I've not blogged for several months, given the distractions of moving, settling in, and certain other challenging issues, but I cannot resist responding to the following comment by John Ibbitson, who writes about the infighting occurring within the Opposition parties: And then there are the Liberal MPs who question the wisdom of the proposal to open up every riding to nomination contests. Once …
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This gorgeous, sleek machine makes me drool. I once saw a stealth fighter up close. Gawd, that's one sexy damn thing! The F-35 comes with a hefty, apparently morphing and not-to-be-disclosed, price. And 60 of these things have been ordered, without an open and fair bidding process, by the Government of Harper; the latter not to be confused with the Government of Canada, although it freely …
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This gorgeous, sleek machine makes me drool. I once saw a stealth fighter up close. Gawd, that's one sexy damn thing! The F-35 comes with a hefty, apparently morphing and not-to-be-disclosed, price. And 60 of these things have been ordered, without an open and fair bidding process, by the Government of Harper; the latter not to be confused with the Government of Canada, although it freely a... …
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On this blog, I've lambasted Jack Layton, Michael Ignatieff, Stephen Harper, Elizabeth May... The only leader of a Canadian federal party I haven't targeted with slings and arrows is Gilles Duceppe and that's only because his party isn't a national one. Some would say I've been particularly hard on Layton. Until Ignatieff came onto the Canadian political scene, they were likely correct. I went …
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On this blog, I've lambasted Jack Layton, Michael Ignatieff, Stephen Harper, Elizabeth May... The only leader of a Canadian federal party I haven't targeted with slings and arrows is Gilles Duceppe and that's only because his party isn't a national one. Some would say I've been particularly hard on Layton. Until Ignatieff came onto the Canadian political scene, they were likely correct. I went... …
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From La Presse: Portant les couleurs conservatrices dans Nanaimo-Cowichan, John Koury a dit qu'il ne voulait pas prendre part à un débat où la députée et candidate néo-démocrate Jean Crowder amènerait ses partisans. «Je pense qu'il est plus utile de passer mon temps à rencontrer les gens dans leur porte d'entrée de leur maison», a-t-il dit. Throughout the country, Conservatives are failing to …
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From La Presse: Portant les couleurs conservatrices dans Nanaimo-Cowichan, John Koury a dit qu'il ne voulait pas prendre part à un débat où la députée et candidate néo-démocrate Jean Crowder amènerait ses partisans. «Je pense qu'il est plus utile de passer mon temps à rencontrer les gens dans leur porte d'entrée de leur maison», a-t-il dit. Throughout the country, Conservatives are... …
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Just picked up from fellow local blogger Richard Hughes... Nanaimo-Cowichan Conservative candidate John Koury is listed as the "Public Interest Director and Secretary" on the Board of the Canadian Society of Immigration Consultants (CSIC). Meanwhile, on April 5th, CSIC issued a news release with the following headline: Canadian Society of Immigration Consultants sues Federal government to …
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Do you get paper delivery each morning? Read the national, provincial or local headlines from newspapers at work? Catch up on the news from papers left at Tim Hortons? Do you instead get your news from the airwaves, via radio? From TV? Or online, from traditional or alternative news magazine and newspaper sites? Regardless of where you get your news, its delivery begins with the journalist or …
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Do you get paper delivery each morning? Read the national, provincial or local headlines from newspapers at work? Catch up on the news from papers left at Tim Hortons? Do you instead get your news from the airwaves, via radio? From TV? Or online, from traditional or alternative news magazine and newspaper sites? Regardless of where you get your news, its delivery begins with the journalist or... …
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Over the past three months, I've written extensively about the BC Liberal leadership race and made public my struggles to make the right choices. First, I wondered if I should join the BC Liberal Party. No other way existed to vote so directly for British Columbia's 35th premier. Therefore, I decided, Yes, go for it - and signed up for membership on February 2nd. It felt very strange. Not once …
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Over the past three months, I've written extensively about the BC Liberal leadership race and made public my struggles to make the right choices. First, I wondered if I should join the BC Liberal Party. No other way existed to vote so directly for British Columbia's 35th premier. Therefore, I decided, Yes, go for it - and signed up for membership on February 2nd. It felt very strange. Not onc... …
