The Guardian has an opinion about our recently announced greenhouse gas emissions targets. "Canada reneges on emissions targets as tar sands production takes its toll".
Oh oh. "Extremists" are opposed to the Oil Sands. You know they're "extremists" because they're opposed to the Oil Sands.
There is a new push from Government scientists to curb government meddling and muzzling of their affairs. You can get a real sense of what is going on from talking to retired scientists, no longer afraid of speaking out.
Shockingly, Pierre Poilievre doesn't think he's done anything wrong by using government funds to shoot propaganda videos in the run up to the election. The CBC digs into the overall Conservative ad scheme a bit more.
The Israel hate speech story is blowing up. The Intercept here. Claims that the original story was false. And support for the original story.
Another Stephen Harper loss in the Supreme Court. Omar Khadr should have served his sentence as a youth, not an adult offender.
The Senate is making news again. First, former Liberal Senators won't vote for C-51. Can they force meaningful change upon it? We will see. Next, Conservative Senators don't seem like they will allow the Reform Act through. This could get interesting. Lots of chances for people to jump up and down and complain about non elected politicians dictating policy. Even a chance for both sides to use it against the other, if we're lucky.
A report suggests we have no real plan for what we are doing with our fight against ISIS.
And you thought Alberta oil royalties were bad...Ontario collected a little over $200 in diamond royalties last year. The industry was probably outraged to pay even that much. Jobs!
The RCMP may have broken the law when they destroyed gun registry records. No worries though. The Cons just retroactively changed the law so it was legal.
Interesting. The Cons have decided to blow up the existing debate format and not accept the status quo. This seems to go together with the suggestion a few months ago that they were going to pursue more debates in an effort to beat up on Trudeau.
In public, the Military claims they will act on sexual misconduct. In practice, they are issuing orders to ignore key report recommendations they promised to follow.
The new Veterans Affairs minister thinks that medical marijuana has no place in PTSD treatment for soldiers. "No proof" he says. Of course, we haven't studied it, so there is "no proof" either way.
Tony Clement has gotten involved in the sick day fracas. Says they will negotiate...but claims they won't be able to touch the $900 Million in savings. Which seems like a difficult position for the unions.
The Cons are blocking an investigation into several NDP MP's being denied access to Parliament.
Showing posts with label War on Science. Show all posts
Showing posts with label War on Science. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 19, 2015
Monday, December 8, 2014
Screwing Veterans - Week 188 - Dec 1-8
The Cons officially tell veterans they don't give a shit about them. "No special obligation". But then again, how do you come off as the good guy when you're fighting disabled veteran's in court? As well, the $200 million the Conservatives have promised in veterans support will be dispersed over 50 years. Not the six or seven originally promised.
Leona Aglukkaq actually admitted to some wrongdoing. She admits reading a newspaper while people tried to ask her questions in the House of Commons was a bad idea.
The Cons suggest that the Information Commissioner should "raise fees" for information requests if she can't make her budget. Never mind that the fees all go in to general revenue and charging more would have no impact on her budget.
Steve announces a pittance of funding for University science. And kicks the Health Research Grant program in the nuts, forcing researchers to hit up industry for matching funds. A masterstroke. Make research more difficult and make all the researchers beholden to industry.
The cover up is worse than the crime, right? Nobody would have noticed a report detailing RCMP aircraft flying overweight and pilots falsifying records. Okay. People would have noticed. But it's a lot bigger thing now.
The US is requiring us to pass laws in their favour to enter into the TPP.
Our homicide rate is the lowest it's been since 1966. Time to get tougher on crime.
An analysis of the Michael Sona conviction. Bad news for low level election workers, great news for candidates looking to commit future election fraud.
Many, many groups have come out in support of the full decriminalization of prostitution.
Strange, strange things are going on with the wheat board. Why does it need to be privatized?
There's now dueling audio experts in the surreptitious recording scandal.
The brother of our Multiculturalism Minister was arrested in a drug sting. Imagine that conversation with their parents.
Canada lost 10,000 jobs in November.
Why has nobody reported on the oil spill in Alberta?
Everybody freaks out when a politician or civil servant has high expenses. The Acting Human Rights Commissioner has been called out for $760 thousand in travel and living expenses over the past 8 years, largely due to his living in Winnepeg and working in Ottawa. As he points out, he'd move to Ottawa if he was named permanently to the gig. So why have the Cons taken so long to find somebody permanent for this job?
Preston Manning has become a more palatable human since he left politics. He's in favour of carbon pricing. Or at least suggests the Conservatives should be.
We're selling off more consulates and properties in cities around the world. "Fire sale" the Globe calls it.
We've signed a "customs agreement" with China to share information. Nobody seems to know what this means.
Ahhh fuck these guys. The Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses want...oh who fucking cares? Special visas for their slave labour or something.
Leona Aglukkaq actually admitted to some wrongdoing. She admits reading a newspaper while people tried to ask her questions in the House of Commons was a bad idea.
The Cons suggest that the Information Commissioner should "raise fees" for information requests if she can't make her budget. Never mind that the fees all go in to general revenue and charging more would have no impact on her budget.
Steve announces a pittance of funding for University science. And kicks the Health Research Grant program in the nuts, forcing researchers to hit up industry for matching funds. A masterstroke. Make research more difficult and make all the researchers beholden to industry.
The cover up is worse than the crime, right? Nobody would have noticed a report detailing RCMP aircraft flying overweight and pilots falsifying records. Okay. People would have noticed. But it's a lot bigger thing now.
The US is requiring us to pass laws in their favour to enter into the TPP.
Our homicide rate is the lowest it's been since 1966. Time to get tougher on crime.
An analysis of the Michael Sona conviction. Bad news for low level election workers, great news for candidates looking to commit future election fraud.
Many, many groups have come out in support of the full decriminalization of prostitution.
Strange, strange things are going on with the wheat board. Why does it need to be privatized?
There's now dueling audio experts in the surreptitious recording scandal.
The brother of our Multiculturalism Minister was arrested in a drug sting. Imagine that conversation with their parents.
Canada lost 10,000 jobs in November.
Why has nobody reported on the oil spill in Alberta?
Everybody freaks out when a politician or civil servant has high expenses. The Acting Human Rights Commissioner has been called out for $760 thousand in travel and living expenses over the past 8 years, largely due to his living in Winnepeg and working in Ottawa. As he points out, he'd move to Ottawa if he was named permanently to the gig. So why have the Cons taken so long to find somebody permanent for this job?
Preston Manning has become a more palatable human since he left politics. He's in favour of carbon pricing. Or at least suggests the Conservatives should be.
We're selling off more consulates and properties in cities around the world. "Fire sale" the Globe calls it.
We've signed a "customs agreement" with China to share information. Nobody seems to know what this means.
Ahhh fuck these guys. The Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses want...oh who fucking cares? Special visas for their slave labour or something.
Monday, September 8, 2014
Nice Abs - Week 175 - Sept 2-8
We're #1! We're #1! Canada leads the world! In deforestation of pristine forests. And it's not even close.
A request to interview a government scientist about Rock Snot spurred a giant round of e-mails and confusion within the government. And no interview. Lots of discussion about what he should be allowed to say if there was an approved interview request though.
Some details on the Tory plan to embarrass the Liberals. Surreptitious recordings...baited questions...and they appear to have no shame over it.
I'm a bit scared. If we consider the number of people on our no fly list to be a State Secret...Shit. It's like a boy guarding his precious beans. If that is the information we think will prevent terrorist attacks, we're screwed.
Brian Mulroney suggests that he would create a national inquiry over the missing women issue. And suggests Harper shouldn't have picked a fight with the head of the Supreme Court. For any American readers to make sense of this...imagine voting in a really terrible Conservative President in 20 years time...and then George Bush Jr. steps out of the woodwork to talk about how terrible a job that new guy is doing. Meanwhile...Numerous government reports contradict Steve's assertion that the missing aboriginal women's issue is "not sociological".
This is amazing! Last year, Employment and Social Development Canada put together a report that suggested the Canadian middle class has seen wage stagnation. Finance Canada is angry because this "appears to conflict with the general message in Budget 2014 and previous internal briefings", so they put together a new report that says the opposite. Man. What the fuck are these guys up to?
