SPECIAL UPDATE

UPDATE ON CHIEF TERESA SPENCE HUNGER STRIKE

From Huffington Post: Former PM Joe Clark and 16 MP's from the NDP accept her invitation to visit her on Sunday, Dec 30th at Victoria Island, Ottawa

 Spence invited MPs and senators to visit over a two-hour period Sunday at her teepee, situated on an island in the frozen Ottawa River looking up at Parliament Hill.

Former prime minister Joe Clark, the highest-profile visitor, made an appearance Saturday, meeting with Spence and issuing a statement that said honest conversation can often lead to common ground.

Members of both the opposition NDP and Liberals expressed concern Sunday for Spence's health.
"She's a very determined woman and she's heard the message from others that she's done what people think she needed to do, but she noted that the prime minister has not talked to anyone, or put out a message that he is willing to meet with leaders, and that's all she's asking for," said New Democrat MP Paul Dewar, who was among 16 of the party's politicians to be invited inside.

Both Dewar and fellow New Democrat Craig Scott said they were worried about her condition.
"She's very peaceful in her demeanour, but that goes along with being quite weak now," said Scott. "She talks about sleeping more than she had earlier, in the first two weeks. I think it's very clear it's starting to take a physical toll."

Concern is strong enough that some have urged her to give up and let Opposition politicians take up the fight — something Craig said he tried to convey to her.
"I spoke directly to her and said, 'You know, you've done more anybody could expect one person to do, and there's no reason you and you alone should have to carry this burden.' And she said, 'It's my burden to carry.'"

An adviser to the chief and band council said there is no backing down.
"The chief is a strong-spirited, determined individual," said Danny Metatawabin. "We need to get the message out to the prime minister of Canada.
"Although she is drinking her liquids of water and fish broth, you know, she is getting weak in body when you don't eat solids. The body tends to shut down. They should just come and talk to us. Why are we afraid to communicate with one another?"

Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq joined other federal officials Friday asking Spence to accept a meeting with Aboriginal Affairs Minister John Duncan, but Spence rejected the recommendation.
The government points to a meeting it held last January with First Nations leaders as proof it is serious about improving their relationship, and adds it has spent millions on aboriginal health, housing and education.

But aboriginal leaders say they are being left out of the discussion the Harper government is having about how best to develop Canada's lucrative natural resources.

Joe Clark, who was a Tory prime minister from 1979 to 1980, said friends of his in the First Nations community had suggested he meet with Spence, chief of a remote reserve in Northern Ontario.
"My experience has been that direct and honest dialogue is always useful and sometimes essential, particularly in dealing with issues as complex and multi-faceted as the relations between First Nations and Canada," he said in a statement.
"Chief Spence expressed a humble and achievable vision — one which I believe all Canadians can embrace."

Canada's Debt VS Deficit

      Canada’s Finance Minister (Flaherty) recently said that our Federal yearly budget (deficit) will not be "balanced" until 2016-17. That just means we will not be increasing the debt after that date.  

      The Prime Minister contradicted him three days later and reaffirmed the government's plan ". . . . to  balance the budget prior to the next federal election (2015)." They disagree by only a year or two of increases to the debt.

     The following updating "clock" shows the TOTAL debt that Canada has accumulated to date. Our children can pay it off some day. Reducing the yearly DEFICIT by adding to the DEBT may make good sound bites but it doesn't change reality. The following updating "clock"  can be downloaded from Taxpayer.com.

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 GOOD THINGS HAPPENING IN CANADA

1) University of Waterloo student team earned the title of this year’s Facebook hackathons Champions over teams from U.S, Canada , Brazil, and Ukraine. It isn't really "hacking". It is more of an APP for finding  groups of your :friends.

2) Maybe it is not a big deal, but the Parti Quebecois (Quebec provincial party) has approved having the Canadian Maple leaf flag fly beside the Quebec Fleur de Lis in their National Assembly. For the party devoted to the separation of Quebec this is a major concession. The fact that a recent poll showed 57% of Quebecois had strong positive feelings for the Maple Leaf flag.

3) Somewhat related to the above, an online survey of 2,287 Canadians found that just 55 per cent are very or somewhat satisfied with the way democracy works in this country. That’s sharply down from the 75 per cent who expressed satisfaction in response to an identical question in 2004.

"Atypical" Canadian Happenings

1) National Chief Shawn Atleo of the Assembly of First Nations opened a three-day strategy session for First Nations leaders from across Canada with a call for unity in a "shared struggle" for change.

Some of the chiefs went to Parliament Hill, where MP's were to begin voting on the government's second omnibus budget implementation bill. A brief scuffle ensued after security guards stepped in to prevent some of the chiefs and First Nations members from trying to enter the House of Commons.

2) And speaking of scuffles, near the end of the session Wednesday, Peter Van Loan, the government's House Leader, crossed the floor of the Commons to confront his NPD counterpart, Nathan Cullen. Microphones were shut off but tape recorders showed "in-the-face" shaking of fingers complete with use of "f***" words. It was on the way to becoming more typical of a hockey game than the Canadian Parliament when the combatants were physically separated. Not typical of the staid old Canada I used to know.

