It's time to step things up a notch or two. Technoscam is all TPC, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If anyone is interested in helping out, drop me a line @ bluebloggingsoapbox@gmail.com and I will add you as a Team Member. Over the next several days I will be adding all the TPC related content from my blog and several others. If you have any content you would like included, just drop a link in the comments section.
Stéphane Bergeron, MP for Verchères-Les Patriotes seems to be leaving Parliament. Not sure why. I caught the tail end of several speeches honouring him and wishing him well. Did a quick re-wind of my CPAC feed. He mentions leaving and thanks many people, but doesn't say why.
Who will Stand Up for Canada? Jack wants to know (Video) (en francais)
Jack's looking for someone...
Stand Up! Click to play (.wmv file 7.83 mb right click and choose 'Save Target As...' to download file)
Download the video and email it to your friends, family and co-workers.
Note: still looking for how to turn off the autoplay feature in Firefox browsers. If I can't resolve it, I'll move all the videos and place links to them on the sidebar. Probably better to do it this way in the long run to reduce page load time.
Download the video and email it to your friends, family and co-workers.
Note: Still working on file size issues. I've provided several differnt sizes this time. Guess it's time to learn a little more about video compression
Download the video and email it to your friends, family and co-workers.
Note: I apologize for the poor video quality and file size. Still learning, but I'm starting to get the hang of it. Feel free to join in. Photoshop, Powerpoint, Video - whatever your favourite is. Remember, the JibJab site was visited more often then either the Bush or Kerry sites. You CAN make a difference.
Note 2: if anyone knows how to turn off the 'autoplay' in Firefox, drop me a line.
Rajotte stands up for taxpayers. Emerson? (en francais)
Technoscam Tussle
Well, this should give you an idea how today's Question Period went.
James Rajotte was in there lobbing the ball, posing valid questions about the Liberal's mismanagement of the Technology Partnership Canada program. Minister Emerson though, was doing the typical Liberal dodge.
Keep up the good work James, we all know how this one turns out!
Stay tuned for the full movie later tonight.
(I know, the Photoshop needs some work yet - I'm practicing!)
Interesting Letter to the Editor in the Windsor Star this morning from Essex CPC MP Jeff Watson. I almost fell out of my chair as I got near the bottom:
-- TPC a contributor to two major Bioniche projects --
BELLEVILLE, ON, Sept. 26 /CNW/ - Bioniche Life Sciences Inc. (TSX: BNC), a research-based, technology-driven Canadian biopharmaceutical company, todayconfirmed its good standing with Technology Partnerships Canada (TPC), a special operating agency of Industry Canada, in the face of questions by the federal government about how the funding was obtained.
Bioniche Life Sciences Inc. was awarded two contracts (repayable loans) with TPC in 2001, for:
1. The development and commercialization of an E. coli O157:H7 vaccine. TPC has agreed to contribute $7.6 million Cdn. to this project.
2. Projects relating to the Company's proprietary Mycobacterial Cell Wall technologies. TPC has agreed to contribute $9.6 million Cdn. to this project.
The Company utilized consultants to assist in the application for funds, which was a complicated process due to the complexity of the projects. Industry Canada informed the Company on Friday, September 23, 2005 that the structure of compensation for these consultants did not conform to government rules and, accordingly, the Company was put in default under the program. As a result, the Company entered into a settlement with Industry Canada, whereby the Company will pay to the government an amount equal to the portionof the consultants' fees that were in dispute, plus costs of the audit, for a total amount of $463,974.71, plus interest. This has put the Company back in good standing under the program.
TPC - Dingwall and Lorus Therapeutics Inc (en francais)
At the rate this is going, ex-Liberal Cabinet Minister David Dingwall is going to be looking for a friendly Witness Protection Program - from his Liberal colleagues.
Interesting details in the article. Seems like the nice people at TPC were willing to overlook David's 'clerical' error of not registering and award the $6.6 million dollars. The issue stayed under review for a while, until Industry Minister Emerson wrote to Lorus on the 23rd of August to tell them the deal was off.
I wonder if that was before or after Minister Emerson had read the Kroll Report that was completed on the 29th of June, 2004. Couldn't have more un-registered lobbyists working for companies applying to the TPC - could we? Or do we have more?
The writers at the 'Young and the Restless' couldn't write better stuff than this. Only problem is, advertisers pay for TV, the taxpayers are paying for this.
OTTAWA -- Former Liberal cabinet minister David Dingwall failed to register as a lobbyist for a Toronto pharmaceutical company, a lapse that prevented the firm from receiving $6.6-million in federal investment, government sources say.
The failure to register, as required by federal law, was an honest mistake, said Gloria McArter, Mr. Dingwall's executive assistant at the time. "I believe that was clerical error," she said.
For all you political junkies, looks like CPAC is going to start podcastingsome of it's shows on the 27th of September. Audio only and details are sketchy, but it's a start.
While the rest of us (myself included) were watching Question Period and CPAC today, listening to shrill voices in the wind, two people were out working, doing what needs to be done.
Garth Turner, new cowboy boots and all, spent the day canvassing his riding. Ricktoo, has spent the week canvassing some of the toughest polls for us in the city. I feel ashamed, having spent the last hour watching a bunch of mindless pap on CPAC instead of doing something productive for Rick's campaign.
Sometimes it's too easy to get distracted by the latest happenings in the media because they tell us that it's 'important'. After reading Garth's post today and reflecting on it some, there's not much doubt in my mind what's important.
This election will be won on the ground.
One person - One vote at a time.
H/T to Rick and Garth. You get it. Hopefully, the rest of us will soon.
This, as opposed to the speech Martin gave not to Canadians, but to senior bureaucrats in Ottawa last week, that was as lacking in substance as it was overhyped by the media. (Except for the Toronto Sun, of course.)
Another week, another high-profile conservative meltdown over party leadership. This week’s came courtesy of Carol Jamieson—Vice Chair of the Conservative Party’s GTA Presidents Council. In an open letter to fellow conservatives headlined on Bourque Newswatch, Jamieson whacked Stephen Harper around like a bloated piñata on the summer yard party circuit, ultimately calling for him to step down.
I know there are many out there that have no love for Ms. Marsden, but put that aside for a minute and have a good read. While I disagree with her thoughts on Stephen Harper, I pretty much agree with the main thrust of her article.
