Died this week in Fredericton, Brunswick, democracy, after 144 years of failing health.
Premier Alward has handed over planning our economic future to a self-appointed committee of corporate heads. The government will be represented only by the premier who will simply be one member of the committee.
That means effective control of the budget and taxation will be held by the Irvings and the Ganongs and their friends. And they will be in no way accountable to either the elected assembly or the people of New Brunswick.
So, today Gordon Campbell, stepped down as the premier of British Columbia. What this means for this province, I'm not sure, but I do know that his popularity was at an all-time low - only 9%. I guess the HST backlash finally got to him!
Any volunteers out there to become the premier of BC???
Well the Government has announced plans to possibly purchase 65 brand new F-35 Jet Fighters when they come out in 2016. This would put them just in the range of our old C-18s which were just recently retrofitted to last until 2017, which would give a good year of cross-fighter training.
Besides the 9 Billion up front there are other costs which could potentially bring up the total cost to about 16 billion to include maintanance and upgrades for 20 years from the date of purchase.
I've recently been learning a great deal about world issues in the environmental context. I mean, water shortages and soil erosion and that sort of thing. It's all pretty apocalyptic, to be honest with you. And depressing.
I don't want to flog this to death and I hope we can have respectful conversation around it.
The Canadian Government recognizes Same-sex marriage.
The United Church of Canada recognizes Same-sex marriage.
Why then are church boards, church councils and ministers able to say "no" to doing the service.? In my personal experience, some of these churches have never had open conversation with the congregation or their boards and committees about Same-sex marriage. It is a topic that hasn't been addressed since the 80's.
I am curious if anyone knows the rules re Canada Day.
I discovered earlier this week that our plant is closed down on Friday, July 3rd, not Wed, July 1st. Surprised me, but, then I figured, ok, maybe the rules changed.
Who would have thought it possible that right in Canada democracy could be assaulted so suddenly and so brazenly? We;re used to seeing this sort of thing in the developing world. Yet here we are: Stephen Harper lieing to the public, creating hysteria with rhetoric, and threatening to pervert democratic process, all for what? in order to hang on to his already tenuous minority government, elected by a mere 37.6% of Canadians.
