Regulars will note I did not post for a couple of days. Never write when you’re pissed, my wife always tells me. Straight up advice. I’m fine now, honey. Really.
A reality today is politics is no longer about public policy. It’s about politics. The pursuit of power is the game. Ends justify means. After years in the political wilderness, looking through the windows of the Liberal mansion, the Harper Reformers were willing to do anything to get in. They bought the Conservative brand, professed to be principled moderates standing for change, ethics and prudence, and got elected. But they didn’t stop campaigning. More politics.
I was clearly elected by accident in a riding the Conservatives never figured I’d win. The plan, shortly Mr. Harper had a face-to-face with me, was to mark me for death. That was accomplished a few months later with my expulsion from the party of my family.
Lo, however, I roseth again.
My Progressive Conservativism, I found, was far closer to Dion Liberalism than to Harper regression. My new colleagues I discovered to be engaging, challenging and downright attractively dangerous, compared with the God-fearing crew I left on the other side of the aisle. I like this leader, even when he takes a bite out of my ass. The man actually gets it – politics should be about policy and principle, not just power.
As you’ve guessed by now, that’s why he is determined to unveil a tax-shifting policy which will put a price on carbon, and offset it with big new tax breaks. Trust me, they will be significant. If you actually don’t give a whiz about the environment, then you’ll still like this plan for the savings it can produce. The only action you might need to take is to change some spending habits.
Dion is getting kudos from some people in the political class for having the stones to talk about this. Others say the plan – which they reduce to the words ‘carbon tax’ – is political suicide. Hacks like John Baird, who know no details, spit into the camera that it will be “the mother of all tax increases.” I hope his own momma heard that. The attacks on the Liberal leader will escalate after May 26th.
Meanwhile, I am waiting for an apology from the insanely partisan fruitcakes and nutjobs who last week said I accused Canadian soldiers of murdering people. Among those are constituent Cam Battley, Tory blogger Steve Janke and the acne-encrusted weenies who run Conservative.ca.
If you think I’m pissed, meet my lawyer.
229 comments ↓
Go get em Garth…
Garth
As you will undoubtably already know , Canada`s top environmentalist , David Suzuki , had this to say today on CTVs Question Period :
“To oppose (the carbon tax plan), its just nonsense. It’s certainly the way we got to go.”
Suzuki went on to slam both the NDP & the Conservatives for their obvious lack of any visionary policy to stop polluters in this country.
It will be obvious in the upcoming days that the Conservatives will place Mr Dion & the Liberals in the same class that they have placed the income trust investors of days past , listing them as stupid & totally incapable of independent thought.
It has become the trait of this party to bully & shove.
If the Conservatives want to oppose this plan , show us a viable alternative rather than the lame pap they display at present.
Garth , good to have you back.
Dr Mike Popovich—former life-long Conservative.
Don’t hide behind a lawyer, Garth .. show you can take a hit and “riseth” above the partisan fray.
I think everybody should take a deep breath, exhale, and wait for Dion’s Carbon Tax-Income Tax-Shifting plan for Canadians. It’s the least we can do otherwise we are only blowing smoke through our … (_o_) …!!!!
Soooo Garth .. when can we expect Dion’s Carbon Reduction Tax Shifting plan … before the end of June, I hope …. and you better hope that big Liberals like Ignatieff and Rae are on board too because all we are hearing now is Dion’s pathetic rhetoric-filled promises.
I supported Mr. Dion’s candidacy for the leadership almost exclusively because of his views on helping the environment. Now he is taking that leap of faith that Canadians will also begin to realize that they must be part of the solution in order to help this place we call Earth. I went to you, despite the fact that I am not a constituent of your Riding, for help with a problem over an issue with the present government regarding denied benefits for some members of the Canadian Forces. In a million years, you would never be guilty of what the Con bloggers have posted here recently regarding our fine soldiers. If, for one moment, I thought that you would have been capable of such comments, I would never have entrusted you with such a request for help. Go get ‘em Garth!
My Progressive Conservativism, I found, was far closer to Dion Liberalism than to Harper regression. By Garth.
I didn’t think you were from the “pink” side of the Progressive Conservative party which I feel was more in line with the current liberal Party.
You strike me as being closer to the center and even a little right of centre of the political spectrum. Of course I could be wrong because I don’t know you personally and can draw my conclusions based upon your blog comments.
I do take issue with your comment about Harper’s “regression” but will agree that the Conservatives have gone further right of centre. A comparison could be made with the NDP who has gone further to the left since Layton became leader. Unfortunately the Liberals have slip into the left of centre that was once held by the NDP.
So now we have three left of centre parties and only one right of centre party. Not good becuse those of on the right have no choice as to who to vote for. Sorry but i will never vote for a left of centre party even the current Liberals. The Liberals must come back to the centre if they want to have any success but I rather doubt that will ever happen under Dion’s leadership. The same can be said about Conservatives under Harper moving closer to the centre although Harper is trying. By the way he is talking, Dion seems to me however to be moving further to the left along with wanting more government control in our lives.
Cheers
One thing Dion has that is missing from all members of the con-bots is balls .
This is a different way to do politics .
Actually put something in the window and see how people react .
Personally I can’t wait to start paying my share of the tax .
It is the least I can do for this great planet .
“Good planets are hard to find”
Cheers
By Van on 05.18.08 5:01 pm
You actually believe the bullshit you
post ?
Garth, you sure do have a way with words. I did my part today, and got a resounding ‘yes’. And, I’ll try to do more.
The cons are all about suing, and not answering a question in the house. They truly are an embarrassment to Canadians within Canada and internationally. So sad we have arrived at the point that one has to engage a lawyer to defend one’s right to free speech. The cons lie and maybe the opposition should take them to court for their lies.
Well, as far as I am concerned, this is not specifically about a carbon tax, or boosting fuel prices. It is a very simple decision to make:
Do you want to be part of the problem, or part of the solution?
Anyone with even a modicum of intelligence must realize that status quo is just not acceptable.
As I have previously posted, I, as a voter in the Canadian electorate, want to vote FOR SOMETHING. I seek vision of a better Canada. I am very tired of voting for the lesser of evils.
It seems that M. Dion, and the LPC, are starting to show that vision, and the leadership to take a bold step. While I hold final comment until I see something concrete, this is encouraging.
Bring it on!
I wans OUR Canada back. The country that cares about others, is willing to stand for what is right, and is PROUD to be independent and not governed by decisions made south of the border.
The future is ours, if we are wiling to make the effort.
A comparison could be made with the NDP who has gone further to the left since Layton became leader.
By Van on 05.18.08 5:01 pm,
I disagree with you on this point. The NDP have become a party of what used to be referred to as “company unions.” This concept unites the labour union with their company and works towards using government to promote the overall viablity of the company. For example, government would promote the interests of a unionized company by imposing measures that would either prohibit non-unionized shops or would give the unionized shop the clear advantage in the marketplace.
They make half-hearted stabs at talking about social issues but their rhetoric is stale and borrowed from an earlier era. In fact, Layton is talking more about protecting the middle class.
I am not opposed to unions, although I am not convinced that today they serve the purpose for which they were originally needed. The have no clout because of globilized production.
I don’t see any party, with the possible exception of the Green Party, that is progressive in outlook today (they are a work in progress!). Parties are advocating various forms of “change” but it is debatable as to whether the change is progressive, regressive, or merely an attempt to introduce new structures to protect the status quo.
Common psychological factors linked to political conservatism include: fear and aggression, dogmatism and intolerance of ambiguity, uncertainty avoidance, need for cognitive closure, and terror management that causes conservatives to shun and even punish outsiders and those who threaten the status of their cherished world views.
Sounds like the entire con0bot troll patrol to me .
“Conservatism is pathological and their conservative beliefs are necessarily false, irrational, and unprincipled.”
This evolutionary tendency toward obedience can explain a host of behaviors, including the initial rise of theocracies in which leaders manipulated the propensity to obey by claiming that the gods had given them the divine right to rule.
Sound familiar ?
NO wonder Garth couldn’t get along in the con party .By definition they are all suffering from,various degrees,of insanity.
“My Progressive Conservativism, I found, was far closer to Dion Liberalism than to Harper regression.”
And it is important to note that Garth was considered to be on the far right of the Progressive Conservative Party. He was not counted among the “Red Tories.”
Garth supported the merger and Harper initially because of the right wing ideology of the party. It seems to be that it was the “uncompromising” brand of right wing ideology of the new Conservative leadership that led to Garth’s eventual expulsion.
What I don’t understand is why the media refer to Harper as a populist. There are different forms of populism but Harper’s view does not appear representative of any of them. Can anyone enlighten me on this?
Garth, Please explain to me why Mr.Dion “ducked” the “Question Period” interview today. It was annouced that he would be there – a golden opportunity missed!! WHY??
What am I, his mom? — Garth
By Men With Hats on 05.18.08 5:34 pm,
I consider myself a conservative (of the progressive variety) but not “right wing.”
If your definition is correct maybe that is why the new version of Conservatives don’t love me so much anymore!!!!!
Answer me, this, o’ Garth-it-all — why on earth would Dion release his plan and subject it to weeks and weeks of TV attacks when an election is months away? Asnwer me, that, moron.
Because he’s a democrat and believes it is worthy of wide debate, dipstick. — Garth
Well, well, Dion finally has a policy, or rather the start of a policy, and it is a tax.
He will have to ride this horse til the end, because if he abandons it now or later he will be portrayed as a flip flopper, and if he rides it to his defeat in the next election, he is a loser.
He has no choice but to go full bore with his tax explaining all the way how more taxes are wonderful for all Canadians and tax credits for poor people who dont pay taxes is somehow a good thing.
Libs and reasonable Canadians should stick to their knitting as they will need some heavy sweaters when Dion tries to put the price of heating oil throught the roof and the useless tax credits for poor people wont help when they dont pay taxes now.
So now we have three left of centre parties and only one right of centre party. Not good becuse those of on the right have no choice as to who to vote for. Sorry but i will never vote for a left of centre party even the current Liberals. The Liberals must come back to the centre if they want to have any success but I rather doubt that will ever happen under Dion’s leadership. The same can be said about Conservatives under Harper moving closer to the centre although Harper is trying. By the way he is talking, Dion seems to me however to be moving further to the left along with wanting more government control in our lives.
Cheers
By Van on 05.18.08 5:01 pm
Ah Van, don’t worry, the one you worship is only masquerading as a centrist. Didn’t you read Flanagan’s strategy.
I consider myself a conservative (of the progressive variety) but not “right wing.”
If your definition is correct maybe that is why the new version of Conservatives don’t love me so much anymore!!!!!
By C. B. Innes on 05.18.08 6:01 pm
CB,no harm intended .I once flirted with Conservatism when Bob Stanfield ran the party .
The best PM Canada never had .
I find the Liberals of today to be much more progressive .
I could never vote for the Reform / Alliance version of the conservatives as I am diametrically opposed to almost all of their so-called policies .
It was a real tragedy when the true Pro-Con party disappeared into the vapors of time slaughtered by the asses with hats gang .
I will never forgive McKay .
I am totally behind the carbon tax , but you sure as heck better lower my income taxes in exchange. Why can’t the Liberals have a plan in place to eliminate income taxes and replace them with carbon tax over say, 12 years or so ? If you told Canadians by 2020 you will eliminate income tax and the taxes will go on consumption instead , you would have much support and it would be great for the economy. I would also like the liberals to point out how the the conservatives are not even close to being true conservatives, spending like crazy and taking in more tax dollars than ever before despite the GST cut. The federal government is growing, so is the spending. Canadians didn’t vote for that.
Garth
We all need to take a little down time. Personally, we planted some tomato plants and flora for our garden this weekend and I left the blog for a higher calling. No, my wild bees have not yet arrived and I worry, but one should always deal with what you can do. I loved my planting weekend and took solace with getting my hands dirty.
So her are my muses for this weekend – no politician quote just a thought for the rest of us.
Hartley Bay – My Test for the Rest of US
So there’s this little first nations community of 300 people that came into prominence about a year and ½ ago You might recall they were the first responders to rescue people off the sinking Queen of the North BC ferry in fishing boats and were hailed as heroes.
Well, the next time we heard about the people of Hartley Bay was for Earth Hour 2008. You see their entire community runs on diesel for electricity. They were the only community in the entire country to have zero emissions for one hour as they shut down their diesel generator.
Before every Conservative blogger starts going off about Earth Hour just wait for my point.
I could not even hazard to guess what the bands monthly costs are for diesel. If we cannot develop a sustainable future for Hartley Bay then we have a bigger problem than arguing about Harper intensity targets over Dion’s a carbon tax. They cannot continue their current electricity infrastructure at the rate oil prices are accelerating over time.
It’s electricity – stupid!
So the next time you flip on your lights or turn on your air conditioner think about Hartley Bay.
We have to solve our future now before we leave Hartley Bay in the dark.
Because he’s a democrat and believes it is worthy of wide debate, dipstick. — Garth
By I’ll bet Garth doesn’t post this one. on 05.18.08 6:03 pm
Sheeesh ! All the assholes are out today .
Hi Garth–I just read on the news yesterday the RCMP will not be laying any charges in the “Cadman Bribe”.This pisses me off to no end,the evidence speaks for itself! The Prime minister of Canada is on tape admitting knowledge of an offer made (isn’t any offer a bribe? )but not only is it on tape but it was made in front of a credible witness as well as the statements supporting it by Mr Cadman’s family.I formerly worked in law enforcement and know that many Canadians are behind bars for less evidence! I am not surprised tho snce Harper has his own man heading the RCMP (for the first time in the history of the force) We are headed out of control for a dictatorship one step at a time…in my opinion.
I think the Honourable M. Dion should have followed his heart long ago. The nay-sayers in the Liberal party have lost touch with the people who are electing them. Finally, we are seeing the real Dion, and I believe this one is a winner. Thank you, Garth, for supporting him – even when you disagree, which is your, and any MP’s, right. The difference here is that you respect your leader and don’t blindly follow whatever strange and angry whims he may have. Your support means more than any con-bot mouthpiece who follows by fear.
Thank you.
Your right CB . I could find no record of populism being synonymous with dictatorship.
You complain of the CPC suing everyone and then you put in a veiled threat to those who DARE speak out against your verbal flatulance.
And ID be pissed if I had to be your lawyer. You threaten to sue and then realize you have no balls…
How did the meeting go with Dion? Dont worry, Im sure well find out as Esther likes to talk about work all the time…we’ll get it soon.
Have a nice day!
If Esther talks (and she is free to say anything), you can be sure she’ll do so openly and wth her identity attached – unlike the nameless, spineless, ball-less weasel you appear to be. — Garth
By I’ll bet Garth doesn’t post this one. on 05.18.08 6:03 pm
Is that you, Harry?
The important issue here is the debate. Like it or not, Mr. Dion bringing forth his plan will mean Harper and Baird’s plan will be exposed for the sham it is.
Of course, their first move will be to point out all the negatives of Mr. Dion’s plan. But the response has to clearly point out the positives as well as asking, “What concrete measures are you taking Mr. Baird to reduce GHG’s, and intensity based targets won’t do?”
In the year 2007, the Lord came unto Noah, who was now living in Canada, and said, “Once again, the earth has become wicked and over-populated, and I see the end of all flesh before me.
Build another Ark and save 2 of every living thing
along with a few good humans.”
He gave Noah the blueprints, saying, “You have 6
months to build the Ark before I will start the
unending rain for 40 days and 40 nights.”
Six months later, the Lord looked down and saw Noah weeping in his yard – but no Ark.
“Noah!” He roared , “I’m about to start the rain!
Where is the Ark?”
“Forgive me, Lord,” begged Noah, “but things have changed.
I needed a building permit.
I’ve been arguing with the inspector about the need for a sprinkler system.
My neighbors claim that I’ve violated the neighborhood zoning laws by building the Ark in my yard and exceeding the height limitations.
We had to go to the Development Appeal Board for a decision.
Then the Hydro One demanded a bond be posted for the future costs of moving power lines and other overhead obstructions, to clear the passage for the Ark’s move to the sea.
I told them that the sea would be coming to us, but they would hear nothing of it.
Getting the wood was another problem.
There’s a ban on cutting local trees in order to save the spotted owl.
I tried to convince the environmentalists that I needed the wood to save the owls – but no go!
When I started gathering the animals, an animal rights group sued me. They insisted that I was confining wild animals against their will.
They argued the accommodation was too restrictive , and it was cruel and inhumane to put so many animals in a confined space.
Then the Ministry of the Environment ruled that I couldn’t build the Ark until they’d conducted an environmental impact study on your proposed flood.
I’m still trying to resolve a complaint with the Human Rights Commission on how many minorities I’m supposed to hire for my building crew.
Immigration and Naturalization are checking the Visa status of most of the people who want to work.
The trades unions say I can’t use my sons.
They insist I have to hire only Union workers with Ark-building experience.
To make matters worse, Revenue Canada seized all my assets, claiming I’m trying to leave the country illegally with endangered species.
So, forgive me, Lord, but it would take at least 10 years for me to finish this Ark.”
Suddenly the skies cleared, the sun began to shine, and a rainbow stretched across the sky.
Noah looked up in wonder and asked,
“You mean you’re not going to destroy the world?”
“No,” said the Lord.
“The Canadian Conservative Government beat me to it.”
What I don’t understand is why the media refer to Harper as a populist. There are different forms of populism but Harper’s view does not appear representative of any of them. Can anyone enlighten me on this?
By C. B. Innes on 05.18.08 5:44 pm
Perhaps the populist title has stuck with him from his days of involvement with the Reform Party.
Or Mr. Harper has branded himself “populist,” in the true Orwellian fashion of the current neoconservative movement.
Or much of the MSM is just plain lazy. Consider how many of them continue to refer to the Harper Conservatives as the “Tories.”
-R
Because he’s a democrat and believes it is worthy of wide debate, dipstick. — Garth
I hear there is not only wide debate, but also stiff resistance to Dion’s Carbon Tax scheme within the Liberal caucus and party.
When I hear Ignatieff, Rae, Trudeau, others, backing Dion’s Carbon Tax, I will give it more credence than just the snippets being spread around to test the waters.
Garth … are you waiting for the entire Carbon Tax plan to be released before you fully endorse it ..??
“Because he’s a democrat and believes it is worthy of wide debate, dipstick. — Garth”
No, that’s not it. I think you guys are getting ready to topple the govt before the House rises for the summer, unless this Carbon Tax Shift thingie sinks Liberal polls numbers down into the 20s.
I think that’s it — you guys are trying to outfox Harper. Ain’t gonna work — can’t fool the great Harper.
I think that’s it — you guys are trying to outfox Harper. Ain’t gonna work — can’t fool the great Harper.
By Not a Dipstick on 05.18.08 7:44 pm
–
Don’t need to, he is doing a pretty good incremental job of that himself…I can almost see the fear in the cons right now, this carbon/tax reduction hits all the right notes….addresses the environment which is a top priority of Canadians right now and delivers sweet income tax reductions to the middle class, consider Harper and the Reform party outfoxed badly….and the sun sets on the Reformacon tragedy.
The best PM Canada never had .
I find the Liberals of today to be much more progressive .
I could never vote for the Reform / Alliance version of the conservatives as I am diametrically opposed to almost all of their so-called policies .
It was a real tragedy when the true Pro-Con party disappeared into the vapors of time slaughtered by the asses with hats gang .
I will never forgive McKay .
By Men With Hats on 05.18.08 6:41 pm
Men with Hats – there was a time when politicians respected one another no matter what their political stripe. You know who said that Stanfield was the best PM we never had – Trudeau said it – because he respected the man.
Harry S – Ignatieff has already shown he approves it – he discusses it on his blog today….so cut the crap from the CRAP.
The nervous Nellies as Chretien refers to are those who think anything that means change will turn voters off – not because they don’t believe in it. Well, once in a while in history change HAS to come – this may be it. It’s sure what’s going on in the US – the people are hungry for change and I think Canadians will follow suit.
“Trust me”…
posted by Garth Turner on 05.18.08 @ 4:09 pm
Don’t think so Garth. Trust and liberals don’t go in the same sentence.
How can Dion say a carbon tax is not an option for months then now say its a bold initiative? Its simply because liberals have no answers to the country’s problem other than raising taxes.