She does manage to work the Blogging Tories in there a couple of times, but I'm actually in awe that she managed to pen more than two paragraphs without mentioning Kate.
Bourque must be hurting for hits to keep peddling this offal.
Ottawa had been reluctant to get involved in the lockout, saying that the dispute between the guild and CBC management needs to be resolved at the bargaining table. However, many insiders describe a confluence of events pushing Ottawa to find a solution, from the embarrassment of the public broadcaster not being properly able to air Michaëlle Jean's swearing in as the new governor-general to the effect that the absence of the CBC's regular coverage of federal politics is having on the Liberal and NDP parties political parties.
I damn near broke my tailbone when I fell on the floor with laughter after reading this little tidbit.
Signs an election is getting closer II (en francais)
In yet another sign that the Grit spin-machine is gearing up for an election, Liberal Restaraunt CriticImmigration Minister Joe Volpe has rummaged around in the closet and dug out the 1993 'Red Book', co-authored by current Prime Minister Paul Martin.
Volpe is set to announce that, after 12 years of being a number 1 priority, immigration levels will be increased by 35%.
Adscam is already winding down in the minds of many Canadians. The new Techology Partnerships "Technoscam" is just starting to warm up. With over $2.9 billion dollars given out to Canadian companies over the last 9 years, with little or no oversight from Parliament due to the programs secrecy, I thought I'd take a look at what might be waiting around the corner should the ruling Liberal regime ever be held to task.
The first thing that pops up are those numerous Foundations that our Auditor-General has been warning us about since 1997, shortly after their inception.
4.4 In 1997, the government introduced a new approach to achieving policy objectives by transferring public funds to foundations—non-profit corporations considered to be at arm's length from the government. In our sample, three foundations were established by direct legislation and the others were established under provisions such as the Canada Corporations Act. At 31 March 2004, more than $9 billion in grants had been paid to foundations.
4.5 In the Auditor General's observations on the government's summary financial statements in the Public Accounts of Canada, we have raised concerns about the governance and the accountability of and accounting for government transfers to foundations. These are up-front payments made many years in advance of need. Our performance audits in 1999 and 2002 found that accountability to Parliament was placed unnecessarily at risk—the government had failed to meet the essential requirements for accountability to Parliament, namely credible reporting of results, effective ministerial oversight, and adequate provision for external audit.
Wow! $9 billion of our tax dollars sitting in unaccountable foundations.
4.14 The government has recorded these payments as expenses, even though the foundations do not expect to use the funds for many years. At 31 March 2004, nearly $7.7 billion of these funds were still in the foundations' bank accounts and investments, earning interest. This accounting treatment has resulted in a reduction of the reported annual surplus when funds are transferred to foundations, rather than when funds are distributed to the ultimate intended recipients or used for the ultimate purposes that the government announced for this spending.
From a government that misplaced a billion or so dollars in the HRDC boondoggle, overspent the Gun Registry by 2 billion, squandered millions on Liberal friends during the Adscam fiasco and continues to abuse the Technology Partnerships Canada fund we are supposed to accept their word. "Trust us, only we have the best interests of Canadians at heart".
If this is how they treat those close to their hearts, I'd hate to see what they would do if they're pissed off.
Seems that Bioniche did very well with former Liberal Cabinet Minister David Dingwall for this one particular project. The "unlimited" figure in 2000/2001 is kind of frightening.
4.3 Unless the Minister agrees otherwise in writing, the amount of the Contribution will not exceed the following amounts in the relevant Fiscal Years of the Project as follows:
The Minister will consider any request to reprofile these funds, but the Minister Will have no obligation to pay any greater amount in any of the said Fiscal Years except to the extent that such reprofiling will have been agreed to by the Minister.
IndustryGate is too lame, and isn't everyone getting tired of the whole 'gate' label?
Adscam was good. We need to be ready with the appropriate moniker for this barrel of monkeys.
Here are my suggestions on how we should refer to this going forward:
RoboGate - I know - there's that 'gate' again, but it's just too easy. In honour of former Industry Minister Lucienne Robillard, who was minister when all these fine audits and reports were completed. You know - the ones that say that there are no problems! ;
RockPet - can't forget former Industry Minister Allan Rock;
Grease - self explanatory;
Now that this one is warming up, we still need a good name for it. Post all your suggestions in the comments section.
Just a heads-up to let you know that my newest column will be in the Toronto Sun tomorrow (Friday, Sept 23). It will also be online at www.torontosun.com (click on "columnists"), and later at www.rachelmarsden.com . Feel free to drop a line to the editor at editor@tor.sunpub.com . I know they appreciate the feedback (particularly given that I'm new to the paper)--and as always, I'm really grateful to you for all your support.
Stay tuned to the website at www.rachelmarsden.com for more developments...or just to buy one of the hot new "evil right-wing bitch" or "evil right-wing bastard" brand t-shirts!
Cheers, Rachel
Gotta luv the Sun, never a dull moment.
Edit: I posted this without first looking at today's Sun. I haven't been able to find an article by Rachel, as yet.
Edit 2: You can find the article on Rachel's website. Look's like it must have got bumped from Friday's issue. Will be interesting to see if it's in Saturday's or not.
National Post September 23, 2005 Re: Conservative Critics Nipping At Harper, Sept. 22.
What a shock that Carol Jamieson captured mainstream media attention. While it is true that she has been involved in party politics for a long time, she does not speaks for Conservative party riding presidents, candidates or activists in the Toronto area. It is astonishing that with only a handful of signatories, her petition is considered as newsworthy.
The real Conservative news in the Toronto-area is that our candidates are working hard to address the issues voters care about. These include:
- Smog and infrastructure, with tax credits proposed for TTC users;
- Crime, with a Conservative task force proposing solutions to end violent crime;
- High gas and home heating fuel taxes. To hear views on this issue, Conservative candidates in 20 ridings met motorists at the pumps recently;
- Immigration. The party held a series of roundtables with frustrated new Canadians, in particular those who felt they had been hoodwinked by the Liberal "family reunification" program.
Politics is the ultimate team sport. The overwhelming majority of Tories in the Toronto area are working hard for the Conservative team to give Canadians the government they need and want -- a Conservative government led by Stephen Harper.
Susan McArthur, member of the national council for the Conservative Party of Canada, Toronto.