America has decided that our anti-counterfeiting law doesn't suck enough.
Are the Liberals floating mandatory voting laws? Fuck. The Cons are going to freak the fuck out about this. If the census is a totalitaran overstep, imagine forcing people to vote.
Do we really have something to gain as a society by preventing convicts from reading?
A story about oil advertisements and environmental records and how spending money to convince Americans Keystone XL is great doesn't work. Probably because nobody in the US gives a shit about how this affects Canada.
More problems with more tough on crime legislation. There's a known error in a bill, but the Senate approved it anyway. It's a stupid law anyhow. And I think this proves the point that the Conservatives are more concerned with the optics of their stance than with actually accomplishing anything.
Chicken Hawk Steve derails added military spending requirements for NATO. Why spend your own money when you can talk tough and hide behind the US?
Mobilicity is suing the government for screwing things up with respect to their potential sale to Telus.
I'm okay with a Mr. Big sting being used in extreme circumstances, with regulations and controls in place. But it seems like it has become the go to tool for the RCMP and some of the tactics they use are bound to produce false confessions. That's not a "loophole". That's illegal. Details of numerous recent Nova Scotia murder trials that involved these stings.
Why would you go to England as the PM of Canada and give your opinion that Scotland should remain in the UK? What can you possibly gain from that?
This is a horribly depressingly awesome list of things threatened by climate change.
Omar Khadr is once again trying to sue the Canadian government. For $20 million.
Tuesday, September 2, 2014
Who to believe? - Week 174 - Aug 25 - Sep 2
I try to keep the swearing to a minimum on this little blog. Something about "expanding the audience"...but what the fuck? This is amazing! Last year, Employment and Social Development Canada put together a report that suggested the Canadian middle class has seen wage stagnation. Finance Canada is angry because this "appears to conflict with the general message in Budget 2014 and previous internal briefings", so they put together a new report that says the opposite. Man. What the fuck are these guys up to? How the fuck can we take these guys seriously? Fuck!
Steve's fancy "We Hate Communists" memorial? He has appropriated the land from a project for a new Federal Court building. The name of that unbuilt building/project? The Pierre Elliot Trudeau Judicial Building. And they're spending a pile to make it happen.
Oh man...can you imagine saying this shit with a straight face? CRA is auditing a left leaning think tank because of "bias"...They're aware of the Fraser Institute, right?
The Globe lays out the insane number of "tough on crime" bills that are being introduced (and passed) without anybody really noticing. Except for this one. This one was noticed. There was a massive clerical error made with one of the Cons tough-on-crime bills. They sent the wrong version to the Senate for review. Could their own cuts have derailed their plans?
What the fuck is wrong with these stupid anti-science, Conservative zealots? The PC leader in New Brunswick is arguing that Justin Trudeau is wrong to push for more research into fracking. Which is a fucking stupid position to take. This argument that "fracking is safe and has been going on for 50 years" is imbecilic. The process and scale now is way, way different than it was. To argue that we shouldn't look into the effects of massive fracking projects is stupid. Hope this imbecile doesn't get elected.
What does Stephen Harper hope to accomplish with all his tough talk on Russia? We have nothing to back this up. Even if we did, what do we want? World War III? You're supposed to talk trash behind doors, not to the newspapers. Only a psychopath would deny the existence of global warming and then suggest that it's effects are an opportunity (the Arctic) and stoke fears that the Russians are coming. As well, I know one thing an International crisis doesn't need: An official Canadian delegation tweeting snarky comments at the Russians.
Peter McKay posed for a photo in a shirt supporting a gun rights group that supports an end to firearm regulation in Canada. Take the craziest shit the NRA wants and they want that here. "No Compromise". And then...Is Peter MacKay delusional? Only an imbecile would argue that sex workers are not stakeholders in new prostitution legislation.
More bad deeds with temporary foreign workers. A Saskatchewan company laid off Canadian workers and brought in TFW's. And there are some safety issues related to language skills and qualifications in a big Oil Sands construction project.
Veterans groups are questioning why the government is spending millions to commemorate old wars while shafting current veterans. This is a good question.
Somebody is trying to rally Conservative staffers against their evil oppressors - Conservative MP's. They point out two interesting things: 1) Of course, the Conservative majority approved raises for MP's, but cut money for office staff, and 2) Libs and NDP pay their office staff better.
"Traditional Family Values". "Tough-on-crime approach". "Safe and sensible firearms policy". Who can argue with that? What happened to a "steady hand on the tiller". The article also notes that the Tea Party is about "traditional family values".
Our financially responsible government wanted to mothball a bunch of private jets that the Liberals bought because they were "excessive". But then kept them, because they used them so much.
The government spent $24M promoting the Keystone pipeline in the US. It had little impact.
The Tyee speculates that our days of "easy oil" are well and truly gone. Oil company profits prove it.
The Harper Government hasn't filled a post to oversee the mining industry. It's been vacant for over a year.
The Conservatives are upset that "the media" dares to not like them...asks for money from supporters.
This is a really...funny?...interesting?...article on how Canadians get off on punishing people.
This article tears Stephen Harper's "not a sociological phenomenon" comment apart. Some info on why a public inquiry might be called for.
The Harper Government is telling civil servants to delete their e-mails.
A Conservative Senator has to apologize for hiring his girlfriend.
Canada has the most business friendly tax policy in the world.
This isn't even vulture capitalism. It's like super aggressive alien invasion capitalism. Funding for Robert Mugabe's brutal genocide can be traced directly back to American hedge funds.
Great news! An LNG train derailed. And it didn't explode! We're making progress, people.
Steve's fancy "We Hate Communists" memorial? He has appropriated the land from a project for a new Federal Court building. The name of that unbuilt building/project? The Pierre Elliot Trudeau Judicial Building. And they're spending a pile to make it happen.
Oh man...can you imagine saying this shit with a straight face? CRA is auditing a left leaning think tank because of "bias"...They're aware of the Fraser Institute, right?
The Globe lays out the insane number of "tough on crime" bills that are being introduced (and passed) without anybody really noticing. Except for this one. This one was noticed. There was a massive clerical error made with one of the Cons tough-on-crime bills. They sent the wrong version to the Senate for review. Could their own cuts have derailed their plans?
What the fuck is wrong with these stupid anti-science, Conservative zealots? The PC leader in New Brunswick is arguing that Justin Trudeau is wrong to push for more research into fracking. Which is a fucking stupid position to take. This argument that "fracking is safe and has been going on for 50 years" is imbecilic. The process and scale now is way, way different than it was. To argue that we shouldn't look into the effects of massive fracking projects is stupid. Hope this imbecile doesn't get elected.
What does Stephen Harper hope to accomplish with all his tough talk on Russia? We have nothing to back this up. Even if we did, what do we want? World War III? You're supposed to talk trash behind doors, not to the newspapers. Only a psychopath would deny the existence of global warming and then suggest that it's effects are an opportunity (the Arctic) and stoke fears that the Russians are coming. As well, I know one thing an International crisis doesn't need: An official Canadian delegation tweeting snarky comments at the Russians.
Peter McKay posed for a photo in a shirt supporting a gun rights group that supports an end to firearm regulation in Canada. Take the craziest shit the NRA wants and they want that here. "No Compromise". And then...Is Peter MacKay delusional? Only an imbecile would argue that sex workers are not stakeholders in new prostitution legislation.
More bad deeds with temporary foreign workers. A Saskatchewan company laid off Canadian workers and brought in TFW's. And there are some safety issues related to language skills and qualifications in a big Oil Sands construction project.
Veterans groups are questioning why the government is spending millions to commemorate old wars while shafting current veterans. This is a good question.
Somebody is trying to rally Conservative staffers against their evil oppressors - Conservative MP's. They point out two interesting things: 1) Of course, the Conservative majority approved raises for MP's, but cut money for office staff, and 2) Libs and NDP pay their office staff better.
"Traditional Family Values". "Tough-on-crime approach". "Safe and sensible firearms policy". Who can argue with that? What happened to a "steady hand on the tiller". The article also notes that the Tea Party is about "traditional family values".
