Monthly Archives: November 2012

Evasion or Avoidance?

Posted on November 29, 2012 by Peter McCaffrey

There’s an interesting story developing in the UK where many left-wing groups, supported by over-the-top media stories, have been building up pressure against businesses that ‘evade’ taxes. I put evade in inverted commas there because none of the businesses being … Continue reading →

Posted in Taxation | 1 Comment

Child welfare should always come above politics

Posted on November 26, 2012 by Joseph Quesnel

The Manitoba NDP government should be praised for its decision to appoint an interim administrator over the Southern First Nations Network of Care, an umbrella organization overseeing 10 aboriginal child and family service agencies. Continue reading →

Posted in Aboriginal, Manitoba, Regulation, Unsorted | Comments Off

New York Times’ Krugman off-base on GOP’s climate stance

Posted on November 23, 2012 by Tom Harris

Paul Krugman tells us in his Nov 22 OpEd “Gand Old Planet” that the Republican Party denies science, or, in Krugman’s words, they use the approach:

“If evidence seems to contradict faith, suppress the evidence.”

But one of the primary examples he uses to bolster his stance is so childish as to be laughable. Indeed, it demonstrates that Krugman, a professor of Economics and International Affairs at Princeton University, is totally out of his depth commenting about the state of modern climate science. Continue reading →

Posted in Climate Change, Energy, Environment, Unsorted | Tagged , , , | Comments Off

A “Pinko Commie” Former Toronto City Councilor Talking Sense On Taxes

Posted on November 23, 2012 by Steve Lafleur

Those of you who follow municipal politics may recall hearing of Adam Giambrone. Giambrone is a former chair of the Toronto Transit Commission, and former mayoral candidate. While his campaign was derailed by some relatively minor personal issues, he is still seen as a young, up and comer in Toronto’s political community. But Giambrone has penned a recent article that should remind us all that people who are derided as “pinko commies” sometimes have good ideas about economic policies. Continue reading →

Posted in Local Government | Comments Off

Indian Act changes in omnibus bill deserve attention

Posted on November 22, 2012 by Joseph Quesnel

Much alarm is being expressed about proposed changes to the Indian Act in the omnibus budget bill. Much of this rhetoric is overdone or just plain wrong, but there are concerns about the changes, even if the changes respond to legitimate problems approving projects on reserves. Continue reading →

Posted in Aboriginal, Property Rights | Comments Off

Globe and Mail columnist misguided on climate and energy

Posted on November 22, 2012 by Tom Harris

Globe and Mail columnist Jeffery Simpson should not so easily accept official dogma on climate change and energy. He also needs to seriously investigate the popular though misguided belief that fossil fuel companies receive government subsidies. Continue reading →

Posted in Unsorted | 1 Comment

The NDP Would be Smart to Press Pause

Posted on November 21, 2012 by Peter Holle

Continuing to spend billions on dams for which the market has effectively disappeared will eventually erode the one undisputed area where Manitoba has some natural strengths – efficient and economical hydro power. Continue reading →

Posted in Unsorted | Comments Off

Saskatchewan (Somewhat) Modernizes Liquor Policies

Posted on November 20, 2012 by Steve Lafleur

While the provincial government seems reluctant to make changes that will reduce the cost of alcohol, wine, or beer, they have introduced some modest changes to update the provinces out of date liquor laws. Continue reading →

Posted in Regulation, Saskatchewan | Comments Off

Anti-oilsands rhetoric distorts accurate assessment of risk

Posted on November 20, 2012 by Joseph Quesnel

Apparently Quebec’s environment affairs has problems with plans to import crude from Alberta’s oil sands to Montreal refineries. Daniel Breton, a former environmental activist, mentioned that there are “environmental risks with oil.” He then made specific mention of a major … Continue reading →

Posted in Alberta, Calgary, Climate Change, Energy, Quebec, Trade, Transport | Comments Off

Mistakes galore in first 1/2 hour of Gore’s climate change marathon

Posted on November 14, 2012 by Tom Harris

The first segment of former Vice-President Al Gore’s “24 Hours of Reality: The Dirty Weather Report” has just completed. Gore and his guests connected Hurricane Sandy and other tropical cyclones with global warming caused by human-induced greenhouse gas emissions (“carbon pollution”, they wrongly called carbon dioxide). Besides the fact that such a connection is impossible since there has been no overall global warming in 16 years, the concept is also wrong in principle. Continue reading →

Posted in Unsorted | Comments Off

Corruption costs

Posted on November 14, 2012 by Joseph Quesnel

Gilles Vaillancourt, the mayor of Laval, Quebec, is the latest casualty of the Charbonneau inquiry into corruption in Quebec’s construction industry, as he has announced he will be stepping down. Besides the obvious moral dimensions of corruption, kickbacks and inflated … Continue reading →

Posted in Aboriginal, Quebec, Role of Government | Comments Off

Mr. Gore: Vested interests permeate the climate debate, on both sides

Posted on November 13, 2012 by Tom Harris

Former U.S. Vice President Al Gore tells us that “misinformation” about climate change (in other words, science that counters what he says) is fueled by those with vested interests. While there are obviously many people and companies who would benefit from an end to the climate scare, here is a list of some of the influential parties who have strong vested interests in maintaining the global warming alarm. Continue reading →

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