The Official Len Gurr Blog

Pope proclaims that Jews not to blame for death of Jesus

2011-03-02T09:56:00.000-05:00

Pope Benedict XVI has made a sweeping exoneration of the Jewish people for the death of Jesus Christ in a new book, tackling one of the most controversial issues in Christianity. In “Jesus of Nazareth” excerpts released Wednesday, Benedict uses a biblical and theological analysis to explain why it is not true that the Jewish people as a whole were responsible for Jesus' death. Interpretations to the contrary have been used for centuries to justify the persecution of Jews.

While the Vatican has for five decades taught that Jews weren't collectively responsible, Jewish scholars said Wednesday the argument laid out by the German-born pontiff, who has had his share of mishaps with Jews, was significant and would help fight anti-Semitism today. “There's a natural human tendency to take things for granted, and very often this tends to lead to a lapse in awareness and consciousness” about the risk of anti-Semitism, said Rabbi David Rosen, head of inter religious affairs at the American Jewish Committee and a long

time leader in Vatican-Jewish dialogue.

While I'm not one to pay much attention to the Vatican, and while I find it strange that anybody would use this information in the 21st century to alter a personal opinion, I am greatly in favour of anything which reduces Anti-Semitism. If there are indeed still people in this day and age who carry a hatred of Jewish people because two thousand years ago Jesus was slain, and if this information will somehow cause them to modify their prejudice perceptions, then by all means I hope this story receives a significant amount of global attention.

Gadhafi threatens to 'cleanse' Libya

2011-02-22T14:17:00.000-05:00

Defiant Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi called on his supporters Tuesday to "secure Libya's streets" and vowed to "cleanse Libya house by house" if anti-government protesters do not surrender.In a rambling and furious hour-long speech broadcast on state television, Gadhafi dismissed widespread reports of a violent crackdown on protesters demanding his ouster and insisted he would not relinquish control of his country's "revolution."

"Revolution means sacrifice, a continuous sacrifice until the end of one's life," Gadhafi said in Tripoli, the capital, standing in front of what appeared to be a bombed-out compound, the site of a U.S. airstrike in 1986. "I will not leave the country. I will die as a martyr." Security forces loyal to Gadhafi have unleashed the bloodiest crackdown of any Arab country against the wave of protests sweeping the region, which toppled leaders of Egypt and Tunisia. Brandishing a copy of his so-called Green Book of decrees he wrote in the early years of his ironclad rule, Gadhafi also claimed the protesters deserve a death sentence.

Needless to say, if the protestors' cause needed any more merit, Gadhafi's words have provided it. Aside from emphasizing the corrupt and unjust nature of his rule, Gadhafi's tirade demonstrates that democracy is long overdue in Libya. While he will likely continue to ramble about being a "martyr," the reality is that his words are nothing more than the pathetic and desperate rant of a corrupt tyrant hopefully being brought to his knees by the power of the people.

Following Egypt? Protestors take to the streets in Iran

2011-02-15T09:03:00.000-05:00

The scenes leaking out of Tehran on Monday, captured on hundreds of cellphone videos and hasty photos smuggled onto the Internet, formed a chaotic patchwork quilt of forbidden dissent stretching across much of the city. Tens of thousands of young people filled the squares and boulevards of the Iranian capital, dodging canisters of tear gas, blockading roads with cars and burning garbage bins, engaging in frantic stone-throwing skirmishes with the motorcycle-riding basij militia, who are loyal to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, and with thousands of police.

If it resembled Cairo a week ago, that was deliberate, for this was meant to be Iran’s day to import the Arab uprising to the Persian world, and revive the democracy movement that erupted after the June, 2009, election but was violently crushed. Without question, Iran is not Egypt. The stakes are far deadlier, the clerical regime more hardened against dissent. The regime’s fear of an Arab-style democracy uprising was palpable, though, as it shut down the Internet across Tehran Monday and scrambled foreign TV and some cellphone signals.

It is remarkable to see the democratic protest movements taking place in Egypt and Iran. We in North America learned a long time ago that when united in a common cause, the people truly do hold the power. These corrupt, dictatorial regimes rule through fear, coercion, propaganda, and censorship. In other words, they go against the fundamental nature of basic human rights. Sometimes it only takes a single spark to ignite a much larger flame. If the recent events in Egypt provide the precedent for broader democratic revolutions throughout the Middle East, then we could truly be on the eve of significant historical events. Only time will tell. Unfortunately, expect the Iranian government to respond swiftly and brutally to these initial protests. The will of the protesters will certainly have to withstand tremendous pressure, yet if their passion is strong enough and can endure, a united movement of people truly can change the world.

The State of the Xbox 360

2011-01-26T12:15:00.003-05:00

Microsoft came out of the gate first in this generation, releasing the Xbox 360 in the fall of 2005, a full year ahead of rivals Sony and Nintendo. After watching PlayStation 2 outsell the original Xbox four-to-one over the previous five years, Microsoft knew it needed a leg up in the next generation, and being first to market helped the console establish a presence .With more than 50 million Xbox 360s sold worldwide and current sales stronger than ever, Microsoft has more than doubled the sales of its first system.

Part of the reason behind Xbox 360’s success in this generation has been its ability to grow, adapt, and change. Right from the start it offered players many things they’d never before seen in a game console, including a robust online marketplace for downloadable content and a well designed online community complete with a customizable identity and those devilishly addictive achievements that players love to collect and compare. However, thanks to a steady stream of firmware and hardware upgrades, the console has changed dramatically over the last half decade. Indeed, if a gamer from 2005 were transported to the present and shown a modern Xbox, he or she might well think that it was a next generation console, not just an evolved version of the device they would identify as an Xbox 360.

I have long been an Xbox owner. During my university days, I chose the original Xbox over the PS2. I currently own an Xbox 360 instead of the PlayStation 3. I am not a hardcore gamer, and thus I prefer the Xbox 360 for its vast game library and typically lower price point on games and hardware, yet relatively equal performance in terms of graphics. The Xbox 360 game console has indeed evolved tremendously over the past 5 years. When you add in several outstanding game franchises, including all of the EA Sports titles, Halo, Call of Duty, Splinter Cell, and Assassins Creed, there seems to be little doubt that the 360 will continue its strong sales numbers and seamless transition to the next Xbox console, which is expected sometime in 2013.

31 killed in terrorist bomb at Moscow airport

2011-01-24T11:33:00.000-05:00

An explosion ripped through the international arrivals hall at Moscow's busiest airport on Monday, killing 31 people and wounding about 130, officials said. The Russian president called it a terror attack. The state RIA Novosti news agency, citing law enforcement sources, said the mid-afternoon explosion at Domodedovo Airport may have been caused by a suicide bomber. Those at the airport said it was filled with thousands of people at the time and the terminal filled up quickly with smoke.

“From the preliminary information we have, it was a terror attack,” President Dmitry Medvedev told officials in a televised briefing. He ordered authorities to beef up security at Moscow's two other commercial airports and other transport facilities, including the subway system, the target of past terror attacks. Although there have been repeated attacks on the Moscow subway and Russian trains — most blamed on Chechen militants — the bombing Monday was the first involving a Russian airport since 2004.

It's sickening when terrorists prey on the innocent. As is always the case, this latest terrorist attack will once again prove meaningless, other than the needless loss of life. Terrorism is the only method of persuasion in the history of humanity proven to fail every time. Whatever "message" this suicide bomber was hoping to send will be lost in the tremendous sympathy and anger felt by the world in response to those who were killed. It seems that terrorists seek to kill when people are vulnerable. Airports are obviously very busy, high-risk locations for terrorist attacks. In this instance, the 31 people killed most certainly did not deserve such a tragic fate.

Senator Steals More than $700,000 in Taxpayer Money

2011-01-06T10:48:00.000-05:00

A senator charged with fraud and banned from sitting in the upper chamber since 2007 continues to charge taxpayers more than $10,000 a month in travel, hospitality and office expenses on top of his $133,000 a year salary. RCMP charged Senator Raymond Lavigne with fraud, breach of trust and obstruction of justice over the alleged misuse of Senate funds for travel, and getting a staffer to do personal work for him.

Lavigne was kicked out of the Liberal caucus, and for almost four years, he has not been allowed to sit on Senate committees or set foot in the Senate chamber without special permission from the Speaker. Lavigne, who's from Quebec, has repaid $24,000 since being charged. A ruling in his case is expected this week.
But while his case has dragged on, he has been allowed to continue spending public funds. Government documents obtained by CBC News reveal that in one three-month period last fall, Lavigne billed taxpayers $30,787 in expenses on top of roughly $33,000 in pay. Those charges to the public purse include over $8,400 in travel, $17,708 in "office" costs, and $4,528 for living expenses in the Ottawa area. Since he was barred from the Senate chamber in 2007, Lavigne has cost Canadian taxpayers more than $700,000.

The fact that Lavigne was allowed to carry on this ridiculous spending for so long demonstrates the clear lack of transparency and accountability in regards to government spending. While senators do indeed incur necessary costs in the performance of their duties (some might wonder aloud what those duties actually are), the extremely high debts that Lavigne has piled up are nothing short of absurd. Once again, the real victims in this crime are Canadian tax payers, who burden the cost of Canada's frequently disorganized and wasteful federal government. It has been said time and time again, but if the federal government was a private corporation, it would have gone out of business a long time ago.

DND sending video games to the troops

2010-11-22T10:52:00.000-05:00

Canadian soldiers stuck in lonely outposts in Afghanistan are the lucky recipients of a big stash of video games ordered just months before the military pulls out. Defence officials confirm that 500 copies of games such as Gears of War, Call of Duty, Mortal Kombat, and Assassins Creed are destined for Canada's forward operating bases in the war-ravaged country.

An estimated 500 to 600 soldiers are stationed at Ma'sum Ghar and Sperwan Ghar, Canada's main bases outside Kandahar, which works out to a video game for almost every gamer-in-uniform. "It helps in keeping good morale ... to bring some relief to people working long hours," Cmdr. Hubert Genest said in an interview. The large order, which includes some unwarlike games — such as Guitar Hero 3, The Beatles Rock Band, and Tiger Woods 2011 — was issued by public tender last week. The competition closes early next month.

While some will criticize this as an unnecessary expense, I think it's a great initiative. As somebody who plays video games myself, usually to unwind or take my mind away from life's stresses, I can appreciate the benefits many of the soldiers will experience from this. These men are being asked to risk their lives and live in the constant stress of potential danger. Furthermore, they are isolated from family, friends, and their normal way of life. Offering them some small semblance of the comforts of home is quite worthwhile.

Creator of Rocky and Bullwinkle Dies

2010-10-25T14:20:00.000-04:00

Alex Anderson, the cartoonist who created animated characters Rocky the Squirrel and his friend Bullwinkle, has died. He was 90.Anderson died Friday in Carmel, Calif., of complications from Alzheimer's.Anderson was business partner to Jay Ward, producer of the Rocky and Bullwinkle Show. And while Ward and writer-director Bill Scott are known for their association with the show, Anderson was almost unknown. Anderson had to sue Ward's heirs in the 1990s to regain full credit as creator of characters such as Rocky, Bullwinkle and Mountie parody Dudley Do-Right. Anderson is credited with setting the tone of rapid-fire humour in the show, which was sophisticated enough for adults though aimed at children. He parodied Cold War tensions by setting the sharp Rocky and dimwitted Bullwinkle against Russian enemies Boris Badenov and Natasha Fatale.

Anderson's death is a sad story. The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show was one of the first cartoons which was able to successfully engage both children and adults. The show combined topical humour and satire with silly entertainment. Without question, the entertainment world has lost a true pioneer.

Colonel WIlliams "ashamed" of his crimes

2010-10-21T11:08:00.000-04:00

A judge has sentenced Col. Russell Williams to life in prison with no chance of parole for 25 years for the first-degree murders of Cpl. Marie-France Comeau and Jessica Lloyd. The decorated former commander of Canadian Forces Base Trenton was also sentenced in Ontario Superior Court in Belleville on Thursday to 10 years for each of his two sexual assaults, as well as a year for each of the other 84 lesser charges he faced. Just before sentencing, Williams told Justice Robert F. Scott he is "indescribably ashamed" of the crimes he's committed, and especially apologized to the families of the two murdered women, Comeau and Lloyd.

This is a shocking and horrific story. The immoral and disgusting nature of Williams' crimes speaks for itself. Furthermore, the fact that he was such a well respected and high ranking officer in Canada's Armed Forces truly is, as Prime Minister Stephen Harper said, "a disgrace." Crimes like those perpetrated by Williams can only leave one feeling sympathy for the victims and their families, and anger that such heinous acts occur in our society.

The Body's Clock Influenced by Temperature

2010-10-15T14:16:00.000-04:00

U.S. researchers have shed light into what makes a person's internal clock tick. According to the study, in Friday's issue of Science, the body's circadian rhythm, which controls metabolism as well as sleep patterns and other functions of the body, is regulated by subtle variations in the body's internal temperature.

Researchers have long known that body temperature changes through the day on the 24-hour circadian rhythm. Investigators at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas studied mouse cells and discovered that the part of the brain that converts light, the suprachiasmatic nucleus, indirectly sets the body's clock. Once light enters through the eyes and is processed by the suprachiasmatic nucleus, messages are sent via neural signals to alter temperature. These temperature shifts cause the body's tissues and organs to be active or inactive. "Small changes in body temperature can send a powerful signal to the clocks in our bodies," said Joseph Takahashi, chair of neuroscience at UT Southwestern in Dallas and senior author of the study, in a release. "It takes only a small change in internal body temperature to synchronize cellular 'clocks' throughout the body."

The human body truly is a remarkable instrument. We're all aware of the ways in which our body is programmed with incredible instincts and clock-like reactions. Why do we often wake up one minute before our alarm goes off? Why do we feel more alert or tired at certain times of the day? The reality is that our bodies are living, breathing organisms fully integrated with the external world which surrounds us. We do not live in isolation, nor do we exist in a static vacuum. We are the combination of generations of complex genetic hard-wiring. The end result fully explains why human life is a miracle.

Chilean Mine Rescue Underway

2010-10-13T09:54:00.000-04:00

Twelve of the 33 miners who were trapped deep in a Chilean mine have been hauled to the surface, where they emerged smiling and eager to meet family members they haven't seen in more than two months. Edison Pena, the 12th miner rescued safely from the mine near Copiapo, Chile, stepped into the sun around 9:15 a.m. ET Wednesday. Mario Sepulveda Espina, the second miner to reach the surface, told a Chilean television station the ordeal was the hardest thing he has ever faced in his life but his faith got him through it.

"I was with God, and I was with the devil," he said through a translator. "But God won, I held onto God's hand, the best hand, and at no point in time … did I doubt that God wouldn't get me out of there." The first rescue began at 10:55 p.m. ET Tuesday, when Florencio Avalos, 31, was raised through a rescue shaft while strapped inside a 190-by-54-centimetre metal capsule.

The story of this rescue is nothing short of incredible. The fact that these miners were able to survive, trapped underground for so long in what can best be described as a tomb, is a remarkable testament to human perseverance and survival instincts. In an age when the news is so often dominated by stories of death and negativity, it is heartwarming to witness the heroic survival and rescue of these Chilean miners. Rest assured it is just a matter of time before Hollywood writes a screenplay and makes a motion picture telling the story of these survivors.

Happiness more than genetic

2010-10-07T11:07:00.000-04:00

The idea that happiness is a genetic trait influenced by early life experiences has been challenged by new research from Germany. It found feelings of happiness and well-being respond to external factors such as healthy lifestyle, religion and working hours. The study appears this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Lead author, associate professor Bruce Headey of the Melbourne Institute at the University of Melbourne, says the findings suggest genes only account for around 50 per cent of well-being, with external factors accounting for the rest.

While there is no doubt that many people seem more predisposed to being either happy or depressed, it is reasonable to assume that external factors play a major role in somebody's overall mood. As is the case with all elements of human existence, our lives are a complex combination of genetics and interactions with the world we live in. Ultimately we are either the beneficiaries or victims of so many things beyond our control. The influence of genetics and our day-to-day world profoundly impact who we are and how we feel.

CFL Seeks $12 million in funding for 100th Grey Cup

2010-10-05T10:50:00.000-04:00

The CFL wants the federal government to contribute $12 million to help finance the landmark 100th Grey Cup, which will take place in Toronto in 2012. "$12 million is a modest amount in terms of money made available for cultural events," Chris Rudge, chief executive officer of the 2012 Grey Cup festival, told The Globe and Mail on Monday. "It would allow us to expand the number of events held within the city, concerts and involve the entire cultural community, things that happen in Caribana or Gay Pride. And we want to see this done across the country as well and see more people come to Toronto and rally the way we saw people rally around the [Olympic] Games in Vancouver."

