The Conservative “Clean Air” Act - Let's Get Political II

The Conservative government announced there new plan for the environment today and it’s called the “Clean Air Act”. Great news by 2050 we will cut green houses gasses by fifty percent.
Yes folks that’s right 2050.
In the meantime the conservatives will set “intensify based” targets. Basically this means as companies get bigger they can pollute more. There was the announcement that industry would have targets to meet in reducing smog, but they plan to spend the next four years discussing possible targets with the same industries that are polluting. There were no actual reduction amounts announced.
Liberal leader Bill Graham put it quite well when he asked "How on Earth could they(conservatives) have laboured so long to now tell us there is not one single new action in this decade that will stop climate change or reduce air pollution?"
The Conservative Party has always been about big business and not about the common person.
Alberta, the site of the biggest oil reserves outside the Middle East, emits more greenhouse gases than any other province and emissions are poised to grow as companies boost production.
Coincidentally Alberta is also the founding Province of what would become the Conservative party.
Gilles Duceppe said that this plan “was written in Alberta and made in Washington.”

I can’t wait to have my say in the next election.

Lets Get Political

Looking back it seems like its been quite awhile since I have talked politics and with a the release of a new poll on Stephen Harper's approval, I figure its about time. First to the poll.

Though at first glance its not great news, Stephen Harper and his Right wing Conservatives are starting to slide. If you also take in to account that the Liberal party hasn't even selected a new leader yet, it doesn't look so positive for Harper. You can almost guarantee that this puts on hold Harper's plans to call a spring election. I'm not going to get too excited, it is a tie after all, but Harper is losing even bigger ground in Quebec. If he ever hopes to win a majority government he must win over the province of Quebec which he seems to be failing at. The NDP and The Block remained basically unchanged with there support levels, but the Green Party was a bit of a surprise doubling their support. This might just be a result of Elizabeth May winning their leadership campaign, but it seems significant.
So what has our Prime Minister been up to lately?
It wasn't long ago that he announced that he would introduce his motion on gay marriage in the fall. The motion would basically ask if Parliament should reopen the debate on same sex marriage. Well were halfway through fall and we have yet to hear when this motion will be brought forward.
Could this be the result of pressure from the Religious right within his party and the country to delay the motion?
Why might he delay?
Well simply because the motion is almost certain to fail with the make up of Parliament as it is today.
Harper and his religious zealots are probably only going to get one more chance at a vote and they now want to wait until after the next election, when they hope that they will hold a majority in Parliament.

Remember during the last couple of election campaigns when the Liberals tried to portray Harper as scary and having a hidden agenda?
What happens if they succeed in reopening the debate and taking away this basic right from Canadians?
Most likely the first court challenge to it (and there will be many) will declare it unconstitutional. The only option that would be open to Harper then is to invoke the not with standing clause and don't think he wont. If your not familiar with this clause basically it allows the Prime Minister to ignore what the courts have ruled and do what ever he wants. I find this very scary.

Do you also remember Harper's 5 Priorities during the election?
I hope you do because he certainly doesn't.
I will admit he has worked on a few, but what about health care wait times. Arguably one of the biggest problems facing this country and it just disappeared off his political radar.
Then there is John Baird, one of Harper's star MP's, who during a municipal election campaign has interfered in the light rail debate. Many people have argued that it's a long standing fight with current Mayor Chiarelli that prompted his interference.
The Ethic's commissioner has been asked to investigate his actions and so far Harper has refused to act. Just another example of Harper's governments selective accountability.
Is it not also scary that Harper has to muzzle his MP's.
Rona Ambrose the Minister of the Environment held a press conference to announce Harper's "Environment Policy" in Vancouver and Harper flew to Vancouver to do all the talking. Maybe that's because Ambrose criticised the Liberals for spending 100 million dollars on carbon credits. When pushed for proof of this supposed spending spree Ambrose was forced to admit that she made a "mistake" and there was no purchase of credits.
What was the big environmental announcement?
Basically that in the future they would be announcing a policy.

One last comment before I quit for now.
Harper announced 1 billion in spending cuts two weeks ago, even though we are running record surpluses.
Who will be affected by these cuts?
Non Conservative supporters.
He cut the funds from some of the most vulnerable parts of our society.
He cut literacy programs, Women's programs, aboriginal programs, and a court challenges program that has been used by many minority's including the gay community to fight for their basic human rights.

