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--We begin with a great moment in Canadian politics Adam Giambrone apologizes for 'inappropriate' contact with woman She told the Star Giambrone had told her his live-in partner of many years – who's been at his side for public events during his fledgling mayoral bid – is there for "political" reasons. "You know I will be announcing I have a partner," Giambrone, 32, wrote in a text message to Lucas Dec. 27. "It is someone named Sarah (McQuarrie), who I've been involved with in the past. It is important for the campaign." --What Le Devoir is reporting in its line story Censorship: Paradis at the centre of an investigation The acting Information Commissioner, Suzanne Legault, has opened an investigation into the interference with an information access request by the office of Christian Paradis. According to our sources, the investigation is being given the highest priority. --We follow with a great Olympic moment IOC won't have to bailout VANOC, Rogge says VANOC officials seemed caught off guard by Mr. Rogge's remarks, however, and appeared less sanguine about his rosy prediction of a balanced budget without the IOC needing to pitch in. --What the Globe is reporting on Haiti Canadian sailors get to work on Haiti's ruined shores Makeshift clinic has its own emergency --What the W Post is reporting Haiti earthquake relief efforts are still falling short --We bring you a sad DND moment Respected colonel charged with murder of two women Williams on track for military's upper echelon --The column I wish I’d written Prime minister meets with business leaders, Alberta caucus in Calgary --What’s shaking in Ottawa Western Canada to suffer from isotope shortage The opposition Liberals plan to hold informal hearings on Parliament Hill today about the isotope situation. MLS challenge could change the way houses are sold Tories' hard line on criticism of Israel could spark backlash, MP says Tories mull purchasing Ambassador Bridge Canadians prefer elected Senate to status quo or abolition: poll --What’s shaking provincially First Nations University set to close after losing federal funding Tories feel heat as MLAs go back to work Estimates of Olympic protests increase as Vancouver Games approach Ontario government to launch $1.6M ad campaign on tax changes, including HST MLAs to soon account for every penny --A great distinct society moment --What the W Post is reporting on climate change U.S. proposes new climate service The Obama administration proposed a new climate service on Monday that would provide Americans with predictions on how global warming will affect everything from drought to sea levels. Flaws have surfaced recently in some of the 2007 projections of the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, including one that suggested that Himalayan glaciers would all melt by 2035. This has led some critics to question the value of climate computer models and predictions. Paul Reiter, who heads the insects and infectious disease unit at the Pasteur Institute in Paris, said researchers need to recognize that small changes in the assumptions can produce radically different results, given the complex nature of climate dynamics. ALL OF TODAY’S --What the W Post is reporting on Iran Analysis: Iranian plan will put nation a step closer to having material for bomb Ahmadinejad's expression of renewed interest in the deal undercut the U.S. push for new sanctions at the U.N. Security Council. China seized on his statement to say it demonstrated that there was still time for negotiations before new sanctions. --What the WS Journal is reporting on the good war U.S. Enlists Former Foes to Lead Afghan Army coalition officers say they've come to appreciate that some of these Soviet-style methods suit a force like the ANA, which is three-quarters illiterate. "There are times when they'll bring up an idea, and we'll say, yes, it works," says Canadian Brig. Gen. Paul Wynnyk, who supervises the U.S.-led international coalition's effort to develop Afghanistan's army. "Some of what the Russians did here was pretty good." ALL OF TODAY’S AFGHANISTAN NEWS HERE --What the W Post is reporting on security Obama team debated treating Abdulmutallab as enemy combatant --We leave you with a great sharia moment 12-year-old Saudi girl in divorce battle with 80-year-old husband The case has sparked debate in Saudi Arabia. Some judges and clerics have used the Prophet Muhammad’s marriage to a nine-year-old girl as justification of child marriage. However, in January Sheikh Abdullah al-Manie, a senior Saudi cleric, spoke out in defence of the girl, declaring that the Prophet’s marriage 14 centuries ago could not be used to justify child marriages today. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2010 --We begin with a great moment in Canadian governance Pay market rates for parking, PS told Three out of four major concerns raised by automobile manufacturers about Quebec's tailpipe regulations for new vehicles appear to be justified, says a leading environmental research group. --What The Hill Times is reporting from Ottawa Liberals not ready to defeat Tories in spring Since closing the popularity gap with Prime Minister Stephen Harper's Tories three weeks ago the federal Liberals are stalled in the polls, which party insiders say is dissuading anyone in caucus from gunning for a spring election. "Canadians don't feel comfortable with us yet," one Liberal MP, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told The Hill Times last week. --What else The Hill Times is reporting PMO budget largely stable since 1975 The Prime Minister's Office budget has grown steadily in recent decades, research has revealed, but adjusting for inflation reveals the PMO budgets have remained reasonably constant since the mid 1970s, The Hill Times has learned. And while the numbers speak for themselves, they have sparked a heated debate about the widespread perception that Prime Minister Stephen Harper's PMO exerts greater control than previous PMOs. --A great moment in Canadian journalism All in all, Progressive Conservative PM Brian Mulroney—who had a love of shoes and was known change his shirt multiple times per day—ran the most expensive PMOs since 1975, spending between $8.8-million and almost $12-million per year in inflation adjusted dollars. --What CP is reporting from Ottawa (today’s bouquet) Canadian envoy objected to banning George Galloway --CP also serves up today’s dishonesty --What the Globe is reporting from Ottawa Ottawa refuses to release Globalive decision documents --What the Globe is reporting in its line story Isotope crisis deepens with Dutch reactor shutdown --What a visitor to Canada says in the Globe Ignatieff on Canada’s Olympic chances Q. Which winter sport would you compete in if you were an Olympian? A. To be frank, I wouldn't fancy my chances in any sport. --In yesterday’s NY Times, Iggy served up the idiocy of the day --What one of Iggy’s MPs says Abortion debate could hijack maternal health initiatives, observers say "My fear is that the domestic debate about abortion will hijack the larger and more important issue of saving women's lives and implementing those simple interventions that can be used to save these women's lives," Martin said. "Having access to a full range of contraceptive options is one of the things that are needed to reduce maternal mortality, but there are many others. Simple things will save lives. For example, iron deficiency and anemia in pregnancy kills 80,000 women a year. So for pennies, by giving pregnant women iron tablets, you can save 80,000 women's lives. --What Figaro is reporting on the Olympics Le chef de l’État a longtemps hésité mais la longueur du voyage et un agenda surchargé (il ira à Haïti) l’ont conduit à renoncer à un déplacement à Vancouver où se dérouleront du 12 au 28 février les Jeux olympiques d’hiver. Du coup, Roselyne Bachelot assistera à la cérémonie d’ouverture et séjournera sur place quelques jours. Rama Yade prendra le relais le 25 et restera jusqu’à la fin des épreuves. Toutes les deux auront pour mission de défendre sur place la candidature d’Annecy pour les JO de 2014. Une campagne très disputée puisque la chancelière Angela Merkel devrait être présente --What USATODAY is reporting Olympic security doesn't stop at Canadian border- All private aircraft destined for Vancouver from the United States during the Games will be funneled through one of 16 U.S. "gateway" airports for customs checks prior to landing in Vancouver, says Constable Mandy Edwards, a spokeswoman for Canada's Integrated Security Unit. Normally, aircraft would be able to travel to Vancouver directly and submit to customs and immigration checks there. --What the W Post is reporting on security Anti-terrorism chief rebukes politicians who use cases as talking points Al-Qaeda is a wounded but dangerous enemy --What the NY Times is reporting from across the pond Britain Plans to Cut Flow of Foreign Students The controls appeared to have been drawn up, in part, to meet American pressure for a tougher British approach to combating terrorist threats. While officials from both countries say counterterrorism cooperation has been close, United States officials have warned that Britain, with its large Muslim population and its relatively open borders, is among the countries that are central to American concerns as potential planning grounds for terrorist attacks against the United States. --What The Hill Times is reporting on the good war Afghanistan veterans on disability now 6,000 ALL OF TODAY’S AFGHANISTAN NEWS HERE --We bring you a great moment in Canadian diplomacy Chavez envoy lashes out at Tories In statements made this past Wednesday during a meeting of the Organization of American States, Venezuela's ambassador to the organization, Roy Chaderton Matos, accused the Canadian government of supporting "coup-plotters" and "destabilizers" seeking to upend the South American country. "I am talking of a Canada governed by an ultraright that closed its Parliament for various months to (evade) an investigation over the violation of human rights -- I am talking about torture and assassinations -- by its soldiers in Afghanistan," said Chaderton…. In an interview late Sunday night, Kent condemned the Venezuelan government's comments as "outrageous and unacceptable." "They were offensive for accusing Canadians service personnel of torturing and assassinating prisoners. It's offensive, it's unacceptable, and it is desperation rhetoric and the rhetoric of desperation," Kent said. --What the Toronto Sun is reporting on the striped-pants set --What the Citizen is reporting on climate change Auto makers' tailpipe gripe judged sound Three out of four major concerns raised by automobile manufacturers about Quebec's tailpipe regulations for new vehicles appear to be justified, says a leading environmental research group. ALL OF TODAY’S --What the Globe is reporting on the seal hunt The seal hunt as a matter of morals --What Le Devoir is reporting La sénatrice Hervieux-Payette à la chasse au phoque | Le Devoir La sénatrice libérale Céline Hervieux-Payette, qui s'est illustrée au cours des dernières années par sa défense musclée de la chasse au phoque, passera de la parole aux actes: elle se rendra demain à Iqaluit, au Nunavut, pour un voyage de quelques jours pendant lequel elle accompagnera des chasseurs sur la banquise. --What the Cal Herald is reporting provincially --What the Globe is reporting Ontario loans to cover part of Nortel pensions --What a Globester reports on what’s not my cup of tea Palin and Tea Party mature into a political force (Yakabuski) --What the Post is reporting Palin the mild one at shrill Tea Party (Kay) Such is generally the denouement of all romantic populist movements: The will of the people soon becomes the will of the bickering few. It's something Sarah Palin should think about before hitching her cart to the Tea Party horse. --What the Globe is reporting on the G7 G7 reaffirms commitment to bank reform --What the WS Journal is reporting G-7 Fail to Progress on Financial Regulation Group of Seven financial leaders agreed on the need to continue supporting their economies until financial recovery takes a firmer hold, but they have yet to reach a consensus on how to overhaul regulation of their financial sectors…. --What the Guardian is reporting on the very same meeting G7 close to accord on banks paying for global recession Alistair Darling believes plans for a new global levy or tax on banks could be agreed within 18 months after finance ministers from the G7 industrial nations insisted at the weekend that financial institutions should bear the cost of taxpayers' bailouts. The German finance minister, Wolfgang Schäuble, said at the G7 meeting in Iqaluit, Canada: "It was generally agreed that the banks will have to pay for crisis costs." The Canadian finance minister, Jim Flaherty, said officials agreed that financial institutions should "bear the costs of their contributions to those crises". --The world needs more meetings in Canada? Protesters weren't present at the meeting, perhaps because of the challenge of traveling to Iqaluit, located on isolated Baffin Island and reachable only by air in winter. Police presence also was low-key. Security personnel at the Frobisher Hotel, where some of the delegations were staying, stood guard alongside native Inuit who were selling seal brooches and stone carvings to hotel visitors. Around town, locals put on igloo demonstrations while children played in the snow near G-7 meeting facilities, some of them jumping off 20-foot cliffs into snow drifts. Japanese Finance Minister Naoto Kan delayed his closing news conference Saturday so he and his aides could go dog sledding on frozen Frobisher Bay. --What the Globe is reporting on the housing bubble Ottawa says housing bubble not a concern --A great moment in reporting on Canada’s bubbles As U.S. Struggles, Canada Worries About Housing Bubble Some observers foresee trouble. "It's a mania. It's going to end badly," says Garth Turner, a former cabinet member who just published a book predicting that prices of real estate and other assets will fall. --What the NY Times is reporting on the Prez Obama Plans Bipartisan Summit on Health Care Mr. Obama made the announcement in an interview on CBS during the Super Bowl pre-game show, capitalizing on a vast television audience. He set out a plan that would put Republicans on the spot to offer their own ideas on health care and show whether both sides are willing to work together. --What the W Post is reporting on Iran Iran's president orders production of higher-enriched uranium Ahmadinejad immediately followed his order, broadcast on state television, by saying negotiations with the West over the proposed uranium swap are not over. --President Palin? Ex-Alaska governor Sarah Palin doesn't rule out run for the White House in 2012 Palin said President Obama could improve his reelection chances if he "played the war card" by declaring war on Iran or expressing stronger support for Israel. "There wouldn't be as much passion to make sure that he doesn't serve another four years," Palin said. SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2010 --We begin with a great moment in trans-Atlantic journalism South African president Jacob Zuma apologises over 20th child South African president regrets child out of wedlock (Cal Herald) --We bring you more ‘great’ hed here --Why all Canadians love British Columbians It's bloomin' bananas in Victoria --Speaking of the climate… I thought of killing myself, says climate scandal professor Phil Jones ALL OF TODAY’S --Hey, I thought banks (and eating seal meat) was their focus! Group of 7 Vows to Keep Cash Flowing The European debt crisis, and its spread from Greece to other countries in the euro zone like Portugal, Spain and Italy, were a focus of the two-day talks. --What CP is reporting (here we go!) G7 ministers determined to hold banks responsible for future risky actions - --What else CP is reporting on the confab G7 ministers have no appetite to talk about seals at Iqaluit conference - Iqaluit-based reporter Kent Driscoll drew an uncomfortable silence from the four finance ministers when he asked them if their stay in Iqaluit had taught them a lesson about the importance of seal in the Canadian North. The ministers exchanged glances, lowered their heads, but said nothing. When the painful silence was too much, Canadian Finance Minister Jim Flaherty came to the rescue by pointing out the European Union makes an exception with respect to the indigenous Inuit people. "As you know, we're very proud of Nunavut. Nunavut has been its own jurisdiction for about 10 years now and before that, many, many years of negotiations, which were fruitful. So this is a collaboration in Canada of which we are proud," he said. Driscoll, a reporter for the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network, persisted, noting the exception is for parts used for traditional purposes. "I'm wondering, again, from the European Union ministers, have you seen anything that would lead you to want to open that window a little bit more?" Again, no reaction. Again the pleading stares turned to Flaherty, the host of the event and the person who chose this northern outpost for the G7 meetings. "I think I've been fairly clear," responded Flaherty, more curtly. Flaherty said later that France's finance minister Christine Lagarde thanked him for his timely intervention. --What the NY Times is reporting on our Jim’s pearls of wisdom In a news conference, the finance ministers avoided discussion of the European debt problem. Asked about it, Canada’s finance minister, Jim Flaherty, said: “This is largely a matter to be managed not by the G-7, but by the European Union, which is the way we left it.” --I’ll bet you didn’t know The history man and fatwa girl The internationally celebrated historian and TV presenter Niall Ferguson has broken up with his wife of 16 years after a string of adulterous affairs. The 45-year-old Harvard professor has left former newspaper editor Susan Douglas, with whom he has three children, for his mistress, the Somalian-born feminist Ayaan Hirsi Ali. (more wagers here) --What the Star is reporting on the Cons Tories to hire 'green' adviser --What else is shaking in Canada Layton cancels first public appearance since cancer announcement - N.B. premier shrugs off dissent and will press ahead with sale of power plants - Controversy over asbestos exports continues to dog Quebec premier in India - Manning gives truant Tories a disappointing report card --What the Times is reporting on the Queen and us Queen primed for hung parliament Officials want to ensure there is no risk that uncertainty could lead to a constitutional crisis over the Queen’s powers to accept or refuse a request to dissolve parliament…. The monarch’s role, which has evolved over centuries and has never been fully set out in legislation, is fully understood by few except constitutional experts…. If her powers are exercised correctly, they would have the potential to unblock any post-election logjam. If any mistakes are made, however, there could be indecision which would panic the markets and have dire consequences for the economy. Civil servants have been in talks with the Queen’s advisers to define what she could and could not do if no politician could command a Commons majority.They are understood to be studying precedents in Commonwealth countries where the Queen holds residual powers. In Canada, there was a crisis after the 2008 election when the governor-general, acting on behalf of the Queen, granted a request from Stephen Harper, the prime minister, to suspend parliament. The decision was controversial because Harper feared at the time that if parliament continued to sit he could lose a confidence motion. In Britain, the Queen would usually be expected to stand back from talks by politicians to form a government. She could, however, in theory refuse a request from a sitting prime minister to dissolve parliament and call a snap second election if she thought another party leader might form a viable coalition government. “Ultimately the Queen has a reserve power,” said one source. “At the moment it’s all based on convention. The palace wants it to be as clear as possible that it is for the politicians to sort out negotiations. Only when those negotiations are sorted out would she be brought in.” --What the Star is reporting on the good war Afghanistan: Will gains be lost? ALL OF TODAY’S AFGHANISTAN NEWS HERE --What the NY Times is reporting on dem Dems Obama Tells Democrats He’ll Press Forward on Goals Democrats leapt to their feet when Mr. Obama took the stage, and his 20-minute speech was interrupted several times by applause. But his remarks offered no new strategies for how the administration intends to revive health care overhaul and advance the rest of its agenda. The president said he was not surprised that his approval ratings had fallen from where they were a year ago, when the election and inauguration were fresh in the minds of voters. “Of course people are frustrated, they have every right to be,” he said. --What the W Post is reporting on President Palin With speech before tea party activists, Palin once again steps on political stage During a brief question-and-answer session, when asked about "two words that scare liberals: President Palin," she said nothing, just smiled and looked offstage, where her daughter, Piper, 8, was watching. --What the Telegraph is reporting on the Brit PM Brown ponders April election as Labour narrows poll gap The ICM survey for The Sunday Telegraph sees the Conservative lead narrowing since last month with David Cameron's party down one point on 39 per cent, Labour unchanged on 30 per cent and the Liberal Democrats up two on 20 per cent. If repeated in at the general election there would be a hung parliament, with the Tories around 14 seats short of a majority. It is the first ICM poll to put the party below 40 per cent since last June, when the party lost support in the wake of the MPs' expenses scandal. --Why all Canadians love our mother country French ‘smear’ Britain’s EU chief Baroness Ashton --Why we love our other mother Arch-enemy Dominique de Villepin takes aim at ‘the dwarf’ Nicolas Sarkozy --Why we identify with the Irish Muslim asks court to let in second wife Liam Egan, a member of the Muslim Public Affairs Congress, accused Ireland of discriminating against Muslims in polygamous families. “It is draconian to treat this family differently,” said Egan. “Ireland discriminates against Muslims seeking citizenship by asking them to sign an affidavit. The state should not be interfering in families like this. It is silent on adulterous affairs but the moment you try and do something honourable by bringing a woman into a marriage, even a polygamous marriage, there is an issue.” --Why we reserve a special place in our hearts for Scotland Alex Salmond cancels ‘cash for access’ lunches --The world needs more Canada? Publisher asked to recognise Alexander Graham Bell's Scots roots SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2010 --What the Globe is reporting in its line story Big Six banks urge Ottawa to tighten mortgage rules --What the NY Times is reporting on some banks Debt Crisis in Euro Zone Is Severe Political Test for Bloc --Steve says Layton battling prostate cancer "It's a funny business this," Mr. Harper said at a short news conference in Saskatoon. "You do battle with a guy for many many years but ... you also develop very close relationships with some of your counterparts." "I look forward to doing political battle with him for many years to come." --Iggy says Ignatieff's abortion plan 'pathetic': bishop "I respect the position of other countries but all I can talk for is what Canada ought to do," he said. --What the Star is reporting on Iggy Michael Ignatieff's turn to talk up Canada --Iggy serves up today's idiocy --Why all Canadians love our mother country’s journalism Six-year BAE investigation ends with minor accountancy charges - Times Online It started with allegations of billion-pound bribes, corruption and supplying prostitutes to members of the Saudi Arabian Royal Family, but a six-year investigation into BAE Systems has ended with Europe’s largest defence company pleading guilty to minor accounting offences. BAE admits guilt over corrupt arms deals | World news | The Guardian The arms giant BAE yesterday agreed to pay out almost £300m in penalties, as it finally admitted guilt over its worldwide conduct, in the face of long-running corruption investigations. For 20 years, the firm refused to accept any wrongdoing, despite mounting evidence of alleged bribes and kickbacks, much of it uncovered by the Guardian. --Hey, look who else is claiming parliamentary privilege! You can't prosecute us, MPs facing theft charges claim - UK Politics, UK --What the Post is reporting on the IRB Court slams IRB order for Tamil's release --What the Gaz is reporting Khadr wants $10M in damages from Ottawa --What the Cons are up to in Alberta Federal Tories take control of Calgary West riding board --Say what? Smith tackles Tories at Manning forum Smith said Alberta's democracy is in trouble, partly because people are afraid of speaking out against the governing Tories. She accused the premier's office of spying on her in the legislature rotunda after Thursday's throne speech. --Meanwhile in the distinct society A look into the eviction of non-natives from the Kahnawake reserve Les Blancs expulsés de Kahnawake - Ignatieff est le seul à se mouiller --An idea for Canada’s taxman London moves to buy stolen bank data Britain has approached Germany to buy data stolen from a Swiss bank in an effort to discover details of accounts hidden in the country by potential UK tax evaders. --What the Globe is reporting on a rights agency A rights agency's future in peril Tin-foil hat time if you read the Star What were burglars looking for at Montreal rights agency? --We follow with a great moment in Canadian journalism `Buy America' questions – the star editorial since provincial and municipal procurements are already largely open to American suppliers, it is not at all clear what practical difference the deal will make on this side of the border. One province that could be affected is Ontario, whose green energy and transit expansion plans contain 25 per cent domestic content requirements. But Ontario says these sectors are exempt from the deal, as are hospitals, schools and universities. Transit purchases by the states are also reportedly exempted from the deal, as well as other unnamed sectors in the U.S. But Ottawa would not confirm such details. What the Star is reporting in the very same edition We have secured access to U.S. market, PM says Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty praised the accord. "I really like the sound of this agreement. It's something that all the premiers have been onside with – we've been urging Prime Minister Harper to work through Washington to see if we can open the doors to procurement opportunities for Canadian businesses," McGuinty said Friday. "Even if this does run out shortly with respect to the stimulus funding put forward by the Obama administration, what it does do is open the door permanently beyond that for other infrastructure (spending)," he said. --What Le Devoir is reporting L'entente ne va pas assez loin, selon Charest | Le Devoir «Ça ne va pas aussi loin que nous l'aurions voulu. On comprend que le contexte ne nous permet pas d'aller plus loin, mais c'est mieux que ce que nous avions», a indiqué Jean Charest à New Delhi, alors qu'il poursuit une mission économique en Inde. --What else the Star is reporting Trade deal fails to create a buzz south of border --What the WS Journal is reporting U.S., Canada Reach Preliminary Deal on 'Buy American' Under the deal, countries agreed to permanently give reciprocal treatment in the Canadian territories and provinces and 37 U.S. states covered by the WTO's procurement agreement. Canadian suppliers would receive access to state and local public-works projects in a range of stimulus programs on a temporary basis through September 2011, when the U.S. stimulus funds are set to expire. U.S. suppliers would also get temporary access to a range of construction contracts in some Canadian provinces and municipalities not covered by the WTO pact. The agreement is subject to review in both countries before it can be signed, with a target date of Feb. 16. The two countries also agreed to start talks within a year to explore making some of the temporary procurement deals permanent, according to Canada's statement. They plan to establish a fast-track process to deal with any Buy American provisions in future funding programs, as well. --What the NY Times is reporting on Canada today Op-Ed Columnist - No Holds Barred (COLLINS) Normally, a senator who’s feeling testy will just put a hold on one presidential nomination as Jim Bunning of Kentucky did last year when he stopped action on the confirmation of a deputy U.S. trade representative because he was upset that the Canadian Parliament was considering a bill to ban the sale of cigarettes with candy flavorings. I am not making that up. --What else Le Devoir is reporting on the trade deal Washington ouvre son plan de relance aux Canadiens | Le Devoir M. Brison a aussi fait valoir que le Parlement devrait être «rappelé immédiatement, si cet accord est important». D'accord avec les libéraux sur ce dernier point, le chef du Bloc québécois, Gilles Duceppe, juge par ailleurs leur réaction «banalement partisane», étant donné que personne n'a vu le contenu précis de l'accord. «Trop peu? On ne sait pas. Et trop tard... il ne faut pas se faire d'illusion: il y a un rapport de force [particulier] avec Washington», a-t-il dit en entretien. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2010 --We begin with three great moments in Canadian journalism: 1st What the Star is reporting on a new poll Prime Minister's Senate appointments seen as hypocritical, poll finds 5th graf The survey released Thursday found 67 per cent of Canadians endorse direct elections while 65 per cent favour limiting the terms of appointed senators to eight years. 6th graf Sixty-nine per cent of respondents were in favour of holding a nationwide referendum on the future of the Senate. Hed as released by Angus Reid: Canadians Support Holding Referendum on Senate Reform Two thirds of respondents want citizens to be allowed to directly elect their senators. 2nd What the Globe is reporting on politics and the Olympics Olympics no place for politicians to score points "When the Conservatives have their photo opportunities, the public will be thinking about this gold-plated, taxpayer-funded holiday that allows them to get seats that Canadians can't even purchase," said Liberal MP Joyce Murray of Vancouver. Michael Byers, a professor of political science at the University of British Columbia, said that Conservatives will be ready to deal with success and victories, but will face a challenge if things go awry. 3rd What the Star says editorially a week after the SCC decision PM drops ball in Khadr case – the star Omar Khadr's long imprisonment at Guantanamo Bay in what our Supreme Court has called an "illegal process" is not some obscure lawyerly technicality. It offends core Canadian values, discredits American justice and is an international disgrace. And just what does Prime Minister Stephen Harper propose to do about it? Well, nothing. --What the Globe is reporting on the G7 economies Divided G7 brings competing visions to the Arctic --What the NY Times is reporting on its front page Sovereign Debt Worries Send Wall Street Lower “The question now is, how big is this fire going to be?” said Uri D. Landesman, head of global growth at ING. “What is panic, and what is legitimate? We don’t know at this point.” Europe has been slow to exit recession. France and Germany — the biggest of the 16 countries that use the euro as their currency — have tried to put their financial houses back in order quickly. But countries on the fringe, including Greece, Portugal, Spain and Ireland, are having trouble paying for years of debt-driven expansion. Now the bill is coming due. In the worst case, they could default on their debts, prolonging the economic downturn. --What the Post is reporting on the Canadian economy --What the WSJ is reporting on protectionism China Hauls EU to WTO Over Shoe Tariffs - China filed a complaint against European Union shoe tariffs at the World Trade Organization on Thursday, as Beijing continued its legal assault on what it says is unfair Western protectionism…. China is now the leading target for protectionist measures, according to Global Trade Alert, an independent monitor. --What else the Globe is reporting on the G7 Flaherty's G7 gamble in the land of the seal --Say what? We’re harmonizing with those damn Yanks? Canadian companies poised to win exemption from Buy American --What CP is reporting on the Mounties RCMP won't be investigating its own --What the Globe is reporting on environmentally-friendly Québec Quebec physicians urge Charest to call for end to silence on asbestos --What the Gaz is reporting Quebec would be greener if independent: PQ chief --What Le Devoir is reporting La Convention sur la biodiversité souhaite que le Canada donne l'exemple ALL OF TODAY’S --What else the Globe reports on the Québécois nation (a great moment) Quebec's Lieutenant-Governor gets stamp of disapproval --What Le Devoir is reporting --What else the Gaz is reporting --Why all Canadians, with few exceptions, love BC Province to unveil new rules for MLAs going to the Games Environmental crusader rides scooter with torch --What the Globe is reporting from back east Stelmach promises to beat back deficit --What the Cal Herald is reporting Ex-cabinet minister ponders jumping to Wildrose Alliance --What the Star is reporting from QP McGuinty rejects call to reduce blended tax- --What CP is reporting from Afstan Making a difference for girls in Kandahar ALL OF TODAY’S AFGHANISTAN NEWS HERE --What the W Post is reporting on China China could block sanctions against Iran "To talk about sanctions at the moment will complicate the situation and might stand in the way of finding a diplomatic solution," Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said at a conference in Paris. --What the Yanks are reporting on the Mideast Bit of a Stir as Clinton Strays From Script on Mideast Peace Israeli Minister Adds Heat to Exchange With Syria --Say what? Obama criticised for addressing 'secretive' Christian group's prayer breakfast Barack Obama has drawn stinging criticism for addressing an annual National Prayer Breakfast today organised by a Christian evangelical group whose members include the Ugandan politician behind legislation to execute gay people. Obama spurned calls from ethics and gay rights groups to boycott the event run by the Fellowship, an organisation characterised by critics as a secretive, elitist group that wields influence through religious gatherings sometimes funded by defence contractors and foreign powers. Lawrence Martin --What the Guardian is reporting on the Brit PM Expenses: MPs must pay back £1.2m after inquiry that cost £1.1m | Politics THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2010 --What the Globe is reporting on Afghan detainees Harper sets a trap for the opposition University of Ottawa law professor Errol Mendes told opposition MPs the Tories' refusal to hand over documents on Afghan prisoners makes a “mockery” of Parliament and is unconstitutional. --What Le Devoir is reporting Comité sur l'Afghanistan - L'opposition aiguise ses armes Mais il a vivement déconseillé au
comité de porter la cause devant les tribunaux, estimant que ce serait une
perte de temps. Le Parlement a déjà l'autorité d'agir, dit-il. --What Sun Media is reporting (a great moment) Legal experts who were asked to appear before a special meeting of opposition MPs said individual members of the government could also be jailed. --Hey, this guy’s an expert on everything! A classic withdrawal from a conflict is "one of the most difficult operations in war to plan and to execute," said retired colonel Michel Drapeau, the former commander of a Canadian Forces logistics branch. --What the Star is reporting Censure Tories over probe of detainee abuse, MPs urged The government noted in response to Mendes' criticism that he had been appointed to a senior bureaucratic position in the civil service by former Liberal prime minister Paul Martin. --What the Post is reporting on the opposition Ottawa is to blame not troops, Liberals say --What Le Devoir is reporting L'opposition paraît divisée sur la marche à suivre. Le Bloc québécois estime que s'adresser à la Cour serait un geste d'une grande «portée symbolique», selon le député Claude Bachand. Pour le Nouveau Parti démocratique, mieux vaut d'abord obtenir une confirmation écrite du procureur général, Rob Nicholson, stipulant que le gouvernement refuse de remettre les documents. «C'est la première étape à faire officiellement», croit le député Paul Dewar, qui veut que M. Nicholson joue son rôle de défenseur de l'État de droit. --The world needs more Canada Colin Powell now says gays should be able to serve openly in military "we've had a lot of experience watching what other nations have done." Of 28 NATO member countries, a small minority prohibit or restrict service based on sexual orientation. ALL OF TODAY’S AFGHANISTAN NEWS HERE --What Le Devoir is reporting from the distinct society Charest pourfend Prentice et défend D'Amour Burqa - Le Canada n'a pas l'intention d'imiter la France Haïti: Québec assouplit ses critères d'immigration --What the Globe is reporting --The latest polling poop CBC News - Canada - Tories, Liberals remain deadlocked: poll --What La Presse is reporting Duceppe durcit le ton en faveur de la souveraineté Duceppe hardens hi stone on sovereignty Gave highly sovereigntist speech yesterday at the University of Ottawa….to begin a year of commemorating the 15th anniversary of the 1995 referendum and the 20th of the death of Meech Lake….same tone as his finance critic, Daniel Paillé, in an open letter published in La Presse, making the case that the pro-oil government is hindering the economic development of Québec. --What else La Presse is reporting Lucienne Robillard prêtera main-forte au PLC The Liberal Party will appoint Mme Robillard next week to replace Marc-André Blanchard as co-chair of their campaign in Quebec. --What the Star is reporting from Québec Rights group troubled, Cannon says --What the Globe is reporting on the latest pissing match As Charest heats up battle over climate change, Tories stand to lose in Quebec --What La Presse is reporting on one of M. Charest’s chinwags Tous se trouvent dans la capitale indienne pour le Delhi Sustainable Developement Summit, la première rencontre internationale sur l’environnement depuis celle de Copenhague l’automne dernier. Le président de l’organisation est le Dr R.K. Pachauri, lauréat du prix Nobel de la paix en 2007 avec l’ex-vice-président des États-Unis Al Gore. ALL OF TODAY’S --What the NY Times is reporting on taxes Bank Data May Unveil German Tax Evaders, Finance Official Says The warning to tax evaders by the finance minister, Wolfgang Schäuble, added a new dimension to the current case, because tax cheats have no way of knowing whether their names are on the list. “I can only advise anyone who thinks they might have evaded taxes in the past to avail themselves of the offer in our tax code to make a voluntary declaration,” Mr. Schäuble told the newspaper Augsburger Allgemeine in an interview published Wednesday. --What the W Post is reporting on Gitmó Switzerland to resettle Uighur brothers from Guantanamo Two brothers detained at the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, are slated to be released in Switzerland, ending an unusual situation in which one of the men refused a chance at freedom to remain imprisoned with his troubled sibling. Since President Obama took office, his administration has transferred 48 detainees out of Guantanamo and is negotiating the release of dozens more. --What the Post is reporting on Omar K --What the W Post is reporting that is relevant Criticism of Obama on national security likely to remain big issue --Say it ain’t so! Obama's spirituality is largely private, but it's influential, advisers say Every morning, sometimes as early as 5:30 a.m., a short religious passage comes across President Obama's BlackBerry, sent by one of his aides. At other moments, Obama prays privately, his advisers said. And when he takes his family to Camp David on the weekends, a Navy chaplain ministers to them, with the daughters attending a form of Sunday school there --How the Yanks sometimes deal with their Omar Khadrs Intelligence chief acknowledges U.S. may target Americans involved in terrorism --What the Globe is reporting Ignoring Supreme Court's Khadr ruling, Ottawa won't request repatriation --What else is shaking in Ottawa ‘Ghost' immigration consultants unacceptable, regulator says Rights centre's chairman rebukes critics for 'smears' Jobless rate 'still too high': Clement I fled home for my life, not to fight, Harkat says --What’s shaking in BC and soon in Ottawa Maybe he intends to prorogue our Parliament as well. - View from the Ledge The B.C. legislature is slightly agog over next week's pending visit by Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Apparently, he intends to address the chamber Thursday. Apparenlty, the visit was not by invitation from the provincial government. Rather it was Ottawa's idea. --A great Olympic moment VANOC not bound to disclose retention payment for CEO --The world needs more Canada? Winter Olympics on slippery slope after Vancouver crackdown on homeless --Meanwhile, back east Tory dynasty's grip on power shaky: Manning Palin sets a date with Calgary The Chinese government has removed the University of Calgary from its list of accredited institutions -- a move school officials fear is linked to the Dalai Lama's visit last fall. --What the W Post is reporting on the above Obama to meet with Dalai Lama in mid-February --What the NY Times is reporting Currency Dispute Likely to Further Fray U.S.-China Ties --A great Dipper moment Dexter fesses up, promises to repay taxpayers --Hey, look who’s no longer enamoured of UN multilateralism! Former exile wants off UN blacklist Abdelrazik and his lawyers urged the Canadian government to repeal regulations that give effect to the UN resolution that created the list – a call the Liberals, NDP and Bloc Québécois said they'd support. --What CP is reporting on Steve Harper's new foreign policy concept targets U.S. role in G20 --What the Fin Times is reporting that is kind of worrisome Moody’s warns US of credit rating fears Moody’s Investors Service fired off a warning on Wednesday that the triple A sovereign credit rating of the US would come under pressure unless economic growth was more robust than expected or tougher actions were taken to tackle the country’s budget deficit. --What the Post is reporting from Washington Doer warns U.S. against penalizing oil sands --What the Globe is reporting Deaths offer glimpse of Obama's secret war --What the WS Journal is reporting Obama's Session With Senate Democrats Is Campaign Prelude --What the Independent is reporting EU allies to show solidarity with Brown before election European Union leaders are to give tacit support to Gordon Brown's attempt to win re-election amid fears in Brussels that David Cameron would adopt isolationist and Eurosceptic policies as prime minister. Nicolas Sarkozy, the French President, and Angela Merkel, the German Chancellor, are both expected to visit London before the general election for talks with the Prime Minister. --What the Times is reporting Bercow breaks unwritten rules with challenge to boost backbench power --Why all Canadians love our mother country Expenses row: MPs ordered to pay back more than £1m | Politics --Why else all Canadians love our mother country Coatbridge Journal - For Scots, a Scourge Unleashed by a Bottle --A great moment Iran Sends Some Animals, and Some Ambitions, Into Space In what seemed intended as a display of technological advance, Iran said on Wednesday that it had fired a rocket into space carrying living organisms — a rat, two turtles and worms, according to the state-run Press TV. --What the NY Times is reporting on Iran Iran Opposition Leaders Urge Rally on Anniversary --What the Post is reporting from 'DRACONIAN' MEASURES NOT NEEDED: ECONOMISTS Despite a chorus of concern that a balanced budget cannot be achieved without tax hikes, economists said yesterday Ottawa's fiscal plan is workable as long as policy makers live up to their pledge to restrain spending growth. After a meeting with Finance Minister Jim Flaherty in Ottawa as part of pre-budget consultations, the private-sector analysts said Ottawa might have to wait an extra year or two before the country returns to surplus, as uncertainty remains over the pace of growth once stimulus from around the world are removed. But still, a budget balance is doable, a number of them added, and might not require such "draconian" measures as the tax hikes some have feared. "I would put a very low priority on tax increases. I think that should be almost a desperation move," Douglas Porter, deputy chief economist at BMO Capital Markets, told reporters after the meeting ended. --What the Globe is reporting Why this budget will be Flaherty's toughest --What the Star is reporting (a great moment in Canadian journalism) Flaherty puts spending cuts on back burner Despite Prime Minister Stephen Harper's talk about slaying the deficit, the federal government has no plans to cut any spending before the spring of 2011 because of the weakness of the economic recovery. 12th graf After the meeting, the business economists agreed that it's too early to focus on restraint. 16th graf Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff poked fun at the Conservatives' recent talk about fiscal belt-tightening. "Poor Mr. Flaherty. I absolutely love it, when a guy who's dug us into a $56 billion hole is talking to me about financial responsibility and prudence," Ignatieff told reporters. "I mean, these guys have no credibility at all on this." --What the Post is reporting from down south Dour forecast underpins Obama's budget plan - washingtonpost.com --From Washington we bring you another great Olympic moment Vice-President Biden slated to attend opening ceremony --What the Guardian is reporting on a real Obama snub Snub for EU as Barack Obama ducks out of summit --What Sun media is reporting on Obama’s war Tories fight back over Afghan detainee controversy --What CP is reporting on our friendly neighbours Do they stay or do they go? Ottawa needs to decide on Van Doos future in Haiti ALL OF TODAY’S AFGHANISTAN NEWS HERE --What the Globe is reporting on Danny Millions Williams could have had surgery in Canada, cardiac experts say --What CP is reporting on our friendly neighbours Health-reform foes seize on Williams decision One Politico reader suggested that Mr. Williams, who is known for his often adversarial relationship with the federal Conservative government, was well aware of how the move might reflect on Ottawa. “Danny Williams is known for trying to embarrass the Canadian government,” he wrote. “The reason he's going down south is because he can afford the $50,000 cost of getting surgery.” --Our own worst enemies (another great moment) Canada using Inuit as political tool at summit, critics say - Globe and Mail --Why all Canadians love our mother country The French "eat anything that moves,'' says an official close to Finance Minister Christine Lagarde. The minister, a vegetarian, has to leave before the dinner, the official adds. --Hey, I thought only Cons did wedge politics! Harper must make abortion part of health pledge, Ignatieff says --Bob Rae’s day Rae calls for transparency in vaccine flap --What the Citizen is reporting on lesser Grits Dion, five leadership candidates get extensions on campaign debts Elections Canada said Tuesday it had been advised that Justice Paul B. Kane of the Ontario Superior Court last week granted fresh extensions to MPs Dion, Maurizio Bevilacqua, Hedy Fry, Joe Volpe, Martha Hall Findlay and Gerard Kennedy. They have until the end of 2011 to pay off their campaign debts. Mayrand did not oppose the application made before the court in Ottawa --What else is shaking in Ottawa Ottawa dit ne pas imposer de vue pro-Israël à Droits et démocratie Canadian seeks opposition support for removal from UN blacklist RCMP investigating dozens of immigration firms --A great Ottawa moment Pattern of delay: Ottawa's information denial --Another great moment in Canadian governance Chernobyl: Leaking radiation and sucking up Canadian money --What the Globe is reporting on the Brit PM counterpart Britain's Brown pushes for sweeping electoral reform In a bid to win over a jaded public, Prime Minister Gordon Brown has struck a bargain with voters: If they put an X on the ballot this year, they may never have to do so again. Instead, he will campaign for election this year on a proposal to replace Britain's traditional winner-takes-all voting system, the same as Canada's, with a scheme in which voters write a number next to each candidate, ensuring that all MPs are elected by a majority. --What the Times is reporting Gordon Brown aims to end first-past-the-post voting, but not yet The Bill setting up a referendum on voting change has no chance of becoming law, however, and Mr Brown later refused to guarantee that MPs would have a chance to vote through other measures aimed at repairing faith in Parliament before the election. --Why we love our other mother "The Labour peer Lord Lipsey, chair of the organisation Make Votes Count, was gloomy, saying: "It will be very hard to get it through the Lords but it's still well worth the effort." --What else the PM said In his speech offering "new politics", Brown announced that he wants a written constitution by 2015, the 800th anniversary of Magna Carta; a right for constituents to recall MPs if found guilty of corruption: a draft bill introducing a mainly elected Lords; and approval for local government reforms, entitled Total Place, that he said could produce £15bn of savings. He also said he supported votes at 16, but gave no commitment to put the proposal in the Labour manifesto. --What else the Guardian is reporting Labour MPs criticise plan to drop parliamentary reform proposals | Politics Brown told the House of Commons liaison committee that MPs could either take or leave his approach to parliamentary reform, and that he would probably not give MPs a chance to vote to support the full package of reforms proposed by the Wright committee on parliamentary modernisation. Brown set up the Wright committee, chaired by Labour MP Tony Wright, but he objects to its recommendation that an elected business committee of MPs should be able to timetable government bills. --What the Star is reporting on national security Millennium bomber faces longer jail term --What the WS Journal is reporting Officials Warn al Qaeda 'Certain' to Try Attack Soon --What else the NY Times is reporting that should be of comfort Senators Warned of Terrorist Attack on U.S. by July “The biggest threat is not so much that we face an attack like 9/11,” said Leon E. Panetta, the C.I.A. director. “It is that Al Qaeda is adapting its methods in ways that oftentimes make it difficult to detect.” --What the NY Times is reporting on the underwear guy Official Says Terrorism Suspect Is Cooperating --What the W Post is reporting on Gitmó Brennan says recidivism among former Guantanamo detainees has declined since Bush era None of about 48 Guantanamo Bay detainees released or transferred elsewhere by the Obama administration has participated or been suspected of participating in subsequent "recidivist" activity, compared with 20 percent of about 540 detainees released by the George W. Bush administration, according to White House counterterrorism chief John O. Brennan. "We believe that significant improvements to the detainee review process have contributed to significant improvements in the results," Brennan said in a letter Monday to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.). The 20 percent, or about 117 former detainees, is considerably higher than an estimate of 14 percent the Pentagon made last year. --What the NY Times is reporting on what you shouldn’t ask Top Defense Officials Seek to End ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ Passage of repeal is far from assured, judging from the negative reaction from some Republicans on the committee, most notably Senator John McCain of Arizona, who pronounced himself “deeply disappointed” in Mr. Gates. --What the W Post is reporting that the Times isn’t Pentagon supports ending 'don't ask, don't tell' law for gays in military Despite the remarkable shift in position by the Pentagon's leaders Tuesday, there remained serious questions about whether Congress and the White House are ready to keep pace. A House bill that would overturn "don't ask, don't tell" has 187 co-sponsors, but Rep. Ike Skelton (D-Mo.), a powerful committee chairman, opposes it and has not let it come up for a vote. The Senate, which invited Gates and Mullen to testify Tuesday, is moving cautiously. President Obama said in his State of the Union address last week that he wants to work with Congress to repeal the law, but he has resisted pleas by gay rights groups to sign an executive order that would instantly mandate a change. --A great moment in US journalism Palestinian premier speaks at Israeli conference Barak: make peace with Palestinians or face apartheid Followed by a great moment in trans-Atlantic journalism Exclusive: Israeli commander: 'We rewrote the rules of war for Gaza' TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2010 --We begin with a great moment in Canadian journalism