We’ve seen the “carbon tax” take its toll on Alberta in the 80s. If you think they will embrace it now without a serious fight even to the point of separation you better rethink your arrogant central Canada perspective.
Alberta doesn’t need Canada, Canada needs Alberta. The economic boom in Alberta and Saskatchewan has fueled the economies in Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic Canada. Shut Alberta down and you will shut down the rest of Canada.
You think the oil sands is just a big environmental disaster that fills the pockets of big oil. Well, it fills the pockets of Canadians. “Big oil” investment means jobs for Canadians. Shut down producer investment and you shut down jobs. Albertans won’t stand for it, again.
C B Innes.
Check out the Canadian Action Party.
What I don’t understand is why the media refer to Harper as a populist. There are different forms of populism but Harper’s view does not appear representative of any of them. Can anyone enlighten me on this?
By C. B. Innes on 05.18.08 5:44 pm
Yes, in fact his does. Please read J.R. Saul’s book, and you will have a proper definition of ‘populism’. It, like all other ‘isms’ has a rather broad spectrum of meaning and adherents. I cannot recommend a better source of comprehension than that book.
Ah Van, don’t worry, the one you worship is only masquerading as a centrist. Didn’t you read Flanagan’s strategy.
By kpn on 05.18.08 6:40 pm
Sorry to disappoint you kpn, but I do not and have not worshiped any party nor any party leader especially the current crop of party laeders we have today in Canada. The only leader that I admired but didn’t worship by any stretch of the imagination was Sir Winston Churchill.
Have you read, “Troublesome Young Men”? It may cast a new light for you on Winnie. — Garth
Garth
You are still an asswhole!
Related News
Suzuki slams NDP, Tories, backs Dion’s carbon tax
Harper to be absent as Clark joins Parliament’s walk of fame
4 hours ago
OTTAWA — In a break with tradition, Stephen Harper will not attend the unveiling of the official portrait of one of his prime ministerial predecessors.
Former Conservative prime minister Joe Clark will have his portrait hung in the hallway of Parliament’s Centre Block alongside 18 others who led the Canadian government.
But the current prime minister isn’t planning to attend the end-of-month ceremony because he’ll be travelling abroad.
It will mark only the second time in half a century that a sitting prime minister has missed such an event, the political equivalent of an ex-leader’s addition to the parliamentary walk of fame.
Clark says he had expected the prime minister to be there but understands the unpredictable nature of the job. And he swears there are no hard feelings.
“Both he and I were expecting that it would be on a date that would allow him to attend,” Clark said in an interview. “(But) I understand fully that international obligations very often intrude without much notice.”
Clark says Harper sent him a pleasant letter explaining that a European tour would keep him away from the ceremony, and adds that he appreciated the note.
Sources close to the former and current prime ministers say that no effort has been made to find an alternate date – and that neither man is terribly disappointed to have avoided sharing a stage.
The two have never masked their disdain for each other, their mutual sentiment serving as a lingering reminder of the 15-year cleavage in Canada’s conservative movement.
While most former Progressive Conservatives quickly joined the fold of the new Conservative Party of Canada, Clark bitterly opposed the merger with the Canadian Alliance and continued to be a critic of the party’s chosen leader.
For his part, Harper considered Clark an implacable obstacle to creating a united party, and in fact viewed him as more of a small-l liberal than a conservative.
Last week, they attended a tribute event to Quebec Premier Jean Charest and never crossed the room to share a word.
Harper’s absence will be an exception to a decades-long tradition.
In the most recent example, Paul Martin attended Kim Campbell’s 2004 portrait-hanging even while he was busy with a visit by U.S. President George W. Bush.
Jean Chretien attended the ceremony for his former foe Brian Mulroney and they exchanged good-natured barbs. Chretien was also there for the unveiling of the portrait of his former leadership rival John Turner.
Pierre Trudeau delivered a warm tribute at John Diefenbaker’s ceremony, and he posed for photographs at Lester Pearson’s event. Diefenbaker went to his Liberal rival Louis St. Laurent’s ceremony in 1959 and paid tribute to a “great Canadian whose career exemplified the finest of public service.”
The only other example of a prime ministerial no-show came at the height of the nation’s bitter constitutional debate.
In 1992, Mulroney missed the unveiling of Trudeau’s portrait – and during a same-day swing through Western Canada criticized the legacy of his Liberal predecessor.
Clark was right in the thick of those constitutional battles as Mulroney’s minister responsible for the Charlottetown accord. The deal was supposed to bring Quebec into the constitutional fold and was supported by all provincial governments, but was defeated in a national referendum.
Clark, looking back now, puts respect for the provinces high on the list of things he’s proudest of in his political career.
He listed the Mulroney government’s efforts to fight apartheid as another proud moment. He was foreign minister when Canada lobbied for international sanctions against the whites-only government of South Africa.
Clark was also instrumental in Mulroney’s naming of Stephen Lewis, the former leader of the Ontario NDP, as Canada’s ambassador to the United Nations. Lewis later become the UN’s special envoy on AIDS.
As prime minister, Clark only held office for nine months.
But he says that, in that short time, his government launched the process that eventually led to the Access to Information Act, raised awareness of the need for fiscal restraint, and set a new tone for federal-provincial relations.
According to the Parliament of Canada, the portraits of former prime ministers are seen by over 400,000 visitors annually.
But Clark resisted having his picture included for years. Although he lost power in 1980 and relinquished the Progressive Conservative leadership to Mulroney in 1982, he was adamant that he didn’t want the honour until his political career was over.
Following his stint as prime minister, he not only went on to serve in Mulroney’s cabinet but also won the party leadership again after Charest jumped to provincial politics in 1998. Clark sat in Parliament until the 2004 election.
…well there’s class and ignorance – obviously Harper has no class and obviously doesn’t respect Canadians. If he did – he would make sure he could attend out of respect. Mulroney, well what can I say – he’s a nasty piece of work seems to me.
By slg on 05.18.08 8:24 pm
Harry S – Ignatieff has already shown he approves it – he discusses it on his blog today….
…………………………………………………………..
By golly, your right slg .. and here’s Ignatieff’s exact public statement from his blog:
Putting a Price on Carbon
Posted yesterday by Michael
Yes, the press stories are true. We have a big idea to propose to Canadians: reducing taxes on the things Canadians like—profits, income and capital—and putting a price on the things that Canadians don’t like—pollution and carbon emissions that contribute to global warming. The policy hasn’t even been announced yet and already the Conservatives are on the attack, claiming we want to put up gas taxes. Nothing is farther from the truth. We already have enough excise tax on gas at the pumps. There are no plans—repeat no plans—to increase the excise tax.
And let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Getting the policy details right takes time and the Liberal caucus has been working hard to make sure that all Canadians actually benefit from what we eventually propose. Farmers, people in rural communities and Canadians living in the north all have high energy costs and we need to be sure that their interests are protected. Seniors and people on low incomes must not be hurt by any price changes in their home heating and energy costs.
As I write this, it’s not clear what Stephane Dion is going to decide. But a few principles are clear. Putting a price on carbon is essential. We just can’t go on treating the atmosphere like a garbage dump. We can’t go on wasting energy. We’ve got to become as green as we can, as fast as we can. That’s where Canada’s economic advantage lies. So let’s take the time to get the details right, and then let’s have the courage to present a bold plan to Canadians.
……………………………………………………………….
… and it dovetails nicely with what our MP Garth has posted, namely:
“As you’ve guessed by now, that’s why he is determined to unveil a tax-shifting policy which will put a price on carbon, and offset it with big new tax breaks. Trust me, they will be significant. If you actually don’t give a whiz about the environment, then you’ll still like this plan for the savings it can produce. The only action you might need to take is to change some spending habits.”
…………………………………………………………………
Both are great teaser hints, but not enough to for us to discuss it with any certainty. However from what I read into Ignatieff’s article, I suspect that urban Canadians are going to be fully carbon taxed, because that’s where most of the GHGs are generated … Toronto, GTA, Montreal, Vancouver … and we know that urban Canadians are great Liberal supporters so they should be the first to jump on board the carbon tax train … “and change some spending habits” according to our MP Garth …..
Interestingly, Ignatieff has not unequivocally endorsed any carbon-income tax shifting scheme even though he guardedly says:
“As you’ve guessed by now, that’s why he is determined to unveil a tax-shifting policy which will put a price on carbon, and offset it with big new tax breaks. Trust me, they will be significant.”
I guess we’ll have to wait until Dion unveils his Carbon-Income Tax-Shifting plan for Canada, and then …….
Considering that Harper and his gang of photo-op crazy bobbleheads run on this family values and sanctimonious self-righteousness – I thought this article interesting:
Scrutinizing Stephen
Calgary Herald
Published: Sunday, May 18, 2008
Re: “Canada’s humanitarian aid to Myanmar falls short,” Don Martin, Opinion, May 15.
It is unacceptable and inconceivable that Stephen Harper would politicize Canada’s paltry and lethargic response to the devastation in Myanmar. For a government that purportedly prides itself on its commitment to Christian principles of morality, Steve and his gang need to reacquaint themselves with the words of Someone who once said, “love your enemies.” Period. No exceptions. No “some conditions may apply.” Believe me, some of us are watching very closely to see what Harper’s attitude is toward now helping out with the mess in China.
Tim Callaway, Calgary
Tim Callaway is pastor of Faith
Community Baptist Church in Airdrie.
….love your enemies ….hmmmmm….
Hi, Mr. Turner:
I hope you’re having a good long weekend.
I’m the Halton constituent who wrote a letter to the editor in response to your comments reported in the Milton Canadian Champion newspaper – the comments about the purpose of ammunition bought for use by Canada’s troops in Afghanistan.
With due respect, may I please ask which you consider me: a “fruitcake”, or a “nutjob”, or both? It’s not completely clear from your article today…
…when you said: “Meanwhile, I am waiting for an apology from the insanely partisan fruitcakes and nutjobs who last week said I accused Canadian soldiers of murdering people. Among those are constituent Cam Battley, Tory blogger Steve Janke and the acne-encrusted weenies who run Conservative.ca.
If you think I’m pissed, meet my lawyer.”
Since you chose to feature my name in your article, I thought it would be fair and proper to respond in the same medium – your blog.
Also, would you please tell me if you are planning to sue me? It sounds as if you are, in your article. That would be a pretty big development in my and my family’s life, so I would appreciate knowing as soon as possible.
Finally, may I ask if you happen to know if this would set a new legal precedent? Has a sitting MP ever before sued a constituent for writing a letter to the editor of the local newspaper, based on published information?
Thank you very much for your consideration, Mr. Turner.
Yours truly,
Cam Battley
I am sure you are very embarrassed. I feel your pain and humiliation, but you do not need to grovel in this public fashion. My personal email is garth@garth.ca. — Garth
By Janice on 05.18.08 8:28 pm
Alberta doesn’t need Canada, Canada needs Alberta. The economic boom in Alberta and Saskatchewan has fueled the economies in Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic Canada. Shut Alberta down and you will shut down the rest of Canada.
You think the oil sands is just a big environmental disaster that fills the pockets of big oil. Well, it fills the pockets of Canadians. “Big oil” investment means jobs for Canadians. Shut down producer investment and you shut down jobs. Albertans won’t stand for it, again.
……………………………………………………….
I remember in the mid-1970s, the Alberta provincial government proclaimed that delivery of energy to Eastern Canada was not guaranteed because of the fear of supply shortages. This forced gas utilities to redefine ‘force majeure’ to include loss of natural gas supply due to government edict. It was a worrisome time as new supplies were not made available.
Now we are all wondering if Dion’s Carbon Tax will be applied at the wellhead and passed on to the consumer, or whether it will only be applied to the end consumer product. Dion and Ignatieff have stated that the tax on gasoline will not be increased, and the current federal tax on gasoline will be renamed a ‘carbon tax’ … so that means vehicles will not be additionally taxed. The question becomes: where will the carbon tax be applied ??
Perhaps Canadian industry will be carbon taxed for the remaining products from the barrel of crude oil … like heating fuel oil, bunker fuel oil, solvents, waxes, and excluding gasolines. Of course, industry will pass on their carbon taxes on to the end user, and prices will go up. It would be a lot easier if all hydrocarbon feedstocks were taxed at the wellhead and the federal tax at the pump remains unchanged as promised by Dion and Ignatieff … but gas prices will still increase. In that way, taxes can be fully collected without attempting to go after individual industries in Central Canada.
Speculation is becoming confusing now …. what do you think ..??
. . . Harper regression. . . .
Sums up a dictatorial tyrant. Augusto Pinochet was one. ‘Nuf sed.
****************************************
. . . the God-fearing crew . . .
Having been a Christian on two separate
occasions, separated by a dozen or so years of Agnosticism, it is remarkably odd why the term “God-fearing” is used so frequently nowadays.
Why would anyone fear God? Technically, the opposite of God is Goddess; IT and ITSELF do not have opposites; I prefer the term IT.
This reeks of arrogance — a few individuals who, when unexpectedly elected and gain control over non-believers, promote their beliefs, albeit in a quiet manner.
They are elected on platforms which they have no intention of keeping — already proven — and then having the freedom to pass their own policies into law, which the masses don’t want, yet are too lazy to vote them out.
Sooner or later — preferably when so many folk see for themselves what has happened to this land, thus CRAP is now giving the Libs. free advertising — enough voters will be “as mad as hell, and won’t tolerate this BS any more”, then an election will be called.
Then is the time to have the masses vote CRAP out completely.
****************************************
dubya “lectures” Muslims on spreading freedom for all, yet citizens of the US have already been stripped of a lot of their so-called freedoms.
Most don’t even know it, as they are already financially strapped, so their attention spans are elsewhere.
http://tinyurl.com/5ec9am
****************************************
Inflation looks as if it is headed north, so the housing market is headed south for the time being.
http://tinyurl.com/6jty6b
Hey Garth, heard you just about got booted from the Liberal caucus…they hate you now too….sad…
I didn’t get the memo. Got a copy? — Garth
C.B. Innes:
Far be it from me to try to enlighten you, C. B. but I think Harper went under the banner of populist when he was in the Reform party but he soon moved on out in order to pursue his ultimate agenda.
Step by step, through the Alliance and now the CPC, he has been strategically positioning himself and carefully controlling everyone in his party so that he could get majority control of our government. If and when this happens, we will see government get much smaller with fewer checks and balances on his powers and fewer checks and balances on the power of the corporations…and they already wield a frightening amount of power.
He and his neo-con friends have always known their plans would require patience and that they would have to move incrementally so that their moves would not be noticed by the general public. Many of his under-the-radar moves have been much-discussed on this blog as you are well aware.
There was a good little history of Harper in the Tyee and I’ll try to post the link again soon. Have to look for it.
Regards
Alberta doesn’t need Canada, Canada needs Alberta. The economic boom in Alberta and Saskatchewan has fueled the economies in Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic Canada. Shut Alberta down and you will shut down the rest of Canada.
You think the oil sands is just a big environmental disaster that fills the pockets of big oil. Well, it fills the pockets of Canadians. “Big oil” investment means jobs for Canadians. Shut down producer investment and you shut down jobs. Albertans won’t stand for it, again.
By Janice on 05.18.08 8:28 pm
Gee ! Another clueless redneck idiot .
What f’ing carbon tax are ‘ya yapping ’bout moron ?
Tyee link:
This is not the the link I referred to in my previous post. I’ll have to look longer to find it but this is a sample of what he is doing and there is a link to another spot which is well worth the read.
http://www.thetyee.ca/Views/2008/03/04Flanagan/
Heh, heh…. funny how the CON ads against Dion were so misleading and deceptive and now the voter will get a real taste of our next Prime Minister for comparison.
Harpo’s CONS lose again. But then liars always lose.
Janice, Don’t be in a hurry to seperate, when Big Oil is done with Alberta you’ll be needing somewhere to live.
Yes, in fact his does. Please read J.R. Saul’s book, and you will have a proper definition of ‘populism’. It, like all other ‘isms’ has a rather broad spectrum of meaning and adherents. I cannot recommend a better source of comprehension than that book.
By Bill-Muskoka on 05.18.08 8:52 pm
Unless you are referring to “negative nationalism” as the Harper form of populism I am not sure I get your point.
To follow up on the populist aspect of Harper. Yes its true he is a populist the only thing wrong with this is he’s a populist for conservatives only. Look at the polling tracking numbers for the entire time he’s been PM. They have not changed at all. The conservatives track well with conservativs their nasty little sniping and snide remarks play really well with their core supporters. Problem is they don’t play well with the rest of the voting public and in fact have a tendancy to turn people off, especially women.
You would think after 2 years in power they would realise this wasn’t working, especialy since they do so much polling, but no they keep on doing the same thing over and over again. They are so suck in the idealogy of Flanagan and Findley that they refuse to change and are trying to will this thing to work with Canadians, which it will not.
For all the Conservative supporters out their if Harper’s so popular and such a great leader why the steady Conservative numbers. Seems he cannot rally his party like a leader should do or create momentum. Funny this sounds like the same arguement you use to describe Dion.
BTW where are all the great Conservative policies, they are the government after all?
I always worry when Suzuki approves of something because to me he is one extreme and big oil is the other extreme. SO if one or the other is approving of something political I know it is going to be unfair to most of Canadians or worse yet it is going to cost us more than we can afford.
Reconfiguring our tax load is not necessarily a bad thing provided it is more than the smoke and mirrors we have been getting from the Harpo-cons the last couple of years.
Garth, Please explain to me why Mr.Dion “ducked” the “Question Period” interview today. It was annouced that he would be there – a golden opportunity missed!! WHY??
What am I, his mom? — Garth
I would expected more from you, Garth. Your response is a “cop-out.”
Mr. Dion is definitely who we need in the PMO. I hope the Liberals do really well in the next federal election. Best of luck to you too, Mr. Turner!
Hi Slg and thanks for reminding me that there was a time when we had respectful, civil disagreement in Canadian politics. Persona Sine Ingenio May 17 441pm- Goebbels’ Principles of Propaganda- that was an interesting read. Thanks. Welcome back Garth! Hope you have a great week. Take care and have fun- you too, Esther!
You think the oil sands is just a big environmental disaster that fills the pockets of big oil. Well, it fills the pockets of Canadians. “Big oil” investment means jobs for Canadians. Shut down producer investment and you shut down jobs. Albertans won’t stand for it, again.
By Janice on 05.18.08 8:28 pm
Not any more. Not since “Tax fairness” now the union pension and Yemani pockets get it.(profits that is).The rest of us Canadians are frozen out .
Your Harpercrats in action.
Remember, remember The first of November.
Right on Garth, one of your best posts and that’s telling it like it is.
As for Cam Battley, you’re neither a fruitcake nor a nutjob, YOU’RE AN IDIOT.
You lack professional skill, you’re a foolish person so mentally deficient as to be incapable of ordinary reasoning. In short have bad judgment in public and political matters and that’s the definition of an idiot. Look it up, I’m not making this stuff up.
Before you ever write another accusing letter, I would suggest that you take your time and base it on facts.
Hope you had a nice long weekend.
Hey Garth, heard you just about got booted from the Liberal caucus…they hate you now too….sad…
I didn’t get the memo. Got a copy? — Garth
By John G on 05.18.08 9:44 pm
Hey,John G. I heard you were a twisted little pervert .
. . . we are all wondering . . .
Never include me in your verbal sludge, hairy.
One thing that Dion does have is ideas — some good, some not so good — and, unlike harpo, he doesn’t lie.
****************************************
. . . what do you think ..??
By Harry S on 05.18.08 9:29 pm
Ever tried thinking for yourself? Obviously not, as you wouldn’t keep asking for others’ opinions.
Give it a try. You may well be surprised at the outcome.
Hey Garth, heard you just about got booted from the Liberal caucus…they hate you now too….sad…
I didn’t get the memo. Got a copy? — Garth
By John G on 05.18.08 9:44 pm
Hey John G, I heard you were a friggin idiot & a dipstick.
I didn’t get a copy of the actual acussations as I didn’t get the memo so could you send me a copy?
Regards,
Albertans won’t stand for it, again.
