So what are we left with? A useless plan and a worthless government. Just the way neo-cons like it.

From the star.    
 
  Slimy steve and one of his backward ministers have decided that helping big business is more important than helping average Canadians.

Not only has this incompetent bunch of fools killed what promised to be an effective tool for consumers, now taxpayers are on the hook for the tens of thousands of dollars spent on research and development. 

I suppose for the harper government, the merits of free enterprise are only legitimate  if they benefit corporations. From the star article:

 

After spending tens of thousands of dollars creating and testing an online calculator designed to help consumers select their ideal wireless plan, Industry Minister Tony Clement killed the project weeks before it was scheduled to launch.

Government records suggest intense lobbying this spring by Canada's wireless companies, who feared the service would promote lower-cost plans, played a key role in the decision.

Well, the lobbyists do love tony. He ranked third among the ‘most contacted by lobbyists competition’, back in June. Lisa I’m too sexy to apologize Raitt, ranked number 1.

 

The Office of Consumer Affairs (OCA), a branch within Industry Canada with a mandate to promote and protect consumer interests, was the original source for Which Cell Plan? A Calculator.

The calculator asked consumers for detailed information about their current or anticipated cellphone use and provided them with a detailed list of suitable plans from Canadian providers.

Imagine that! A government agency actually fulfilling their responsibility, only to be stopped by a bunch of charlatans whose battle cry is, "government sucks!". 

 

According to lobbyist registration records, the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association and Bell Canada met with officials from Clement's office on April 8, with the association listing telecommunications regulation and consumer issues as the topics of discussion.

Two weeks later, Telus also met with the same officials to discuss consumer issues.

The carriers were apparently concerned that the tool only covered voice services and was geared toward lower-priced plans.

Yes, I can see why the carriers were concerned. How are they going to afford those million dollar bonuses if the government gives already struggling Canadians some useful options? That’s just crazy. How does anyone expect them to pay for the latest yacht?

 

Sensing that Clement was facing pressure to block the calculator, Canadian consumer groups wrote to the minister, urging him to stick with it.

But alas, tony clement and steve harper ultimately chose to throw Canadians under the proverbial bus. Or in this case, a luxurious boat. Either way, whether they be Canadians at home or abroad, this regime is a disgrace.

 

Despite months of preparation, thousands of dollars in taxpayer expense, the creation of an effective tool and the obvious benefits for lower-income Canadians, Clement nevertheless killed the project.

So what are we left with? A useless plan and a worthless government. Just the way neo-cons like it.

 

In the meantime, Industry Canada has posted a cellphone checklist that asks consumers many of the same questions, but does not provide any information on carrier plans or pricing.

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Awesome! steve harper, his god and family are pro-choice!

Or, steve the skeeve is full of shit. Either way. From a recent article in the Globe and Mail, here is the proof:

In the article, Mr. Harper said it's too early to consider how history will treat him, adding that a more pressing and ever-present priority is ensuring family comes first.

“The important thing, for me, is to preserve family ties. I can win elections, but if I lose my family, it's a disaster.”

He said he is not troubled by thoughts of what judgment history will render.

“To be honest with you, I am a lot more concerned by God's verdict regarding my life than the one of historians,” the Prime Minister said with a laugh, according to the article.

End of story. Right? Because if steve won an election while putting the abortion issue aside, he, his family, and his god must be okay with it, no?

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Doer to be named new U.S. ambassador-confirmed

Well that didn't take long. I wonder when the discussions started.

OTTAWA — Outgoing Manitoba Premier Gary Doer will be named Canada's new ambassador to the U.S., the Canadian Embassy in Washington has confirmed.

Doer announced he was stepping down as premier Thursday.

The Prime Minister's Office has not confirmed the appointment.

The PMO, however, issued a statement early Friday saying Prime Minister Stephen Harper would be meeting with the new ambassador-designate of Canada to the U.S. at 9:30 a.m. in Ottawa.

Speculation Doer had accepted a posting to Washington D.C. or overseas began as soon as the premier announced he was stepping down.

From the Winnipeg Free Press

Quebec Premier Jean Charest said Thursday he liked the idea of his longtime ally and friend possibly ending up in Washington, D.C., as Canada's ambassador to the United States.

"If that were the case, then I would be the first to applaud that,'' Charest told the Free Press in an interview only hours after Doer announced he would step down Thursday.

It was inevitable Doer would wind up in the United States, said University of Manitoba political studies professor Jared Wesley. "It was just a question of where."