Our financially responsible government wanted to mothball a bunch of private jets that the Liberals bought because they were "excessive". But then kept them, because they used them so much.
The government spent $24M promoting the Keystone pipeline in the US. It had little impact.
The Tyee speculates that our days of "easy oil" are well and truly gone. Oil company profits prove it.
The Harper Government hasn't filled a post to oversee the mining industry. It's been vacant for over a year.
The Conservatives are upset that "the media" dares to not like them...asks for money from supporters.
This is a really...funny?...interesting?...article on how Canadians get off on punishing people.
This article tears Stephen Harper's "not a sociological phenomenon" comment apart. Some info on why a public inquiry might be called for.
The Harper Government is telling civil servants to delete their e-mails.
A Conservative Senator has to apologize for hiring his girlfriend.
Canada has the most business friendly tax policy in the world.
This isn't even vulture capitalism. It's like super aggressive alien invasion capitalism. Funding for Robert Mugabe's brutal genocide can be traced directly back to American hedge funds.
Great news! An LNG train derailed. And it didn't explode! We're making progress, people.
Monday, August 25, 2014
Depressing - Week 173 - Aug 18-25
We need to start the week by talking about Lac Megantic. I'd forgotten how many people had actually died in this accident. Nearly 50, if you forgot. Anyhow, I think this accident points at a whole lot of bad things in society. Overworked people blamed for the shortcomings of the system (the railroad had to get special permission to run with only one engineer...and he's pretty much been the scapegoat for the company...not to diminish his part in all of this). A government increasingly hands off of safety regulations and requirements. A company pursuing profits above everything else. And a government blinded by the need to harvest and ship oil around the country. Terrible.
The government has concluded that they did nothing wrong by targeting specific charities with CRA audits. Wait...they get do decide whether or not they should investigate themselves? I'm not feeling any better.
So lets lighten the mood!
Following the money trail, it looks like the murderous Mugabe regime was directly supported by American hedge funds looking for sweetheart mining deals. Wait, that's even more terrible than the first few links. Please do click through and read the Businessweek article.
The Harper government prevented publicly funded scientists from talking about their research into oil sands pollution. A non government scientist did present the findings, and the response from the government was to call him "biased" and figure out ways to discredit him. Well...that sucks, but we're getting better!
Shit. They've also blocked government scientists from talking about low arctic ice levels. How is that going to help anything?
Christy Clark decided to cut funding to several RCMP programs, including a gang task force and missing persons investigations. Oh...man...that's not helping
The government has concluded that they did nothing wrong by targeting specific charities with CRA audits. Wait...they get do decide whether or not they should investigate themselves? I'm not feeling any better.
I'm sorry, but tickets for pot possession is just about the stupidest thing I've ever heard. What are you saying? This is legal to do, but we're going to fine you if we catch you doing it? And oh, we're really keen on making sure all of this is supplied via the black market. What a stupid fucking idea. Peter McKay is an idiot. He doesn't cheer me up at all.
MacLean's does some digging into plans for anti-Marijuana advertisements. They find that there have been absolutely no plans to air ads until very recently. Which makes it hard for the Conservatives to argue that this is anything but a recently concocted political strategy to use public money to fight Justin Trudeau. And Rona is hard at work defending it. This is sort of funny. Not in a "ha ha" way though. So I'm still depressed.
Canada Border Services has suspended three officers. Three officers who responded to a direct request from the RCMP to help with an arrest. Which they did. But shouldn't have? Oh man...make me feel better, world!
Maybe some of these next few will?
The Walrus highlights Canada's somewhat shameful record of voting equality. Nope.
A look at the lack of criminal justice resources for both prosecuting and researching the effects of all the new Conservative tough-on-crime laws. Nope.
Toronto Police teamed up with the CBSA to deport illegal immigrants through some sham "safety inspections". Oh...I might have already used that one last week. So that's good news, right?
Monday, July 7, 2014
A relatively short one - Week 166 - July 2-7
Is it "hoisted on your own petard" or "foisted on your own petard"? Something else? Anyhow, the US has justified killing the shit out of people with drones and insists that they have the legal right to do so. And in doing so have made a legal argument for Omar Khadr not being a war criminal.
Peter MacKay and his band of merry yes men are probably facing a(nother) court challenge over their prostitution legislation. After losing a court case over refugee healthcare. And will probably be added to the giant pile of laws the Conservatives have passed that have been overturned by the courts - thanks to the CBC for saving us all the time of tracking them down. I'm sure the argument will be something like "When yer busy doin' stuff you step on a few toes."
It's not looking very good for Dean Del Mastro. Testimony has been made that it was his request to backdate all of those invoices. It really makes you wonder where the hubris came from to get up on his soapbox for so long?
This sounds a bit like nothing more than fancy bookkeeping. But it's more than that. Kinder Morgan is allowed to charge a surcharge on its pipeline traffic in order to lobby the government for a larger pipeline. Said charges are somehow tax deductible. So Canadian taxpayers are essentially paying for Kinder Morgan to lobby and develop a bigger pipeline.
Conservatives: Man...we sure are awesome! Look at how many women we've appointed to senior positions! (they actually use the phrase "outstandingly well")
Reality: Actually...you're doing worse than the Liberals before you. 16% worse. (Liberals - 36%, Conservatives - 30%, that's a 16% drop)
Another anti-science decision by the Conservatives. The DFO is going to allow up to triple the amount of Coho to be caught unintentionally to allow for a larger Sockeye catch. There's no scientific evidence to back up their decisions. Just "Coho stocks are getting better". Scientists disagree.
A round of meetings on the TPP are taking place in Canada next week (well...this week, I guess). And everything has been moved from Vancouver to Ottawa at the last minute. And there's basically no information on what will be happening or where. It's all a giant secret. That will totally impact us for eternity.
This is kind of funny. The 2010 Olympics are officially "in the black". Meaning "we took enough money from the government to pay for everything. and forget about all those security costs. Those don't count."
Seems like a good program for Canada to get involved with...All of the F-35's have been grounded again. Engine fires.
Oh fuck the hell off. A doctor in Calgary is refusing to prescribe the pill. Personal beliefs. Doesn't your professional obligation as a doctor trump your personal beliefs?
Peter MacKay and his band of merry yes men are probably facing a(nother) court challenge over their prostitution legislation. After losing a court case over refugee healthcare. And will probably be added to the giant pile of laws the Conservatives have passed that have been overturned by the courts - thanks to the CBC for saving us all the time of tracking them down. I'm sure the argument will be something like "When yer busy doin' stuff you step on a few toes."
It's not looking very good for Dean Del Mastro. Testimony has been made that it was his request to backdate all of those invoices. It really makes you wonder where the hubris came from to get up on his soapbox for so long?
This sounds a bit like nothing more than fancy bookkeeping. But it's more than that. Kinder Morgan is allowed to charge a surcharge on its pipeline traffic in order to lobby the government for a larger pipeline. Said charges are somehow tax deductible. So Canadian taxpayers are essentially paying for Kinder Morgan to lobby and develop a bigger pipeline.
Conservatives: Man...we sure are awesome! Look at how many women we've appointed to senior positions! (they actually use the phrase "outstandingly well")
Reality: Actually...you're doing worse than the Liberals before you. 16% worse. (Liberals - 36%, Conservatives - 30%, that's a 16% drop)
Another anti-science decision by the Conservatives. The DFO is going to allow up to triple the amount of Coho to be caught unintentionally to allow for a larger Sockeye catch. There's no scientific evidence to back up their decisions. Just "Coho stocks are getting better". Scientists disagree.
A round of meetings on the TPP are taking place in Canada next week (well...this week, I guess). And everything has been moved from Vancouver to Ottawa at the last minute. And there's basically no information on what will be happening or where. It's all a giant secret. That will totally impact us for eternity.
This is kind of funny. The 2010 Olympics are officially "in the black". Meaning "we took enough money from the government to pay for everything. and forget about all those security costs. Those don't count."
Seems like a good program for Canada to get involved with...All of the F-35's have been grounded again. Engine fires.