The argument can certainly be made that sports are a major cultural institution in our society. With this in mind, the CFL, as a part of our country's past, is indeed a distinctly Canadian cultural entity. Each year, millions of Canadians gather in living rooms and bars across the country to watch the uniquely Canadian version of football's championship game. The Grey Cup game also brings a financial boost to its host city each year. Given that this will be the 100th anniversary of the Grey Cup (far out dating the Super Bowl), it would be nice to see our federal government give this noteworthy moment its rightful due.

Astronomers Find First Distant Planet Capable of Supporting Life

2010-10-01T14:19:00.001-04:00

Astronomers believe they have found the first Earth-sized planet outside our solar system that is likely to support liquid water and therefore life. Planet "g," which orbits a red dwarf star called Gliese 581, is right in the middle of the star's "habitable zone," reported a team led by Steve Vogt of the University of California Santa Cruz and Paul Butler of the Carnegie Institution for Science in Washington, D.C.

Two of the planets previously discovered around that star were right on the edge of the zone around the star that has the possibility of supporting life, giving them only a small chance of being habitable. The evidence suggests that Planet "g" is a rocky planet with a diameter about 1.2 to 1.4 times larger than Earth's, they said in a paper posted online at arXiv.org, a pre-print archiving service. It will be published in the Astrophysical Journal.The planet's mass means its gravity would be the same as, or slightly higher than, Earth's, and a person could easily walk upright, Vogt said in a release. That is also enough gravity to hold onto an atmosphere.

The planet is "tidally locked" to the star that it orbits every 37 days, which means one side is always facing the star and one side faces away in perpetual darkness (similar to the way the Earth always faces the same side of the moon). That means that even though the average surface temperature is likely between -31 C and -12 C, one side is extremely hot, and the other side is always freezing cold.

This discovery is an extremely interesting one. Though the never-ending vastness of space makes it likely that countless planets do exist which are capable of sustaining life, the fact that astronomers have discovered planet "g" turns a hypothetical into an actuality. In the age of the 'space race' and early NASA explorations, an entire generation was mesmerized by the endless possibilities of space exploration. Unfortunately, the public has grown increasingly bored with pondering what lies beyond our world. The now known existence of planet "g" may very well reinvigorate fascination with space exploration.

Conrad Black Set to Appeal

2010-09-29T09:52:00.000-04:00

Conrad Black's lawyer will appear before an American appeals court on Wednesday to persuade a panel of judges that the former publishing mogul's convictions should be dropped due to a reinterpretation of American fraud law. Defence and prosecution lawyers will make 20-minute arguments for the judges to consider as they decide the fate of Black and three of his former Hollinger colleagues also convicted of fraud in July 2007. Black is free on bail after serving more than two years of a six-and-a-half year sentence in a Florida prison on convictions for fraud and obstruction of justice.

The U.S. Supreme Court set aside the fraud convictions in June, saying the so-called "honest services" argument used by U.S. prosecutors has a more narrow focus than what has previously been employed in white-collar crime cases. The top court didn't throw out Black's convictions, but it did order that the appeal court have another look at the case to see if they held up under the new guidelines.

It's difficult to gauge whether or not the general public actually cares about these proceedings. The reality is that Conrad Black is guilty of committing fraud. At this point, whether or not his high priced lawyer is able to have the remainder of his sentence dismissed due to a legal technicality seems to be yet another example of the wealthy and prominent being able to manipulate the legal system, rather than justice actually being served.

Canadian Online Shopping Exceeds $15 Billion a year

2010-09-27T15:10:00.001-04:00

Canadians ordered $15.1 billion in goods and services on the internet last year, up from $12.8 billion in 2007. Statistics Canada attributed the increase to a rise in the number of online shoppers and a higher volume of orders. The agency said 39 per cent of Canadians aged 16 and over used the internet to place more than 95 million orders in 2009 — up from 32 per cent and 70 million orders in 2007, when the survey was last conducted.

It almost seems hard to believe that for some time, people were quite skeptical of online shopping. Fears about potential fraud, as well as privacy concerns, motivated many Canadians to avoid online shopping. As mainstream companies have enhanced their online shopping experiences, and internet security has improved, the reality is that many Canadians now see online shopping as a safe, quick, and easy alternative to 'old fashioned' purchases. In 2010, you would be hard pressed to meet somebody who has not purchased at least one item from an online retail or auction site. Without question, online shopping is here to stay.

Parti Quebecois Accuse Montreal Canadians of 'Federal Conspiracy'

2010-09-17T10:58:00.000-04:00

Parti Québécois language critic Pierre Curzi has suggested the dwindling number of francophones on the Canadiens’ roster is part of some sort of federalist conspiracy. PQ Leader Pauline Marois has also echoed these sentiments. Their motivation stems from the fact that the Canadiens open their 2010 training camp with very few French Canadian players on the roster.

While there is no doubt that the Montreal Canadiens are an important part of French Canadian culture and tradition, the fact remains that they are a hockey team. Their primary goal should be to win hockey games, not worry about language and cultural controversies. Their hockey department is assigned the task of assembling the best possible team they can, regardless of race or nationality. So while core players like Scott Gomez, Brian Gionta, and Mike Cammalleri may not be French Canadian, they are nevertheless good hockey players. In my opinion, this is another silly attempt for separatist politicians to gain cheap political points at the expense of Quebec's most visible professional sports franchise.

Tension between North and South Korea escalates

2010-05-25T10:58:00.001-04:00

South Korea has begun its multi-pronged retaliation against North Korea for the sinking of one of its warships by blaring propaganda broadcasts into that country for the first time in six years. In response, North Korea has ordered its 1.2 million-member military to be ready for war, a South Korean news agency reported, though South Korean officials could not immediately confirm it.

The South's restarting of psychological warfare operations — including radio broadcasts into the North and placing loudspeakers at the border to blast out propaganda — were among measures the government announced Monday to punish Pyongyang for a March 26 torpedo strike that sank the warship Cheonan and killed 46 sailors. The South is also slashing trade and denying permission to North Korean cargo ships to pass through South Korean waters.

A team of international investigators concluded last week that a torpedo from a North Korean submarine tore apart the Cheonan. The sinking was the South's worst military disaster since the 1950-53 Korean War, which ended with an armistice, not a peace treaty. The North flatly denies involvement and has warned such retaliation would mean war. It has threatened to destroy any propaganda facilities installed at the heavily militarized border.

This situation is clearly a serious one. The tension and mistrust between North and South Korea is obvious. The countries have never really been at peace with one another. It is unfortunate that the Korean war, which ended nearly 60 years ago, did not produce a united, free and democratic Korea. Nevertheless, the international community, through the United Nations, must intervene to ensure that hostilities do not escalate any further.

Thai Government Imposes Bangkok Curfew

2010-05-19T12:07:00.000-04:00

A night curfew is in effect in Bangkok following a military crackdown on anti-government protesters who have been camped out in the capital for weeks. Government security forces stormed into the Red Shirt protesters' sprawling encampment Wednesday in a pre-dawn raid, using armoured vehicles to smash through barricades made of tires and bamboo sticks.

Militant protesters who fled the camp lashed out after the crackdown, clashing with security forces and sparking more than a dozen fires across the city. At least five people, including an Italian photographer, were killed in Wednesday's clashes. Dozens more were wounded in the crackdown — including Chandler Vandergrift, a Canadian freelance journalist who is reported to be in serious condition. Vandergrift is a writer, photographer and conflict-management consultant who has been documenting the tensions between protesters and the government.

"As with any Canadian that comes in harm's way, we're working closely with Thai authorities and the hospital involved and tracking the individual's condition," said Ron Hoffman, Canada's ambassador to Thailand. He said privacy laws prevented him from providing any details on Vandergrift's health status. The Canadian Embassy in Bangkok has been closed because of its proximity to the site of the clashes, but Hoffman said officials are still providing emergency services to Canadians in need of assistance.

It is a shame to see a country such as Thailand, which was once regarded as one of the most viable democratic nations in Southeast Asia, so destabalized. In any democratic system, public dissatisfaction with the existing government, or a transition of power, pose viable threats to the stability of the government. It is crucial that these sorts of challenges pass smoothly through compromise, negotiation, and respect for the process. Unfortunately, this has not been the case in Thailand. Only time will tell what these events will do to the long term viability of Thailand's current government and its political and social future.

Canadian Navy Celebrates 100 Year Anniversary

2010-05-04T14:21:00.000-04:00

Prime Minister Stephen Harper offered his congratulations Tuesday to the Canadian navy on 100 years of "a mighty tradition of service and heroism, one that is second to none in the world among navies that are often far older and in some cases far larger."

May 4 marks a century since royal assent was granted for the establishment of Canada's Department of Naval Service. "Over the past 100 years of navy service, more than 600 warships have left our ports with the proud prefix HMCS designating Canadian ships," Harper said at a ceremony in Ottawa.

"These ships served during two world wars, during the Korean War, during many peacekeeping missions particularly in the Persian Gulf during the Afghan mission, in the Arctic and the Caribbean, and in a nutshell, every time it has been called upon to meet a need. "Between 1939 and 1945, the navy lost more than 2,000 men and 24 ships in the fight for freedom, emerging from the Second World War with the third-largest global fleet, he added.

Prime Minister Laurier faced significant political criticism when he made the decision to adopt a Canadian navy. Dubbed the so-called "tin pot navy," the move to give Canada its own independent fleet proved to play a role in the eventual end of Laurier's tenure as prime minister in 1911. Despite the early doubts, Prime Minister Harper was right to point out that the 20th century ultimately vindicated the Canadian navy's existence. Playing a pivotal role in both World War I and II, as well as several other conflicts and peace keeping efforts around the world, Canada's navy has become a rightful source of pride for millions of Canadians.

Iceland volcano ash halts European flights

2010-04-15T14:19:00.001-04:00

An ash cloud from a volcano in Iceland forced aviation authorities in the United Kingdom and parts of northern Europe to close airspace and ground planes Thursday, leaving thousands of passengers stranded.The volcanic ash, which limits visibility and can damage engines, posed "a significant safety threat to aircraft," Britain's National Air Traffic Service said. The safety risks from the cloud prompted the agency to ban all non-emergency flights in British airspace until 7 a.m. local time Friday. The ash cloud also forced officials to ground flights in France, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Sweden and the Netherlands. Officials in several countries said it's not clear when it will be safe enough to fly again.

"At the present time, it is impossible to say when we will resume flying," said Henrik Peter Joergensen, the spokesman for Copenhagen's airport in Denmark, where some 25,000 passengers were affected. The National Air Traffic Service said Britain had not halted all flights in its space in living memory, although most flights were grounded after the Sept. 11 attacks. Heathrow was also closed by fog for two days in 1952. The closure of major hubs like London's Heathrow Airport is causing chaos at airports across Europe. In Canada, airline officials are advising passengers that cancellations and delays in Europe could have a ripple effect on other flights.

While I'm sure many of the grounded passengers are annoyed by the inconvenience of having their travel plans delayed, ultimately this is the right decision. It is easy to assume that advanced technology has enabled human beings to attain complete mastery over the Earth. The reality is that this is clearly not the case. Time and time again we are reminded of the incredible destructive power that nature can provide. This is yet another example where caution is the correct choice.

Obama excited by progress at Nuclear Security Summit

2010-04-14T09:48:00.000-04:00

The steps taken at the Nuclear Security Summit in Washington D.C. will make the world a safer place, U.S. President Barack Obama said Tuesday. "Today’s progress was possible because these leaders came not simply to talk but to take action, not simply to make pledges of future action but to commit to meaningful steps that they are prepared to implement right now," Obama said as he wrapped up the two-day conference. Obama said the participants all agreed to the seriousness of the threat of nuclear attacks, a change from the beginning of the summit when there was a range of views on the issue.

"Today we are declaring that nuclear terrorism is one of the most challenging threats to international security," Obama said. He said all nations also endorsed the goal to secure all vulnerable nuclear materials around the world in four years time. Obama said some important achievements were reached during the summit. Canada said it would return its stockpile of enriched uranium to the United States, while Ukraine announced it will give up its entire stockpile of weapons-grade uranium by 2012 — most of it this year. He said Chile and Mexico also announced they would give up their entire stockpile of enriched uranium, and that nations such as Argentina and Pakistan had announced steps to strengthen port security and prevent nuclear smuggling.

The world has come a long way from the days of the Cold War. It is time to permenantly rid ourselves of nuclear weapons of mass destruction. If the 20th century was defined by horrific wars and conflict, surely the 21st century can be one of peace and diplomacy. It seems as though the notion of nation state altercations has been rendered somewhat obsolete by the emergence of global terrorist cells. The idea of a terrorist nuclear attack is terrifying beyond words. It is crucial that all nuclear capable nation states work together to eradicate all dangerous nuclear materials. Without question, the pen and the spoken word can be mightier than the atomic bomb.

Pilot error may have killed Polish president

2010-04-12T14:18:00.001-04:00

Pilot error may be to blame for a plane crash in western Russia on Saturday that killed the Polish president and 95 others, Russian investigators say. Polish president Lech Kaczynski and his wife, along with dozens of high-ranking government and defence officials, died when their Tu-154 plane crashed in heavy fog near Smolensk, Russia. Russia's chief investigator, Alexander Bastrykin, said Monday that investigators have almost finished reading the flight recorders. "The readings confirm that there were no problems with the plane, and that the pilot was informed about the difficult weather conditions, but nevertheless decided to land," Bastrykin said during a briefing with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin in Smolensk. The Polish delegation was travelling to Russia to attend a memorial for more than 20,000 Polish soldiers, police and others executed by the Soviet secret police and buried in mass graves in the Katyn Forest near Smolensk in 1940.

There are no words to describe a tragedy such as this. The entire world is grieving for Poland's loss. While a complete investigation will not undo these horrific events, it will at least provide a small degree of closure. Of particular note, we as Canadians should be mindful of the thousands of Polish Canadians who have likely been hit quite hard by this terrible news.

Vimy Ceremony Honours Canada's Last WWI Vet

2010-04-09T14:17:00.000-04:00

Canadians paid a special tribute to the country's last World War I veteran and his generation at a ceremony in Ottawa that officially marked the end of an era. John Babcock, 109, who died in February, was honoured at the National End of Era commemorative ceremony on Vimy Ridge Day at the National War Memorial in the capital on Friday morning. Prime Minister Stephen Harper told the crowd of thousands that the event was a goodbye and a homage to "the generation whose fearlessness in war and selflessness in peace first defined our young nation in the eyes of the world." He added, "With the passing of John Babcock only a few weeks ago, we have sadly lost our last living link to this generation of admirable Canadians." Freedom and the responsibility to use it for great purpose are a gift left behind by that generation, he said. "As Canadians let us be tireless always and, as they were, for that which is right and good.”

Having recently visited the Vimy Memorial, it remains a moving tribute to the incredible bravary and heroism demonstrated by Canadians in April 1917. As Pierre Burton so famously said, Canada did indeed become a nation at Vimy Ridge. Beyond just the battle for Vimy, Canadian soldiers distinguished themselves with tremendous achievements in both World Wars, as well as in Korea, and various peace keeping missions in places like Afghanistan. We will always be a peace loving nation which cherishes human rights, but the reality is that sometimes circumstances necessitate the use of force as an instrument of freedom. It is imperative that we always keep this lesson in mind, and taking the time to remember our veterans reminds us to do just that.

State of Emergency in Thailand

2010-04-07T09:48:00.000-04:00

Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has declared a state of emergency in Bangkok, handing the army broad powers to restore order after weeks of disruptive street protests by anti-government demonstrators. The announcement came Wednesday after protesters broke into parliament and senior government officials had to be evacuated by helicopter. Some lawmakers scaled the compound's walls to escape. The government already had placed Bangkok under the strict Internal Security Act, but a state of emergency includes more sweeping powers. It gives the military authority to restore order and allows authorities to suspend certain civil liberties and ban public gatherings of more than five people. The so-called Red Shirt protesters are demanding that Abhisit dissolve parliament within 15 days and call new elections. He has offered to do so by the end of the year.

The situation in Thailand warrants careful observation. Needless to say, these protests are a fairly strong threat to the stability of the country's government. In any democratic system of government, the power rests with the people. If there's a strong enough public will for an election to be called, then a responsible government has an obligation to satisfy this will. Having said this, violent protest is never an acceptable means of lobbying and persuasion. It is in everybody's best interests that these dangerous protests subside and order is restored. Once this happens, it is crucial that the government respond swiftly to call an open and fair election. Anything less than this should draw the ire of the United Nations and all democratic countries.