By Janice on 05.18.08 8:28 pm
LMAO! Do you honestly think, to use Harry S’s term, that Canada will be intimidated by a ‘rat shit’ province of wannabe Texans, who have to import migrant workers to support their labour pool? Get a life.
Canada is a Helluva lot bigger than a bunch of arrogant, greedy arseholes in Calgary.
By Janice on 05.18.08 8:28 pm
Oh, and what are you tryijng to say…You’re the nuvo Quebec? ‘If we don’t get our way we will secede’? ROFLMAO at your childish idiocy! Go to your room and Shut Up little girl!
ENERGY DEMAND WILL NATURALLY BE SUPPRESSED DURING THE COMING DEPRESSION.
http://uncapitalist.com/blog/?itemid=1690
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dR7h8NBQU3E
“Twenty million homes [mortgages] under water”…
Kinda get the impression Bush and Burnanke are lying to Americans?
The question[s] then become:
1. Who would you MOST TRUST to protect all citizens during an anticipated severe downturn?
2. Which of the three bears will ‘hit the water’ first?
http://images.ctv.ca/archives/CTVNews/img2/20071025/450_harper_071025.jpg
…Three Bears Continued
THE CANADIAN SEQUEL …
http://broadband.bnn.ca/bnn/?vid=48856
http://www.investorvoice.ca/ABCP/ABCP_index.htm
PMSH as Napoleon, appearing at the Quebec City hockey final was NO HELP WHATSOEVER … His trolls, Leasa, Catherine, Harry S and Dakey Dykstra suffer from the condition, “avec merde pour cerveau…
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/v5/images/newspaper/20080515/cartoon-600.png
MARTHA WOKE ME UP EARLY TODAY, THOUGH NOT FOR THE BEST OF REASONS.
http://multimedia.thestar.com/images/df/bd/8eb0b603426fb7185eb8611b4ed9.jpeg
US REVERENCE FOR G DUBYA BUSH
YOU’VE maybe heard about “W.,” Oliver Stone’s tough feature film about Bush. Stone calls him “horrible . . . worst in history.”
http://www.nypost.com/seven/05132008/gossip/cindy/film_has_a_few_words_about_our_president_110584.htm
I tell you what Garth and you can relay this message to your leader Stephane Dion:
Why don’t you and Stephane just take 100% of our earnings in one great big tax, instead of various taxes (Carbon, income, consumption, excise, sales, capital gains, municipal, etc.).
Then you can send some back for our meagre existance. Of course, you politicians will take your cut so you can live high off the hog. And we lemmings will wait for our monthly rations.
You can then control all aspects of our lives.
Here is the link to the CTV interview with David Suzuki where he slammed both the NDP and Conservatives.
http://news.sympatico.msn.ctv.ca/abc/home/contentposting.aspx?isfa=1&feedname=CTV-TOPSTORIES_V3&showbyline=True&newsitemid=CTVNews%2f20080518%2fcarbontax_liberals_080518
I’m all for ‘tax shifting’. The idea makes sense…reward things we want and punish those things that we don’t want. It has been the basis of government for thousands of years.
Put more money in the hands of Canadians through reductions in income tax and cutting the tax on investment income…then increase taxes on waste, pollution, and greenhouse gases. That way we can choose to change our behaviour. Those that do will be ahead economically.
I hope Dion’s plan includes the same kind of tax shifting for business. It will encourage the adoption of new greener technologies and in the longer run make business in Canada more competitive.
I’d love to see special tax breaks for manufacturers that choose to locate in Canada to build alternative energy products such as wind and solar power generation….the AirCar…etc.
Let’s focus our research grants at Universities on green technology….energy saving, recycling, alternative energy sources.
With focused effort we can dramatically reduce Canada’s dependence on fossil fuels as our prime energy source and make our environment much cleaned to boot.
As David Suzuki said in his CTV interview….the opportunity for Canada to become a world leader in alternative energy was identified back in 1977! Let’s get it done!
….”Never write when you’re pissed”….
I find alcohol dulls creativity TOO!
I tell you what Garth and you can relay this message to your leader Stephane Dion:
Why don’t you and Stephane just take 100% of our earnings in one great big tax, instead of various taxes (Carbon, income, consumption, excise, sales, capital gains, municipal, etc.).
Then you can send some back for our meagre existance. Of course, you politicians will take your cut so you can live high off the hog. And we lemmings will wait for our monthly rations.
You can then control all aspects of our lives.
By Catherine on 05.19.08 5:48 am
This statement is just plain “stupid” – Catherine, give it a rest. You don’t even know what the full plan is yet – then you make petty, stupid statements like this and you wonder why people shake their heads at the fact that you even bother to comment.
Yours truly,
slug
Screw the Carbon Tax and Screw Planet Earth. The sooner we humans destroy ourselves and the planet, the sooner the planet will have an opportunity to rebuild itself WITHOUT US.
Maybe that could be the new CONservative tag line for the next campaign?
As David Suzuki said in his CTV interview….the opportunity for Canada to become a world leader in alternative energy was identified back in 1977! Let’s get it done!
By TS on 05.19.08 6:20 am
Why does David Suzuki own 2 homes – one on the Quadra Island and one in Vancouver? How does this hypocrite get off the Quadra Island? Swim? canoe? or does this hypocrite use some form of manufactured fuel/energy?
This hypocrite, Suzuki, used man made materials to build his homes? And of course his homes’ materials were manufactured using some form of manufactured fuel and energy.
But, you lemmings just keep worshipping your God, David Suzuki – the greatest scam artist we have seen in some time.
“… unveil a tax-shifting policy which will put a price on carbon, and offset it with big new tax breaks. Trust me, they will be significant.” ~ Garth Turner
“But a few principles are clear. Putting a price on carbon is essential. We just can’t go on treating the atmosphere like a garbage dump. We can’t go on wasting energy. We’ve got to become as green as we can, as fast as we can. That’s where Canada’s economic advantage lies.” ~ Michael Ignatieff
Both [excerpts from Garth Turner and Michael Ignatieff] are great teaser hints, but not enough to for us to discuss it with any certainty.
By Harry S on 05.18.08 9:08 pm
Dear Harry,
I don’t know about you but the people of Canada building an economic advantage by significantly reducing our carbon emissions and at the same time getting significant tax breaks might not be enough for you to talk about, but it certainly is enough for me.
ECONOMIC ADVANTAGES!!!
LOW EMISSIONS!!!
TAX REDUCTIONS!!!
RIGHT ON STEPH-AN!!!
Sincerely,
MB
I have no political party affiliation.
This is what I think I know:
I do not want to pay any additional taxes. Period. I don’t think that other baby boomers and older voters will either.
I do not believe any “carbon tax” plan will be revenue neutral.
Our local mayor in Belleville, ON wants to levy his own carbon tax. Therefore, he has demonstrated that he doesn’t even know what his job is at the municipal level. I don’t think he will be re-elected next election.
According to Statistics Canada, the net income of most households has increased only marginally over the past 20 years.
“The People” (excepting homeowners in big cities) have not really benefited from the robust economy of the last 10 years.
The cost of a retail litre of gas (paid for with after tax dollars) has trippled in the past 3.5 years.
From Political Science 101 I learned that the primary goal of a political party is to get elected. The secondary goal is to get re-elected. So, save the BS rhetorics about Dion being a leader with more to offer than the others.
Dion will never be Prime Minister. He has no charisma or link to the masses. I don’t think the increase in the price of gas has affected him to the extent that it has affected me.
Janice you are crying about alleged wrongdoings from over 30 years ago. It is B***S*** that the NEP killed the Alberta econonmy.
Your premier at the time, Peter Lougheed, signed onto the NEP plan as it was designed to put more royalties in the hands of the Alberta provincial government and the Federal government, and enable Canada to have more control of its natural resources….rather than the large American oil companies controlling our future.
A significant decline in the world price of oil caused the Alberta economy to sink the in 1980’s…not the NEP.
Canada needs to follow the lead of the vast majority of other oil producing countries and take far more control of this depleting resource so it is more effectively managed.
The Alberta provincial government has lacked vision for well over 30 years and rather than invest to develop a ‘made in Alberta’ petro-chemical industry, for example, your Conservative governments have been happy to simply ship crude south and take a small royalty. This is economic subservience…not leadership.
This will not diversify your economy and when the oil bubble bursts within the next several decades you folks will be left with diddly squat – except poluted rivers and a depleted water table thanks to the disaster of the oil sands.
No country and no province can prosper in the long term when its economy is based on non-renewable resources.
Canada needs an integrated, strategic industrial plan if we are to survive and prosper in the decades to come. One that is based on renewable energy sources, recycling, and the generation of intellectual capital. I’m hoping that Dion will prove himself to be a man of vision and move in this direction.
What am I, his mom? — Garth
I would expected more from you, Garth. Your response is a “cop-out.”
By David – Ontario on 05.18.08 10:57 pm
Cop-out? Ever occur to you that Dion didn’t tell Garth why?
Dion went to the Russian/Canada game with Ken Dryden – Taber and Oliver explained that in Question Period. Selective attacks by you that’s for sure. I think anyone would rather watch that game than talk to misinfo of the year Jane Taber – it’s only gossip by her anyway and nothing constructive comes out of her interviews – she doesn’t even let people finish what they’re saying. Yup, I bet the game was more fun.
Perhaps Dion is not ready to explain his whole plan – and I don’t blame him.
I cannot believe all the comments and judgment by the trolls and the media on the plan they don’t know about yet – what a bunch of fools.
This statement is just plain “stupid” – Catherine, give it a rest. You don’t even know what the full plan is yet – then you make petty, stupid statements like this and you wonder why people shake their heads at the fact that you even bother to comment.
Yours truly,
slug
By slg on 05.19.08 7:07 am
slag, then tell us what the plan is. Oh you don’t know? How can you so blindly support a the Liberal’s plan when you don’t even know the plan.
So basically, you demonstrate over and over that you will vote for anything that has a “liberal” sign. You are dangerous!
By C. B. Innes on 05.18.08 4:55 pm
As today’s subject is a carryover, I am posting this in response to yours from yesterday C.B.
I have always felt that Suzuki is sincere and I don’t begrudge him his material possessions. He is entitled to the fruits of his labors and intellect. I also recognize that in his quest to achieve what he believes in, he and his work can be utilized by others whose motives aren’t as genuine.
Considering the politics of it all.
The rest of your post is in keeping with my sentiments, and I would go further.
Old feller said, “hope springs eternal”. I agree with that too, but would add that hope is more likely to be realized if past practice is acknowledged and incorporated.
***************
The rest of this post isn’t directed to you C.B. It’s a general rant, for anyone who cares to read it.
Some final thoughts on the global trade, carbon tax etc. What we have presently is a system that largely represents death by a thousand cuts. We have programs and agencies and legal mechanisms and enforcement and politicians and their agents all running around with boxes of band aids trying to stop the bleeding from the little cuts represented by their previous ideas. Each one creating a new set of problems then it’s own bureaucratic arms, which intertwine with other bureaucratic arms, most of which have trouble communicating with their own let alone with the others.
I have traveled the roads of these meat grinders many times and each time evolved more weary than before. More disillusioned than before. I have watched the grand plans evolve, and create monsters which create opportunity for some, havoc for others. In the end though, the losers are those who fund the processes as the mechanisms to implement these plans continues to grow and create ever more problems and costs.
We need to focus on making what we already have work to address the problems and reflect on many of our current programs and the cost of delivering these. Once we do this effectively, there will be funds to develop much needed environmental reforms and a lowering of the cost of doing the business of government.
I know that sounds all very nice and rhetorical, but to use a simple example, take the railways. As the geniuses shut down rail line after rail line, ceased service and slashed at the heart of the capability of this mode of moving goods and people, they transferred the cost of maintaining transport to the highway system. So now we have to maintain those and absorb the cost of them being pounded incessantly by heavy trucking. I suggest this is far more expensive than any rail subsidies amounted to. How often do we hear about infrastructure concerns now? Then there is the cost not only in human lives but health care, hospitalization, exorbitant insurance costs etc.
Who was this move good for? Large businesses. They no longer have to carry large inventories and can squeeze truckers to drive so many hours that many of the poor beggars are just plain dangerous. I’ve seen this first hand many times. I’ll never forget looking into the eyes of the trucker who brought a load of cattle from Calgary area to PEI in just under 3 days, and that was when the ferry boats were still operating. Think amphetamines. Lots of them. He finished unloading about 10 p.m. and early the next morning his boss was calling to send him to Quebec for a load of cattle going to the US. I wonder if the politicos thought their decision on the railways would bring about this type of thing? I wonder if they considered how many families would be destroyed because Daddy was never home?
So what do they do about this? Enlarge family court mechanisms, pay for legal representation through legal aid at $150 per hr., tie up expensive courts, social service agencies, create family responsibility agencies, try to build subsidized housing and fund administrators. Then there’s the cost for Policing, youth crime etc. etc. etc..
Then there’s lies. I have been trying to do something about violence in high schools lately. Sigh…The policies are hollow. The words are there, but will, understanding and common sense isn’t uniform. i.e. Principal of local high school with over 2,000 students said to me, “I went to a school with 25 students and there was a fight every day”.
One thing leads to another thing, which leads to something else. Now, think of the box of band-aids again. Think of the thousand cuts.
Canada is a Helluva lot bigger than a bunch of arrogant, greedy arseholes in Calgary.
By Bill-Muskoka on 05.19.08 12:21 am
Thats’ MR arrogant,Ms greedy and Mrs aresehole to you Bill.
If your going to call us all names at least get our titles right.
Perhaps Dion is not ready to explain his whole plan – and I don’t blame him.
I cannot believe all the comments and judgment by the trolls and the media on the plan they don’t know about yet – what a bunch of fools.
By slg on 05.19.08 8:23 am
What kind of person is this Stephane Dion? He proposes a “plan” but lacks the actual details how his “plan” will work. Without details, it looks like he engaged his mouth before actually engaging his mind.
Canada needs an integrated, strategic industrial plan if we are to survive and prosper in the decades to come. One that is based on renewable energy sources, recycling, and the generation of intellectual capital. I’m hoping that Dion will prove himself to be a man of vision and move in this direction.
By TS on 05.19.08 8:22 am
Precisely. That is what a true nation does. It has the big picture for the long term in view, and a plan to preserve itscitizen’s, not some foreign transnational’s interests.
Unfortunately, in Oddawahahaha, we are fighting a deficit of intelligent thought, alas, it is almost extinct.
Looks like the NGO’s of people like Suzuki, have once again filled the vacuum, but as usual with more vacuum.
Perhaps this is the answer? Hooked on democratic process
I have participated in such, and seen it work so beautifully that one wonders why those who are paid to do the job won’t?
Dion will never be Prime Minister. He has no charisma or link to the masses. I don’t think the increase in the price of gas has affected him to the extent that it has affected me.
By Don on 05.19.08 8:22 am
Don! You think your beloved dictator has charisma? A man who lies,smears, spins, selling Canada to his US counterparts, borders on illegalities, never answerer’s questions, steals opposition polices by recycling them & making them their own because he & his caucus haven’t got the brains to come up with their own? Has few sane MP’s who actually work for the people that elected them. You Don don’t even know the meaning of Charisma so drop the crap already. Go post elsewhere where you can get the support your looking for here.
BTW Don, Mr. Dion has had nothing to do with the increase of gas. He is the opposition party, not the governing party but you idiots don’t seem to understand that. You want to blame someone for high gas prices, look in your own back yard. Where I live in BC, gas prices took another 4 cents a liter increase yesterday. Up to $134.9 a liter. be at least $1.50 or more by July
without doing pi$$ all about Global Warming.
You trolls are pathetic.
Cheers
slag, then tell us what the plan is. Oh you don’t know? How can you so blindly support a the Liberal’s plan when you don’t even know the plan.
So basically, you demonstrate over and over that you will vote for anything that has a “liberal” sign. You are dangerous!
By Catherine on 05.19.08 8:56 am
Catherine, do you support the Harper Conservatives’ Canada First “plan”? You know, the speech that’s going to cost $50 billion.
btw, you’ve changed. What happened to your spelling?
-R
Fear-based, divisive dialogue makes me very uneasy
The Ottawa Citizen
Published: Monday, May 19, 2008
Re: Beating Harper, May 16.
Columnist Susan Riley points out an interesting and pervasive undercurrent of the Conservative government’s style.
It takes me back to the summer before they were elected when Stephen Harper disappeared for months and then came back with a plan. Part of that, as proven by what happened, was the muzzling of the party’s members as the Prime Minister’s Office began to scrutinize all aspects of information.
Ms. Riley’s description of Harper’s “strident, fear-based, divisive dialogue” makes me wonder if a good part of that summer transformation was based on Jeff Greenberg’s book on terror management theory. We know almost nothing about that Tory planning session but the appearance of a combination of repetitive “pap” messages on child-care and the “new government,” along with 1984-like two-minute hate theme in the form of stirring up war images in this former peacekeeping country, makes me seriously wonder if terror management isn’t the driver in Harper’s style.
Some have said that it is the explanation for George W. Bush’s big win after 9/11. The idea is to make people feel unsafe, and having sold that message, take advantage of the populace’s normal desire for security in unstable times.
Ms. Riley also describes the ability of Stéphane Dion to reframe those issues to some degree and hopes that someone will reclaim the “high ground.” As I watch and worry over the decline and confusion of long-established Canadian values, I share this hope. This is the elephant in the room.
Jane Dunn, Ottawa
© The Ottawa Citizen 2008
http://tinyurl.com/6hzwvw
By Bill-Muskoka on 05.19.08 12:21 am
Well Bill you obviously don’t think that contributing more money to Canada per person in Provincial Transfer payments than any other province is enough to remove us from the ‘ratshit’ list. One reason the NEP is remembered from so long ago is that we watched home values and business assets vaporise before our eyes and there was nothing we could do to fight it and the Liberal gov’t could care less because we don’t vote for them. In other words Alberta is an expendable money pot for the Fed. Libs. and we are not going to hurt them at the voting booth. We want less State control in our lives and vote accordingly, you have every right to be a socialist if you please, but this is a province that is not going to rolled over again without taking action.
Hi Bill- LOVED your 1221am today!! AND Pyotrs’ funnies- thanks!
“Lo, however, I roseth again.”
Now I know why some people call you “Lord Garth”.
You should really tone it down a notch.
BTW, “roseth” is not a word Lord Garth.
It isenth? — Garth
By Don on 05.19.08 8:22 am,
I suspect that Dion will become Prime Minister but without the majority the Liberals so crave, even if a total disaster, simply because the values of the new Conservatives are so obnoxious to a majority of Canadians.
The problem with the direction of his plan that those of us who have tried to reduce our carbon imprint will be more heavily impacted by the general direction he is promoting that those who have not. We built the most energy efficient house we could afford, we have reduced our consumption of heating oil every year since, and still our heating costs have more than doubled in five years.
Over the past two years there has been a marked decline in sunshine where we live. Could this be one of the first major impacts of the greenhouse effect or only a temporary condition? It is impossible to say but it has made the potential for the use of solar energy questionable. We are not getting enough sun to even charge our solar lights during much of the year.
We don’t have the options available to withstand a tax that is going reduce even further our ability to survive. The stark reality is that we are far better off than most of the people in our surrounding communities. Most of them pay little income tax now because their incomes are so low. The chances of any “revenue neutral” tax system designed to reduce corporate and individual income tax will be able to compensate them is slim. Even if it did it would be highly unlikely that it would provide the options needed to help them reduce their environmental footprint. In fact, many would be forced by necessity to burn wood which some say increases the carbon footprint.
This is where Dion is out of touch with reality. There are far more people out there without the “freedom” to make good environment choices than he seems ready to acknowledge and there too many others who have the resources to make better choices that will exert their right to make the negative choice to make a carbon tax an effective means for reducing green house and other environmental emissions.
The depth of the problem was really driven home to me last spring driving through Maine when probably more than one-third of the direct sunlight was obliterated by jet streams.
Will the politicians and corporate executives reduce their carbon imprint by limiting their travel or will they simply download their share of the tax burden onto the taxpayer, the investor, and the consumer?
I don’t think the increase in the price of gas has affected him to the extent that it has affected me.
