If you have something to say...
Say it on the Huffington Post
If you have something to say...
Say it on the Huffington Post
Corporate welfare is a losing proposition. Peer-reviewed research on business subsidies does not support (political and recipient) claims that corporate welfare is responsible for economic growth or job creation, two of the most oft-heard claims. At best, a generous interpretation of the literature suggests that subsidies may, in very specific locations, produce some effect on local economic behaviour.
Arctic sea ice has already melted to a record low this year. And summer's not over yet. Ice is thinning at a rate 50 per cent faster than scientists predicted, mainly because of global warming, and summer Arctic ice could soon disappear altogether. But companies largely responsible for the climate disaster are scrambling to get as much profit from the situation as they can. But the more we stall, the worse it will get.
Polling is a long haul game. Jitters of points inside margins of errors don't showcase who has different levels of support or who is the newest front runner in the media past time of political horse races.
Did you know that in politics you can actually attack somebody for doing good and harmless stuff! How is this possible, you ask? Let me give you three recent examples of ways in which Prime Minister Stephen Harper has come under assault for doing things any rational person would see as completely innocuous.
The semi-finals of the Mercedes-Benz Start Up competition on August 14, 2012, came to a stylish conclusion when Jarrad Clark of IMG Fashion announced there was a tie. The winners, Caitlin Power and Christopher Bates, will continue in the final round at World Mastercard Fashion Week in Toronto this October, 2012.
Many Canadian commenters are drawing comparisons between Republican heartthrob Paul Ryan and Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Some parallels do exist. Both are men of strong convictions; both gained prominence at relatively young ages. More important than the similarities, however, are the differences.
Federal court ruled Wednesday morning the that the Conservative government's response to the crisis in Attawapiskat was unreasonable and failed to look at any remedy other than the appointment of a Third Party Manager. Rather that own up to their mistake the Conservative government says it is "disappointed" with the decision. What will it take for this government to take responsibility for its own incompetence? The Conservative government must work with First Nations to find solutions rather than simply trying to deflect blame for their own failures.
When Bev Oda's resignation from Parliament and cabinet took effect on July 31, she lost her $233,247 salary. But Oda started collecting her parliamentary pension on August 1 at the handsome rate the Canadian Taxpayers Federation estimates at $52,183 per year. For life. After eight years of Parliamentary work. You see, for every one dollar contributed from MPs to their pension plans, the Canadian taxpayers contribute $24 each. Seem a bit much?
A month ago, Ottawa's Carleton University agreed to accept $15 million from a private citizen for a new graduate program. The money came from the personal fortune of an Albertan philanthropist, Clayton H. Riddell, while the idea originated from one of Canada's elder statesman -- former federal Reform party leader, Preston Manning. Now the university has released a statement -- one which suddenly rejects the deal.
In this exclusive excerpt for HuffPost from Richard Florida's new book, the author reveals that scientists and engineers, architects and designers, artists and entertainers and the growing ranks of professional knowledge workers -- what he labels as The Creative Class" -- now number more than five million in Canada, or roughly 30 per cent of the workforce. So where do they live?
In light of Bev Oda's resignation as an MP and cabinet minister, blogger Rachel Décoste asserted that this was a sign of "a disturbing trend" emerging from Harper's dealings with women that might suggest he "harbours hatred" for the female sex. However the only "disturbing trend" to emerge from the PM's dealings with women is that substantial swathes of the dogmatic left actually believe he hates them.
Wednesday, Stephen Harper conducted what can best be described as a micro shuffle as it really wasn't big enough to be called a mini-shuffle. With no warning to the media who cover such items, everyone was taken by surprise. And that's not even mentioning the inevitable disappointment of certain backbenchers.
Julian Fantino earned his reputation as a hard-nose -- a take-no-prisoners hardliner who frequently preferred the stick to the carrot. Making him Minister of International Co-operation is like putting Donald Trump in charge of a micro-enterprise initiative among the poor of Haiti -- the consequences will be devastating because the need to be in charge will surely eclipse the need to be smart.
Buried in Ottawa's omnibus budget bill is a piece of little-known legislation that the government hopes will save taxpayers' money and help alleviate those pesky dinner-time telemarketers. Unfortunately, Stephen Harper's Conservatives are missing the boat by trying to make reputable Canadian telemarketers pay for the national "Do Not Call" list.
As we approach Canada Day, Stephen Harper is once again reaching out to Quebec and consulting with Premier Jean Charest and former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney. With the potential resurgence of separatist parties in the next provincial election, this is none too soon. Whether or not he follows their advice and whether or not he will be successful in expanding and building the Conservative brand in Quebec remains to be seen.
New efforts are being made to return Omar Khadr to Canada. There had been a diplomatic agreement (not a legal one) that he would be returned, but the Canadian government has yet to respect it, despite urgings from American officials. Why the delay? As a Canadian citizen, a minor, and a child soldier, Omar Khadr deserved better from his country.
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