Oh fuck the hell off. A doctor in Calgary is refusing to prescribe the pill. Personal beliefs. Doesn't your professional obligation as a doctor trump your personal beliefs?
Monday, February 24, 2014
Don't Listen to Anyone - Week 147 - Feb 17-24
A steady theme with this Conservative government is that they refuse to listen to anybody. Scientists, academics, judges, bureaucrats...these are all people who just don't know what they're talking about. An internal document prepared by Employment and Social Development Canada has pointed out that the wages and earnings of the middle class in Canada haven't gone anywhere in decades. Of course, the Conservatives can't abide by this. The report reflects “the period of time under the previous Liberal government” says a spokesperson for Jason Kenney. Nothing to worry about.
Then you have reports that Gail Shea re-opened the commercial herring roe fishery despite recommendations from DFO scientists. What do those guys know?
In a similar vein, a judge in British Columbia has refused to adhere to the Conservatives minimum sentencing rules. But what on earth would a judge know about what's best for sentencing a criminal?
A doctor says that a young lady is really responding to her medical marijuana treatment and her mother suggests that she won't be able to continue her treatment once she is unable to grow her own when new policies kick in. Don't they know how dangerous it is to even think about marijuana?
Good thing we won't have to worry about scientists any more. This post suggests that we will lose 5,064 Federal Government "science" jobs in the next few years. Don't worry though. I'm sure the private sector will step in and start completing all this research on behalf of Canadians. After all, if it's important, there must be a profit somewhere. And the greatness will trickle down.
Experts have been telling Stephen Harper for years that oil shipments by rail are going to rise dramatically. I'm not saying it's his fault that trains are blowing up across the country...but you'd think that you might have pumped some money into rail safety, no?
A study has confirmed that Oil Sands tailings are leaching into groundwater and rivers. Don't these scientists know that there are jobs at stake?
In similar news, an energy company in northern Alberta chased a family from their ranch with toxic gas clouds. They'll only help them financially if they sign a non-disclosure agreement.
Rex Murphy is in a bit of trouble for accepting money from Oil Sands companies while belittling Neil Young for having an opinion, and otherwise serving as an Oil Sands mouthpiece.
Land set aside as grazing areas for Arctic Reindeer has been offered up for Oil and Gas exploration. Reindeer don't need jobs. And they certainly don't need subsidies like all these big oil companies do.
Federal Ministers keep visiting Kitimat, but don't meet with councillors or local government. What's going on?
I love it. The punishment for exceeding donation laws by over 4 times? The campaign has to refund him his own money! So, let's see:
1) Need a quick cash infusion for the election.
2) Throw down some fat stacks from your personal account.
3) Wait 3 years for Elections Canada to figure it out.
4) Get a full refund on the money you kicked in.
Where's the downside?
The Conservatives are angry that a Liberal former general received the (managed by a third party) moving (and legal) expenses to which he was entitled. Note that the Auditor General reported that this was a crazy program back in 2006. The Cons didn't seem all that concerned until this week.
It's been pointed out that the "average family" used in the Conservatives sales job for income splitting are far from average. Huge wage gains in the last few years and a household income $50,000 more than the median in Canada? Sounds pretty average to me. Oh. Wait. Maybe they're talking about "real" Canadians. You know? Albertans.
Another Conservative job well done. Prisons. Where prisoners die due to poor health care and lack of review and follow-up. Maybe that's part of the tough-on-crime agenda?
The Oil Sands workers laid off in favour of Temporary Foreign Workers have not been hired back yet. They hired some different ones instead. Maybe?
It's interesting that the ruling that a Canadian ISP has to give up user data in a copyright lawsuit is being reported as a big win for entertainment companies. While the ISP does have to give up user data, the judge is making it fairly difficult for US style copyright trolling to take place.
"Justin Trudeau kicks off Liberal convention with partisan speech" says the headline. Really? I would have thought a political party convention was a perfect place to cozy up to the Conservatives.
Interesting. The government has opened up "public consultation" on prostitution laws.
Tim Hudak essentially wants to privatize all government services? Well that sounds like a dandy idea. What could possibly go wrong with that?
Did the ruling party in the Ukraine pay Conservative bloggers in the US to spread their message? Maybe.
I haven't read The Signal and the Noise (or whatever Nate Silver's book is called). But apparently he takes global warming to task. As did the Freakanomics guys. This is why they got it wrong...basically...your models that apply to other things don't necessarily work with climate change.
New York State is mulling a ban on microbeads in soaps and shampoos. Which is great. But how are we not mulling other options? Such as suing the shit out of companies that created an environmental disaster via a ridiculous product?
Patrick Brazeau lands job at strip club. Sounds about right.
Then you have reports that Gail Shea re-opened the commercial herring roe fishery despite recommendations from DFO scientists. What do those guys know?
In a similar vein, a judge in British Columbia has refused to adhere to the Conservatives minimum sentencing rules. But what on earth would a judge know about what's best for sentencing a criminal?
A doctor says that a young lady is really responding to her medical marijuana treatment and her mother suggests that she won't be able to continue her treatment once she is unable to grow her own when new policies kick in. Don't they know how dangerous it is to even think about marijuana?
Good thing we won't have to worry about scientists any more. This post suggests that we will lose 5,064 Federal Government "science" jobs in the next few years. Don't worry though. I'm sure the private sector will step in and start completing all this research on behalf of Canadians. After all, if it's important, there must be a profit somewhere. And the greatness will trickle down.
Experts have been telling Stephen Harper for years that oil shipments by rail are going to rise dramatically. I'm not saying it's his fault that trains are blowing up across the country...but you'd think that you might have pumped some money into rail safety, no?
A study has confirmed that Oil Sands tailings are leaching into groundwater and rivers. Don't these scientists know that there are jobs at stake?
In similar news, an energy company in northern Alberta chased a family from their ranch with toxic gas clouds. They'll only help them financially if they sign a non-disclosure agreement.
Rex Murphy is in a bit of trouble for accepting money from Oil Sands companies while belittling Neil Young for having an opinion, and otherwise serving as an Oil Sands mouthpiece.
Land set aside as grazing areas for Arctic Reindeer has been offered up for Oil and Gas exploration. Reindeer don't need jobs. And they certainly don't need subsidies like all these big oil companies do.
Federal Ministers keep visiting Kitimat, but don't meet with councillors or local government. What's going on?
I love it. The punishment for exceeding donation laws by over 4 times? The campaign has to refund him his own money! So, let's see:
1) Need a quick cash infusion for the election.
2) Throw down some fat stacks from your personal account.
3) Wait 3 years for Elections Canada to figure it out.
4) Get a full refund on the money you kicked in.
Where's the downside?
The Conservatives are angry that a Liberal former general received the (managed by a third party) moving (and legal) expenses to which he was entitled. Note that the Auditor General reported that this was a crazy program back in 2006. The Cons didn't seem all that concerned until this week.
It's been pointed out that the "average family" used in the Conservatives sales job for income splitting are far from average. Huge wage gains in the last few years and a household income $50,000 more than the median in Canada? Sounds pretty average to me. Oh. Wait. Maybe they're talking about "real" Canadians. You know? Albertans.
Another Conservative job well done. Prisons. Where prisoners die due to poor health care and lack of review and follow-up. Maybe that's part of the tough-on-crime agenda?
The Oil Sands workers laid off in favour of Temporary Foreign Workers have not been hired back yet. They hired some different ones instead. Maybe?
It's interesting that the ruling that a Canadian ISP has to give up user data in a copyright lawsuit is being reported as a big win for entertainment companies. While the ISP does have to give up user data, the judge is making it fairly difficult for US style copyright trolling to take place.
"Justin Trudeau kicks off Liberal convention with partisan speech" says the headline. Really? I would have thought a political party convention was a perfect place to cozy up to the Conservatives.
Interesting. The government has opened up "public consultation" on prostitution laws.
Tim Hudak essentially wants to privatize all government services? Well that sounds like a dandy idea. What could possibly go wrong with that?
Did the ruling party in the Ukraine pay Conservative bloggers in the US to spread their message? Maybe.