Environment minister calls for oilsands cleanup --What Iggy says in the above article Environment minister calls for oilsands cleanup "(Obama) certainly won't be able to take any action on climate change this year, or next year; at least I'm afraid he won't," Ignatieff said. "We should not be waiting for the Americans to go forward. We should be taking action now." --He's not the first and won’t be the last (a great moment) Danny Williams travels to U.S. for heart surgery --What CP is reporting this morning Williams to have heart surgery in U.S. because treatment not option in N.L. - --Say it ain’t so, Jack! --What the Globe is reporting from Ottawa Flaherty urged to keep spending taps open --What the Star is reporting from Ottawa --What CP is reporting Grits gaining ground in Ontario, Quebec --What the Sun is reporting poll-wise Canadians down on multiculturalism: Poll --What else the Globe (and Le Devoir) are reporting Prentice attacks Quebec's climate strategy -What La Presse is reporting on the Prime Minister of Quebec François Cardinal : L'amiante rattrape Jean Charest --What the Globe is reporting on the Québécois nation PQ plans to boost sovereignty campaign Sovereigntists are counting on the 20th anniversary of the demise of the Meech Lake constitutional accord later this year to spark renewed interest in their cause. The PQ and the Bloc Québécois plan to use the anniversary to prove that despite promises that one day federalism would be reformed, the stalemate continues. --What Iggy says about Bob Runciman Joël-Denis Bellavance : La nomination de Runciman critiquée --What the Winnipeg Free Press is reporting Rae plans musical number in Winnipeg today - --What else the Winnipeg Free Press is reporting Vaccine centre sparks Tory, Liberal battle - --What the Star is reporting from another QP Drop HST to 12%, premier urged --We bring you two great public service moments $7,986 bill covered for fired civil servant Public Works under cloud over contracts --A great moment in Canadian hospitality G7 to get real taste of what sealing means to the North --What else is shaking in Ottawa Minister promises crackdown on immigration consultants who counsel fraud Harkat denies contact with Osama ally Needle-exchange programs 'necessary' for prisons: Report --What Le Devoir reports on a frequent contributor to the Globe Choc idéologique à Droits et Démocratie | Le Devoir Aurel Braun and Gerald Steinberg crossed paths at meetings of Scholars for Peace in the Middle-East. Mr. Braun thought his ideas were so important that he invited Mr. Steinberg to make a presentation to the Board of Rights and Democracy. The Board refused. --What the Star is reporting on the very same ‘rights’ agency --What La Presse is reporting on a couple of Bronfwomen Nicolas Bérubé : 100 millions perdus dans une secte | États-Unis Deux soeurs héritières de l’empire montréalais Seagram ont investi des dizaines de millions de dollars dans une secte dont le leader est décrit comme un « spéculateur compulsif » et un « investisseur immobilier déchu ». --The world needs more Canada? How the 'climategate' scandal is bogus and based on climate sceptics' lies Elizabeth Green, veteran head of the Canadian Green party claims to have read all the emails and declared: "How dare the world's media fall into the trap set by contrarian propagandists without reading the whole set?" ALL OF TODAY’S --The world needs more Canada Northumbrian Water tipped for takeover Shares in Northumbrian Water jumped today following speculation that one of Canada's largest pension funds was preparing to buy the business and take it private. Northumbrian shares closed almost 12% up despite a resolute silence from the utility and the Ontario Teachers Pension Plan, its biggest shareholder with a 27% stake, which is reported to be planning a £1.7b bid. --What CNN is reporting on Gitmó Obama budget includes money to house Guantanamo detainees in U.S. President Obama is asking for more than $230 million in the 2011 budget to buy and prepare an idle Illinois prison to house terrorism suspects now detained at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. --What the WS Journal is reporting Obama answers questions submitted on YouTube When asked about the delay in closing the detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Obama blamed it mostly on what he called "rank politics," adding, "Unfortunately, there has been a lot of political resistance." --What the Globe is reporting on targeted assassinations Israel is prime suspect in killing of Hamas official --Memo to Ottawa ‘watch Amid Afghan Troop Surge, U.S. Steps Up Missions Targeting Taliban Leaders Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the top allied commander in Kabul, made his name commanding similar special-operations forces in Iraq and sending them after hundreds of key insurgent and al Qaeda figures. His success was considered crucial to salvaging the Iraq war. ALL OF TODAY’S AFGHANISTAN NEWS HERE --A great moment in trans-Atlantic journalism UN find challenges Israeli version of attack on civilian building in Gaza war Israel Rebukes 2 for U.N. Gaza Compound Shelling --What the Guardian is reporting on Steve’s counterpart Gordon Brown to pledge pre-election legislation on voting reform | Politics Gordon Brown will today announce legislation guaranteeing a referendum on voting reform. In a speech to the Institute for Public Policy Research thinktank the prime minister will announce plans to ensure those elected to parliament in future will arrive with the support of over 50% of voters, one method of cleaning up politics just days before public anger over expenses abuse is likely to be revived. On Thursday, a definitive report is expected to show that nearly half of all MPs have made improper claims. If the UK voted in favour of the alternative vote system, in future the electorate would rank candidates by preference, with the votes of the lower ranked candidates being transferred until one candidate receives more than half the vote. --What the Independent is reporting Exclusive: Vote of no confidence in Tory economic policies - The Independent Labour is closing the gap with the Conservatives amid public doubts about David Cameron's economic policies, according to a poll for The Independent. The ComRes survey found that 82 per cent of people want Mr Cameron to be clearer about what he would do on the economy – including 82 per cent of Tory supporters. Only 24 per cent believe the recession would have ended sooner if the Tories had been in power, while 69 per cent do not. --A great moment in British-Vatican relations Pope condemns gay equality laws ahead of first UK visit --What the Times is reporting on Sino-Yank relations China threatens Obama over Dalai Lama meeting Zhu Weiqun, executive deputy head of the Communist Party’s United Front Work Department, who is in charge of the talks, said that a meeting between Mr Obama and the Dalai Lama would “seriously undermine the political foundation of Sino-US relations”. An increasingly assertive Beijing even issued a veiled threat that such a meeting would not only fail to serve the interests of diplomacy but could damage the US economic recovery. --What the Times is reporting on never having to say you’re sorry Toyota knew of accelerator pedal problem in UK a year ago Toyota, the Japanese motor manufacturer that is recalling millions of defective cars around the world, knew in the UK a year ago that accelerator pedals in its cars were jamming. The admission came amid reports in Canada that class-action lawsuits have been launched against Toyota, demanding compensation for injuries sustained by out-of-control cars. --What the Globe is reporting on it’s front page U.S. deficit reaches record $1.6-trillion The good news is that economic calamity is not inevitable, according to economists. The United States can mitigate the damage of its deteriorating fiscal health by changing its ways now. ALL OF TODAY’S OBA-MATH HERE MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2010 --We begin with a great Ottawa (and Con) moment Justice Minister Nicholson pushes crime bill he used to be against Federal Justice Minister Rob Nicholson, who is pushing the government's tough on crime agenda and plans to revive the bill on mandatory minimum sentences for drug crimes in the next Parliamentary session, did not support the proposed law when he was a Mulroney backbencher. … Geneviève Breton, Mr. Nicholson's (Niagara Falls, Ont.) director of communications, said in an email to The Hill Times that the justice system and the drug world are different than they were 22 years ago, and therefore the government's response has also changed. … Former PC MP David Daubney, now a public servant at the Department of Justice, was chair of the committee that authored the 1988 report, which is sometimes referred to as the "Daubney Report." He said Mr. Nicholson's views on mandatory minimum sentences today are clearly different from those in the report to which he was a signatory. "I'm proud of the report, frankly, it was well-received and still is being used in law schools and other places as a well-received blueprint. But times change, and public opinion changes, and governments change," he said. --What the Globe is reporting from Ottawa More than 300 people linked to suspected case of citizenship fraud --What CP is reporting Liberals, NDP failed to contest rights appointees, documents show After Goodale complained to The Canadian Press last week that his party had not been properly consulted under the agency rules, the office of Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon produced correspondence showing every party leader had indeed been notified in advance of every appointment. No objections were recorded, apart from those from Goodale and NDP MP Paul Dewar last September in relation to one proposed appointee. She was not appointed. --What the Globe is reporting on climate change Canada ties new emissions-cuts targets to U.S. goals --Tomorrow’s correction today ALL OF TODAY’S --Today’s idiocy --We follow with another great moment in Canadian politics (and journalism) John Baird (Cons.) Ottawa West-Nepean Transport Canada briefing; lunch with his mother… --What else CP is reporting from Ottawa Federal task force warns of security screening gap - A draft report from the task force, heavily censored, was obtained by The Canadian Press under the Access to Information Act. --What Sun media is reporting on prorogation polling Proroguing government 'an attack on democracy' --What else is being reported on the p-word Prime Minister objected to February House break for Olympics last fall Grits, NDP working together to try to change prorogation rules --What else is shaking in Ottawa Canada threatens to close ports to Denmark Environmental groups losing interest in lobbying Prentice --What Chantal writes about the Dippers in the Star After seven years, real power still eludes Jack Layton (Hébert) Layton's best hope to continue to move his party closer to power is infinitely more likely to lie in a more constructive parliamentary relationship with the Liberals than in the ballot box. --What the Hill Times is reporting on Afstan Canadian Forces' unrelated battle injuries soared to 330 last year in Afghanistan --What Le Journal de Montréal is reporting In the 150 days since Fall, 2006 that they’ve spent decompressing in Cyprus, Canadian soldiers have been involved in more than 100 incidents calling for the intervention of military police…30 have been violent incidents …at least 50 involved drunken soldiers…4 cases of Canadians being attacked by Cypriots…one had a 9 mm revolver pointed at his head ALL OF TODAY’S AFGHANISTAN NEWS HERE --What’s shaking in lotus land NDP seeks more aid for film industry --Meanwhile back east … New legislature sitting puts Wildrose front and centre Liberal underdogs no closer to their day --What the Globe is reporting from the far east Questions arise about relevance of review panel in NB Power deal --What CP is reporting from the other QP Opposition hopes anger over HST will help defeat Liberals in Toronto byelection - --What our papers are reporting on Haiti (a great moment in journalism) Baptist group accused of child-trafficking in Haiti Haiti arrests 10 Americans on child trafficking charges Canadian Forces in Haiti `until we are ordered to leave' What the W Post is reporting As food distribution improves, Haitians want U.S to 'take over' - --What the NY Times is reporting U.S. Resumes Medical Airlift of Haitians “Having received assurances that additional capacity exists both here and among our international partners, we determined that we can resume these critical flights,” said Tommy Vietor, a White House spokesman. --What the WS Journal is reporting on the Obama-drama U.S. Deficit to Hit All-Time High Knives Are Drawn for Proposed Budget Cuts Latest Stimulus Report Fuels Jobs Pressure --What the Star is reporting on Canada-US thingies Jobs, U.S. voters driving decisions SUNDAY, JANUARY 31, 2010 --We begin with a report on the Queen of multicultural Canada A SENIOR adviser to the Queen has met secretly with the leader of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales to express concern over the Pope’s offer for disaffected Anglicans to convert to Rome. In a highly unusual step, Earl Peel, the Lord Chamberlain, asked Vincent Nichols, the Archbishop of Westminster, to meet him following Pope Benedict XVI’s decree. --What the Brits are reporting on the late consort of our future King Princess Diana regretted marrying into a ‘German family’ review --A great moment in US politics Family link is found between Obama and Scott Brown More great hed here --What the Cal Herald is reporting on climate change Tories back off climate target "It's another broken promise by this government on the environment," said Dale Marshall of the David Suzuki Foundation. "This target is considerably weaker than the one they have been talking about for the past three years."… The biggest concern in the announcement is the change in the year the government will base its new targets on, said Greenpeace spokesman Dave Martin. According to Ottawa's 2007 Greenhouse Gas Inventory, this country produced 718 megatonnes of emissions in 2006. The original 20 per cent cut Harper had promised based on 2006 figures would bring national emissions slightly below 1990 levels -- but not enough to meet its Kyoto obligations. Saturday's announcement changes the plan going forward. For a variety of reasons, Canada's emissions in 2005 were actually higher than 2006 -- at 731 megatonnes. So the 17 per cent cut Prentice promised Saturday would bring level to 606.73 megatonnes -- which is 2.5 per cent higher than then 1990 level…. "Canada has a tough period behind it in terms that Canada did rise and ratify the Kyoto Protocol, but its main trading partner, the United States, did not, which left it in a very unbalanced situation," said Yvo de Boer, executive secretary of the UN Framework Convention for Climate Change in Copenhagen last month. --My post-announcement take Wait for the details on Canada’s Copenhagen submission --Tomorrow's correction today --Today’s idiocy ALL OF TODAY’S --Letter of the day --Speaking of the day, a great moment in Canadian governance Day reaches out to bureaucrats "Hello out there in Treasury Board land." That's how Stockwell Day opened his first memo to his new department. -- We follow with a great moment in Canadian politics Feds shower rec money on communities --What else is shaking back east where they freeze in both dark and light Grassroots Conservatives face crisis of confidence --I.E., the Star favoured the coalition taking us thru the recession Liberals finally talking policy – the star On the proroguing of Parliament, the Liberals have proposed strict new rules to constrain the Prime Minister's manoeuvring room, so as to avoid a repetition of Harper's abuse of process when shutting down debate late last month and avoiding a confidence vote in 2008. --The latest on a former Star editor who apprehended a separatist insurrection Requiem for a Bay Street titan Newman had money looking for a home. He won’t quantify the sum. “I had very good sales on the Mulroney book and my autobiography,” he says. “Together, they sold about 100,000 copies, so I had some money to invest.”… “So I’m thinking. A base of 8 per cent on trade paper and a max of 15 on hard cover and I don’t know what your advances were and you said 100,000 books in total. So I max out that the most you could have lost was $376,250.” “No, it was more than that.” “It was more than that?” “I didn’t do the math.” --The Star also brings us today’s dishonesty --What the Cal Herald is reporting on Haiti Troops watch over Haiti orphans --What the NY Times is reporting Haiti Is Again a Canvas for Approaches to Aid One side argues that Haiti should be temporarily taken over by an international organization, which would govern it and oversee its rebuilding. On the other extreme, minimalists fervently believe that years of failed, foreign-imposed aid projects underscore that this time Haitians need to develop and implement their own plans. And in between are those who argue for a joint Haitian-international reconstruction agency to administer a kind of Marshall Plan. A donor conference last April attracted $402 million in pledges but only $61 million in actual payments, according to the United Nations. Mr. Ban is expected to announce any day that Mr. Clinton will take on an expanded role in coordinating United Nations efforts to resurrect Haiti. Indeed, the former president’s high profile has fueled suggestions that he become the Haiti reconstruction czar. --What CP is reporting on Afstan Canadian envoy: wooing Taliban may leave others out --The column I’m glad I didn’t write ALL OF TODAY’S AFGHANISTAN NEWS HERE --What the NY Times is reporting on Omar K Site For 9/11 Trial Isn’t Its Only Obstacle could force the administration to revive the very option that the president and Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. had rejected: military commissions at Guantánamo for the 9/11 plotters. --What the LA Times is reporting on their Omar U.S. citizen in CIA's cross hairs --My take on our Omar The good and the bad in the Globe’s Khadr editorial --Here’s what a clash between the branches looks like Broder - Congress prepares for a battle over campaign finance While Democrats stood applauding his call on Congress to pass legislation narrowing the impact of the ruling, the TV cameras caught Justice Samuel Alito, one of the two George W. Bush appointees who made the reversal of precedent possible, apparently mouthing the words "Not true." Such direct confrontations between the branches of the federal government are almost unprecedented, and they set the stage for what ought to be a serious debate. --What the NY Times is reporting on Sino-Yank relations China Threatens Sanctions in Fallout Over Taiwan an unusually broad series of retaliatory measures in response to the latest United States arms sales to Taiwan, including sanctions against American companies that supply the weapon systems for the arms sales. The World Trade Organization generally prohibits the imposition of import restrictions as political maneuvers. But the body’s rules include a broad exception for national security that the Chinese could cite if the United States tried to challenge them. China has also never joined the W.T.O. side agreement on government procurement. So China could bar the American companies from selling to the government without fear of W.T.O. review. --Today’s bouquet --What the Times is reporting on Steve’s Brit counterpart Gordon Brown: I will go on and on GORDON BROWN is making secret plans to stay on as Labour leader after the general election even if his party is defeated. The prime minister has told close colleagues that he will refuse to quit unless the Conservatives win a significant majority. --A great moment in Brit politics (and journalism) Angry Gordon Brown 'hit out at aide and yanked secretary from her chair' | Mail --What the Telegraph is reporting on a former PM A TOP-LEVEL panel set up by Tony Blair to monitor official aid pledges to the global Live8 campaign will hold its final scheduled session this week with him not having attended a single meeting since 2007. Convened with great fanfare in the wake of the 2005 G8 summit at Gleneagles, the Africa Progress Panel was charged with ensuring that Western governments did not renege on their promises to pump billions of dollars of extra cash into fighting poverty. --What our other mother is reporting on a possible next father DSK-Aubry: Il a l'étoffe, elle a les valeurs SATURDAY, JANUARY 30, 2010 --What the Star is reporting on Omar K Omar Khadr: A teenager at Guantanamo Court refuses to order Khadr home --What the Globe is ‘reporting’ Khadr ruling sees top court clash with Tories A government is expected to take action when the court rules it has violated someone's rights. The remedy requested by lawyers who brought the case to court on Mr. Khadr's behalf is that Ottawa bring their client home for trial. Past governments have not ignored strong declarations from the highest court in the land. Yet a statement from Justice Minister Rob Nicholson Friday raised the possibility that the Harper government will refuse to act or that it will give a token response. --What the W Post is reporting Trial of alleged Sept. 11 conspirators probably won't be held in Lower Manhattan The reversal would mark the latest setback for an administration that has been buffeted at every turn as it seeks to close the military detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Its options for closing the prison had already been dwindling, and without the backdrop of Ground Zero for a trial, the administration would lose some of the rich symbolism associated with its attempt to forge a new approach to handling high-profile al-Qaeda detainees. The decision to reconsider the plan for Mohammed's trial comes after a surge of political opposition to holding it in Manhattan, a venue that Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. described in November as the "right place." ALL OF TODAY’S AFGHANISTAN ‘NEWS REPORTS’ HERE --Smells like plagiarism --A great moment in Canadian journalism Parties campaign like it's 1999 Bob Rae has a problem with Facebook. "I'm only allowed to have 5,000 friends," laments the MP for Toronto Centre. "I have about 1,600 people on the waiting list that I can't add." Facebook isn't budging. They've told Rae if he wants to have more friends, he should start himself a fan page. But Rae's not interested. "Fan pages are different. A fan is not a friend." --What Le Devoir is reporting on the Cons Harper perd son organisatrice en chef au Québec | Le Devoir Harper losing his chief organizer in Québec Claude Durand submitted her resignation yesterday, after one year in the job, because of son’s health problems and because no spring election --A great Globe (BC edition) moment Selections end Liberal obstruction of agenda, Tories say Page A 13 In fact, the Conservatives introduced 17 bills as part of their criminal justice platform during the last session. Some of them came back for the second time after dying on the order paper when Prime Minister Stephen Harper took the country into an election in the fall of 2008. Page A 13 With Senate in his grip, PM drives crime agenda In fact, of the 17 crime bills introduced by the federal Conservative government in the last session, only two were held up in the Senate for more than six months. Most died on the order paper when Mr. Harper prorogued Parliament in late December. --What else is shaking in Ottawa Grits pan 'partisan' posting on Justice website Senate appointments called 'old politics' Danny Williams says war of words that spawned ABC campaign is over, for now ALL OF TODAY’S --What the Guardian is reporting on Haiti Haiti revival after quake could take generations says UN chief | World news | --What the NY Times is reporting (a great moment) In Cost Dispute, U.S. Halts Airlift of Haiti Quake Victims --What the W Post is reporting on the Obama-drama Obama talks to House Republicans in Baltimore in rare, televised debate in an eleventh-hour request from the White House to allow the usually closed-door, question-and-answer session to be shown live on cable news networks. What resulted was an unprecedented public debate between the president and a group of lawmakers who have effectively opposed nearly every move he has made. The give-and-take more closely resembled Great Britain's Question Time -- in which members of Parliament question the prime minister -- than anything in congressional history. --What the W Post is reporting on the US economy U.S. economy grows at fastest rate in 6 years strongest evidence yet that the nation will avoid a dip back into recession…. economists cautioned that such a pace will probably not persist and that the economy will grow at a more measured rate in the coming months. --Why all Canadians love our mother country France to Appeal Acquittal of Ex-Premier, de Villepin --A great moment in US journalism Activist Denies Plan to Bug Senator's Phones - WSJ.com Conservative activist admits to plot in Landrieu's office – washington post.com FRIDAY, JANUARY 28, 2010 --What the Post is reporting on Steve PM rebuffs Obama's curbs on banks --What the Globe is reporting A statesman debuts in Davos as Harper defines his global doctrine --What the Post is reporting that may stimulate your thinking Foreign stimulus boosted Canada --What the Star is reporting on the Alliance to Reform the Senate MPP Runciman among 5 Tories headed to Senate --First he suspended, now he’s seizing, next he’ll come for YOU! PM poised to seize control of Senate --A great moment in Canadian politics 'No indication' of rocket launch over Newfoundland, PMO says --The world needs more At these Olympics, Canada wants to win, not just host --What the Sun is reporting on Iggy Iggy not seeking spring election --The man called Iffy Liberal MP calls for debate on increasing GST The challenge for Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff is that his position on the issue has not been unequivocal. --Scandal Watch!! He’s paid by Québec, but pays his taxes in Ontario! Pay and benefits totalled $ 166 000 last year, but the Rector of the University of Quebec in the Outaouais (UQO), Jean Vaillancourt, says « I am a Canadian » --Another great distinct society moment Charest told to ban asbestos exports --What’s shaking in Ottawa November job gains vanish in new report as grocery stores, paper mills cut staff Canada refuses to budge on ex-KGB agent's appeal for freedom Tories won't overhaul law for young offenders Military needs to monitor post-combat suicides: panel Concerns over Tories youth criminal crack down --A great Prairie moment Spending scandal engulfs native university --What CP is reporting on Steve-stan Military wants answers on key torture report --What a Globe columnist is reporting Afghan endgame: From victory to compromise With surprising unanimity, the countries fighting in Afghanistan agreed, for the first time in the war's nine-year history, to a set of goals for its conclusion and a rough timetable for withdrawal. --What a Star reporter is reporting that the Globe columnist isn’t Allies okay road map out of Afghanistan Foreign troops must stay in Afghanistan for another decade, President Hamid Karzai said Thursday as world powers agreed on an exit strategy including a plan to persuade Taliban fighters to disarm in exchange for jobs and homes. --What the Brits are reporting that confirms the Star’s reporter’s report 'British troops in Afghanistan for another decade' Hamid Karzai, the Afghan president, said his security forces could need support and training from Western troops for another decade. He spoke as the United Nations envoy to Afghanistan warned that the international strategy for the country is “seriously flawed” and will leave Western troops “entrenched” and unable to leave. ALL OF TODAY’S AFGHANISTAN ‘NEWS REPORTS’ HERE --What the Star is reporting on Omar K. Judges to rule on Khadr return He is one of the Guantanamo detainees the Obama administration still intends to prosecute. even if the high court orders Prime Minister Stephen Harper to ask U.S. President Barack Obama to repatriate Khadr, there is no guarantee such a request would be met with a nod. --What the W Post is reporting that the Star ‘overlooks’ Obama faces dwindling options in his effort to close Guantanamo Bay White House officials said Thursday that President Obama is committed to federal trials for Mohammed and other detainees. --What else the W Post is reporting on Gitmó Having blown the one-year closure deadline set last January in an executive order, the administration is planning to transfer some detainees to a state prison it hopes to acquire in Illinois. But there appears to be little mood in Congress to provide the administration with either the funding for the prison or the authority to transfer detainees who will be held indefinitely. --What the NY Times is reporting on the Obama-drama His Health Bill Stalled, Obama Juggles an Altered Agenda The White House on Thursday signalled the outlines of its strategy for breaking the partisan logjam holding up President Obama’s agenda, saying Democrats would move quickly to underline their commitment to fixing the broken economy and to build an election-year case against Republicans if they do not cooperate. --What else is shaking in Washington Bernanke confirmed by Senate for 2nd term as Fed chairman Democrats prepare legislation to counter ruling on campaign spending After Obama speech, Democrats confused about path ahead Reactions split on Obama's remark, Alito's response at State of the Union --What the Globe is reporting on the climate at Steve’s Swiss holiday A statesman debuts in Davos as Harper defines his global doctrine Mr. Harper's call for enlightened sovereignty clashed with the response he earned from other world leaders on climate change: When he warned there are short-term costs to combatting climate change, the leaders of Mexico, Spain and South Africa said that shirking those costs would see the world bear greater harm in the future. ALL OF TODAY’S GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE NEWS HERE --Why all Canadians love our mother country British geographers find uncharted glaciers in Albania --Why we love our other mother Clearstream: le parquet fait appel, Villepin dénonce «l'acharnement» de Sarkozy THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2010 --We begin with the latest from Ottawa End near for 'Buy American' (Ivison) Ottawa dispatches a DM to Rights and Democracy Lawrence Cannon asks his Associate Deputy Minister, Gérald Cossette, to clarify the situation. Cossette will investigate and report his findings to the minister. --Speaking of the centre… Harper remains silent on rights agency fiasco (Siddiqui) Four of Beauregard's predecessors – including Ed Broadbent and Warren Allmand – called on Harper to hold an inquiry. One of the two predecessors that Haroon doesn’t mention A review of a federally funded human-rights organization tabled in Parliament last April omitted evidence of financial mismanagement uncovered by government inspectors, the National Post has learned. The first phase of the review of Montreal-based Rights and Democracy, obtained under the Access to Information Act, details questionable spending and lax financial oversight during the five-year tenure of the organization's former president, Jean-Louis Roy, who left in 2007. The report by the Department of Foreign Affairs' Office of the Inspector-General found Mr. Roy had failed to reimburse personal expenses incurred on his corporate credit card; that contrary to federal guidelines, he dined with employees at taxpayers' expense; and that during a three-year period, he claimed expenses for 46 nights in Paris, even though Rights and Democracy has no programs there. But the version of the review tabled in Parliament is mostly positive and makes no mention of the questionable spending. The only reference to Mr. Roy concerns his success in securing increased funding for Rights and Democracy. After the National Post reported in May 2007 on Mr. Roy's management style and former staff members raised concerns, then minister of foreign affairs, Peter MacKay, advanced by a year a regular five-year review of Rights and Democracy. He also expanded its scope to address specific allegations of mismanagement contained in a letter to the government's comptroller general. When Mr. Roy's term as president expired in August 2007, it was not renewed. The report of the review's first phase, dated December 2007, paints an unflattering picture of Mr. Roy's time at the helm. Based on a study of internal documents and interviews with almost all 43 Rights and Democracy employees, it uncovered "some persistent management, organizational, planning, accountability and reporting problems" that had strained relations between management and staff. It recommended "strict internal financial controls" and closer oversight of expense claims. --We follow with a great distinct society moment Volunteer