Canada – Page 13 – Spinor Info

Ingatieff the intellectual

May 192009

Our likely next Prime Minister, Michael Ignatieff, is an interesting character. Presently, the Conservatives run a TV ad suggesting that Ignatieff is not a proper Canadian, having spent a lot of time abroad, but they completely miss the point: as an academic intellectual, yes, Ignatieff spent a lot of time at Harvard, Cambridge, and Oxford, but I’d think that only strengthens, not weakens, his resume.

His views are another issue. Some have grave reservations about Ignatieff because of his apparent support for the war in Iraq and for controversial detention policies. I admit I am one of these doubters. Which is why I decided to read several of Ignatieff’s articles on these topics.

The impression I came away with, however, is overall a positive one. I may strongly disagree with Ignatieff on some issues, but judging from his writing, he’s not only an intellectual but an honest one. If only he could maintain that quality when he becomes our Prime Minister… Well, we’ll know when we’ll know, won’t we?

Mulroney’s cash

Canada, Politics No Responses »

May 162009

Yes, it looks more than a little suspicious: a former Prime Minister of Canada, meeting an internationally known arms dealer in secret at airport hotels and such, accepting large wads of cash in envelops, ostensibly for his lobbying efforts.

One thing Mulroney’s lawyers have not yet mentioned though is that in Europe, it is a lot more common to use cash, even for business transactions, than here in North America. So was Schreiber giving Mulroney cash because he thought it was normal? Perhaps… but then, why did Mulroney not just immediately deposit the cash into his bank account, like any normal person would?

Mulroney protests his innocence, even came close to tears at one point. I’d like to believe him… after all, I voted for him! But for now, I remain unconvinced.

From seal hunts to copyrights

Canada, Economy No Responses »

May 062009

The EU banned the import of Canadian seal products, in an attempt to stop the cruel practice of seal hunting.

About bleeping time, I say. We can thank Brussels for making a decision that our own spineless politicians were unwilling to make.

Yes, it means the loss of income for some who made a (part-time) living from hunting seals. I am not against them but what can I say? Should we also reinstate the death penalty just so that we don’t end up with unemployed executioners?

There is also a concern that stopping the seal hunt would threaten already depleted fish stocks, as seals that would otherwise be hunted will eat millions of tons of fish. Inflated numbers aside, there may be some truth in that… but again, chances are humans eat a lot more fish than seals do, so if we’re really concerned about the future of fish stocks, perhaps it’s time to fish a little less and not treat the oceans as an undepletable source.

Now if only our politicians were smart enough to move on and not spend millions of taxpayer dollars (more than the entire industry is worth) to fight this eminently reasonable and humane European decision… Those millions would be much better spent on the battle to block American efforts to export a Draconian copyright law to our country, a fight in which the latest round was fired recently when the Obama government put Canada on the same blacklist of copyright violators that contains Russia and China. All because we’re unwilling to give Mickey Mouse a 99 year copyright and put kids on jail for sharing music online.

Herdings cats

Canada, Economy, Politics No Responses »

Apr 022009

They did a group photo at the G-20 and our very own Prime Minister, Stephen Harper, was missing. According to a Canadian television channel, he was busy engaged in a discussion with an official. According to the BBC, he was in the toilet.

Stephen Harper

So they redid the group photo. Or tried to, anyhow. This time around, Berlusconi appeared to be missing… there was no word why.

Nonetheless, signs are that the G-20 meeting was (at the very least) not a failure, and perhaps even a modest success. I guess we’ll know in the next couple of days. But, if it is not just wishful thinking and real, meaningful decisions were made, then perhaps this is where the world changes to a track different from the one followed in the 1930s… instead of choosing protectionism, leading to a collapse of international trade, we’re choosing to keep the system of international trade robust and intact.

The BBC just updated their story: quoting a Harper press secretary, they’re now saying that Harper was indeed engaged in a conversation with an aide, he was not in the washroom.

That infamous do-not-call list

Canada, Technology No Responses »

Feb 192009

When the Canadian do-not-call list was brought into existence, I dutifully registered my two landline telephone numbers. Little did I know that the list is available to anyone (including foreign operators who are not subject to Canadian do-not-call legislation) for a few dollars. I have not checked (stupid mistake!) only naively assumed that the list will be implemented properly, meaning that the government will offer a means for operators to submit their list of numbers for do-not-call verification. I never expected that the do-not-call list itself will be made available in its entirety. On the odd chance that I know personally some of the people behind this lousy implementation, I’ll refrain from using stronger words but… this really wasn’t a very smart thing to do, was it.

Fortunately, I never registered our cell phones. And I don’t think I will. I doubt the do-not-call list will stop fraudulent operators from trying to tell us about our vehicle warranties or Florida vacations and why help them by making our numbers readily available in the form of an easy-to-purchase, government approved list?

Trade deficit

Canada, Economy No Responses »

Feb 112009

OK, so after three decades of surpluses, we can certainly afford it, but it’s nevertheless an alarming sign of the times: Canada’s first trade deficit since, what was it, 1974 I believe. It is not a pretty thought.

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