Situation in Haiti Remains Critical

2010-03-29T14:18:00.000-04:00

The situation in Haiti remains critical more than 10 weeks after an earthquake devastated the Caribbean country and just two days before international donors meet to discuss long-term recovery. More than a million homeless Haitians take shelter under tarps, blankets and lean-tos in massive temporary camps called "tent cities." The conditions of the camps have improved since they were established after the 7.0-magnitude quake struck an area just west of the capital city of Port-au-Prince on Jan. 12. There are rows of portable toilets and showers, as well as drinking water and electricity. But the camps are also strewn with 10 weeks worth of garbage, urine and feces, according to CBC reporter Paul Hunter, who visited a tent city housing 20,000 in Port-au-Prince on Sunday.

As is often the case in our mass media world, the public's focus quickly shifts once a news story has run its cycle. Unfortunately, the immediate shock of the situation in Haiti has subsided. It is critical that we as Canadians remain aware of the chilling reality that many in Haiti are still homeless and suffering. It is not enough to turn a blind eye and hope the problems vanish. As global citizens, we have a responsibility to continue sending aid. The people of Haiti deserve nothing less than our full compassion and support.

Canadian Women's Hockey Victory "Party" Under Investigation

2010-02-26T11:14:00.000-05:00

The International Olympic Committee will investigate the behaviour of the Canadian women's hockey players who celebrated their gold medal at the Vancouver Games by drinking alcohol on the ice. Several Canadian players returned to the ice surface at Canada Hockey Place roughly 30 minutes after their 2-0 win over the U.S. on Thursday night. The players drank cans of beer and bottles of champagne, and smoked cigars with their gold medals draped around their necks. Gilbert Felli, the IOC's executive director of the Olympic Games, said he wasn't aware of the celebration until informed by an Associated Press reporter. "If that's the case, that is not good. It is not what we want to see," he said. "I don't think it's a good promotion of sport values. If they celebrate in the changing room, that's one thing, but not in public." Felli said the IOC will talk to the International Ice Hockey Federation and the Canadian Olympic Committee to collect more information for the purposes of its investigation. "We will investigate what happened. ... We will first find the facts and then act accordingly," he said.

With all due respect, anybody who is "offended" by this is being ridiculous. In the year 2010 does anybody honestly think that adult women, after earning such an important victory, won't celebrate with a cold beer or two? The reality is that many athletes, along with many other adults, do enjoy a beer in celebration of something. Obviously it's important to drink responsibly, but the fact that this is even a story seems like another example of media created nonsense. We all have more important things to worry about than whether or not these women had a few beers last night. Congrats to them on an outstanding achievement!

Canadian Life Expectancy Increases

2010-02-23T13:53:00.000-05:00

Newborn Canadians may live to celebrate nearly 81 birthdays on average, a Statistics Canada report on life expectancy suggests. Tuesday's report on births and deaths showed life expectancy at birth reached 80.7 years for the three-year-period between 2005 and 2007, up 0.2 years from an average of 80.5 between 2004 and 2006. In 1995 to 1997, life expectancy at birth was 78.4. "People are living longer, longer than ever," said Shiang Ying Dai, senior analyst with Statistics Canada's health statistics division in Ottawa. Canadians over 65 in particular can expect to live longer. "They can plan their future knowing they can live longer," such as considering their retirement and other needs, said Dai, one of the authors of the report.

Obviously this report should be viewed as positive news. We all want to live long, healthy lives, and it's nice to know that numerical data supports the conclusion that most Canadians will. There are also many consequences to the continuing trend of Canadians living longer. From a financial perspective, longer retirements means a greater emphasis on savings, investments, pensions, and health care costs. Most importantly though, this study suggests that while there are many cynics who claim the 21st century world is a negative and unhappy place, it seems the average Canadian disagrees and has shown a willingess to stick around as long as possible.

Woods Apologizes for Affairs

2010-02-19T11:20:00.000-05:00

Golfer Tiger Woods apologized Friday to his family, friends, colleagues, close associates and legion of fans in his first words publicly in nearly three months since a car accident sparked shocking revelations about his infidelity. Woods spoke from the clubhouse of the TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., home of the PGA Tour, on Day 3 of the Accenture Match Play Championship in Ariz. Accenture was the first sponsor to drop the world No. 1 after he became embroiled in a sex scandal in late November.

Woods' apology is of no consequence to me. He has not personally wronged me, and therefore doesn't owe me an apology. The idea of "public forgiveness" is nonsense. Woods has claimed that what transpired is a private matter. Unfortunately, the reality is that once you accept a life of international celebrity, and the wealth of riches and spoils which go with it, you sacrifice a great deal of privacy. Every profession has its drawbacks. Some jobs require long hours, difficult working conditions, or inadequate pay. In Tiger's case, being arguably the most famous athlete in the world comes with a deprivation of personal privacy. If you don't like it, stop cashing endorsement cheques and permanently step away from the public limelight. This perspective may not be "fair," but it is realistic. The world can be a black and white place, and being a celebrity means you're always subject to public scrutiny.

Harper Arrives in Haiti

2010-02-16T11:22:00.000-05:00

Prime Minister Stephen Harper arrived in Haiti on Monday, announcing that Canada will donate $12 million to temporarily house government departments whose buildings were destroyed in the earthquake. The Canadian-funded base will include tents and hard-shelled temporary buildings. It is expected to be used for as long as a year, and will be installed after the Haitian government chooses a location.

"[This is] an important step toward recovery and reconstruction," Harper said. The prime minister landed in Port-au-Prince during the afternoon aboard a giant Boeing C-17 cargo plane, becoming the first G20 leader to visit the Caribbean country since the Jan. 12 earthquake.

While there is always more that we as Canadians can do to help the people of Haiti, I think the fact that Harper is the first G20 leader to visit Haiti is a noteworthy accomplishment. We as Canadians often pride ourselves on being compassionate global citizens. This $12 million donation certainly reinforces that perception. In the modern world of mass media, the public's focus tends to lapse as days and ultimately weeks pass. It is crucial that we maintain our awareness of how much people in Haiti are suffering, long after CBC and CNN stop covering the story.

Government Red Tape Delays Haitian Relief Volunteers

2010-02-09T14:59:00.000-05:00

Quebec medical workers returning from a relief mission in Haiti are urging authorities to suspend federal rules they say are delaying help for the disaster-ridden country.A team of nurses and doctors from the University of Sherbrooke returned to Montreal on Monday night after a three-week shift assisting earthquake victims in Haiti. They were among the first Canadian medical workers dispatched to Haiti after the Jan. 12 earthquake.

The university has been trying for weeks to send a second delegation, picked from a group of more than 100 volunteers keen to go to Haiti. But Réjean Hébert, dean of medicine, said the university first must obtain permission from the federal government, which will delay the next team's mission. "Get rid of the bureaucracy," Hébert said, moments after greeting the team at Montreal's Trudeau airport on Monday night. "Get rid of the obstacles, to support people that want to help Haitian population."

I completely agree with Hébert's comments. Canadian citizens frequently face minor inconveniences due to the overwhelming level of bureaucracy which plagues Canada's government. Suffice to say that very few Canadians believe our federal government operates with tremendous speed and efficiency. The terrible situation in Haiti necessitates that bureaucratic red tape be removed in order to ensure that as much aid as possible reaches the Haitian people. The onus is now on the Canadian government to solve the seemingly ridiculous delay and allow this delgation of medical officials to help.

Crown Drops Charges Against Fantino

2010-02-03T11:13:00.003-05:00

A Crown attorney has withdrawn charges against OPP Commissioner Julian Fantino, who was alleged to have illegally influenced elected officials in Caledonia, the site of a long-running aboriginal occupation. In a Cayuga, Ont., courtroom Wednesday morning, Milan Rupic said there were no reasonable grounds for conviction. He also said his office had the authority to take over the case, which hinged on private charges. Justice of the Peace Dan MacDonald agreed, adding that pursuing the case would not be in the best interest of the public.

Gary McHale, the activist pushed to have Fantino charged after the provincial police head allegedly sent an email in 2007 telling the mayor and councillors in Caledonia not to attend McHale's rallies, opposes Wednesday's ruling. He has filed a judicial review claiming the Crown attorney's office does not have jurisdiction to take over his case. Fantino had repeatedly denied the allegations.

Certainly there is a strong possibility that Fantino is innocent of any wrongdoing. Unfortunately, given his prominent position in Ontario's government, there are many who believe that this recent decision is simply the result of Fantino's powerful connections, rather than an upholding of justice. Right or wrong, the perception that prominent government officials are held less accountable for their actions does exist. In this instance, unless a full disclosure of the events is made public, we may never know for sure where the truth lies.

Cell Phone Ban in Cars Takes Full Effect

2010-02-01T10:45:00.000-05:00

Motorists in Ontario and British Columbia may now start paying a price for answering the phone or texting a friend while driving. Monday, Feb. 1, marks the end of grace periods for distracted-driving laws passed in both provinces, meaning offending motorists will now be subject to fines.

Ontario's law has been in effect since October, but drivers using hand-held devices behind the wheel can now be subject to fines of $155. A driver who challenges the ticket may have the fine lowered to $50 or raised to $500 at the judge's discretion.British Columbia's law has been on the books since Jan. 1, but now drivers can expect a $167 fine. Calls made to 911 or other emergency services are exempt from the laws.

As somebody who frequently uses his cell phone will driving, I'll be the first to admit that this law has created a minor inconvenience for me. Often I use my time in the car to catch up on missed calls or texts. Nevertheless, this new law is a necessary one. The reality is that none of us can claim we aren't at least slightly distracted from the road while talking or texting. We've all had moments when our car slightly drifted from the lane while sending a text. This poses far too dangerous of a scenario. I recently purchased a blue-tooth headset, and while I don't really like wearing it, the importance of road safety trumps my cell phone preferences. Ultimately the logic behind this law is undeniable.

Israel Says "Bring Holocaust Criminals to Justice"

2010-01-27T12:05:00.000-05:00

Israeli President Shimon Peres called for the surviving perpetrators of the Holocaust to be brought to justice and warned that Iran posed a new threat to peace in a speech to German legislators marking Holocaust Remembrance Day. Peres, 86, addressed the German parliament in Berlin on Wednesday to mark the 65th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi Auschwitz death camp, and told them that across the world, "survivors of the Holocaust are gradually departing from the world of the living."

"At the same time, men and women who took part in the most odious activity on earth — that of genocide — still live on German and European soil, and in other parts of the world," he added. "My request of you is: Please do everything to bring them to justice. This is not revenge in our eyes. This is an educational lesson," Peres said.

On a day which serves to remind all of us of the unspeakable horrors commited by the "Third Reich" against the Jewish people of Europe, Peres comments tell us that some crimes are of such a horrific nature that statutes of limitations cannot apply. The Nazi's systematic attempts to exterminate the Jewish race and create a "racially pure" society directly led to the murder of more than 6 million people. While it would be easy to bury this disturbing reality, the fact is that the history of Hitler's Germany serves to reinforce that fundamental human rights, a central aim of the United Nations, need to be a permanent reality for all human beings.

Haiti Will Lead Rebuilding Efforts

2010-01-25T11:52:00.002-05:00

Haitian Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive offered thanks to the international community Monday for its support since the Jan. 12 earthquake, adding that his country will need "more and more and more aid" to complete reconstruction. "What we are speaking about is relaunching our country on a path of development. It is not a question of going back to the status quo," Bellerive told an international meeting in Montreal to assist Haiti's reconstruction after the massive earthquake flattened much of the country.

Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon welcomed more than a dozen foreign ministers, development groups and financial groups, telling them their one-day meeting must result in a new set of principles and objectives for Haiti's reconstruction. Cannon reiterated the shared view of participants that Haitians must take a lead role in rebuilding the country.

I agree with Minister Cannon that Haiti must take the initiative in rebuilding the country, but ultimately it is crucial that we as Canadian citizens continue to help whenever and however we can. It is deplorable that in 2010 a country such as Haiti lacks the facilities and monetary resources to adequately cope with a natural disaster. Despite so many fantastic advances, humanity in the 21st century remains divided by the haves and the have nots.

Vatican Critical of Avatar

2010-01-12T14:19:00.000-05:00

The Vatican's newspaper and its radio station have given a lukewarm reception to the film Avatar, criticizing it for its "spiritualism linked to the worship of nature." A red-carpet preview of Canadian James Cameron's 3-D blockbuster was held in Rome ahead of its wide release Friday in Italy. The film is set on the fictional planet of Pandora, where humans are creating an environmentally destructive mining colony.

Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano devoted three articles to Avatar in its Sunday editions but said Cameron's plot was "bland" and unoriginal. "He tells the story without going deep into it, and ends up falling into sappiness," it said. The newspaper had praise for the film's visual effects, but said the story failed to touch the heart. "So much stupefying, enchanting technology, but few genuine emotions," the reviewer wrote.

Vatican Radio said Avatar "cleverly winks at all those pseudo-doctrines that turn ecology into the religion of the millennium." Pope Benedict XVI has spoken of the need to protect the environment, but warned against "neopaganism" and the danger of turning nature into a "new divinity." In Avatar, "nature is no longer a creation to defend but a divinity to worship," the radio reviewer said. Vatican spokesman Rev. Federico Lombardi said the reviews reflect the Pope's views on confusing nature and spirituality. However, they are independent film reviews with no input from the pontiff, he added.

The Vatican newspaper recently had praise for the long-running TV show, The Simpsons.But it was famously dismissive of the film version of The Da Vinci Code, a criticism that made very little difference to the film's box office. Avatar has earned more than $1 billion US at the box office so far and looks set to become the highest-grossing film of all time, beating Cameron's previous record with Titanic.

Truth be told, I have no idea if Vatican reviews influence people to either view or skip a feature film. While I would never disrespect the Catholic faith, the literal interpretation of a movie that was ultimately produced for entertainment purposes seems a bit much. I highly doubt that any reasonable adult would leave the theatre after watching Avatar and seriously consider reshaping their spiritual and religious beliefs. While the film may promote a love, and perhaps even spiritual worship of nature, its capacity to indoctrinate people into what the Vatican refers to as "neo-paganism" is dubious at best.

Woods Admits to "Transgressions"

2009-12-02T12:07:00.001-05:00

Golfer Tiger Woods apologized Wednesday for "transgressions" that let his family down -- the same day a gossip magazine published a report alleging he had an affair. "I have let my family down and I regret those transgressions with all of my heart. I have not been true to my values and the behavior my family deserves," he said in a statement on his official Web site. Woods did not admit to an affair and offered no details about the "transgressions" in his statement."I am not without faults and I am far short of perfect. I am dealing with my behavior and personal failings behind closed doors with my family. Those feelings should be shared by us alone."

While I believe that it's unfair for celebrities of Woods' stature to be exposed to such a magnifying media lens, the reality is that it comes with the outrageous fame and fortune he enjoys. Extra-marital affairs have become far too common in modern society, but that doesn't change the fact that I have personally lost a measure of respect for Woods. He is married to a beautiful woman, and ultimately any affair is an act of selfishness. If he is unhappy with his marriage, he should file for divorce, regardless of the economic costs. Otherwise, he should remain faithful and devoted to his wife. He is a role model on the golf course, but if the recent events of his personal life are any indication, he is not somebody worth emulating.

Pirates Hijack U.S. Oil Tanker Near Somalia

2009-11-30T10:46:00.001-05:00

An oil tanker bound for the United States was hijacked off Somalia with a crew of 28 aboard, maritime authorities said. The M/V Maran Centaurus was commandeered about 600 nautical miles northeast of the Seychelles, on its way to New Orleans, Louisiana, according to the Maritime Security Center. The crew consists of 16 Filipinos, nine Greeks, two Ukrainians and a Romanian, said the security agency, which is run by the European naval force.

The 300,000-ton tanker, which started out from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, was seized Sunday. It had changed course westward, toward Harardhere or Hobyo, along Somali's central-western coast. Somali pirates have turned high-seas kidnappings into a lucrative business. Pirates have captured more than 50 ships this year off Somalia and are currently holding 12, including the fishing vessel Alakrana, Spanish Defense Minister Carme Chacon said recently. Attacks in the region have significantly increased this year, according to the International Maritime Bureau, which monitors shipping crimes. But successful attacks have gone down as a result of a strong presence of international monitors.