surgeons want Quebec to pay them $800 a day --Speaking of the Québécois nation… Mr. Ignatieff’s and Mr. Duceppe’s hidden prorogation agendas --We bring you the beginning of Canada’s withdrawal from Haiti --We follow with the Steve-Sarko slugging match in Switzerland Harper urges moderation in global bank crackdown - Canada News Banks need more oversight: Sarkozy (Canwest) --Why all Canadians love our mother country Former French PM acquitted in Sarkozy smear trial --What the WS Journal is reporting from Davos At Davos, Experts See Dip Ahead --What else is shaking in Ottawa Canada to donate extra H1N1 vaccine to WHO Tories, Liberals vie for title of workers' champion in possible election tune-up - Blessés de guerre: les libéraux ont une solution Government to pay legal bills for Afghan whistle-blower after all Operation Stork delivers more Haitian orphans Federal politicians turn down Games freebies The changing face of Stephen Harper Chair's ruling on Section 13 incorrect: rights body --We bring you the latest polling poop from Ekos Liberals, Conservatives still in dead heat --What Frank adds in the Globe Liberals reach out to female voters Pollster Frank Graves of Ekos said his next poll will showcase a significant rebound in Liberal support among female voters. He added that the Liberals' emphasis on jobs is a smart way to win additional support among economically disadvantaged Canadians. --What the Star is reporting poll-wise Tories' support eroding, poll shows The Angus Reid-Toronto Star poll was conducted on Monday and Tuesday, just after thousands of Canadians joined rallies across the country against Harper's decision to suspend Parliament until March 3. Sixty-one per cent of respondents disagree with Harper's move, the pollsters said. The Conservatives stand at 33 per cent support among decided voters, down slightly from mid-January, while the Liberals are at 29 per cent. The NDP enjoys 19 per cent support, while the Bloc Québécois is at 10 per cent, and the Green party 7 per cent. The Tories are still on top in the West but have ceded their lead among voters in Ontario, where the Liberals at 35 per cent and the Tories at 36 per cent are virtually tied. The NDP is at 19 per cent. In Quebec, the Bloc is on top with 42 per cent, followed by the Liberals at 28 per cent, the NDP at 14 per cent and the Conservatives at 11 per cent. --What CP is reporting Swift action on Haiti wins Tories no jump in popularity: poll the Conservatives and Liberals are in a statistical dead heat, with 32 per cent supporting the Tories and 31 per cent for the Liberals. The gap is well within the poll's margin of error. "We're back into too-close-to-call territory," said Gregg. The NDP were at 15 per cent, while the Bloc and the Green party each had 10 per cent. Gregg said prorogation remains a dead weight for the Tories and works against the kind of popularity boost they might have looked for after a speedy and high-profile response to the earthquake. "There continues to be a lingering anxiousness and animosity around the prorogation issue and, as a consequence, what you see is an unwillingness to concede that these guys are actually engaged and involved and working," he said. But this animosity could fade, he added. "There's no question that they're getting really solid grades for Haiti, so I think right now those two things are creating kind of a conflicting impulse, where nothing is changing but the sands have a potential to change." Gregg said the data don't hold much good news for the Liberals and Michael Ignatieff, but reflect the simmering anger over prorogation. "Harper basically put the puck in his own net," he said. "It's not really a function of anything that's significantly positive that the Liberals have done or any growing affection for Michael Ignatieff." --A great moment in Canadian higher education (and journalism) Guest lecturer delivers from prison phone --Mirabile dictu! What an amazing journalism co-incidence Jeunes contrevenants: Harper récidive Tories aim to lay down law | Canada | News | Toronto Sun A memorandum from the Prime Minister's Office obtained by QMI said while the government has taken steps to tackle crime with a "balanced" approach of prevention, rehabilitation and enforcement, more must be done to fix the young offenders system. --A great US moment that I’m positive your paper will soon report Fox most trusted news channel in US, poll shows | World news | guardian.co.uk Almost half of all Americans surveyed in the poll of 1,151 registered voters said they trusted Fox News. That is a notably larger vote of confidence than the 39% who said they trusted Fox's great rival CNN, and vastly more than the credibility ratings of the traditional news networks ABC News (31%), CBS News (32%) and NBC News (35%). --Two great Olympic moments Canada's Olympic pavilion worth the money: minister Olympics a chance to show off successes, problems: AFN chief --Terrorism double-talk the Star reports that CP doesn’t Bomb plotter blames police in Toronto 18 case He went on to explain that there is a distinction between jihad and terrorism. “A jihadist has a certain rules of engagement with whoever he’s performing jihad against. Terrorism is a guy who is blind to all these rules, a guy who is pissed off and wiling to do anything. It’s not right.” Toronto 18 member says he didn't think of his role in plot as terrorism - CP "Terrorism is a guy who is blind to all these rules - a guy who is pissed off and willing to do anything," Abdelhaleem said. "It's not right." --What the Star is reporting (and burying) Before his arrest, there had also been efforts to arrange a marriage between Abdelhaleem and one of the daughters of the infamous Khadr clan, known as Canada’s Al Qaeda family. “I called it off right away. ... I just wanted to stay out of trouble,” said Abdelhaleem, adding, “They’re very nice people from what I hear.” --Hey, everyone’s doing it! Israel - Man Hits Judge With Tossed Shoe --What would we do without "I think the solution would be for a negotiated agreement whereby Mr. Khadr would consent to a monitoring regime that would provide Canadians with the assurance that he was not a danger to them," said Michael Byers, a law professor at the University of British Columbia. --What the WS Journal is reporting on the international conference Conference Wrestles With Afghan Issues skepticism about the conference among some participants, as has the fact that it presents an opportunity for host Gordon Brown, the U.K. prime minister, to present himself as a global statesman ahead of a general election. Still, most countries, including the U.S., have come on board, according to foreign and British officials. Canada's Minister of Foreign Affairs Lawrence Cannon said that 2010 is a "pivotal year" for Afghanistan and the conference is an important one. It "demonstrates the international community's will to work with the new Afghan government to deliver a coordinated political, civil and military effort to counter the insurgency and provide good governance and development for the people of Afghanistan," he wrote in an e-mail. --What the Globe is reporting Canada on sidelines of Afghan strategy - Globe and Mail It was audible in the words of Foreign Minister Lawrence Cannon, who seemed to have been taken by surprise by the key idea to be tabled at today's high-level conference on the Afghan war - a proposal by President Hamid Karzai to create an international fund to pay Taliban fighters and leaders to join the government. "I am anxious to see what President Karzai will put forward ... we will make a determination on that as to whether this is a plan with which we can work," Mr. Cannon said yesterday. "We need to come back to Canada and give these ideas serious consideration." --Who else appears to have been surprised by the key idea NATO weighs Taliban truce in plans for Afghan peace (Saunders yesterday) After hitting southern Afghanistan with tens of thousands of additional soldiers in an effort to weaken a resurgent Taliban, the NATO-led military alliance is considering a plan to end the war by entering power-sharing negotiations with Taliban leaders and former fighters. --The Star shows why reporters, not columnists, should report the news Wary Canada backs plan to buy off Taliban (Star) Canada is expressing cautious support for an Afghan proposal to lure low-level insurgents away from the fighting with promises of money and economic incentives – a plan that could pave the way to negotiations with the Taliban. --What else our papers are reporting on Afstan Afghan hearings to restart in March: PMO Keep troops in Kandahar, U.S. urges --What the Yanks are reporting NATO and Kazakhstan Reach Transit Pact for Afghanistan NATO Contractor Is Sentenced to Death in Afghanistan Pakistan seeks role as mediator in possible Taliban-Afghanistan peace talks --What the Guardian says editorially speaking Afghanistan: More talks more war --What the NY Times is reporting Afghan Tribe Vows to Fight Taliban in Return for U.S. Aid --What else the NY Times is reporting from the state of the union Strikingly, for a president who is prosecuting two wars and trying to protect the country against the threat of a terrorist attack, Mr. Obama spent only nine minutes in an address that lasted more than an hour on foreign policy. --What Obama said about the bad war He renewed one of the most popular promises of his campaign for election, to bring the troops home for Iraq, saying “Make no mistake — this war is ending, and all of our troops are coming home.” --What Obama said about the good war But he devoted only one paragraph to a far less popular decision, escalating the troop levels in Afghanistan. “There will be difficult days ahead,” Mr. Obama said. “But I am confident we will succeed.” --What the Guardian is reporting on the bad war 40 days that made illegal attack into legal war on Iraq | UK news | The Guardian --What the WS Journal is reporting about the next war Pentagon to Send More Special Forces Troops to Yemen --What the W Post is reporting Hillary Clinton among those praising Yemen's efforts against al-Qaeda Yemen pledged Wednesday to implement broad political and economic reforms in exchange for a package of long-term development and security assistance from countries concerned that it could become a permanent base for international terrorist operations. The meeting, attended by foreign ministers from Yemen's Persian Gulf neighbors as well as Russia, China and leading NATO members, was proposed by British Prime Minister Gordon Brown after the Christmas Day bombing attempt against a U.S. airliner sponsored by al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. --What CP is reporting on the Obama drama in Canada Obama enjoys rock-star status in Canada despite struggles in the U.S. if Obama was Liberal leader, 48 per cent of Canadians would vote for the party. That would result in the Tories losing a large chunk of their base, with 30 per cent of them saying they'd vote Liberal if Obama had Michael Ignatieff's job. If he was at the Conservative helm, 43 per cent of Canadians would cast their ballots for the Tories. Doug Anderson, president of Harris/Decima, says he suspects the health-care debate that's been raging in the United States for months has likely cemented Canadian affection for Obama. Fifty-two per cent of those polled said he's exceeded their expectations since his election, while 15 per cent said he's done as well as they expected him to do. Nineteen per cent gave him a poor performance review. --What the W Post is reporting on the same drama from Washington In State of the Union, Obama takes on partisan dysfunction of Washington When Obama addressed a joint session of Congress in February, his approval rating stood at a towering 68 percent. Today almost half the country disapproves of the job he is doing after a year of high unemployment rates, falling home values and a bailout for the biggest firms on Wall Street. --What the Star is reporting from Obama lays out revamped political agenda in the longer term, a fiscal paradox — Obama outlined both a three-year spending freeze starting in 2011 to check the spiralling U.S. deficit and large but unspecified plans for new investment to drive innovations in education and clean energy. --What else the W Post is reporting on last night’s really big shew First State of the Union speech by President Obama: 'We face a deficit of trust' On health-care reform, the signature domestic issue of his first year, Obama pleaded for a new sense of bipartisan cooperation "as temperatures cool" to save legislation that stalled earlier this month. The president accepted blame for its slow movement, saying that it is a "complex issue, and the longer it was debated, the more skeptical people became. I take my share of the blame for not explaining it more clearly to the American people." But even as he sought input from his adversaries and acknowledged a failed process that has "left most Americans wondering what's in it for them," Obama did not spell out a specific road map or a timeline for congressional action. --What the WS Journal is reporting on the very same issue The president didn't address the tactics to achieve a health-care bill. Congressional aides have said they hoped to have a plan by week's end. --What the Star is reporting Obama did not cede on his signature project of health-care reform. Instead, he said, “I take my share of the blame for not explaining it more clearly to the American people.” --What else the WS Journal is reporting On energy, Mr. Obama reaffirmed that comprehensive legislation was needed, though he did not mention the market-based system to cap carbon emissions he has backed. He made the case in terms of economic growth, saying America must lead the global economy in clean-energy jobs. He also mentioned energy sources popular with Republicans—including oil and gas drilling and nuclear power. --What the NY Times is reporting Obama to Party - Don’t ‘Run for the Hills’ After refusing to set a timetable for the repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” the military’s policy barring openly gay men and lesbians from serving, he vowed to work with Congress this year to repeal it. He called for the reauthorization of No Child Left Behind, his predecessor’s signature education law. In a nod to the growing political and economic pressure to begin reining in the budget deficit, he proposed a freeze on a portion of the domestic budget. --What the NY Times is reporting After refusing to set a timetable for the repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” the military’s policy barring openly gay men and lesbians from serving, he vowed to work with Congress this year to repeal it. --What the WS Journal is reporting Late in the speech, the president reiterated general support for repealing the "don't ask, don't tell" policy that prohibits gays and lesbians from serving openly in the military. Mr. Obama also reiterated support for another controversial measure, the overhaul of the immigration system. --What the NY Times is reporting in a rare flash of open confrontation between the White House and the Supreme Court, Mr. Obama declared that a recent court ruling would “open the floodgates for special interests,” and perhaps foreign companies, to exert more influence in political campaigns. Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr., breaking with decorum at such events, shook his head and appeared to mouth the words, “No, it’s not true.” --What an astute NYT observer observed Justice Alito’s Reaction - Opinionator Blog Indeed, Mr. Obama’s description of the holding of the case was imprecise. He said the court had “reversed a century of law.” The law that Congress enacted in the populist days of the early 20th century prohibited direct corporate contributions to political campaigns. That law was not at issue in the Citizens United case, and is still on the books. Rather, the court struck down a more complicated statute that barred corporations and unions from spending money directly from their treasuries — as opposed to their political action committees — on television advertising to urge a vote for or against a federal candidate in the period immediately before the election. It is true, though, that the majority wrote so broadly about corporate free speech rights as to call into question other limitations as well — although not necessarily the existing ban on direct contributions. --What an astute observer observes today Obama Invites Republicans to Share Burden of Fixing U.S. (SEIB) Republicans can't afford to simply dismiss the notion that they can pay a political price if nothing gets done in Washington this year. In a Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll taken in the days before the State of the Union address, those surveyed were more likely to blame Congress than Mr. Obama for failing to find solutions to America's problems—and by a 48% to 41% margin were more likely to blame congressional Republicans than their Democratic counterparts. --What would we do without studies? Study Offers Insight Into the Color of Dinosaurs --What the Globe is reporting on Copenhagen Tories hedge on emissions targets Under an agreement reached last month in Copenhagen, countries are scheduled to submit their climate-change plans to the United Nations by the end of this month – a deadline that Canada will meet. --What no Canadian paper has reported on the very same subject U.N. Official, Yvo de Boer, Says Climate Deal Is at Risk - NYTimes.com Facing a Jan. 31 deadline, major countries have yet to submit their plans for reducing emissions of climate-altering gases, one of the major provisions of the agreement, according to Yvo de Boer, the Dutch official who is executive secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which organized the climate meeting. Fewer than two dozen countries have even submitted letters saying they agree to the terms of the three-page accord. And there has been virtually no progress on spelling out the terms of nearly $30 billion in short-term financial assistance promised to those countries expected to be hardest hit by climate change. Still unresolved are such basic questions as who will donate how much, where the money will go and who will oversee the spending. UN drops deadline for countries to state climate change targets The UN has dropped the 31 January deadline by which time all countries were expected to officially state their emission reduction targets or list the actions they planned to take to counter climate change. Yvo de Boer, UN climate change chief, today changed the original date set at last month's fractious Copenhagen climate summit, saying that it was now a "soft" deadline, which countries could sign up to when they chose. "I do not expect everyone to meet the deadline. Countries are not being asked if they want to adhere… but to indicate if they want to be associated [with the Copenhagen accord]. --A great Harsh winter a sign of disruptive climate change, report says On Wednesday, Yale and George Mason universities released a survey showing that just 57 percent of people said global warming "is happening." That was down 14 percentage points, from 71 percent, in October 2008. Fifty percent of people said they were "very" or "somewhat" worried about global warming, down 13 points from 2008. A poll released Monday by the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press made a similar point: Respondents were asked to rank 21 issues in terms of their priority. Global warming came in last. That was not a surprise, as it has been last before. But this time it was worse than usual: Just 28 percent of respondents listed global warming as a top priority, down from 35 percent in 2008. --A great Canadian
Vancouver is set to register the warmest January on record with average temperatures more than twice as high as normal, according to Environment Canada. --What the Guardian is reporting on whatever ya wanna call it University in hacked climate change emails row broke FOI rules | Environment WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 27, 2010 --We begin with a great RCMP officer in alleged relationship with killer's ex --What the Globe is reporting on Steve With plight of mothers, Harper seeks new G8 course --What the WS Journal is reporting on the economy --What else the Globe is reporting on Steve Harper's aid spending under the microscope --Hey! This recalibration thing is spreading! Obama will reset his agenda in State of the Union speech --Today’s dishonesty --What the NY Times is reporting on tonight’s really big shew Rising Criticism for Budget Deficits and Solutions --Say it ain’t so! U.S. Resists Limits on War-Crimes Tribunals --I'll bet you don't know this either --I’m not touching this one with a ten-foot pole Pope John Paul II regularly whipped himself, book says --Another change Americans increasingly don’t believe in Courts as Battlefields in Climate Fights --The column I’m glad I didn’t write --We follow with a great Canadian climate change moment Overhaul UN climate panel, scientist urges --We’re # U.S. and China Fall as Iceland Leads on Environmental Index A new ranking of the world’s nations by environmental performance puts some of the globe’s largest economies far down the list, with the United States sinking to 61st and China to 121st. --Say it ain’t so! Survey shows slight increase in reported number of gays serving in the military provides opponents of the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy with fresh data as they lobby the Obama administration for its repeal. --Bite me Ignatieff pledges to give federal watchdogs more bite --What else is shaking in Ottawa PM called on to consider ban on burka Conservative stimulus report cards cost taxpayers $250,000 so far --Sleep well U.S. is unprepared for major bioterrorism attack, commission finds --Why all Canadians love our mother country Airline passengers have 'no right' to refuse naked body scanners | The option of having a full-body pat-down search instead, offered to passengers at US airports, will not be available despite warnings from the government's Equality and Human Rights Commission that the scanners, which reveal naked bodies, breach privacy rules under the Human Rights Act. --Honey pie, blow-jobs are still street legal U.S. bans truckers, bus drivers from texting while driving In announcing the ban, LaHood mentioned data compiled last year by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. The agency said that texting drivers take their eyes off the road for an average of 4.6 out of every six seconds. At 55 mph, he said, that means a texting driver travels the length of a football field, including the end zones, without looking at the road. --What the Guardian is reporting on the good war Karzai told he cannot duck tackling corruption and stay credible --What the Independent is reporting on the bad war Foreign Office lawyers say advice on legality of war was ignored --Targeted assassinations? The new guy’s badder than Bush! U.S. military teams, intelligence deeply involved in aiding Yemen on strikes Obama has ordered a dramatic increase in the pace of CIA drone-launched missile strikes into Pakistan in an effort to kill al-Qaeda and Taliban members in the ungoverned tribal areas along the Afghan border. There have been more such strikes in the first year of Obama's administration than in the last three years under President George W. Bush, according to a military officer who tracks the attacks. --Speaking of change you can believe in… NATO struggling to fulfill commitments for more troops in Afghanistan On Tuesday, Germany said it would send 500 reinforcements to Afghanistan, disappointing U.S. officials, who had been pressing Berlin for at least three times that number. German officials, facing stiff domestic opposition to the war, said they would instead double their development aid to Afghanistan and begin withdrawing soldiers in 2011. On Monday, French President Nicolas Sarkozy reaffirmed his previous refusals to send additional combat forces to Afghanistan, although he held out the possibility of dispatching more military trainers and civilian aid workers. --What the W Post is reporting on Afstan Russia won't block removal of former Taliban members from U.N. terrorism list --What the NY Times is reporting U.S. Wrestling With Prospect of Olive Branch for Taliban --Personally, I’m grateful they didn’t forget to do it Toyota Halts Sales of Eight U.S. Models After Recall --Say it ain’t so! Democrats Now See ‘No Rush’ on Health Care Bill --Gimme their address. Now! Los Angeles Marijuana Sellers Limited TUESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2010 --We begin with a great moment in US journalism (and politics) Obama to meet with House Republicans President Obama will meet Friday with perhaps his harshest critics outside of Fox News headquarters: the House Republicans. --We follow with a great Golden boy's Liberal muzzle goes up in smoke Despite the imposition of a code of silence on Mr. Rebagliati by the federal Liberal Party, for whom he plans to run in the next election, the former Olympian spoke openly about his desire to see marijuana legalized. --What the Star is reporting on Steve Stephen Harper pushes G8 to help world's poorest women and kids --What the WS Journal is reporting on the Why Democrats are Losing Support A new poll released yesterday by the Pew Research Center on the public's priorities reveals the real reasons ObamaCare is in intensive care. Jobs and rehabilitating the economy understandably top the list, with 81% and 83% of voters rating these as a "top priority." Reducing health-care costs (57%) fell from 69% in 2008, and is now behind terrorism (80%), education (65%), deficit reduction (60%) and even Medicare (63%) and Social Security (66%). --I’ll bet you didn’t know this either… --What the Globe is reporting on Haiti World leaders commit to 10 years of hard work for Haiti --What the W Post is reporting Haiti seeks food/shelter so displaced residents can survive the coming weeks --What the Financial Times is reporting World Leaders Plan Haiti Aid Effort --What the NY Times is reporting (and all you really need to know) Agreement on Effort to Help Haiti Rebuild Patrick Delatour, a presidential aide, said the $3 billion that the government needs to remake the country would be used to house 200,000 people left homeless in 200 model communities complete with schools and health care centers, as well as to rebuild government ministries and national infrastructure. But the government’s figure was not immediately embraced by the countries being called on to pick up the tab. A United States State Department official called it premature. And Mr. Bellerive said that Haiti had made no specific requests for money or other assistance in Montreal because it was still assessing its needs. “We’re trying to do this in the correct order,” Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton told reporters in Montreal. “Sometimes people have pledging conferences and pledge money, and they don’t have any idea what they’re going to do with it. We actually think it’s a novel idea to do the needs assessment first and then the planning and then the pledging.” --What the NY Times is reporting on big auto To Attract Shoppers, G.M. to Pay Debt to U.S. --What La Presse is reporting on Steve’s tough management Half this amount was spent by Ottawa, of which $246 million went to purchase 50.4 million vaccine doses. --What the Globe is reporting on Iggy (final answer?) Tories and Liberals compete to show they're still at work The Liberals used the occasion to gather outside the empty Commons and rebrand themselves using the promise of job creation, saying they would let Canada's already massive deficit grow even bigger, if necessary, to fund job-growth measures. “What we're definitely calling for is additional measures to promote and save jobs. That's priority No. 1. That could lead to a higher deficit, [but] there could be some items the Harper government is doing that they don't need to do,” Liberal finance critic John McCallum said. --What the Globe is reporting on Obama’s tough management Obama seeks to freeze domestic spending The spending freeze would apply to a relatively small portion of the federal budget, affecting a $477-billion pot of money available for domestic agencies whose budgets are approved by Congress each year. Some of those agencies could get increases, others would have to face cuts; such programs got an almost 10 per cent increase this year. The federal budget total was $3.5-trillion. --What the W Post is reporting on the very same plan Obama to propose freeze on government spending The spending freeze would affect only about one-eighth of the nation's $3.5 trillion budget, the bulk of which is devoted to entitlement programs such as Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, which are responsible for much of the future increase in spending. It would not restrain funding for the $787 billion economic stimulus package Obama pushed through Congress early last year, nor would it apply to a new bill aimed at creating jobs, which Democrats have identified as their top priority in the run-up to November's congressional elections. --Speaking of Ignatieff proposes tighter rules on PM's power to suspend Parliament --What CP is reporting (today’s bouquet) --Hey! Here’s an idea from a great fan of Canada Wanted: Tony Blair for war crimes. Arrest him and claim your reward | Monbiot today I am launching a website – www.arrestblair.org – whose purpose is to raise money as a reward for people attempting a peaceful citizen's arrest of the former prime minister. I have put up the first £100, and I encourage you to match it. Anyone meeting the rules I've laid down will be entitled to one quarter of the total pot: the bounties will remain available until Blair faces a court of law. The higher the reward, the greater the number of people who are likely to try. At this stage the arrests will be largely symbolic, though they are likely to have great political resonance. But I hope that as pressure builds up and the crime of aggression is adopted by the courts, these attempts will help to press governments to prosecute. There must be no hiding place for those who have committed crimes against peace. No civilised country can allow mass murderers to move on. --A great climate change moment Climate fund 'recycled' from existing aid budget, UK government admits | --Why we love our other mother Sarkozy Aims to Reassure Voters in TV Address --What the Globe is reporting on defence matters Budget questions loom for Canadian soldiers --What the Globe is reporting on Afstan NATO weighs Taliban truce in plans for Afghan peace After hitting southern Afghanistan with tens of thousands of additional soldiers in an effort to weaken a resurgent Taliban, the NATO-led military alliance is considering a plan to end the war by entering power-sharing negotiations with Taliban leaders and former fighters. --What the W Post is reporting on the very same issue Britain, Japan to help reintegrate Taliban foot soldiers Britain and Japan have agreed to head an international fund, expected to total up to $500 million over the next five years, Establishment of the fund will be announced Thursday at a high-level international conference on Afghanistan in London, according to U.S. and British officials. Representatives from nearly 70 nations, including Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, will attend. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon plans to announce at the conference the appointment of a new U.N. special envoy to Afghanistan to play a leading role in overseeing often-overlapping and uncoordinated development efforts by the United States and NATO. The leading candidate to replace him, U.S. and allied officials said, is Sweden's Stephan de Mistura, a career U.N. diplomat who previously served as head of the U.N. mission in Iraq. --What the Guardian is reporting British and US troops to launch new Afghanistan offensive --What the NY Times is reporting DNO Near Settlement With Former U.S. Diplomat Over Kurdistan Oil Contract A Norwegian oil producer announced Monday that it would probably have to pay from $12 million to $144 million in an approaching arbitration settlement with parties identified in legal documents and local media reports as the former American diplomat Peter W. Galbraith and a Yemeni businessman. --What else the NY Times is reporting U.S. Envoy’s Cables Show Deep Concerns on Afghan Strategy An American official provided a copy of the cables to The Times after a reporter requested them. The official said it was important for the historical record that Mr. Eikenberry’s detailed assessments be made public, given that they were among the most important documents produced during the debate that led to the troop buildup. --What the Citizen is reporting Canadian soldier wants court martial moved to Kandahar --What else the NY Times is reporting Officers Honored in Kabul Amid Grief and Criticism MONDAY, JANUARY 25, 2010 --We begin with a great Grit moment Stéphane Dion‘s outstanding leadership debt down to $40,000 Collectively, Stéphane Dion, Martha Hall Findlay, Gerard Kennedy, Maurizio Bevilacqua, Hedy Fry, Joe Volpe and Ken Dryden still owe $830,000. Ken Dryden owes the most--$290,000 --We follow with a great moment in Canadian politics MPs, Senators take junkets during break in Parliament "Whether it be prorogued or whether it not be prorogued, Parliamentarians are pretty civil in that matter and people cooperate," says Liberal MP and deputy whip Marcel Proulx (Hull-Aylmer, Que.). "Sure, there might be some situations where you don't necessarily agree with your opponent's positions, but it doesn't work that way." Mr. Proulx and other MPs say the public will understand that though Mr. Harper pulled the plug on legislative affairs, other aspects of Parliamentary life can continue. --We serve up the latest polling poop Tory lead over Liberals all but evaporated, poll suggests --What the Star is reporting on Steve’s Swiss vacation Stephen Harper to highlight growth and climate at G8, G20 summits - --What Steve should read before heading off to Davos Bankers Come Back to Davos - WSJ --The world needs more Canadian Beaver? The Beaver, a Magazine, Changes Its Name to Canada’s History – NY Times --What the WS Journal is reporting on the Prez White House Toughens Tone After Difficult Week - WSJ --A timely reminder of our distinct society Fareed Zakaria - Obama should act more like a president than a prime minister In his enduring treatise, "The American Commonwealth," James Bryce, a British writer who toured the United States in the late 19th century, observed that the Founding Fathers had created a president who would, in a crucial sense, resemble the British king, "not only in being the head of the executive, but in standing apart from and above political parties (italics in the original). He was to represent the nation as a whole. . . . The independence of his position, with nothing either to gain or to fear from Congress, would, it was hoped, leave him free to think only of the welfare of the people." --What the Globe is reporting from Disaster puts PM's prorogation reckoning on hold --What CP is reporting Un convoi canadien coincé sur la route --What yours truly, perched among flowers and trees, says in the Hill Times The big political winner of the week, Mr. Spector said, were the Canadian Forces. “This story reminds Canadians that the military are our first line of defence in a natural disaster, whether it’s a flood in Manitoba or an ice storm in Quebec or something abroad,” Mr. Spector said. “And this is the same military that three weeks ago, was being accused of having aided the commission of war crimes.” --What the NY Times is reporting on Haiti TV News Desks Prepare to Wind Down Haiti Coverage --The world needs more Canada Elliott Abrams - What Haiti needs: A Haitian diaspora Canada has already stepped up, expediting immigration applications from Haitians with family members living there. Canada's immigration minister noted that "we anticipate there will be a number of new applications, which we will treat on a priority basis." But France and the United States have so far agreed only to no longer send Haitians back to Haiti. --What the W Post is reporting today Debate grows in aftermath of quake: Should U.S. let more Haitians immigrate? --We dish up another great moment in Canadian politics Politicians score seats for top events before public last July, when Prime Minister Stephen Harper, facing a budget crunch, ordered that 1,000 of the tickets be returned, most of the tickets the government threw back were to less desirable events. In fact, it kept the full allocations of the most popular sports, including figure skating, short and long track speed skating, as well as the opening and closing ceremonies. For ice hockey, where it was originally allocated 730 tickets, it kept 60 per cent — but most of those were for top draws, including the Canadian matches. Not only did Ottawa receive 100 per cent of the 126 tickets it sought to the opening ceremony, but all but 10 of those were the best “A” section seats at $1,100 apiece. Despite the cut in allocations, the government’s advance access to tickets means those politicians were still able to queue-jump over members of the public who had to duke it out online. --What else the Globe is reporting from Ottawa (wanna bet?) Surging cost of health care poised to play a role in Harper's spring budget Health care ignited a debate for Barack Obama that risks derailing his ambitious policy agenda – if not his presidency. Prime Minister Stephen Harper, in contrast, has successfully hit the snooze button on the health file throughout his four years in power. This is about to change. Both deals expire in the fiscal year starting April 1, 2013 – right about when Ottawa promises to be on the verge of a balanced budget. --What else is shaking Federal unions fear pension assault Canada's jobless benefits fail test of recession: study Stephen Harper to highlight growth and climate at G8, G20 summits Emotional Michaelle Jean moves crowd with song at Glenbow (Cal Herald) Jean encouraged to lead Haiti effort Spy revelations risk to embassy in Iran: expert Liberal senators spark outrage by releasing critical RCMP report early --Say it ain’t so! Upheaval in Green party over May leadership Green party Leader Elizabeth May has come under attack by senior members of her own party who are upset with her management of the organization and fear she is trying to avoid a mandatory leadership review that party rules say must be held this year. some party members believe Ms. May's four-year tenure ought to end. "I have become very concerned about the stability of our party as well as the stability and commitment of our leader, Elizabeth May, to our party," said a governing council member, speaking on condition of anonymity. "I am now unsure if she is up to the challenges of the job as leader." "Elizabeth is a weak political leader, but she is strong enough to dominate the $2-million-a-year, 9,000-member Green Party," wrote John Ogilvie, the publisher of the blog Report on Greens, which has become a centre for anti-May discussions. "This is now the ‘Elizabeth May Party of Canada.' Get used to it." --We bring a great moment in Canadian governance Ottawa names interim RCMP watchdog The new man in charge of holding the Mounties to account is a Toronto estate lawyer who describes himself as “collegial.” But his predecessors question whether a “neophyte” with that mindset is up to the job. --Why 85-year old wrinklies must be patted-down (and profiled) Officials fear toxic ingredient in Botox could become terrorist tool --The world needs more Canada? Shell to look beyond tar sands --What our papers are reporting on Afstan Canada backs bid to delay Afghan elections Afghan government to regulate private security firms: Canadian general Afghans’ bid to immigrate still tied up in red tape --What the Times is reporting Afghanistan will take longer to tackle than Iraq, General David Petraeus says Blow to Karzai as donors refuse to finance elections without reforms Real success may come only with the Taleban at the table --What the W Post is reporting Afghanistan postpones elections until September NATO's International Security Assistance Force reported that three Americans were killed Sunday by improvised explosive devices, or IEDs, and that two more Americans died on Saturday, also from roadside bombs. Their deaths bring to 26 the number of U.S. service members killed in Afghanistan this month, according to the Web site iCasualties.org, which tracks U.S. and coalition fatalities. U.S. military commanders said they expect casualties to continue to grow as the fighting escalates. By comparison, in January 2009, 15 U.S. personnel were killed in Afghanistan, according to iCasualties.org. --What the Financial Times is reporting US general foresees Taliban role General Stanley McChrystal, the Nato commander in Afghanistan, has raised the prospect that his troop surge will lead to a negotiated peace with the Taliban. --What else the Yanks are reporting on Af-Pak Pakistan’s Rebuff Over New Offensives Rankles U.S. Pakistani government, military wary of U.S. overtures --What the Citizen is reporting on defence matters Navy says no to U.S. restrictions on technology that can lead to delays THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2009 --We begin with fears one hears right across the land At reconciliation commission, key positions remain unfilled Canada's Truth and Reconciliation commission has yet to fill most of its key management positions and won't be fully staffed until spring, prompting fears that the most horrific stories of Canada's early Indian residential school period will never be told. --What the Corpse is reporting CBC News - Canada - Proroguing Parliament not ruled out: Harper --All you need to know about Post and Globe readers --We follow with a message from the Queen of Queen praises bravery of troops in Afghanistan in Christmas message --What Canwest is reporting on Afstan Gifts from back home raise spirits at Kandahar --What CP is reporting Canadian soldier killed by roadside bomb in Afghanistan --What the Telegraph is reporting Afghanistan: British paratrooper is fourth soldier to die in four days --The Afstan story Jack Layton is onto The blood of our sons and daughters has been shed on its battlefields…Our troops are doing what they were trained to do when conducting operations. We can all be proud of the professionalism they have demonstrated. They are risking their lives for Canada. They deserve to know that decisions being made in Ottawa are not exposing Canada to charges under international humanitarian law….My colleagues, foreign affairs critic Paul Dewar and defence critic Jack Harris, called for a parliamentary committee to take up where the MPCC had left off. --What the Times Colonist is reporting about one of Jack’s sons Former UVic student killed in Afghanistan A Victoria soldier who surprised friends when he joined the military to go to Afghanistan was killed yesterday by an improvised explosive device. Nuttall, 30, is the son of a prominent Victoria doctor and nurse, Richard and Jane Nuttall, who have set up medical clinics in Third World countries. Janine Armstrong, a friend of Nuttall’s from university, saw him at a wedding in Victoria in the summer. He walked in wearing his uniform, surprising many people there. “He said there are so many places in the world that need help. He thought that by going to Afghanistan, he could make a difference,” Armstrong said. “He saw it as an opportunity to get in on the ground level and help people in a situation that a lot of other people won’t put themselves in. He said he knew it was something he could do. He wasn’t afraid.” --The ‘son’ Paul Dewar of the Dippers is onto in La Presse “The US delay in closing Guantanamo will delay everything else by at least a year. PM Stephen Harper is hiding behind Washington in not doing anything. The Courts have already ruled that the government is obliged to repatriate Omar Khadr. We must bring him home and judge him according to Canadian laws.” the rest of today’s Afstan news here --Who else is stiffing calls for a public inquiry PQ petition pushes construction inquiry A Leger Marketing poll published this month in Le Journal de Montréal showed 74 per cent of Quebecers want a public inquiry. But in spite of that, Premier Jean Charest has rejected calls for an inquiry on the construction industry, saying the police are already investigating those allegations. --Another great moment in governance Italy tax amnesty yields record €80bn The figure, equal to about 5 per cent of gross domestic product, sets a record for an overseas tax amnesty for Italians. It also confirms Italy as the European league leader in successful tax amnesties, thanks to the generous terms and anonymity offered. Protests from Swiss banks notwithstanding, most of the money is likely to remain abroad, as Italians are not obliged to repatriate their funds. --What CP is reporting on the Canadian economy Modest economic recovery continues, GDP expected to expand next year - --What the Post is reporting --What else CP is reporting in case you were starting to feel better Five things that should keep you awake at night about the unfolding economy - --This brightened up my day Loyal dog to get free train ride home --Speaking of feeling better Rookie minister baptized by flu (Canwest) --Today’s idiocy --What CP is reporting that may yet move you More people leaving Alta than moving in for 1st time in 15 years: Stats Canada - --What the W Post is reporting Census: Florida, Nevada had more Americans move out than in --What CP is reporting on Steve Harper's steady statesmanship earns him title of Newsmaker of the Year - --What the Sun is reporting Harper staged a 'political turnaround' --What the BBC is reporting on the Copenhagen ambush Why did Copenhagen fail to deliver a climate deal? An incredible amount of messaging and consultation went on behind the scenes in the run-up to this meeting, as vast numbers of campaign groups from all over the planet strived to co-ordinate their "messaging" in order to maximise the chances of achieving their desired outcome. The messaging had been - in its broadest terms - to praise China, India, Brazil and the other major developing countries that pledged to constrain the growth in their emissions; to go easy on Barack Obama; and to lambast the countries (Canada, Russia, the EU) that campaigners felt could and should do more. Now, post-mortems are being held, and all those positions are up for review. US groups are still giving Mr Obama more brickbats than bouquets, for fear of wrecking Congressional legislation - but a change of stance is possible. Having seen the deal emerge that the real leaders of China, India and the other large developing countries evidently wanted, how will those countries now be treated? How do you campaign in China - or in Saudi Arabia, another influential country that emerged with a favourable outcome? The situation is especially demanding for those organisations that have traditionally supported the developing world on a range of issues against what they see as the west's damaging dominance. After Copenhagen, there is no "developing world" - there are several. Responding to this new world order is a challenge for campaign groups, as it will be for politicians in the old centres of world power. (h/t to Mark Collins) --A great moment in the changing UK climate Plants and animals race for survival as climate change creeps across the globe Global warming creeps across the world at a speed of a quarter of a mile each year, according to a new study that highlights the problems that rising temperatures pose to plants and animals. Species that can tolerate only a narrow range of temperatures will need to move as quickly if they are to survive. Wildlife in lowland tropics, mangroves and desert areas are at greater risk than species in mountainous areas, the study suggests. Rare bird species seeing a revival, says RSPB Britain's birds have seen a dramatic reversal of fortune over the past decade, according to a review. Almost 60% of Britain's rarest birds, including once near-extinct species such as the bittern, avocet and osprey, have seen their numbers increase, said the RSPB. --What Iggy gets away with saying about the Jason Kenney is the federal minister in charge of Canada's multiculturalism. But for the last couple of years, he's been wondering whether "pluralism" might be a better word to describe this country's cultural diversity. And so have government officials, according to documents obtained by the Star…. Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff is skeptical about Kenney's approach, saying this is a minister whose whole mission seems to revolve around using multiculturalism to boost the electoral prospects of Conservatives. "The key thing is the political manipulation of ethnicity for political gain. And all of us, all politicians have to take our responsibilities," Ignatieff said in a recent interview. --The Sun serves up a great moment in disinterested academic scholarship Turbulent year for Iggy's Grits “I think I’d want one more year before I’d actually give him a grade,” says Brian Tanguay, chair of political science at Wilfrid Laurier University…. “There was just no compelling cause for an election,” Tanguay says. “That was a very disturbing moment for anyone who was a Liberal party supporter.” --Why all Canadians, with few exceptions, love Toronto --What Tom Flanagan says in the Star A `Wildrose' is blooming in Alberta Flanagan said, Stelmach might think about asking Wildrose leader Smith to join his cabinet. --In corrections, some great moments in Canadian journalism --What the W Post is reporting from Washington Senate and House in search of health-care compromise --What you won’t read in your paper about US health care reform David S. Broder - A health-care victory that stinks This week's Quinnipiac University poll found a majority of Americans disapproving of the legislation by 53 to 36 percent and an overwhelming number -- 73 to 18 percent -- saying they do not believe it will, as promised, reduce future budget deficits. --What the NY Times is reporting that’s also worth noting In Senate Health Vote, a New Partisan Vitriol The health care legislation is likely to be approved Thursday morning, with the Senate divided on party lines — something that has not happened in modern times on so important a shift in domestic policy, or on major legislation of any kind, lawmakers and Congressional historians said. --We leave you with one more great moment in governance Greece steers clear of public sector reform WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2009 --In the spirit of the season, we begin today in the Holy Land… Vatican, Israel joust over Jerusalem site Minerbi has offered a novel compromise: Put the site back under control of Muslims, who ran it for four centuries before the British took control after World War I. The idea has provided Israel and the Vatican with something they can finally agree on. Both are vehemently opposed. "At this stage," said Ayalon, the Israeli deputy foreign minister, "it would not be helpful to involve other parties." --What the Globe is reporting from Ottawa Flaherty to target deficit with leaner government Ottawa plans to shrink the public service and usher in a new era of smaller government in its bid to return to balanced budgets. Finance Minister Jim Flaherty, in a year-end interview with The Globe and Mail, offered the first details of Ottawa's plan to tighten government spending and eliminate the deficit, saying that the coming wave of retirements by baby-boomer public servants is being viewed as an opportunity to save money. --What the Star is reporting (a great journalism moment) Flaherty's deficit plan: Take an axe and cut deep Flaherty, who carried the provincial finance portfolio with the Mike Harris government in 2001-2002, said clamping down on spending "doesn't make one popular as a finance minister. "I've done it before. I did it in Ontario." Flaherty was a key figure all through the Harris years, when under the banner of the Common Sense Revolution Ontario's Progressive Conservatives elevated chopping government programs and reducing taxes to articles of faith. --Why all Canadians, with few exceptions, love Toronto Popular pizzeria's doors closed over rodent infestation --What Canwest is reporting --What the W Post is reporting on the US economy Dollar's decline a boon for U.S. manufacturers --The US needs more Canada Harold Meyerson - Labor's messy health-care bargain "There's an excise tax on policies, but there's no public option to hold down the cost of those policies," says Leo Gerard, president of the United Steelworkers. "There's no Medicare buy-in, no pay-or-play mandate for employers. There's no Canadian reimportation to hold down drug costs, on the grounds of 'safety.' No one gets sick from Canadian reimported drugs," adds Gerard, who is Canadian. "I know a guy who got sick from a Chinese-made ingredient in an American drug, but there's no restriction on Chinese drug imports." --We bring you the latest poop from BC RCMP support in B.C. plunges after Tasering, death: report (V Sun) --What the Citizen is reporting from home base Flaherty to push for national regulator --What CP is reporting from Ottawa No tax cuts coming, Flaherty says Federal government urged to go slow on tightening mortgage-eligibility rules --What the Star is reporting on their great victory Top court expands freedoms for media The high court agreed with the Toronto Star, a broad coalition of Canadian media outlets and the Canadian Civil Liberties Association that Canadian defamation law had not kept pace with the constitutional value placed on free and open public discourse. --What the Citizen is reporting (an equally great journalism moment) Ruling a win for press freedom The court ruled in favour of the Citizen and other media organizations by creating a new defence from defamation claims based on "responsible communication" of issues of public importance. Journalists or Internet bloggers who are sued for libel or slander will no longer have to prove in court the absolute truth of every allegation in a report. Instead, they can rely on the new defence if the issue is of public importance and they took proper steps to verify the information. --Hey! I thought only Duffy did this sort of thing to Liberal leaders In an off-camera exchange with CTV anchor Lloyd Robertson on a tape provided for viewing by the parliamentary press gallery, Harper calls the conference "kind of an anticlimax." When back on camera, the prime minister describes the agreement as "an important step forward." "We have all the countries in the world recognizing it's a problem, and recognizing they need to participate," said Harper. "This has been something we've been asking for for, quite frankly, four years since we took office." --What Steve says about the torture allegations Torture issue Afghan problem, not Canadian: PM --What Bob says “Mr. Harper is flat wrong,” Liberal MP Bob Rae said, adding that the Geneva Conventions set out a greater legal responsibility for forces handing over detainees. “Canada cannot transfer prisoners if we think there's a prospect of their being tortured. Period.” --What AP is reporting on torture Lithuanian report inconclusive on how secret CIA prisons were used --What the Post is reporting on the torture allegations Hillier ‘trivializing’ torture, lawyer says Civil liberties lawyer Paul Champ on Tuesday accused retired general Rick Hillier of trivializing torture when the country's former top soldier compared Afghan detainees to inmates at Ontario's Millhaven penitentiary during testimony last month to a House of Commons committee. Mr. Champ also questioned how Mr. Hillier, a former chief of defence staff, could not have concluded, given reports from Foreign Affairs and from international organizations, "that there's probably a solid risk of torture if we hand over these individuals to these authorities who have committed these kinds of abuses in the past." Mr. Pardy testified that Canadian diplomat Richard Colvin provided the government with information essential while the country is at war and that his reports would have been seen at the upper echelons. The way the government has treated Mr. Colvin since his testimony was made public throws "a very large bucket of cold water" on other public servants, Mr. Pardy said. --What the Star is reporting from the mouth of Mr. Pardy Top brass, ministers accused of ducking responsiblities "Every time these kinds of cases come up, the generals and the ministers disappear over the horizon and it's the poor buggers in the trenches that are going to get it," he told Liberal, Bloc Québécois and NDP members of the committee. --Nik’s latest proof of our confusion Views on Afghan detainees issue --Of the 48.8% of Canadians who were aware of the Afghan detainee issue, the Canadian Armed Forces are considered by Canadians to have the greatest credibility on this issue (42,3%). --Nearly four in ten Canadians (37.8%) believed that the Conservative government passed Afghan detainees to Afghan security forces knowing they might be tortured, while 36.3% of Canadians believed that the Conservative government would never knowingly pass detainees to Afghan security forces if they thought they might be tortured. One in four Canadians (25.9%) were unsure. Comparatively, however, Quebecers were more likely to believe the opposition parties (43.4%) than Canadians in other regions. --18,6% think Stephen Harper and Peter MacKay are credible, 43,3% don’t. --17,8% think the Liberals are credible; 19,1% the Dippers are and 14,3% the Bloc. --Nik’s bottom line The overall confusion on this issue has meant that it has not been a significant vulnerability for the governing Conservatives. the rest of today’s Afstan news here --What Steve says about carbon Harper hopes carbon tax not in Canada's future, but won't rule it out --What