Industry Minister David Emerson's press release today would have everyone believe that all is well in hand at Industry Canada and appropriate steps are being taken to resolve "compliance" issue.
Considering the size and scope of this program - $2.9 billion dollars from 1996 to present, and the number of companies found to be 'not in compliance', tip of the iceberg doesn't even begin to describe the fiasco that is going on.
Emerson is trying to use smoke and mirrors to give the impression that the Liberals are dealing with the issue. The TPC program has been cancelled and a new one is being launched in the new year. The new program appears to be nothing more than TPC with a new name and some tweaks to it. Something smells to high heaven in this whole mess.
Let's take a look at what we know to date.
1. First audit found 4 companies 'not in compliance' with TPC program guidelines. The non-compliance being that they were paying an un-registered lobbyist a contingency or success fee on the basis of the TPC program grants
2. 2nd audit looked at 47 companies. Of these, only 21 or 45% have been found to have no problems. Of the rest, 11 or 23% were found to be 'non-compliant', with further information still required from another 11 and field work/quality review still pending on yet another 4.
"As of June 30, 2002 the TPC portfolio consisted of 447 projects, of which 289 were funded by IRAP-TPC. The following is a breakdown, by year, of TPC (including IRAP-TPC) funded contributions:
Year Value of Contracted Projects Cumulative Value of Contracted Projects 1996-1997 $408,283,045 $408,283,045 1997-1998 $153,972,376 $562,255,421 1998-1999 $213,591,699 $775,847,120 1999-2000 $370,792,456 $1,146,639,576 2000-2001 $499,343,563 $1,645,983,139 2001-2002 $201,860,698 $1,847,843,837
The assignment examined the both the TPC program as well as the IRAP-TPC initiative. Approximately 95% of TPC funding was directed to projects where the contribution amount exceeds $500,000 and the remaining 5% was directed to IRAP-TPC projects, all under $500,000."
To date the audits have found problems with 15 files and another 15 are still under investigation. Those are alarmingly high numbers dealing with large sums of taxpayers money.
What are the "political requirements" of the TPC program?
Who are this persons "buddies"? Is this the unregistered lobbyist?
The lobbyist is claiming that half of his project will be funded and they are discussing the steps to get the remainder funded
What "political process from the top down can also be initiated, if required"? Was this political process initiated?
The biggest problem with this program and the audits that are now being released is the degree of secrecy being attached. The department is citing Privacy Act and Access to Information concerns for the need to continue shielding the names of most of the people and companies involved. Considering what I have been able to find in the little that they have released, I can see why they are reluctant to release any more.
The Kroll report identifies one un-registered lobbyist, who are the rest? What if anything is being done about these un-registered lobbyists? Who were they lobbying?
There are far too many questions remaining regarding this program to just simply sweep away the problems and hide everything under a new name.
As the saying goes, 'where there's smoke, there's usually fire'. Considering the amount of smoke being generated by Minister Emerson, I think someone better call the Fire Department - quick!
Ottawa -- The federal government must take strong leadership toward "common" goals to keep the country together, NDP Leader Jack Layton said in a speech to the Canadian Club yesterday.
But when speaking in French, Mr. Layton said Canadians support Quebec having "significant asymmetry" in delivering its programs.
After the speech, Mr. Layton denied his message in French contradicted what he said in English. An NDP official said Mr. Layton's view of asymmetrical federalism has more standards than the Liberal version, first used last year to explain a side deal with Quebec at a summit on health care.
The National Primary Health Care Awareness Strategy (NPHCAS) is a joint project with federal, provincial and territorial partners. Its goal is to increase awareness and understanding of primary health care among Canadians.
Take a close look at the top right hand corner of the website - "Funded by Health Canada."
The ad campaign:
Television ads will run on national networks for six weeks starting tomorrow, September 21, 2005, and will be repeated for another six weeks in January 2006. Print ads will appear over eight weeks in the Saturday edition of many daily and weekly newspapers across the country beginning this Saturday, September 24, and also repeated in January 2006.
The timing is coincidental of course. Six weeks of TV ads and eight weeks of print leading up to the release of the Gomery report. Follow that up with a repeat in January, leading up to an election call, if we haven't already had one.
Should be interesting to see what other fascinating 'education' initiatives the Liberals decide to launch in the coming months.
CPC MP James Rajotte is trying to raise this issue in the MSM. Help him out. Write a Letter to the Editor of your local paper. NealeNews has an excellent 'Newspaper' section listing links to many papers across the country. Other than the voting booth, this is one of the few avenues that average Canadians have to make their voice heard.
1. I wonder why Industry Minister Emerson is announcing these changes at a Montreal Chamber of Commerce meeting, instead of the House of Commons?
2. Why will Emerson not release the audits?
3. If illegal commissions were paid to unregistered lobbyists, why are the RCMP not investigating and criminal charges being considered? Are they waiting for limitations to run out as they did in Adscam?
4. Does the Minister actually think that adding another layer of "experts", appointed by the Liberals, is going to change this program? (visions of a fox and the henhouse come to mind here)
5. Why will the Minister not do the right thing and refer this entire program to the Auditor-General?
Those are just a few off the top of my head. I'm sure Mr. Rajotte has a few more!
OTTAWA – James Rajotte, Member of Parliament for Edmonton-Leduc and Senior Opposition Critic for Industry, Science and Technology today called the proposed changes to the Technology Partnerships Canada (TPC) program a cover-up.
“This Liberal government is simply trying to sweep the chronic mismanagement of TPC under the carpet,” said Rajotte. “Rather than account for the billions of dollars granted under this program, the Liberals are going to change the name and hope everyone forgets.”
Rajotte is particularly disturbed by the fact that the new program, called the Transformative Technologies Program (TTP) will not be a cost-recovery program. Instead it seems grants will be given to for-profit businesses without any return on taxpayers’ investments.
“This is blatant corporate welfare,” said Rajotte. “TPC gave money to Paul Martin’s own shipping company, Canadian Shipbuilding and Engineering (CS&E). We can expect more grants to friendly Liberals under the new program.”
Rajotte renewed his call for the release of all recently completed audits of the TPC program. He fears that Minister David Emerson has finally had to change the program because the audits have uncovered wide-spread misuse of taxpayer money.
