Child Poverty Forgotten But Not Gone

What was supposed to be a temporary expansion of the depression era soup kitchens, the Food Bank, instituted when the economy collapsed after the Wall Street crash of 1987 and the decline in oil prices is now a permanent fixture in the social economy. Almost half those using it are children. Say wasn't there a red book promise about ending child poverty in Canada back in the 1993?

Winter will be hard, food-bank report warns

Canadian unemployment is dropping, but total food-bank use in March 2005 – the month the dry-goods charity suppliers do their annual count – fell just one-tenth of one per cent from 2004's record high, the HungerCount report said. However, use is still up 24 per cent from 1997 and 118 per cent from 1989. The report says 823,856 Canadians, including more than 300,000 children, visited food banks in March, the report says.

Ok You Are An Anarchist

Editor's File When politicians come a-waffling
By Leo Valiquette, Ottawa Business Journal Staff
Wed, Nov 23, 2005 4:00 PM EST

How low would voter turnout have to be in a federal election for it to be sheer absurdity to declare anyone a winner?

I would say if less than half of the electorate turned out to cast a ballot. The problem is, even if the majority of Canadians abstained from voting, the results of the election would still be valid.

It's a shame really, for I think a minimum voter turnout in a federal election would provide Canadians with an unprecedented avenue through which to express their discontent. If too few votes are cast, the election is null and void. The previous government remains dissolved and no party can form a new one until another round at the polling stations yields that minimum voter turnout.

Call me an anarchist, if you will, but a little anarchy appears to be what we need right now to provoke someone to take definitive action.

Ok you are an anarchist, or at least a Marxist, Grucho Marxist.

SUN Newspapers Boycott Federal Election

Politcal fans like sports fans are dedicated, addicted, you need your political fix especially during elections. Well you won't find it in the pages of the SUN newspaper chain in this upcoming federal election. Whooa what's that you say the veritable mouth piece of the right wing won't be following the various party leaders in the upcoming election. Nope. Probably too busy covering Santa Claus and his record trip around the world. Using CP to do their election coverage must be the ultimate in outsourcing. So what are they gonna do with Greg Weston? Maybe he will start doing a column on ice fishing tips.

Embassy, November 23rd, 2005
FEATURE
By Sean Durkan

Sun Media Won't Follow Leaders This Election

I can't imagine this happening in the U.S. or Britain or any other democratic nation for that matter. Canada's second largest newspaper chain ­ Sun Media ­ will not be unleashing its political reporters on the party leaders in the looming federal election.

The edict came down last week from the chain's owners Quebecor Media: For the first time in the Sun's history, the chain's Hill bureau team will not be traveling on the leaders' planes. In fact, this is probably the first time that a major news outlet will not have a presence on these planes.

In order to save money, Quebecor Media is going to leave it to Canadian Press to provide the news from the tour to the papers' readers.

This is good news for Prime Minister Paul Martin, given that the Suns are the staunchest critics of his Liberal government and provide a major voice for Conservative minded Canadians. I wonder if former Tory Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, who is Quebecor's chairman, knows about this.

Grewal Speaks

Oh my gawd she actually said something. Nina Grewal, the silent partner in the Conservative husband and wife duo of Grewal and Grewal, actually spoke up in the house today and asked a question. For the record this is not thefirst time since she was elected she actually spoke in the house. But she usually was overshadowed by her flamboynt and goofy husband Gurmant.

Nina Grewal was first elected to the House of Commons in 2004 for the new riding of Fleetwood-Port Kells. She and her husband, Gurmant, became the first spouses to simultaneously hold elected seats in Parliament

Yep folks an election is on the way. Cause Nina said something in order to get her name written into Hansard. Just to show here constiuents she is still in the house.