By Don on 05.19.08 8:22 am
Ever heard of GAS-X, Don? BIRDY [BOO!] BAIRD, aka Catherine’s GOB, above all GOBS, recommends it, but won’t use it because he’d rather talk about ‘aspirational’ targets like his PHONEY 20% by 2020.
ODDAWAHAHAHAHA in 2020 with ‘aspirational targets’ in place.
http://itre.cis.upenn.edu/~myl/languagelog/archives/NLA04.jpg
You complain of the CPC suing everyone and then you put in a veiled threat to those who DARE speak out against your verbal flatulence.
By Hypocrite on 05.18.08 6:57 pm -end quote
So you and the rest of the Harpo CONS think that noone should stand up to bullies? That the ROC should allow the CON bullies do whatever to them and this country?
You and yours will crumble like all bullies have done.
By Greg on 05.19.08 9:06 am,
I don’t for one minute believe Suzuki is insincere nor Al Gore or any other promoter of environmentalism. Their status among the elite gives them the clout needed to communicate the message that something needs to be done.
It is when it comes to practical applications of how to solve the problem that they fall down because they are out of touch with the realities faced by the vast majority of people. They belong to that top one per cent of income earners. If they were forced for one year to live on even the median Canadian or American income I believe they might be seeking entirely different solutions.
One thing leads to another thing, which leads to something else. Now, think of the box of band-aids again. Think of the thousand cuts.
By Greg on 05.19.08 9:06 am
I shot an arrow into the air; It came to earth, I know not where. Y’know, I lose more damned arrows that way.
Didja see Daky Dykstra, who “makes it up as he goes along, … in the company of Peggy Gnash, NDP, who “thought she had answered” Jane Taber’s question?
http://watch.ctv.ca/news/ctvs-question-period/may-18-2008/#clip53689
slag, then tell us what the plan is. Oh you don’t know? How can you so blindly support a the Liberal’s plan when you don’t even know the plan.
So basically, you demonstrate over and over that you will vote for anything that has a “liberal” sign. You are dangerous!
By Catherine on 05.19.08 8:56 am
Ah, Catherine I NEVER said I supported it if you bothered to read – but again you are not one for true details. I said I wanted to HEAR the WHOLE plan before I passed any judgement – do you hear me now????
Perhaps you should try to follow what’s really happening instead of using the CPC talking points – becuase those points are set out to make you look naive and stupid – it seems to be working.
Yours truly,
slug, slag or any other stupid names
you want to call me – grow up.
BALI CALLING BIRDY [BOO!] BAIRD …
http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=gb2ArjWsNcg
Most people live on a lonely island,
Lost in the middle of a foggy sea.
Most people long for another island,
One where they know they will like to be.
Bali Ha’i may call you,
Any night, any day,
In your heart, you’ll hear it call you:
“Come away…Come away.”
Bali Ha’i will whisper
In the wind of the sea:
“Here am I, your special island!
Come to me, come to me!”
Your own special hopes,
Your own special dreams,
Bloom on the hillside
And shine in the streams.
If you try, you’ll find me
Where the sky meets the sea.
“Here am I your special island
Come to me, Come to me.”
Bali Ha’i,
Bali Ha’i,
Bali Ha’i!
Someday you’ll see me floatin’ in the sunshine,
My head stickin’ out from a low fluin’ cloud,
You’ll hear me call you,
Singin’ through the sunshine,
Sweet and clear as can be:
“Come to me, here am I, come to me.”
If you try, you’ll find me
Where the sky meets the sea.
“Here am I your special island
Come to me, Come to me.”
Bali Ha’i,
Bali Ha’i,
Bali Ha’i!
Hey,John G. I heard you were a twisted little pervert .
By Men With Hats on 05.19.08 12:02 am
And when are you going to stop beating your wife?
Alberta vs Ontario…what a pity. I have relatives living in Alberta, who were born in Ontario. Both provinces are contributing to the social services of Canada’s so-called “have-not” provinces, according to an article by Angelo Persichilli, in Sunday’s Toronto Sun (How Ontario gets the shaft).
Apparently, according to the article quoting David MacKinnon, former president and CEO of the Ontario Hospital Association, “Ontario contributes most of the money that goes to the government regional subsidy..Ontario contributes $70 to $90 million every working day. Alberta gives less, but per capita gives even more than Ontarians.” Yet, most of the provinces financed by these payments “have more accessible and better services than Ontario and Alberta.”
So if the above is factual, why do some Albertans on this blog attack Ontario?
This “us vs them” mentality is something I don’t understand. We are all Canadians, and should help each other, and stick up for each other. Right now, “citizens of Ontario and Alberta, per capita, are supporting the major financial load of Confederation.”
Things beyond our control could change this in the future, and Ontario and/or Alberta could be in a position to be a “have-not” province. There are rumours that Ontario is already one, but I don’t believe it.
Canada is a confederation, and that means helping each other out, not stabbing each other in the back, or threatening separation over the mighty dollar.
Alternatively, you could choose THE BIRDY [BOO!] BAIRD Modern Scientific Method:
Form clique of friends
•Announce new “ground-breaking paper” to the press. Announce “result” in sound bite form.
•Get papers published peer reviewed by friends
•Go to United Nations and declare “the science is settled”
•Denigrate other scientists who disagree with you as “Deniers” and in league with [insert political party here]
•Praise other “independent” scientific papers written by your friends which miraculously support your hypothesis.
•Repeat the above two processes so that you and your friends get lions share of grant money while your opponents are starved of funding and attention.
•Give $1.4 billion in subsidies to major oil companies.
•Hide data/methodology so as to prevent replication. [Like Flim Flam Dim Jim Flaherty on Income Trusts with 18 blacked-out pages]
•Make sure only copy of data is on a floppy disk and never, ever backed up like normal people.
•Start weblog.
•When cornered, declare that “science has since moved on”
It could go on for years.
What does Rona say? Nod, Nod, Nod.
BIRDY [BOO!] FOR La Niña & El Niño
Janice: 05.18.08 8:28 p.m.
Janice, did you ever stop to think what “non-renewable resources” means? Especially in Alberta? And what will be left after that? -A province screaming for water to be piped in from, say ..the U.S.? Be kind to your friends in the swamp!
Does everyone conclude that the use of cluster bombs which kill and maim innocent humans should be banned?
A cluster bomb dropped on Centre Block on Parliament Hill could also reach in its spread the East Block, Senate, Supreme Court, Sparks Street pedestrian mall, Ottawa Visitors Center, and parts of the Wellington and Metcalfe thoroughfares. Such is the range, and randomness, of the weapon.
Peculiar then that Canada, which led the world in putting in place the international treaty banning landmines in 1997, has only reluctantly and half-heartedly embraced a similar effort, led by Norway, to ban the use of cluster munitions by the end of 2008.
To this day, Canada refuses to declare a moratorium on the use, production and transfer of such weapons, a curious position for a country that does not manufacture, has never used and has vowed to destroy its small stockpile of cluster munitions.
And why is this? Are we afraid to offend the countries that use them.
I would hope the Liberals,NDP,and Bloc will be putting the necessary pressure on Harpco to put a ban on these killers.
In south Lebanon since the summer war of 2006. The UN estimated that of around four million cluster bomblets dropped by Israel during its war with Hezbollah, up to one million remained unexploded, “contaminating fields, schools, rivers and homes.” These have led to the death or maiming of nearly 200 civilians since the conclusion of the conflict
http://www.rabble.ca/news_full_story.shtml?x=71525
One thing leads to another thing, which leads to something else. Now, think of the box of band-aids again. Think of the thousand cuts.
By Greg on 05.19.08 9:06 am
Your post, for the most part, made a helluva lot of sense. Especially the part about the railroads.
In my town, and in my teenage years, we had electric trolley that went up and down main street. All connections to other buses were within a block of the stops on the main street. It worked like a charm. Then someone, in their infinite wisdom, tore up the tracks and replaced it with gas-guzzling polluting buses, and our bus service is worse now than it ever was.
I remember when the milkman and baker delivered to your house, rather than everyone jumping into their car and heading to the local corner store.
And they call this progress.
Dion’s (perceived by me) strategy of giving the Cons enough rope to hang themselves is noticeable here.
He gave them the basics which they are now trying to rip apart through Baird and the PM as well as the PMO.
When the full plan is announced it will be even palatable to the CONs who then can do on of two things: stick to their guns and make themselves the laughingstock of the country; or agree that Dion’s solution is the right solution and throw their support behind Dion.
I think this plan by Mr. Dion is going to catch on with Canadians, once they see and understand the details. And I also think that any party that criticizes it will be very sorry that they did. Endorsement by Suzuki is a great start.
“Never write when you’re pissed, my wife always tells me. Straight up advice.” – Garth
Boy is it ever. If there’s one person who needs to take this advice here, its me and I’m acutely aware of it, but its not easy. This time of year for me is difficult, as I’m sure it is for many for the same reasons. I’m chronically rushed now and don’t have the time for those sober second thoughts til’ after the cards have already been played. (and coffee and people continually chatting in my ear as it is right now doesn’t help but these are mere excuses, as they say, “suck it up”. Egads, my ear is being talked off again)
Wife. Hmmmm… Mabye I need to get me one of those. (and then again) Overlooked? Or saw me comin’… hmmmm.
Temperance, I find for me, is in the explanation and the details. To simply explain why I perceive things in such a way.
Corporations? Necessary… but regulate them. These days, they are running the show and running amuck as a result. Unions? Necessary. They often develop labour from the bottom up and in many ways, do their part to offer the best in skilled labor and raise the bar in terms of labor being paid and protected appropriately in the work place. Labour needs representation, no question and when it comes to “for profit” motives by corps, likely always will. Governments? Simply get back to serving the public. They’ve lost their way and worst of them all is this New Con bunch who literally serves only themselves.
The rest of us? Lets not continually take isolated examples and paint the whole as exactly the same. Generalities are also not golden rules. Be fair. Be civil! (really gotta work on that but… getting someone to hear their own words is highly effective… if they can take it) And most of all, put yourself in other peoples shoes and try, even though its not easy, try to see that big picture as best we can.
Garth is right again or should I say, Dion is right. Its about policy. This is, after all, about the laws that govern this nation. Its about the system itself and when we look at it hard and serious, leaving thoses axes to grind behind us, leaving our egos and such, it comes down to fairness, inclusiveness, equality and functionality. In short, it comes down to good will, the substance of what the best policies are made of and that means major doses of self examination to achieve this and in the end, what we’ll find when we go there, is that we are not alone. Even the disconnected are connected in ways, as the old saying goes, “we are all in it together”.
Its just to bad that after all this time, Stephen Harper hasn’t heard or understood why this is so but there’s a solution to that problem.
Replace him with leaders and followers alike who aren’t deaf, blind and therefore dumb, who has has that good will, the substance that makes for great leaders and great nations that flirt with PARAGON.
Only mentally ill, fearfully-besotted, guilt-ridden, bleeding-heart, self-loathing, ignorant Canadians will want to punish themselves with a Liberal Carbon Tax … to destroy Canada for it’s measly 2.3% contribution to total global GHG emissions.
Pied piper politician Dion will lead them down the path to exploitation and ultimate penury. The Dion Liberals hidden agenda is to tax Canadians out of existence .. because they secretly hate Canada. Their agents of calumny and criminality reside on this forum. They are the slime of humanity.
Didja see Daky Dykstra, who “makes it up as he goes along, … in the company of Peggy Gnash, NDP, who “thought she had answered” Jane Taber’s question?
http://watch.ctv.ca/news/ctvs-question-period/may-18-2008/#clip53689
By PYOTR PETROBITCH on 05.19.08 10:13 am
That was illuminating. Taber’s questions, especially her lead question, should get an award for being the most biased EVER. At the end of this video, she says we are about to hear from the EXPERT, David Suzuki. She called him the EXPERT, without a trace of sarcasm in her voice (unusual).
Whatever happened to objective, investigative journalism?
You can then control all aspects of our lives.
By Catherine on 05.19.08 5:48 am
And you blindly support the worst control freak in the history of Canadian politics.
What hypocrisy!
I hope we all keep ignoring “you-know-who”…the person who must be looking in a mirror when he writes.
For Van on 05.18.08 8:53 pm,
Here’s a link to the book that was suggested you read.
Troublesome Young Men: The Rebels Who Brought Churchill To Power And Helped Save England
By: Lynne Olson
http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/Troublesome-Young-Men-Rebels-Who-Lynne-Olson/9780385661515-item.html?ref=Search+Books%3a+%2527Troublesome+Young+Men%2527
“In south Lebanon since the summer war of 2006. The UN estimated that of around four million cluster bomblets dropped by Israel during its war with Hezbollah, up to one million remained unexploded, “contaminating fields, schools, rivers and homes.” These have led to the death or maiming of nearly 200 civilians since the conclusion of the conflict”
By Ted Browne on 05.19.08 11:06 am
Ted – Thanks for posting this. Every one who lauds the use of explosive ordnance in wars should ask the farmers of the Somme valley in France how much of a hazard unexploded ordnance is to their industry. Or are these french farmers just as much a threat to the peace of the world as the inhabitants of Lebanon and Afghanistan?
By Lana on 05.19.08 10:35 am
BRAVO!
Perhaps easily summarized for the Janice’s of the world as
“all for one, and one for all”
or
“The house divided soon falls”
I want OUR Canada back.
Harry S., once again you prove your idiocy by your posting. Taxes are the cost we all have to pay to live in a progressive nation that cares about its citizens. You appear too self centred to care about anyone else other than yourself and your miopic ‘tax focused’ view of the world.
Climate change is real and it will destroy the future for our children if we do not take action.
What we should care about is what we are going to do as a nation and as individuals to ensure a future for our kids.
Harper and his cronies have had over two years to do something credible about climate change and to date all they have done is undo some of the Liberal programs that actually had some merit, cancelled some of Dion’s initiatives and then reintroduced them with less funding and under a different name so they could call them Conservative programs, and stuck their heads in the sand with useless ‘intensity’ targets. The Conservatives embarrassed Canada at Bali and at the Commonwealth conference by being climate change disbelievers. As David Suzuki said during his CTV interview with Jane Taber – this is all nonsense and the Conservatives have absolutely let Canadians down on this issue.
It is time for change and action. The only vision I see from anyone right now is Dion’s. And thank God someone has the balls to take a stand on this issue.
There is no future in fossil fuels. The world production capacity will soon peak and after that point it will rapidly decrease as demand outstrips supply.
In 1956 geologist M. King Hubbert predicted that oil production in the lower 48 states would peak in the early 1970’s and decline forever after. His prediction was actually optimistic. Oil production in the lower 48 states peaked in 1970.
Hubbert’s model shows that production of a commodity follows a bell curve with peak production coming at the middle of the bell cureve. It is estimated that the known world-wide reserves of oil is about 1 trillion barrels. Since man began burning fossil fuels, we have consumed about 900 million barrels…so we are fast approaching the peak of the bell curve. At best we probably have 8 years before the top of the bell curve is reached. Many researchers feel that we will hit the peak in this current decade.
Kenneth Deffeyes, a retired geophysics professor from Princeton University, has applied Hubbert’s modeling to world wide oil production. His analysis of world wide production indicates that 94% of production will come from fields that are already in production. The dream that mankind will somehow find new, untapped sources of oil is a fallacy.
Once the peak of the bell curve has been reached oil production will drop off quickly since demand in China and India is rapidly driving up world-wide demand.
Once we hit the Hubbert’s Peak in world wide oil production (whether that is in this decade or by the MOST OPTOMISTIC of forecasts by 2015) world wide production will decrease rapidly. David Goldstein, vice provost at California Institute of Technology, has estimated that world wide production will drop by 50% with a decade of when Hubbert’s Peak is reached. Deffeyes is even less optimistic – he predicts a 90% decline by 2019.
The time to take action is now. We must wean ourselves off our dependency on fossil fuels and harness renewable energy sources. To ensure that our economy makes the transition we need to have an integrated plan – one that encourages behavioural change (i.e. carbon tax) and stimulates research and investment in new, green technologies.
There is no such thing as a never ending supply of oil. The end is on the horizon…we just can’t be 100% sure of the exact date…but we do know the end of the oil supply will happen sometime this century – and most likely in the first half.
Let’s envision a world where our personal transportation vehicles are powered by either electricity or compressed air and replenished through solar and wind generators.
Let’s envision a world where all new homes are built to be net generators of power that can add to the national power grid.
Let’s envision a world where our all of our demand for plastics and resins can be met through recycling.
Let’s envision a world where the current generation actually cares about what it will be handing off to the next one.
Only mentally ill, fearfully-besotted, guilt-ridden, bleeding-heart, self-loathing, ignorant Canadians will want to punish themselves with a Liberal Carbon Tax … to destroy Canada for it’s measly 2.3% contribution to total global GHG emissions.
Pied piper politician Dion will lead them down the path to exploitation and ultimate penury. The Dion Liberals hidden agenda is to tax Canadians out of existence .. because they secretly hate Canada. Their agents of calumny and criminality reside on this forum. They are the slime of humanity.
By Harry S on 05.19.08 11:49 am
Well, well – wasn’t that a brilliant rant – okay, so we have to pity the dumb I know but it’s so hard.
Harry S – you are an evil bigot and awfully judgmental – people like that are usually the one’s with problems – get help.
Not sure much of to-days Dion bashing is much different than other days but this I do know…. Those leaders who talk about the future in a positive productive manner make more sense to me than those who talk about yesterday.
Happy Victoria Day to all and good to see you are back on track Garth, not that you ever were off track on this blog in my humble opinion.
Oops on my last comment. I accidentally hit something on my mouse. Not even sure whether my last comment went into never, never land. Will have to wait and see.
By C. B. Innes on 05.19.08 9:42 am
A good post C.B., though I would like you to consider a point, if you do not mind some creative editing… You said:
(snip)
…”This is where Dion is out of touch with reality. There are far more people out there without the “freedom” to make good environment choices than he seems ready to acknowledge and there too many others who have the resources to make better choices that will exert their right to make the negative choice…”
(snip)
Lately, I have been wondering about this very thing. “Good environmental choices” are typically very sound financially.
Use less energy in the home = spend less money.
Consume less packaged goods = eat better and save money by buying local produce.
Consume less gas & oil = save vehicle operating costs.
As someone who has felt the effects of manufacturing downturn, I have had to make several serious changes to my lifestyle. I drive less; heat to 68 deg F instead of 70+ in winter; cool to 74-76+ in summer to just take the humidity out; buy food to cook at home instead of driving to a restaurant; take less pleasure drives in my toy car – instead short trips for long wilderness walks; do not take any more flights to holiday; and obviously, not too many business trips, like flying from Montreal to Vancouver for a one-day client meeting. etc. etc.
It is east to be “Green” when you have no extra money to spend.
Here is where I am not totally behind your logic above. As other posters have noted, the “average family” has not benefited from the economic “boom(?)” for over 20 years. The past 10 years in particular have been even tougher on the majority of Canadians. Add to that the fact the present work seeking generation are the FIRST to have opportunity and expectations significantly less than their parents.
These are the people who are now the majority of the electorate. These are the people who are potentially less likely to tolerate practices and politics of the elite or entitled. These are the people who would not feel great pain if changes are made to the tax structure, as they presently are just trying to make a living, and hope to enjoy life through simpler avenues.
By switching to a consumption based tax system, those who consume the most will be the higher taxed. This becomes most effective in reducing pollution and helping the environment as consumption of goods = consumption of the environment. It is not the small economical cars that causes the most problem – it is the high powered toy cars, luxury cars, or SUV that really suck the gas. (and toys like LARGE motorcycles, watercraft and ATV which typically consume for pleasure)
You might have a point that many do not have the freedom to make the choice for the environment. I would suggest that these people are not really the main problem! These are not the folks buying the huge vehicles, over-sized homes, expensive imported foods, etc. However, they are possible most aware of those who are making the bad choices, and want the extreme consumers to pay for their lavish lifestyles’ damages to the environment.
As long as the plan allows tax shifting to help income tax reduction to offset increase in energy or material costs, the majority will see it as beneficial.
The well-off or wealthy, however, will bitch like hell.
It is easy to be green when you are poor…
“What kind of a person is this Stephane Dion? He proposes a “plan” but lacks the actual details how his “plan” will work. Without details, it looks like he engaged his mouth before actually engaging his mind.”