Charest says Quebec premier tears into Harper government's performance on environment --more COPENHAGEN news HERE --What Canwest is reporting on Copenhagen in the Gazette Canadians cool to Harper's policies on global warming --What Canwest is reporting in the Edmonton Journal Climate stance hasn't hurt Tories in polls The poll found that 43 per cent would be less likely to vote for the Conservatives because of the government's position and 13 per cent would be more likely to support them. But Greg Lyle, the polling firm's managing director, said those who already supported the Tories were not likely to change their minds. "Basically, it's something that's rallying the Conservatives' opponents, but it's leaving Conservatives fairly untouched," said Lyle. "It's not pulling the Tories down, so it's something that they got through. It will be good for Liberal fundraising, but it isn't going to be good for the Liberal party to close the gap with the Tories." --What Canwest is reporting in the Cal Herald --What Simpson writes in the Globe Can the Great Republic summon the will to tackle health care? If the United States fails to act in 2010, or adopts diluted legislation, the incentive for others to move will wane. If the Senate does move forcefully, it will give Mr. Obama a powerful platform from which to budge and nudge other countries, to say nothing of eventually bringing down emissions from the world's second-largest emitter (after China). --What Obama sayeth in the Washington Post Obama lists financial rescue as 'most important thing' of his first year Obama acknowledged that cap-and-trade and financial reform legislation -- both of which the House has passed -- would carry over into the midterm election year, when political calculations slow down Congress. "I think there's no doubt that energy legislation is going to be tough," he said. "But I feel very confident in making an argument to the American people that we should be a leader in clean-energy technology, that that will be one of the key elements that will drive growth for years to come." --What they’re saying about the Prez Robert Dallek, a presidential historian specializing in Johnson's tenure, said that despite Democratic majorities, "the fact he's [Obama's] put forward such a bold agenda has made it exceptionally difficult to get bills passed." Dallek said Roosevelt had the "advantage" of a huge crisis to bridge partisan division over the New Deal. Johnson, he said, was "able to invoke [John F.] Kennedy's legacy" to push through civil rights and Medicare legislation. "While Obama has had a crisis, it's not the sort that the opposition would give in to his demands," he said. "Obama, in a sense, has had a tougher assignment than either Roosevelt or Johnson had. The fact that he's getting so close on this health-care bill speaks to his talent of leadership, doggedness and determination to put across the biggest piece of social legislation since Social Security." TUESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2009 --We begin with a great Ottawa moment Miscalculations responsible for 'missing gold' As a result of the bungling, the government confirmed it would withhold discretionary bonuses for 2008 for the Mint’s five top executives. --Steve says CTV News | Harper optimistic that 2010 will be 'year of recovery' Prime Minister Stephen Harper said the government plans more stimulus funding for the economy next year, in a federal budget planned for March. But he also warned that rising interest rates are on the horizon, in an exclusive year-end interview with CTV News. --Flaherty says Cure for housing market carries risk --What Steve says in the language of Molière about dem Preems Harper défend son bilan - LCN - National Le premier ministre canadien estime que ces critiques représentent «des perspectives partisanes provinciales privées» et qu’elles «n'ont pas de place sur la scène internationale». --Back in in the language of Shakespeare, Steve also says Harper's stimulus exit plan: Get ready for five frugal years the Prime Minister warned that when Ottawa ends its recovery spending in 2011, Canadians can expect five years of belt-tightening as his government tries to tame public finances. --Hey, look! Here’s an idea in any language! CBC News - Manitoba - Peguis chief defends lucrative salary Documents delivered to the Canadian Taxpayers Federation and CBC News by a band member reveal Hudson and four councillors were paid between $206,000 and $310,000 each last year. The amounts are significantly more than what is earned by Winnipeg's mayor or even Manitoba's premier --What the W Post is reporting on comparative fiscal fitness In Ireland's deep budget cuts, an omen for a heavily indebted United States? "I feel like the government is telling us that Ireland can't support us anymore and we should take our chances elsewhere," said Shaun Kavanaugh, 25, an unemployed electrician. "I'm taking the hint. As soon as I save up enough money for my flight to Canada, I will be on that plane. I thought those days were over in Ireland." --All you need to know about the American system of government --A great American moment to anticipate Both sides question health bill's abortion compromise Democrats Face Challenge in Merging Health Bills --The world needs more Canada? One of the chief complaints about Syria has been its alleged responsibility for the Hariri assassination. Syria now seems to have dodged that bullet. The United Nations inquiry into the matter continues – a Canadian prosecutor, Daniel Bellemare, is heading it up – but in the words of a Western diplomat, the case has been “back-burnered.” --What Cannon says in the other official language «Les projecteurs seront fixés sur le Canada» | Politique canadienne --What the Citizen is reporting on the torture allegations Detainee debate 'hyper partisan' Civil liberties lawyer Paul Champ plans to tell a House of Commons committee today that the Afghan detainees affair should be moved away from “ the hyper partisan process” on Parliament Hill. “My clients believe this is an issue that should be totally depoliticized,” said Champ, the lawyer for Amnesty International and the B.C. Civil Liberties Union. He said an independent commission could sort out what happened in the past and provide guidance for a clear military policy on detainee transfer procedures in any war theatre. “Basically (the politicians) are saying they want absolute proof in some way that someone has been tortured when it should be about what is the risk of torture,” Champ said. the rest of today’s Afstan news here --What the Guardian is reporting on torture British Army 'waterboarded' suspects in 70s | UK news --Why all Canadians love our mother country Tories are a party for the rich, say voters --What Le Devoir is reporting from Ottawa Roch Cholette nommé délégué du Québec à Ottawa L'ancien député libéral de Hull, Roch Cholette, a été nommé hier délégué du Québec à Ottawa --What CP is ‘reporting’ KAIROS clash message to foreign aid groups: Toe gov’t line or lose funding Groups involved in aid work in the Middle East are particularly fearful, given that the government appears to have expanded the definition of anti-Semitism to include any criticism of Israel. --What the Globe is reporting that appears to be different Debate continues over minister's comments about religious group In a media release issued from Jerusalem, Mr. Kenney said: "Our government is working to dismantle the client relationship that existed between the government of Canada and organizations whose priority is seemingly to advocate for the legalization of banned terrorist organizations like Hamas and Hezbollah, as well as deny the Jewish people's right to a homeland." Kairos says it has never denied the right of Jews to a homeland but has sought a just peace between Jews and Palestinian Arabs. It also has said that Palestinians voted for Hamas not to destroy Israel but because they wanted better political leaders. --What else is shaking in Ottawa Fed gov’t posts job ad for someone to monitor seal hunt chatter on Internet Allegations of abuse of Afghan prisoners by Cdn troops unfounded; Military --We bring you a great Asian moment After Expelling Uighurs, Cambodia Approves Chinese Investment China signed 14 deals with Cambodia on Monday worth approximately $1 billion, two days after Cambodia deported 20 ethnic Uighur asylum seekers under strong pressure from Beijing. --Hey! Look who’s no longer blaming Canada If you want to know who's to blame for Copenhagen, look to US Senate | Monbiot --Hey! Look who is blaming Canada for Copenhagen! Harper fell short on climate change: McGuinty in McGuinty’s first comments on the issue since the climate change summit, he was critical of the Harper government’s low-key approach in Copenhagen. “We’ve tended to set a pretty high moral standing for the world in a number of instances and I think we’ve been missing,” he said. “I think of late, when it comes to the climate change debate we’ve been punching below our weight.” --Oops! (A great moment in Canadian journalism) Charting Canada's decline (Cohen) You don't have to accept the searing view of George Monbiot, the British journalist and author, who calls Canada an international environmental outlaw. As he put it recently: "Until now I had believed that the nation that has done the most to sabotage a new climate change agreement was the United States. I was wrong. The real villain is Canada." So angry was Monbiot that he agreed to come to Toronto (breaking his personal ban on flying) to appear with the perfervid Green party leader Elizabeth May in a debate on climate change. They argued against the deniers and won. --more COPENHAGEN news HERE --What else Looking at asset sale my duty, premier says --What else is shaking at QP Policy expert quits board of eHealth --We leave you with the next domestic pissing match Hydro Quebec deal for NB Power can't be re-opened, minister says MONDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2009 --We begin with the latest news on the Snowstorms bring death and travel chaos on both sides of the Atlantic --We follow with the Canadian angle on this story N.S. walloped by tail end of U.S. storm --What CP is reporting on Steve Harper in control as decade winds down but polls say Canada hasn't moved right --We bring you a preview of the next anti-Steve ambush Green activists look past Copenhagen (Ed Journal) "As chair of the 2010 G8 meeting and co-host of the next G20, Canada could be a key player in reaching a strong, binding global climate deal," wrote Clare Demerse of the Pembina Institute, a Canadian energy and environmental think-tank, on her Copenhagen conference's blog. "Right now, Canada is utterly unprepared to step into that role. Avoiding a reprise of the criticism the government faced in Copenhagen will mean ending the delay and putting strong and effective policies in place well before the G8 gets underway next June." --What would we do without studies? Majority of Canadians say they're patriotic, study finds --What the Times is reporting on Steve’s Brit counterpart Gordon Brown calls for new group to police global environment issues Despite being the first world leader to join the summit, Mr Brown was excluded from the key meeting where the compromise was decided. --more COPENHAGEN news HERE --We bring you the latest on the Queen's finances to be revealed --Why all Canadians love our mother country Expenses: more than 100 peers claimed over £50,000 last year --What The Hill Times is reporting on Steve’s predecessor (a great moment) The Hill Times 13th Annual All Politics Poll 14. Which former prime minister do you most admire? Brian Mulroney Shakeup alert! For the first time in this poll's 13-year history the former prime minister that Parliament Hill insiders most admire is not Pierre Elliott Trudeau, it's the boy from Baie-Comeau: Brian Mulroney. --What Rosie says about another Conservative DiManno: Agency's anti-Israel role is obvious --What The Hill Times is reporting on those who lobby Cons The people registered to lobby --What Jim Prentice says about dem Preems Quebec Premier Jean Charest was a particularly vocal in criticizing the Canadian position. He spoke of a “tale of two Canadas,” describing a federal government at odds with provinces such as Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba and British Columbia that want to go further. Upon his return to Canada, Mr. Prentice said such talk was not helpful. “There is no doubt that some of the comments that were made have been divisive,” he told CTV's Question Period , in an interview broadcast Sunday. “I think wiser heads will prevail and we have a lot of work to do.” --What The Hill Times is reporting on the torture allegations Feds and army brass deepened detainee crisis: transcripts Orders from former Canadian Forces chief of defence staff Rick Hillier and the federal Cabinet hindered Canadian troops as they were attempting to process Afghanistan detainees in compliance with international war law and likely contributed to severe detention conditions at the military police compound in Kandahar, previously unreleased documents indicate. The government and top commanders pressured troops in Afghanistan for the first year of the Kandahar mission to hand detainees over to Afghan forces so quickly that a senior Military Police officer used a dramatically exaggerated example to urge more caution: He warned a commanding general that Canadians were acting so hastily they could have unwittingly let Osama Bin Laden slip out of their hands. Later, after the detainee controversy broke out in Canada in February, 2007, the government and Hillier reversed their position on rapid transfer and secretly halted all transfers and releases, leading to disastrous overcrowding and at least one lengthy detention of a man at the Kandahar detention compound who was eventually released without charge, investigative interviews into allegations of detainee abuse show. … The transcripts include a shocking account of an apparently innocent Afghan detainee who was an unintended victim of the government's initial, unpublicized, response to the prisoner controversy when it first erupted in February, 2007. --What CP is reporting Red Cross president talked about Afghan detainees with Tory ministers in 2006 --What The Hill Times is reporting on General Hillier The Hill Times 13th Annual All Politics Poll 3. Which public figure do you wish had run in the last election? Frank McKenna They say that part of the Liberal problem is they keep looking elsewhere for their Prince Charming (so far no Princess Charming on the horizon) to sweep into their leadership and charm voters into the Liberal majority they suspect Canadians really want in their heart of hearts. Frank McKenna is a prime example; the former premier of New Brunswick and ambassador to the U.S. had to issue statements to the media in both 2006 and 2008 to say he wasn't interested in the Liberal Party's top job. Mr. McKenna is followed by retired chief of defence staff Rick Hillier and hockey commentator Don Cherry. Neither has shown interest in running for politics, although the Tories have eyed both as potential candidates in the past. the rest of today’s Afstan news here --What Stéphane Ignatieff says Ignatieff, a wiser, tougher man “(The Conservative party) is the most ruthless attack machine in the history of Canadian politics and I’ll be frank with you: It’s taken us awhile as Liberals to wake up to that, but we do have to fight back,” Ignatieff said. “I’ve been under continuous, sustained attack for almost a year-and-a-half and I’m still standing and I’m not going anywhere. People underestimate me if they don’t understand how tough I am and how resilient I am, so that’s not the issue.” --‘Great’ hed (more here) Ignatieff says he's a work in progress (Cal Herald) --What else Iggy says about the Cons The Conservatives “ think the deficit’s the only issue you have to worry about, and we’re saying unemployment’s the issue you have to worry about. That’s a differentiator,” Ignatieff said. “ If I’m prime minister, I’m going to be looking at the unemployment numbers first and deficit second.” --A great Iggy moment 24 Sussex not quite fit for Grit leader "Zsuzsanna and I will check into the hotel," Ignatieff said in an exclusive year-end interview with Canwest News Service and Global National. "It's a very good question. I think it is time for somebody to take one for the team, so we'll move into the Château or the Elgin for three or four years and let us get a residence for the prime minister that makes the country proud." --What Chantal says about Jack (a great moment) For Layton, a year of playing chameleon Looking back on 2009, one can only marvel at Layton's ability to surf on the contrary waves that came his way. He truly seemed to bask in the eternal sunshine of a spotless policy mind. --What the Edmonton Journal is reporting about one of Jack’s MPs MP blasts Canada's disappearing act --What the Citizen is reporting from the Record number of PS applications The public service grew by 9,072 jobs last year -- a 4.5-per-cent increase over the year before. That included everything from full-time, permanent work to student jobs. The commission doesn't have an estimate on how many jobs could be filled or created this year. --What else is shaking in Ottawa Tories failing to force airline ad reforms Tories balked at Canada's 2010 Olympic pavilion until last minute --What would we do without nationwide referenda? --From Queen’s Park, a great moment in Canadian political oratory Premier urges public sector squeeze "Ask not what your provincial government can impose on you; ask what as a member of the public sector you can bring to the table," the premier said Friday in Ottawa. --What the W Post is reporting that’s of interest to Canada Radical Islam meets a buffer in West Africa this past year has brought worrying signs that the desert might also help bring a violent brand of Islam to moderate parts of West Africa. An increase in attacks has included the killing of an American teacher and a suicide bombing in Mauritania, the kidnapping of two Canadian diplomats in Niger, and the executions of a British tourist and a Malian colonel in Mali. --What the LA Times is reporting on the Nobel Peace Prize Prez Obama's Guantanamo policy rings a bell President Obama began the year with a pledge to close the Guantanamo prison, and to restore due process and the core constitutional values that he said "made this country great." But his administration has set out a multi-pronged legal policy for the remaining Guantanamo prisoners that bears a striking similarity to that of the final year of George W. Bush's presidency. --What the WS Journal is reporting from Washington Democrats Pin 2010 Hopes on Bill --What the LA Times is reporting Senate Democrats get 60 votes to move healthcare bill along Today, 45% of Americans believe the country will be better off with "reform," down from 59% in February, according to a tracking poll by the nonprofit Kaiser Family Foundation. And just 1 in 3 Americans believe that "healthcare reform" will leave them and their families better off, the lowest measure all year. --What the LA Times is reporting The negotiations could stretch for weeks or months. --more ON HEALTH CARE HERE --All you need to know about US governance (today’s howler) SUNDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2009 --We begin with the swine flu Cdns give passing grade to all three gov't levels on flu handling: poll --What Sun Media is reporting on Steve Chief enlists in climate fight the new national chief of the Assembly of First Nations held his first formal meeting with Prime Minister Stephen Harper. It was a sit-down that both had tried to schedule since Atleo's election in the summer -- and the two politicians finally pulled it off in the Danish capital. --What's shaking back home in Alberta Tory fortress under siege from left and right --We serve up a great Ottawa moment Killer's claim could leave taxpayers on the hook --More howlers here --We bring you a great moment in Canadian journalism The Year in Media Errors and Corrections | Regret the Error Error of the Year: Wafergate This was a bad year for the Telegraph-Journal, a newspaper in New Brunswick, Canada. First, it came under fire when it dismissed a summer intern after he committed a few factual errors in a controversial story. It also had to apologize for an incident of plagiarism in an unrelated story. But the biggest problem was a front page story that included a fabricated accusation against the Canadian prime minister, as well as a fabricated quote from a prominent priest. In Canada, the ensuing national scandal came to be known as “Wafergate,” and it eventually cost the paper’s editor her job. The publisher was also suspended. … Though the paper has issued two prominent apologies, one major issue remains: the public doesn’t know who or what caused the paper to fabricate this controversy. Who made the decision to insert the offending accusation and quotes? Why did they do it? Do they still work for the paper? The paper apologized for its errors, but it hasn’t been transparent about what caused them. Sadly, this lack of disclosure is all too common among news organizations. --What Canwest is reporting from the mouth of Jim Prentice Debate rages over climate accord Prentice said the conclusion of the negotiations means he can move on further harmonizing Canada's climate change policies with those of the U.S. The two countries already have virtually the same emission-reduction targets, and that will remain, but Prentice said he wants Canada to have the same base year as the U.S. for calculating emission reductions. He also said he will begin a process of consulting with industry on what he hopes will be a North America-wide cap-and-trade system, where major industrial emitters have to buy credits for emissions above and beyond a prescribed limit. "That will involve discussions with all sectors of the Canadian economy that emit carbon." Prentice said. --What CP is reporting Ottawa and environmentalist disagree on final Copenhagen agreement federal Environment Minister Jim Prentice started the job of selling the agreement to the Canadian public, calling it a significant step toward reducing global greenhouse gas emissions. "The Copenhagen Accord is an excellent agreement and a very, very positive agreement for Canada," he told The Canadian Press on Saturday. "It sits within the principles we put forward as a Canadian government and it essentially achieved all our negotiating objectives." --What else CP is reporting on Copenhagen Environmentalists, however, described the deal hammered out by a few nations Friday and pushed through the conference early Saturday with terms like problematic, disappointing, watered down and a failure. "It would be pretty hard to put a positive spin on it," said Bruce Cox, executive director for Greenpeace Canada, adding that if the Harper government is satisfied with the agreement it "speaks volumes." "Canada went into Copenhagen as a laggard," Cox said. "But we were worse than a laggard." Cox, along with Quebec environmentalist Steven Guilbeault, both cite the fact the deal is not legally binding as a point of failure. "We can't have a system where people can pick and choose what they do," Guilbeault said. --What else Jim says But Prentice brushed off their concerns about the agreement. "It will be binding in due course," he said. "Our objective would be to see this translated into a binding international treaty during 2010." He also highlighted Canada's various commitments under the new deal, including contributing to the financial aid promised to poor countries by richer nations - but wouldn't elaborate on the figures. "Canada will shoulder our fair share of responsibility," he said. "We've provisioned for those figures and we'll announce our amount in the new year." --more COPENHAGEN news HERE --The world needs more Canada's booming asbestos market (Star) --What else Sun Media is reporting Rights museum cash plea ignored by governments --What Canwest is reporting on Afstan “Canada had called for merit based appointments,” William Crosbie said in a statement. “ We are pleased to see that the list of candidates includes competent individuals, some of whom we have worked with in the past.” the rest of today’s Afstan news here --What the NY Times is reporting from Washington Democrats Clinch Deal for Deciding Vote on Health Bill With Senate leaders increasingly confident that they would pass the bill, Mr. Nelson pointedly warned that he would oppose the final version if negotiations with the House, which approved its bill last month, result in changes that he does not like. But House liberals are expected to resist some concessions made in the Senate…. Because the Democrats nominally control 60 seats in the Senate — the precise number needed to overcome a Republican filibuster — every senator in the Democratic caucus effectively has veto power over the bill. No Republican is willing to support it. --What else the W Post is reporting Deal on health bill is reached Unless the GOP yields and the vote comes sooner, the bill is expected to pass in a final Senate vote at 7 p.m. on Christmas Eve. Negotiations to merge the bill with the House version would begin early next month. Many liberals, however, were bitterly disappointed with the bargains Reid struck to win support from moderates in his caucus, any member of which could demand alterations in exchange for his or her support. Democratic leaders dropped a government insurance option and the idea of expanding Medicare to younger Americans. Reid also omitted language that would have eliminated the federal antitrust exemption for health insurers -- another nonstarter for Nelson --What the LA Times is reporting that I'll bet you didn't know U.S. prison population headed for first decline in decades --I'll bet you didn't know this either SATURDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2009 --What the Globe is reporting from Copenhagen --What the Star is reporting Leaders hail climate deal but put off hard choices U.S. President Barack Obama has forged a climate deal with the largest developing nations that sparked a storm of disagreement here and risks leaving a global emissions regime in tatters. --What CP is reporting Harper leaves Copenhagen as climate talks end in confusion --What the NY Times is reporting Many Goals Remain Unmet in 5 Nations’ Climate Deal Mr. Obama, who left before the conference considered the accord because of a major storm descending on Washington, noted that the agreement was merely a political statement and not a legally binding treaty and might not need ratification by the entire conference. --What the Financial Times is reporting World grasps at fragile climate accord the European Union said the US declaration was premature and negotiations dragged on for several more hours after Mr Obama left Copenhagen until EU leaders eventually issued a tepid endorsement of the deal at 2am. A formal plenary session of the conference was convened at 3am to gauge support for the accord and it was immediately clear that approval was far from unanimous – ensuring that no formal agreement would come out of the Copenhagen conference. --What the AP is reporting this morning from Copenhagen Obama brokers a climate deal, doesn't satisfy all a final session of climate conference delegates that lasted through the night cast doubt early Saturday on whether the president of the conference, Danish Prime Minister Lars Loekke Rasmussen, could declare the Copenhagen Accord approved. Several countries, including Bolivia, Venezuela and Sudan said the document is unacceptable because it lacks targets for reducing carbon emissions. Sudan's delegate Lumumba Di-Aping said it would condemn Africa to widespread deaths from global warming and compared it to the Holocaust. His statement was denounced by other delegations. --What the NY Times is reporting U.N. Climate Talks ‘Take Note’ of Accord Backed by U.S. With the swift bang of a gavel on Saturday morning, a prolonged fight between nations small and large over an international pact to limit climate risks that was forged the night before by the United States and four partners came to a somewhat murky end. The chair of the climate treaty talks declared that the parties would “take note” of the document, named the Copenhagen Accord, leaving open the question of whether this effort to curb greenhouse gases from the world’s major emitters would gain the full support of the 193 countries bound by the original, and largely failed, 1992 Framework Convention on Climate Change. --What Steve said last evening Summit a public relations flop for Canada (Woods) the substance of the bargaining process has vindicated the Conservative government's position, Harper said. "What this government has been saying for four years, which was considered heresy four years ago, are now the underpinnings of the agreement that was concluded here," he told reporters Friday. The main points are that all big economies in the world be bound by the