Canadian politics

Re-thinking state-owned corporations

Dec 132012

If China Can Have State-Owned Energy Firms, Why Can't We?

by Bill Tieleman

"To be blunt, Canadians have not spent years reducing the ownership of sectors of the economy by our own governments, only to see them bought and controlled by foreign governments instead."
– Prime Minister Stephen Harper, December 7, 2012

There are many good reasons that the Conservative government should have rejected the $15 billion takeover of Canada's Nexen oil and gas giant by the China National Offshore Oil Corporation instead of accepting it last Friday.

Refusing to sell out ownership of our natural resources to a foreign company, for example, or rejecting China's appalling human rights record and undemocratic rule by dictatorship or just because the benefits to Canada are not sufficient.

But for Harper to allow the deal to go ahead while bitterly complaining that it won't happen again because CNOOC is "state-owned" is not a good reason — it is an indication of his libertarian free-market at all costs ideology.

Salmon wars

Dec 132012

Canadian politics

Silver Donald Cameron investigates salmon farming in the Atlantic provinces.

from Salmonwars.com

In 2010, strongly encouraged by Nova Scotia's NDP government, international salmon-farming corporations moved to establish massive new salmon feedlots in three pristine bays and harbours, and to expand existing feedlots in other inlets. Galvanized by the threat to wildlife habitat, tourism, salmon runs and the all-important lobster fishery, Nova Scotia's coastal communities furiously opposed the plan, to no avail.

Canada becomes China’s gas pump

Dec 132012

Canadian politics

China gains control of Canada's energy, revenue, and environment policies in three moves.

from the Alberta Federation of Labour

Chinese-Canadian business relations are being redefined, as we cede decision-making power about our natural resources to state-owned foreign businesses. These businesses are not bound by market pressures and will not act in the best interests of Canadians.

Charlie Angus stands up for First Nations

Dec 112012

Canadian politics

Conservatives try to drown him out.

from MP Charlie Angus' office

MP discusses First Nations, government accountability on reserves.

Tobacco scandal mostly smoke and mirrors

Dec 102012

Canadian politics

Alison Redford's impact on tobacco lawsuit blown out of proportion.

by Ricardo Acuña

To hear the mainstream media and Alberta's opposition parties tell it, this is the biggest story to hit Alberta politics in decades. In case you missed it, here's what happened: CBC investigative reporter Charles Rusnell uncovered documents showing that Alison Redford, while she was Justice Minister, had some input into the selection of which law firm the government would hire to represent the province in a $10-billion lawsuit against the tobacco industry.

Sense finally prevails on the fighter jets

Dec 102012

Canadian politics

With F-35s dead, Harperites will have to look at what Canada actually needs.

by Geoffrey Stevens

The three most difficult words for any politician to utter are, “I was wrong.” Or “I screwed up.” If the process of getting from a wrong decision to a right decision involves admitting mistakes, it can take a devil of a long time.

It has taken the Harper government seven years to concede it was wrong – dead wrong – when it decided to equip the Royal Canadian Air Force with F-35 Lightning II jet fighters to replace its aging CF-18 Hornets.

Darrell Dexter’s defiant announcement

Dec 102012

Canadian politics

NS Premier could have mentioned new study weeks ago.

by Stephen Kimber

How and why did avuncular, reasonable-man-trying-to-do-the-right-thing Opposition leader Darrell Dexter morph into prickly, why-should-I-answer-your-reasonable-question Premier Darrell Dexter?

Last week, as the House of Assembly wrapped up its fall sitting, Dexter announced — not in the legislature where you might have expected it, but in a puffed up State-of-the-Province speech to an audience of 400 Chamber-of-Commerce types — that his government had commissioned an independent study on the economics of importing electricity from the proposed Lower Churchill hydroelectric project in Labrador. Huh?

Justice, not charity

Dec 092012

Canadian politics

Food bank users say at $650, welfare leaves them hungry every month.

from Raise the Rates

VANCOUVER, Unceded Coast Salish Territory, December 7 — About 80 low income people converged on the CBC on its annual food bank day to say that they want governments to end the need for food banks by raising welfare rates.

BC Liberals still miles behind NDP in polls

Dec 062012

Canadian politics

Government has exited highway hell and hopes to pass on the right.

by Bill Tieleman

"The consequences of our actions are so complicated, so diverse, that predicting the future is a very difficult business indeed."
– JK Rowling, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Polling provides a political roadmap to all parties but there's no guarantee the streets it shows now will even exist by the May 2013 provincial election. Nonetheless, the BC Liberals appear to have finally exited the highway to electoral hell they have been zooming down for months.

Calgary Centre by-election results create fuss

Dec 062012

Canadian politics

Opposition activists divided; many blame Greens for splitting the progressive vote.

by Gillian Steward

The Calgary Centre byelection saw yet another Conservative elected to join the ranks of Stephen Harper’s government. But unlike the seven other Calgary Conservative MPs, Joan Crockatt fell far short of a majority.

So now there is even more chatter among local opposition activists about how so-called progressive voters could form an alliance in order to elect someone other than a Conservative.

Older Entries Newer Entries