By Catherine on 05.19.08 @ 9:18 am
Now, what kind of a person is Stephen Harper, he proposes a “plan” of less than 1000 words for the 20 year renewal of the Armed Forces that is going to cost Canadian taxpayers B’s of dollars without actual details of how his “plan” will work. Without details, it looks like he engaged his mouth before actually engaging his mind.
I’d imagine there’d be all sorts of fun at Garth.ca figuring out who the “insanely partisan nutjobs and fruitcakes” are, whether here or in the HofC.
By TS on 05.19.08 12:31 pm
Climate change is real and it will destroy the future for our children if we do not take action.
What we should care about is what we are going to do as a nation and as individuals to ensure a future for our kids.
…………………………………………………………………
You are a psychotic propagandists doing the dirty work for your Liberal masters. Your faux-foolish gloom-and-doom predictions are those of of somebody who intends to profit from your fearmongering and outright lying … or you actually want to believe that devastation is about to befall us and you are fearful for your own pathetic skin.
Dion and his Liberal friends didn’t believe in global warming, otherwise they would have done something in their 10 years of intentional neglect as they accumulated 32% excess GHGs to our Kyoto commitments – yet you have no qualms about this travesty perpetrated by your Liberals while you attack the Conservative government’s 2 years of responsible stewardship.
You sir or madame are a nutcase …. it’s so obvious you are deranged as you spew your snide science intended to strike fear into the hearts and minds of Canadians who only contribute a measly 2.3% of the world’s GHGs … while China is unrestricted and generates 25% of the world’s GHGs. Perhaps you should emigrate to China and carry your message to those who are the real threat to the world’s woes …. so begone you misguided Canadian malcontent .. off to China with you …!!!!
Well I see my previous comment did not go thru. All I wanted to say is that I very much appreciated the thought provoking comments of so many on Garth’s blog. I also wish to thank Garth for allowing comments from all sides of the political spectrum, even though some of them are maliciously defamatory to both he and Dion. Too bad that not one con MP hosts a blog that allows different POVs and that many of their supporters’ blogs delete many posts that discredit their POVs.
I remember when the milkman and baker delivered to your house, rather than everyone jumping into their car and heading to the local corner store.
And they call this progress.
By Lana on 05.19.08 11:07 am
I too remember those days and they would deliver milk & bread with a horse driven ‘cart’ and we go out to pet the horse. Shows how old I am, and that was just off the island of Montreal
.
I think it’s time to step off those soapboxes and apply some substance.
Albertans won’t stand for it, again.
By Janice on 05.18.08 8:28 pm
No thinking politician would revive the NEP as there is no benefit to Canadians as a long term strategic direction. The best alternatives to fossil fuel are electric cars, hydrogen cars and biomass diesel for trucking.
Alberta probably will continue on the “Stupid to the Last Drop” path – read the book. No PR program will help Albertans as the major oil companies destroy your water table.
We do need a national strategy on electricity – a grid that runs west and east – not south. All kinds of energy solutions wind, solar, hydro, geo thermal, tidal and in Alberta’s case nuclear will all be part of the mix.
But, you lemmings just keep worshipping your God, David Suzuki – the greatest scam artist we have seen in some time.
By Catherine on 05.19.08 7:38 am
What is it about scientists that makes you so visceral in your attacks? The truth maybe?
Did you say lemmings? Factually, lemmings do not jump off cliffs – it’s an urban myth.
By C. B. Innes on 05.19.08 9:53 am
I agree with you C.B. What I was thinking as I listened to the CTV interview was that I would not challenge his views on science, but his perspective on economics is another matter.
By Lana on 05.19.08 11:07 am
Is so, and there’s more. I was talking about Alaskan Pollock yesterday, and C.B. raised me a NFLD codfish. LOL
There are a multitude of things that used to be common, and were far more environmentally friendly but have been discarded for new and improved. Maybe politics too??
More on topic would be the use of glass containers. Now plastic rules. Manufactured goods such as appliances and TV’s used to cost more, but they lasted 5 times longer, sometimes more. Small communities had a retail presence. Now we have to drive to get basics. Even gas. We used to have tax dollars to build roads, now we struggle to fill the potholes. God forbid when those old roads need replacing.
I’m not saying everything was better in yesteryear, I’m saying many things were and have been discarded in favor of carbon producing, oil using, environmentally harmful and ultimately costly replacements. British Petroleum has asked for uniform regulation for the Tar sands and have the technology to greatly reduce the carbon footprint. We have frozen pizza in stores on the East Coast that comes from Minnesota. Hot dogs and bologna from Winnipeg. But instead of looking at these things, we have the rubber sword man, and king of the flip flops telling us to follow him into the abyss of the unknown. Again.
There is so much that can be done by just applying common sense and human ingenuity. What we don’t need is another gargantuan tax scheme from the political mad hatters.
No sale here.
And Harry, be quiet. You’re not helping.
Had to strain my eyes to see if it really said CTV on the screen yesterday…on QP, Jane & Craig actually gave Dion the “Cheer” and Harper/MacKay the “Jeer”…will wonders never cease?
Victoria Day today which means — ! PARTY TIME ! YAHOO ! HOLIDAY ! — plus it’s way too early in the morning to even think about politics.
Never too early to start the day off with a joke, though! . . .
****************************************
WHERE WOULD YOU BE:
If — You had all the money your heart desires?
If — You had no worries?
If — You came home and the finest meal was awaiting you?
If — Your bath water had been run?
If — You had the perfect kids?
If — Your partner was awaiting you, with open arms and kisses?
So — Where WOULD you be?
Well . . . . . . HELLOOooo!!!!
YOU’D BE IN THE WRONG F***IN’ HOUSE!
Your pissed? Well so am I, except I don’ts got a lawyer. These ignorant,rabid, acne-encrusted weenie, pit-bulls must go!
“First, Kenney compared the most decorated Canadian soldier of his generation to a “mob of wacky protesters.” A day later, John Baird, the environment minister, tried to shout down Liberal MP Marlene Jennings who came to Dallaire’s defence and loudly applauded when 29-year-old Tory MP Pierre Poilievre suggested that Dallaire sounded like a member of the Khadr family, an insult so stupid and infantile that Anders’ slur against Nelson Mandela immediately came to mind.”
Only mentally ill, fearfully-besotted, guilt-ridden, bleeding-heart, self-loathing, ignorant Canadians will want to punish themselves with a Liberal Carbon Tax … to destroy Canada for it’s measly 2.3% contribution to total global GHG emissions.
Pied piper politician Dion will lead them down the path to exploitation and ultimate penury. The Dion Liberals hidden agenda is to tax Canadians out of existence .. because they secretly hate Canada. Their agents of calumny and criminality reside on this forum. They are the slime of humanity.
By Harry S on 05.19.08 11:49 am
Thanks for your kind words, Harry. You just reminded me of this link which should be shared with all us slime of humanity. Check out the ‘producer speaks’ and ‘body language expert’ clips for a bit of fun this fine Victoria Day.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/05/16/top-bill-oreilly-inside-e_n_102115.html
And fellow agents of calumny and criminality, let us raise a toast to our fearless protector from folly as we become once again fearfully-besotted at our barbecues this day.
By PYOTR PETROBITCH on 05.19.08 10:13 am
No I hadn’t seen that Pyotr. I can’t say I was much further enlightened after watching either.
My take was Jack Quack has a plan.
The Dykester was feeling like Sylvester just after having caught tweedy bird.
The McGuinty was telling us how visionary it is. But their working on it. Huh???
And about those arrows, I have this awful feeling that when the arrows are no more what will be left is 4 years of Harper majority.
Listen very carefully..Is that the sound of the Military taps I hear??
I liked your poem btw;
Someday you’ll see me floatin’ in the sunshine,
Harry S on 05.18.08 9:29 pm,
‘Speculation is becoming confusing now …. what do you think ..??’
Harry S on, yes you sound ‘confused’ and ‘uninformed’!
Are you a critical-thinker?
We have TWO BIG problems!!!
If we don’t deal with them in time, nothing else will really mater!
Global Climate Change!
Peak-oil and Natural Gas!
What have you been told?
If we keep pumping GHG into the air it WILL get very BRUTAL for everyone, including YOU!
Do you have kids or family and care about other human beings?
If we don’t make the switch now to renewable and Nuclear power while there is still some oil and gas left we are all screwed!
The present projections if we just keep going as is, is Canada will be ALL OUT of Natural Gas in ~2028.
Only 20 more years worth total!
The world is going to be all out of OIL in about 2050-2060.
Only 40 more years worth maybe!
Global Climate Change (GCC), with make it impossible to grow food of everyone!
Do you think Governments will just site by and watch their people and their own children starve?
Everyone is armed to the teeth will WMD and other killing machines!
We are pumping the ground water aquifers dry to grow food we eat now, and supply cities with water, like Las Vegas and many others. What is going to happen when the water runs out?
We are allowing pollution to get into the ground water we all drink!
GCC will give us more ‘killer’ heat waves!
You may have A/C for now but…
GCC will cause the glaciers to all melt,
Calgary gets it drinking water for the River that starts from glaciers.
And that’s just one city in this world.
GCC will mean less rain events, but when they happen they will be more violent and cause flash flooding.
The center of the Continents will get drier and hotter! Do you really think food crops will not die?
GCC will make the polar ice caps melt, and raise sea levels. Most people live near sea level now. Were will these people all go?
GCC is making the oceans more acidic, and we are starting to see coral and fish habitat die.
GCC will reach a tipping point soon, if we haven’t already past it, and it’ll be a changed world climate that will not be suitable for any human being to survive in!
I’ve heard we may only have until about 2012 to have already made significant changes in the total amount of GHG in the atmosphere, or we will be past the tipping point and into a runaway feed back loop of heating the only planet we have to live on.
PEAK-OIL, (P-O), will be hear SOON!
Did you think it would last forever?
Last year for the first time, man used/burned 1 cubic mile of oil. This year even more!
P-O, all the food we need to feed everyone and YOU today, need oil and Natural Gas to make fertilizers, pesticides, run the farm tractors, run the trucks etch.
P-O, Were does the food YOU now eat grown?
How far is it shipped to you? Does it require oil to get it to you?
P-O, what stuff in your daily live now does not need Oil and Natural Gas to make, or run?
P-O, and Natural gas, how do you heat and cool your home now?
Were does the energy come from?
Why are we still letting building and homes go up that us Oil and Gas?
Geo-thermal is a better way to go.
P-O, How do you get water? Is it pumped to your home? Were does the energy coming from to run the pumps?
Water is heavy! You have tried to carry it? It takes hug amount of energy to move all the water we now use.
P-O, Were does the energy coming from to keep your lights on?
Ontario now gets 52-54% of its base load from clean, safe, CANDU nuclear power plants. We need more Nuclear power plant and to shut down ALL the coal, oil, and Natural Gas electrical power plants NOW!
The wind does NOT blow often on the hottest days and coldest nights in Ontario.
P-O, How far is all the stuff you us daily coming from? Is oil used to get it to you? Is oil need to make it and the energy to make it?
P-O, Who is making money keeping us all addicted to oil? Fallow the money!
We need to start to change NOW and with much URGENCY to stop GCC and get ready for P-O in time!
Time keeps running. We are all quickly running out!
We need to get the job done in time, or else.
PMSH is NOT getting the job done!
We are wasting Canada’s Natural Gas to heat the Tar Sands.
We are producing HUG Toxic ponds!
Who does he really work for?
He doesn’t seem to care about his own kid’s future. Do you think he cares about YOU and your family, really?
The NFATA deal means Canada can’t even slow the Tar Sand growth with out paying hug penalties! We need to give the 6-mouth out notice NOW!
And bring our military home in case we need them to defend Canada from other Nations with WMD that what out resources they consume.
The SPP deal PMSH signed is an act of Treason! Where are the RCMP and GG?
That right a PMSH guy now runs the RCMP!
The sociopaths, that making money form oil don’t care about you or anyone else.
Most of them are old and will be dead soon anyway, they don’t care about the future of other human beings. There sociopaths. Why are we letting them run this mad treadmill?
We’ll be all out of oil soon and then we will all be F****D! If we don’t get ready NOW!
(Are there genes for sociopaths? They seem to keep reproducing?)
We can use some of the same solutions to GCC and P-O, but we need to do it NOW!!! Why’ll there is still some time, to ‘really’ get the job done.
And some oil to use for energy to make the new stuff we need.
There is only enough time to get it right the first time!!!
But not much time!
So we better make sure we do right!
For You and your family!
Tell ALL you Friends and family, and VOTE!!!
But never vote on a machine or let your vote be counted by a machine!
You have heard of hackers?
Hi Janice on 05.18.08 8:28 pm,
Short term gain, but long term pain.
I believe in showing appreciation for the earnest and considerable effort individuals make to make our world and our country a better place–healthy, whole and wholesome, fairer, greener and richer.
When I was eight years old, I read a little verse in the Farmer’s Almanac and thought it was good enough to memorize. Here it is:
When I quit this mortal shore,
and mosey ’round the earth no more,
Don’t weep, don’t sigh, don’t sob.
I may have struck a better job!
And don’t tell the folks I was a saint,
or any old thing like what I aint.
If you’ve jam like that to spread,
please spread it on me ‘fore I’m dead
While I’m alive and well to-day.
Don’t wait until I’ve gone away!
In this spirit, T.S., thanks for your post on peak oil and the next one too.
The people on this blog who think outside themselves are very inspiring.
By facing our problems, we can actually consider the ways to tackle them.
The sun is out here in Burlington. Here’s to sunshine!
To all con-bot trolls . Seek help .
Hi PYOTR PETROBITCH on 05.19.08 3:12 am, Thanks for the money info. links.
All 3 bear aren’t looking ahead. They are all heading off the end of the dock or should that be plank! I hope we all aren’t just sheep fallowing then?
Duane: 05.19.08 9:36 a.m.
You sound like a brain-washed conservative. I think it would help if you read from a few more diversified sources. Otherwise you won’t know what you don’t know and you may just accept whatever is in your local paper.
Please don’t listen, wide-eyed and hanging on to every word Mr. Harper or his minions say. You are being had if you do.
Please re-read the post by T.S., 05.19.08 at 8:22 a.m. Maybe it will make you realize your bitterness has been cultivated so you would hate the east. This is the divide and conquer strategy–us against them scheme. We need to be afraid of the east etc.
Lana wrote, “Canada is a confederation, and that means helping each other, not stabbing each other in the back or threatening separation over the almighty dollar.”
In union, there is strength. A chain is no stronger than its weakest link. Or do you subscribe to building a wall around Alberta and that kind of talk? Sounds a bit too ego-centric don’t you think? I’m sure most provinces will need help at some time or other. We can be a great country. Or would we rather be the small frog in a big lake?
That was illuminating. Taber’s questions, especially her lead question, should get an award for being the most biased EVER. At the end of this video, she says we are about to hear from the EXPERT, David Suzuki. She called him the EXPERT, without a trace of sarcasm in her voice (unusual).
Whatever happened to objective, investigative journalism?
By Lana on 05.19.08 12:01 pm
Ah, that’s DR. SUZUKI my dear – he has a Ph.D in Science – that makes him an expert. You probably don’t even know what a Ph.D is – there are many in the Liberal caucus – but you sure can’t say that for the CPC caucus.
Calling someone with a Ph.D an expert is not partisan – it’s recognizing their expertise LOL, these rants get worse and worse all the time.
And, Harry S, is steaming mad now – he’s ranting aimlessly – LOL
Garth
You are still an asswhole!
By Steve on 05.18.08 9:01 pm
And you are still a retard .
It isenth? — Garth
Garth Should be Recalled for causing laughter. It is anti Neo-Con!
Canadians This is why we through him out.
CPC.
Perhaps you should try to follow what’s really happening instead of using the CPC talking points – becuase those points are set out to make you look naive and stupid – it seems to be working.
Yours truly,
slug, slag or any other stupid names
you want to call me – grow up.
By slg on 05.19.08 10:23 am
And you should open your eyes and see that Stephane Dion should not have stated that he wants a Carbon Tax regime in Canada, if he doesn’t have a clue what the details are!
Notice slug, I don’t distort his name unlike you and your Liberals do for Stephen Harper.
Unless you are referring to “negative nationalism” as the Harper form of populism I am not sure I get your point.
By C. B. Innes on 05.18.08 10:49 pm
BRAVO! You have it. The entire foray is about ‘nationalism’ in its negative, positive, and perceived death.
Harper subscribes to playing the game Bush has been playing, and the negative results are clear to those who have bothered to do some studying of the principles. You have it appears.
As I said this afternoon to Geoffery L:
You would appreciate John Ralston Saul’s comments regarding what constitutes a war in his book ‘The Collapse of Globaism and the Reinvention of the World.’
We are engaged in many ‘irregular wars’ currently, as are many other nations. the days of the formal line warfare is long over, yet nations sitll rpeceive war as being conducted as during WWI and WWII. Today the small groups fight ireegular warfare, ironically as the Colonists did against the British forces during the American Revolution, and the lethargic large military machines cannot cope with such tactics effectively.
They have forgotten the lessons learned by the Charge of Light Brigade, which finally did end a prolonged and unwon war in the late 1800’s.
Now, what kind of a person is Stephen Harper, he proposes a “plan” of less than 1000 words for the 20 year renewal of the Armed Forces that is going to cost Canadian taxpayers B’s of dollars without actual details of how his “plan” will work. Without details, it looks like he engaged his mouth before actually engaging his mind.
By rms on 05.19.08 12:50 pm
rms – the DND 20 year renewal is a framework – from which DND can start planning within.
The Carbon Tax from Stephane Dion is a new tax for us.
Huge huge difference!
I don’t waste my time reading the troll’s posts.
BUT, if I’m in need of a good LAUGH and the day’s topic is about the ENVIROMENT, then I can’t resist.
With their leader Rusty Baird at the helm, it’s like the blind leading the blind and today I was not disappointed.
Why, I learned that David Suzuki was a scam artist. WHO KNEW?
The agents for Reform are living proof that the village idiot never goes unnoticed.
“According to a survey in this week’s Time magazine, 85% of Americans think global warming is happening. The other 15% work for the White House.” –Jay Leno
You sir or madame are a nutcase …. it’s so obvious you are deranged as you spew your snide science intended to strike fear into the hearts and minds of Canadians who only contribute a measly 2.3% of the world’s GHGs … while China is unrestricted and generates 25% of the world’s GHGs. Perhaps you should emigrate to China and carry your message to those who are the real threat to the world’s woes …. so begone you misguided Canadian malcontent .. off to China with you …!!!!
By Harry S on 05.19.08 1:09 pm
Guess you failed high school stats, Harry!
On a per capita basis, they are doing a lot better than we are.
Its all well and good to say China emits more GHG’s than Canada. But what are China and Canada? They are countries made up of people. Who/what generates the GHG’s, the countries (which are lines drawn on maps, giving the people within a structure of government), ot the activities of the individual, work, recreation or otherwise?
Its the latter Harry, you dimwit. Countries don’t generate GHG’s, people do! Now given Canada’s population is 32 million, and China’s is how many billion and counting, its not surprising China, as a whole, emits more than Canada.
Now of course, if we want to extend Baird/Harper’s intensity based target theory to people, and allow the Chinese population to produce GHG with the same intensity that Canadians produce, then you might have a leg to stand on.
So Harry, with the Chinese its a case of helping their economy grow while restricting through use of technology the growth of their GHG emissions. For Canada, we need to lower our intensity of GHG emissions. And wouldn’t it be nice if the current government, with its oilman leader, had the foresight to invest in Canadian industry so as to develop those technologies that could help both China and Canada (and any other country for that matter) deal with their GHG’s.
Harry’s fear of Dion’s foresightedness and concern for Canadians’ futures is reaching a crescendo.
Harry, you have nothing to fear but fear itself.
Release yourself from the ugly grasp of the Reformers and truly set yourself free.
Catherine on 05.19.08 9:18 am,
What about PMSH X-Billon spending spear on weapons to kill human beings!
He is the sitting Government and there were no details even available with his plan! Spend the oil revenue on WMD!
PMSH ‘plan’ is to burn all the oil and Natural Gas and F*** the future of even his own kids!
