With the Alarming Unemployment Report When Is Harper Going to Start Taking Things Seriously?

I'll give you three guesses and the first two don't count.

I posted on the alarming unemployment situation, the worst since the recession hit, but if you expected a response from Herr Harper, other than "I don't want an election" you'd be waiting a very long time.

Paul Jay wrote an excellent column about Harper's preaching of austerity while building prisons, spending over a billion dollars to beat up anyone who disagrees with him, and still going through with massive corporate tax cuts.

"Tax the rich" says Paul.

Harper just got a few more grey hairs. He'd never tax the rich. It's not the neocon way. He'll pass it on the the poor and tell us not to feel sorry for the unemployed, so long as he still has a job.

Statistics Canada said on Friday that the country lost 9,300 jobs in July, the first decline this year, with the official unemployment rate rising to 8 percent from 7.9 percent. This puts Canada's unemployment rate only 1.5 percent behind the U.S. official rate. Prime Minister Harper said, "The global recovery remains fragile." So what does he plan to do about it? He says there is a "strong indication the government's focus should be on reducing the deficit.

.... As we prepare to take on the deficit, let's not forget Harper's plan to spend 10 billion on prisons. Defying all logic, this is supposed to lower the crime rate . . . that's by the way, at a historic low. On the other hand, if the one thousand dangerous criminals that were arrested at the G20 protest is anything to go by, perhaps once all the austerity measures really hit, we will need more prisons after all.

Put that together with the purchase of 65 new F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Jets estimated to be around 16 billion once the maintenance costs are factored in. One does start to wonder just what all the deficit mania is about. Clearly, it's quite ok to spend on beefing up the RCMP's capacity to quell angry citizens and on the military (and just who are these Fighters going to be fighting anyways?).

Paul suggests that we heed the advice of the late Bob Blair: "Ask rich Canadians to step up and voluntarily pay down the deficit. If they don't give it, then tax it."

Sounds good to me.

Some Interesting Comments and Updates on Marci McDonald's Armageddon Factor

I haven't blogged on the Armageddon Factor for a while but there was an interesting review of her book, as seen through the media's reaction and the Conservative party's attempt to discredit the book.

It was written by Dr. Kenneth Paradis, an assistant professor of contemporary studies at Wilfred Laurier University's Brantford campus. Dr. Paradis noted that in reading columns and comments sections, he noticed similar phrasing.

The odd thing about these responses is that a very quick media search will show that the letters share an almost identical pattern, right down to the adjectives and “arguments” chosen to denigrate the book: the phrase “anti-Christian bigotry,” for example, the label chosen by political operative / media mover and shaker Kory Teneycke, for example (formerly Steven Harper’s spokesperson, now the prime mover behind the Sun TV / Fox News North initiative), comes up fairly regularly, probably because it has the twin virtues of being inflammatorily and derogatory, without actually requiring the denouncer to demonstrate actually having read the book.

This is not unusual, and in fact on many issues there are common "adjectives and arguments", often easily found on the Conservative website. In fact they even tell you what to write or say on radio call in shows.

Dr. Paradis also picked up the connection with the Globe and Mail piece written by Ray Pennings of Cardus. I had posted a lengthy article, linking all of the players, and the large multi-million dollar grant given to a private religious school with connections to Harper MP David Sweet and Mr. Pennings.

Paradis did find the book lacking in places, and don't disagree. I think there may have been a bit too much on dispensationalism and not enough on some of the key cabinet ministers and their involvement with the Religious Right, especially American groups. Jason Kenney is in much deeper than the book suggests, as is Jim Flaherty.

But it was the second best seller in June and Amazon, while listing it as #89 overall, places it in the first spot for non-fiction and religion.

I think it was a very good first effort, on a subject that was difficult, especially given this government's reputation for combative behaviour.

There is a recent event though, that validates the need for this and further research.

Vic Toews has announced a $90,000 fund to protect some religious groups from hate crimes.

A group of religious centres in Toronto will receive government funding to help protect their communities against hate crimes. Public Safety Minister Vic Toews announced almost $90,000 in government funding today for security infrastructure for six religious organizations in the Toronto area. Mr. Toews says he wants to ensure that vulnerable communities are able to protect themselves against hate-crime incidents.