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VOTED! As a spanking new member of the BC Liberal Party, I have just voted for the party's next leader and this province's 35th Premier. It came down to a matter of choosing among flavours of vanilla, but ultimately the choices were clear given the candidates' proposed policies. Here's how I voted: 1-George Abbott 2-Mike de Jong 3-Kevin Falcon 4-Christy Clark Lots of people were bowled over …
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VOTED! As a spanking new member of the BC Liberal Party, I have just voted for the party's next leader and this province's 35th Premier. It came down to a matter of choosing among flavours of vanilla, but ultimately the choices were clear given the candidates' proposed policies. Here's how I voted: 1-George Abbott 2-Mike de Jong 3-Kevin Falcon 4-Christy Clark Lots of people were bowled over... …
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The three top issues guiding my decision remain as they have been throughout: Democratic reform. Support for greater independence and return of powers to local governments.    We work, play, live and die in communities. Local elected officials are the closest to the people and best positioned to identify their communities' unique strengths and needs, and to provide the best solutions. …
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The three top issues guiding my decision remain as they have been throughout: Democratic reform. Support for greater independence and return of powers to local governments.    We work, play, live and die in communities. Local elected officials are the closest to the people and best positioned to identify their communities' unique strengths and needs, and to provide the best so... …
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The headline of the Globe and Mail article asks the question, Why Not a Metered Internet? The argument that follows defends the big telecoms in terms of market forces: for example, the cost of infrastructure building. Here's a different answer to the question: with a metered Internet we would have another case of them that haves and them that don't. We already have a growing economic …
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The headline of the Globe and Mail article asks the question, Why Not a Metered Internet? The argument that follows defends the big telecoms in terms of market forces: for example, the cost of infrastructure building. Here's a different answer to the question: with a metered Internet we would have another case of them that haves and them that don't. We already have a growing economic inequal... …
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Am glad the CRTC has been ordered to review (read: 'reverse') its decision on usage-based Internet billing. But I won't be happy until the CRTC has gone the way of the dinosaurs, just like the dinosaurs its morphed mandate has been so busy protecting. That aside, I wanted to share this great letter I received from my MP, NDP Jean Crowder, written in response to my terse email regarding the …
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Am glad the CRTC has been ordered to review (read: 'reverse') its decision on usage-based Internet billing. But I won't be happy until the CRTC has gone the way of the dinosaurs, just like the dinosaurs its morphed mandate has been so busy protecting. That aside, I wanted to share this great letter I received from my MP, NDP Jean Crowder, written in response to my terse email regarding the CRT... …
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Non profits throughout British Columbia rely on the province's Community Gaming Grants program for their funding. For many, it's their sole source of desperately needed dollars. The important work that these non profits do toward addressing social needs in their communities cannot be overstated. They deliver far more for the tax dollars they receive than do the majority of government agencies.* …
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Non profits throughout British Columbia rely on the province's Community Gaming Grants program for their funding. For many, it's their sole source of desperately needed dollars. The important work that these non profits do toward addressing social needs in their communities cannot be overstated. They deliver far more for the tax dollars they receive than do the majority of government agencies.... …
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You may have missed the news hidden in an ETA at the bottom of my post on the BC Liberal Party's weighted vote proposal. I suppose it deserves a post of its own: ... drum roll please ... I. Am. Now ... a Liberal. A BC Liberal, of the BC Liberal Party. Eeeekkkk! Unlike with a BC NDP membership, which automatically and without choice to opt out, makes one a member of the federal NDP, …
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You may have missed the news hidden in an ETA at the bottom of my post on the BC Liberal Party's weighted vote proposal. I suppose it deserves a post of its own: ... drum roll please ... I. Am. Now ... a Liberal. A BC Liberal, of the BC Liberal Party. Eeeekkkk! Unlike with a BC NDP membership, which automatically and without choice to opt out, makes one a member of the federal NDP, membe... …
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The BC Liberal Party on February 12th will decide whether to adopt the weighted vote or to retain the current one-member-one-vote policy. It will take a two-thirds majority for the motion on the weighted vote to pass. Weighting votes, goes the reasoning, would be more inclusive of less populated regions and smaller constituency associations. As the situation currently stands, in terms of vote …