I haven't read The Signal and the Noise (or whatever Nate Silver's book is called). But apparently he takes global warming to task. As did the Freakanomics guys. This is why they got it wrong...basically...your models that apply to other things don't necessarily work with climate change.
New York State is mulling a ban on microbeads in soaps and shampoos. Which is great. But how are we not mulling other options? Such as suing the shit out of companies that created an environmental disaster via a ridiculous product?
Patrick Brazeau lands job at strip club. Sounds about right.
Monday, February 3, 2014
The Senate Shocker - Week 144 - Jan 27-Feb 3
The story of the week is, of course, Justin Trudeau's "Senate Shocker".
It's amazing how many people who know absolutely nothing about what
this means are able to jump to some stupendous conclusions.
Liberals - This will solve all our problems with the Senate and proves that Trudeau is a political genius.
Conservatives - This is a disingenuous move that will never work.
NDP - This was our idea.
Preston Manning - Oh...who really cares what Preston Manning thinks these days?
The Harper Government has decided that Canada doesn't really need to know the truth about CSEC spying on Canadians (via airport Wifi), and crafted a rambling, information-less, wrong on many accounts, non-denial of the CBC story.
Let's talk about conflict of interest, because the Conservatives seem unaware of what this means. Leona Aglukkaq held a fundraiser where she took money from the people that receive funding from her Ministry. And, this one is a bit murkier...Mark Strahl's wife is an investor in her father-in-laws (or, Mark Stahl's Dad) consulting company which is engaged in lobbying on behalf of Enbridge? Or something like that. These people are dirty.
The Conservative Government has declined half of the Parliamentary Budget Officers requests for information. Which is an interesting interpretation of "open and transparent".
Keystone XL moves one step closer to reality, as the US State Department gives it the environmental okay. With temporary foreign workers hauling the oil out of the earth and foreign companies shipping it to the USA to be processed, this doesn't seem like a big win for Canada.
Not only are the Conservatives destroying libraries, they're spending money to make it happen. Not a lot of money...but it still seems crazy to spend $22,000 to get rid of a bunch of resources. Elizabeth May thinks the whole thing might be illegal under the Library and Archives Act of Canada. And as we dig deeper and deeper in to this sordid mess, we find out that over 12 ministries are having their libraries cut/destroyed/culled.
How do you explain an MP proposing a simple, rationale bill to give Canadians some kind of idea as to whether or not mining companies are propping up despotic governments or supporting foreign wars...only to have it laughed out of Parliament? Even though many mining companies are on board with the plan. And even though similar regulations already exist in the US and many Canadians already report this under their regulations. And even though PM Harper promised that Canada would introduce a law to this effect.
Garth Turner, whose blog you should read if you are in to investing or thinking about buying Real Estate, points out that Canada didn't create 21,000 jobs in November. It lost 27,000 jobs. Which is a bit of a swing.
A study has determined that income splitting will help the rich more than the poor. I think they're going to study the effect of yacht and luxury car prices on the poor next. Perhaps the same people behind that study are behind this one? It's just as useless. If you project out the last elections voting patterns, the Conservatives majority would grow. No shit. Of course the Conservatives created more ridings to benefit themselves. And...who cares, because the voting landscape is totally different.
The Conservatives foreign University student dream doesn't seem all that well thought out.
Stephen Harper linked a Canadian Muslim group to Hamas and "terrorism". Sounds like without proof. They're kind of pissed about it.
Oil fumes around tanks in Alberta are causing families to move out of their homes. But I'll bet they have jobs!
An Oil Lobbyist was hired to oversee the transfer of the Experimental Lakes Area?
Dean Del Mastro has decided to start criticizing the Conservatives on monetary policy. Which is pretty interesting.
Speculation that Stephen Harper's trip to Israel could help the Conservatives in 10 tight ridings come the next election.
You'd probably think this one should be higher up...but I'm not sure what to think. The Conservatives have started closing Veterans Services Offices, but claim they aren't cutting services. There was reference to some offices only seeing a handful of veterans every month. If it is true that they can actually up services by closing offices and investing the funds in other ways, then I'm okay with that. But is that the truth? I don't trust these guys. And neither do veterans. And they certainly aren't fans of Julian Fantino, who skipped out on a meeting with key veterans to discuss these plans.
This sounds like a pretty lame way to make a point, but I know protesters in the Ukraine have asked governments to do so...Canada has decided to ban certain high level Ukrainians from traveling to Canada.
More Americaland links. First, if you've ever flown through the USofA, this story will make you hate the airport pornoscanners even more. TSA agents gawking at your junk? Yes. Making fun of fat people? Yes. Afraid of all the "safe" radiation? Yes. A very interesting read. Make sure you click through to the main article.
And then there's this guy. Just a meth-addicted White Supremacist with a large cache of automatic weapons who likes to fire them in the Baker National Forest. Fuck...I'm going to Whistler instead.
Liberals - This will solve all our problems with the Senate and proves that Trudeau is a political genius.
Conservatives - This is a disingenuous move that will never work.
NDP - This was our idea.
Preston Manning - Oh...who really cares what Preston Manning thinks these days?
The Harper Government has decided that Canada doesn't really need to know the truth about CSEC spying on Canadians (via airport Wifi), and crafted a rambling, information-less, wrong on many accounts, non-denial of the CBC story.
Let's talk about conflict of interest, because the Conservatives seem unaware of what this means. Leona Aglukkaq held a fundraiser where she took money from the people that receive funding from her Ministry. And, this one is a bit murkier...Mark Strahl's wife is an investor in her father-in-laws (or, Mark Stahl's Dad) consulting company which is engaged in lobbying on behalf of Enbridge? Or something like that. These people are dirty.
The Conservative Government has declined half of the Parliamentary Budget Officers requests for information. Which is an interesting interpretation of "open and transparent".
Keystone XL moves one step closer to reality, as the US State Department gives it the environmental okay. With temporary foreign workers hauling the oil out of the earth and foreign companies shipping it to the USA to be processed, this doesn't seem like a big win for Canada.
Not only are the Conservatives destroying libraries, they're spending money to make it happen. Not a lot of money...but it still seems crazy to spend $22,000 to get rid of a bunch of resources. Elizabeth May thinks the whole thing might be illegal under the Library and Archives Act of Canada. And as we dig deeper and deeper in to this sordid mess, we find out that over 12 ministries are having their libraries cut/destroyed/culled.
How do you explain an MP proposing a simple, rationale bill to give Canadians some kind of idea as to whether or not mining companies are propping up despotic governments or supporting foreign wars...only to have it laughed out of Parliament? Even though many mining companies are on board with the plan. And even though similar regulations already exist in the US and many Canadians already report this under their regulations. And even though PM Harper promised that Canada would introduce a law to this effect.
Garth Turner, whose blog you should read if you are in to investing or thinking about buying Real Estate, points out that Canada didn't create 21,000 jobs in November. It lost 27,000 jobs. Which is a bit of a swing.
A study has determined that income splitting will help the rich more than the poor. I think they're going to study the effect of yacht and luxury car prices on the poor next. Perhaps the same people behind that study are behind this one? It's just as useless. If you project out the last elections voting patterns, the Conservatives majority would grow. No shit. Of course the Conservatives created more ridings to benefit themselves. And...who cares, because the voting landscape is totally different.
The Conservatives foreign University student dream doesn't seem all that well thought out.
Stephen Harper linked a Canadian Muslim group to Hamas and "terrorism". Sounds like without proof. They're kind of pissed about it.
Oil fumes around tanks in Alberta are causing families to move out of their homes. But I'll bet they have jobs!
An Oil Lobbyist was hired to oversee the transfer of the Experimental Lakes Area?
Dean Del Mastro has decided to start criticizing the Conservatives on monetary policy. Which is pretty interesting.
Speculation that Stephen Harper's trip to Israel could help the Conservatives in 10 tight ridings come the next election.