There is nothing wrong with this, but as Montreal Simon points out, hate crimes against homosexuals are on the rise, so why is there no funding to help them?

Police services are reporting a big jump in hate crimes, and they say gay men are being targeted more often and in the most violent incidents. But Statistics Canada says the numbers could be more a result of better reporting than of increased violence.

The agency says all three major categories of hate crime increased in 2008, but the largest increase was among crimes motivated by sexual orientation, which more than doubled from 2007 to 2008. Hate crimes motivated by sexual orientation were also the most violent: 75 per cent were violent compared with 38 per cent of racially-motivated incidents and 25 per cent of religiously motivated incidents. Among violent incidents motivated by sexual orientation, 85 per cent of the victims were male.

This is where religious fundamentalism becomes ugly. They validate hate crimes against homosexuals because of their own language in referring to gays.

Things like this:


All vulnerable Canadians need protection.

Stockwell Day Says He's Tired of Harper's Tight Message Control

After four and a half years of a federal gag law, that is frustrating everyone, Stockwell Day says that he would like to see it lifted.

But will Herr Harper?

Not likely.

Nationwide focus groups assembled by a federal pollster expressed "frustration" over the Harper government's lack of communication, leaving them in the dark about the Tory agenda. The newly released findings prompted a federal cabinet minister to say Thursday he’s open to loosening the Tories' tight message control.

Treasury Board President Stockwell Day said he'd consider removing the veritable gag on federal public servants that's been in place since the Conservatives introduced a potent messaging tool called the Message Event Proposal four years ago.

An investigation by The Canadian Press revealed in June that MEPs are being used across the federal government to literally script words uttered by cabinet ministers and lowly backbenchers as well as screen media requests for interviews with public servants who have expert knowledge of government policy.

I think Stockwell Day will be gagged.

Tony Clement Lied? Say it Ain't So

Documents released today about the decision to suspend the mandatory census, show three things.

1. Tony Clement lied about Stats Canada agreeing with the decision.

2. The government put no thought into the decision beforehand.

3. "Emails and briefing notes also show Privy Council’s effort to kept tight grip on agency’s public comments about controversy."

The former head of Statistics Canada was set to speak out about the Harper government's controversial census change just before he abruptly quit his post, newly released documents show. The papers reveal that Munir Sheikh was going to tell staff that data from a voluntary long-form survey would not be as useful as the current mandatory form. They also show that the government tried to shape the statistics agency's public comments on the matter.

“Many of you have asked whether I believe the National Household Survey will satisfy the needs of all users of the previous long form,” says a draft text of Mr. Sheikh's planned speech to staff. “My response is that the NHS will meet the needs of many users but will not provide useful data to meet the needs of other users of the mandatory long-form census data.”

Kady O'Mally is sharing many of the documents with more to come.

Former head of StatsCanada, Munir Sheikh, is trying to talk some sense into Harper, but we all know how impossible that is.

Kingston's Brian Abrams' Campaign Posters Unveiled

The headline on the front page of our local paper today read: A Sad Day for Canada and it was a sad day for Canada indeed.

Without justification, explanation, or even consultation; the Harper dictatorship closed down Canada's prison farms, as part of an ideological pattern of behaviour.

They had no interest in listening to experts, dismissing them as 'university types', and refused to even meet with stakeholders. They were going to do what they wanted to do, come hell or high water.

Kingston activists have spent 18 futile months trying to arrange a meeting with those involved, but in true Harper pattern, he refused to listen. However, turn about is fair play.

The end of the blockade is the beginning of another battle, say organizers of a dramatic two-day standoff between police and protesters outside a federal prison in Kingston. Police crushed the protest Monday, bringing in a riot squad of about 40 provincial police officers to clear demonstrators who were preventing cattle trucks from ferrying cows out of Frontenac Institution so they can be sold at auction.

"The resolve of everyone who's been there has been hardened by this," said organizer Aric McBay, who operates a farm on Howe Island.

He said many people who got involved in the issue, not just the two-day blockade, have a new appreciation for justice issues and the notion of prisoner rehabilitation. "These events will help people to transition into another kind of struggle," he said. "Our argument is that the government is ignoring people and taking an authoritarian approach."