Sound's like his agenda isn't so hidden anymore.

Eddie Murphy - Norbit

Eddie Murphy is back, and it actually looks like a good movie.
Here's the trailer.

Urban Legends

Almost everyone has probably heard of urban legends. There are hundreds if not thousands of stories passed on as fact all around the world that are simply just not true. Most legends start off by the story teller saying that it's a true story that happened to a friend of a friend or a variation of that. The key is that it never happened to someone that they have actually met.
There was a series of horror movies released that use the theme of urban legends to create a few scares. I saw the first two (Urban Legend-1998 and Urban Legends:Final Cut-2000) and they weren't that bad.
I think most people wouldn't fall for most of these urban legends if they were told to them, but with computers in almost every one's home, there are a new breed of urban legends circulating. One of the most recent I received went like this:

hello everyone,

I had a look on the Internet and its actually true On the 1st of November, we will have to pay for the use of our MSN and email accounts unless we send this message to at least 18 contacts on your contact list. It's no joke if you don't believe me then go to the site (www.msn.com) and see for yourself. Anyways once you've sent this message to at least 18 contacts, your msn dude will become blue. please copy and paste don't forward cause people won't take notice of it. My person has turned blue

An email like this usually has a subject line stating with something like URGENT OPEN NOW or DON'T DELETE THIS MESSAGE. At first glance it's easy to see why people would believe this kind of message. MSN Messenger is the most widely used messenger service so the odds are good that the person receiving this message uses MSN on a regular basis.
When you stop and really dissect the email you see that it's obviously a fake. First and foremost MSN built there user base on a free system. With dozens of other competing messenger programs it would be suicide to try and start charging for it. The handy link to the supposed story only takes you to the homepage of the site which gives you no information about paying for MSN. Finally there is no way for messenger to be able to detect and count how many people you send an email to, let alone what the content of the email is. After a bit of searching I found that this email in one form or another has been circulating since 2001, and all that gets changed is the date payment is supposed to begin.
There is a similar type of email sent that promises that if you forward the email to a certain number of friends some hilarious video or animation will appear on your computer. Same rules as above. Nothing is going to happen.
That's my rant for today.

365 Days Later

I find it hard to believe that a year has already passed since we lost Chris. He was a bright light in an often dark world.



Here are some remembrances from his family.

Christopher Powell

We who loved you, sadly miss you, As it dawns another year; In our lonely hours of thinking Thoughts of you are ever near. Chris was so dearly loved by many and we know that we are not alone in suffering his loss. The family wishes to thank everyone who supported us during this difficult year. In particular, the staff at Tubman's, who were so thoughtful and allowed the wide community around Christopher to gather and learn more about the man they shared. Father Michael for his support and a service that was truly memorable. Carleton University for their support. The amazing teachers and wonderful students of JSW HS, where Chris developed his commitment to friends and community spirit. As well, the staff of McDaniel's Independent for the camaraderie that was important to Chris. And all of his friends across the Ultimate community for giving Chris the outlet to share his values in sport and play, your support of our family since the tragedy has been outstanding. Our thanks also go to all who sent flowers, food or shared their time and words of comfort with us over the last year. Lastly, to our family and friends, we thank you for all the love and support without which we could not have gotten through this year. The year has been nothing short of phenomenal as tributes to Chris have continued in the form of memorial bracelets, tournaments, awards, a concert, a tree planting and numerous other personal touches. Perhaps the most endearing has been the Carpe Diem Bursary, designed to create a lasting legacy of assistance to those of similar independent spirit in a manner Chris once received and never forgot. The support of the fund continues to exceed all expectations! Knowing how widely and deeply Chris touched the lives of others has been a source of comfort and inspiration for us. Our home will be open on Sunday between 2 and 6 p.m. to anyone who wishes to drop by. Rest peacefully dear Chris - you will be in our hearts and minds forever. Our thoughts will always be to Absent Friends. Carpe Diem!

POWELL, Christopher
May 16, 1984 - October 15, 2005 Your picture and a candle that flickers on my sill The Carpe Diem wrist band that holds your memories still For how proud I remain of you, For everything you held dear My love for you continues Today and throughout the year. And when today is over as the candle is doused by tears I've seized the day And the memories of you In a grandmother's special way. We love you always, -Grandma Powell and family, xoxo