I agree that a tax cut might not be enough to financially help many Canadians, should a carbon tax be introduced.
I believe the best way to protect incomes is through dividends and the only fair carbon capping policy that reduces carbon emissions and protects people’s incomes is Cap and Dividend. This system caps all carbon as it comes into the economy, it requires that ALL permits to pollute are auctioned, not given away, it doesn’t count offsets against permits and it protects both consumers and manufacturers.
The centrepiece of a Cap and Dividend system is a Trust (similar to our old age security and pension plan systems). The Trust can be run by the government or by a non profit ngo.
The system would work by capping carbon and distributing the revenue it receives back to all Canadians, equally. This way, everyone would pay to use and emit carbon, but things are organized so that we pay ourselves back, not government and not business, ourselves. As prices for carbon rise, so does the money we get back.
This is the only carbon capping policy worth considering. It’s simple, fair and market-based.
-R
Thats’ MR arrogant,Ms greedy and Mrs aresehole to you Bill.
If your going to call us all names at least get our titles right.
By Calberta on 05.19.08 9:09 am
Aye, aye Sir! My apologies.
I too remember those days and they would deliver milk & bread with a horse driven ‘cart’ and we go out to pet the horse. Shows how old I am, and that was just off the island of Montreal
.
By kpn on 05.19.08 1:20 pm
I remember those days too, kpn. It was a different province. We used to feed the ‘horsey’ baked apples, which was gran’s favourite treat with homemade ice cream. Invariably, when ‘horsey’ departed, he would leave a deposit of apples near the curb. Sniff … Them sure were the days! Nostalgic and sad.
By Harry S on 05.19.08 11:49 am
Harry , if you do not own a life jacket I would suggest you obtain one soon.
You will be drowning without it. Not in water but in your own mud.
Mr. Garth TurnerMP, FYI
What is will this?
New rules jeopardize wind and solar projects
May 19, 2008
http://www.thestar.com/comment/columnists/94629
I too remember those days and they would deliver milk & bread with a horse driven ‘cart’ and we go out to pet the horse. Shows how old I am, and that was just off the island of Montreal
.
By kpn on 05.19.08 1:20 pm
I remember those days too, kpn. It was a different province. We used to feed the ‘horsey’ baked apples, which was gran’s favourite treat with homemade ice cream. Invariably, when ‘horsey’ departed, he would leave a deposit of apples near the curb. Sniff … Them sure were the days! Nostalgic and sad.
By PYOTR PETROBITCH on 05.19.08 2:55 pm
And I remember the days when I went and milked the cow!!!!
Did you say lemmings? Factually, lemmings do not jump off cliffs – it’s an urban myth.
By Bonnie N BC on 05.19.08 1:21 pm
Bonnie – so true. Although I’m a bit guilty, I think we ‘non con-trolls’ should stop reponding to them altogether. They are not worth our effort. They ‘worship’ Harper. One of the definition of worship ‘love unquestioningly and uncritically or to excess; venerate as an idol’.
Have you noticed how the con trolls denigrate Dion and all Lib opposition, yet when someone points out the obfuscation and blatant lies of Stevie and his patsy mins & parliamentary sectys that they attack others, and can’t defend their own. They really are ‘worshipers’. At least I can say that I have been disgusted by some of the Liberal policies/actions, but they are like Stevie’s people, so afraid to admit that their saviour has not turned out to be the ‘leader’ that they thought he was. Thank goodness that more & more Cdns see him for what he truly is.
Well, Garth, this discussion certainly illustrates your post about politics being about politics, the pursuit of power, and the end justifying the means. You’ve puy the whole neo-Republican platform and modus in a nutshell. And Pyotr P.’s link to Tabor’s Question Period segment illustrates it beautifully.
I do hope that Dion is about policy and principle, and that he will carry the entire Liberal Party with him to give us an alternative. But you keep on trucking and doing digital democracy, Garth, to show everyone how it could, should and must be done if there is going to be any substance to democracy.
Aand “puy” in line 3 should be “put”, of course. We need an edit feature for keyboarders like me.
Actually I think Dion is very shrewd about his carbon tax plan.
First the Liberal say that there will be no tax on gas but rather a tax on the big polluters. You notice they do not say gas will not go up as a result of their plan. I say it gain they do not say that gas will not go up but only that the gas tax will not go because they know full well that any tax at the refining end will be passed onto the consumer resulting in higher gas prices at the pump. They hope the public are gullible enough to blame the big gas companies instead of his carbon tax plan. A smooth move from a political stand point.
And you should open your eyes and see that Stephane Dion should not have stated that he wants a Carbon Tax regime in Canada, if he doesn’t have a clue what the details are!
Notice slug, I don’t distort his name unlike you and your Liberals do for Stephen Harper.
By Catherine on 05.19.08 2:27 pm
Well, that doesn’t even make sense – LOL
Hey, we’re getting to them – the CPC trolls and supporters are in such a tizzy – LOL, smirk.
Oh, folks, Catherine likes to call me names – mature isn’t it?
This is the only carbon capping policy worth considering. It’s simple, fair and market-based.
-R
By Rob Wiebe on 05.19.08 2:44 pm,
This sounds like the genesis of an idea that I could get behind.
WHERE WOULD YOU BE:
If — You had all the money your heart desires?
If — You had no worries?
If — You came home and the finest meal was awaiting you?
If — Your bath water had been run?
If — You had the perfect kids?
If — Your partner was awaiting you, with open arms and kisses?
So — Where WOULD you be?
Well . . . . . . HELLOOooo!!!!
YOU’D BE IN THE WRONG F***IN’ HOUSE!
By Charles Oxley on 05.19.08 1:41 pm
Hello, Charles … I am the newly-appointed maître de l’hôtel, caregiver, custodian of a ‘fine’ establishment in Penetanguishene. Our visiteurs often suffer from ‘issues’ of an uncommon nature … which is why I believe I was selected for my highly professional approach. Can you say redrum?
http://imagecache2.allposters.com/images/pic/54/039_12800~Jack-Nicholson-Posters.jpg
If, after your visit, you could give us a FIVE STAR ***** I feel certain we might possibly attract a wider, more select clientele. We’re hopeful of a visit from Harry S, Catherine, Leasa, Van, Steve and all the sundry/various. It would do my heart good to see them chased down the expansive shining corridors by a wee boy on a tryke.
Stephen Harper Quotes
-As a religion, bilingualism is the god that failed. It has led to no fairness, produced no unity, and cost Canadian taxpayers untold millions.
Stephen Harper
- After all, enforced national bilingualism in this country isn’t mere policy. It has attained the status of a religion. It’s a dogma which o-ne is supposed to accept without question.
Stephen Harper
- If you want to be a government in a minority Parliament, you have to work with other people.
Stephen Harper
- I will strive to make this not the highest-spending country in the world, but instead the lowest taxing o-ne.
Stephen Harper
- What the government has to do, if it wants to govern for any length of time, is it must appeal primarily to the third parties in the House of Commons to get them to support it.
Stephen Harper
- Whether Canada ends up as o-ne national government or two national governments or several national governments, or some other kind of arrangement is, quite frankly, secondary in my opinion.
Stephen Harper
Well, we now know he’s full of BS. There are many more quotes.
HARPER NEW BILDERBERG BOY
Bilderbergers Nervous About Canada’s PM
By James P. Tucker Jr.
Bilderbergers are nervous about their host for this year’s secret meeting near Ottawa, Canada.
But this is not the first time the new Conservative prime minister, Stephen Harper, has been part of this elite group of secret world leaders. Harper was photographed at the 2003 meeting in Versailles, France.
The Kyoto Treaty to reduce air and water pollution is a Bilderberg baby and Canada signed off on it years ago. Former President Bill Clinton, a Bilderberger, dutifully embraced Kyoto. But test votes showed it would be rejected overwhelmingly by the Senate if submitted for ratification. So it remains in White House files, much to Bilderberg distress.
The new Canadian prime minister may also be ruffling feathers among Bilderbergers.
HARPER ASSAILED
At UN climate talks that ended May 26 in Bonn, Germany, Canada said it is unable to meet a legally binding target to cut emissions of heat-trapping gases by 2012 and that it will take part in an extension only if all nations agree.
“The Canadian government of Stephen Harper is trying to sabotage 15 years of international efforts to address climate change,” the Climate Action Network said.
Negotiators from 163 nations that have signed onto the UN’s Kyoto Treaty met in Bonn to discuss ways to extend it beyond 2012 to prevent climate changes they say cause heat waves, droughts and floods.
Canadian newspapers reported that Ottawa had instructed its Canadian negotiators, saying: “Canada will not support agreement on language in the work program that commits developed countries to more stringent targets in the future.”
Poor nations signed on easily because they are required to do nothing and are exempt from limitations placed on “industrialized countries.” For example, Mexico can build smokestack industries on its U.S. border. If the United States signed, even more U.S. industries would move to Mexico where they have no restraints and are not burdened with U.S. laws on ecology, minimum wages or required benefits, such as paid vacations.
But Kyoto was pushed by Bilderberg for the same reasons it wants a direct UN tax, favors NAFTA and the WTO and turned NATO into the UN’s standing army, among other actions: it is a step on the road to creating world government.
When Bilderberg gathers behind armed guards at the Brook Street Resort near Ottawa June 8-11, Harper will greet the 120 leaders in international finance and politics for the second time in his life. But even as they politely applaud, Bilderbergers will eye Harper with suspicion.
AFP correspondent James P. Tucker Jr. is a veteran journalist who
spent many years as a member of the “elite” media in Washington. Since1975 he has won widespread recognition, here and abroad, for his pursuit of on-the-scene stories reporting the intrigues of global power blocs such as the Bilderberg Group and the Trilateral Commission.
If over the 13 years of the Chretien-Martin-Dion Liberal regimes they had done something to reduce GHGs after signing the Kyoto treaty, and stopped our GHGs from rising 32% above target, Canada would not need a Liberal Carbon Tax … ever think of that morons ..??!!!
remember those days too, kpn. It was a different province. We used to feed the ‘horsey’ baked apples, which was gran’s favourite treat with homemade ice cream. Invariably, when ‘horsey’ departed, he would leave a deposit of apples near the curb. Sniff … Them sure were the days! Nostalgic and sad.
By PYOTR PETROBITCH on 05.19.08 2:55 pm
And I remember the days when I went and milked the cow!!!!
By C. B. Innes on 05.19.08 3:04 pm
remember those days too, kpn. It was a different province. We used to feed the ‘horsey’ baked apples, which was gran’s favourite treat with homemade ice cream. Invariably, when ‘horsey’ departed, he would leave a deposit of apples near the curb. Sniff … Them sure were the days! Nostalgic and sad.
By PYOTR PETROBITCH on 05.19.08 2:55 pm
And I remember the days when I went and milked the cow!!!!
By C. B. Innes on 05.19.08 3:04 pm
remember those days too, kpn. It was a different province. We used to feed the ‘horsey’ baked apples, which was gran’s favourite treat with homemade ice cream. Invariably, when ‘horsey’ departed, he would leave a deposit of apples near the curb. Sniff … Them sure were the days! Nostalgic and sad.
By PYOTR PETROBITCH on 05.19.08 2:55 pm
…..
Yes I forgot about those ‘apples’ PYOTR
And I remember the days when I went and milked the cow!!!!
By C. B. Innes on 05.19.08 3:04 pm
You must have lived on a farm or in the country CBI. Do you remember lifting the hay (and the wonderful smell of it)with a pitchfork onto the back of the truck? I forget what it was called.
Nostalgia yep. Some kids today have no idea how their food is grown/produced.
In most ways, I’m glad I grew up in the early 50 and 60’s. Life was much harder then (6 kids) but oh so much simpler.
http://video.aol.com/video-detail/crazy-stephen-harper-lol/1863632731
Try it – we all need a little laugh it seems.
Oops again. Sorry I screwed up again. Posted PYOTR’s & BCI posts and ended up repeating them.
Guess I’m getting tired – had my usual sleepless night.
Aand “puy” in line 3 should be “put”, of course. We need an edit feature for keyboarders like me.
By Herb on 05.19.08 3:17 pm
Unfortunately, Lord Black of Crossharbour is the SOLE owner of a keyboard with that feature. He’s now the editor of the prison newspaper, having already forced staff layoffs, and is devoted to the preparation of his memoirs, which will give an in-depth account/justification for “non-compete” agreements made by yourself which benefit yourself. He’s due to greet the world again sometime in September 2013, based upon his 15% remission for good conduct.
The sun is out here in Burlington. Here’s to sunshine!
By Pat. G. on 05.19.08 1:58 pm
Yeah Pat – it finally came out here this pm too but its an in and out phenom. Offers one thing, but delivers another
Calling someone with a Ph.D an expert is not partisan – it’s recognizing their expertise LOL
By slg on 05.19.08 2:22 pm
SLG,
I might caution you about unquestionably accepting what someone says merely because they have a PhD. Obtaining such is more a political process, than one marking true intelligence, creative thinking, or depth of insight.
I have worked with hundreds of PhD’s and most are basically overeducated, myoptic, politically driven arrogant fools.
I estimate about 1-3% of them actually have the well rounded abilities to be a leader. Most are like any other tool in a tool box…their knowledge may, or may not fit the task at hand. Generally, outside of their narrow spectrum of specilization they can;t find they own arse without assistance.
Remember also, that many who have PhD got it as an honour, not as an earned degree.
They are not worth our effort.
By kpn on 05.19.08 3:11 pm
Of course they are! Conservatives are entitled to their opinions; it’s the Canadian way.
Divide us and we will splitter into the message of Stephen Harper – winners and losers.
M. Dion would not agree with you. But I do think this is great training for when we go and canvass and have heard every silly attack on the planet.
By the way I am a liberal not a Liberal but I strongly believe the next election will shape Canada for the next 20 years so listen and learn…
Mr. Garth TurnerMP, FYI
can’t find a link to but,
MACLEANS magazine, May 26th, 2008
Some Articals of interest,
page84, In the event of food shortages…
In Vancouver, a Saskatchewan-born farmer
teaches urbanites how to till the earth.
page40, The zen of ignoring the stock market. (the last 2 paragraphs speak about the Federal Reserve’s actions.)
page34, The Race to Reach deep Oil.
by Charlie Gillis (I hope you don’t mind me type some of you story lines?)
CIBC World Markets warned that oil could reach $200 per barrel by 2012,
(And you fear monger about a tax shift to hel us get off carbon. We need to switch lanes to non-carbon energy in time! How is PMSH ‘plan’ helping you cop with the HIGH cost of energy now and in the future?)
so-called “deep oil” represents a desperately needed interim solution:
(The Tar Sands is also a sign we are quickly running out of oil world wide!)
75 billion barrels from deep-oil project in the Gulf (there hoping?)
(How long do you think that will last, really?)
The world is blowing through oil at a rate of 30 Billion barrels per year.
North America’s annual consumption of 8.4 billion barrels shows few signs of easing.(Were will the oil come from in future, were even more energy will be needed?)
It’s still not entirely clear where all that crude is going to come from in the future.
The Bakken shale formation that reaches from North Dakota into southern Saskatchewan, for instance, holds as much as five billion barrel of recoverable oil.(Thats not even enought to meat 1 years use of oil today in North America.)
methane hydrates,
Yet technology to recover it does not yet exist, and reaching it will cost billions. (That quit a gambel no technology that doesn’t exits and at deeps thae we may not be able to get at.)
Agian and again, “glitches” have prevented the Gulf projects from realizing their early promise.
Butskeptics might be forgiven for wondering wheather these are depths we were ever meant to reach. If you can fly too close to the sun, one surmises, perhaps you can pry too far into the earth.
“The wells run so far down, and are so far from the production facilities”,she says. “The reservoirs’ characteristics are a lot less favourable. I think the sort of excitement we saw [in 2006] is always followed by a serving of relism.
There might be a lot of oil down there, but getting it out is another question”.
companies are struggling to access oil they can recover in large quantities.
“It’s difficult to find, and difficult to produce”, she says. “You have to go into areas like the ultra-deepwater, or the Arctic, where you’re trying to reach resource once considered too difficult”. (another sign of running out)(if much oil in the Artic, there guessing.)
Alberts oil(tar) sands produce more than a million barrels of crude a day.
(It uses x-amounts of Natural gas and water. Make lots of polution Green house gasses and hug Toxic waste lakes.)
“The only question is, has the new technology progressed enough to exploit everything that’s available?”
(‘exploit’ it all, nothing left for your kids or PMSH kids. We used technolgy to ‘exploit’ the east cost fisheries. Look what happen there.
Maximize profit now, screw the future human beings and the planets atmopher to make life even possible for advanced animals like you and me.)
page20, A VERSION OF THE TRUTH
Forget the hidden agenda. The Tories are getting a name for playing with the facts. (Could you say as Neo-con liers!
have you been paying attention?)
Did you say lemmings? Factually, lemmings do not jump off cliffs – it’s an urban myth.
By Bonnie N BC on 05.19.08 1:21 pm
But Bonnie – we know the cons react like the lemming myth – wherever their ’saviour’ will lead them, they will follow!! They have lost their ability to question. If it isn’t neocon ’speak’, it must be bad. It’s been a long time since I read George Orwelll but, from what I remember, his predications have come true.
New rules jeopardize wind and solar projects
By Greg W., Oakville on 05.19.08 3:04 pm
Greg W – once again the federal/provincial split bites someone – this one is entirely a provincial matter – and actually it is th result of Hydro-One never really wanting people to generate their own electricity – they were forced into it by the provincial government – they didn’t believe people were ready and willing to jump on board – and they botched and administratively hobbled the whole shebang from day one (in every case they refers to Hydro-One).
I have been involved in this business ever since the ’standard offer business came out, and it very quickly became apparent to me that the reason no-one could ever see the left hand of the Hydro-One negotiator was because he kept it behind his back, where he had his fingers crossed the whole time.
A sad tale of narrow-minded people defeating a good idea by refusing to see other than through the vision slits in their helmet while hunkering down in their bunker.
Does this make you think of some of the people who post here?
By Judy on 05.19.08 2:41 pm
Well you see Judy, Harry has a huge problem. His one and only issue is that “Dion is not a leader”, and “Harper is a great leader.”.
So, what’s his problem?
First off, he can’t really demonstrate that Mr. Harper is a good leader. Mr. Harper has had over two years to demonstrate good leadership, and so far he hasn’t convinced anyone except his core supporters to follow him. Not a sign of a good leader, if you can’t get anyone to join the parade in the direction you want to lead.
Secondly, M. Dion has finally announced a significant policy and identified a priority that he wants to champion. He wants to lead Canadians in a whole new direction. Initial response suggests that Canadians may be at least interested in hearing what he has to say.
So, M. Dion is showing signs that he wants to lead, and Mr. Harper still can’t figure out how to get any more Canadians to follow him.
This just has to be tearing Harry up inside.
Harry’s fear of Dion’s foresightedness and concern for Canadians’ futures is reaching a crescendo.
Harry, you have nothing to fear but fear itself.
Release yourself from the ugly grasp of the Reformers and truly set yourself free.
By Judy on 05.19.08 2:41 pm
I would ignore him anyway, he will soon be getting a visit that will keep him occupied for many years to come.
Here is a link, and I know it’s not on the environment, but relevant in that it helps to frame our understanding of how the debate may be played out, and of how a certain style of presentation can corrupt the whole process of coming to a sane and coherent response to a large issue. The title is “War Made Easy”. I apologize if the link has been made before, but I think the content has value for our discussions.
http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=-8383084962209910782&hl=en-CA
You must have lived on a farm or in the country CBI. Do you remember lifting the hay (and the wonderful smell of it)with a pitchfork onto the back of the truck?
By kpn on 05.19.08 3:40 pm
No. I was on the top tramping the load. When it would get above the rails I would be terrified because I did not have a good sense of balance.
page20, A VERSION OF THE TRUTH
Forget the hidden agenda. The Tories are getting a name for playing with the facts. (Could you say as Neo-con liers!
have you been paying attention?)
