tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77063851115851109652024-03-07T00:52:46.968-06:00Giant Political MouseGiant Political Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11830225555655192306noreply@blogger.comBlogger431125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7706385111585110965.post-32100150990859329252010-04-17T14:11:00.001-06:002010-04-17T14:13:22.337-06:00Blogger changeDue to blogger changing things up this blog has been forced to move. <br /><br />Now located here: <a href="http://giantpoliticalmice.blogspot.com/">http://giantpoliticalmice.blogspot.com/</a>Giant Political Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11830225555655192306noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7706385111585110965.post-81908836573265103192010-03-19T13:10:00.002-06:002010-03-19T13:13:20.732-06:00Yens Petersen in Regina SouthAs reported ably by the<a href="http://accidentaldeliberations.blogspot.com/2010/03/regina-south-yens-pedersen-enters-ndp.html"> Jurist </a>and <a href="http://buckdogpolitics.blogspot.com/2010/03/yens-pedersen-illustrates-generational.html">Buckdog</a>, Sask NDP leadership candidate Yens Pedersen has announced he is seeking the nomination in Regina South.<br /><blockquote><hr />Yens Pedersen has announced his plans for 2011, and has decided to seek a rematch against Bill Hutchinson in Regina South after suffering a narrow loss in 2007.<hr /></blockquote><blockquote><hr>Yens Pedersen is a Regina lawyer who sought the leadership of the Saskatchewan New Democrats last year. He brought a breath of fresh air into the race and has certainly made his mark in the ranks of the provincial party. Yens today announced that he is seeking the NDP nomination for the constituency of Regina South currently held by Bill Hutchinson of the Saskatchewan Party. <hr></blockquote><br /><br />This is going to be a nomination and then a swing seat to watch.Giant Political Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11830225555655192306noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7706385111585110965.post-83679058652641644832010-03-10T13:36:00.002-06:002010-03-10T14:13:40.517-06:00Question Period Review - March 10<span style="font-weight: bold;">Opening Shananigans</span><br /><br />Sandra Morin goes after the SP Martinsville<a href="http://buckdogpolitics.blogspot.com/2010/03/why-is-saskatchewan-party-exploiting.html"> fundraising poster</a>. She took the right tone. Well done.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Topic 1 - Rural Doctor Shortage<br /><br /></span>Lingenfelter and Wall spar over the <a href="http://www.leaderpost.com/news/Health+care+tops+agenda+SARM+convention/2663969/story.html">SARM issues</a> on rural doctors. Lingenfelter is over-the-top when he doesn't need to be. Wall uses the quote by Lingenfelter in the media that the NDP was unpopular in rural Saskatchewan. Wall wins the exchange in the house but I don't think he will convince average voters with that performance. McMorris is answering some of the questions and the NDP members are acting like idiots in the House. Decorum matters people and the SP started winning this fight in the last session.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Topic 2 - Health Care Workers<br /></span><br />The earlier topic blurs into Home Care workers and Lingenfelter makes an excellent point that when it hard to attract workers in these fields, then maybe we shouldn't do things like ask them to work brutal split shifts. McMorris has nothing and just attacks Link for being from Alberta. That was the lamest I have seen McMorris in quite some time.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Topic 3 - Health Cuts</span><br /><br />Junor asks if the next cut (after<a href="http://www.cbc.ca/canada/saskatchewan/story/2010/03/10/sk-chiropractors-1003.html"> chiropractic services</a>) are ambulance services or the drug plan. McMorris give the NDP a perfect applause line, saying that if the Sask Party forms government the whole world will cave. He then goes on to talk about fearmongering. What is with McMorris this week? He is normally much better but this was a career-bad performance.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Final verdict - NDP Win<br /></span>Giant Political Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11830225555655192306noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7706385111585110965.post-44851129164803635222010-03-08T13:35:00.004-06:002010-03-08T14:33:29.300-06:00Question Period Review - March 8So, I may not get a chance to do this every day (in fact I think you can assume I will miss more days than I hit) but any time I get a chance to watch the Saskatchewan QP I will post my review of both the questions and the answers.