In his resignation speech on Tursday, Doer hinted at the possibility a Tory prime minister could appoint an NDP premier to a high-profile position.

"The old left-right jargon I believe is out of date and out of touch with the public," he said.

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best political video of all time...period

If there has ever been a greater adaptation of a song, I am not aware of it.

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Garth Turner seeking Liberal nomination in Dufferin-Caledon

Stumbled upon this from Garth's blog

Former Conservative-turned-Independent-turned Liberal MP Garth Turner who represented the Ontario riding of Halton from 2006 until 2008 but lost the last federal election to Natural Resources Minister Lisa Raitt is now seeking the Liberal nomination in the Ontario riding of Dufferin-Caledon, currently represented by three term Conservative MP David Tilson.

Mr. Turner did not respond to interview requests but Judi Longfield, executive director of the Ontario wing of the federal Liberal Party confirmed that Mr. Turner is seeking the Liberal nomination in Dufferin-Caledon. As of last week, the Liberal nomination in the riding had not been called but Ms. Longfield said that only one other candidate Jeff May, president of the Dufferin-Caledon Liberal Riding Association, had officially entered the race.

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harper hypocrisy hits new heights

Suaad Haji Mohamud, who? Really, steve, if you wanna fool people into believing you care about human rights, start at home.

steve is pissed at the mistreatment of Aung San Suu Kyi, by her government.




moran

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will steve harper stand up for the environment, or the polluters? acid rain blamed on oilsands

steve harper in Bonn, Germany, May 2008

~“Canada has gone to great lengths to protect and preserve our rich and diverse environment, and in our country this is not just a government enterprise. We are partnered with many private individuals, corporations and non-governmental organizations dedicated to environmental philanthropy.”

Show us what you’re made of, steve.

 

story from the CBC

Heads up, Saskboy!  The Saskatchewan Environmental Society has released a statement {warning-PDF} claiming data collected from the Saskatchewan environment ministry, shows that rain falling in the La Loche area of the province has a a pH level which falls under Environment Canada’s definition of acid rain. The reason? Activity from the Alberta oilsands.

 

“The majority of the acid precipitation falling on the La Loche region is coming from oil sands plants in neighboring Alberta” said Josef Alcoming ,conservation biologist and Saskatchewan Environmental Society Board Member.

“Those operations are releasing vast amounts of sulphur dioxide and nitrous oxide into the atmosphere – more than 200,000 tonnes per year.The prevailing winds for much of the year are from west to east with the result that approximately two thirds of these pollutants make their way into Saskatchewan.”

The society wants the federal government to intervene and place regional caps on the amount of sulfur dioxide and nitrous oxide that activity associated with oilsands development can release into the atmosphere. In their view, pollution crossing provincial boundaries puts the issue under national jurisdiction, justifying federal intervention.

 

I’m sure steve will get right on that.

pH levels

 

The generally accepted threshold for normal rain is a pH of 5.6. Environment Canada has determined any value less than five may be termed acid rain.

Ann Coxworth, a spokeswoman for the environmental society, said data from the Saskatchewan government shows the average pH level for rain and snow in the La Loche area is 4.96.

 

 

According to the full statement, many test results fell below levels of 4.96.

So what are some of the risks to lakes and rivers? According to  Environment Canada:

As water pH approaches	Effects
6.0	~crustaceans, insects, and some plankton species begin to disappear.
5.0	~major changes in the makeup of the plankton community occur. ~less desirable species of mosses and plankton may begin to invade. ~the progressive loss of some fish populations is likely, with the more highly valued species being generally the least tolerant of acidity.
Less than 5.0	~the water is largely devoid of fish. ~the bottom is covered with undecayed material. ~the nearshore areas may be dominated by mosses. ~terrestrial animals, dependent on aquatic ecosystems, are affected. Waterfowl, for example, depend on aquatic organisms for nourishment and nutrients. As these food sources are reduced or eliminated, the quality of habitat declines and the reproductive success of birds is affected

And I thought I was just a lousy fisherman.

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DNA results are in, harpercons fail again

Suaad Haji Mohamud's DNA test positively proves she is the woman she claimed she was, says her attorney.

"There's no way to debate this anymore, so the government really has nothing more [it] can say about this."

Yeah, I wouldn't put anything past this regime, Mr.Boulakia. Don't be surprised if they challenge the results. (er, you know, for national security reasons)

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