Bad Reporting in the Globe and Mail

In this morning's Parliamentary Notebook, Jane Taber writes:

Here is the problem: on CTV’s Question Period yesterday, Chris Delaney, a senior member of the B.C. Conservative Party, said he wants the Bloc to “abstain” from the vote. “I can’t imagine what that’s going to do to national unity if we have a separatist party voting to implement a tax in British Columbia without British Columbians having a say on it.” Interesting point.

Well, no, it's not that interesting since it's wrong.  British Columbians will have a say in it because their 34 Federal MPs will vote on the same motion.  I can see why Delaney wants to create a national unity issue where none exists.  He is after all, speaking for a party that got 2.10% of the vote in the last election and for whom the HST issue is a godsend.  But, for a Globe and Mail reporter to simply parrot what he said without analyzing it (I'm not counting 'interesting' as analysis) is ridiculous.

 

The Soldier and the NGO worker

Todd Shea: American NGO worker - A short video about one man's quest to bring medical care to Pakistani Kashmir.

Ian Fisher: American Soldier - A brilliant photo essay from the Denver post covering a soldier's life from enlistment to combat, and his return.

(Hat Tip for both - Abu Muqawama)

The CRTC must be destroyed ASAP - Part 1

I've been looking forward to dumping my cell phone carrier (Rogers) for quite some time. Never mind the fact that they have the worst customer service I've ever encountered, they also have the fun habit of signing me up for things I didn't ask for (like a 3 year contract extension). Unfortunately for us Canadians, the other options (Bell and Telus) are just as bad or even worse.

The wireless spectrum auction that took place a few months ago made me quite hopeful that there might finally be more options. I was elated when I read about Wind Mobile and their planned launch for November. I even called Rogers to find out what my cancellation fee would be on my current Data Plan contract ($20 per month). I'm so fed up with Rogers that I was willing to pay this fee and jump to a new carrier.

But, lo and behold, the CRTC has blocked Wind Mobile's entry into the market. Why? Because they don't have enough Canadian ownership. My response to this was: huh?

The CRTC is enforcing foreign ownership laws in the telecoms market, but these laws are outdated.  Do most people care that Wind Mobile is owned by foreigners? I don't think so. The CRTC is simply in the business of protecting the big 3 against any serious competition.

This decision is beyond ridiculous. Imagine Toyota and Honda being told that they can't sell their vehicles to Canadians.

It's time to dismantle the CRTC once and for all. It may claim to protect Canadians, but it only protects big business and creates opportunities for them to screw Canadians.

Industry Minister Tony Clement is reviewing the decision and he does have the power to overturn it, but I doubt he'll make the right call.  Meanwhile, a company that spent half a billion dollars to bring Canadians something they want is forced to sit around and people like me are forced to stick with the shi*ty big three for a longer time.

Miller, CUPE, and Toronto

In the end, our mayor caved, just as we knew he would.

The union gets:
-6% raise over 3 years (as opposed to the 4% over 3 years offered by the city)
-To keep their flabbergasting sick day plan (henceforth known as FSDP) for current employees (that's a lot of employees, about 18,000).

Toronto gets:
-Another strike in 3 years.
-To continue paying about $25 per hour for CUPE to do a job that a private contractor would do for $17 per hour.

What will happen?
-Miller will probably get re-elected. Don't get me wrong, I really hope this doesn't happen, but this city keeps getting f*cked and somehow keeps asking for more.

What I hope happens:
-A few decent candidates running against Miller in 2010. He really, really, needs to go. If we get another Pitfield running against him, it's over.

Obama 44

YES.

So the Iraq invasion was all about oil right?

Read this then.

A picture really is worth a thousand words

This picture really moved me. Girls can now go to school in Afghanistan. If foreign troops leave, the Taleban will take over again, and girls will not go to school. I know I'm generalizing a very complex issue, but am I wrong?

Dear Liberals, let's not forget that we were the ones that got into this, and not Stephen Harper. We did so for very good reasons. Those are still really good reasons. There are numerous problems to fix, but we have to get the job done. There is no other option.