The amount of ship hijacking which is taking place near Somalia speaks to the intense volatility of the region. As the international security presence continues to increase, the level of attacks will likely decline. Certainly attacking American ships seems like an ill-advised move by the pirates. Though the immediate attack was successful, one has to assume that an increased American naval presence in the region will only serve to ultimately bring an end to the reign of piracy off Somalia's coast.

White House Crashers Aspire for Reality TV Careers

2009-11-26T14:33:00.000-05:00

Vice President Joe Biden put an arm around the waist of the glamorous, slender blonde in bright red Indian-style formal dress and flashed his pearly whites. Three Marines in dress blues smiled and clasped their white-gloved hands in front of their bodies as the blonde joined them on what seems to be a White House portico. And White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel leaned in for snapshot with the blonde as she draped a hand over the shoulder of her tuxedoed husband, her rings inches from a pair of official-looking badges on his lapel.

It's not clear if the pins on the man's tuxedo actually are official, but his presence at President Obama's first state dinner wasn't, and neither was his wife's. Tareq and Michaele Salahi crashed the dinner, in honor of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, on Tuesday night, the Secret Service has confirmed. The agents tasked with protecting the president "did not follow proper procedures," Secret Service agent Edwin Donovan said in a statement. He said the gatecrashers went through metal detectors "and other levels of security."

The incident represents a security breach for the White House at the Obama administration's biggest social event to date. More than 300 guests, including Cabinet members, diplomats and Hollywood celebrities, attended the dinner. The Salahis are aspiring reality TV stars who hoped to land roles in the forthcoming show, "The Real Housewives of D.C.," by the Bravo cable network, The Washington Post reported.

Clearly this could have manifested itself into a serious threat on the lives of Obama and other senior White House officials. Fortunately, the two imposters wanted nothing more than to create a reputation for themselves by attending Washington's most exclusive party. Though the event is certainly a major source of embarassment for the Secret Service, in reality the Salahis are destined to become nothing more than fodder for daily shows and late night comedians. Nevertheless, the incident does serve as a reminder that even the most diligent security networks can be breached, sometimes in the most innocent of ways.

Majority of Americans Favour Ban on Abortion Funding

2009-11-18T09:51:00.000-05:00

Six in 10 Americans favour a ban on the use of federal funds for abortion, according to a new poll. The poll also indicates that the public might also favour legislation that would prevent many women from getting their health insurance plan to cover the cost of an abortion, even if no federal funds are involved.

A CNN/Opinion Research Corporation survey released Wednesday morning indicates that 61 percent of the public opposes using public money for abortions for women who can not afford the procedure, with 37 percent in favor of allowing the use of federal funds.

And by a 51 percent to 45 percent margin, those questioned in the survey think that women who get abortions should pay the full costs out of their own pocket, even if they have private health insurance and no federal funds are involved.

The results of this poll are somewhat surprising, but nevertheless reflective of America's large conservative population. As a strong supporter of a woman's right to choose, it is disappointing that so many Americans believe a woman should be responsible for carrying the cost of an abortion. It is not a cosmetic undertaking, but rather a legal medical procedure. Women often decide to have an abortion only after experiencing difficult process of self reflection and struggling with feelings of guilt, anxiety, and depression. They deserve the full weight of their health insurance coverage behind them.

Confusion Surrounds H1N1 Vaccines

2009-11-02T14:20:00.000-05:00

Provincial health officials don't yet have final numbers of how many doses of swine flu vaccine they expect to receive next week. Health ministers are asking Canadians to stay away from immunization clinics this week unless they are in a priority group to receive the H1N1 vaccine.

The number of doses shipped from the manufacturer, pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline, is down to slightly more than 400,000 this week, from roughly two million doses that were sent in previous weeks. "I've had conversations with the federal minister and I've asked her to please, and she has assured us that they will, give us … as much advance notice as possible about what the supply is going to be," Ontario Health Minister Deb Matthews told CBC News on Monday."We were very surprised on Friday to learn how little vaccine there would be available this week. We need to get more lead time."

Needless to say, there has been a great deal of confusion and speculation regarding the H1N1 vaccine. Is it available? When and where can people receive it? Is it safe? It is paramount that the general public has a firm understanding of when and where the vaccine is available, and that they receive it. This knowledge is essential in order to manage what could very well become an even more widespread epidemic.

NASA Launches Ares I-X Rocket

2009-10-29T09:33:00.002-04:00

NASA launched its Ares I-X rocket on Wednesday after weather delays prevented a scheduled Tuesday launch. Late Tuesday and early Wednesday, rain fell on the Kennedy Space Center and at least four lightning strikes hit near the launch pad. The rain damaged a sensor atop the vehicle. The unmanned Ares I-X is a part of the Constellation Program. The program has been developing new vehicles to replace space shuttles, which will be phased out in 2010. The rocket's launch is part of NASA's mission to someday return astronauts to the moon and later travel to Mars.

Wednesday's launch marks a significant step in what NASA hopes will be the regeneration of space exploration. Since the Apollo missions, which reached their peak with Neil Armstrong's famous walk on the moon on July 20th, 1969, space exploration has failed to capture the public's imagination. There is a certain romantic quality associated with adventuring through the stars. We are, by our very nature, explorers. It is quite sad that space exploration has faded so much in the public consciousness. While it is true that government expenditures should focus on day-to-day matters, there needs to be a meanginful directive to nourish our impulse to explore and discover.

Toronto Teenager Dies from H1N1

2009-10-27T14:20:00.001-04:00

It has been confirmed that a 13-year-old from Toronto has died of the H1N1 virus. Evan Frustaglio, a minor hockey league player, died Monday evening at St. Joseph's hospital. "Toronto Public Health is confirming the death of a ... Toronto resident from H1N1," the department said Tuesday in a news release. It added that a news conference will be held in the afternoon to provide an update on increasing flu activity in the city.

"We're in pretty big shock here losing a 13-year-old boy who was as healthy as can be," Evan's father, Paul Frustaglio, told CBC News. Earlier, an official at the Ontario coroner's office said an autopsy had not yet been done yet and it was unclear if the boy had any other underlying medical conditions. Evan went from having minor cold symptoms to dying within 48 hours, his father said.

This is another tragic story of the fatal risks posed by the H1N1 virus. While nobody would refute the present threat, one does have to wonder what role the media is playing in emphasizing this epidemic. H1N1 is a potentially fatal ailment, but the same is true every year for other strains of influenza. Perhaps the greatest lesson to be taken away from this is the importance of receiving annual vaccines as a preventative measure. Human beings are living organisms, and as such, we are vulnerable to any number of viruses and diseases. Better to be safe than sorry. Let's hope that the H1N1 vaccines can be quickly and effectively distributed.

Canadian Home Sales are Up

2009-10-15T14:17:00.000-04:00

The Canadian Real Estate Association says 135,182 homes were sold countrywide in the third quarter, up 18 per cent from a year earlier and the most ever for the period. It's the biggest year-over-year increase since early 2002, the group said Thursday.

Building on two previous quarterly increases, seasonally adjusted home sales on the agency's Multiple Listing Service now stands 48 per cent above the low reached in the fourth quarter last year. Quarterly activity increases in Vancouver (34 per cent), Toronto (11 per cent), and Calgary (19 per cent) were the largest contributors to the national increase. Climbing to $327,736, the average price of a house in Canada rose 11 per cent from the same quarter last year.

If the real estate market can be used as a measuring stick for overall economic stability, this most recent trend is a strong sign. Though nobody would claim that Canada's economy is thriving, the fact remains that any positive economic news in light of the current recession is a good thing. An increase in home sales, corresponding with an increased level of consumer confidence, could signal economic recovery and growth in 2010.

Woman Living Full Life with Half a Brain

2009-10-13T10:46:00.000-04:00

Michelle Mack has turned medical thinking upside down.Born with only half a brain, Mack can speak normally, graduated from high school and has an uncanny knack for dates. At 27, doctors determined that the right side of her brain had essentially rewired itself to make up for function that was likely lost during a pre-birth stroke. But her childhood and young adult years were fraught with frustration. "It was very hard for me," Mack said. "It was very hard for me growing up. No one knew the truth about my brain."

Mack's parents, Carol and Wally, realized shortly after her birth that something was wrong. "There wasn't a group to turn to," said Carol Mack. "Michelle didn't have cerebral palsy, I knew that. She didn't have Down's syndrome, I knew that. I had no place to turn."
Ten years ago, Dr. Jordan Grafman, chief of the Cognitive Neuroscience Section at the National Institutes of Health, finally diagnosed the problem.An MRI scan revealed she was missing nearly all the left side of her brain. While it was clear Mack has some problems, Grafman said he and the family were shocked by the extent of the damage.

"We were surprised to see the extent of the lesion in her brain, which basically took away the left side of her brain," said Grafman. "There's some very deep structures remaining, but the surface of her brain, the cortex is 95 percent gone and some of the deeper structures, structures that control movement, are missing. These are all structures that are important for movement, behavior, cognition."The only answer, Grafman said, was that Mack's brain has rewired itself. The remaining half took over some of the essential functions that are normally done by the left, such as speaking and reading. That rewiring, however, came at a cost.

"Michelle has fairly normal language abilities, certainly basic language abilities, she can construct a sentence, she can understand instructions, she can find words when she's talking, but actually she has some trouble in some aspects of visual-spatial processing," said Grafman. "It's quite possible that in her learning, in her development, when the right hemisphere either took over or developed some of the language abilities that it cost her in some of the skills that are normally mediated by the right side of the brain," added Grafman.

In the 10 years since Grafman first diagnosed Mack, she has seen some intellectual functions improve, the doctor said. Recovery has not been perfect, however. Mack still struggles with abstract concepts and becomes easily lost in unfamiliar surroundings.

This is a remarkable story. We often make silly and passing references to only having half a brain, but to think that Mack has actually lived her life in such a state defies belief. It is clearly a testament to the human ability to adapt and innovate that she has been able to cope on a day-to-day basis. Whenever we are confronted with stories such as these, it often puts our relatively minor hinderances into perspective. Mack's perseverance is a strong reminder of just how much we can overcome.

Detroit Residents Can't Afford to Bury the Dead

2009-10-01T14:20:00.001-04:00

Inside the Wayne County morgue in midtown Detroit, 67 bodies are piled up, unclaimed, in the freezing temperatures. Neither the families nor the county can afford to bury the corpses. So they stack up inside the freezer.

Albert Samuels, chief investigator for the morgue, said he has never seen anything like it during his 13 years on the job. "Some people don't come forward even though they know the people are here," said the former Detroit cop. "They don't have the money."

Though it really isn't necessary to emphasize how hardly hit Detroit's economy has been by the recession, particularly due to its reliance on automobile manufacturing, this story nevertheless illustrates the severe economic plight which is affecting many in the city. Not since the Great Depression have so many people suffered from economic hardship. As businesses across several industries continue to downsize in an effort to survive, many so-called "working class" citizens are finding it difficult to afford even the most basic elements of survival. When burying a deceased loved one becomes an unaffordable luxury, clearly the severity of the situation is beyond dispute.

14 Year Old Dies After Vaccine

2009-09-29T10:42:00.003-04:00

Health authorities in Britain are investigating after a 14-year-old girl died a few hours after she received a vaccination shot to protect against a virus that causes cervical cancer.

Natalie Morton died in a hospital shortly after receiving the Cervarix vaccine at her school in Coventry, about 160 kilometres northwest of London. The vaccine protects against two strains of the human papilloma virus that causes cervical cancer. Caron Grainger, director for public health at Coventry City Council, says an autopsy will be carried out. Health officials said Tuesday the batch of vaccine given at the school has been quarantined. A number of other girls at the school reported mild symptoms such as dizziness and nausea after receiving the shot.

Clearly this is every parents worst nightmare. While it's important not to jump to conclusions until the results of the autopsy are returned, if a contaminated vaccine did cause Natalie Morton's death, it leads one to ask several relevant questions. Are the safe guards used for these vaccines strict enough? Are they properly transported and stored at all times? Is there any opportunity for somebody to access the vaccine material and deliberately contaminate it? While nothing will comfort the Morton family as they grieve this terrible loss, figuring out what caused her death may very well help to avoid similar tragedies in the future.

Study Shows Ozone Levels Are Increasing

2009-09-21T14:07:00.003-04:00

The depletion of the ozone layer has levelled off, and the amount of the UV-filtering gas has slightly increased over the last decade, European scientists say. The finding is the result of compiling ozone measurements from several European and American satellites from 1979 to 2008.

The researchers from Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg, Sweden, combined the readings of several instruments on NASA and European satellites, some of which look vertically down to the ground, and others that look sideways at the layers of the Earth's atmosphere. Jo Urban of Chalmers said their analysis shows a decline in ozone in the upper stratosphere of about seven per cent per decade between 1979 and 1997. "A clear statistically significant change of trend can be seen around 1997," said Urban, in a release.

This is an interesting finding given the current state of concern regarding environmental issues. While nobody would dare claim that current pollution levels around the world are at a tolerable level, or that ozone depletion does not still represent a major threat to the long term viability of our atmosphere, the fact remains that this data provides at least a minor glimpse of positive news in what has otherwise been a steady stream of negative information regarding the environment.

Recent Poll Shows Increased Support for Conservatives

2009-09-17T11:06:00.003-04:00

The Conservatives have widened their lead over the Liberal Party, a new poll suggests, as federal election speculation continues. The EKOS poll, commissioned for the CBC and released Thursday, shows the Tories with 35.1 per cent support, followed by the Liberals with 29.9 per cent. The New Democratic Party followed with 16.5 per cent, the Bloc Quebecois with 9.6 per cent and the Green Party with 9 per cent.

The Conservative lead increased slightly from last week’s poll, which saw the Tories with 34.2 per cent of support and the Liberals with 30.8 per cent. The NDP rose from 14.8 per cent, the Bloc slipped from 10 per cent, and the Green Party slipped from 10.1 per cent. Respondents were asked which party they would vote for if a federal election were held tomorrow.

Ontario continues to look like a tight race for the Conservatives and Liberals. As well, there appeared to be little change in Quebec, with the Bloc still on top with 39 per cent, followed by the Liberals (27 per cent) and the Tories (16 per cent).

It seems that many voters are turned off by the potential for an election this year. The increase in Conservative support may very well be a backlash against Ignatieff and the Liberals for openly threatening yet another federal election. Should the Bloc agree to topple the current government, Ontario will once again provide the key battleground for a potential Conservative majority. A change in power seems unlikely, so the question really becomes whether Ignatieff is willing to risk a potential Conservative majority under the unlikely pretence that a 2009 election will return the Liberals to power.

Proposed Anthem Policy for Nova Scotia Schools

2009-09-13T16:30:00.003-04:00

The Nova Scotia government has asked school boards to ensure the national anthem is either played or sung every day in every school. The issue of singing O Canada in schools sparked a countrywide uproar earlier this year when a principal in Springfield, N.B., decided to reserve the anthem for monthly assemblies. Erik Millett, the former principal of Belleisle Elementary School, made the decision after two families complained on religious grounds. Millett received death threats and became the centre of a national controversy.

Nova Scotia likely wants to avoid a similar situation, said David Cameron, a member of the Halifax Regional School Board. "The impetus was simply that there should be a policy that it's not fair to leave it to individual schools and be subject to parental pressure and so on, either way," he said. "So there should just be a standard practice applicable across the board." Cameron said he supports the province's request for boards to implement a policy and believes others will, too. "I think it's just a general ... feeling amongst a lot of Canadians that, you know, this is something that we ought to be proud of, not hide it." The Department of Education has also proposed that students be exempted from singing the anthem if they have a letter from a parent.

There are moments when political correctness borders on idiocy. Canada's anthem is a crucial symbol of our nation's heritage. Though there are references to "God" in the anthem, these reflect the country's history as a land initially populated by Protestant and Catholic settlers, and the fact that Christianity has exacted a major influence on the country's religious, moral, legal, and political identities. Standing for the anthem is not a direct admission that you are a believer in any sort of "God," but rather a sign of respect for a country which champions democracy, individual rights and freedoms, and peace across the globe. Anybody who claims otherwise is an idiot.

At Least 50 Killed in Attack on Sri Lankan Hospital

2009-05-13T09:38:00.002-04:00

At least 50 civilians were killed on Wednesday in an artillery attack on a hospital in northern Sri Lanka's war zone, a government health official was quoted as saying, despite the Sri Lankan military's insistance it has ceased all use of heavy weaponry in its offensive against Tamil Tiger rebels. Dr. Thurairaja Varatharajah, the top government health official in the conflict zone, said the attack took place on Wednesday afternoon when two shells slammed into the facility, which features open-air treatment areas and tarpaulins to shelter patients.

