Acquisition Support
    Information System — started in 1997 as a $147-million undertaking. What
    began as a focused effort to cover a single equipment category in each of
    the navy, army and air force soon mushroomed. By 2003, Defence officials
    estimated MASIS would be in place by 2006 at a cost of $325 million, more
    than twice its forecast budget. A full introduction of the complex software
    has now been extended to 2011. The heavily censored May 2005 internal audit,
    released under the Access to Information Act, catalogues a litany of
    “revised planned milestones.” “The prime contract has been amended six
    times, each time increasing amounts for professional service fees,” it
    says. (CP, The Record, October 24, 2005)
    197. Hospitality and travel expenses of executives at CMHC (Journal de
    Montréal, October 24, 2005)
    198. Questions about Squamish land deal lease (The Province, October 26,
    2005)
    199. Liberals handling of tainted water at Kashechewan First Nation

  15. Wayne Ewart ….. You got a point?
    In other news….
    HR Canada Report
    The group Honest Reporting Canada is pointing out another lame and disingenuous bit of “reporting” in the form of a rebroadcast of an Al Jazeera feature on Palestinian Prisoners in Israeli jails.
    The piece itself was done by an ex -BBC reporter Jacky Rowland who herself is part of the cultural contribution of the Beeb to the Arab network where the BBC provides Leftists expert in the art of dissemination and Al Jazeera gets to put a European face and some slick polish on their propaganda.

    More on BBC     love for Al Jazeera !!

  17. For the readers living in Calgary .. The people at Crown Surplus in Inglewood have a food drive going on for Vets. Apparenly(Gord) the owner is also donating a precentage of his sale to the vets for a period of time.

  19. ok4ua asks Ab utility choices?
    elec – Epcor, Enmax, direct energy, MedHat city utility, various commercial volume marketers
    gas – Atco, Enmax, Epcor, direct energy, various commercial volume marketers

  20. Just looking at the NDP promises for the elections and I noticed that they are planning on increasing colorectal testing. What that says to me is that if the NDP are elected it’s time for all of us to bend over.

  23. 4 years from now we won’t be wondering who voted for the Sask Party. Rather, even more will be lining up on a fixed election date to vote for them again.

  24. Good old socialist BC. For a long time now teachers have been deciding (on their own) what should be taught and what students should be told to think about it. But, I think this is the first time I’ve heard of a teacher refusing to check their students’ reading abilities and been praised for it.

  28. There are various scholarships offered here in Sask for nurses and Dr’s. There are lots of incentives offered to work in the health field.
    And utilities are expensive in Calgary and Edmonton. More than here.Deal or no deal???

  33. AP never misses a chance to portray Islamofacists as victims.
    —————
    Cleveland Plain Dealer religion reporter David Briggs used this blog post title yesterday when he did his initial report on Ahmed Alzaree’s resignation:
    New Cleveland imam quits before he starts
    The title of the Plain Dealer Metro Section post by Briggs, which I believe was also used in the print edition:
    New Islamic Center imam Ahmed Alzaree resigns
    The Associated Press wrote up the story with very minor modifications that mentioned the Homeland Security issues Alzaree acquaintance Wagdi Ghoneim had with the US Department of Homeland Security. The AP’s headline writer then, incredibly, applied this headline (link is to MSNBC; headline is present at several other sites):
    Blog critics force imam to resign at Ohio mosque
    I have two words for AP: As if.
    http://newsbusters.org/blogs/tom-blumer/2007/10/30/cleveland-imam-ahmed-alzarees-resignation-headline-writer-ap-hits-rock-b