Why We Need The USA

1) The XL Foods plant was at the centre of an E. coli outbreak in September that led to the largest meat recall in Canadian history. The contamination was discovered by US border inspectors who notified the Canadian Food Inspection Agency on Sept 3rd.
    Until Sept 16th the Canadian government continued to say publicly that the meet was safe. On Sept 16th CFIA sent out its first alert warning with recalls continuing to increase past Nov.16th.  Check the timeline.

2) The RCMP opened an investigation into the spy activities of Sub-Lt. Jeffrey Paul Delisle, a Halifax navy intelligence officer, several months after it received a letter from the FBI notifying them of the possible security breach. The RCMP investigation began only after Delisle voluntary turned himself in as a spy for Russia.

NEWS UPDATE
      Harold Camping  has postponed "The Rapture" (commonly known as the "end of the world") until October 21st. I suggest you mark this date on your calendar. It would be a shame to miss it . . . again.


THE CANADIAN FEDERAL ELECTION
     I guess the election results have answered my blog heading question “Where Has My Canada Gone?” It has gone into a Conservative majority government under the leadership of arguably the most powerful Prime Minister in Canadian history.
     PM Harper has not only a majority in the House (and hence can get any bill passed) but also has a Conservative dominated Senate thanks to some 39 new appointments (unelected) and will have a Conservative majority in the Supreme court (after he fills the upcoming vacancies).
     And that isn’t even mentioning a totally inexperienced official NDP opposition, a decimated Liberal Party (34 seats) and the Bloc Party without even official party status (4 seats), and the establishment of the new Sun News Network to provide an easily controlled Conservative media outlet.
     On the upside, The Green Party now has its first seat elected seat in Parliament.

     The answer to where my Canada is going in the next four years can maybe best predicted by two quotes:
1) Stephen Harper's speech in 2004 when he won the leadership of the Conservative Party,
"We can create a country built on solid Conservative values not on expensive Liberal promises. A country the Liberals would not even recognize. "
2) Bette Davis (as commonly misquoted in the movie 'All About Eve'), "Fasten your seatbelts. It's going to be a bumpy ride. "
                           FYI the correct quote is, "It's going to be a bumpy night".

UPDATE ON CANADA'S NEW "FOX NEWS" network
     After a couple of false starts, the Sun News Network is officially on the air as of April 18th, 2011,on a few stations/channels. Their start-up problems have been “resolved” and Kory Teneycke, VP of development for Quebecor and a former director of communications and chief spokesperson for Prime Minister Stephen Harper, is again at the head of the organization,
     The news program has two slogans: 'Canada's Home for Hard News and Straight Talk' and 'We're On Your Side'.
     I can accept the possibility of the first slogan but I have two problems with their second slogan. Firstly, how can they say they are on “my” side when they obviously don’t know me or what “my side” is on any given topic?. And, secondly, how can they say they are on everyone’s side a the same time?

THE CANADIAN FEDERAL ELECTION  
      I guess the election results have answered my blog heading question “Where Has My Canada Gone?” It has gone into a Conservative majority government under the leadership of arguably the most powerful Prime Minister in Canadian history.
     PM Harper has not only a majority in the House (and hence can get any bill passed) but also has a Conservative dominated Senate thanks to some 39 new appointments (unelected) and will have a Conservative majority in the Supreme court (after he fills the upcoming vacancies).
     And that isn’t even mentioning a totally inexperienced official NDP opposition, a decimated Liberal Party (34 seats) and the Bloc Party without even official party status (4 seats) Oh yes, and the establishment of the new Sun News Network which should make it easier to provide controlled Conservative national media outlet.
     On the upside, The Green Party now has its first seat elected seat in Parliament.


     The answer to where my Canada is going in the next four years can maybe best predicted by two quotes;

1)  Stephen Harper's speech in 2004 when he won the leadership of the Conservative Party,

 "We can create a country built on solid Conservative values not on expensive Liberal promises. A country the Liberals would not even recognize."
 2) Bette Davis (as commonly misquoted in the movie 'All About Eve'), "Fasten your seatbelts. It's going to be a bumpy ride".
                              FYI the correct quote is, "It's going to be a bumpy night".
 
UPDATE ON CANADA'S NEW "FOX NEWS" network"
      After a couple of  false starts, the Sun News Network  is officially on the air as of April 18th, 2011,on a few stations/channels. Their start-up problems have been “resolved” and  Kory Teneycke, VP of development for Quebecor and a former director of communications and chief spokesperson for Prime Minister Stephen Harper, is again at the head of the organization,
     The news program has two slogans: 'Canada's Home for Hard News and Straight Talk' and 'We're On Your Side'.
     I can accept the possibility of the first slogan but I have two problems with their second slogan. Firstly, how can they say they are on “my” side when they obviously don’t know me or what “my side” is on any given topic?. And, secondly, how can they say they are on everyone’s side a the same time?