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Opening Shananigans</span><br /><br />Smarmy Jeremy Harrison introduces Ezra Levant in the gallery as the person who sold him his first political membership. I throw up a little in my mouth.<br /><br />Andy Iwanchuck presents a petition signed by half the province on health care. Well done.<br /><br />Darcy Furber, showing how in touch he is with the youth of today, talks about some guy named Grant Devine. *sigh* I remain unimpressed with the Devine comparisons.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Topic 1 - Potash Royalties</span><br /><br />Lingenfelter goes after Wall on the potash royalties. Wall blames it on the NDP, because you know, it was clearly our fault that he can't count. He says it was the NDP change in royalties that caused this payment to the Potash companies. That is just lame, we NEVER had to pay back money to the potash companies under the NDP.<br /><br />Link is doing better then he is done in the past, but he is still not great at QP. Wall started weaker then usual but seemed to rally near the end. Normally Wall wins these types of exchanges, but on this one I am giving it to Link by a hair.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Topic 2 - Health Care Contracts<br /></span><br />Junor brings up the contract talks with the Health Care workers. McMorris used the same answer we always used "We don't get involved in negotiations on the floor of the legislature". She gets in a jab about "big boy pants" that is pretty lame. Mcmorris goes to the broken-record excuse of "NDP 16 years" which is even lamer.<br /><br />Oh god. Junor says that SAHO is just the puppet of the government. Leaving her wide open for McMorris to charge that that is way it operated under the NDP. Surprisingly, McMorris lets Norris answer which is just stupid because he does his typical blathering. Man he is an idiot.<br /><br />McMorris didn't so much win this as Junor lost the exchange. She looked good compared to Norris but an average tree stump achieves that on a daily basis.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Topic 3 - Domestic Abuse Outreach Program<br /></span><br />Atkinson asks a simple question about why the Domestic Abuse Outreach Program was canceled. She claims the agencies were blind-sided and not told that this decision was being made.<br /><br />Justice Minister Morgan answers, poorly as usual. He never seems to actually understand the questions being asked of him. He claims all the services are still be provided. We will have to see what the media has to say about that. He rallies near the end, but Atkinson has a letter that seems pretty damning.<br /><br />Atkinson won this one in the House and we will see what the media gets out of both sides.<br /><br />Depending on the outcome of that third topic, the NDP won today. However, if the services are still being provided, as Morgan claimed in the house, then this won't be a fatal blow. What is troublesome is that if the NDP had to rely on the first two topics, they would have lost the day - although only barely due to weak performances from Wall and Norris.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Final verdict - Split Decision</span>Giant Political Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11830225555655192306noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7706385111585110965.post-27600277010000486412009-12-11T12:18:00.003-06:002009-12-11T12:31:19.644-06:00What is the Sask Party's position on workplace safety?Am I the only one starting to see a pattern?<br /><br /><a href="http://www.nupge.ca/node/2634">October 15, 2009:</a><br /><blockquote><hr /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Brad Wall wants to privatize safety inspections?</span><br /><br />"The licensing and inspections branch of the ministry of corrections, public safety and policing is proposing to move safety inspections from the public service to a delegated authority. This new authority would be governed by a board of directors that would include industry representation," SGEU says. This will mean lower standards and less accountability, it adds.<hr /></blockquote><a tooltip="linkalert-tip" href="http://www.leaderpost.com/business/Crane+safety+questioned/2181189/story.html"><br />November 4, 2009:</a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><blockquote><hr /><p>A crane at a construction site west of Regina shouldn't have been operating in Saskatchewan until it was properly certified in the province, the NDP charged in the legislature Tuesday.