  35. What Goes Around, Comes Around
    OPFOR ^ | 10/26/2007… | Rich Lowry
    I received a press release from Baghdad today, which I know the mainstream media will not pass on to you all. Here is an example of Iraqi charity and gratitude which touched my soul. Imagine how incredibly generous these soldiers are. They have little to support their own families. It’s not enough that they are fighting daily to bring peace to their country. They are actually reaching out to help unfortunate Americans.
    BAGHDAD, Iraq — Members of the Iraqi Army in Besmaya collected a donation for the San Diego, Calif., fire victims Thursday night at the Besmaya Range Complex in a moving ceremony to support Besmaya’s San Diego residents.
    Iraqi Army Col. Abbass, the commander of the complex, presented a gift of $1,000 to U.S. Army Col. Darel Maxfield, Besmaya Range Complex officer in charge, Multi-National Security Transition Command Iraq, to send to the fire victims in California. …-
    http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1917896/posts
    [Understatement in Toronto, Canada:
    ““I see it as a blatant disregard for human life,” said Det. Peter Karpow.”
    Translation: Danger on the shores of Lake Ontario. Beware: Criminals war in Toronto.]
    …-
    Police find 40 shell casings after shootout in downtown Toronto
    Toronto police suspect as many as five handguns were involved in a wild shootout on Adelaide Street West early Tuesday morning.
    The block between Peter and John streets was closed to traffic for hours while police searched for evidence outside the DNA nightclub at 328 Adelaide St. W.
    So far, police have turned up 40 shell casings and suspect they may find even more before the search is over.
    Police say based on what they’ve discovered so far, they suspect up to five handguns were used.
    There was a crowd on the street at the time. One person in the crowd was hit and wounded.
    “I see it as a blatant disregard for human life,” said Det. Peter Karpow. …-
    http://www.cbc.ca/canada/toronto/story/2007/10/30/tto-shooting.html

  36. We need more guns. Just like god ole AmeriKKKa. We should have it like the AmeriKKKans,the right to bear arms. We are so backward in Canada we want to ban handguns. We should be free and more progressive like AmeriKKKa..Yahooo!!! Put a gun rack in your truck honey>

  37. ok4ua – Gracious you are just so witty and urbane. Wherever did you come up with such an ascerbic and deft critique of Americans and their 2nd Amendment right???
    Are you possibly Carolyn Parrish or Naomi Klein in disguise? Or are you just regurgitating the drivel you’ve heard on CBC?

  40. “Government proposes $60B in tax cuts, with further GST drop.”
    From it:
    “Finance Minister Jim Flaherty has tabled a motion that calls for $60 billion in tax cuts over the next five years, including a further cut in the GST to five per cent, effective Jan. 1.
    “In addition to cutting the GST by another percentage point, the Conservatives are proposing to cut personal income taxes retroactive to Jan. 1, 2007. The lowest marginal tax rate would fall to 15 per cent from 15.5 per cent.
    “As well, Ottawa is proposing a jump in the basic personal tax exemption to $9,600, retroactive to Jan. 1, 2007. That would increase to $10,100 in 2009.
    “The government is also proposing to pay down the federal debt by $10 billion….”

  41. Reader Tip: STEPHEN HARPER IS GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    What’s better than a tax cut? A *retroactive* tax cut. What a glorious day.

  42. “How many utility choices do people in Alberta have?”
    how many choices they got in morOntario?

  43. The Black Book of Communism estimates that communism/socialism killed in cold blood as many as 25 million in the former Soviet Union, 65 million in China, 1.7 million in Cambodia, and on and on …
    Nazism twenty million.
    Cold human corpses; cold statistics.
    Who was Stalin’s favourite killer/pervert? His fellow Georgian named lberia….-
    Putin honours Stalin victims 70 years after terror
    BUTOVO, Russia (Reuters) – Russian President Vladimir Putin paid his respects on Tuesday to millions of people killed under Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin and called for the country to unite to prevent a repeat of its tragic past.
    Putin, a former KGB spy, marked Russia’s annual day of remembrance for the victims of Stalin’s purges with a visit to Butovo, a military training ground near Moscow where tens of thousands of people were executed by firing squads.
    Millions of people were executed under Stalin and many more perished from abuse and disease in a vast network of prison camps, known as the Gulags.
    The victims included priests and royalists but also huge numbers of people who were simply caught up in an indiscriminate spiral of killing. This year Russia marks the 70th anniversary of the bloodiest period of the purges.
    Putin attended a memorial service with Patriarch Alexiy II, head of the Russian Orthodox Church, after passing a field criss-crossed with mass graves.
    “We know very well that 1937 was the peak of the purges but this year was well prepared by years of cruelty,” Putin said beside a mass grave after laying flowers at a memorial.
    Putin said such tragedies “happen when ostensibly attractive but empty ideas are put above fundamental values, values of human life, of rights and freedom.”
    “Hundreds of thousands, millions of people were killed and sent to camps, shot and tortured,” he said. “These were people with their own ideas which they were unafraid of speaking out about. They were the cream of the nation.” …-
    http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1918608/posts