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The BC Liberal Party on February 12th will decide whether to adopt the weighted vote or to retain the current one-member-one-vote policy. It will take a two-thirds majority for the motion on the weighted vote to pass. Weighting votes, goes the reasoning, would be more inclusive of less populated regions and smaller constituency associations. As the situation currently stands, in terms of vote... …
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At one time, I worried that BC Liberal leadership candidate George Abbott's conciliatory positioning might impede a government lead by him from getting much done. The concern centred around a seeming lack of both opportunities for decision- and policy-making, and of timelines with respect to such policy creation and policy outcomes. I've begun to change my mind. First was Abbott's early …
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At one time, I worried that BC Liberal leadership candidate George Abbott's conciliatory positioning might impede a government lead by him from getting much done. The concern centred around a seeming lack of both opportunities for decision- and policy-making, and of timelines with respect to such policy creation and policy outcomes. I've begun to change my mind. First was Abbott's early propo... …
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A dear friend who died just over a year ago spent her last decade, all the while coping through severe illness, trying to get community groups and non-profits recognized by governments for the beyond-their-weight work that they do for communities. Ronnie Phipps would have been thrilled to see a leadership candidate make a proposal such as this. Christy Clark: "If elected premier, I want to hold …
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A dear friend who died just over a year ago spent her last decade, all the while coping through severe illness, trying to get community groups and non-profits recognized by governments for the beyond-their-weight work that they do for communities. Ronnie Phipps would have been thrilled to see a leadership candidate make a proposal such as this. Christy Clark: "If elected premier, I want to hol... …
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Finally! More, though not all expected, contenders for leadership of the BC NDP have entered the race. Adrian Dix isn't expected to do so until next week. That is past the due date (January 17th) for new members whose votes can affect the leadership race. That January 17th deadline irks me to no end. It has affected my decision with respect to which of the two parties I will sign up for …
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Finally! More, though not all expected, contenders for leadership of the BC NDP have entered the race. Adrian Dix isn't expected to do so until next week. That is past the due date (January 17th) for new members whose votes can affect the leadership race. That January 17th deadline irks me to no end. It has affected my decision with respect to which of the two parties I will sign up for mem... …
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The issue of corporate taxes comes down to a single straightforward principle for me: Remove person status from corporations; then, and only then can you, and should you, remove corporate taxes. If you do not remove corporate person status, then corporations can pay income tax like the rest of we persons. Some people argue against corporate taxes on the basis that shareholders already pay …
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The issue of corporate taxes comes down to a single straightforward principle for me: Remove person status from corporations; then, and only then can you, and should you, remove corporate taxes. If you do not remove corporate person status, then corporations can pay income tax like the rest of we persons. Some people argue against corporate taxes on the basis that shareholders already pay in... …
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Just like I said last time, the per-vote subsidy will be in Harper's next election platform - and likely in the upcoming budget. See around the 10-minute mark. …
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Just like I said last time, the per-vote subsidy will be in Harper's next election platform - and likely in the upcoming budget. See around the 10-minute mark. …
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Well, not quite anyone. If you've not a patch of land or a balcony or suitable space indoors for growing pots (not to mention the required additional equipment), then you're out of luck. But otherwise, yea, anyone can grow shit themselves, as Ms Broke-Ass Grouch makes so eloquently clear in this fantastic article. Here's a snippet: Listen up, locavores, opportunivores, dumpster-diving …
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Well, not quite anyone. If you've not a patch of land or a balcony or suitable space indoors for growing pots (not to mention the required additional equipment), then you're out of luck. But otherwise, yea, anyone can grow shit themselves, as Ms Broke-Ass Grouch makes so eloquently clear in this fantastic article. Here's a snippet: Listen up, locavores, opportunivores, dumpster-diving ferme... …
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