A doctor at the facility, Dr. V. Shanmugarajah, earlier told The Associated Press that at least 15 people were killed and 40 others wounded by two shells hitting an administrative office and a ward filled with patients wounded in previous shelling attacks. It was the second deadly attack on the hospital in as many days. The previous attack killed 49 patients and bystanders, Shanmugarajah said.

This latest attack against civilians is another chilling reminder of the horrific events taking place inside Sri Lanka's borders. As is so often the case in any civil war, the innocent are often trapped between the warring sides, and fall victim to an undeserved fate. It would be all too easy for many of us to turn a blind eye to these sorts of atrocities, but ultimately it is essential that the world's democratic, peace loving countries provide whatever pressure is necessary to create peace in Sri Lanka.

GM Increases Debt by $10.2 Billion

2009-05-07T10:21:00.002-04:00

General Motors went through $10.2 billion US more cash than it took in during the first quarter as the money-troubled automaker lost $6 billion. The company lost $9.78 per share during the quarter. During the same quarter of last year, GM lost $3.3 billion, or $5.80 a share. Revenue at the firm tumbled to $22.4 billion from $42.4 billion. GM is trying to get a restructuring plan ready by a June 1 deadline to qualify for more financial assistance from the U.S. and Canadian governments or it could follow Chrysler into creditor protection. "Our first-quarter results underscore the importance of executing GM's revised viability plan, which goes further and faster to lower our break-even point," said Fritz Henderson, the firm's president and chief executive officer.

GM chief financial officer Ray Young said that almost $3 billion US in cost cuts was not enough to offset falling sales."We cannot cut costs fast enough to offset that revenue loss," he said. "People are concerned about bankruptcy, and that's the reason why we want to avoid it if at all possible."
GM's North American operations alone had an operating loss of $3.2 billion.

Needless to say, this most recent news regarding GM only further emphasizes the dire circumstances surrounding the automobile giant. It seems that every time things can't possibly get any worse, they do. The future remains greatly in doubt for a company which once dominated North American automobile sales. With the economy expected to continue struggling throughout 2009, one has to wonder if GM's bankruptcy is inevitable.

Ottawa's First Swine Flu Case Confirmed

2009-05-05T10:36:00.002-04:00

Medical officials in Ottawa confirmed the city's first case of swine flu on Tuesday. Dr. Isra Levy, the city's medical officer of health, announced Tuesday morning that a person had tested positive for the H1N1 influenza virus. He said the province was expected to confirm Ottawa's first case later in the day, which would raise the number of confirmed cases in Ontario to 32.

The patient, said Levy, had recently travelled to Mexico and is currently recovering from the illness .In a media release, Levy reminded Ottawa residents that anyone experiencing flu-like symptoms should consult their doctor and stay home.

Needless to say, this news should be viewed with great concern. The swine flu epidemic has received considerable media attention recently, mainly because of the serious health risks it poses. It is imperative that anybody experiencing flu like symptoms stay home. While the desire to persevere and attend work or school is admirable, ultimately ensuring that this epidemic is quarantined as much as possible is far more important than a slight decrease in personal productivity.

Chrysler Canada Warns of Plant Closures

2009-03-12T10:00:00.002-04:00

Chrysler LLC has warned that it could close its plants in Canada unless it gets enough concessions from its workers, along with government aid and resolution of a tax dispute.
Chrysler president Tom LaSorda told the House of Commons Finance Committee on Wednesday that the concessions deal between the Canadian Auto Workers union and General Motors is not acceptable to Chrysler. The union has said that it hopes to use the agreement with GM as a model for pacts with Chrysler Canada and Ford of Canada.

CAW officials announced Wednesday that members have voted 87 per cent in favour of the deal, which was reached last weekend. The agreement would extend the contract with GM until 2012, while freezing wages and suspending cost-of-living adjustments for both wages and pensions. It also reduces paid time off by 40 hours a year, scraps an annual $1,700 bonus and cuts company contributions to union-sponsored programs by one-third. LaSorda said if the CAW-GM deal were applied to Chrysler, it wouldn't eliminate even half the labour cost gap with Japanese auto plants in Canada.

"As a corporation with operations in multiple jurisdictions, we cannot afford to manufacture products in jurisdictions that are not competitive," he said. "The labour cost, government assistance, and of course the transfer tax will place our Canadian manufacturing operations at a significant disadvantage relative to our manufacturing operations in North America and may very well impair our ability to continue to produce in Canada." Chrysler Canada is involved in a dispute with the federal government over up to $1 billion in back taxes due to a reassessment by the Canada Revenue Agency. Chrysler has asked for about $2.8 billion in aid from the Ontario and federal governments.

It's interesting that Chrysler is emphasizing employee costs as the primary reason behind its financial shortcomings. While it is reasonable to expect workers and middle management to accept a pay cut during what promises to be a difficult recession, Chrysler should also recognize that poor sales, blatant mismanagement, and overpaid corporate executives have all played a much larger role in the company's decline. Hopefully the auto manufacturer will be able to endure these difficult economic times, but it's hard to feel optimistic in light of this recent news.

CAW Votes on GM Deal

2009-03-10T10:40:00.002-04:00

Members of the Canadian Auto Workers union are voting Tuesday and Wednesday on a new labour deal with General Motors. The tentative deal, which was reached over the weekend, covers roughly 10,000 CAW members at GM's Ontario operations in Oshawa, St. Catharines, Woodstock and Windsor. The deal would extend the current collective agreement for an additional year to September 2012, with no reduction in average assembly-worker base pay of $34 an hour. It would eliminate a $1,700 annual "special bonus," and reduce paid time off to 40 hours a year from 80 hours (this time is in addition to vacation entitlements ranging up to five weeks annually for high-seniority workers, reduced last year from six weeks). GM workers would also for the first time make payments toward their own health benefits — $30 a month per worker family. The new deal is contingent on GM winning federal and provincial taxpayer support. And it depends on a promise that Detroit-based parent General Motors will maintain the current 20 per cent Canadian portion of its total North American manufacturing volume.

It remains to be seen whether or not General Motors can survive long term. Though cutting employee costs is a step in the right direction, even if the company is successful in garnering government support, issues of poor management and weak sales need to be addressed. Unless GM can increase its market share, the company will likely struggle to stay afloat, regardless of this recently negotiated deal.

49 People Killed in Plane Crash Near Buffalo

2009-02-13T07:26:00.004-05:00

A commuter aircraft manufactured by Montreal-based Bombardier Aerospace has crashed into a house near Buffalo, N.Y., killing 49 people, according to New York state police. Police said the 74-seat plane crashed into a home in Clarence Center, northeast of Buffalo. The plane was headed for Buffalo Niagara International Airport from the Newark, N.J., airport near New York City. The plane struck the two-storey, gabled house at about 10:25 p.m. ET on Thursday, State Trooper John Manthey said. The plane burst into flames when it struck the building, Manthey said.

A two-block radius remained closed on Friday morning as emergency crews continued to battle the fire. Officials said it would likely take until about noon before the flames were subdued.
The flames coming from the crash were shooting up to 30 metres high, eyewitness Bob Dworak estimated, and the home appeared to be reduced to rubble. "It landed on the house, clearly a direct hit," emergency services co-ordinator Dave Bissonette said at a news conference early Friday morning. "It's remarkable that it only took one house." "As devastating as that was, it could have easily wiped out the entire neighbourhood."

Witnesses reported hearing the plane making sputtering sounds as it came down. Light snow, fog and winds up to 30 km/h were being reported in the area at the time of the crash. "It was not spiralling at all. The left wing was a little low," eyewitness Tony Tatro said of the plane. "I could hear it coming down and it was just like in the movies, where you hear that high-pitched sound," said Keith Burtis, who lives three kilometres from the crash site but was in a shopping mall parking lot less than a kilometre away when the plane went down. "But I could feel it more than I could hear it. And there was a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach. It didn't take more than a few seconds to know that it was a plane," Burtis told CBC News early Friday. The plane's tail section and rear fuselage were largely intact and burning at the scene. One house was destroyed in the crash. "There was some superficial damage to the houses around [the area]," said Bissonette. About 12 other homes in the area were evacuated, he said. A man who lived in the destroyed home perished in the crash, officials said. Two others, said to be a woman and a young child, were also in the house at the time of the crash. When asked to confirm this report, Erie County executive Chris Collins replied: "That's my understanding." He said both sustained minor injuries, and were being treated at a nearby hospital.

For those of us who fly on a semi-regular basis, these horrific events are always difficult to accept. Flying is one of the world's safest means of travel, but unfortunately accidents do happen. My thoughts and prayers to all of the victims who perished in this crash, and their families and friends.

Recent Appraisal Values Facebook at $3.7 Billion U.S.

2009-02-12T09:06:00.003-05:00

Facebook Inc. quickly concluded it wasn't worth anywhere near the $15 billion US market value implied in a 2007 investment made by Microsoft Corp., according to confidential information obtained Wednesday from court documents. In a transcript of a June court hearing that was closed to the public, lawyers arguing over a legal settlement revealed Facebook's own appraisal had priced its privately held stock at $8.88 US per share, giving it a market value of about $3.7 billion US. The Palo Alto-based company relied on the appraisal to value employee stock options fairly and avert possible tax problems. Facebook, which runs the internet's largest social network, made the assessment after striking an October 2007 deal with Redmond, Wash.-based Microsoft. As part of a broader advertising partnership with Microsoft, Facebook agreed to sell a 1.6 per cent stake to the software maker for $240 million U.S.

Though this recent appraisal is certainly much lower than the $15 billion US appraisal put forth by Microsoft, the $3.7 billion figure is still a clear indicator of just how popular and widespread the Facebook phenomenon has become. Without question, it has become one of the world's most popular means of social networking. Critics often point to this phenomenon as a clear sign that many people are becoming socially isolated by substituting cyber chat for real-world social interactions. Regardless, it cannot be debated that internet social networks such as Facebook are here to stay.

GM Cutting 10 000 White-Collar Jobs

2009-02-10T10:42:00.002-05:00

General Motors is cutting 10,000 people from its salaried workforce around the world, the company said Tuesday. Most of the cuts are expected to occur this year. It will reduce its white-collar staff to 63,000 from the current 73,000 this year, but the company did not immediately disclose if jobs will be eliminated in Canada. Salaried employment reductions will vary by global region, depending on the staffing levels in the area and on market conditions, the company said.

This move is just another indicator of how badly hit General Motors has been by the recent recession. In reality, the major North American auto manufacturers have been struggling for years to keep pace with their foreign competitors. It's extremely difficult to feel optimistic for any one of General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler; the so-called "big three." In times of economic difficulty, automobile manufacturers are often amongst the hardest hit. People tend to squeeze an extra couple of years out of their current car rather than invest heavily in what is essentially a luxury purchase. The future certainly doesn't look bright for GM.

129 000 Jobs Lost in January

2009-02-06T08:25:00.004-05:00

With the economy staggering in recession, Canada's unemployment rate shot up by 0.6 percentage points in January to 7.2 per cent as 129,000 jobs were lost last month, Statistics Canada said Friday. "This drop in employment exceeds any monthly decline during the previous economic downturns of the 1980s and 1990s," the federal government agency said. Almost all of the job losses were in full-time work. Since October, the battered Canadian economy has lost 213,000 jobs. Reaction of world financial markets to the shockingly poor jobs report was swift. The Canadian dollar opened at 80.43 cents US, down 0.80 of a cent from Thursday's close.

The job losses far exceeded the drop of 40,000 that economists had been projecting. "Horrible" and "shockingly poor" were some of the words they used in reaction to the January jobless figures."Everybody is prepared for a pretty weak first quarter, but these numbers are probably surprising the more bearish views," said Royal Bank chief economist Craig Wright. "Unfortunately we will see more job losses," said Sal Guatieri, a senior economist at BMO Capital Markets. "This is the start of a wave of job losses that will likely extend through the first half of this year."

Despite most of us being realistic about the state of Canada's economy, these numbers are still shocking to say the least. As the situation continues to worsen, one has to wonder just how much economic hardship is yet to come. Unfortunately, 2009 promises to be a tremendously bleak economic year. Let's hope those people who have lost their jobs will be able to survive this crisis without losing their homes and other important assets.

At Least 52 Killed in Sri Lanka

2009-02-04T09:46:00.000-05:00

At least 52 civilians in northern Sri Lanka have died because of fighting in the last 24 hours, while cluster bombs have hit near the area's last functioning hospital, the United Nations said Wednesday. Air strikes are also hitting near the hospital in Puthukkudiyiruppu, from which patients and staff had evacuated, UN spokesman Gordon Weiss said. What was one of the last functioning medical facilities in the war-scarred northeast is now effectively closed, said the Red Cross. It's unclear whether government forces or guerrilla group the Liberation Tamil Tigers of Eelam were responsible for the attacks on the hospital. The military has denied involvement in the attacks on the hospital, the BBC reported, while there has been no comment from the rebel Tamil Tigers.

These latest attacks in Sri Lanka emphasize the horrific reality that far too many people in our world live with the daily fear of violence and death. The UN developed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to serve as a set of principles which all of humanity should strive to attain. Unfortunately, while those of us blessed enough to live in the West need not worry about our personal safety on a daily basis, innocent people in countries such as Sri Lanka do not share our blessed fate. Fundamental human rights are not a luxury; they are a necessity. Until our reality truly reflects this statement, humanity has a long way left to go.

Maple Leaf Reaches $27 Million Listeriosis Settlement

2009-02-02T11:18:00.000-05:00

Maple Leaf Foods Inc. has reached a $27-million Canada-wide settlement with plaintiffs in the class-action lawsuits launched against it over last year's listeriosis outbreak, which killed at least 20 people. Claimants who became ill may qualify for up to $125,000, depending on the severity of their symptoms, the company said Monday. Those with symptoms lasting between 24 and less than 48 hours could receive $750, while those with "serious and long-lasting physical injuries" could qualify for the full $125,000.The estates of those who died as a result of listeriosis will be paid $120,000 each, plus "substantial amounts" to immediate family members, according to the company's release.Maple Leaf said in December it would agree to a $27-million settlement. Monday's announcement is to publicize that it has reached a detailed agreement with the plaintiffs. The settlement must still be approved by the courts.

While the overall number of $27 million is a substantial amount of money, the greater concern for Maple Leaf has to be the long-term impact this incident has had on their reputation. Though I'm sure my position is unfair to a long established and respected Canadian company, I have yet to purchase any Maple Leaf products since the initial outbreak of listeriosis. I wouldn't be surprised to learn that many Canadian consumers feel the same way. In business, perception often equals reality, and ultimately Maple Leaf must continue to deal with the negative stigma associated with this story.

Congress Set to Vote on Obama's Stimulus Package

2009-01-28T09:45:00.000-05:00

The Democratic-controlled House of Representatives is expected to pass an $825-billion US stimulus package Wednesday, part of President Barack Obama's plan to boost the sinking economy.In the hours leading up to the vote, Obama was to meet with a group of business CEOs to discuss the plan, which he argues is needed to help address soaring unemployment rates, declining house prices and falling consumer confidence.The bill can potentially pass the Democratic-dominated House without Republican support, but at least two Republicans will need to approve it for a filibuster-proof majority vote of 60.Republicans have complained the bill is too tilted toward spending and doesn't contain enough tax relief.Obama's presidential rival, Republican John McCain, has said much of the spending in the bill is frivolous and he cannot vote for it.Obama met with Republican leaders on Tuesday to try to win their support. "I don't expect 100 per cent agreement from my Republican colleagues, but I do hope that we can all put politics aside and do the American people's business right now," Obama told reporters while shuttling between separate meetings with House and Senate Republicans. But the president added: "The American people expect action."

It will be interesting to see whether or not at least two Republicans vote in favour of the proposed economic relief package. There certainly is an ideological difference, as most Republicans tend to favour tax cuts as a crucial component of any stimulus package. McCain's complaint that much of the spending is "frivolous" likely reflects the views of several of his Republican colleagues. It has become apparent that Obama has earned a fair amount of goodwill and political capital with the fervour which has surrounded his presidency. Now that the initial whirlwind has died down, it's time to determine whether or not this enthusiasm can overcome the practical deadlock of day-to-day partisan politics.

Throne Speech Today

2009-01-26T10:41:00.000-05:00

Gov. Gen. Michaëlle Jean will open a new session of Parliament with a speech from the throne Monday, the government's first day back since Prime Minister Stephen Harper forced the suspension of the last sitting to avoid a confidence vote. The throne speech, due to start at 2 p.m. ET, sets out the government's policy agenda for the upcoming session and is expected to focus on elements of Tuesday's federal budget, said CBC reporter Margo McDiarmid. The speech is expected to be brief. Some reports suggest it could be as short as 10 minutes.