In addition, Rajotte is calling for a complete public accounting of all payments by TPC as well as all repayments by the private-sector companies that received the loans.
“I want to see a chart of all the money that has been loaned versus all the money that has been paid back,” said Rajotte.
- 30 -
For further information, contact James Rajotte (613) 992-3594 or (780) 495-4351
Industry Minister Emerson "These are unacceptable breaches of contracts and they will be remedied" TPC Program - A Study
More to follow on this one - I need to go have a extra-large Tim's and calm down for a while.
Edit: I should note that it hasn't been determined that it was Liberals accepting commissions in the TPC program - yet. The details have been shrouded in secrecy by Minister Emerson, and he will keep them that way if at all possible.
Liberal appointments pork continues unchecked (en francais)
Many claim that Windsor is the last bastion of NDP/Union power. You would never know it from the Windsor Star's Editorial pages. Keep up the good work.
The position of "citizenship judge" has long been considered one of the better patronage appointments available from the federal government. If you have the right connections, you get a nice title, and a not-unsubstantial annual salary of about $91,000.
However, that's not to say the job of a citizenship judge isn't important. Each year, 20 full-time and part-time citizenship judges make decisions that lead to about 130,000 people officially becoming Canadians. This is a watershed in their lives, and citizenship judges play a significant role in introducing them to Canada. Ceremonies awarding citizenship can be highly emotional, and tend to remind all of us about the value of being a Canadian. It's a process that strengthens the country.
However, the position is predisposed to patronage. For example, despite his vow to get rid of cronyism, Prime Minister Paul Martin recently gave judgeships to two longtime Liberal activists who willingly agreed to give up their secured riding nominations so two of the PM's star recruits could run in last year's federal election. And, as the Vancouver Sun has reported, others who are ruling on citizenship applications include a former senior Liberal official's mother-in-law, a former Alberta Liberal of the Year, and former federal and provincial candidates, organizers and senior political aides.
Yet despite the ongoing criticism, it appears Ottawa has no intention to change the appointment process. In fact, Steven Heckbert, a spokesman for Immigration Minister Joe Volpe, says political activism is a good trait for a citizenship judge.
Patronage, however, should have no place in the appointment of citizenship judges. And there is one straightforward way to ensure citizenship judgeships aren't merely sinecures for the party faithful. The nominees could be vetted and approved by an all-party committee of MPs. It would ensure politics don't supercede qualifications.
Simon Wiesenthal, the famous Nazi Hunter has died in Vienna at the age of 96, the Simon Wiesenthal Center announced today (September 20th).
"Simon Wiesenthal was the conscience of the Holocaust," said Rabbi Marvin Hier, dean and founder of the International Human Rights NGO named in Mr. Wiesenthal’s honor, adding, "When the Holocaust ended in 1945 and the whole world went home to forget, he alone remained behind to remember. He did not forget. He became the permanent representative of the victims, determined to bring the perpetrators of the history’s greatest crime to justice. There was no press conference and no president or Prime Minister or world leader announced his appointment. He just took the job. It was a job no one else wanted.
The task was overwhelming. The cause had few friends. The Allies were already focused on the Cold War, the survivors were rebuilding their shattered lives and Simon Wiesenthal was all alone, combining the role of both prosecutor and detective at the same time."
Overcoming the world’s indifference and apathy, Simon Wiesenthal helped bring over 1,100 Nazi War Criminals before the Bar of Justice.
There will be a news conference at the Simon Wiesenthal Center, Wednesday, September 20th at 10 am.
For biographical information and photographs on Simon Wiesenthal's life, use this link.
For more information call the Public Relations Department at 310 553-9036.
But others said a state-funded TV station could hardly be allowed to criticize the authorities and provide a truly balanced viewpoint. "When the state is behind mass media, this rarely produces a decent information product," said Konstantin Isakov of the MR&MC media consulting group.
For some strange reason, that quote made me think of another state-funded TV station.
Ontario Conservative Party member Carol Jamieson, who is also director of two of the party’s Toronto riding associations and vice-chair of the GTA’s Presidents’ Council, has added her name to the list “He should resign and get the hell out of my party. He’s a disaster,” said Ms. Jamieson who has been a Conservative since the days of John Diefenbaker. “Mr Harper doesn’t like to leave his office. When he does, he doesn’t like to talk to people,” said Ms. Jamieson. “Why would the party go to the polls with him?”
Sometimes, you just need to look at yourself first. This is certainly one of those times. What's that line about "heal thyself"?
"Nobody in the country is going to understand, nor should they, why Mr. Pettigrew (took) his driver.... His driver isn't versed, as has been pointed out, in international affairs," Conservative strategist Tim Powers said, appearing on CTV's Question Period.
"Why is he spending the taxpayers' money to take this gentleman on a holiday?
Conservative Party strategist Tim Powers had a good showing on today's Question Period: Political Panel. No offense to the previous people, they just didn't have what it takes to go toe to toe with Scott Reid on national TV. I think we have a winner in Mr. Powers. A couple more shows and he'll have Reid's number.
"And that comes together, so now you have a government ready to do what they believe are good things coming together with a private sector who smells blood and says 'geez, this is not an opportunity that will ever come twice in a lifetime.' "
An interesting article from from Howard Fineman @ MSNBC/Newsweek Beltway vs. Blogosphere Democrats are struggling to reconcile the differences between party leaders in D.C. and independent activists on the Net.
GTA NETBLK-GTAADMIN (NET-192-197-77-0-1) 192.197.77.0 - 192.197.82.255 Canadian House of Commons PARL-C1 (NET-192-197-82-0-1) 192.197.82.0 - 192.197.82.255
# ARIN WHOIS database, last updated 2005-09-15 19:10 # Enter ? for additional hints on searching ARIN's WHOIS database.
Search results for: ! NET-192-197-77-0-1
OrgName: GTA OrgID: GTA-3 Address: VPO/MOI room 1020 Address: Journal Tower North Address: 300 Slater Street City: Ottawa StateProv: ON PostalCode: K1A-OC8 Country: CA
# ARIN WHOIS database, last updated 2005-09-15 19:10 # Enter ? for additional hints on searching ARIN's WHOIS database
A little further digging produced this:
Industry Canada Telecommunications Policy Branch 300 Slater Street Journal Tower North, Room 1665C Ottawa, ON K1A 0C8
I wonder if it has anything to do with my favourity goverment program - TPC - A Study. Just a guess, mind you. It's tedious, but very rewarding to go through server logs. Found a few other Parliamentary IPs that I'm trying to track down as well. Loads of fun on a slow night.
