The Climategate scandal took a severe toll on the credibility of some of the climate theology's leading high priests, and subsequent investigations into some of the more outlandish claims on which their doomsaying was based found them to be either exaggerated or fabricated. The November demise of the Chicago Climate Exchange - which sought to transfer billions of dollars to political insiders trading in government-rigged carbon markets - signaled that there was no money in the game anymore. Last week, even Al Gore admitted his fallibility when he retracted his earlier support for ethanol fuels. The god bleeds. - The Washington Times
The Conservatives were able to defeat Bill C 311 in the Senate. The Federal Government recently announced great news their deficit shrunk by 40% in September compared to last year. Their revised deficit is estimated around $ 45 billion. The Liberal-NDP coalition just lost a vote on denying the military a replacement of the aging CF-18.
It is time for the Federal Conservatives to "Just Say No" and allow the opposition to votes against winding down the stimulus. If the opposition want the Economic Action Plan to continue past 2011, let them campaign for it and explain what taxes they will raise to pay for it.
Tax revenue is recovering. The Federal Government has rejected Edmonton's Expo bid and hopefully will continue to push for increased austerity in all departments at all levels including the denial for additional funding requests by QC groups for the NHL arena. Kevin Page, PBO can provide cover on limiting the expansion of equalization and payments above the rate of inflation.
Jane Taber's article about ignoring the demands of Quebec from an opinion from a pollster. A few in the left are freaking out, with graphs and projections trying to explain how the Conservatives should not ignore the fact only 45% (approximately) of the seats in Quebec are voting for a federal party since 1993. The term low hanging fruit requires an understanding of common sense something lacking in most unskeptical minds. I originally blogged here on re-balancing Parliament.
Ignore the polls, ignore the census and ignore Quebec. Nothing will change the Harper government’s minority status until legislation passes creating more seats in the House of Commons, Ipsos pollster John Wright says.
The left are scared
If a majority is IMPOSSIBLE, why all the FUSS? The Separtists threatening , making noise, passing motions in Quebec City to the effect? We will be quoting Hamlet Act 3, scene II, Verses 222-230 if those in the left keep telling us it is a mistake to ignore Quebec.
The unskeptical mind will without reservation accept the proselytizing of self acclaimed experts (Al Gore, David Suzuki, here without examining if a bias exists in their presentations if it projects their belief system.
Bill C-12 is designed to address a distortion in the manner in which population growth is reflected by growth in the number of elected representatives assigned to each province. The Bill seeks to remedy this distortion by enacting a new formula for seat readjustments in the House of Commons. As with the formula presently employed to readjust the number of members seated in the House, Bill C-12 prescribes a formula that readjusts seats after each decennial census, while also apportioning any newly created seats to the province or provinces that experienced population growth from one decennial census to the next- Summary here.
Social Justice Champions?
Reality sucks for those in the left who have a difficult time accepting the shift has begun in Canada , Europe, Australia and even China.
See any bicycles?
The Pierre Trudeau Liberal ideals have been transformed to a more pragmatic worldview. The world has changed and for some in the media, Quebec and left of centre parties reality has been very discomforting lately.
We have Mother Nature to thank for the expressionlowhangingfruit. A fruit-bearing tree often contains some branches low enough for animals and humans to reach without much effort. The fruit contained on these lower branches may be not be as ripe or attractive as the fruit on higher limbs, but it is usually more abundant and easier to harvest. From this we get the popular expression "lowhangingfruit", which generally means selecting the easiest targets with the least amount of effort.
Another use of the expression lowhangingfruit can be found in the political arena. A politician may set a number of easily attainable goals, essentially lowhangingfruit, and accomplish them with minimal effort. The voters may perceive the politician's actions as proof of his strong work ethic, but in reality he only reached for the political benefits of lowhangingfruit. Critics often use the expression lowhangingfruit to describe someone who chooses a sure thing over a more difficult but more rewarding pursuit.
The idea of lowhangingfruit can be viewed as both a positive and a negative. On the one hand, lowhangingfruit is usually plentiful and often ignored by those looking for more attractive offerings. But lowhangingfruit can also be seen as a negative, since the picker understands how low the quality of the fruit can be and picks it anyway. Someone who consistently chooses the immediate gratification of lowhangingfruit could be seen by others as lazy or unambitious.
According to Statistics Canada's census metropolitan areas, in Ontario, the Toronto CMA (which includes 23 cities in the surrounding areas such as Milton, Oakville, Mississauga, Brampton, Newmarket, Markham and Richmond Hill in addition to Toronto proper) has grown from 4,682,897 people in the last decennial census in 2001 to 5,623,500 in 2009, which is a 20 per cent increase.
According to Elections Canada, Liberal MP Andrew Kania currently has the highest populated riding in Brampton West, Ont., with 170,422 people. This is compared to Conservative MP Greg Rickford who has the least number of constituents in his Kenora, Ont., riding with 64,291 people. Kenora is a rural riding, but even in the nation's capital, Liberal MP Mauril Bélanger, who represents Ottawa-Vanier, Ont., has 101,611 constituents.