Gun Violence
Question Period
	11/23/2005
Mr Speaker, record numbers of murders are happening on the streets of BC's lower mainland. Already 34 people have been killed in gun violence this year. Two more were murdered this week. Gun violence is not just a Toronto problem – it’s a Canadian problem. While the Prime Minister is holding summits and committing millions of dollars to combat gun crimes in Toronto, British Columbians have had to set-up community groups to tackle gun violence. Mr. Speaker when will the Prime Minister scrap the useless gun registry and start investing in more police for our streets?

Soothesayer Ralph

Election will bring another Grit minority: Klein

When Klein was asked by a reporter whether he would put money on a minority Liberal government if he were a betting man, Klein replied: "Unfortunately, if I were a betting man, I would. But I wouldn't want to see that outcome." Ha, ha, ho, ho, hee, hee, that's rich, Ralph claiming not to be a betting man, yet when he was off in Quebec city yesterday, reporters left him after his speech playing the slots. But his prodigitation is correct the Liberals will get in by the skin of their teeth, and the hair on their chinny chin chin.
Yep Ralph's a betting man and thats why we have a gambling problem in Alberta, just like our Premier.
Alberta must monitor casino growth: professor
As much as 35 per cent of gambling revenue comes from problem gamblers, said Williams.

Post Traumatic Strike Syndrome

Here is an interesting after effect of the nasty, cruel and totally unneccasary strike at Tysons Lakeside Packing Plant. The Klein Reich threw up their hands and said there was nothing the government could do. The bosses forced the strike, and drew a line in the sand relying on callow racism to divide the workers in the plant between the good ol white boys from Brooks, Alberta from the African Immigrant workers Tyson brought in to fill the jobs in the plant. As usual workers don't want to strike but want a fair deal. The boss doesn't want to deal so the workers are forced to strike. In this case it got very ugly on the picket lines. And the result is a new psychological condidtion the Post Traumatic Strike Syndrome. Now the government which refused to act in the best interests of the workers and thus the taxpayers, will now have to pay for the psychological stress their inaction created.

Lakeside workers fail to return to jobs
Last updated Nov 22 2005 10:25 AM MST
CBC News
Community workers in Brooks are trying to spread the word that it's safe to return to work at Lakeside Packers now that a bitter strike has ended. Hundreds of employees left town to find other work when the strike started in early October and have not returned. Employees ratified a new deal on Nov. 4 after three weeks of acrimony and violence that saw hundreds of workers cross picket lines. Some workers still living in Brooks can't bring themselves to go back because they can't stand to have more conflict in their lives, says one community worker. Doreen Medway, who runs a counselling service called the Global Friendship Immigration Centre, says many of the employees - who are immigrants from Africa - suffer from post traumatic stress disorder. "Like they haven't left behind the conflict from their country. It's still new to them. Violent behavior was part of their life where they came from," said Medway. "One client, he had a very good job and he has not been going to work. He doesn't want to pick who he should say hello to and who he shouldn't say hello to out there," said Medway. "He just doesn't want to be involved in any of it." Gary Mikelson, a spokesperson for Tyson Foods, says the company doesn't know how many people failed to return to their jobs. James Mutaga, an African immigrant working at the plant, says each conveyor line needs more workers. "Every single line is missing more than five people, so hundreds and hundreds of employees," said Mutaga. While Tyson looks for workers, African community groups in Brooks are holding seminars, trying to get people to spread the word that the conflict at Lakeside is over, and it's safe to return to work.

Never Say Never, say Homophobes

Opponents unite to fight gay marriage
Ontario MP Pat O'Brien - who resigned as a Liberal this year over the legalization of gay marriage - announced Tuesday that he has founded Defend Marriage Canada with a Conservative ally. He and ex-Tory MP Grant Hill say the group will raise money, publish letters, and lobby voters to elect candidates who oppose same-sex marriage.