RICHMOND, British Columbia, September 15, 2005 -- The Honourable Raymond Chan, Minister of State (Multiculturalism), on behalf of the Honourable David L. Emerson, Minister of Industry, today announced a $3.5-million investment to develop new methods for maintaining and repairing helicopter engines and other aircraft components over their life cycle.
From Patrick Ruffini (George Bush's webmaster for the 2004 Presidential campaign) H/T to Small Dead Animals for this one. This is definitely an idea that should be replicated here in Canada. I've signed up for the eCorps and look forward to seeing how it will develop.
What is this?
ECorps is a collaborative, blog-based effort to network conservative web geeks across America. From graphic designers to hardcore developers, ECorps will serve as a community for people just like you, providing a venue for discussion and connecting you to exciting projects.
You don't have to be especially political to join. We're looking for the best new talent, not inside the Beltway political junkies. And you don't need to have architected a Fortune 500 website either: a snazzy personal blog will do just fine.
Tired of the liberal tilt on Slashdot? Does it seem like every other Flash designer like you is a Michael Moore-addled lefty? Then join ECorps!
TPC Program Fraud - what does it take? (en francais)
Are there any investigative journalists left in Canada? This situation has been ongoing for a long time now. The second phase of the audit has been proceeding since August of last year, in secrecy. The Liberals favourite tactic. (H/T to Conservative Life and Strong World)
The released documents make clear that the wider round of audits has uncovered further problems and that a deeper probe is needed.
Emerson acknowledged in June there would likely be other firms caught paying forbidden commissions.
The investigation has become so complex that Industry Canada has created a special committee to oversee the work.
Cuerrier said no decision has yet been taken on whether to launch the planned third phase of auditing for more of the hundreds of companies receiving aid.
The Technology Partnerships Canada program, which supports more than 700 projects with almost $2.9 billion, is undergoing a separate policy review to determine whether it remains relevant.
"I haven't been satisfied that the program is designed to meet the core public policy objective that I think it should be trying to meet," Emerson said earlier this year.
"I think what's needed is a fundamental review and reshaping."
Cuerrier said the department is expected to make an announcement on the review in a few weeks. The minister was not available this week for comment, she added.
The fund has been dogged by controversy since its founding in 1996 to promote innovation in aerospace, automotive, defence and high-tech companies.
The government has contended that the seed money it provides will be fully paid back in royalties, but as of January only $95 million of the $2 billion paid out had been returned.
So lets see if I've got this right:
We've known for over a year now that illegal commissions were being paid. This was determined after auditing only 5 of the program participants,
the repayment rate on our "investments" is failing miserably,
the departments own reports have identified many of the problems year after year, but nothing has been done to fix things,
the Auditor-General has highlighted problems with the program, which still have not been fixed,
they're not sure if they should launch another round of audits
This is going to make ADSCAM look like chump change. Yet another Liberal program, run in complete secrecy. The department's own reports admit that they have no way of measuring the effectiveness of the program - they haven't gotten around to setting up that part of the program.
Other than myself, Bill and Conservative Life, no one has even started looking into the other side of the equation here. How many of these companies are large donors to the Liberal party? Seeing how many lobbyists have been caught receiving illegal commissions, don't you think it's a valid question to know who they are and if they too are large donors to the Liberal party? Why the need to slap the veil of secrecy on the first round of audits? This is public money and the public has the right to know who was defrauding the government and what action was taken. To date, all that seems to have occured is "Emerson told the Commons in June that the missing money had been repaid"
The biggest question is - Why is this program still running?
Below is the summary to date that has been compiled regarding this program. In case you haven't noticed - I'm a little pissed. I must admit I'm also puzzled. Just what does it take for the Canadian people to wake up and realize they are being fleeced day in and day out by the 'natural ruling party'? I guess this will just end up being another program where no one is responsible. Things just got out of hand.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Following the post in Part I, I decided what I had read was unsettling and begged further research. I am currently working with public information available from the TPC website and using the Elections Canada contribution database. Feel free to pitch in and help with ideas, suggestions or a bit of research. If you'd like to help, drop me a line at bluebloggingsoapbox@gmail.com
Auditor General of Canada - website. Hours and hours of fun reading here. Almost depressing when you realize that successive Auditor General's have been making the same recommendations for years.
Blogging Tories - a not so suprisingly diverse group of men and women dedicated to the Conservative cause.
HMCS Ottawa I - September 14th, 1942 (en francais)
HMCS Ottawa I (formerly HMS Crusader)
At 02.05 hours on 14 September 1942, U-91 (Walkerling) fired a spread of two torpedoes at a destroyer and observed a hit...
For the complete story on HMCS Ottawa, visit "Never Forget", a group blog dedicated to the proud history of the Canadian Armed Forces and, more importantly, the men and women who have so bravely stood up for our country in times of need.
Today, NDP MPs Joe Comartin and Brian Masse claim that they want to see action on rising gas prices.
Comartin suggested any notion of further NDP bargaining with the Liberals may have been overtaken by larger concerns including gas prices. (Ottawa Citizen, September 13, 2005);
while Masse said that "I know this will likely be a priority for a lot of people," (Globe and Mail, September 13, 2005).
However, despite the rhetoric, the NDP's own policies don't back them up. In fact, NDP policies call for gas prices to be even higher. How can Comartin and Masse claim to be for both lower and higher gas prices at the same time?
Points to Consider Jack Layton, the NDP and Gas Prices
a. Federal NDP leader Jack Layton wants the federal government to force oil companies to rationalize price rises (Vancouver Sun, May 8, 2004).
b. "Green Taxation Reforms: The NDP has emphasised the need to change existing tax laws and tax credits that artificially lower the true costs of fossil fuels and nuclear energy." (NDP Action Plan, previously posted on NDP website)
c. "Stop tilting the marketplace towards unsustainable fuel and, over four years, shift government subsidies away from unsustainable fuels towards renewable ones. The first step is to reverse the tax reductions for fossil fuel industries" (NDP Kyoto Plan, http://douglas.ndp.ca/kyoto/en/taxpa.php)
New Conservative Campaign Academy Schedule (en francais)
For those that haven't heard yet, there is a new training schedule out for the Conservative Campaign Academy. Contact your local EDA or Candidate if you are interested in taking part in this, or you can sign up directly online.