  44. Question for the arm-chair economists here:
    Is a 1% cut to the GST closer to:
    (a) sound fiscal policy?
    (b) a bribe to voters?

  45. Was that a trick question jen?…because yknow we arent expecting an election soon so that would make us all taxpayers, consumers,law abiding citizens. Well put on the voters hat when the time comes.
    So that leaves the obvious answer …sound fiscal policy, and I get some of my hard earned money back in my pocket.
    No one can bribe mw with my money.

  46. Reminder to self…preview before posting.
    I’ll repeat: No one can bribe me with my own money.
    Looking forward to filling out that tax form now!!

  47. AP/MSM calls the criminals: “Rogue Shiite militiamen”. They are criminals like the Taliban.
    These criminals do as criminals do: ambush, snatch’n’grab, run, attempt to extort/blackmail.
    Iraqi police rescued the hostages.
    Bravo. …-
    Freed Sheiks Describe Kidnapping Ordeal
    AP via ABC News
    It had to be done quickly. Rogue Shiite militiamen were holding hostage a group of Sunni and Shiite tribal sheiks who had joined a revolt against al-Qaida. For the Iraqi government and its U.S. backers, the seven men represented a rare symbol of national unity.
    A daring rescue operation secured their freedom.
    A meeting Tuesday between most of the former captives and military officials including the Iraqi commander of the rescue operation offered the first detailed picture of the tense and fast-moving events: the kidnapping, the slaying of one captive and the seven-hour rescue mission Monday converging on an area that was “not fit for rats.”
    The sheiks, recounting their 30-hour ordeal to a small group of reporters including The Associated Press, said they were tortured and humiliated. At least three of the sheiks were visibly bruised. One man’s left eye was red and swollen. The two others had bruises on their backs, arms and legs.
    But they insisted that they emerged from captivity more determined than ever to continue their fight….-
    http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1918615/posts

  48. The education dean at Simon Fraser University says a British Columbia teacher who defied her employer by refusing to deliver a mandatory reading test to her Grade 3 students should serve as an inspiration and role model for all teachers.
    In a speech to SFU graduates this month, Paul Shaker praised Kathryn Sihota, a Vancouver Island teacher, for engaging in civil disobedience to protect her students from “psychological and educational vandalism” despite knowing that she risked discipline and public disapproval for her actions.
    bryceman, wonder why this idiot doesn’t just ban all exams at SFU as it brings so much hardship to his students. University professors are complaining everywhere that incoming students are dreadful in basic reading and writing. Wonder why!
    If you don’t test students how can you know they are understanding what how you are teaching them. I guess just feeling they are doing okay works as long as you don’t press too hard as they may burst into tears, can’t have that.

  49. How are we going to pay for programs if we cut the GST? No one but the NDP and the bloq has answered. No money for nothing. I would like more money for healthcare. Lots of cuts for big buisness nothing for small buisnesses. We need money for the cities and infrastructure.

  50. Well ok4ua, seeing as you are to lazy to get a job and are happy with welfare, you will never pay income tax so I don’t see how you should have any say in what the government does with my tax dollars. Now leave and let the adults discuss things.

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