Here is the the indefeatable optimism of the reactionary right wing and its stupid belief that marriage is a sacred institution rather than a property relationship. Once again those defeated last spring when Canada accepted same sex marriage want to make it an issue in the upcoming election. Along with their fundamentalist allies of various monthiestic faiths, though predominately the evangelical fundamentalist christian sects, who have attempted to take over the Conservative party with anti-gay candidates, these guys just don't give up, nor do they get it. Its the law stupid nothing you can do can change that.

"This is very rigidly a non-partisan campaign," said O'Brien, who now sits as an Independent MP and is not running for re-election

Rigid is right, now clear that thought out of your mind thats not what I meant. Rigid as in implaccable, dogmatic, conservative. And just how non partisan is this lobby campaign?

"But I can't help but take a moment and commend the leader of the Opposition - Mr. Harper - for indicating his openness to having a true free vote."

Hill added adamantly that Defend Marriage Canada will not work for any particular party. He also said the group plans to run a positive campaign.

"We won't be campaigning against anyone. We'll in fact be campaigning for individuals (who oppose same-sex marriage).

A campaign to deny human and civil rights to a minority group because of your religious intolerance is defined as 'positive'. Yep Orwell would be proud.

Give it up the law is the law, this is a non-issue, even in the tiny dinosaur brain of King Ralph. And speaking of dionsaurs that is exactly what Grant Hill is.

Hill, an Alberta MP who was the interim leader of the new Conservative party, retired from politics before the 2004 election.

He has returned to practising medicine. He made news recently when he reiterated his belief that homosexuals spread disease.

Hill has also stated his belief that homosexuals allow themselves to be gay and could choose to stop their behaviour.

Indian Summer in Edmonton

We have been having a true Indian Summer for the first time in years here in Edmonton. Records have been broken for high tempratures and not a snowflake in sight. In fact yesterday was a record breaker hitting 19 degrees Centigrade, on Nov. 22 sheesh.....

Yesterday

Max Temp.

18.8 °C

Min Temp.

4.3 °C

Precip Total

0.0 mm

Regional Normals

Max Temp.

-4 °C

Min Temp.

-13 °C

Record Values

In fact November has been warmer overall than July was. On Sunday folks were wearing shorts, sandals and sleeveless shirts...others still bundle up like its winter, hard to get used to feeling like its May instead....

Now I love this but the niggly little bugger in the back of my mind says 'global warming' sucker. Go away I say, and let me enjoy it while it lasts.....which looks like it will end on the weekend.....damn

5 Day Forecast from Environment Canada

Wednesday

• High 13 °C

Sunny

Wednesday night

• Low 5 °C

Clear

Thursday

• High 10 °C

Sunny

Friday

• High 9 °C
• Low -4 °C

Sunny

Saturday

• High -1 °C
• Low -6 °C

Sunny

Sunday

• High -2 °C
• Low -13 °C

Sunny

Averages and Extremes for: November 23, 2005

Averages and Extremes		Year
Average Maximum Temperature	-2.40°C
Average Minimum Temperature	-10.20°C
Frequency of Precipitation	30%
Highest Temperature (1937-2004)	13.30°C	1956
Lowest Temperature (1937-2004)	-28.90°C	1950
Greatest Precipitation (1937-2004)	16.80mm	1990
Greatest Rainfall (1937-2004)	2.30mm	1967
Greatest Snowfall (1937-2004)	17cm	1990
Most Snow on the Ground (1955-2004)	30cm	1996

N/A = Not available

Alberta Cowboys Hijack Health Care

'Unsustainable' health-care system has to head federal election agenda: Klein

Yep and its the issue the NDP can run on since the Liberals have failed to protect us from privatization, and the Harper doesn't have so much as a hidden agenda on this but a silent one...he is letting Klein take the flack while remaining silent on what the Conservatives will do to protect health care from privatization....well shucks partner he will leave it up to the provinces of course....

Klein, Harper discuss private health care

Alberta Premier Ralph Klein may be following Quebec's lead in finding a solution to his province's health care woes, saying his government has hired a firm to examine whether insurance agencies would be willing to offer insurance for non-essential medical services.