By Greg W., Oakville on 05.19.08 4:03 pm
Greg – I definitely don’t have the knowledge you do. But, I do recall 10+ years ago reading articles from well respected people about peak oil. Most denied it, & called then lunatics, but I did not. Its quite obvious to me that when ‘we’ have arrived at the point that we have to pursue oil in the most ‘harsh & costly areas’ of the world that we’ve reached peak oil. I forget what the energy costs of producing oil from the Tar Sands are, but it is extremely costly, in comparison to the traditional sources. In addition, look at the environmental costs of it. Alberta is the ‘weakest link’ of all oil producing places. Norway has prepared for their long term future. Albertans are almost giving it away, for short term benefits.
There is only enough time to get it right the first time!!!
But not much time!
So we better make sure we do right!
For You and your family!
Tell ALL you Friends and family, and VOTE!!!
But never vote on a machine or let your vote be counted by a machine!
You have heard of hackers?
By Greg W., Oakville on 05.19.08 1:53 pm
Thank you so much for your complete posting. I agree with you and I feel your urgency.
On your advice, I have seen The Eleventh Hour and Crude Advice. I understand your urgency. Everyone should see those documentaries and then vote for Dion. He is the man that CAN and WILL LEAD canada into the green years. Its a new dawn with Dion! Its a new way, the best way, the Dion way!
Thank you for all your informative posts Greg.
I see myself as just Progressive it more desribes my beliefs. Someone posted a link some guy was talking about this new world movement of the People.I’ve felt in growing in the US over the past two years.The Progressives from the major Parties are working on electing Progressive canidates and ridding both Parites of the Neo Cons.Just look at the by-election in a Mississippi district that voted for Bush 63% they elected a Democrat.The Republicans even had Cheney stumping for the Republican.The American Public isn’t living in Fear of Terror anymore and from where I sit It’s the Republicans now that have to eat the Fear that they’ve forced fed the American public to gain Power.
I can like both Garth and Dion because I see them as Progressives and that’s what is most important.Garth should be respected because he has stood fast to His Beliefs as he’s proven over and over through his words and Actions. Garth is a fine example of what to look for when wanting to Vote for a True Progressive. If you stop thinking in the CON/ Lib Mindset and just ‘Think Progressive” it becomes easier. It worked for me and I’m just a GED grad.:>)
You must have lived on a farm or in the country CBI. Do you remember lifting the hay (and the wonderful smell of it)with a pitchfork onto the back of the truck?
By kpn on 05.19.08 3:40 pm
No. I was on the top tramping the load. When it would get above the rails I would be terrified because I did not have a good sense of balance.
By C. B. Innes on 05.19.08 4:30 pm
No matter where, or what one did, CBI, can’t you still recall the sweet smell of the hay.
I prolly took it for granted back then, but not now. I’d love to be able to smell it again.
Re balance, I freak out about heights now. Never did before. When we were overseas last summer & drove in Switzerland and Black Forest in Germany, thought I was having having a heart attack or something similar. I can’t even watch a pgm on TV that shows a cliff – almost feel like I’m aout to have a panic attack. My father, in his later years, was the same. I wake up sweating, in the middle of the night, after having dreamt of myself next to a cliff. I know there’s something behind this, just don’t know what it is, or means.
Ah, let’s look at some dates and facts shall we? I know, so boring compared to the ill-informed mantras, but darn, that is what intelligent, honest people of integrity do. I will just provide the links because I know from long experience that some will take advantage of the access to knowledge, while others will just parrot their never ending mantra of opposition.
First we had the Montreal Protocol which came into play on January 1, 1989. its primary purpose was to prevent damage to Earth’s Ozone layer from CFC’s. Stephane Dion was there. Ratification by participants
Next we had the Kyoto ProtocolKyoto Protocol, Stephane Dion was there also. In fact Canada signed the agreement, an international agreement that is legally binding (at least to honourable people who sign such things on behalf of the people of their nation). Kyoto came into effect on February 16, 2005. Canada ratified the agreement on December 17, 2002
We still have a problem called Green House Gases (GHG) and here are some facts to consider GHG’s, and particularly (no pun intended) Carbon Dioxide
Bottom line is that the government of Canada did do some things to meet the Kyoto Protocol, but it was not in effect until 2005, and then came Harper.
Canada’s Clean Air Act was introduced in October, 2006. Official Government website
The UK had their’s in 1956
The U.S. their’s in 1963.
FACTS. Canada is still waiting for meaningful law regarding the quality of our air. We at least have had the Canada Environmental Protection Act since 1999.
Has our government been ‘Getting it done’ or not? You decide!
Accountability???? What the hell is this that Harper’s snuck in? Talk about a sleazy dictator – I would hope that even CPC supporters would be angry:
Parliament, CSIS exempt from contracts scrutiny
Ombudsman created by Accountability Act won’t have power to review contracts with MPs, ministers
May 19, 2008 04:04 PM
Tim Naumetz
THE CANADIAN PRESS
OTTAWA – Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his cabinet have exempted contracts with Parliament and Canada’s spy agency from oversight by a new ombudsman’s post that was central to the 2006 Conservative election campaign.
The government slipped the exemptions through last week in regulations that empower the contract procurement ombudsman under the Accountability Act – flagship legislation the government introduced as its first bill soon after taking office.
Opposition MPs were taken by surprise at the exemptions, saying they were unaware the Senate, the House of Commons and the Canadian Security Intelligence Service would be excluded from the ombudsman’s statutory duty to review contracts for “fairness, openness and transparency.”
The exemptions also mean anyone who has a complaint about contracts to supply goods or services to Parliament – including contracts with offices of MPs, senators or CSIS, will be unable to have them reviewed by the ombudsman.
NDP MP Pat Martin, who was crucial to the Conservative government’s success at getting the accountability bill through the Commons, says he would not have allowed the exemptions to go through had he been aware of them at the time.
“I can’t imagine any justification for exemptions or exclusions,” he said. “We enthusiastically supported this and at no time were we made aware that there would be exemptions or exclusions from it.”
The move to keep the ombudsman out of the affairs of Parliament and the national security agency is the latest in a series of government measures and controversies the opposition says contradict the spirit of the accountability law.
The prime minister was criticized immediately upon taking office when he named the Quebec co-chair of the Conservative election campaign, Michael Fortier, to his cabinet and appointed him to the Senate where he is out of reach of opposition scrutiny through question period in the House of Commons.
As public works minister, Fortier is responsible for billions of dollars worth of contracts the government awards each year and was also responsible for steering the regulations empowering the procurement ombudsman through cabinet.
Harper’s anger over the opposition’s refusal to endorse his nomination of a friend and party supporter, Calgary oil baron Gwyn Morgan, as head of a new commission for federal appointments has led to the prime minister’s refusal to put the commission in place to independently screen cabinet appointments to government posts.
Finance Minister Jim Flaherty has been under opposition attack after his former chief of staff, who went on to a government appointment, broke government tendering rules when he awarded a well-connected Tory an untendered $122,000 contract to write the 2007 budget speech.
The government has also come under fire for eliminating a database containing a massive historical list of government documents that have been released under the Access to Information Act. The database had been widely used by academics, researchers and journalists.
The contract-oversight regulations say the ombudsman “shall not” perform the duties and functions of his office in regard to contracts with “the Canadian Security Intelligence Service; and the staff of the Senate and the House of Commons.” Those are the only exemptions listed in the regulations.
Liberal MP Mark Holland was also unaware of the exemptions, saying “I don’t think there’s any good reason for it.” He added if CSIS contracts were excluded for security reasons, sensitive information could be examined privately.
“If the concern is privacy or security concerns, those same concerns surely would exist within the defence department,” he said. “As for MPs and senators, that information should be available to the challenge.”
The head of a lobby group that has monitored Harper’s record on his campaign promise of more accountability says all independent monitoring offices should have the power to scrutinize Parliament.
“The way to do things differently is to extend all of the accountability laws to politicians and they haven’t done that with the Access to Information Act, the auditor general, whistle-blower protection or this case of procurement,” said Democracy Watch co-ordinator Duff Conacher.
Conservative MP James Moore, the parliamentary secretary for Fortier who answers questions on his behalf in the Commons, declined to answer questions about the procurement ombudsman, referring a journalist to the Public Works Department’s web site. Its page for the ombudsman contains only a telephone number and mailing address for contact.
A media officer with the public works department e-mailed a response to questions, saying the government exempted CSIS because “knowledge of their procurement could compromise their operations.”
“An exemption is also made for procurement by the Senate and the House of Commons because of the special legal status of these organizations,” said spokesperson Lucie Brosseau.
The cabinet earlier this month appointed former assistant auditor general Shahid Minto as the procurement ombudsman for a five-year term. Minto is also a former chief risk officer for the public works department.
….this is absolutely unacceptable.
Bill-Muskoka – I understand what you are saying, but Suzuki has made his whole life about the environment – how many years now – 30 plus I’m guessing. He has studied it and studied it and studied it – even if he didn’t have a Ph.D – he’s certainly an expert.
PMSH ‘plan’ is to burn all the oil and Natural Gas and F*** the future of even his own kids!
By Greg W., Oakville on 05.19.08 2:43 pm
Right on, Greg — harpo, dubya and their lot are nothing more than self-deluded war-mongerers.
Even hell is too good a place for those crackpots to rot in.
****************************************
By PYOTR PETROBITCH on 05.19.08 3:27 pm
But of course, Pyotr. An honest mistake on my part, for which I take full responsibility. Henceforth, a five-star rating is now given . . .
! * * * * * !
“The government has announced that a total of $26 million will be redirected from HIV-AIDS initiatives to efforts at developing an HIV vaccine, but support groups don’t know when those cuts are coming or how much may be taken from them.”
http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Politics/2008/05/18/5605321-cp.html
Oh, NICE, Stevie. Makes you hope that the notion of karma is true.
So, Stevie, when you allocate money for cancer research, do you take it out of cancer prevention and care programs?
Also, which lobbyist for which drug/vaccine company has managed to get this money redirected, I wonder? I hope it’s not our friend Ken Boessenkool again.
——–
By Ted Browne on 05.19.08 11:06 am
and by William Laidlaw on 05.19.08 12:11 pm
Cluster bombs – the gift that keeps on giving. Since land mines were banned with the Ottawa protocol – remember when we were doing great stuff like that? – the next best thing for the bomb-them-all-to-hell crowd are cluster bombs. Something like 10% of the damn things don’t detonate. Unexploded “bomblets” – cute, eh? – are still killing people in Vietnam, Lebanon (from the last time and the time before that), and probably Iraq and Afghanistan too. And they put nice little parachutes on them and encase them in bright colours that children might enjoy. What sick bastards thought of these things anyway?
But then again, Harper and cronies have been against all kinds of things. They still ship asbestos all over the world, they shunned the HIV/AIDS conference in Toronto (see above for slashed funding), they refused to ratify UN protocols on the rights of the child and aboriginal rights, and on, and on.
—–
By James- Chatham on 05.19.08 2:34 pm re China and Canada emissions:
Exactly. China has a population of about 1.2 billion and Canada has 32 million or so. Their population is 40,000 times larger than ours yet they put out only ten times our level of GHG. The earth would choke to death if everyone emitted at our rate. And a huge chunk of that is the tar sands. The U.S., in their last round of Security (for the U.S.) and Prosperity (for the U.S.) Partnership meetings wanted Alberta to increase its output by a factor of four.
The mind boggles.
—–
Happy holiday all – even Harry S.
Damn cold here – only 4C this morning. The tomatoes and peppers will have to wait until next week or the weekend after that before they’re planted.
Here is a link, and I know it’s not on the environment, but relevant in that it helps to frame our understanding of how the debate may be played out, and of how a certain style of presentation can corrupt the whole process of coming to a sane and coherent response to a large issue. The title is “War Made Easy”. I apologize if the link has been made before, but I think the content has value for our discussions.
http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=-8383084962209910782&hl=en-CA
By persona sine ingenio on 05.19.08 4:24 pm
During the middle of the night I watched a pgm on PBS, originally prodcast on March 27/09, IIRC with many previous Secty’s of State. Kissinger, whom I do not admire, said that Afphanistan will be ‘NOT’ be won by military power. Tried to find this but haven’t been able to as yet.
It’s been a long time since I read George Orwelll but, from what I remember, his predications have come true.
By kpn on 05.19.08 4:07 pm
And to make it even MORE scary is that people just don’t get it.
—————————————-
No. I was on the top tramping the load. When it would get above the rails I would be terrified because I did not have a good sense of balance.
By C. B. Innes on 05.19.08 4:30 pm
Bet you CAN”T forget the death by “Itch” from the straw bits can you?
By kpn on 05.19.08 5:37 pm,
There are times here that you can still smell the hay after it is cut and dried on the field although it is no longer used to feed animals.
SLG, I was just reading that contract non-accountability:
http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/427431
I have a question: Why isn’t the Loyal Opposition aware of these things? Don’t they read what is put before them? How is Harper getting away with sneaking stuff past everyone?
I think the opposition has to just take it for a fact that anything Harper touches or creates has a built-in booby-trap, or some dirty, sneaky paragraph, exception, exemption or sidewinder caveat that is rotten, self-serving, and absolutely unaccountable.
If any of the opposition parties want to beat Harper, they better start doing their jobs and scrutinizing to the last comma every bill or piece of legislation from Harper.
Stephen Harper cannot be trusted. At all.
Stephen Harper said it himself: “Don’t believe what a politician says, watch what a politician does.” Time for the Opposition to take a page out of Harper’s book…
=====
Mr. Turner, hope you had a nice weekend and that your in-basket is overflowing with apologies
By Greg W., Oakville on 05.19.08 4:03 pm
With all these GMOs going on, the bee loss — where have they all disappeared? — I can see why Farmer’s Markets and local fruits and veggies are so popular.
http://tinyurl.com/3ssrb7
****************************************
This is a ‘warning’ from an economist, about an impending correction in the markets.
The Dow, TSX, FT, etc., are already over-valued anyway, so a sharp downturn will happen, as much as tomorrow follows today.
The main point is not to let one’s self get caught up and involved in the media hype about it.
http://tinyurl.com/6698cv
Calling someone with a Ph.D an expert is not partisan – it’s recognizing their expertise LOL, these rants get worse and worse all the time.
And, Harry S, is steaming mad now – he’s ranting aimlessly – LOL
By slg on 05.19.08 2:22 pm
SLG, you misunderstood me, but that’s my fault because I wasn’t clear. I think Suzuki is an expert. I just thought it was funny that Tabor is sarcastic with the Liberal MP, and is so pro-Conservative it is a joke, and then she calls Suzuki an expert…she set herself up, in my opinion. I thought it made her look stupid. Usually when she says something she doesn’t mean, her tone drips with sarcasm.
I didn’t have time to watch the interview with Suzuki but will later. Did you see it?
And you should open your eyes and see that Stephane Dion should not have stated that he wants a Carbon Tax regime in Canada, if he doesn’t have a clue what the details are!
Notice slug, I don’t distort his name unlike you and your Liberals do for Stephen Harper.
By Catherine on 05.19.08 2:27 pm
Well, that doesn’t even make sense – LOL
Hey, we’re getting to them – the CPC trolls and supporters are in such a tizzy – LOL, smirk.
Oh, folks, Catherine likes to call me names – mature isn’t it?
By slg on 05.19.08 3:21 pm
I call you a slug, because of your devotion to the Liberal brand.
And you should I have voted for Liberals and Conservatives and don’t have blinders on.
If you don’t believe me then, search Garth blog for the last 2 years and you will know where I stand on issues.
This sounds like the genesis of an idea that I could get behind.
By C. B. Innes on 05.19.08 3:24 pm
Cap and Dividend
http://www.capanddividend.org/
Regards,
-R
OOps again, meant to say it was originally broadcast March 27/08. I finally fouund the website.
Episode description: Former secretaries of state Henry Kissinger, James Baker III, Warren Christopher, Madeleine Albright, and Colin Powell give their perspectives on world events and the challenges facing the new president in 2009 and beyond. Newscasters Terence Smith and Jim Lehrer moderate.
IIRC, Jim Lehrer was not there.
http://www.ket.org/cgi-bin/tvschedules/episode.pl?nola=RSCS++000000
I agree 100% with Dion. Better to tax what you burn than what you earn. I am so glad to see that Dion GETS IT!
Hopefully, specifics would be released as to how the income tax reductions will come about come an election campaign – and give much consideration for our rural seniors and especially for farmers.
As to those who believe that the tax would not be revenue neutral…it’s still better that we pay the tax now, than to force our children and those not yet born to have to pay the massive tax of pollution and resource depletion.
By slg on 05.19.08 3:35 pm
You do realize that Dalton McGuinty, Paul Martin, Frank McKenna and other Liberals have attended the Bilderberg group, right?
Further to my:
By Harry S on 05.19.08 3:38 pm
If over the 13 years of the Chretien-Martin-Dion Liberal regimes they had done something to reduce GHGs after signing the Kyoto treaty, and stopped our GHGs from rising 32% above target, Canada would not need a Liberal Carbon Tax … ever think of that morons ..??!!!
…………………………………
The Chretien-Martin-Dion Liberals screwed Canada under our Kyoto commitments – that’s a fact.
Then Environment Minister Dion was unsuccessful at making GHG reduction a Liberal government priority and admittedly too (‘we didn’t get it done’) .. with GHGs emissions wildly skyrocketing above our Kyoto targets.
Dion is a proponent of purchasing “international” Kyoto carbon credits and send Billion$$$$ offshore to China, India, Russian … and even went in writing in two of his “green” plans to mitigate the now 30% excess GHGs with carbon credits.
Now Dion is proposing a ‘revenue neutral’ carbon tax .. that is for the federal government, but will it be ‘cost neutral’ to individual Canadian taxpayers?? How will such a scheme reduce the 30% GHG exess above Kyoto??
Lib-lovers accept Dion’s carbon tax sight unseen, because Dion is a ‘good guy’ … and wouldn’t mislead or whack us with a tax that is inequitable to individual taxpayers … now would he ..??!!!
The question is: “If Dion’s Carbon-Income Tax-Shifing is ‘neutral’, how would it knock down GHG excess, because if GHGs decrease the whole scheme will become “tax-unbalanced”?!
So will the ’shifting’ be linked and adjusted to how much GHGs go down … and if they don’t go down the scheme will be a failure.. requiring the purchase of Billion$$$$ of Kyoto Carbon Credits to make up for the current 30% GHG excess ….. ??!!!
Also, how much of a new civil service will be required to monitor and apply the taxes and refunds … obviously much more than the $2 Billion for the insignificant Gun Registry ….??!!!
If Dion’s Carbon Tax scheme is a failure, would the Liberal government call an immediate election because failure would in effect be a vote of non-confidence by Canadians in that government ….???!!!
Think about that … and please stop your personal attacks on the messenger because you fear the worst about Dion’s Carbon Tax scheme ….
Opposition MPs were taken by surprise at the exemptions, saying they were unaware the Senate, the House of Commons and the Canadian Security Intelligence Service would be excluded from the ombudsman’s statutory duty to review contracts for “fairness, openness and transparency.”
By slg on 05.19.08 5:52 pm
Only ONE explanation for that I can think of…the MP’s FAILED to do their job by reading the Bill ALL THE WAY THROUGH! Probably too busy writing QP and campaign Talking Points, and politicing. Just like the U.S. Congress. There is NO EXCUSE for allowing such measurses to pass.
Some of these MP’s are LAWYERS, and KNOW better than to ever agree or sign a contract without first READING IT!
If, after your visit, you could give us a FIVE STAR ***** I feel certain we might possibly attract a wider, more select clientele. We’re hopeful of a visit from Harry S, Catherine, Leasa, Van, Steve and all the sundry/various. It would do my heart good to see them chased down the expansive shining corridors by a wee boy on a tryke.
By PYOTR PETROBITCH on 05.19.08 3:27 pm
Oh that was good…..as a very concerned friend of Harry, I think that a change of his institution maybe an excellent idea. Lord knows the meds have not worked….
Harry; I believe Harper’s plan to test gas pumps every two years will cost a fortune. I don’t believe he costed that policy out , did he???
How many gas stations in Canada? And how many inspectors will have to be certified and hired to meet this new policy?
Some of these MP’s are LAWYERS, and KNOW better than to ever agree or sign a contract without first READING IT!
By Bill-Muskoka on 05.19.08 7:35 pm,
There is a deeper problem with our system than you realize. Don’t be too hard on the backbench MP.