If population were the number one criterion for the electoral boundary commissions, Ontario could see new ridings created around Mr. Kania's riding, as well as in other GTA ridings Markham, Vaughan, Bramalea, Halton, Mississauga, Whitby, Thornhill, Brampton, Scarborough, Willowdale, Cambridge and Kitchener, as well as two ridings in the Ottawa area.
The top 18 most populated ridings in Ontario are held evenly between Conservatives and Liberals at nine each.
In Alberta, Edmonton and Calgary are the fastest growing cities. In 2001, Calgary had a population of 878,866, according to Statistics Canada, and in 2009, it grew to 1,230,200, a 39.9 per cent increase. Edmonton went from a population of 666,104 in 2001 to 1,155,400 in 2009, a 73.45 per cent increase. Conservative MP Chris Warkentin's Peace River riding is the most populated in Alberta with 138,009 constituents, and NDP MP Linda Duncan's Edmonton-Strathcona riding is the least populated at 99,267.
The four other highest populated ridings in Alberta are Rob Anders' Calgary West, Diane Ablonczy's Calgary-Nose Hill, Devinder Shory's Calgary Northeast and Public Works Minister Rona Ambrose's Edmonton-Spruce Grove. These could all be areas where potential new ridings could be created.
Pundits Guide
In British Columbia, Vancouver's CMA grew from 1,986,965 in 2001 to 2,328,000 in 2009, a 17.1 per cent growth. The Vancouver CMA includes surrounding areas such as Langley, Mission, Coquitlam, Maple Ridge, Richmond and Surrey among other smaller towns.
Pundits Guide
Conservative MP John Weston has the most populated riding in B.C. His West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky Country riding has 129,241 constituents, compared to Conservative MP Jim Abbott's Kootenay-Columbia riding with 86,811 constituents.
Pundits Guide
The seven ridings that could be changed based on population are NDP MP Jean Crowder, who represents Nanaimo-Cowichan, Conservative MPs Edward Fast (Abbotsford, B.C.), Nina Grewal (Fleetwood-Port Kells, B.C.), Andrew Saxton (North Vancouver, B.C.) and Ronald Cannan (Kelowna-Lake Country, B.C.) and Liberal MP Hedy Fry (Vancouver Centre, B.C.).
Pundits Guide
None of these charts are projections prediction about the future, they are a FACT of what already has transpired. No one can predict how the seats will ultimately breakdown or if the legislation will PASS.
A great philosopher Bobby McFerrin used to say Don't worry be happy!
I prefer to look to Doris Day for her sophistry about life.
Oil Sands Economic Engine Canada's Global Energy Super Power
The next time Jack, Gilles or Ignatieff spout off against the oil sands maybe the media can remind them our Pensions are invested in them.
The Canada Pension Plan Investment Board is making a sizeable investment in Canada’s oil sands. The pension plan announced that it was making a $250-million private placement in Laricina Energy Ltd., a Calgary-based company that has a portfolio of oil sands assets that range from properties in the McMurray formation as well as sites near Grand Rapids and Grosmont. With this investment CPPIB now owns a 17.1% equity interest in the company. -CPP
First, last year we began removing the special tax incentives brought in by our predecessors that actually encouraged and subsidized the growth of the traditional oil sands industry. We are phasing those out and replacing them with incentives for the deployment of green technology only.-Canadian Media: Not smarter than a 5th grader?
Can we trust Democrats and Liberals? Is Al Gore or David Suzuki balanced on the Oil Sands? It is time for the Americans to get serious about Energy reliance from the Middle East.
Our Oil Sands account for only 5% of our own emmission and Ontario and Quebec emit more Carbon than Alberta. Will Ontario and Quebec ban the automobile in their province to help reduce the 27% Carbon emitted from use of automobiles? A Liberal provincial minister has been consistent in his criticism of the Federal Government. It may be hard for governments in Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia and Manitoba to remain chummy with oil-rich provinces if they feel they're taking a hit for a tarsands boom. "Whether or not it's going to be the next national unity issue, I'll leave that to the columnists," Gerretsen said.-Allan Woods Toronto Star 12/14/09
Canadians from outside Alberta should stand behind the Oil sands or learn to bike to work.
Extracting oil from Alberta's tar sands jeopardizes the survival of our species, says Al Gore.
Will Michael tell his friends NOT to attend the $ 500 per plate dinner in Toronto? Will he tell Gore to shove it?
“National Geographic is not going to teach me any lessons about the oilsands,” he said.
“This is a huge industry. It employs Canadians from coast to coast. We have oil reserves that are going to last for the whole of the 21st century. We are where we are. We’ve got to clean it up, and we’ve got make it a sustainable place to work and live.”
"You know, the technical challenge in the United States involves the challenges of clean coal and, similarly in Canada, it's the challenges of clean oil," Prentice said. "The answer to all of this, really, is technology. It's investments in technology and that's why we'll be working together with the United States to that end."