</p><p>During question period, Opposition labour critic Andy Iwanchuk asked how an out-of-province crane was still in use even after Occupational Health and Safety concerns were brought forward by a site safety co-ordinator several weeks ago.</p><hr /></blockquote></div><p></p><br /><a tooltip="linkalert-tip" href="http://www.nupge.ca/node/2786">December 3, 2009:</a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><blockquote><hr />Barbara Cape, president of SEIU-West. “After waiting more than a year to see the employer’s initial wage offer, we are disappointed the employer is forcing another delay in discussions about <span style="font-weight: bold;">client safety</span>, staff recruitment and retention issues <span style="font-weight: bold;">and other workplace concern</span>s.”<hr /></blockquote></div><br /><a tooltip="linkalert-tip" href="http://www.thestarphoenix.com/sports/Safety+officer+questions+dismissal/2327212/story.html">December 11, 2009</a>:<br /><blockquote><hr />An occupational health and safety officer who raised serious concerns about the Saskatoon Correctional Centre said Thursday she was fired by the provincial government for doing her job and the problems at the jail likely still exist.<div style="text-align: justify;"></div><hr /></blockquote>Giant Political Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11830225555655192306noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7706385111585110965.post-10758127624521015882009-11-23T09:28:00.003-06:002009-11-23T09:39:16.489-06:00Brad Wall and His Republican BuddiesFrom the <a tooltip="linkalert-tip" href="http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/lindsey-graham-extends-a-green-hand-to-canada/article1373340/">Globe and Mail</a>:<br /><span class="first-letter"></span><blockquote><hr /><span class="first-letter">L</span>indsey Graham is not your typical South Carolina senator. He thinks global warming is real – hardly a unanimous stand among Republicans – and he wants Canada to join him in his efforts to put in place a North American green economic strategy.<hr /></blockquote>Sounds good so far, right?<br /><br /><blockquote><hr />Regardless, Mr. Graham's position thrills Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall, whose province is not only (for now) the world's biggest miner of uranium used in nuclear reactors, but is also seeking $100-million (U.S.) from Washington to fund a $280-million cross-border carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) pilot project.<hr /></blockquote>Ok, so Wall wants some money. I guess he would <a tooltip="linkalert-tip" href="http://www.thestarphoenix.com/life/Carbon+capture+project+waits+funding/2235596/story.html">given this</a>:<br /><br /><blockquote><hr />A proposed $270-million Saskatchewan-Montana carbon capture project could become solely a provincial venture if funding from the United States government doesn't come through, Premier Brad Wall said Tuesday on the eve of a trip to Washington, D.C.<hr /></blockquote>But what do Wall and Graham want?<br /><br /><blockquote><hr /><p>“The bill I'm trying to craft will be very pro-nuclear,” Mr. Graham offered. “We also have to utilize the coal we have and make it clean coal. I'm trying to combine energy independence with the renaissance of nuclear energy and controlling carbon.”</p> <p>Some environmentalists are skeptical of Mr. Graham's support and note that he has accepted large donations from Scana Corp., which owns several coal-fired plants in South Carolina and is seeking to build two nuclear reactors in the state.</p><hr /></blockquote>So a pro-nuclear, pro clean coal agenda. Starting to sound familiar? But I guess it makes sense that these two guys would find each other. I mean, they agree on issues so why shouldn't they work together. It's not as if there is anything wrong with that, right? It's not like taxpayers are paying to get the two of them together...<br /><blockquote><hr />Mr. Graham and Mr. Wall have struck up a working relationship in recent weeks, thanks to the intermediation of former U.S. ambassador to Canada David Wilkins. Saskatchewan has retained Mr. Wilkins's law firm to represent it in the U.S. capital. Mr. Wall insists the $400,000 (U.S.) one-year contract is taxpayers' money well spent, and it's hard to argue with him, considering the access it has bought him on Capitol Hill<hr /></blockquote>I guess we will see if that $400,000 is well spent. No one in their right mind could argue it is well spent on the meeting themselves, but rather how it benefits Saskatchewan.