They've added three new courses:
Handling the Media
Field Organization Poll Captains
Special & Overseas Ballot
Take advantage of these excellent resources while there is still time.
International Trade Minister Jim Peterson today issued the following statement on the intention of the U.S. lumber industry association Coalition for Fair Lumber Imports to challenge the constitutionality of U.S. legislation implementing the dispute settlement system of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA):
“This is nothing more than a veiled attempt by the Coalition for Fair Lumber Imports to undo the softwood victories that Canada has achieved through NAFTA.
“We stand ready to vigourously defend NAFTA and we will take all steps open to us to ensure that it is respected.”
- 30 -
For further information, media representatives may contact: Jacqueline LaRocque Director of Communications Office of the Minister of International Trade (613) 992-7332
Media Relations Office International Trade Canada (613) 995-1874 http://www.international.gc.ca
Agreement with promoter for 2005 and 2006 editions
Quebec City, Quebec, September 12, 2005 - The Honourable Jacques Saada, Minister of Canada Economic Development and Minister responsible for the Francophonie, today announced the awarding of $200,000 in funding to support the promotion and international marketing of the 2005 and 2006 editions of the Quebec City International Festival of Military Bands.
"Since 2000, Canada Economic Development has contributed $50,000 a year to this unique festival that showcases the traditions, art, history and music of military bands in the setting of Quebec's fortified city. We have now doubled our contribution to support the increased marketing of this distinctive cultural event and to better position the Quebec City region on the world stage. This prestigious event generates some $12 million in annual spinoffs, $2 million of that from foreign visitors," stated Minister Saada.
Canada Economic Development's mandate is to promote the economic development of the regions of Quebec. Primarily through financial assistance programs, the Agency elicits and supports the implementation of economic development projects. The two priorities the Agency has set itself are to foster innovation and the knowledge economy in each region of Quebec, and to help communities that are having difficulty adjusting to the new economy. In this way, the Agency contributes to the attainment of the Government of Canada's objective of building the 21st Century economy.
This weeks is designed to stimulate a little more discussion. This is a topic that will be debated quite a bit over the next while, until the next policy convention of the party.
Personally, I'm against having a separate youth wing. Our own campaign locally is full of youth and they are all integrated into the campaign. The Campaign Manager, Organization Manager(GOTV), and Communications Manager would all be considered youth under the various models being proposed. Under the traditional youth wing model, I don't believe any of these people would be holding the positons that they do. They would never be given the opportunity.
Most people know of the potential abuse/misuse of youth wings during leadership campaigns. This is something I would not want to see repeated in the CPC.
I think the number of young MPs we currently have in our caucus speaks volumes for inviting everyone to sit at the same table, instead of segregating the youth at the kiddie table.
one rookie Deputy-Minister (ex-CEO of the Canadian Firearms centre) Maryantonett Flumian
EQUALS
Service Canada - Canada's newest government department with over 22,000 employees. Goverment estimates are that this department will save the government $2.5 Billion
Remember how the firearms centre was supposed to cost us virtually nothing?
Liberals help themselves with your money (en francais)
Nice to see that the Liberals are sticking to the tried and true - buying your vote with your own tax dollars. I wouldn't want to take any bets on this money appearing right around election time.
I stand transfixed on the hard-packed dirt, my feet rooted in place as surely as a great oak. Up above me birds fly by, riding the winds with a freedom I yearn to taste. Perhaps one day I will learn to throw off these shackles and glide through the clear blue sky on gossamer wings, graceful and free. Until then I will watch with a mixture of awe and envy, my neck craned upwards towards the heavens - towards the place that feels like home
Also by Andrew:
Canconv - the Anti-Echo Chamber: CanConv is a linker... with a twist - everyone participates in filing useful posts in relevant categories, and in this way a history is built up.
Never Forget - a group blog dedicated to the proud history of the Canadian Armed Forces and, more importantly, the men and women who have so bravely stood up for our country in times of need.
Donation Research Tool: quick and easy to use form for searching Elections Canada Political Donations database.
Andrew is looking for some design assistance with Canconv and Never Forget. If you can spare some time - drop him a line. Every little bit helps.
Andrew Anderson has started yet another worthwhile project - "Never Forget", a group blog dedicated to the men and women of Canada's armed services. Here's his explanation of the blog:
Welcome to "Never Forget", a group blog dedicated to the proud history of the Canadian Armed Forces and, more importantly, the men and women who have so bravely stood up for our country in times of need.
Every day Canadians lose something precious, something that cannot be replaced. With each new day more and more of our veterans pass away, and with them the go the memories of where they have been, what they have done, and why they have done it.
Canadian schools do not teach our children about our military history.... at least not in any meaningful way. Personally, I managed to graduate highschool with absolutely no knowledge of the amazing accomplishments of the Canadian military over the years - it simply was not taught. It has only been through private research have I been able to start to learn about all of the impressive feats that Canadian soldiers have accomplished. Vimy Ridge and Juno Beach leap immediately to mind - but we have been so many other places, and done so much more.
Every year on November 11th we are asked to remember the sacrifices that our soldiers have made for us over the years; but for members of the younger generations, like myself, there is nothing to remember... we were not around when the great wars were fought.
So instead we must learn - and that is where this blog comes in. We must learn about Canadians in the Boer War, the two World Wars, Korea, the Fenian Raids, and everywhere else our countrymen have fought.
Never Forget currently has seven contributors: myself, Damian Brooks, Bill, Paul, Larry, Skippy, and Publius. Others are welcome to join assuming they have an interest in Canadian Military History - send me an email if you are interested.
Over the next week I will be going through my own blog and cross-posting older articles to Never Forget - the other authors may or may not do the same. Going forward, some will choose to write unique posts here, while others will cross-post to their personal blogs as well.
I hope you enjoy this blog, and I hope that it plays some small part in preserving the proud history of the Canadian military.
Give everyone a few days to get the house in order and then stop in and learn about the proud history of Canada's fighting forces.
Last fall, the opposition parties managed to add five amendments to the Throne Speech, including the creation of an independent Parliamentary Budget Office "to give regular advice on the fiscal forecasts of the government of Canada."