The next few days and weeks promises to be a very interesting time in Canadian Parliament. With the threat of a coalition government still looming, although seemingly less likely with Ignatieff now at the helm of the Liberals, Harper's minority Conservative government nevertheless faces a tenuous situation at best. The upcoming proposed budget must appease the other parties in Parliament in order to ensure that the current status quo survives beyond the immediate future.

New Budget Proposes a $34 Billion Deficit

2009-01-23T09:41:00.000-05:00

The federal government will run a $34-billion deficit in the coming fiscal year, and a $30-billion deficit in the following year, a senior government official said. The spokesman said Thursday that the federal government will return to running a surplus within five years. Federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty is due to present a new budget on Jan. 27.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, the official told reporters the government decided to announce the size of the deficits now because of intense speculation about the budget. The release of the budget details is, nevertheless, an extraordinary step. The secrecy around federal budget planning is legendary. By releasing the size and nature of the deficits ahead of the federal budget, the government might be hoping to soften the impact of the deficit blow. The size of the deficit is largely attributable to the Conservative government's decision to include billions in stimulus spending beginning in this year's budget. That includes immediate spending on infrastructure and help for Canadians hit hardest by the economic downturn.

There is an immediate impulse to criticize Harper's government for their willingness to run a deficit. Some have even gone so far as to label this budget "unconservative." After all, fiscal restraint is supposed to be one of the defining characteristics of any Conservative government (insert joke about Bush's last 8 years in office here), but the fact remains that desperate economic times call for desperate measures. The merits and impact of economic stimulus packages are debatable, but I do think it's crucial that the government tries something. Above all else, tax relief for the middle class may increase consumer spending and confidence. Furthermore, even with these proposed budgetary plans, Canada will still be in a far greater debt position than many of the other G-8 nations.

Obama Set to Begin First Day on the Job

2009-01-21T10:24:00.000-05:00

U.S. President Barack Obama will start his first full day in office Wednesday with a prayer service before holding meetings with his top military and national security advisers. Obama, whose inauguration drew more than one million people to Washington's National Mall Tuesday, will attend a service at the National Cathedral before hosting an open house at his new home.
The new president will then shift his attention to two key issues weighing heavily on his administration: the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and the faltering economy.

He's expected to hold an afternoon video teleconference with members of the National Security Council as well as the U.S. military commanders in Iraq and Afghanistan. Obama has said he wants combat troops out of Iraq within 16 months and to shift his country's military focus to Afghanistan. During his inauguration address, Obama pledged to "begin to responsibly leave Iraq to its people and forge a hard-earned peace in Afghanistan." He's also expected to meet with his team of economic advisers to take the "bold and swift" action he pledged during the address.

Obama's speech was laden with high ideals and grandiose aspirations. Without question, it is exciting to witness such an influx of idealism and enthusiasm into modern politics. Nevertheless, he is also running the risk of elevating expectations to a nearly unattainable level. Hopefully the American public will be patient as the President learns on the job. Without question, the major decisions which await him regarding the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan as well as the economy will play a major role in shaping his first term in office. We can only hope that excitement regarding his presidency is ultimately justified.

Ontario Invests $4 Million in Innovation

2009-01-06T10:43:00.000-05:00

Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty says he's going to invest $4 million to keep more new high-tech companies in the province. The money will be made available to eight start-up companies that have been unable to get financing from banks or venture capitalists. McGuinty says this type of investment is a risk, but one the province needs to take. "It's kind of the price of admission to growing your economy," the premier told a news conference at Toronto's Centennial College. Eight companies will each get $500,000 to field test, patent and promote their ideas.

While I agree with Premier McGuinty that this type of investment is a risk, I believe the government should increase their financial commitment to these sorts of enterprises. People in Ontario have long lamented our inability to diversify and develop new and exciting ideas. Given the substantial payments recently given to the failing auto manufacturers, it seems quite fair to argue that a greater investment is warranted. While it clearly would be a risk, sometimes it is necessary to take large risks in order to attain great success.

Liberals Divided Over How to Replace Dion

2008-12-08T11:42:00.000-05:00

Ontario MP Jim Karygiannis told CBC News that Dion's resignation could come as early as Monday and, at the latest, by Wednesday at a caucus meeting. Dion had intended to stay on as a caretaker leader until his replacement was selected at the leadership convention in early May. The Grits, however, are eager to select a new party chief before Parliament resumes Jan. 26 when the country faces the possibility of another election or the rise of a Liberal-NDP coalition government.

"We [the national executive] will be moving quickly when and if Stéphane Dion makes his intentions known," Liberal party president Doug Ferguson said, but would not comment on details. But while federal Liberals appear united on the need to oust Dion, it's still unclear how the party will fill the void. There were reports over the weekend that leadership contender Michael Ignatieff was poised to take the top job in a caucus vote on Wednesday, but some MPs were railing against the method of selection, instead calling for all members to have a say in a vote held by phone or on the internet early next month.

It is crucial that the Liberals act swiftly and decisively in their replacement of Dion. In these difficult economic times, many Canadians are eager to embrace a strong, viable Liberal leader in opposition to Stephen Harper's minority Conservative government. Clearly Dion, despite his impressive intellect, was a poor choice. His lack of charisma and leadership were clear weaknesses. Whether his replacement is Ignatieff or somebody else, the time has come for the Liberals to get their house in order and return to national prominence.

Obama Selects His Team

2008-12-02T14:11:00.000-05:00

When U.S. president-elect Barack Obama introduced the picks for his security team in Chicago on Monday, he told Americans the time has come for "a new beginning, and a new dawn of American leadership."While his leadership team, once confirmed, will chart its own new course, many of its members already know their way around Washington. They bring with them experience forged in previous administrations, whether it's Robert Gates carrying on as defence secretary after George W. Bush leaves the White House, or Timothy Geithner, who is the head of the New York Federal Reserve but also was a Treasury Department official in Bill Clinton's administration.

Geithner would hardly be alone in his ties to Clinton, the last Democratic president. Obama, who is rumoured to be considering Democratic presidential rival Hillary Clinton for secretary of state, has already found himself defending suggestions he's creating something of a Clinton cabinet.

Many of these criticisms are unwarranted. History has shown that it is ultimately the commander in chief, and not his cabinet, who is most important in the development of American national and foreign policy. Furthermore, it stands to reason that Obama would want to surround himself with experienced people. The Clinton presidency was the last time the Democrats held the White House, thus it makes sense that Obama would select people who played a key role during Bill Clinton's time in office. This connection does not automatically mean that Obama will become Clinton part 2. It is imperative that critics wait to judge Obama's leadership and policies first-hand, rather than rush to premature judgements.

Canadian Killed in Terrorist Attacks

2008-11-28T11:00:00.000-05:00

One Canadian was killed in this week's series of deadly attacks on targets in Mumbai, Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon confirmed early Friday. Canadian officials in Mumbai told CBC News that they can account for 20 Canadians who were staying at either the Trident-Oberoi luxury hotel or the Taj Mahal Palace hotel, two of the sites targeted in the attacks. Officials said that 17 of the Canadians are safe, while one died and two were injured.

The identity of the dead Canadian will not be released until relatives have been notified, Cannon said in the teleconference statement. Cannon did not provide any details of the circumstances surrounding the death. It was not immediately clear where the person was killed."We are now able to confirm the tragic death of one Canadian in these attacks," Cannon said. "The family of the victim has been notified and consular officials are providing full assistance. Our sincere condolences and thoughts are with the family." The Canadian government had already confirmed that two Canadians were among those injured in the co-ordinated gun and grenade attacks, which were carried out across 10 locations beginning Wednesday evening.

These terrorist attacks have served as another chilling reminder that there are people in our world who are willing to resort to any means necessary to validate their "cause." Radical violent extremists who kill innocent people represent one of the greatest threats to civilized society. It is a well established fact that terrorism is an ineffective means of persuasion. The only real message sent by these attacks is that the world cannot rest until we have rid ourselves of horrible extremists.

Bell Express Vu Raising Prices

2008-11-26T09:49:00.000-05:00

Bell Canada Inc. says it is raising the price of its satellite television service in the new year to match rivals and pay for satellite upgrades. Bell's television customers are receiving bills informing them of the increase, typically about $4 a month. The increase is based on programming, with customers who are subscribed to many channels facing a bigger hike than those with less.

Customer service representatives are saying the increases, which also apply to customers in the midst of term contracts, are in order to bring the company's pricing in line with competitors and to pay for continuing investment and service maintenance. One representative told CBCNews.ca the hike would help pay for service on the new Nimiq 4 satellite, which launched in September.

Bell, however, introduced a $3-a-month "digital service fee" at the beginning of 2008 to help pay for that same investment and maintenance. Consumer groups said the Montreal-based company is guilty of double-dipping."It's not fair, they're both for the same service," said John Lawford, legal counsel for the Public Interest Advocacy Centre. "How can you split off one fee and say, 'We're just using this fee to improve this part of our business?' Overhead is overhead. The more you split fees, the more you can raise them because they look like they're for different things."

For Express Vu subscribers such as myself, this is not positive news. I have been quite happy with my Express Vu service, but satisfaction is often directly linked to perceived value. Express Vu offers a better alternative to standard cable, but as the economy continues its steady decline, there are limits to how much any of us can pay for luxuries such as television. With the increase of free television content available online, Bell is running the risk of alienating its subscribers. The household entertainment market is becoming more and more competitive, and raising prices likely isn't the best long-term strategy. It will be interesting to see if there is a noticeable decline in Express Vu subscriptions over the coming months.

Poorest Canadians More Likely to be Hospitalized

2008-11-24T14:12:00.000-05:00

Poorer Canadians are more likely to enter hospital for health problems such as child asthma, mental illness and diabetes, including potentially preventable conditions, according to a report released Monday. The study by the Canadian Institute for Health Information, called Reducing Gaps in Health: A Focus on Socio-Economic Status in Urban Canada, compared hospitalization rates for various illnesses in the country's 15 largest urban areas, representing two-thirds of the urban population. Urban Canadians in the lowest socio-economic groups, based on income, education and employment, were more likely to be hospitalized for chronic conditions that could be treated in the community, the study's authors found for the three-year period between 2003 and 2006.

This report highlights some major areas of concern. For one, it is often much cheaper to treat these medical conditions in the community, rather than in hospitals. Given the severe fiscal crunch which is plaguing Canada's health care system, these increased costs are obviously a significant concern. Ultimately, the greater issue at stake here however is the reality that a two-tiered paradigm exists in Canadian society. Canadians who live in lower socio-economic conditions clearly face lesser living standards and an increased likelihood of significant health problems. In a society as wealthy and affluent as ours, it remains a travesty that many among us must continue to cope with such troublesome circumstances.

More Signs of a Recession

2008-11-18T10:41:00.000-05:00

Fears of a prolonged recession in developing countries and weak crude demand sent oil prices drifting below $55 a barrel Tuesday. Bearish news included Japan becoming the latest major economy to officially enter recession, and a further downward revision from OPEC regarding oil demand.

Light, sweet crude for December delivery slipped 55 cents to $54.40 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange by noon in Europe. The contract Monday fell $2.09 to settle at $54.95, the lowest since January 2007. Prices have fallen about 62 per cent since reaching a record $147.27 in mid-July. Stock markets, which oil investors use to gauge sentiment about the global economy, fell on mounting evidence that U.S. consumers are cutting spending as big corporations shed tens of thousands of staff.

The Dow Jones industrial average fell 2.3 per cent Monday, and Asian stocks were lower across the board Tuesday. Japan's benchmark Nikkei index fell 2.3 per cent, Hong Kong's Hang Seng index slid 5.1 per cent and the Korea Composite Stock Price Index dropped 3.9 per cent.
Citigroup Inc. said it's cutting another 53,000 jobs in the coming quarters after announcing last month it would lay off 22,000 workers. Analysts forecast Wall Street could lose up to 200,000 jobs by year-end. Retailer Target Corp. said profit fell 24 per cent in the third quarter and Lowe's Cos. predicted a fourth-quarter profit below the average analyst forecast.

All of these trends add to the already alarming number of signs that the world is indeed plunging into a recession. Increased layoffs, and declines in consumer spending and confidence are having an increased impact on the state of global finances. Though it's becoming somewhat of a repetitive message, the fact remains that people need to brace themselves for what seems like an inevitable economic crisis.

Emergency G 20 Meeting in Washington

2008-11-14T11:06:00.000-05:00

World leaders are arriving in Washington on Friday for a two-day emergency G20 meeting to discuss ways to turn around the global financial crisis. The meeting, which was called by U.S. President George W. Bush, will look for ways to reform financial markets. The Group of 20 countries represents about 85 per cent of the world's economy and two-thirds of its population.
The G20 includes Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Britain, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, United States and the European Union. Leaders at the summit, which will also include officials from the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, are expected to discuss the underlying causes of the global financial crisis and review the progress that has been made by various nations.

Canadian Finance Minister Jim Flaherty has already gushed that Canada's financial system should be seen as a model for other countries to follow. Though the emerging recession has adversely impacted us, we appear to be in a much better position to weather the storm than the Americans. The debate still rages as to how severe this global recession will be. Many have drawn comparisons to the Great Depression of the 1930s. While the comparison may be a tad extreme, nobody seems willing to refute that times are tough, and there's a clear expectation that things will only get worse. It is crucial that world leaders take a proactive approach in order to minimize the ongoing economic damage and ensure economic growth and stability is restored as quickly as possible.

American Election Day

2008-11-04T10:45:00.000-05:00

National polls suggested Obama, the Democratic candidate, was poised to make history and become the first black president. But Republican candidate John McCain remained undeterred, vowing that momentum was on his side to stage an upset victory. A victory for McCain would also be historic — his running mate, Alaskan Gov. Sarah Palin, would become the first female vice-president. McCain, at 72, would also be the oldest president ever elected. A Reuters/Zogby poll released Tuesday had Obama expanding his national lead to 11 points over McCain. But other polls have suggested the race is tighter.

Tonight's election may very well be the most significant in recent history. Obama is a polarizing figure. One who represents the type of change and idealism not seen since John and Robert Kennedy. America is also at a crossroads in regards to its economy, foreign policy, and reputation around the world. An Obama victory may very well prove to be the first step in restoring American greatness and prestige. One thing is certain, tonight's festivities will make for gripping drama.

Tension in Congo Subsides....For Now

2008-10-31T10:47:00.000-04:00

Thousands of Congolese refugees made their way home Friday following a rebel-initiated cease fire in the eastern part of the war-ravaged country. Rebel Tutsi general Laurent Nkunda unilaterally called a cease fire late Wednesday that put an end to most of the violence that has flared since his followers began a four-day offensive in the eastern province of North Kivu.
It appeared to be holding on Friday and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon implored Nkunda to maintain the cease fire. Nkunda said he had called it to allow humanitarian help to get through and the refugees to go home. The rebel leader has said he wants direct talks with the Congo government. Envoys from the U.S. and UN have been sent in to help set up negotiations.

The tension in the Congo is eerily reminiscent of the horrific genocide which took place in Rwanda following the swelling of ethnic tensions between the Tutsi rebels and the Hutu government. Unlike the well documented events in Rwanda, which transpired without adequate UN involvement, the UN must do whatever it can to ensure that tensions subside in the Congo and peace is restored. The loss of life must be kept to a minimum.

Obama Hits the Airwaves

2008-10-29T09:39:00.000-04:00

Democrat presidential candidate Barack Obama will hit American airwaves Wednesday night to present voters with his campaign's closing pitch, just six days before the election. The Obama campaign has bought 30 minutes of prime time on CBS, NBC and Fox for about $1 million per network. The half-hour infomercial is also scheduled to appear on Spanish-language network Univision, as well as BET, MSNBC and TV One at 8 p.m. ET. Fox pre-empted its World Series pre-game show of Game 5 of the World Series to accommodate the Obama spot and won't begin its baseball coverage until the commercial concludes. ABC will not air the ad because it initially declined to take the half-hour spot only to renege after the campaign had already finalized with the other networks. Obama's campaign has described the prime-time ad as a "program." It will present "the specifics of Obama's plan to turn the economy around and get the country back on track," said campaign spokesman Nick Shapiro in a written statement.