<br /><br />So I guess if we get the $100 million for the carbon project we can talk about the $400 k being acceptable or not.<br /><br />If we don't then Brad has some 'spaining to do...Giant Political Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11830225555655192306noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7706385111585110965.post-55168165700287514802009-11-20T17:01:00.001-06:002009-11-23T09:39:32.825-06:00Brad Wall on Climate ChangeSo Brad Wall says that his government is taking climate change seriously? But what is <a href="http://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/728400--who-s-the-dude-with-john-kerry">telling Washington</a>? <blockquote><hr /> Wall, unlike Inhofe, is no flat-earther. He accepts the science and recognizes a climate law of some kind is inevitable.But he's here to tell Washington "we need to rag the puck a bit" so that "cap-and-trade doesn't end up taking a pipe wrench to the parts of our economy that are still comparatively strong ..." <hr /></blockquote>So he admits that there is a problem on the climate change front, but he doen't think we should do anything about it.Giant Political Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11830225555655192306noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7706385111585110965.post-84109587887884475662009-10-05T08:32:00.001-06:002009-10-05T08:34:11.143-06:00The Star shows no shame.Toronto Star has mistakenly reported false charges against a teacher. This teacher then promptly kills himself on Saturday. The newspaper responds more callously than anyone could have imagined. I found <a href="http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/article/705372">this </a>rage inducing.<br /><br /><blockquote><hr />Our law affords no protection from libel to the dead. So we will assume by his actions, and for the purpose of exploring this awful event, that Dewees was guilty as charged<hr /></blockquote>Giant Political Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11830225555655192306noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7706385111585110965.post-9064815779055269982009-10-01T08:44:00.004-06:002009-10-01T08:46:00.209-06:00Billions<a tooltip="linkalert-tip" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://s3.amazonaws.com/infobeautiful/billion_dollar_960.gif"><img tooltip="linkalert-tip" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 663px; height: 975px;" src="http://s3.amazonaws.com/infobeautiful/billion_dollar_960.gif" alt="" border="0" /></a>Giant Political Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11830225555655192306noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7706385111585110965.post-61413124720492414892009-09-16T00:17:00.003-06:002009-09-16T00:18:20.529-06:00A brief history of corporate whining.<a tooltip="linkalert-tip" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.dollarsandsense.org/archives/2009/0909toon500.jpg"><img tooltip="linkalert-tip" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 484px;" src="http://www.dollarsandsense.org/archives/2009/0909toon500.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Giant Political Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11830225555655192306noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7706385111585110965.post-76980778787025854452009-09-14T17:18:00.000-06:002009-09-14T17:19:31.561-06:00Drug czar slams Harper gov'tFrom <a href="http://www.theprovince.com/Drug+czar+slams+Harper+exits+next+adventure/1978524/story.html">the province</a>:<br /><br /><blockquote><hr>The author of Vancouver's ground-breaking Four Pillars drug strategy criticized the federal government's "utterly failed" approach to drug use in his resignation notice this week.<hr></blockquote>Giant Political Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11830225555655192306noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7706385111585110965.post-49523296198994358562009-09-10T11:19:00.002-06:002009-09-10T11:24:07.682-06:00SaskParty and Saskatchewan's Energy FutureSo <a href="http://buckdogpolitics.blogspot.com/2009/09/sask-party-government-has-rejected-all.html">Buckdog thinks</a>:<br /><blockquote><hr />It is becoming very clear that in spite of what they say publicly, Brad Wall and his Saskatchewan Party government have rejected all other possible alternate energy options in favour of nuclear power generation for the province's future energy needs.<hr /></blockquote>And the <a href="http://accidentaldeliberations.blogspot.com/2009/09/nine-freaking-days-with-no-public-input.html">Jurist concurs</a>:<br /><blockquote><hr />when it comes to evaluating the full range of energy options which will drive Saskatchewan's economy for the next 60 years, they claim the province should settle for Nine. Freaking. Days. With no public input.