The idea is widely popular not only with the opposition parties, but with economists who have regularly criticized the Liberal government for consistently miss-forecasting its budget surplus.
In its February budget, the government said it expected to be $3-billion in the black, just enough for contingency expenses. But this month, the government announced that its coffers are overflowing with $8-billion in extra cash for the 2004-05 fiscal year ending March 31.
For some strange reason, the Liberals are now resistant to setting up such an office. Seems like Finance Minister Goodale's answer to a more transparent accounting of the Canadian taxpayer dollars is - simply spend more money to make your predictions accurate.
Canconv - v1.09b Getting better and better! (en francais)
Andrew has released yet another version of Canconv. The new Blog Listing feature allows you to see who is posting, how much they are posting and what their top category is.
Andrew has been shouldering all the costs and design time with this project. Bandwidth and other hosting charges along with time can end up being a very costly venture. If you have a few bucks to spare - stop in the donation page.
If you have some HTML/Design skills, your assistance could also be used. Let's help a great Canadian tool get even better.
It never hurts to know what kind of resources you are facing. Using the returns you can work out a rough estimate of where each EDA stands.
Take their cash on hand from 2004, and add 60% of what they spent on their 2004 election campaign. From that you should have a good idea of where they are today.
This is a rather simplistic explanation, as there are other factors such as loans during an election, monies owing to parties etc, but this is only meant as a guide.
Whether you are facing a newcomer or an incumbent, it's worthwhile to put in some research. Some basic opposition research should play a factor in compiling your campaign plan.
Now's the time to do this kind of work, not after the writ has been dropped.
Three great feeds from Angus Reid Consultants (en francais)
For political junkies Angus Reid Consultants offers three great feeds. I particularly like the Democracy feed. It features an excellent background and synopsis of current elections happening throughout the world.
Our Polls & Research archive—the world’s largest free-access online public opinion database—includes surveys from every continent on topics that include approval ratings for heads of government, voting intention studies and reviews of public sentiment on a wide range of global issues. Our entries go beyond simply recording numbers and percentages. Each poll is located, translated if necessary, and accompanied by a brief analytic review.
Our Democracy database features the Election Tracker, a unique online publication that monitors democratic conditions around the world, by reviewing background information, assessing the latest campaign news and events, describing trends in voting intention, and reporting on the outcome of a particular ballot.
Our Trend Analysis section reviews shifts in worldwide public opinion, examines the effect of policy decisions on the electorate, and focuses on the upcoming challenges for leaders and parties.
Having read more and more of the articles coming out today regarding the goings on in the OLO, along with Stephen Taylor's good work, I find myself still rather pissed off.
Yesterday's post still remains valid, although I'm left with the feeling that I don't have a big enough stick yet.
Liberal re-election campaign begins in Quebec (en francais)
Transport Minister Jean Lapierre promised in a June 13th interview that the Liberals would be launching a major summer offensive in Quebec.
He said the Liberals have a "plan of action" that they'll kick off on August 10 and let roll until the end of the year.
Though stingy on details, Lapierre said the strategy would involve Prime Minister Paul Martin and a number of cabinet ministers in Quebec, taking their cheques message "directly to Quebecers."
Although it looks like their timetable is off a little bit, let the campaign begin.
(Edit: I'm sure I've missed a couple of these announcements over the last few weeks. I'll be doing some searching to backfill. Once that is completed, we'll see if we can't keep a running total on the Liberals favourite game - Buy the Vote!)
(Edit 2: looks like I was wrong, they started early - not late. List has been updated. )
OTTAWA - A government watchdog group plans to lodge a complaint with the federal ethics commissioner after learning Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew loaned his Paris apartment to a registered lobbyist.
In an interview Tuesday, Democracy Watch co-ordinator Duff Conacher called the situation "highly questionable," adding he would ask Bernard Shapiro to investigate further.
"(Pettigrew) isn't allowed to have even the appearance of an obligation to anyone who could benefit from his decisions," Conacher said, alleging this case doesn't pass scrutiny.
"You have to uphold the highest ethical standards to enhance the public's confidence in the impartiality, objectivity, and integrity of government," he added.
Pettigrew purchased the small apartment before he entered politics and listed it in his public declaration of assets filed with the ethics commissioner.
When a reporter visited the French abode recently, it was occupied by Martin-Pierre Pelletier, who was Pettigrew's senior policy adviser on softwood lumber and U.S.-Canada trade relations until this spring.
Pelletier now works for Ottawa firm Prospectus Associates, and his lobbying registration with Industry Canada indicates he is retained by the Quebec Forest Industry Council to lobby Pettigrew's department, among others.
Some days you just want to find a big stick, a woodshed and take a few people for a walk.
Maybe if either one of these "insiders" would stop flapping their gums to the press long enough, and instead went out and:
1. Raised money 2. Help canvass for a candidate 3. ID voters 4. Plan events 5. .....
In other words - do something. How many candidates are out there doing these things right now? How many are waiting for Stephen Harper to come visit?
That's why I'm glad I'm working for Rick Fuschi. Since the beginning of June Rick has:
1. walked over 50 polls in the riding, (actually he was canvassing today from 3pm to 8pm) 2. had two fundraisers, 3. hosted a BBQ for the Deputy Leader Peter McKay 4. appeared on numerous local talk shows 5. visited the local fairs 6. regular blog posting 7. sold over 100 memberships 8. mades hundreds of calls to thank supporters 9. made over 15,000 phone calls to ID supporters 10. put together a comprehensive plan for the September to December period.
Maybe if a few more people were active, they wouldn't have time to sit around and bitch to the press.
BTW, other than having MPs as guests at the fundraisers, all this was accomplished WITHOUT any support from the national party.
TTLB - Hurricane Katrina: Blog for Relief Weekend- Update (en francais)
Hurricane Katrina: Blog for Relief Weekend Thursday, September 1 - Monday, September 5 A weekend of blogging focused on raising awareness of and funds for relief efforts to aid those affected by Hurricane Katrina.
Prime Minister Paul Martin to visit HMCS Athabaskan on Tuesday at 1pm.(Open coverage)
I wondered why the ships weren't leaving first thing Tuesady morning. Seems like we have our answer now - gotta have a good photo op first. I guess the PMO couldn't arrange enough media to be there at 7am.