These bills are often long and reference back to former legislation so it takes long detailed study to figure out what is going on with pages and pages of regulations. They often have too short a time to deal with the complexities. At the same time as the MPs have to deal with many similar bills they also have to look after a whole range of riding issues, committee work, Parliamentary work, and without the necessary support staff.
I have a great deal of empathy for the work of an MP. As the demands have become more complex. What this minority government is revealing is that any government can easily sneak through legislation because the system has not progressed to deal with that complexity.
It also reflects the decline in the ability of our elected institutions to represent any real democracy. In other words, this represents a systemic problem.
By Harry S on 05.19.08 3:38 pm
If over the 13 years of the Chretien-Martin-Dion Liberal regimes they had done something to reduce GHGs after signing the Kyoto treaty, and stopped our GHGs from rising 32% above target, Canada would not need a Liberal Carbon Tax … ever think of that morons ..??!!!
- Harry S.
There’s only one moron, that would be you, Harry.
Point 1. Yes the Liberals were in power for 13 years. Kyoto was signed later in their mandate. Towards the end, the Libs were a minority government and Harper et al. swore that any attempt to meet Kyoto would be voted down.
Now for a couple of years after signing Kyoto, the Libs did indeed have a majority, and should have started the ball rolling. They didn’t, and for those few years, I’ll actually agree with you the Libs have to answer for their inaction.
But Harry, 13 years is BS. and you know it.
2. The 13 years Liberal government ended 2 years ago, Harry. Obviously Harper and Baird haven’t figured out they are the government, and they are now the ones expected to do something about the environment. They need to take responsibility, but what have they brought forward….
Clean Air Act…. DOA.
So Harry, the CPC have had as much time as the Libs had to get something done about GHG’s, with about the same success…none.
PMSH ‘plan’ is to burn all the oil and Natural Gas and F*** the future of even his own kids!
By Greg W., Oakville on 05.19.08 2:43 pm
Speaking “plans” on Question Period I thought I heard Baird reveal what the REAL plan was to reduce green house gases. Didn’t he say that he and Harper will FORCE the big emitters, CHINA and INDIA, to put a CAP ON THEIR EMISSIONS?
If I heard right, considering the international successes and respect, especially in Asia, that Harper has carved out for himself and, regrettably, Canada, this has got to be the joke of the decade!!!
So will the ’shifting’ be linked and adjusted to how much GHGs go down … and if they don’t go down the scheme will be a failure.. requiring the purchase of Billion$$$$ of Kyoto Carbon Credits to make up for the current 30% GHG excess ….. ??!!!
By Harry S on 05.19.08 7:28 pm
The most effective way to reduce the amount of garbage that we pump into our air and maintain a fair return for Canadians would be to put in place a descending cap to all carbon that ENTERS the economy. This means we wouldn’t have to monitor smokestacks, car tailpipes, etc.
Each year, the cap would lower the amount of carbon that enters the economy by a small predetermined percentage, reducing the amount flowing into our atmosphere.
Simple.
-R
Think about that … and please stop your personal attacks on the messenger because you fear the worst about Dion’s Carbon Tax scheme ….
By Harry S on 05.19.08 7:28 pm
Why would we stop? You’re the little pile of crap that thinks Canada is a ratshit country.
Of course you could always apologize to all of us for that comment and you might get some respect back.
Until then you are a target that we have in our sights.
How are things is the hood?
By James- Chatham on 05.19.08 8:19 pm
There’s only one moron, that would be you, Harry.
[snip] ………..
So Harry, the CPC have had as much time as the Libs had to get something done about GHG’s, with about the same success…none.
……………………………………………………….
Shame on you James for having to resort to such a desperate start to your fine posting. Let me provide you and the forum with the following information that will clarify the actions and inactions taken by the 13 year Liberal government of which Dion was a minister from 1993 to 2006. Please digest this information and try to be objective in your criticism of the dismal Liberal record on Kyoto and the environment.
April 29, 1998: Canada was one of the first countries to sign the Kyoto Protocol.
Dec. 17, 2002: Formal ratification came more than four years later.
In adopting Kyoto, the previous Liberal government pledged that Canada would reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by six per cent below 1990 levels by the five-year commitment period of 2008 to 2012.
Canada’s 2002 climate change plan committed the country to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 240 million tonnes a year by the end of 2012.
April 12, 2004: Environment Canada releases 2002 greenhouse gas inventory. Report shows Canada emitted 731 million tonnes of greenhouse gases that year, up 2.1 per cent over 2001, and 28 per cent above the Kyoto target of 572 million tonnes it must reach by 2012.
Feb. 16, 2004: Kyoto Protocol formally goes into force. Canada still has not released details of how it will achieve its Kyoto commitments.
April 13 2004: The federal government announces details of its Kyoto implementation plan, which revamps the plan it put in place almost three years earlier. The government pledges $10 Billion to cut greenhouse gases by 270 megatonnes a year by 2008-2012. The plan relaxes emission targets for large industrial polluters.
………………………………………………………
Here is a graph of Canada’s GHG growth related to Kyoto.
http://www.ec.gc.ca/pdb/ghg/inventory_report/2005_report/images/fs_1_l_eng.gif
So the Chretien Liberal government signed on to Kyoto in 1998 and did squat-all until it was ratified in 2002 – 4 years lost. Meanwhile GHG emissions were skyrocketing and still nothing substantive was done. No action, no plan .. nothing. It’s obvious that Chretien over-committed Canada, while other countries, particularly those in Europe, took on a lesser commitment because they were shrewd. Chretien must have known what he was committing Canadians to in Kyoto … and it was a big commitment. Chretien did nothing … absolutely nothing ..!!!
Dion was environment minister for 2 years in the Martin minority governments and in that time he failed to convince PM Martin to make Kyoto a ‘priority’, and confirmed by Ignatieff’s: “We didn’t get it done!” Meanwhile GHGs had gone through the roof, and it was obvious that Canada’s Kyoto targets could not be met by any government without destroying sectors of the economy.
The Harper Conservative government did the only responsible thing by refusing to meet the now onerous Kyoto targets and rejected the treaty. The only way left for any Canadian government to be forgiven for our excessive GHGs was to buy Billion$$$$ of Kyoto Carbon Credits from China, India, Russia … and I am stating that was the covert intention of the Chretien and Martin governments. Both had interests in China that could benefit from Canada buying Kyoto Carbon Credits from China, and it doesn’t take much to connect the dots. PM Harper refused to go the path of buying Kyoto Carbon Credits, and that earned him the anger of the Chinese government.
From what we have heard of the Dion Carbon Tax incentive to lower our huge Kyoto GHGs excess, I believe that would be a failure and a Dion Liberal government would want to buy our way out of our commitments with Billion$$$$ of Kyoto Carbon Credits.
If Dion unequivocally stated his government would not purchase international carbon credits to mitigate the Liberal-caused 30% GHG excess, that would add credibility to his message and show Canadians he has faith in his carbon tax scheme and Canadians too. I doubt he would do that because I don’t trust him or the corrupt old dog Liberals who would be part of his government .. you know they did select him as their Liberal leader.
Nevertheless, let’s wait until June for Dion’s ‘good news’ carbon tax scheme … and try to be objective if you can ….
This is one way of living through turbulent times; it is also what the USSR encouraged their citizens to do.
http://tinyurl.com/4yne4q
****************************************
Le Garthmeister is on to something about the economy not being very healthy — consumer spending down, unemployment up, municipalities going bust in California.
http://tinyurl.com/62bcer
****************************************
Well, the proof of the pudding is in the eating.
The IAEA has found no evidence of dirty tricks happening in Iran, so now Israel and the US will bleat loudly how dangerous Iran is, and must be stopped from doing nothing, which it already IS . . .
http://tinyurl.com/6zww6a
. . . here is the other side of the report, so everyone really understands which side Congress — and CRAP — is really on.
http://tinyurl.com/5p5a9z
But Bonnie – we know the cons react like the lemming myth – wherever their ’saviour’ will lead them, they will follow!! They have lost their ability to question. If it isn’t neocon ’speak’, it must be bad. It’s been a long time since I read George Orwelll but, from what I remember, his predications have come true.
By kpn on 05.19.08 4:07 pm
kpn, not only have the Con followers lost their ability to question their hero, they have lost their ability to think for themselves. Sad but its a fact.
Have a good evening,
By C. B. Innes on 05.19.08 8:15 pm
Well, mon ami, that is why they get paid a LARGE salary, have staff, and with the abilities of computers can so things like WORD COUNTS to assure nothing has changed.
Sorry, while I appreciate the load, they get paid very well to perform their JOB. I, like any reasonable employer (and we are THEIR EMPLOYER), expect results commenserate with the pay and benefits they receive.
They are without excuse.
(Still waiting to see my earlier post on environmental history appear? It is in que for approval so WordPress tells me.)
By Bill-Muskoka on 05.19.08 9:30,
Maybe you should ask Garth to allow you to shadow him for a couple of weeks while the house is sitting. I think you might change your mind.
Harry S
- you are sucking and blowing at the same time, which, come to think of it is pretty dam silly
Your beloved leader want to put lots more people on the public payroll (paid for by ever reducing number of tax dollars due to mismanagement by your finance minister) to monitor the accuracy of our gas pumps, patrol our borders, serve in the armed forces, and you complain about the hypothetical creation of an emissions monitoring staff that you think may be the result of what you think is the end result of S. Dion’s vision.
Now, not that long ago you were inveighing about the bloated size of the civil service, and you are mumbling about it again. You have been invited to actually come forward with a concrete outline of what YOU think should be the functions performed by the federal civil service and how many people it will take.
To date you have been as vacuous as your leader’s defense, environmental, and foreign policies.
So, spout forth with your revision of the Glassco report.
By Rob Wiebe on 05.19.08 7:10 pm
The simplicity of this approach is attractive and would return the dividend quickly. Monitoring its progress and impact on renewable energy investment should be reasonably cost effective as well if the service was tendered.
By slg on 05.19.08 3:35 pm
You do realize that Dalton McGuinty, Paul Martin, Frank McKenna and other Liberals have attended the Bilderberg group, right?
By Catherine on 05.19.08 7:20 pm
Yes, of course I do – but if you read the article they are “concerned” about Harper and for good reason.
You must have lived on a farm or in the country CBI. Do you remember lifting the hay (and the wonderful smell of it)with a pitchfork onto the back of the truck?
By kpn on 05.19.08 3:40 pm
No. I was on the top tramping the load. When it would get above the rails I would be terrified because I did not have a good sense of balance.
By C. B. Innes on 05.19.08 4:30 pm
LOL. Memories. I used to drive the tractor through the separted rows of hay when I was in my teens as my father tramped down the load. As a younger child, my job was to pull the hay rope back, meaning that after the hay was fork-lifted into the barn, the rope had to be pulled out so as not to get in the way for the next lift.
SLG- May 19 552pm thanks for the reprint of that article. ‘Accountability’?? Parliament & CSIS exempt from contract scrutiny?? Nice one Steve. Kind of eliminates the need for a whole lot of lobbying, there,eh? What a slippery bunch of dodgers they are.
Hi Brain! I hope you’ve had a good day and I liked what you wrote at 1122am. I can relate. I use music, (or art or books) and Humour to get through it all. I especially love satire and I think many of the people here are the funniest I’ve ever met! It’s beautiful and a bonus too, when the humourless trolls come calling! I don’t even need my nightly fix of Comedy Channel- just come here instead. One show I never miss tho’- 22 Minutes (old school), with my absolute favourite Gerry Boyle/Frank Macmillan/Eddie Reardon, oh my-he makes me laugh!! Greg Thomey- what ever happened to him I wonder? Anyway, it’s SO wierd to see all the past incidents that I’m sure many of the politicians would prefer we just forgot all about…oh we-ll!! And last night I saw the re-run of Bob and Dougs’ 2-4 Anniversary hosted by Paul Martin. He’s funny. He should do more of that. (Jean too! Doesn’t even need his own security!) I just want to remind you Brain~ to laugh every day! and remember what’s REALLY important and be thankful you’re an honest, decent, humble person. That will always be trump. Take care, linda. P.S. To the CON-trolls: for many years I struggled with, and then learned from the concept that wise people had imparted to me, and that was- That which we perceive and then dislike or despise in others’ is, in fact, quite often EXACTLY that characteristic in ourselves, which you are in complete DENIAL of, that is really irritating you. When I read some your vitriolic posts, I feel a cry for help and would encourage you to explore that concept while in some form of therapy. That’ll be $.05 please?
So Harry, the CPC have had as much time as the Libs had to get something done about GHG’s, with about the same success…none.
By James- Chatham on 05.19.08 8:19 pm
Well actually more in the conservative 2 years (even if it’s a tiny bit). Apparently transit ridership is up (thanks to the transit tax credit).
This simple gesture in 2006 by the Conservative did more good for our environment than Stephane Dion and the Liberals ever did in their 12+ years (1993 to Jan 2006) of governing.
Catherine,
great “apparent” correlation of cause and effect in your 4:30 am. Do you have any more like that in your talking points briefing book?
How ’bout some facts: transit ridership up where, by how much, over what period of time?
As a younger child, my job was to pull the hay rope back, meaning that after the hay was fork-lifted into the barn, the rope had to be pulled out so as not to get in the way for the next lift.
By Marg on 05.19.08 10:47 pm
I remember pulling it back for the next fork full of hay but I wasn’t allowed to do it often because you had to be out of the way when the fork came back down. Pulling it along the track was great fun for a child. When it hit the lift mechanism and dropped back to the haywagon for the next lift you had to be on guard.
Feb. 16, 2004: Kyoto Protocol formally goes into force. Canada still has not released details of how it will achieve its Kyoto commitments.
By Harry S on 05.19.08 9:24 pm
Harry, it was 2005 you are off a whole year.
Maybe you should ask Garth to allow you to shadow him for a couple of weeks while the house is sitting. I think you might change your mind.
By C. B. Innes on 05.19.08 10:08 pm
I guess we have a a different set of performance standards. Yes, surely there is a huge load for MP’s who actually attempt to do their job. Yet, when someone is willing to say ‘I am voting to make this Bill a LAW’ I damn well expect them to KNOW what they are voting on. When they don’t all it does is hurt people and support the limitless gluttony of the legal profession.
This is the reason we have so many problems in society. Badly written or unconstitutional laws, enforced by mindless bureauracrats, and until someone can afford to challenge them in the Courts, they stay there like a pile of dung eroding away people’s lives and rights.
If MP’s want to ‘feel important’ I expect them to have a sense of the import their performance has on OUR lives and society. That is why we, (admittedly without qualification) give them the title of Honourable. A title damn few earn or deserve.
I bet you would be pretty pissed if your mechanic said ‘Gee, I am sorry your tire came off, your family has been injured, but I was so busy I forgot to check the torque on the lugnuts before releasing your vehicle to you.’ We license mechanics, doctors, engineers, lawyers, dentists, plumbers, electricians, builders, equipment operators, paralegals, gas inspectors, but NOT Members of Parliament. See any oddity in that? Just what pre-qualifications do these ‘wannabe power brokers’ need to have to run for office? Used car saleman?
Hi Charles Oxley on 05.19.08 9:25 pm,
Thanks for the links.
In regards to the 4th link you gave.
(Pelosi said the US needed to be more “proactive” in saying to the countries of the world – including Russia, China and the Muslim countries in Asia – that “one of the pillars of US foreign policy is to stop the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction to anyone.”
The US needed to make it clear to everyone, including the Europeans, that their polices on this issue would be a term of friendship with the US, and a measuring stick of benefits they could derive from that friendship, she said.
The US cannot stop nuclear proliferation alone, Pelosi said, adding that “if these weapons proliferate, they are a threat to everyone, not just to the US, and not just to Israel.”)
What a bunch of hypocrites. Who make and sells the weapons to everyone all over the world, that includes WMD! Who has the most nukes?
Who is killing people all over the world NOW?
Why would any country want to align them selves with the USA at this time?
They have the largest foreign debt.
The most WMD that includes there regular military.
Their president is a fascist dictator and quit mad. Maybe even a sociopath,
Torture, water-boarding, legal prisons in Cuba and around the world,
The patriot act that stealing the American peoples constitutional rights.
Signing power on bills so he will not be in the line of sight of the law.
PMSH is also acting in a fascist dictatorship way. He’s right in Bushes back pocket, a real lap dog/puppet.
Electronic voting machines have been and can be rigged! PMSH has ordered some.
NEVER EVER VOTE ON A MACHINE OR HAVE YOUR VOTE COUNTED BY A MACHINE!!!
You have heard of hackers and foreign powers, agencies, right?
Have you been paying attention?
I bet you would be pretty pissed if your mechanic said ‘Gee, I am sorry your tire came off, your family has been injured, but I was so busy I forgot to check the torque on the lugnuts before releasing your vehicle to you.’ We license mechanics, doctors, engineers, lawyers, dentists, plumbers, electricians, builders, equipment operators, paralegals, gas inspectors, but NOT Members of Parliament. See any oddity in that? Just what pre-qualifications do these ‘wannabe power brokers’ need to have to run for office? Used car saleman?
By Bill-Muskoka on 05.20.08 8:18 am
That still does not prevent all of these professionals from making mistakes. Your example is timely because this year someone I know had exactly that happen when he got his winter tires changed although fortunately there were no injuries.
It is easy to assign blame but this is not a new problem that has emerged under this government. There have been complaints for years that bad law is being pushed through.
Government has become more and more complex but “we the people” have not given the MP the resources to act efficiently or effectively. It is not enough to give them a good salary but they need a support team.
At one time we could depend on the bureaucracy to assist parliamentarians in creating good law.
The government has thousands of public servants and outside contractors supplying thousands of pages of law and regulations to Parliament. Yet the human resources, including the legal expertise, given to them has not kept pace with the demands.
I suggest you read Donald Savoie’s books if you want to understand the complex issues involved.
I have to laugh at all those assuming that because someone has a PhD, they are somehow an “expert”. Do you even know what Suzuki’s PhD is in? It’s not the environment or anything related to the climate.
I was just talking to my neighbor who has a PhD in Sociology, and since he is obviously an “expert” in everything as evidenced by said PhD, I asked him for advice on tuning a carburetor on a 1962 Jaguar E-type 3.8. Who cares that the only Jaguar he’s ever seen is mine, or those on TV?
I think it’s a great idea. Besides, ultra-conservatives like David Frum also support the introduction of a carbon tax.
I don’t see this as a con-versus-lib controversy, but one of common sense v. short-sightedness.
Dion, you are starting to make a lot of sense. Thank you for your insightfulness.
We need to save the environment and I feel confident that you will be a ‘key player’. Yes, I agree with you, especially when you say ‘It’s hard to make priorities because there are so many priorities Canadians should be concerned about. I think I’ll promote your phrase ‘tax what you use, not what you earn’. I love it.
Catherine: Transit ridership is not up due to the tax credit ( which is only available to those who buy monthly passes). Ridership is up due to high fuel costs!!!! And I also believe the population in major cities has also increased!!! More people—more ridership.
Sorry for the delay, but I’ve got stuff going on that makes this look like small potatoes. But that doesn’t absolve me of the responsibility to set it right. The last post has been appropriately updated, and all posts link to it.
Hmmm, It seems like the New Government Mp’s and fans don’t like you very much Garth? What’s up with that?
I was a long time Tory supporter and I have recently changed gears.
Thanks to you, Garth, you’re webpage is educational and enjoyable. I can tell you that I will be supporting our ‘Liberal Candidate in the next Fed election and am willing to go door knocking to get the votes out. Thanks Garth for your insightfulness and your dedication to the ‘Canadian Taxpayers’.
I will advocate for change. No longer a Con.
By Bill-Muskoka on 05.20.08 8:05 am
Harry, it was 2005 you are off a whole year.
………………………………..
Thank you for that correction, Bill-M … I was editing the Canada-Kyoto timeline information from a CBC article and unintentionally erred.
Thanks again .. and I trust the information was helpful to your anti-Liberal carbon tax position.
Dion was directly and indirectly responsible for the Liberal-botched Kyoto commitments, and now he will be trying to convince Canadians they must punish themselves with a carbon tax to mitigate a past Liberal governments failures. Will Canadians be scammed again ???