You'd probably think this one should be higher up...but I'm not sure what to think. The Conservatives have started closing Veterans Services Offices, but claim they aren't cutting services. There was reference to some offices only seeing a handful of veterans every month. If it is true that they can actually up services by closing offices and investing the funds in other ways, then I'm okay with that. But is that the truth? I don't trust these guys. And neither do veterans. And they certainly aren't fans of Julian Fantino, who skipped out on a meeting with key veterans to discuss these plans.
This sounds like a pretty lame way to make a point, but I know protesters in the Ukraine have asked governments to do so...Canada has decided to ban certain high level Ukrainians from traveling to Canada.
More Americaland links. First, if you've ever flown through the USofA, this story will make you hate the airport pornoscanners even more. TSA agents gawking at your junk? Yes. Making fun of fat people? Yes. Afraid of all the "safe" radiation? Yes. A very interesting read. Make sure you click through to the main article.
And then there's this guy. Just a meth-addicted White Supremacist with a large cache of automatic weapons who likes to fire them in the Baker National Forest. Fuck...I'm going to Whistler instead.
Monday, January 27, 2014
Mandatory Exploding Israeli Train Taxes - Week 143 - Jan 20-27
Stephen Harper has fully, truly, completely gone off the deep end with
his Israel policy. He has officially stated, in front of the Knesset,
that Canada will never criticize Israel in public. Full stop. No ifs,
ands, buts. The hardliner, crazy faction within Israel will thing this
gives them the right to do whatever they want, if they have support like
this. An Arab-Israeli Member of the Knesset explains exactly why Stephen Harper is a short-sighted buffoon. You know you're doing it wrong when Sarah Palin is on your side.
Another judge has decided that mandatory minimum sentencing doesn't work. "Cruel and unusual", even.
Even more library insanity, this time with Health Canada. This story outlines terrible service from the 3rd Party delivery team, rogue unsanctioned libraries and government employees seeking information from industry and universities, all because the Conservatives are breaking the government library system. As well, the Canada Centre for Inland Waters has been losing scientists and facing cuts.
This Tyee article outlines the type of abuse temporary foreign workers face when they come to Canada. Insane fees to recruiting companies. Excessive living allowances. Etc. Seems like it should be pretty easy for government to prevent this - don't grant permits to any person or company found guilty of infractions.
This is how it should work. Government should have independent scientists and Engineers who determine the best, safest way to do things and they then require it from Industry. Hell, Industry should pay the government for those scientists and engineers to do their oversight. Anyhow, the Transportation Safety Board has recommendations for how to haul oil by rail. We'll see what happens now. Because even though these are TSB recommendations, apparently it's not even a done deal on the TSB's side as the Minister has to think about it.
The Globe has a story about ad spending, pointing out that the "Economic Action Plan" ended a few years ago.
The National Post tells the story of Conservative MP Mark Adler scrambling to get closer to the PM for a photo op in Israel. Of course he insists that it was all just a really funny joke on his part.
A breakdown of how delusional and dishonest the Conservatives can be. They raked the NDP over the coals for proposing an "iPod tax", and then introduced one themselves...while insisting it doesn't exist.
Holy shit! I actually agree with part of what Rob Anders said! I agree that "rape" has a more devastating connotation than "sexual assault", and it can make the crime sound less devestating. But perhaps that change in language will further stigmatize victims? That's the only negative I can see. I'm open to hearing the other side of the argument here.
This does not paint a very pretty picture of Afghanistan and Canada's role in it.
When push comes to shove, Chuck Strahl does the right thing...and quits the crappy government job to become a high paid lobbyist. Of course, being the good Conservative that he is he didn't do anything wrong and it's all your fault.
More great copyright news. The Canadian RIAA, or whatever the hell they're calling themselves, want Internet surveillance and control in the name of fighting piracy. Which sounds pretty awesome. Especially when you consider stories such as this one, where a movie theater phones the MPAA who then phones ICE who then comes down to the movie theater and forcefully detains somebody watching a movie wearing Google Glass. Two separate stories, yes. But this is where we are heading when we create laws and use publically funded law enforcement to support an industry (that just sort of makes shit up about things).
What an interesting country. The National Post doesn't really seem to have a problem with bigoted comments or stories. Except when it's bigoted French Canadians. It feels a bit bad to pile on a couple of narrow-minded fools speaking at the hearings on the Quebec Charter of Values, but here we go. I'm actually surprised that these people managed to leave their hometown, let alone travel to predominantly muslim countries.
If you thought the National Post comments section was bad, wowzas! Sun News is like a Conservative infomercial. I wish I could be that passionate about a politician. I guess that's half the problem though, isn't it? Left wingers know things are bad but don't have a pole to rally around. Righties seem to love bending over backwards to cheerlead their dear leader.
The richest 85 humans on the planet own more than the poorest 50% combined.
Another judge has decided that mandatory minimum sentencing doesn't work. "Cruel and unusual", even.
Even more library insanity, this time with Health Canada. This story outlines terrible service from the 3rd Party delivery team, rogue unsanctioned libraries and government employees seeking information from industry and universities, all because the Conservatives are breaking the government library system. As well, the Canada Centre for Inland Waters has been losing scientists and facing cuts.
This Tyee article outlines the type of abuse temporary foreign workers face when they come to Canada. Insane fees to recruiting companies. Excessive living allowances. Etc. Seems like it should be pretty easy for government to prevent this - don't grant permits to any person or company found guilty of infractions.
This is how it should work. Government should have independent scientists and Engineers who determine the best, safest way to do things and they then require it from Industry. Hell, Industry should pay the government for those scientists and engineers to do their oversight. Anyhow, the Transportation Safety Board has recommendations for how to haul oil by rail. We'll see what happens now. Because even though these are TSB recommendations, apparently it's not even a done deal on the TSB's side as the Minister has to think about it.
The Globe has a story about ad spending, pointing out that the "Economic Action Plan" ended a few years ago.
The National Post tells the story of Conservative MP Mark Adler scrambling to get closer to the PM for a photo op in Israel. Of course he insists that it was all just a really funny joke on his part.
A breakdown of how delusional and dishonest the Conservatives can be. They raked the NDP over the coals for proposing an "iPod tax", and then introduced one themselves...while insisting it doesn't exist.
Holy shit! I actually agree with part of what Rob Anders said! I agree that "rape" has a more devastating connotation than "sexual assault", and it can make the crime sound less devestating. But perhaps that change in language will further stigmatize victims? That's the only negative I can see. I'm open to hearing the other side of the argument here.
This does not paint a very pretty picture of Afghanistan and Canada's role in it.
When push comes to shove, Chuck Strahl does the right thing...and quits the crappy government job to become a high paid lobbyist. Of course, being the good Conservative that he is he didn't do anything wrong and it's all your fault.
More great copyright news. The Canadian RIAA, or whatever the hell they're calling themselves, want Internet surveillance and control in the name of fighting piracy. Which sounds pretty awesome. Especially when you consider stories such as this one, where a movie theater phones the MPAA who then phones ICE who then comes down to the movie theater and forcefully detains somebody watching a movie wearing Google Glass. Two separate stories, yes. But this is where we are heading when we create laws and use publically funded law enforcement to support an industry (that just sort of makes shit up about things).
What an interesting country. The National Post doesn't really seem to have a problem with bigoted comments or stories. Except when it's bigoted French Canadians. It feels a bit bad to pile on a couple of narrow-minded fools speaking at the hearings on the Quebec Charter of Values, but here we go. I'm actually surprised that these people managed to leave their hometown, let alone travel to predominantly muslim countries.
If you thought the National Post comments section was bad, wowzas! Sun News is like a Conservative infomercial. I wish I could be that passionate about a politician. I guess that's half the problem though, isn't it? Left wingers know things are bad but don't have a pole to rally around. Righties seem to love bending over backwards to cheerlead their dear leader.
The richest 85 humans on the planet own more than the poorest 50% combined.
Monday, January 13, 2014
Used it all up - Week 141 - Jan 6-13
Stephen Harper continues his advertising extravaganza. $22 Million to sell the oil sands to the world. Why wouldn't the industry (that makes billions) spend their own money to do this?
There was a Fifth Estate on the Harper war on science. Mainstream media is catching on. Check out the insane list of scientific programs cut by Harper. And on and on it goes.