<hr /></blockquote>Giant Political Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11830225555655192306noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7706385111585110965.post-40724485304921611142009-09-05T11:39:00.001-06:002009-09-05T11:43:56.945-06:00Can't he just use Westjet? That's chock-full of symbolism, right?<a href="http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/from-minister-to-private/article1276839/">From the Globe:</a><br /><blockquote><hr />Mr. Ignatieff's search for a campaign plane. Wanting to avoid having to rent an airplane from Air Inuit again for a potential fall election campaign, the Liberals are shopping around for another airline. Remember, the Dion Liberals got caught out and ended up with an old bruiser of a plane for the 2008 campaign. <p> But even with a few weeks lead time before a possible vote, Mr. Ignatieff may have some trouble. During the 2006 leadership campaign, the Liberal Leader managed to insult 25,000 Air Canada employees when he said on the popular Quebec television show <i>Tout le monde en parle</i> , “What scares me is Air Canada. They are not courteous enough. One thing which unites us, in this country, is our hatred for Air Canada.” Now what would be uniting Air Canada employees? </p><hr /></blockquote>Giant Political Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11830225555655192306noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7706385111585110965.post-37536997883919220472009-09-03T09:27:00.002-06:002009-09-03T09:32:38.857-06:00Good Resource for following the Manitoba Leadership CampaignDevin Johnston over at devinjohnston.ca has done a <a tooltip="linkalert-tip" href="http://devinjohnston.ca/blog/2009/09/01/manitoba-ndp-leadership-scoresheet">couple</a> of very informative <a href="http://devinjohnston.ca/blog/2009/09/03/updated-manitoba-ndp-leadership-scorecard">posts</a> on the NDP leadership race that is shaping up there.<br /><br />This seems to to be the status so far:<br /><ul><li><strong>Confirmed In</strong></li><ul><li>Andrew Swan</li></ul></ul><ul><li><strong>Officially "Thinking Things Over"</strong></li><ul><li>Steve Ashton</li><li>Greg Selinger</li></ul></ul><ul><li><strong>Unknown</strong></li><ul><li>Kerri Irvin-Ross</li><li>Bidhu Jha</li></ul></ul><ul><li><strong>Confirmed Out</strong></li><ul><li>Bill Blaikie </li><li>Judy Wasylycia-Leis</li><li>Nancy Allan </li><li>Christine Melnick</li><li>Gord Mackintosh</li><li>Pat Martin</li><li>Stan Struthers</li><li>Theresa Oswald</li></ul></ul>Giant Political Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11830225555655192306noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7706385111585110965.post-1145815571070353792009-09-01T23:27:00.002-06:002009-09-01T23:30:07.661-06:00Liberals Claim they are Done Propping up HarperFrom the I'll-believe-it-when-I-see-it-file:<br /><blockquote>“Mr. Harper, your time is up,” Mr. Ignatieff<a href="http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/liberals-wont-prop-up-tories-any-more/article1272118/"> told </a>cheering party MPs and senators, gathered in Sudbury, Ont., yesterday for an annual Liberal caucus retreat.</blockquote><br /><br />We will see how long this lasts.<br /><br />My guess?<br /><br />7 weeks.Giant Political Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11830225555655192306noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7706385111585110965.post-87592500003458454402009-08-30T11:11:00.003-06:002009-08-30T11:13:58.429-06:00How much surface area do you need to power the world using solar?<a tooltip="linkalert-tip" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://imgur.com/j9wrB.jpg"><img tooltip="linkalert-tip" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 683px; height: 513px;" src="http://imgur.com/j9wrB.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Giant Political Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11830225555655192306noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7706385111585110965.post-77565947107449137832009-08-28T10:44:00.002-06:002009-08-28T10:46:48.461-06:00Funding Cuts Back on the TableRemember that stupid thing Harper tried to do in late 2008 the precipitated a huge crisis and almost cost him his government? Yeah, he just <a tooltip="linkalert-tip" href="http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/columnists/fletcher-assigned-to-push-funding-cut-for-parties-54488632.html">ordered his minister to try and push for it again</a>.