“We're at point right now where we've hired a firm, a controversial firm undoubtedly, to do an assessment of whether people — as to whether there would be an insurance agency willing to accommodate people who wish to buy insurance for non-essential non-emergency services. That's where we are right now," Mr. Klein said.

Even before Mr. Klein flew out of Alberta, his scheduled three-day speaking tour raised the hackles of nervous provincial opposition politicians.

Alberta New Democrat leader Brian Mason has said the outspoken Premier's trip was like "putting a rodeo clown into a bull ring.

Be afraid, very afraid Canada, the agenda is clear, the right wing provincial governments in Alberta, Quebec and B.C. are pushing to privatize health care, and the Federal Liberals lack the backbone of Trudeau to get them in line.

And the Harper Conservatives will do nothing to halt the slide towards private medical insurance if they are elected. Harper doesn't have to have a hidden agenda over health care, he merely has to be like the Liberals, and fail to change the Canada Health Act to halt the provinces privatization putsch that King Klein calls the 'Third Way'.

These guys maybe clowning around but when it comes to public health care they are serious about dismantaling our system in favour of their corporate masters.

And in a coy move today King Klown Klein says he ain't the only one pushing the privatization putsch in Canada. No siree he has company.

Alberta not only health-care 'bogeyman': Klein

Quebec and B.C. have more private health care than Alberta, Premier Ralph Klein said Tuesday, underlining his view that it's unfair to paint him the "bogeyman" of health-care reform."You know, it's not unique to Alberta," Klein told an audience in Quebec City. "B.C.'s been doing the third way for some time, actually some doctors have been practising the third way or other ways for some time here in Quebec."

Yep thats the Three Amigos of Private Health Care in Canada, Charest, Campbell and Klein, with little Stephen Harper running around begging them not to say 'boo' until after the election. To late the biggest 'boo'gey man of the crew is out and about letting the cat out of the bag. And guess what its a popular message with corporate Canada.....surprize, surprize.....Alberta Premier gets standing ovations from business audience in Quebec

Simon Jean, who attended the lunch-hour address, said Quebec politicians are reluctant to talk about health care, because "they all know that it would be a good thing to put more in the private sector, in the health care industry, but they don't want to say it because they feel it's such a risk."

Our Ralph wows 'em in Quebec

Klein didn't go into detail in his speech about his plans for Alberta, but he told reporters afterward that he wants the federal government to give provinces the flexibility "to do what they deem the right thing to do."

And he said he wasn't concerned about the perception that his reforms might violate the Canada Health Act.

"We finally put in place a dispute resolution mechanism to make the determination as to whether a province is in fact violating the act, so let's put it to the test," he said.

Chamber president Pierre Dolbec, who wore a white Stetson while introducing Klein, applauded the premier for his courage.

Nationalize the Auto Industry

Ottawa taking brakes off auto lures
Ottawa plans to dangle hundreds of millions of dollars in front of car makers in a fresh bid to lure new plants, despite General Motors Corp.'s announcement -- just months after accepting a $435-million government package -- that it will eliminate thousands of jobs.

Sources say an aggressive push for new plants will be the cornerstone of the government's auto strategy that is expected to be announced in the next two weeks.

After about a decade of eschewing financial incentives for auto makers, the federal government began relaxing its approach a few years ago and has now decided monetary lures are a necessary evil.

Yep they did the same thing in the 1980's with the economic downturn when they bailed out the Big Three Auto Makers. And what do we get for this investment? Well GM takes its federal handout and lays off workers. Honda and Toyota take their handouts, and refuse to be unionized.

If you want a real auto strategy for Canada lets nationalize all of the industry, including the Stronachs non union Magna Corp, and put them under worker and community control. And while we are at it lets do the same for the steel industry which is getting bailed out by Ontario taxpayers.

Then we would have something to show for it.