(Note: afternoon and evening sailings from Halifax are extremely rare. Generally, when sailing for a major deployment such as this, ships typically depart between 7 to 8 am. )
"When the Citizen visited his Paris home this weekend, it was occupied by Martin-Pierre Pelletier who, until this spring, served as Mr. Pettigrew's senior policy adviser on softwood lumber and U.S.-Canada trade relations.
He now works for Ottawa lobby firm Prospectus Associates, alongside former Tory strategist Bill Pristanski and Bruce Hartley, who previously served as prime minister Jean Chretien's executive assistant.
Mr. Pelletier is retained by the Quebec Forest Industry Council, a trade group, to lobby Mr. Pettigrew's department, according to his lobbyist registration with Industry Canada. He was staying in the apartment for a few days before heading to Provence with his wife on a summer holiday."
Personally, I could care less where Mr. Pettigrew spends his time. In todays day and age of modern communication, these arguements are nothing more than typical political potshots.
On the other hand, WTF is his 'former policy advisor on softwood lumber and U.S.-Canada trade relations' turned lobbyist for the Quebec Forest Industry, doing staying in his Paris apartment? No conflict of interest there! Whether the lobbyist is paying for the apartment or not, the optics just scream BS.
“Should Ottawa have a say in how Alberta spends its surplus?”
Jamey Heath, NDP strategist
“Simply put, yes. Alberta receives federal transfer payments and though you wouldn’t know it from the last decade of vanishing federal leadership, something- for-nothing federalism actually isn’t what was envisioned.”
Hopefully a few voters in Ontario are paying attention. Should the Ontario provincial government ever get it's finances in order, the federal NDP will be right there to help 'redistribute' the wealth. The NDP never saw a buck it didn't want to spend.
So Mr. Heath, what would you do if Alberta decided to start collecting it's own taxes and pulled out of the federal transfer payment system?
Fighting yesterday's battles. Look what happened when they shut down Napster. The number of different file sharing programs out there is astounding. The music industry needs to find a different revenue model and ITunes and the like is not it.
Hopefully, the Liberals and the CRTC are paying attention. If they try to change the latest CRTC ruling regarding XM/Sirius satellite radio, they are consigning Canadian companies to never succeed. With a Nagra 2 hack already out for FTA receivers and a DTV P4/D1 hack soon to be released, along with all the gray market subscriptions, the CRTC is fast losing any relevance.
Delay satellite radio any longer in Canada and the gray market subscriptions will shoot through the roof. It is just too easy to get a subscription. Do you honestly think XM or Sirius care where the subscription money comes from? For that matter, Bell doesn't seem to mind the money they get from the US and Mexico, where they are not licensed to operate.
TTLB - Hurricane Katrina: Blog for Relief Weekend- Update (en francais)
Hurricane Katrina: Blog for Relief Weekend Thursday, September 1 - Monday, September 5 A weekend of blogging focused on raising awareness of and funds for relief efforts to aid those affected by Hurricane Katrina.
WASHINGTON — Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist died Saturday evening at his home in suburban Virginia, said Supreme Court spokeswoman Kathy Arberg.
A statement from the spokeswoman said he was surrounded by his three children when he died in Arlington.
"The Chief Justice battled thyroid cancer since being diagnosed last October and continued to perform his dues on the court until a precipitous decline in his health the last couple of days," she said.
Rehnquist was appointed to the Supreme Court as an associate justice in 1971 by President Nixon and took his seat on Jan. 7, 1972. He was elevated to chief justice by President Reagan in 1986.
His death ends a remarkable 33-year Supreme Court career during which Rehnquist oversaw the court's conservative shift, presided over an impeachment trial and helped decide a presidential election.
This will certainly liven up things in the US Senate, with Robert's hearings scheduled to start on Tuesday and Hurricane Katrina rescue efforts going on in the background.
Mr. Cormier could not be reached for comment. However, he told Radio-Canada yesterday that he had asked approximately 30 mental patients to become PQ members and support his leadership bid. He confirmed that some of the patients were heavily handicapped.
I heard of signing up members from graveyards, but I have to admit, mental patients is a new twist.
This should be interesting to see the results. With Schroeder and his Social Democrats trailing by 13 points, he's under the gun. Although the election is still two weeks away (Sep. 18th), this campaign has been going pretty poorly for him. Trailing Schroeder pins hopes on Merkel TV clash
The Good, The Bad, and Online Fundraising for Hurricane Katrina
As the enormity of Hurricane Katrina's human and economic cost is realized, the outpouring of online donations continues to increase, especially to Web sites that provide instantaneous donation processing. “Just as with last year's tsunami, the ease and immediacy of using the Internet to collect donations enables charities to respond at the speed of life," said Kintera CEO, a maker of online fundraising software, "In the past, it would take organizations days to ramp up its fundraising efforts to reach donors. Today, online technology allowed our clients to react within hours."
Money is pouring in on the internet in record-breaking numbers. One fundraising software company reported that their customers involved in providing disaster relief services to hurricane victims collectively raised nearly $14 million online in one day, smashing the previous record of $2 million in a single day. Online donating doesn’t stop at dollars and cents. You can donate everything from web advertising space to a spare bedroom for an evacuee or even play in an online poker tournament, with the proceeds being matched and donated to the American Red Cross.
But, donator beware. What comes via email as a request from a reputable charity for aid, looks like a real email, and may link you to a site that looks like a real site, but isn’t a real site. Almost as fast as nonprofits rallied to help Katrina victims, scammers hit the web to cash in on public sympathy. Con artists have covered a lot of cyber ground with differing tactics. Some have created Web sites claiming to collect donations for Hurricane Katrina victims with URL’s such as: Katrinahelp.com, katrinadonations.com and katrinarelief.com. Other scams come via email pretending to solicit money from well-known charities and yet others have set up online auctions with Katrina-related addresses. In response, the American Red Cross has issued tips for online donating online safely. Read the Tips
It's time to step things up a notch or two. Technoscam is all TPC, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If anyone is interested in helping out, drop me a line @ bluebloggingsoapbox@gmail.com and I will add you as a Team Member. Over the next several days I will be adding all the TPC related content from my blog and several others. If you have any content you would like included, just drop a link in the comments section.
| en francais | Go to Top|