<br /><blockquote><hr /><p>Fletcher -- the minister of state for democratic reform -- has been talking about gearing up to take on the vote tax again. He has indicated it is something his government still plans to pursue.</p> <p>"We believe that political parties should support themselves with people who voluntarily donate to whichever party they wish to support," said Fletcher.</p> <p>Last November, you might remember, Conservative plans to cut off the per-vote subsidy which parties get led to a near meltdown of Parliament. The opposition parties accused the government of trying to use the threat of a recession to kill off its opponents by bankrupting them. Then the Liberals, NDP and Bloc banded together to form a coalition and were prepared to vote down the government and take over.</p><hr /></blockquote><br />This will end well no doubt.Giant Political Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11830225555655192306noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7706385111585110965.post-35506514743871092782009-08-27T13:51:00.002-06:002009-08-27T13:56:13.961-06:00Doer Resignation News Round-Up<a href="http://www.cbc.ca/canada/manitoba/story/2009/08/27/mb-doer-reaction-manitoba.html?ref=rss">CBC:</a><br /><blockquote><hr />Manitoba Premier Gary Doer's announcement to step down has garnered shock and praise from those in Canada's political arena.<hr /></blockquote><br /><a href="http://www.winnipegsun.com/news/manitoba/2009/08/27/10637076.html">Winnipeg Sun:</a><br />Pictures<br /><br /><a tooltip="linkalert-tip" href="http://www.nationalpost.com/most-popular/story.html?id=1935524">National Post</a><br /><blockquote><hr />Former Tory premier Gary Filmon -- Doer's "nemesis" when Doer was in opposition -- said he expects Mr. Doer will do well outside of politics. <p>"I welcome him into the club of former premiers," Mr. Filmon said after being told Doer was calling it quits.</p><p></p><hr /></blockquote><a tooltip="linkalert-tip" href="http://www.winnipegsun.com/news/manitoba/2009/08/27/10637821.html">Winnipeg Sun</a> (Again)<br /><blockquote><hr /><p>"He's been a formidable foe in Manitoba," said Liberal Leader Jon Gerrard, who also wished Doer well but was not so shy about what this means to his Liberal party, which has seen its membership grow five-fold in 14 months, from 1,000 last June to 5,000 today.</p> <p>"We're seeing a resurgence of Liberal support and it couldn't be better-timed," he said. "(Doer's retirement) is clearly going to change the political landscape. It's going to make a huge difference."</p><hr /></blockquote><br /><a href="http://www.theglobeandmail.com/blogs/radwanski/draft-doer/article1267056/">Globe and Mail</a><br /><blockquote><hr />But if the party is going to try to take advantage of Jack Layton's efforts to professionalize it, it needs a new leader who can make use of that apparatus to take it to the next level. Doer is probably the one high-profile New Democrat in the country who fits the bill.<hr /><br /></blockquote>Giant Political Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11830225555655192306noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7706385111585110965.post-58407553090242666542009-08-23T11:59:00.002-06:002009-08-23T12:05:55.536-06:00One of these quotes is not like the other onesFrom a recent <a tooltip="linkalert-tip" href="http://www.paherald.sk.ca/index.cfm?sid=280255&sc=4">PA Daily Herald story</a>:<br /><br />First we have these...<br /><blockquote><hr />"...I think many people feel that the supply of needles actually drives the demand. It's actually completely the other way around," said Dr. Moira McKinnon, the province's chief medical health officer.<hr /></blockquote><br /><blockquote><hr />According to a report produced for the Ministry of Health, the best estimate is that needle exchange programs reduce the transmission of HIV by one-third and save $4,000 in health-care costs for every $1,000 spent.<hr /></blockquote><br /><blockquote><hr />Lana Bear, a former injection drug user. "I think (a needle exchange) is helpful, but I think it's a choice thing, too," she said.<hr /></blockquote><br /><blockquote><hr />"The use of clean needles and the recognition (by drug users) that they are protecting themselves from disease, enhances the public health side of this equation," said Stephen Lewis, former UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa.<hr /></blockquote><br />and then we have this...<br /><br /><blockquote><hr />"There are issues coming out of the needle exchange from the community and they are valid concerns. The concern (is that) we are finding needles everywhere," said Joceline Schriemer, Saskatchewan Party MLA and Legislative Secretary to the Minister of Health with responsibility for addictions.