Can you imagine spending $1.7 Billion on something, and having nothing to show for it? Stephen Harper proves yet again that his government is absolutely terrible at military procurement. Replacement of the Sea King helicopters is a shit show.
Norway's oil riches have grown to serious levels. It's actually hard to wrap your head around.
CSIS/CSEC admits that Canadian citizens have been caught in the crossfire.
Things don't seem to be going much better for Mac Harb.
The Conservative MP for Fort Mac has resigned. Wonder what sort of gravy train he'll step in to?
The Liberals are wondering why Peter McKay hasn't stepped in to, you know, enforce laws, with the Senate scandal.
There was a Fifth Estate on the Harper war on science. Mainstream media is catching on. Check out the insane list of scientific programs cut by Harper. And on and on it goes.
Can you imagine spending $1.7 Billion on something, and having nothing to show for it? Stephen Harper proves yet again that his government is absolutely terrible at military procurement. Replacement of the Sea King helicopters is a shit show.
Norway's oil riches have grown to serious levels. It's actually hard to wrap your head around.
CSIS/CSEC admits that Canadian citizens have been caught in the crossfire.
Things don't seem to be going much better for Mac Harb.
The Conservative MP for Fort Mac has resigned. Wonder what sort of gravy train he'll step in to?
The Liberals are wondering why Peter McKay hasn't stepped in to, you know, enforce laws, with the Senate scandal.
Monday, January 6, 2014
2013 Best Of Canadian Federal Politics
Seeing
as 98% of you are new readers and you have no idea who I am or what this is,
I’ll give a brief introduction. This
little blog here is my attempt to keep track of all the wonderful things that the Harper Government is doing to this fine country.
I update it once a week and this is my summary of all the terribly awesome things that have happened in the past year.
And
who
can keep track? Looking back, this
has been a staggeringly awful year for Canadian politics. Or perhaps
it’s been an amazing year? Who even knows anymore? Let’s plunge in.
We’ll start with a photo of our dear leader
with Justin Bieber, because who doesn't want to see that?
The Senate
Of
course you couldn’t read a fortune cookie this year without a mention of the
Senate. Who can make sense of this
crazy, crazy debacle?
- You have Senators who don’t actually live in the province which they represent, which should (perhaps) disqualify them from being a Senator in the first place
- You have Senators fraudulently claiming living expenses
- You have Senators claiming travel expenses while they fly around the country doing work for Corporate boards and the Conservative Party of Canada
- You have a key member of Stephen Harper’s inner circle paying for the expenses of a Senator out-of-pocket in the hopes the whole thing will just go away. Illegally paying.
- You have Senators actively campaigning to disrupt a 3rd Party audit, in the hopes that it will all just go away
- You have Conservative Senators whitewashing an audit report so that their own Senators get off lightly and don't look too bad
- You have the Prime Minister, a notorious micro-manager, disavowing any knowledge or responsibility for the wrongdoings of all these people who he more-or-less directly appointed (and even though he had previously claimed that some of these things were a-ok)
Canada – Stephen Harper’s personal Advertising Agency
One of the perks of getting elected is that you get to spend millions and millions and millions of dollars advertising how great you are in hopes that people vote for you the next time around. First off, "The Harper Government" has really blown up. That phrase has shown up on 522 government news releases. That was back in May though, so I'm sure it's much more than that by now.
Not only that, but Harper has gotten the PMO (an organization which was originally just supposed to plan his day out) to get involved in political mud-sligging. The Conservatives also pretty consistently use taxpayer funded mailouts to do their partisan dirtywork and seem to routinely place criticism of the opposition on government websites.
Then there's the little annoying ones. The splashy event, cancelled at the last minute, to celebrate the end of the Long Gun Registry. Yes, nothing screams "prudent fiscal managers" more than spending a lot of money to cancel an expensive program and then spending more money on a party to celebrate all the waste. They also decided to scrub references to "Environment Canada" from the Environment Canada website (I think to make room for more Economic Action Plan ads, by the look of it).
Then there's the little annoying ones. The splashy event, cancelled at the last minute, to celebrate the end of the Long Gun Registry. Yes, nothing screams "prudent fiscal managers" more than spending a lot of money to cancel an expensive program and then spending more money on a party to celebrate all the waste. They also decided to scrub references to "Environment Canada" from the Environment Canada website (I think to make room for more Economic Action Plan ads, by the look of it).
But that's just a tiny little amuse bouche leading up to the double fisting, strap on the fat pants, all-you-can-eat buffet of wasteful awfulness. It's probably impossible to figure out exactly how much this government has spent on totally useless advertising since coming to power. $548 Million is the best guess here. Think about that for a minute. The "fiscally conservative" government in the midst of cutting programs and benefits and environmental protection to "save money", has spent a half billion dollars telling the country how great they are. I guess you need to do something to keep the 4,000 communications related employees busy.
These ad campaigns are so unbelievably insane. Honestly, how desensitized are we to these things?
These ad campaigns are so unbelievably insane. Honestly, how desensitized are we to these things?
- The "Economic Action Plan", where a tonne of money is spent to convince everybody that the economy is great (and the ads don't really work)
- Advertising campaigns to convince the USA that we're not a bunch of oil burning knuckle draggers (so that they'll let a private corporation plow a pipeline down the center of their country). They've spent approx. $40 Million on this
- Ads to encourage "Resource Development"...lots and lots of it
- Planning to spend a shit-tonne of money on history propaganda leading up to Canada's 150th birthday
- A $9 Million dollar campaign justifying opening up Canada's cell phone industry to competition from the United States
- Advertised a great job training/creation program...that hasn't been signed off on by the Provinces (as they'll have to pony up most of the cash) and doesn't actually exist yet
Government
Spying
Oh sure, America, you have the NSA. Turns out we’re just as bad. Not only are we your muckraking minions ,
like some sort of ill-conceived Hells Angels puppet club, setting up spy-posts in places the USA can't get to. But we're also helping the USA spy on our friends
that we invited to our great big G8/G20 gazebo blowout/Summit. And it
seems like we really learned some things, because then we turned around
and started spying on foreign countries (friendly ones) on behalf of Canadian industries. You have to credit the Harpoids for creating
a new way to discredit Glenn Greenwald though – did you know that he’s actually
taking money to write these articles?
Gasp.
And more good news. They're actually looking to fund an organization to continually monitor your social media. I mean, I'm sure they're already monitoring your social media, but this will be more involved.
And more good news. They're actually looking to fund an organization to continually monitor your social media. I mean, I'm sure they're already monitoring your social media, but this will be more involved.
Treating
People Like Assholes
Did you know that 40% of Canada’s native children live in poverty? No worries though,
because we’re probably just going to throw them in jail when they grow up. We’re equal opportunity child haters though,
as James Moore points out, it’s not his job (or the Federal Government's) to feed his neighbours hungry children. I mean, who expects help from
the government, right? Speaking of James Moore, I mean...what the Jerry Gergich is going on here?
But it’s not just children and natives that Stephen
Harper hates. He’d also like all the
employees of Members of Parliament to sign ongoing, life long, forever inperpetuity, non disclosure agreements. I
mean, nothing screams “transparency” more than ensuring the (taxpayer paid)
employees that act out your terrible, terrible plans can never speak to anybody
ever about anything. This isn’t without
precedent though. He tried to get
librarians to sign a loyalty pact as well.
This year also saw a cabinet shuffle. Fresh starts and all that. Except...our great leader asked the outgoing
Ministers to draw up lists of enemies as he hurried out the door. Nixon would be proud.
We Blew up a Town
Okay, we can't entirely blame the Lac Megantic train explosion on Stephen Harper. But after that train exploded, we sure talked a lot about preventing exploding trains. And then another train exploded while we continued to talk about it.
What's awesome is that the amount of oil shipped by rail has gone up by 28,000% since 2009, yet we deregulate, and train companies do things like lobby to use obsolete rail cars.
But why shouldn't we let these companies haul more oil with fewer and
fewer regulations. I mean, the company responsible for Lac Megantic has
really stepped up to the plate. By going bankrupt and by having their license pulled for inadequate 3rd party liability insurance. Real princes of private enterprise.