pact, and the emissions-reduction targets be "realistic" for Canada. Behind the scenes Canada has kept a low profile in the talks and "played it smart," said John Drexhage, climate change director of the International Institute of Sustainable Development in Winnipeg. "The Canadian negotiators have a mandate to be quietly constructive," he said. They have played that role well, he added. --more COPENHAGEN news HERE --Iggy says Employment first, deficit second for Liberals: Ignatieff In a year-end interview with Canwest News Service and Global National, Ignatieff said he would be prepared to divert federal resources to job creation even if that meant Canada would remain in deficit beyond 2015 - when the Conservative government believes Canada will be close to eliminating its budget deficit. "If I'm prime minister, I'm going to be looking at the unemployment numbers first and deficit second," Ignatieff said at Stornoway, the official Opposition leader's residence. "We're going to have a jobless recovery or we're going to have a recovery where there's still a lot of people looking for jobs." Ignatieff said the approach to deficit reduction will be one of the key choices voters will have between his party and the governing Tories. "They think the deficit's the only issue you have to worry about and we're saying unemployment's the issue you have to worry about," Ignatieff said. "That's a differentiator." --What Canwest and La Presse are reporting from Ottawa A federal watchdog has cleared a prominent Conservative fundraiser and senator from Quebec of conflict of interest allegations regarding an engineering contract to study replacing Montreal's Champlain Bridge. The $1.4-million federal contract was awarded on Sept. 21 to a consortium that included BPR, a firm where Senator Leo Housakos had worked, but Senate ethics officer Jean Fournier said allegations that the Conservative improperly tried to influence the deal were unfounded. --Le conseiller à l’éthique du Sénat, Jean Fournier, a blanchi le sénateur conservateur Leo Housakos des accusations de conflit d’intérêts dont il faisait l’objet à la suite de l’attribution au consortium BCDE, en septembre, d’un contrat de 1,4 million pour des travaux de réfection du pont Champlain. --What else is shaking Ottawa tries to skirt challenges to market regulator (Globe) Ottawa seeks secrecy in Tamil migrant case (Globe) Finance ministers reject claims that pension system in crisis (Globe) Unpopular choices ahead, Dodge says (Globe) The lowest point of Iggy’s year ... (Star) Tribunal to probe `no-fly' case (Star) Fury grows over anti-Semitism charge (Star) Ottawa reviews China oilsands takeover bid (Ed Journal) Many Canadians feel newcomers should give up their customs (Sun) --What CBC is reporting on the torture allegations Canada's troops investigated for Afghan abuse in 2008, military police launched six separate investigations into allegations of abuse involving Canadian troops. --What Canwest is reporting Prison official sees no evidence of detainee abuse --What the Star is reporting Ottawa risks world court `black eye' --What Iggy says about the allegations in Le Devoir «On est prêts à faire une enquête sur la conduite des Forces canadiennes et sur toute la politique des détenus depuis le début de la mission, en 2002 si nécessaire; ça veut dire une enquête sur la conduite du gouvernement libéral. [...] Il en va de l'avenir des Forces canadiennes. Nous participerons à d'autres missions. Il faut régler ce problème lié aux détenus une fois pour toutes.» the rest of today’s Afstan news here --What Le Devoir is reporting on the Blocheads Duceppe veut relancer le discours souverainiste En 2010, le mouvement souverainiste soulignera le 30e anniversaire du premier référendum pour l'indépendance du Québec, le 20e de l'échec de l'accord du lac Meech sur le renouvellement du fédéralisme canadien, le 20e anniversaire aussi de l'élection de Gilles Duceppe à la Chambre des communes, et le 15e anniversaire du second référendum sur la séparation. Entendant exploiter cette convergence historique, le chef du Bloc québécois lancera une série de chantiers de réflexion pour faire avancer la cause souverainiste. Le NPD et les libéraux nous disent qu'ils sont souvent d'accord avec nous, mais expliquent que, s'ils votent contre les lois, ils se feront décrire comme des pédophiles. Alors ils votent pour. [...] C'est de l'intimidation et c'est mauvais pour la qualité de notre débat démocratique.» «Michael Ignatieff a commis une grave erreur, je crois. C'est sûr qu'il aurait subi des coups de vent solides [s'il était allé de l'avant], mais quand on est premier ministre, on est peut-être plus à l'aise quand il vente que si on est un chef de l'opposition officielle qui a manqué son coup.» FRIDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2009 --We begin with the latest from Copenhagen New climate draft would forgo treaty in 2010 (WP) Copenhagen talks go into overtime - The Globe and Mail Obama scrambles at summit, but frustration shows (AP) UN asks leaders to stay overnight in Copenhagen | guardian Obama Presses China on Rules for Monitoring Emissions Cuts (NYT)--We follow with a great moment in journalism Copenhagen summit talks 'made no progress overnight' - Times At 1am a Downing Street official tweeted: “Late night haggling with 30 leaders. Tough, but we’re determined to crack it.” --What the W Post is reporting U.S. pledges aid, urges developing nations to cut emissions the United States backed what amounts to the single biggest transfer of wealth from rich to poor nations for any one cause -- in a sense offering compensation for decades of warming the Earth. Michael A. Levi, senior fellow for energy and the environment at the Council on Foreign Relations, said administration officials are "taking a big risk." "They appear to be betting a good deal that Copenhagen will do more to help legislation on the Hill than this finance offer will hurt," he said. --more COPENHAGEN news HERE --What the Star is reporting on Steve PM keeps low profile at UN climate talks the words came not from Harper but from Jim Prentice, the Tory environment minister who has been leading Canada in Copenhagen since his arrival at the start of the week. --What Canwest and La Presse are reporting Some heads of state — such as U.K. Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd — addressed the high-level meeting of world leaders, environment ministers and negotiators themselves. But other countries, including Japan and the United States, sent their top envoys or cabinet ministers to speak to the assembly of almost 200 countries. --What Le Devoir is reporting on the stand-in (a great moment) Conférence de Copenhague - Sarkozy lance le sprint final le ministre canadien de l'Environnement, John Prentice --From BC, we bring you another great Olympic moment VSO refuses to play for Olympics --What would we all do without the Council of the Federation? Stelmach fires back at Ontario, Quebec --What La Presse is reporting on the Les provinces ont-elles le dernier mot? --What Le Devoir is reporting on Steve Le premier ministre Stephen Harper s'est présenté à 18 périodes de questions à peine cet automne. Un nombre suffisamment bas pour relancer le débat sur le respect des institutions parlementaires par le gouvernement actuel. --What the Globe is reporting on the allegations (a great Ottawa moment) 'The buck stopped nowhere' at Foreign Affairs on Colvin's warnings behind that furor is another story: outside the combat-focused military, no one was in charge in the early part of the Afghan mission. A scattered batch of mid-level officials, lacking the incontrovertible proof that Canadians had no means to find, didn't have the overall responsibility or weight to push for big change. “The buck stopped nowhere,” said one official involved in the Afghan mission. In early 2007, the Conservative government charged senior official David Mulroney with bringing together generals, diplomats and aid workers to create a broad Afghanistan strategy. But the new crew clashed with the old: frustrated Afghanistan hands felt they'd gone from being leaderless to having their views dismissed. Mr. Colvin was a voice in the wilderness when no one was in charge, and an irritant once someone was. --What the Star is reporting Why didn't safe prison for detainees get built? It is not clear why the proposal went nowhere, although Colvin may have been partly responsible because he told Ottawa that the Red Cross rated Sarpoza prison in Kandahar province, where the Canadians were based, as the best of a bad lot in southern Afghanistan. --What the Toronto Sun is reporting Source: Afghan detainee mistreated in Canadian custody | Canada | News the rest of today’s Afstan news here --What the Globe is reporting on pensions Finance gathering weighs the future of pensions --What CP is reporting Cut standard of living now for comfortable pension later: Dodge --A great moment in Canadian politics 'Urgent need' to regulate sex toys, MP says --What else is shaking in Ottawa Canada puts its nuclear pride on the block Ottawa drops case, cuts last shackle of ex-terror suspect Ottawa to put diplomatic `freeze' on Guinea 'Anti-Semitic' charge angers aid group Supr Ct to hear information watchdog's plea for prime minister's agenda books Australia asks Canada to resettle Tamil refugees) --What CP is reporting Will Ottawa help man who saved Canadian's life? --What the W Post is reporting that’s of interest to Canada Six Yemeni detainees at Guantanamo Bay to be repatriated --What the NY Times is reporting U.N. Measure Offers Recourse to Blacklisted The Security Council unanimously passed a resolution on Thursday to provide some recourse for individuals or organizations who believe they were unfairly blacklisted after being accused of supporting Al Qaeda or the Taliban. More than 30 court challenges have been brought against the list — including in Europe, Pakistan, the United States, Canada and Turkey. --What the N Post is reporting Canada says it backs reforms the United Nations made Thursday to a global terror watch list — despite making the earlier flawed list a central part of its campaign to keep a Canadian citizen stranded in Sudan from returning to Canada. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2009 --What the Globe and Post are reporting on the economy Slowly but surely, North American economy prepares to fly solo CARNEY TO BANKS: BE CAREFUL ON DEBT (Post) --What the W Post is reporting Federal Reserve edges away from crisis measures --What’s shaking in Ottawa DND vehicle purchase hits speed bump (Cit) Watchdog questions Public Works contracts worth $1.5 billion (Cit) Ex-Liberal official guilty of fraud seeks release pending appeal Reactor shutdown cost nearly $40M --What the Guardian is reporting on the future King of Canada Prince Charles faces fresh meddling claim over letters to ministers --What CP is reporting on the Ottawa horse race Poll suggests Tories maintaining lead despite tempest over Afghan torture --And here's Ekos... Conservatives keep lead over Liberals in poll --What the Globe is reporting on the torture allegations Colvin fires back at critics in military and government --What the Star is reporting that the Globe isn’t Independent inquiry urged on Afghan prisoner abuse "Mr. Colvin's letter makes it essential that we have a public inquiry," Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff said in a written statement. Ignatieff cited Colvin's declaration that he "volunteered" his views directly to the Prime Minister's senior civil servant on the Afghan file, David Mulroney, and to Stephen Harper's right-hand deputy, Privy Council Clerk Kevin Lynch. "The Clerk must have informed the Prime Minister – and yet no action was taken to stop the torture of detainees handed over by Canadian forces." NDP critic Jack Harris said Wednesday Colvin's letter proves there should be an independent "fact-finding" inquiry into the whole affair – one that can delve deeper than either a parliamentary committee or the Military Police Complaints Commission. "This is not going away." Amnesty International lawyer Paul Champ said an inquiry is needed not only to determine the facts of whether Canadian officials turned a blind eye to torture. An inquiry should develop recommendations for how the risk of torture should be assessed – and how the Canadian military should conduct itself – in counter-insurgency battles, and whether the Geneva conventions need to be modified to recognize new realities in a modern theatre of war, "so you don't make the same mistakes in the future," he said. --What CP is reporting Diplomat fires back over Afghan prison torture with new revelations On April 24, 2007 - one day after allegations of torture were published in Canada - the Canadian embassy in Kabul recommended a system to monitor prisoners, Colvin wrote. But the advice was rejected by the senior federal official in charge of the Afghan file, David Mulroney, who is now the ambassador to China. It also raises questions about whether federal officials misled the international Red Cross, which had issued urgent warnings and was told in November 2006 that Canada intended to conduct some form of monitoring. On the question of whether all prisoners were tortured, Colvin responded the claims "came from highly credible sources," that the information was reported to Ottawa in May and June 2007, but he could not be "more specific about the date without risking identifying the source(s)." That information was not based on prisoner interviews, he said. --What Le Devoir is reporting Torture en Afghanistan - Richard Colvin contre-attaque Les précisions qu'il apporte heurtent de plein fouet les versions des faits présentées devant le comité par David Mulroney (ancien coordonnateur ministériel de la mission), le gouvernement ou les généraux Rick Hillier et Michel Gauthier. De ces deux derniers, Richard Colvin dit qu'il est «peu plausible qu'ils n'aient pas été au courant» des conditions de détention dans les prisons afghanes. --What else CP is reporting A spokesman for Defence Minister Peter MacKay said the government can't say much more than it already has in its own defence. "In past weeks, we have heard from no less than seven senior military and diplomatic officials who have all refuted Mr. Colvin's claims," said Dan Dugas. Daniel Petit, a Quebec Conservative MP, went a step further and told RDI, the all-news French-language service of the CBC, that Afghan committee hearings have been shut down because the torture issue is poisoning the debate. "We have decided to support our troops, to stop the opposition from calling them war criminals," Petit said. --What else the Star is reporting No place for abuse, says U.S. general --What the Globe is reporting on the very same speech --What the Globe is reporting from Copenhagen As climate deadline nears, much left up in the air --What Canwest is reporting Canada to announce climate change cash for poorer nations Climate deal remains elusive as clock tics away in Copenhagen --What the WS Journal is reporting Talks in Deadlock Ahead of Leaders' Arrival The White House said Wednesday that the talks were deadlocked. --What the NY Times is reporting from Copenhagen Yvo de Boer, the United Nations official in charge of the conference, said that he was concerned about the safety of the arriving leaders and the rest of the participants. “The incidents that have taken place today inside the conference center test my courage to continue in this way,” he said, suggesting he would sharply limit access to the hall for the final two days. --What Reuters is reporting from Ottawa Canada waiting for U.S. to take lead on curbing emissions --What the W Post is reporting about Kyoto that our papers aren’t The European Union, Japan, Australia, Russia and Canada want to scrap the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, because the United States and China did not join in its pledges to cut emissions, and start with a new document. But a bloc of poorer countries wants to make the next agreement a formal sequel to the one in Kyoto, which binds most developed countries to emission cuts and provides some financing for poor ones. On Wednesday, many developing countries walked out of negotiations over that disagreement. --What else the W Post is reporting of interest to Canada U.S., 20 other nations team to research greenhouse gas emissions from farms Other countries involved in the research alliance are Australia, Britain, Canada, Colombia, Chile, Denmark, France, Germany, Ghana, India, Ireland, Japan, Malaysia, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Uruguay and Vietnam, a news release said. --The world needs more Canada? Copenhagen day of mass protest passes without major incident | Environment Naomi Klein, who was among those who joined the walkout, said the Danish police's handling of the protests to date had been very poor. "Denmark is losing its reputation for being a good world citizen," she said. --What the Globe is reporting on our neighbours Pennsylvania's coal country has a message for Obama Regardless of how the Copenhagen summit wraps up tomorrow, Mr. Obama will come home to a country that harbours deep anxiety about the impact of climate-change legislation on its fragile economy. Action on global warming may ultimately be at the mercy of U.S. domestic politics and Mr. Obama's willingness to sacrifice some important Democratic constituencies. --What the LA Times is reporting on the Prez Obama will be in climate spotlight in Copenhagen --What the Guardian is reporting on the Veep John Kerry vows to get climate laws passed if Copenhagen deal succeeds | --What the WS Journal is reporting on dem Dems Democrats' Blues Grow Deeper in New Poll --The US needs more Canada? U.S. sentences leader of Canadian drug gang to 30 years --What the Star is reporting (a great moment) Savvy gang leader gets 30-year term --What the Globe is reporting on the domestic climate Oil sands pushing for regulatory relief Alberta's export-oriented oil industry is urging Ottawa to provide the same kind of relief from tough climate-change regulations that the politically powerful U.S. coal industry is expected to receive from Washington, a move that would put greater onus for emissions cuts on Canadian consumers and other industries. David Collyer, president of the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers, says the industry qualifies as “trade-exposed,” as it faces competition in the U.S. market from Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, Mexico and other major oil producers. “We need to make sure that climate policy doesn't disadvantage the oil industry in terms of competitiveness,” Mr. Collyer said. --What CP is reporting Quebec premier says provinces could ignore Canada's climate change plan Quebec Premier Jean Charest warns that any deal the federal government concludes at the Copenhagen climate talks could ultimately be ignored by the provinces if it's deemed too weak. Charest said Wednesday at the UN conference that while Canada might put its signature to an accord reached in Copenhagen, it would mean little if the provinces disagree with Ottawa's plan. --What CP is reporting in the other official language Le climat, un enjeu constitutionnel | Le Devoir Croisé dans les corridors de la conférence de l'ONU, l'ancien chef de cabinet de Jean Charest, Daniel Gagnier, a aussi soutenu que le gouvernement fédéral pouvait conclure un traité international sans que le désaccord d'une ou de plusieurs provinces le menace. --What La Presse is reporting Le gouvernement Harper a proposé de réduire les émissions de GES de 20% au cours de la prochaine décennie, mais en utilisant 2006 comme année de référence. Le protocole de Kyoto préconisait une réduction de 6% par rapport aux émissions de 1990 en 2012. Mais le Canada ratera cet objectif car, entre 1990 et 2006, ses émissions ont augmenté de près de 25%. Résultat: le plan du gouvernement Harper équivaut à une réduction des émissions de GES de 3% si l’on prend 1990 comme année de référence. Ces cibles du gouvernement Harper sont essentiellement les mêmes que celles desÉtats-Unis, qui, contrairement au Canada, n’ont jamais ratifié le protocole de Kyoto. Le Québec, lui, compte réduire ses émissions de 20% d’ici à 2020, mais en prenant 1990 comme année de référence. Le Manitoba, province qu’a dirigée M. Doer pendant près d’une décennie, prévoit réduire ses émissions de 6% par rapport à 1990. --Today’s dishonesty --more COPENHAGEN news HERE --What Angus is reporting on the Preems Stelmach, McGuinty Canada's least-popular premiers: poll --What the LA Times is reporting about the chap they all want to meet Schwarzenegger approval rating hits new low --What’s shaking back east in Alberta Tories should distil and bottle Stelmach (Ed Journal) Canada's least popular premier Premier sticks by decision to stay away from talks --What the Star is reporting from the other QP Liberals ripped for 'fire sale' plan (Star) --What CP is reporting on the BC Cons Tiny B.C. Float Plane Base Gets Olympic Security Unit --A great moment in Canadian jurisprudence Judge's courtroom 'diatribe' earns sharp rebuke (Globe) --What else CP is reporting on security Canada delivers deportee into arms of abusive Algerian secret police: watchdogs --What the Citizen is reporting Terror suspect linked to Mumbai attack India is reportedly investigating whether Headley was a double agent working for the U.S. to infiltrate the Pakistan-based terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and instead turned against the U.S., an official said Wednesday. "India is looking into whether Headley worked as a double agent. That is one of the many angles we are probing," a home ministry official told Agence France-Presse following a flurry of local media speculation The Times of India quoted an unidentified official Wednesday saying it was "very strange" that the United States failed to inform New Delhi about Headley's visit to India in March "when he, by their own account, had been under their surveillance since at least September 2008." India's Mail Today quoted an unidentified official as saying that the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency had not shared information with New Delhi. "apparently to ensure that Headley did not get exposed as a U.S. secret agent." The Times suggests Headley could have been a member of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, allowing him to make frequent trips to Pakistan and gain access to LeT. Headley was arrested for heroin smuggling in 1998 in New York; there are suspicions he may have made a deal to work undercover for the DEA. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2009 --What Canwest is reporting from Ottawa Harper urged to shut down House Prime Minister Stephen Harper is being pushed by some of his own advisers to prorogue Parliament next month as the most effective way to win control over the Senate and, ultimately, push ahead with his government's agenda on climate change, justice, and Senate reform. MPs are not due to come back to Parliament until Jan. 25. One scenario under consideration by Harper's inner circle would be for the prime minister to prorogue Parliament a few days before that, have MPs return to Ottawa as planned on Jan. 25, and then quickly roll out a speech from the throne followed by the presentation of the 2010 federal budget -- all before the Winter Olympics get underway in Vancouver on Feb. 12. --What Dow Jones reported last night Canada PM's Aide:Talk Of Suspending Parliament A Rumor Andrew MacDougall, a spokesman for Prime Minister Stephen Harper, brushed it off as the rumor mill at work, saying "we don't speculate on that stuff, on what the government might or might not do." "It's just a rumor, it's not grounded in any fact," MacDougall told Dow Jones. "The government has work to do, it has work to do in Parliament." MacDougall said Parliament will return from the six-week Christmas break on Jan. 25, as scheduled. --What the Star is reporting on the torture allegations Tories force shutdown of hearing on torture The no-show on Tuesday came as diplomat Richard Colvin prepared to break his silence Wednesday in a 20-page rebuttal of the federal government's claims it received no "credible allegations" of torture of prisoners handed over to Afghan authorities until late 2007. Colvin's letter, to be submitted to the committee looking into the controversy, is certain to increase the pressure on the Conservative government to comply with a parliamentary resolution ordering it to produce uncensored documents related to the detainee issue. A source said Colvin, who was a senior official in the Canadian embassy in Afghanistan in 2006-07, feels it is his "duty to correct the record and provide a complete and detailed record before the committee." Colvin will address the claims, both in testimony and in public statements, made by three cabinet ministers, three generals and former top civil servants involved in overseeing the mission in Afghanistan. The source said the statements include: "nobody told us there was a problem"; the claim that as soon as the government was informed they fixed the problems; and that there were no credible allegations of the torture of Afghan detainees until late 2007. "The idea is essentially to set the record straight," said the source. "And to provide the evidence and transparency the public's been calling for and the committee's been calling for on this issue." The letter will be sent to committee members and is expected to be released to the public. --The column I wrote today --What the Globe is reporting on the torture allegations Tory boycott halts hearings on transfer of Afghan detainees NDP Foreign Affairs critic Paul Dewar accused the Tories of disrespecting Parliament. "They're cutting and running," Mr. Dewar said. "This little parlour trick is a new tool for them to prevent committees from doing their work - it's evade, evade, evade. Undermine, undermine, undermine." --What CP is reporting Conservative MPs snub parliamentary hearings into Afghan prisoner torture Ujjal Dosanjh, the Liberal defence critic, called the Tories' absence "a sad day." He said there is no more important debate for parliamentarians than the conduct of a war, and he accused the government of avoiding its responsibility. "This is about the work and honour of our troops, who we have sent into harm's way and are dying for Canadian values," said Dosanjh, who proceeded to lecture the absent Tories. "I believe it is very serious. It is not any ordinary meeting. This is not a meeting of finance committee; this is not a meeting of the consumer affairs committee. "This is a meeting of the special committee on Afghanistan, looking at the issue where we have sent our men and women into harm's way. They're dying for us and this government is playing politics with an issue as serious and abhorrent as torture." --What else CP is reporting Cannon denies Canada lost track of prisoners, admits delays slowed process the rest of today’s Afstan news here --A great moment in Canadian politics Palestinian man Canada deported is welcomed as Belgian citizen "Does the fact that you were in Fatah mean that you're likely to do anything in Canada? No it doesn't. Fatah was like the Liberal party for the Palestinian community." --What the Star is reporting on the doctored photo Liberals apologize for doctored photo Warren Kinsella, who will be heading the party's "war room" in the next election campaign and wrote a book on political tactics called Kicking Ass in Canadian Politics, said the Liberals were "dumb" to have posted the photo. "An apology was deserved, and an apology was made," Kinsella wrote on his website Tuesday. --What the Globe is reporting Altered photo on Liberal website draws mea culpa A senior Liberal scoffed at the Conservatives’ prodding. “Mind you, coming from them, it feels like Attila the Hun complaining about the Romans’ table manners.” --CP serves up today’s idiocy --What CP is reporting on the economy Economy shifts into higher gear as bankruptcies tumble, consumers go shopping Pension troubles not so bad, report author assures federal government --What else is shaking in Ottawa As countries shut out migrants, Canada warned it will become new safe harbour OT drives up chauffeur tab (Sun) Cab fare spending down, varies by department --What the Globe is reporting on the Grits Money laundering allegations untrue, Basi's lawyer says A secret informant told police in 2003 that Dave Basi – one of the central figures in a political corruption trial – was laundering drug money through the Liberal Party, the Supreme Court of British Columbia has heard. The informant's allegation was raised and immediately rejected as “totally false” by Mr. Basi's lawyer, Michael Bolton, during a defence application seeking disclosure of more than 400 RCMP files. --What the Globe is reporting from Copenhagen With the world watching, Canada draws line in the oil sands --What CP is reporting Prentice says special breaks may be in store for Alberta tarsands Prentice told reporters in Copenhagen that it's important