<hr /></blockquote>Can someone beat this woman with a clue stick already?Giant Political Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11830225555655192306noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7706385111585110965.post-6374034999841161452009-08-22T15:11:00.000-06:002009-08-22T15:12:34.423-06:00Canada's Growing Income Gap<center><br /><object height="340" width="560"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/JrjIBbMPQw0&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/JrjIBbMPQw0&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="340" width="560"></embed></object><br /></center>Giant Political Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11830225555655192306noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7706385111585110965.post-88549649137913751292009-08-19T12:17:00.001-06:002009-08-19T12:17:49.474-06:00ow Canada's new copyright law will affect youCanada is about to reform its copyright law. Our government is holding a public consultation, an<a href="http://straight.com/article-247860/geof-glass-how-canadas-new-copyright-law-will-affect-you">d we need to be involved.</a>Giant Political Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11830225555655192306noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7706385111585110965.post-14080477958243252812009-08-11T08:29:00.002-06:002009-08-11T08:32:12.068-06:00Can a busy female politician give reliable evidence? A judge says no<a href="http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/can-a-busy-woman-give-reliable-evidence-ajudge-says-no/article1247338/">From the Globe:</a><br /><br /><blockquote><hr>Lisa MacLeod is a young female politician who commutes to her job at Queen's Park from Ottawa and leaves her husband, Joe, and four-year-old daughter, Victoria, at home. Mr. Justice Douglas Cunningham of Ontario Superior Court said this is a big distraction for the 34-year-old woman and as a result he felt he could not accept her evidence as corroboration of the Crown's key witness in the recent high-profile, influence-peddling trial of Ottawa Mayor Larry O'Brien.<hr> </blockquote><br /><br />Does anyone think that this would EVER be mentioned by a judge about a male politician? Of course not.Giant Political Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11830225555655192306noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7706385111585110965.post-47863967635502641592009-08-09T11:12:00.002-06:002009-08-09T11:16:55.009-06:00Here's an Idea, don't film your crimes and put them on Youtube<a href="http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20090808/Sask_Ducks_090808/20090808?hub=TopStories">Idiots</a>:<br /><blockquote><hr />Three young Saskatchewan men were arrested Saturday in connection with a recent YouTube video that showed three males using rifles to shoot ducks on a prairie pond, footage that has caused widespread public outrage.<br />...<br />Brian Petrar, operations manager for Environment Canada's wildlife division, said while charges haven't yet been formally laid, officials will likely charge the individuals with offences under the federal Migratory Birds Convention Act and the Saskatchewan Wildlife Act.<br />...<br />But Petrar did say that information from tipsters and the fact there was a sign in the video and images of a blooming canola field in the background also helped officials track down the suspects.<br />...<br />The overwhelming number of tips in this case shows that the public understands the value of the wildlife resources in Canada and isn't willing to put up with animals being slaughtered, he said.<br />...<br /><p>The video sparked widespread public anger and prompted the Toronto-based Humane Society of Canada to post a reward of $1,000 for information leading to the arrest of those shown in the Internet posting.</p> <p>Society executive director Michael O'Sullivan said the organization also got calls from people who wanted to help and they were directed to tip lines in both western provinces. O'Sullivan said he is pleased to hear of the arrests.</p> <p>"I would like to commend all the members of the public who provided information. Canadians take cruelty to animals very seriously and they want to help out as best as they can," he said.</p><hr /></blockquote>Giant Political Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11830225555655192306noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7706385111585110965.post-69041366849715206352009-08-08T10:52:00.002-06:002009-08-08T10:58:46.989-06:00Sure, Blame it on Minimum WageTim Horton's is the latest business to pull the whole "<a tooltip="linkalert-tip" href="http://thespec.com/News/Business/article/614036">minimum wage increases hurt us so much</a>" card.