Tonight's broadcast has the potential to firmly secure victory for Obama. With the Democratic presidential hopeful leading in every major poll, it seems that the majority of Americans may be willing to embrace the type of change Obama has been promising throughout his campaign. The remaining undecided voters remain John McCain's last hope for an upset victory, and if Obama's infomercial can win over a substantial portion of these undecided voters, America may very well be on the verge of its first black president.

Canadian Consumer Confidence Continues to Fall

2008-10-17T10:42:00.000-04:00

Canadian consumer confidence this month fell to levels not seen since 1982, the Conference Board of Canada reported Friday. Based on a poll of 2,000 people between Oct. 2 and 8, the conference board said its index of consumer sentiment fell 11.9 points to a reading of 73.9. That was the weakest point since the third quarter of 1982, when Canada was stuck in recession.
"The global credit crunch and major stock market declines clearly had an effect on consumer confidence in October," said Pedro Antunes, director of the conference board's national and provincial forecast.

"In addition, consumers felt that they would be worse off in six months, indicating concerns that the financial crisis would not be resolved quickly," Antunes said. Consumer sentiment took a battering in Ontario, where the Conference Board said its index retreated from 84.5 points in September to 67.9 in October. That was the largest monthly decrease on record for the province.

As expected, the global economic crisis is starting to have a direct impact on Canadians. Comparisons to 1929 may be a little far fetched, but the fact remains that the world is plunging into a serious economic plight. The full consequences of this downturn remain unknown, but the decline in Canadian consumer confidence emphasizes that many Canadians are not optimistic for what their immediate economic future holds.

Conservatives Win a Stronger Minority

2008-10-15T09:46:00.000-04:00

Prime Minister Stephen Harper's Conservatives were preparing to return to Ottawa after winning a strengthened mandate in a general election Tuesday that resulted in Canada's third consecutive minority government.

"Canadians have voted to move our country forward and they have done so with confidence," Harper told a rally in Calgary as supporters celebrated the party's victory and the end of a tumultuous — and at times rancorous — 37-day campaign. As of early Wednesday with almost 60 per cent of votes counted, the Conservatives were elected or leading in 143 ridings, up from 127 in 2006, while the Liberals were elected or leading in 76, a drop of 19 seats from the party's standing at dissolution. Bloc Québécois candidates were leading or elected in 50 ridings, while NDP candidates were ahead or holding 37 seats, a gain of seven seats over the last election. Two Independents also held on to their seats. With the Liberal popular support sinking to a level not seen since 1867, there was renewed speculation over the future of party leader Stéphane Dion. He conceded defeat early Wednesday morning, but made no mention of resigning as Opposition leader.

Clearly this election signals a minor victory for the Conservatives. Though they were unable to attain a majority government, they have nevertheless strengthened their mandate and improved their ability to govern the country. They still lack the required support in the GTA and southern Ontario to win at least 155 seats, but they have certainly established themselves as Canada's party of choice. From the Liberal perspective, the future of Dion remains up in the air, but it seems likely that his resignation as leader will be forthcoming. Dion's leadership was a major issue in this election, and it cannot be palpable for Canada's traditional governing party to see its seat total drop to a meagre 76.

Biden and Palin Debate

2008-10-03T09:21:00.000-04:00

Sen. Joe Biden gave a knowledgeable but restrained performance in Thursday night's vice presidential debate, while Gov. Sarah Palin sought to show that her accomplishments as governor and mayor prove she is qualified for the job.Biden, the Democratic vice presidential candidate, slammed John McCain, saying "he has been no maverick on the issues that matter to people lives," but his only challenge to Palin was asking her to articulate a policy on the Iraq war.
Palin, the Republican vice presidential candidate, pushed her "track record of reform" and said she and McCain are a "team of mavericks." "We're known for putting partisan politics aside to just get the job done," she said.

The debate took place at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, and was moderated by PBS's Gwen Ifill. The candidates covered everything from the economy to energy policy to foreign policy in the first and only vice presidential debate of the election season.

Though it's tough to declare a clear winner in the debate, perhaps Palin gained the most simply by holding her own. Many viewers tuned into the debate expecting to see a train-wreck as the inexperienced Palin traded punches with the esteemed Biden. At this point it's difficult to determine what impact this debate will have on the polls, though one can certainly make the argument that the vice-presidential candidates are more important in this election than in any other in recent history. Obama is relying on Biden's proven track record to overcome concerns that he lacks proper experience in areas of foreign policy and international relations. McCain is hoping that his choice of Palin will not only energize the Republican conservative base, but also appeal to undecided women voters. With the polls still incredibly close, it seems safe to say that only time will tell which ticket will emerge victorious in November.

Bailout Plan May Pass Through Congress

2008-10-01T09:40:00.000-04:00

A leading House Democrat and his Republican counterpart voiced confidence Wednesday that headway is being made toward getting the much-criticized $700-billion financial industry bailout bill through Congress.

"I think the Senate thinks it has the votes and I think it probably will pass," said House majority leader Steny Hoyer, a Democratic Congressman from Maryland. House Republican whip Roy Blunt of Missouri agreed that prospects for passage have improved. Blunt said he was particularly heartened by indications the legislation has become more appealing to constituents back home.

While the merits of the bailout plan can be debated, there is little debate that something must be done to stimulate the U.S. economy. Critics have argued that this plan will help Wall Street, but do little to help average Americans. Those in favour of the plan insist that by strengthening the financial industry, the average American will eventually benefit through a trickle-down effect. If the plan passes through Congress, ultimately only time will tell if it will indeed reinforce the devastated American economy. One thing that is certain however is that people are anxious for some sign of government intervention, and whether or not this plan is indeed the right one may be secondary to an overall desire to see some form of government action.

Layton Calls for Public Transit Upgrades

2008-09-29T10:42:00.000-04:00

A New Democratic government would funnel hundreds of millions of dollars from the federal gas tax into stable and reliable funding for public transit in Canada's cities and towns, NDP Leader Jack Layton pledged on Monday. Standing outside a Toronto subway station, Layton said he would dedicate one cent a litre of the gas tax — about $400 million a year — to transit. Another $350 million a year for transit would come from the sale of carbon permits to big polluters, he said.

"The major polluters would be the ones paying to make transit greener, not you and your families," Layton said during a stop while campaigning for the Oct. 14 federal election. Layton estimated the investment plan would translate into as many as 2,000 new buses in Toronto, 1,400 buses for Montreal, more than 300 for Ottawa, as well as 62 new SkyTrains in Vancouver. The transit improvements would reduce pollution by pulling cars off the road, while also giving people an alternative to paying more at the pumps to fill up their own vehicles, he said.

Given that the environment is a central issue in this election, Layton's proposal carries significant credibility. Ultimately, the rising cost of gas is making it quite difficult for lower and middle class people to make their daily drive to work. An enhanced public transit system is not only better for the environment, but it may also give Canadians a viable opportunity to cut back on soaring gas expenses. Furthermore, for those of us who live in the GTA, the daily problem of commuting traffic can often be intolerable. Less cars on the road would not only save time and money, but it would also reduce the incredible amount of road-rage related stress that ruins many mornings and evenings.

Bush to Discuss Bailout Plan with Obama and McCain

2008-09-25T10:44:00.000-04:00

U.S. President George W. Bush is set to meet with presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain on Thursday morning to discuss an expected $700-billion bailout plan for Wall Street. Bush called for the meeting in a nationally televised speech Wednesday night where he warned that Washington's failure to pass the plan could cause "a long and painful recession."

"There is no question there are a lot of people who are opposed to aspects of it but it's hard to find anybody who is prepared to vote directly down against the package itself," said the CBC's Henry Champ from Washington, D.C., Thursday morning."So this meeting ought to be the kind of dam breaker that is necessary."The plan has met with opposition from Republican and Democrat congressional leaders, as well as their constituents, over its high price tag. Many congressional leaders have also called for government oversight of the distribution of the package.

The high price tag associated with this bailout plan gives a clear sense of just how troubled the U.S. economy is. The fact that Wall Street is in need of a $700 million aid package only further emphasizes that one of the key goals for America's next president will be to revive the economy. The continuing mortgage crisis, coupled with increasing unemployment rates and the ever-growing national debt, create a major challenge for either McCain or Obama. It seems the next commander-in-chief may very well be defined for his ability to undo many of the mistakes of his predecessor.

Inflation Rate Rises 3.5% in August

2008-09-23T10:41:00.000-04:00

The rate of increase in the cost of living hit the highest level in more than five years last month, increasing to 3.5 per cent on an annual basis from 3.4 per cent in July, Statistics Canada said Tuesday. But the pace of price increases that concerned the Bank of Canada a few months ago appears to be slowing.

As has been the case for several months, gasoline and other energy costs were the key drivers of annualized inflation. But after significant jumps in the previous two months, the all-items consumer price index — excluding seasonal adjustments — declined 0.2 per cent during August on a month-to-month basis. And the core price index, which excludes volatile prices such as energy and fresh produce, was up 1.7 per cent from a year ago, an increase from July's 1.5 per cent but still below the Bank of Canada's two per cent target.

After seasonal adjustment, consumer prices rose 0.2 per cent in August from July. It cost 26.3 per cent more to fill up at the gas station in August than a year earlier, but gasoline prices were 6.6 per cent less last month than in July, when the price of crude oil hit record levels. Overall, energy prices have risen 20.2 per cent over the past 12 months, accounting for about half of the overall inflation run-up.

Without question, the warning signs of an oncoming recession continue to materialize. Though the rising inflation rate has stabalized, the increasing costs of living, coupled with a rising unemployment level and a high debt to income ratio in our society likely means that difficult economic times are on the horizon. In the coming months, expect the real estate market to continue its shift towards a buyers market, while many Canadians anxiously worry about what the economic future will bring.

School Violence 1 of 3 Shootings During a Deadly Day in Toronto

2008-09-17T09:39:00.000-04:00

A 16-year-old student is in critical condition in hospital after he was shot outside a Toronto high school, one of three shootings in the city on Tuesday that left two men dead. The school shooting happened just before noon outside Bendale Business and Technical Institute near Midland Avenue and Lawrence Avenue.

According to Toronto police Chief Bill Blair, the 16-year-old became involved in an altercation "with a number of young men" when one pulled out a gun and fired. By the time police arrived, the injured teen had managed to get inside and was found in a pool of blood in the main hallway. Blair said the teen was shot once in the stomach or chest, and was rushed to Sunnybrook Hospital, where he is in critical condition. The victim is a student at Bendale, but Blair refused to give any further information.

One man was killed and another sent to hospital after a shooting in northwest Toronto at a playground near Jane Street and Driftwood Avenue. Police arrived on the scene around 5:15 p.m. to find two victims had been shot on a basketball court. One was pronounced dead at the scene. The second victim was rushed to hospital and is expected to live, according to police. Three suspects were seen speeding away in a silver or grey sedan southbound on Jane Street.

And in Mississauga, a man believed to be in his 20s was reportedly shot dead around 4 p.m. while he was sitting inside his car on Reindeer Drive, near Derry and Airport roads. Witnesses said the man was shot at point-blank range as he was waiting for someone to enter the car.

The continuing problem of violence plaguing Toronto's streets appears to be spreading. Gone are the days when Canadians could console themselves with the knowledge that only our American neighbours should worry about deadly inner city violence. The reality is that Canada's largest city is now caught in the grip of an ongoing wave of deadly shootings. Unfortunately, the three levels of government in our country seem unable to devise any effective strategies to stem this horrific tide.

Canadian and U.S. Stocks Fall

2008-09-15T10:42:00.000-04:00

Canadian and U.S. stocks fell sharply at the opening of trading Monday as the bankruptcy filing by U.S. investment bank Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. and cascading fears about the stability of other major financial institutions rattled global markets.

In Toronto, the S&P/TSX composite index was down 402.59 points to 12,366.99 within minutes of the beginning of the trading day.On Wall Street, shares of financial services companies led the market's dive and stoked worries about the economy and the corporate profit outlook. The Dow Jones industrial average was down 277.24 points, or 2.43 per cent, at 11,144.75. Lehman sought bankruptcy protection Monday following a failed last-minute scramble to find a buyer over the weekend, weighed by losses spawned by the U.S. mortgage crisis.

The continuing economic problems that are plaguing America's economy cannot help but have a direct impact on the Canadian economy as well. Given the significant economic partnership between the two nations, it seems that it's only a matter of time before America's financial woes plunge Canada into a state of recession as well. Don't be surprised to see Canadian housing prices fall even further across the country as homeowners warily dip their toes into the waters of the housing market.

Seventh Anniversary of 9 / 11

2008-09-11T10:28:00.000-04:00

Americans observed moments of silence in New York City and Washington on Thursday to mark the seventh anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks. In New York City, hundreds of people gathered at Ground Zero in lower Manhattan, their heads bowed in silence at 8:46 a.m. and 9:03 a.m. ET, to remember the exact times that two hijacked planes crashed into the World Trade Center.

"Today marks the seventh anniversary of the day our world was broken," Mayor Michael Bloomberg told the crowd. "It lives forever in our hearts and our history, a tragedy that unites us in a common memory and a common story … the day that began like any other and ended as none ever has."

New York Gov. David Paterson acknowledged the enormous emotional pain suffered by relatives of the victims."A great French-Algerian writer once asked what is to be done when we have lost a loved one that gives rise to such suffering," Paterson said. "He answered his own question this way: 'To know how to suffer, to know how to love, and when everything falls apart, to take everything up once more.'"

The world forever changed on September 11th, 2001. Terrorism left the far reaches of our consciousness and forced itself into our immediate view. No longer could we console ourselves with the knowledge that while the world has many evil extremists, their reach certainly could not extend into our own backyard. The entire world watched with horror as the World Trade Towers crumbled to rubble. While we intially trembled with fear, ultimately a stern resolve superceded this anxiety. Fundamental freedoms remain at the very core of our way of life. Those who seek to make a political statement by killing innocent people will never succeed in dampening our collective spirit, nor depriving us of those values which we most cherish.

Today is a day to remember and mourn all of those brave people who died so needlessly 7 years ago. It is also a day to remember that our way of life is indeed worth fighting and dying for.

4 Former PMs Call for Action on Climate Change

2008-09-09T10:45:00.000-04:00

Two days into the campaign for the Oct. 14 federal election, four former prime ministers have joined a coalition of Canadians demanding urgent action on climate change. The group of about 60 business people, academics and environmentalists calling themselves Canadians for Climate Leadership is set to release a document Tuesday entitled Time To Get Serious on Climate Change.

The report calls for a $30-a-tonne price tag on emissions, and says a "staggering" investment in green technologies is required. The document has been signed by four former prime ministers, Joe Clark and Kim Campbell, both Progressive Conservatives, and Liberals Paul Martin and John Turner. "We simply can't afford another round of posturing and denial in this next election," said Clark in a news release Monday.

It is indeed time for our next government to heed Joe Clark's words. The time for empty innuendos and false promises has ended. The growing concerns about climate change are real, and this issue needs to become a top priority in this country. Canadians will always worry about the economy, immigration, national defence, and other prominent federal priorities, but the environment must now take its rightful place alongside these issues.

Canadian Unemployment Rate Holds Steady in August

2008-09-05T11:03:00.000-04:00

Canada added 15,200 jobs in August as the national unemployment rate for the month remained steady at 6.1 per cent. Economists had been forecasting job growth of about 10,000 for last month. Statistics Canada said Friday that all of August's job gains were in full-time work. Private-sector employment grew by 41,000, while public sector employment dipped by 24,000 and self-employment eased by 1,800.

The August report was a rebound from July, when the economy shed 55,000 jobs. Statistics Canada said there were job gains in Saskatchewan and Ontario, while Nova Scotia and Manitoba lost jobs. Employment was virtually unchanged in the other provinces. Last month, employment increased in educational services, construction, utilities, and accommodation and food services. The health-care and social assistance, agriculture and public administration sectors all saw declines in employment. Canada's battered manufacturing sector saw a slight increase in manufacturing employment in last month. Through the first eight months of the year, the sector lost 14,000 jobs — compared to a drop of 76,000 jobs over the same period last year.

These statistics come at a time when many Canadians are bracing for a recession that has already enveloped the U.S. economy. The collapse of the U.S. housing market, and the subsequent decline of many industries, coupled with the weak American dollar and the large American federal deficit, has caused significant economic decline south of the border. Many Canadians are justifiably worried that it's just a matter of time before Canada falls victim to a ripple effect from America's economic struggles. Though these recent numbers hardly reveal robust economic growth, at this point in time moderate growth or minimal decline is clearly better than an all-out recession.