Winning the War on Crime
If
there is one thing Conservatives are good for, it's being tough on
crime. In fact, this government has been so tough on crime lately that
crime has steadily been going down since 1991,
a full 15 years before they came to power. If I've learned anything in
my career as an Engineer though it's this: If you see a really positive
trend and things are heading in the right direction, start messing with
stuff! Let's look at some graphs (and this is from the National Post! Who knows what fancy statistics the left wing can dig up)
But of course it's only radicals and criminals that are opposed to this stuff. People like judges, who are refusing to honor minimum sentencing laws. Or pointing out that mandatory sentencing laws are unconstitutional. Or charge criminals the "victims services surcharge".
The judges aren't the only radicals though. Look at this crazy guy, the Ombudsman for Federal Inmates. "More
crowded and violent." "Less successful at rehabilitation."
Yes, the Conservatives war on crime is creating less rehabilitated, more
violent criminals. Who can trust somebody that says things like "You cannot reasonably claim
to have a just society with incarceration rates like these. And most troubling,
the growth in the custody population appears to be policy, not crime, driven.
After all, crime rates are down while incarceration rates grow,"
Another crazy radical not on board: The Parliamentary Budget Officer. Here, he shows how radical he is
by pointing out that most of the costs of all this new legislation will
fall to the Provinces (and that crime rates are falling and these
expenditures don't make sense).
But what pisses me off the most is just how red-meat-for-the-base all of this stuff is. Is our countries top priority really stripping terrorists of their citizenship? Should we focus on keeping the mentally ill in prison for longer, or should we put some money into getting them help?
Dominating the War
on Science
This is becoming such a thing, there are actually several roundups (and a book) on all the damage Stephen Harper has done to science in this country. You may cry a little.
It's getting so bad that scientists are actually starting to march in protest. Prompting our "Science Minister" to send out fundraising letters to combat "radical ideologue" scientist.
Not all science is bad though. When you can re-purpose a Federal Research Organization (The NRC) to do science on behalf of industry, that's good science! When you can just sort of make some shit up about polar bears to forward your climate change denying ideals, that's good science! When you can use "science" to determine when life begins, that's good science!
Unfortunately, most science in Canada is bad science, and needs to be scrapped. Research into the effect of lead bullets and shot? Scrap it! Fisheries libraries with irreplaceable documents (many fisheries libraries...and apparently not just libraries but budgets and jobs at the DFO as well...and perhaps proof that it's been done to "cull materials" rather than "save money")? Scrap them! Protection for endangered freshwater fish? Scrap it! A program that has greatly reduced heroin overdoses on the Downtown East Side? Better try to scrap that! Doctors trying to reduce heroin dependency using prescription heroin? Scrap it! The UN Drought Convention? Scrap it!
And this is how crazy it has gotten. Can you believe that Statscan is actually putting disclaimers on it's data due to scrapping of the mandatory long form census? Our Environment Minister has doubts about climate change! Gee, can't imagine why they are so afraid of admitting that climate change is real?
Hiring everybody but Canadians
(It's
tough to talk about this stuff without sounding like a xenophobe.
Really, I'm pro immigration. I'm just not pro
bring-people-in-from-outside-the-country-at-lower-wages-and-then-send-them-home)
I’ve got
to admit, this is just a stroke of genius.
John Le Carre couldn’t dream up a plot this thick with cunning and
irony. Imagine selling Canadian people
on all sorts of environmentally harmful mega projects with the promise of long
term, well paying jobs. And you have to
cut all those pesky environmental reviews because they take too long and gosh
darnit, Canada needs job. Except. Man, we need these projects done so quickly we don’t actually have enough
people to do these jobs so we’re just going to hire all sorts of people from outside of the country (even if there's lots of unemployed people with the requisite skillset) and pay them a lot less and steal their money and not really bother with creating all these Canadian jobs in the first place. It’s beautiful. Not only that, but we’re also going to:
So we're going to have some sort of hand-picked, corporately acceptable society of welders? Just so that we can harvest oil really cheaply? Not that there's anything wrong with welders.
We Only Help Countries that Have Something to Offer Us in Return
You’ve
heard of foreign aid? That’s
where you help out countries that are less fortunate than your own. You’d think you’d decide on who needs help
based on who needs it the most, right?
No. Canada decides based on who can offer something in return. I think
all charities should function like this. I think I'll only give to the food bank if they can send somebody over to mow my lawn.
We've also started telling our diplomats to worry more about developing trade than on...well...whatever they'd normally be doing. Spying on friendly countries, I guess. And anybody that has a problem with any of this is an "extremist fear monger". Is there like one old lady in Mississauga that isn't an extremist fear monger according to the Conservatives?
The Stephen Harper 2013 List of All-Stars
Let's end this list by focusing on our Great Leaders best performers.
"Sleepy Time" Rob Anders - First, I'd like to congratulate Rob Anders on a fantastic 2013. I don't think he was caught sleeping on the job at all this year. Well done. Unfortunately, it seems this left him more time to talk and express himself. He did such things like rail against that terrorist Nelson Mandela (in his defense, Stephen Harper probably used to agree with him). Unfortunately, this was not his only windbag moment. Thanks for sending this great Canadian to Parliament, Calgary West. Sorry. Can't resist posting this photo.
Peter Goldring - I missed this guy last year. He somehow managed to beat his drunk driving charges for refusing to blow (honestly, read through this story and try to figure out how this came to pass) and has been welcomed back to the Conservative fold with open arms.
Jim Flaherty - I used to think Jim Flaherty was one of the okay guys. He didn't do or say anything terrible. He just hacked and slashed budgets. And then...well...I can't even believe I'm writing this. He's started confronting other Conservatives who have spoken out against Rob Ford. I think he might be on the wrong side of this issue. As well, he had some difficulties filling out expense claims this year, which is a bit troubling considering he's the Minister of Finance. We're also going to celebrate the only mention of Rob Ford in this article by showing a picture of Rob Ford with the Hamburgler.
Vic Toews - I was almost sad to see this guy go. I feel like nobody brought Canadians together quite like Vic Toews. He actually blamed the opposition
for the Conservatives fiercely enough when they appointed a now
disgraced former CSIS watchdog. It was their fault that they didn't
question them hard enough about what they were doing. Not only that
though, but after creating a bunch of laws that will put a bunch more
people in jail, he complained that policing costs have gotten too high. For a Minister of Justice, he seemed to have a tremendously poor understanding of crime statistics.
Peter "Helicopter Captain" McKay - Peter McKay freaked out when Justin Trudeau talked about marijuana legalization in front of "school children"...after some high school kids directly asked Justin Trudeau about it and he answered their question. I've heard politicians talking about marijuana is one of the #1 causes of drug addiction. I think Peter might just be confused because most Conservatives aren't used to the concept of directly answering people's questions.
Tony Clement - Good old Tony was actually following me on Twitter for a while this year. Which is odd. He had the unenviable task of explaining to Canada that the government hadn't actually lost $3.1 Billion dollars, they just didn't know where it was. These things are different, apparently.
Peter "Helicopter Captain" McKay - Peter McKay freaked out when Justin Trudeau talked about marijuana legalization in front of "school children"...after some high school kids directly asked Justin Trudeau about it and he answered their question. I've heard politicians talking about marijuana is one of the #1 causes of drug addiction. I think Peter might just be confused because most Conservatives aren't used to the concept of directly answering people's questions.
Tony Clement - Good old Tony was actually following me on Twitter for a while this year. Which is odd. He had the unenviable task of explaining to Canada that the government hadn't actually lost $3.1 Billion dollars, they just didn't know where it was. These things are different, apparently.
Jean-Guy Degenais - Jean-Guy Degenais
is a Conservative Senator. An unelected Conservative Senator. He's
upset because the MP for his region is "useless and powerless",
by his estimation. If only the good people of Quebec would be smart
enough to vote Conservative and hop on board the gravy train.
Conclusions
In
the end though, what can we do about this? Who is going to make it all
better? That's what I keep asking myself. And I think I found the
solution. Anything the Conservatives are this strongly against is
probably worth looking into.
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