Word is that the Reformers really wanted the riding of Kingston and with the retirement of the Liberal Peter Milliken, thought they had a chance. But they underestimated the people of Kingston and the pride we take in our community. And part of that community was the 100-year-old prison farms.

This will not only be an election issue but it will be the election issue in this city. Because this represents more than just those farms, but defines the Reform movement. Brian Abrams, the local candidate for Harper's party from the bowels of hell, never showed his face to one single event. Not one.

And why?

Because he wasn't allowed.

And this is how he would represent Kingston and the Islands. Photo-ops, ribbon cuttings and pre-scripted press releases. Kingston deserves better. Canada deserves better.

I'm afraid Mr. Abrams hopes drove away with those cattle trucks.

Because we will remember this brave 87-year-old woman being carried away by three police officers.

And we will remember this wonderful donkey who worked so hard to save his friends.

And we will remember all of those who were arrested simply because they disagreed with the Harper regime, including a 14 year-old girl and several professors from the Royal Military College.

And we will remember all the local farmers who stood in solidarity with the inmates, and learned about human dignity and the value of rehabilitation.

But mostly we will remember a government that abandoned them all.

Harper Tries to Shoot the Messenger ... Again!

With the help of his Fox News North cohort, Kory Teneycke, Harper is trying to discredit Sheila Fraser just before she releases her reports which will no doubt reveal just how incompetent his government really is. Like we need a report for that.

“… it appears they [the Harper government] are using favoured media sources to try to damage the office’s [the Auditor-General’s office] credibility in advance of what are expected to be highly critical reports,” says Mario Lague in the memo, which was written Monday, and e-mailed to The Globe and Mail from an anonymous source.

Auditor-General Sheila Fraser, one of the most respected bureaucrats in Ottawa, is to release several reports soon, which the Lague memo says “will likely cast the government in a bad light.” These reports include of the infrastructure stimulus spending, the $1.3-billion on G8/G20 security “because of Stephen Harper’s terrible last-minute decision to hold the G8/G20 meetings in two places [Huntsville and Toronto],” Mr. Lague wrote.

He also notes that the Auditor-General is to look at the government’s “failure to tender what will ultimately be a $16-billion contract for F-35 jet fighters without any public discussion.” “As an independent officer of Parliament, the Auditor-General is one of the few public servants that the Conservatives cannot fire or directly pressure, something they normally do when they don’t like the facts brought forward,” Mr. Lague wrote. “So it appears they are using favoured media sources to try to damage the office’s credibility in advance of what are expected to be highly critical reports.”

I want these guys gone and I want an election now.

Please Answer This Poll. Harper's Hatred For Farmers is Palpable

His hatred for human beings even more so.

The CBC has a poll: Should the prison farms remain open?

Please take it. That SOB is the most inhumane monster on the planet.

My husband just came from the demonstration as they were hauling the cattle away, many are going to slaughter. The gutless police are arresting anyone trying to take a stand, including an elderly woman who could take that spineless Harper down with her bare hands, she was so angry with him.

All of the farmers there today to show their support, said that Stephen Harper will never get elected again. They are going to make sure of it. And when my husband asked about our local neocon candidate, Brian Abrams, They asked "Brian who?"

Another spineless jerk who has not shown his face even once. I am so angry.

I know know what evil looks like.

And cowardice looks like this.

More than 150 police officers faced off against several hundred protesters at the entrance to the Frontenac Prison in Kingston, Ont., Monday morning, as the demonstrators tried to prevent trucks from removing a herd of cattle from the prison farm there.The protesters oppose the federal government's decision to close all six of Canada's prison farms, which provided work for inmates.

Protesters gathered at the entrance of Frontenac Prison on Sunday in an attempt to prevent several trucks from picking up a dairy herd.

The demonstrators voluntarily withdrew Sunday evening after receiving a promise from police that no cows would be removed overnight, according to a statement issued by the Save Our Prison Farms group.Police charged nine people, including a woman in her 80s, with mischief following the protest Sunday. A 10th protester was arrested Monday morning.

A woman in her 80's. Brian Abrams should be ashamed. As to Harper, he has no soul. And what bothers me the most is that that bastard is probably laughing somewhere, enjoying himself.

We're counting the days Stevie. You're OUT!