New Cyclone Forming Near Burma

2008-05-14T09:48:00.000-04:00

Another cyclone appears to be forming off the coast of Burma, just as the southeast Asian country is struggling to clean up from the killer storm that struck May 3. An alert issued by the U.S. government's Joint Typhoon Warning Center in Pearl Harbor on Wednesday said that the formation of a "significant" cyclone is possible within the next 12 to 24 hours. Amanda Pitt, a spokeswoman for the UN humanitarian relief program, said that if the cyclone does form, it could spell a new disaster for Burma. "We’re very concerned of the impact of further hazards which can provide even more suffering," she told CBC News from Bangkok.

Compounding the problem is that Burma's military government has blocked several relief planes from entering the country with aid supplies. The military junta has also refused visas to many foreign aid workers. Rumours are swirling among foreign aid workers that the junta is hoarding good foreign relief supplies for itself, and doling out low-quality rice, biscuits and other items to survivors. Burma has denied these accusations. Furthermore, several reports suggest that Burma's military government is not going to warn its citizens of the potential second cyclone.

Without question, the situation in Burma has brought to light the severe human rights issues which plague many non-democratic countries. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted by the UN 60 years ago, yet many people are still deprived of fundamental rights. Though bureaucratic red tape makes it difficult for countries such as Canada to intervene in the affairs of a sovereign nation like Burma, it is imperative that the UN, and the Western democratic nations, make a strong stand against such acts of government brutality. Nearly one full decade into the new millennium, the time has come for political oppression and inequality to fade deep into the annals of history, once and for all.

Foreign Aid Finally Allowed into Burma

2008-05-12T11:19:00.000-04:00

After being blocked by the Burmese government for days, the first U.S. relief plane was allowed into the devastated southeast Asian country on Monday to provide emergency supplies to the victims of a deadly cyclone. The unarmed military C-130 cargo plane, packed with 13,000 kilograms of water, mosquito nets, blankets and other supplies, took off from a Thai military base and arrived in the Burmese city of Rangoon, military spokesman Lt.-Col. Douglas Powell said.

Two more American air shipments are expected to get clearance to fly in on Tuesday. Another four U.S. military ships and 11,000 military personnel stationed in southeast Asia are ready to help with the aid mission, but it is unclear whether the military junta that rules Burma, also known as Myanmar, has any intention of giving the troops and equipment clearance to enter its borders.Burma has strained relations with the international community, including the U.S. government, which has imposed economic and trade sanctions on the country in response to the policies of the military junta.

Burma, in response, has blocked certain countries from delivering aid in the aftermath of Saturday's cyclone, and is holding up approval for most visas sought by foreign workers who wish to reach the survivors.

This story is a telling reminder that politics and international relations should never trump issues of fundamental human rights. Geopolitical posturing has no place in a discussion regarding basic human survival. The devastation which has crippled Burma is rightfully on the minds of concerned citizens around the world. Many have looked on in horror with the realization that bickering and squabbling have denied people access to the aid they so desperately need. One can only hope that this tragic story serves as a powerful lesson for governments around the world.

Canada to Aid UN's World Food Program

2008-04-30T09:11:00.000-04:00

Amid rising prices and dwindling supplies worldwide, Ottawa will announce Wednesday how much it will contribute to combat the growing global food crisis. The Tory government has been tight-lipped as to how much it will give, saying only that it will be a significant and substantial amount, the CBC's Rosemary Barton said. The UN's World Food Program is looking for a 30 per cent increase, or about $50 million more, on top of Canada's $161-million contribution last year. Ottawa has previously said it would pledge up to $170 million this year.

The announcement, to be made by International Co-operation Minister Bev Oda, comes a day before the UN deadline for emergency aid contributions from donor countries in what the World Food Program is calling the worst food crisis in 40 years.The World Food Program is seeking an extra $755 million in food aid from donor countries, a 30 per cent increase in its overall budget.
Canada, which has been considered one of the world leaders on this front, has been put under intense pressure from the UN to make an announcement on how much it will pledge.

Last year, Canada was the second-largest donor to the UN program, behind only the United States. A global surge in food prices — brought on by rising fuel costs, biofuel production, drought in Australia, market speculation and increased demand from China and India — has sparked violent riots in the Caribbean, Africa and Asia, and rationing in some parts of the United States. A number of countries, including Germany and Switzerland, have already committed additional money to the UN program.

With each passing year, it seems the divide between wealthy and poor countries continues to grow. As the distribution of wealth becomes more and more unbalanced, the need to support third world countries increases. The UN sets the protection of fundamental human rights as one of its primary goals. Nothing is more fundamental than basic human survival. It is the duty of first world countries such as Canada to actively support the UN's World Food Program and ensure that extreme hunger is finally eradicated.

TTC Strikers Legislated Back to Work

2008-04-28T10:31:00.000-04:00

Commuters in Canada's largest city face a normal trip to work Monday after the Ontario legislature ordered an end to a weekend strike by workers at the Toronto Transit Commission.
An emergency session of the legislature Sunday afternoon resulted in quick passage of back-to-work legislation, ending the strike that lasted about 36 hours and raised fears of a chaotic commute during the work week.

Nearly 9,000 bus, subway and streetcar drivers, maintenance workers and other staff began heading back to work Sunday evening. "It goes without saying that Toronto, our capital city, plays an important role for all Ontarians," said Premier Dalton McGuinty in the legislature. "By acting on behalf of Toronto workers, and families and businesses, we are acting in the best interests of all Ontarians." The strike was called Friday evening after workers rejected a proposed new contract reached after months of collective bargaining between the Amalgamated Transit Union and TTC management.

Without question, McGuinty's government has made the correct decision for the majority of Ontario's residents. If Toronto's public transit system were to shut down, even for a short while, many people would face severe difficulties trying to get to work in the morning. Any subsequent decline in productivity could create a ripple effect across other areas of the economy. Though one cannot dismiss the TTC's right to strike, there are times when greater social considerations must trump the short-term needs of a select few. Ideally, the TTC's union representatives will successfully negotiate an agreement that the union membership deems acceptable, and any long-term tension will be avoided.

Gas Prices Could Surge to $2.25 by 2012

2008-04-24T11:00:00.000-04:00

The price of gas will surge to $1.40 this summer and over $2.25 by 2012 as oil supplies continue to deplete, a Canadian economist projected Thursday. Jeff Rubin, chief strategist and chief economist at CIBC World Markets, warned that the International Energy Agency's oil production projections are overstated. He noted that oil production has not increased in two years, straining supply.

Whether we have already seen the peak in world oil production remains to be seen, but it is increasingly clear that the outlook for oil supply signals a period of unprecedented scarcity," Rubin said in a statement. "Despite the recent record jump in oil prices, oil prices will continue to rise steadily over the next five years, almost doubling from current levels." The national average of a litre of gas reached $1.23 Thursday, according to gasbuddy.com. In Churchill Falls, N.L., drivers were shelling out $1.40 while filling stations in Montreal were charging $1.35.

For middle class families, particularly those who commute to work daily, this news creates a frightening premise. Many people are already stretched to the maximum when it comes to their gas budgets. The prospect of doubling costs surely means that more people will have to explore alternative means of transportation. Perhaps this news will create an ironic shift in the transportation market. For years, environmentalists have pleaded with mainstream manufacturers to develop alternative, environmentally friendly means of transportation. Their pleas often went ignored due to the economic advantages of maintaining the status quo with oil. Now that oil is becoming less financially viable, the movement towards environmentally friendly transportation may finally gain the momentum it deserves.

Obama Predicts Clinton Victory in Pennsylvania

2008-04-22T10:41:00.000-04:00

Barack Obama says his rival Hillary Clinton will likely win Tuesday's Pennsylvania primary, the largest of the last few contests in the race to become the Democratic presidential candidate, but not by much. "I'm not predicting a win," Obama told Pittsburgh radio station KDKA on Monday. "I'm predicting it's going to be close and that we are going to do a lot better than people expect."

Several polls suggest Clinton has maintained a slight edge over the Illinois senator after weeks of campaigning in Pennsylvania, familiar turf for Clinton, whose father's family comes from the northeastern city of Scranton. With critics calling for Clinton to drop out of the race so Democrats can focus on beating Republican John McCain in this fall's election, the New York senator badly needs to win this state, the biggest of the last 10 contests.Obama is leading in the number of states won, delegates gained and popular vote, while Clinton's campaign is mired in financial woes. Clinton was $10.3 million in debt at the start of April, with only about $9 million cash on hand for the primaries. Obama reported having $42 million.

For the Democrats, a narrow Clinton victory likely signals the worst possible outcome. Rather than provide closure, the Pennsylvania primary appears set to further cloud what is already a murky picture. With neither candidate being able to focus on a national campaign, John McCain continues to enjoy the advantage of campaigning, and looking ahead to November's election. If the Democrats are forced to wait until their convention to officially select their nominee, don't be surprised if McCain is able earn the support of many undecided voters.

China Unblocks CBC Websites

2008-04-14T14:11:00.000-04:00

China has unblocked the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's websites, a week after the broadcaster's president formally complained to Chinese officials."We have today heard that access to CBC/Radio-Canada's English and French websites in China is no longer blocked," said Hubert T. Lacroix in a letter to China's ambassador to Canada, Lu Shumin. "I am writing to thank you personally for what I assume was your expeditious assistance in this matter." French-language website Radio-Canada.ca had been blocked for six months while English site CBC.ca had been cut off since January.

Lacroix had formally complained about the blockage last week, writing the ambassador to ask why the websites were blocked and to "take steps to ensure that this policy is reversed."
He wrote that Chinese government officials in 2006 promised to "provide services of an Olympic standard to athletes, officials, spectators and the media in order to facilitate their participation and enjoyment of the Games." Beijing will host the Olympic Games starting in August. CBC is the official Canadian broadcaster of the Games.

The use of media censorship is just another reminder of how far behind the Chinese government remains in matters of human rights. Though China continues to assert itself as a global economic superpower, ultimately its communist government routinely denies its citizens many fundamental rights. Freedom of speech and freedom of the press are cherished in democratic societies, and the fact that the Chinese government so willingly takes these away further emphasizes why so many are protesting the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Though politics and sports usually should not merge together, the reality is that these Olympics are serving as a lightning rod for rightful criticisms of the Chinese government.

Habs Begin Quest for 25th Stanley Cup

2008-04-10T10:25:00.000-04:00

The NHL's most storied franchise will begin its quest for an unprecedented 25th Stanley Cup this evening. The Montreal Canadiens, who finished the regular season ranked first in the Eastern Conference, host the eighth seeded Boston Bruins tonight in game one of their Eastern Conference quarterfinal. The resurgent Habs, who were picked by many to miss the playoffs at the beginning of the season, have surprised the so-called experts and pundits by quickly developing their young players and putting together one the fastest, and most balanced lineups in the entire league.

The Canadiens lineup features many homegrown players, including stars Saku Koivu and Andrei Markov, young snipers Chris Higgins, Andrei and Sergei Kostitsyn, the rugged Mike Komisarek, and blossoming superstar Carey Price in net. If one is wondering why the Habs are flourishing while the rival Leafs have once again missed the playoffs, one need only look at the respective draft track records of both teams. Expect the Canadiens to start fast this evening and exploit their obvious advantages in speed and talent over the underdog Bruins. Stanley Cup fever is back in the city of Montreal!

IOC To Consider Ending Olympic Torch Run

2008-04-08T11:20:00.000-04:00

The Olympic torch arrived for its only North American stop on Tuesday amid reports that the International Olympic Committee will consider cancelling the international leg of the relay in light of anti-China protests. News of a possible review of the relay comes in the wake of violent protests by pro-Tibet activists who have interrupted the Olympic torch runs in London and Paris. The Associated Press quoted International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge on Tuesday as saying he was "deeply saddened" by the demonstrations and that the IOC's executive board would discuss abandoning the international leg in a meeting Friday.

The Olympics always creates an interesting paradigm, as it combines athletics with nationalism, and politics. Though many protesters are actively supporting the Tibet Independence movement, one has to wonder whether it's right to combine this issue with what remains, at its core, a sporting event. These games are really about the amateur athletes who train and sacrifice for years in order to compete at the world's highest level. Using these dedicated men and women as pawns in a protest movement demonstrates a certain degree of selfishness. There is also an element of hypocrisy in these criticisms. Though the Chinese government should be held accountable for its horrific acts of violence and murder, it's not as though the Western democracies, particularly the United States, enjoy immunity when it comes to charges of brutality in the name of national interests and security. Protesters should be encouraged to seek peaceful means to convey their message for Tibet's Independence, but the Olympic athletes should not have to compromise their dreams in the process.

Oil Depletion Could Cause Social and Economic Disaster

2008-04-04T11:27:00.000-04:00

Much of the attention surrounding the use of fossil fuels tends to focus on environmental concerns, particularly global warming; yet an often overlooked aspect of this discussion is the potential social and economic problems that could likely arise if, and when the world's oil supply runs out. The concept of "peak oil" refers to the point at which the rate of global oil production begins to decline. Peak oil has "the imperative of urgency," according to Richard Gilbert, an urban-issues consultant based in Toronto. "The likely outcome of not dealing with this issue is not an environmental catastrophe. It's an economic and social catastrophe that may leave us unable to deal with the environmental catastrophe," he said in an interview.

In Transport Revolutions: Moving People and Freight Without Oil, Gilbert and co-author Anthony Perl, an urban studies professor at Simon Fraser University, make a persuasive argument that global oil depletion is more imminent, and for that reason more important, than climate change. One way or another, they say, there is a revolution coming. It is as if the power for our life-support system were about to be cut off by a blackout," the authors write in their book, the cover of which is adorned with a photo of a freighter attached to a SkySail, a large, wind-propelled towing kite that substitutes part of a ship's engine power.

One can just imagine the amount of economic and social upheaval that will result from a noticeable decline in the availability of oil. Large sections of the economy, transportation networks, and general social interaction will all be significantly impacted. Though it is commonplace to lament the dangers of global warming, perhaps the time has come for us to seriously explore viable sources of alternative energy; not merely to save our planet, but also to save our way of life.

Ontario to Recycle Old Electronics

2008-03-31T10:41:00.000-04:00

It may soon cost more for your televisions, computers and electronic gadgets thanks to a proposed recycling plan. The five-year plan by Waste Diversion Ontario plans to boost the number of places available for recycling old electronics. But the plan costs $62 million — a tab that will have to be picked up by consumers. Canada's largest electronics companies will pay for the program up front, but they're expected to pass the costs on to shoppers. Dalton Burger from Electronics Product Stewardship Canada says companies will likely bring in an "eco fee" — something shoppers in other provinces already pay. The plan is being delivered to Ontario's Environment Ministry on Monday.

Though the initial prospect of paying out of pocket to increase electronics recycling may bother some consumers, the reality is that the onus is on all of us to develop environmentally friendly lifestyles. Whether it's recycling garbage and food waste from the kitchen, limiting automobile transportation, or safely disposing of unwanted electronic gadgets and toys, the time has come for all of us to swallow the difficulties of "going green." For years, politicians and voters alike have lamented the economic challenges and shortfalls of environmental research and development. We as Canadians must finally begin to see the bigger picture. The real green that matters is not the money in our wallets, but rather the green which surrounds us and gives us life. I for one have no problem paying a little bit more to safely recycle my old 27" Sanyo.

TTC Strike Looms

2008-03-27T14:02:00.000-04:00

Meetings will be held Thursday between the two sides in the Toronto transit dispute and a provincial mediator. The union walked away from the bargaining table on Monday night. It claims the TTC wasn't moving on the issue of injury compensation. The intervention of the provincial mediator comes as no surprise. Observers say the move shows both sides want to restart talks if they can find common ground — and the mediator will try to bridge the gap.

Talks broke off on Monday night when negotiators from the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 113 walked away, saying the TTC refused to negotiate on the issue of injury compensation. The union claims injuries are happening more often from abusive passengers. It wants drivers and operators who are off the job to be fully compensated. Right now, they are only paid a percentage of their salary. "We believe that this is a moral issue," union president Bob Kinnear told reporters during a news conference on Tuesday. "This is a major deal-breaker."
Local 113 represents more than 9,000 TTC workers. The TTC carries more than 1.5 million passengers every weekday.

Though it is commonplace for passengers to criticize Toronto's public transit system, the fact remains that huge numbers of residents in the GTA depend on public transit each day. A TTC strike, which the workers will be legally entitled to engage in after April 1st, will severely impact the daily schedules of many. The resulting pressure placed on the Toronto government would also be quite significant. One has to think that the two sides will reach an agreement at the 11th hour, rather than risk the unappealing prospect of rush hour chaos.