that whatever industries fall into that "trade-sensitive" category in the States also do so in Canada. He didn't rule out the tarsands as an industry that could qualify for special breaks. "A key feature of the Waxman-Markey legislation is the treatment accorded to what are referred to in the United States as trade-exposed industries," Prentice said. "And this is something that we will need to consider on the Canadian side of the border." Asked if that included the tarsands, Prentice replied: "I think any industry that is a trade-exposed industry in the same sense would be an industry that has to be considered in terms of its comparability to the U.S. framework." --What the "I don't see how a Canadian citizen could accept a scenario like that," he said. The premier said he was concerned that any advantage offered to the oil sands would force other provinces to make additional sacrifices. "We expect everyone to do their part to reduce greenhouse gases. It would be absurd to create a system where we - after making an extra effort - wind up giving others permission to continue producing GHGs." Environmental groups also took the Conservatives to task over the reported content of the documents. --What the Citizen is reporting from the mouth of the very same man 'Nature does not negotiate with us' Quebec Premier Jean Charest -- who has pushed the federal government to enact more ambitious emission reduction targets -- said he was worried by the contents of the leaked document. "We're here in Copenhagen because we want to establish objectives that will allow us to reduce greenhouse gases. And the document seems to imply that that's not going to be the case," he said. "Now we recognize that there will be a differentiated approach between sectors," Charest said. "But the overall idea is to reduce greenhouse gas, not increase them." --What the Gaz is reporting from the mouth of his minister Quebecers in the thick of it in Copenhagen (Gaz) "Here in Copenhagen, we're in the business of cutting emissions, not figuring out how to keep letting them grow," she said. "Provinces like Manitoba, Quebec and B.C., who have hydroelectricity, have less room to manoeuvre to cut our emissions. We can't just shut down coal-fired power plants to do it." --What Le Devoir is reporting Le ministre Prentice a alors expliqué que le Québec étant revenu en 2006 à un niveau d'émissions comparable à celui de 1990, son objectif de -20 % d'ici 2020 est donc identique à celui du Canada, qui lui aussi applique sa réduction de 20 % au niveau de 2006. Le ministre Prentice n'a toutefois pas précisé qu'en 2006, le Canada n'avait pas ramené ses émissions au niveau de 1990 comme l'a fait le Québec et que les émissions canadiennes dépassaient ce niveau de référence de 26 %, un détail que le gouvernement fédéral passe sous silence. --What the Guardian is reporting on the Preem of Schwarzenegger's Californian sunshine fails to brighten Prince Charles's gloom "Arnie is a climate activist hero, his words are short, his actions long, he reaches out to all of us. No one has done more for climate, he is an exemplary role model," scraped Gordon Campbell, the governor of British Columbia, who was chosen to welcome him. "Dat's the way I wrote it," said the green-tied beast with perfect teeth, who recalled he had once been to Copenhagen as a body builder. "Some will say da world will melt and we will all die; but I say this conference is already a success. Copenhagen makes us think differently. We are beginning one of history's great transitions," he said, before adding with menace: "I am governor of California and I have the right to brag ... I will be back." --Methinks Mayor Miller means Ottawa should ante up more moolah World mayors gather, compare notes; NY's Bloomberg sees fed help gone astray "While nations talk, cities act. Cities are delivering real cuts in greenhouse gases," Toronto Mayor David Miller said. "We have already cut 1 million tons of CO2 per year. To do more, we need our national governments to act." --more COPENHAGEN news HERE --What’s shaking at the other QP Ontario ponders sale of Crown corporations to beat down deficit --What CP is reporting on the HST Manitoba makes case against HST, says would cost consumers millions "Manitoba does not support harmonization at this time because of the potential risk to the economic recovery and the burden it would place on Manitoba families at a time of economic uncertainty," it says. "Manitoba recognizes that the pace of the global economic recovery continues to be slow and that any decision to harmonize must be considered with particular attention to this economic reality." … Although Manitoba is ruling out bringing in the HST for now, Wowchuk hinted that could change down the road. "But for us, right now, this is not the step to take because we think it would be a very heavy burden," she said. "It would cost the province more money than would be gained from it." --What the W Post is reporting on autos GM chief promises to repay bailout Fourteen days after taking the helm as chief executive of General Motors, Edward E. Whitacre Jr. said the giant automaker, which went through a major bankruptcy restructuring earlier this year, plans to repay loans from the U.S. and Canadian governments by the end of June. --What the W Post is reporting on the Poll: Public cool to health reforms while Obama gains support on Afstan war public opposition to the health reforms under consideration has hit a new high, and there are signs that the political fight has hurt President Obama' s general standing with the public. On health care, a record 53 percent disapprove of his performance. On the economy, 52 percent disapprove, also a new benchmark in Post-ABC polling. It is the same on the deficit: 56 percent disapprove of his stewardship. On the politically volatile subject of unemployment, 47 percent approve of the way Obama is dealing with the issue; 48 percent disapprove. Under the weight of these more negative reviews, the president's overall approval rating dipped to 50 percent, down from 56 percent a month ago. Other national surveys have recorded his ratings at or below 50 percent in recent weeks, but this is his lowest level yet in a Post-ABC News survey. Americans still trust the president more than Republicans in Congress to handle the economy, health care and energy policy, although they do so by smaller margins than in recent months. Obama's advantage on the economy has been halved since June, and he now holds a narrow seven-point edge on health care. --The US needs more Canada? Measure to Allow Drug Imports Fails A measure to allow the importation of cheaper prescription drugs from Canada and some other countries fell short in the Senate Tuesday night, but lawmakers were working on other ways to squeeze concessions from the pharmaceutical industry. Pharmaceutical makers opposed the measure, saying the U.S. couldn't ensure the safety of drugs from Canada, Europe, Japan and Australia. Opponents cited a letter from the FDA's commissioner that called the Dorgan amendment "logistically challenging" and risky to consumers. --A great Obama moment Senate healthcare bill advances with rejection of imported drugs The defeat of the drug importation proposal from a bipartisan group of lawmakers, which would have made it easier to import cheaper prescription drugs from Canada and Western Europe, was a crucial victory for Obama and the pharmaceutical industry. --The US needs more Canada? Court filings liken arms merchant to Mandela (Post) He was a youth counsellor and student leader with a degree in computer science. He didn't drink or take drugs, and had lived a law-abiding life in Canada. So how did Sathajhan Sarachandran end up in a federal detention centre in Brooklyn, N.Y., awaiting a possible life sentence for his crimes as a rebel arms merchant? --The world needs more Canada Back to Her Roots, and Playing Up Her Connections --The US needs more Canada? Canadian terror suspect Rana refused bail by Chicago judge Tahawwur Rana, 48, who emigrated to Canada from Pakistan in 1997 but has been based in Chicago for more than a decade, will remain behind bars after U.S. Magistrate Judge Nan Nolan cited his strong ties to Canada in ruling that he posed a significant flight risk. --Another Canadian who’ll soon be moving to Chicago Unused Prison to become High-Security Facility for Guantanamo Prisoners The prospect of moving terror suspects to an economically distressed Illinois village pits security concerns against the administration's promise of 3,000 new jobs in a rural corner of the president's home state, on the border with Iowa, about 145 miles west of Chicago. --What the W Post is reporting on his moving date Obama administration to buy Illinois prison for Guantanamo detainees Republicans in Illinois and in Washington called the president's move risky and reminded the administration that a congressional vote is required before detainees not facing trial can be held indefinitely on U.S. soil. GOP members of the House will "seek every remedy at our disposal to stop this dangerous plan," vowed Minority Leader John A. Boehner (R-Ohio). A vote is weeks or months away, Democrats said. --What Canwest is reporting on Omar K Khadr to leave Gitmo for Illinois with Khadr's trial likely headed for a July start date, court facilities at the centre may not be built in time -- meaning the proceedings may yet unfold at the U.S. naval base in Cuba, where two courtrooms are available. --What the NY Times is reporting Obama Tells Prison to Take Detainees From the left, Amnesty International was equally critical. “The only thing that President Obama is doing with this announcement is changing the ZIP code of Guantánamo,” said Tom Parker, Amnesty International USA policy director. “The detainees who are currently scheduled to be relocated to Thomson have not been charged with any crime,” Mr. Parker said. “In seven years, the U.S. government, including the C.I.A. and F.B.I., have not produced any evidence against these individuals that can be taken into a court of law.” --What the LA Times is reporting Obama's Illinois prison plan faces a high wall: the GOP Under the plan laid out Tuesday, as many as 75 detainees could be sent before military commissions at Thomson. Officials estimated that the total population of the detention center would be fewer than 100 inmates. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2009 -We begin with the latest in the swine flu crisis Millions of doses left over (Post) --What else is shaking in Ottawa Moncton's Mounties come out on top - Globe and Mail Thrill is gone from offshore tax evasion - Globe and Mail Lavigne hired aide to scout property: Trial (Cit) Arm our ships in the Arctic: Senate report (Canwest) Liberal senators insist on changes in product safety bill (Canwest) Senators quietly fatten overseas travel plan (CP) --What the Globe is reporting on the torture allegations Coalition allies faulted Canada over handling of detainees Canada's refusal to co-operate with its military allies on the prisoner issue originated at the top of the Canadian defence establishment, according to a Sept. 19, 2006, memo from Mr. Colvin. The diplomat recounted for Ottawa how ISAF political adviser Paul Wyatt told the Canadian embassy that Canada's senior military-police officer in the southern Afghan province of Kandahar fingered his Ottawa superiors as the obstructionists. "The Canadian provost marshal in Kandahar has told ISAF that he would be pleased to provide the information but that he has received explicit instructions from National Defence Headquarters ... not to do so," Mr. Colvin's memo says. --What CP is reporting Canada did raise concerns about Afghan governor accused of torture- MacKay --A great moment in Canadian diplomacy Diplomat sent home over spitting incident --What Canwest and the Star are reporting on the torture allegations MPs push to extend hearings on torture (Star) NDP MP wants wider detainee hearings --What the Globe is reporting Ottawa buzzing with talk of proroguing Parliament the rest of today’s Afstan news here --What the W Post is reporting on Gitmó U.S. can keep detainee at Guantanamo Bay, judge rules --What the LA Times is reporting Libya's coup: Turning militants against Al Qaeda --What the NY Times is reporting on Omar K U.S. Said to Pick Illinois Prison to House Detainees --What the Independent is reporting on another torture case Miliband attacks judges over torture ruling --What the Star and CP are reporting on national security Man hounded by Ottawa loses 'terrorist' tag at last (Star) Court strikes down security certificate against Syrian native Almrei --What the W Post is reporting Arrested N.Va. men's deportation from Pakistan slowed --What the WS Journal is reporting Pakistan Keeps Its Hold on Americans A police investigation report seen by The Wall Street Journal said the men were deeply religious and wanted to join the struggle against the people they believed committed crimes against Muslims. --The US needs more Canada? Canadian terror suspect knew of Mumbai attacks in advance: U.S. prosecutors Prosecutors cite one conversation in September between Rana and his co-accused, David Coleman Headley, in which the two men reminisce about the previous year's Mumbai attacks. "It is clear from the conversation and extrinsic corroboration that Rana was told just days before the Mumbai attacks that the attacks were about to happen," prosecutors wrote. Rana "asked Headley to pass Rana's compliments directly to the specific Lashkar-e-Tayiba member they both knew who had co-ordinated the attacks," they added. The filing also alleges that in the same conversation, Rana and Headley discussed possible attacks on other sites in India: Somnath, a temple; Bollywood, a reference to the Indian film industry; and Shiv Sena, a far-right political party with strains of Hinduism. --What the Globe is reporting on the case Rana knew about Mumbai attacks in advance, FBI says Mr. Rana's lawyer, Patrick Blegen, did not return a phone call Monday seeking comment. Last month Mr. Blegen issued a statement that said his client categorically denies any involvement in the Mumbai attacks. --What the WS Journal is reporting on the G20 Report Says G-20 Remains Protectionist --We bring you the latest on Copenhagen Tories pondered weaker emission targets for oil and gas African countries stage three-hour boycott in Copenhagen Ignatieff says oilsands industry looking for "credible" enviro legislation --What Canwest is reporting from Copenhagen "There is something of a tale of two Canadas here," Quebec Premier Jean Charest said Monday. "You have provinces leading with bold action, whether it's in Quebec or it's Manitoba or Ontario or British Columbia -- leading on renewables, leading on passing carbon taxes, putting comprehensive climate legislation in place," he said. "And we have a federal government that is not taking the right role for Canada in this international negotiations," Charest said, adding that "it can change. It's four days. We'd love to see that national position change." --What CP is reporting from the Québécois nation Parti Quebecois loses another prominent member to resignation --What the Preem of BC says Campbell said targets are easy, it's putting in the legislative or regulatory frameworks to reach the targets that is difficult. "Let's try and do a United States-Canada agreement, so that cap-and-trade does not become a protectionist measure." --What Jim says "This is a matter that the federal government is responsible for," Prentice said. "To be sure, we do not necessarily agree on all issues all of the time, but that's the nature of the federation. And we are here speaking with one voice as a Canadian government." --What the Globe is reporting on the great climate hoax How U.S. pranksters hoaxed the world at Canada's expense The news lit up the Bella Center, the vast Copenhagen convention hall where the climate-change negotiations are taking place. A story popped up on an apparent European affiliate of The Wall Street Journal. --What CP is reporting on that the Globe isn't Canada targeted by hoax news releases over climate-change talks The multi-pronged ruse tripped up a number of news organizations, including the Globe and Mail, the Huffington Post and Edmonton talk-radio host Dave Rutherford. --What Le Devoir adds about all the watchdogs in Copenhagen The press release was sent from an Internet address different from Environment Canada’s, a detail that escaped almost everyone at the time --What the Star is reporting Hoax slices through Canadian spin Stories on the prank were published in the United States, China, Britain, France and elsewhere around the world. --What the NYT, WSJ, LA Times and W Post are reporting on the same hoax
--What the NYT is today reporting on Canada Doctor Who Treated Top Athletes Is Subject of Doping Inquiry A Canadian doctor who has treated many N.F.L. players as well as Olympic medalists like Donovan Bailey and the world’s top golfer, Tiger Woods, is under criminal investigation in the United States. --What the Guardian is reporting on the hoax (in under 100 words) Stunt of the day Canada’s conversion The mountie and maple syrup image has been slipping of late. PM Stephen Harper has been described as the only man on earth more sceptical about climate change than George Bush. Massive, filthy but lucrative tar sands and a woeful performance on its Kyoto targets are the main reasons. So joy was unconfined when a press release announced a titanic U-turn, committing Canada to 40% emissions cuts by 2020 – the most ambitious in the world. Too good to be true? Of course. The spoof web pages were pretty good though. --What else the Star is reporting Al Gore hot under collar over Arctic --What the Times is reporting that the Star isn’t Inconvenient truth for Al Gore as his North Pole sums don't add up Mr Gore told the conference: “These figures are fresh. Some of the models suggest to Dr [Wieslav] Maslowski that there is a 75 per cent chance that the entire north polar ice cap, during the summer months, could be completely ice-free within five to seven years.” However, the climatologist whose work Mr Gore was relying upon dropped the former Vice-President in the water with an icy blast. “It’s unclear to me how this figure was arrived at,” Dr Maslowski said. “I would never try to estimate likelihood at anything as exact as this.” Mr Gore’s office later admitted that the 75 per cent figure was one used by Dr Maslowksi as a “ballpark figure” several years ago in a conversation with Mr Gore. --more COPENHAGEN news HERE --What the Star is reporting on Canada-US relations Canadian medicine hard to swallow --What USA Today is reporting on the Prez Barack Obama started the year with a job approval rating of 64%-25% — a net positive standing by a formidable 39 percentage points. Now, he closes the year with a rating of 49%-46%. That net positive rating of three points is his narrowest so far. The approval rating matches his record low in early October and the disapproval rating equals his record high later that month. That is the worst standing in Gallup for any modern elected president at the end of his first year, though it's close to Ronald Reagan's 49%-41% rating in December 1981 — also a time of economic woe. And that Nobel Peace Prize? Americans apparently weren't swayed by the address Obama delivered in Oslo last week when he picked up the award. By 61%-35%, those surveyed say he didn't deserve it, almost precisely the same as when the prize was announced in October. --What the Yanks are reporting of a domestic nature In White House meeting, Obama calls on banks to increase lending Democrats Drop Plan to Expand Medicare Poll Reveals Havoc of Unemployment on Workers and Family Human rights essential to U.S. policy, Clinton says MONDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2009 --We begin with today’s big Afstan news Afghans violating detainee-transfer agreement Hillier, O'Connor should have been aware of beaten Afghan detainee Canada kept Afghan governor in power despite rep as 'human-rights abuser' More on these stories with the rest of today’s Afstan news here --COPENHAGEN news HERE --What else the Globe is reporting above the fold on A 1 Canada's largest brokerage firm linked to alleged tax-haven scheme --What the Citizen is reporting on party discipline Cadman's absence a rare moment of Tory dissent --What Gilles Duceppe says in La Presse ...from the heart-breaking by-election defeat in Rivière-du-Loup. From now on, MPs will have to commit to serving for the whole term… “Voters don’t like it when MPs leave after a few months. That affected our vote.” However, the by-election does not reflect the situation in Québec as a whole, where the gap between the Bloc and the Conservatives grew over the autumn. Now, the government is in a bad way on the issue of Afghan prisoners…and on the question of climate change, the government’s refusal to adopt reduction targets is being felt in the polls in Québec, where the majority disagrees with this position. But the session also revealed the “dreadful weakness of the Liberals"…Their threat to defeat the government and then backing down hurt them. “They aren’t credible. I said it last January when Mr. Ignatieff ended the coalition and said that he was putting the government on probation. He’s proved that he’s on probation, not the government.” --What else is shaking domestically Departing head of MPCC says gov secrecy means watchdog can't do its job Tory research group produces controversial attack flyers, says MP Goldring Globalive sets precedent on foreign-ownership, opposition warns Minister eyes changes to security certificate law amid terror case problems Tobacco companies claim Ottawa played equal role developing cigarettes Canadians don't forfeit right to privacy at border, Obama official says Provinces to seek consensus on pension reform HST plan won't shrink most wallets, report says --What the Guardian is reporting on the future King
of Palace dismisses talk of Prince William as 'shadow king' --What the Independent is reporting on Conrad Matthew Norman: Cry freedom, Black could be back --What the Telegraph is reporting EVERY MP and peer must be a full British taxpayer or leave politics, David Cameron said yesterday. The Conservative leader promised to introduce legislation so that anyone who wanted to make laws in Britain had to pay their fair share of taxes. --A great moment in US journalism (and politics) Obama Slams 'Fat Cat' Bankers - WSJ Obama presses bank chiefs to lend more – washington post --A leader who just won’t stay away from models Berlusconi hit in the face with a model of Milan's cathedral --What the LA Times is reporting on the Prez Obama calls Afghanistan troop decision his toughest yet -- latimes.com --What the NY Times is reporting on the fat cats Citigroup Nears Deal to Return Bailout Billions --What else is shaking in Washington Joseph Lieberman Says He Can’t Support Current Health Bill Senate Passes Spending Bill Amid Debate on Raising Debt Limit SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2009 --Steve says Lighting up the nation's capital Prime Minister Stephen Harper addressed the crowd at Saturday night’s Hill festivities, wishing all a happy Christmas. “Our athletes will embody our national ideals,” he said. “ They will announce to the world Canada’s arrival as a sporting powerhouse.” --Romeo says Olympic torch tours the capital "That even with the many imploding nations and other frictions, that we can still get together and compete and not beat up on each other - in fact, be quite proud of each other." For Canada, Dallaire said the torch relay "is a great sign of serenity and unity" in a country that has learned how to get along despite linguistic and ethnic tensions. "We'd better remain an example in the world and not retrench back home," he added sternly. --All that really needed to be said "It was wonderful, we loved it," enthused Laureen Harper, adding that the family plans to attend the opening ceremonies of the Games. --We bring you a great moment in Canadian journalism --We follow with a great moment in Canadian governance RCMP watchdog spends final weeks in public feud with force's commissioner - --We dish up the latest on the future King of The breach of secrecy caused alarm at the Palace last night, with a senior Royal source expressing concern that the private details had been leaked in ‘unredacted’ - the official term for uncensored - form. The reaction reflects the extreme sensitivity over the issue of the Queen’s future in public life - and how to promote Prince William without undermining the monarch or Prince Charles. It is bound to lead to new speculation that when the Queen dies, the monarchy could skip a generation, with the Crown bypassing Charles and being handed straight to William, although Royal sources strongly discount this option. --Sound familiar? Row over Gordon Brown donor’s new honour In July he was made a member of the privy council, which allows him to use the prefix Right Honourable and sit on a front-row bench in the Lords chamber. --Why all Canadians love our other mother As Web Challenges French Leaders, They Push Back --What else is shaking in France Brawl engulfs President Nicolas Sarkozy's grand debate --It’s shaking less in the UK, it seems UK Muslims are Europe’s most patriotic SATURDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2009 --We begin with the latest news on the swine flu crisis H1N1 activity dropped for 3rd straight week, now moderate: Health Agency --Speaking of pork that's about to fly… Impending Senate majority invites promised reforms Harper is expected to appoint five new senators next month, said Sen. Marjory LeBreton, the Conservative leader of the government in the Senate and one of Harper's close advisers. --What the Globe is reporting on the economy Canada's economic engine revs up, driving recovery – and hope What the Star is reporting (a great moment) Canadians struggling to dig out of debt High interest rates 'hammering' Canadians, MP says --What the Globe is reporting on telecom Ottawa rewrites the rules on telecom ownership --What the Sun is reporting Globalive lobbyist former PM adviser --A government of Bay Street? Big three wireless companies take $2-billion drubbing (Globe) --A great moment in Canadian journalism UPSTART WIN (Tedesco, Post) Will this government finally unload anachronistic foreign ownership rules shared by only a handful of other countries, mostly military dictatorships? --What the Yanks are reporting on their economy Congress Squabbles Over Debt Ceiling House votes 223 to 202 to approve sweeping bill to overhaul financial regulation Nations' mounting debts worry global bond investors --What Le Devoir is reporting from Ottawa Divulgations volontaires massives à Ottawa Le ministre du Revenu, Jean-Pierre Blackburn, a indiqué lors d'un entretien téléphonique que les aveux de ces contribuables repentis portent sur des revenus non déclarés qui totalisent rien de moins que 1,7 milliard. Sur les 7075 confessions, a dit M. Blackburn, 92 sont des gens qui ont un compte chez UBS. De ce nombre, 48 dossiers ont été complétés, ce qui représente des revenus non déclarés de 15,3 millions. --What else is shaking in the Senior federal Liberal quitting to run for Toronto mayor Canada ratifies NAFO fishing changes, despite sovereignty concerns from N.L. Scant stimulus data paints murky picture (Cit) Alberta to join Quebec in single-watchdog fight (Globe) Ottawa takes steps to protect caregivers (Star) --We bring you some more great Mountie moments What does the force do with a wayward Mountie? (Post) --From the left coast, we serve up another great Olympic moment Olympic critic denied entry to U.S.; says she was interrogated for hours (Globe) --I guess the Preems haven’t been reading the LA Times Premiers get chance to be good guys compared to federal government There is, of course, one other thing the premiers want to accomplish in Copenhagen next week. “They all want to get their pictures taken with Arnold Schwarzenegger,” said Mr. Drexhage. --What the «Nous sommes intéressés à faire un pas de plus. J’ai signifié mon intention au gouvernement fédéral d’occuper un espace permanent à l’intérieur de l’ambassade, comme en Chine et en Inde, pour assurer une présence en Russie», a-t-il précisé. --What else is shaking in the distinct society PQ changes its tune on nuclear power (Gaz) --What the Telegraph is reporting on the Catalonia holds referendums to push for independence from Spain The polls on Sunday take place as Spain's constitutional court considers rejecting the region's new statute, a charter negotiated with the central government which was approved by the Catalan and Spanish parliaments as well as in a regional referendum three years ago. The controversial statute, outlining Catalonia's relationship with Madrid, begins with a preamble defining Catalonia as a "nation" – a term that could be blocked by judges following complaints by Spain's conservative opposition party. --The world needs more Canada?
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