<br /><br /><span id="ctl00_ContentPlaceHolder_article_NavWebPart_Article_ctl00___BodyLineup__" class="articlebody"></span><blockquote><hr /><span id="ctl00_ContentPlaceHolder_article_NavWebPart_Article_ctl00___BodyLineup__" class="articlebody">Don Schroeder said yesterday price increases could be implemented in certain regions to offset cost pressures from both higher food prices and rising minimum wages.</span><hr /></blockquote>Yep, that increase in the minimum wage must have really affected the bottom line of the company, right? They must be losing money hand over fist, right?<br /><br /><span id="ctl00_ContentPlaceHolder_article_NavWebPart_Article_ctl00___BodyLineup__" class="articlebody"></span><blockquote><span id="ctl00_ContentPlaceHolder_article_NavWebPart_Article_ctl00___BodyLineup__" class="articlebody"><hr />Yesterday, Hortons reported its net earnings rose to $77.8 million, or 43 cents per share, for the quarter ended June 28. That's an increase from $75 million, or 41 cents per share, a year earlier.<br />...<br /></span><span id="ctl00_ContentPlaceHolder_article_NavWebPart_Article_ctl00___BodyLineup__" class="articlebody">Growth was more modest in Canada at 1.7 per cent, as the company faced a variety of challenges including the economic slowdown </span><hr /></blockquote><span id="ctl00_ContentPlaceHolder_article_NavWebPart_Article_ctl00___BodyLineup__" class="articlebody"><br />So you grew by 1.7% during the worst recession in decades and your profits were a measly $80 million? Wow, those provinces that have the nerve to insist you pay your staff dollars per hour should be ashamed of themselves!<br /></span><span id="ctl00_ContentPlaceHolder_article_NavWebPart_Article_ctl00___BodyLineup__" class="articlebody"><br /></span>Giant Political Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11830225555655192306noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7706385111585110965.post-70024774981834471272009-08-07T01:25:00.005-06:002009-08-07T11:27:04.146-06:00Saskatchewan Isotope Reactor SchizophreniaRichard Florizone is the vice-president of finance at the University of Saskatchewan and is heavily involved in the nuclear file. <a tooltip="linkalert-tip" href="http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/saskatchewan-leads-western-charge-forsolutiontoisotopeshortage/article1241355/">He thinks we should get an isotope reactor</a>.<br /><br /><blockquote><hr /><div style="text-align: justify;">The accelerators offer a good solution that could come online faster and for less cost, but they don't have the volume,” said Richard Florizone, a nuclear physicist and vice-president of finance at the University of Saskatchewan, which will partner with the province on the reactor. “Together they would offer a diversified supply, so that if one facility went down, you would have others that could back it up.” </div><p style="text-align: justify;">The Saskatchewan bid is already one of the early favourites. It promises a low-enriched uranium research reactor capable of half the isotope volume of the Chalk River facility for between $500-million and $750-million. </p><hr /></blockquote><p></p><br />Sounds good, except the government's Uranium Development Partnership says this:<br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><blockquote><hr /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Key Recommendation NN:</span> "The economics of a standalone isotope reactor are not attractive." (Page 97 of the <a tooltip="linkalert-tip" href="http://www.gov.sk.ca/adx/aspx/adxGetMedia.aspx?mediaId=767&PN=Shared">UDP Final Report</a>). <span style="font-style: italic;"></span><hr /></blockquote></div>In other words one of the key recommendation of the UDP report is that a isotope reactor is not a good idea.<span style="font-style: italic;"> </span>But really, what does this UDP working group know anyway? It was chaired by some crackpot named Richard Florizone, who is a nuclear physicist and vice-president of finance at the University of Saskatchewan.<br /><br />Heh.<br /><br />(I'm back.)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Update: </span>The Jurist has some <a tooltip="linkalert-tip" href="http://accidentaldeliberations.blogspot.com/2009/08/on-impact-assessments.html">good numbers</a> that point out the lunacy of this whole argument.Giant Political Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11830225555655192306noreply@blogger.com