CanPOW - Torture Edition

[Asher]

Interesting, I guess. I still don't really care about the matter.

Torture is pointless to talk about. They should focus their efforts on solving the telecommunications oligopoly and amending the CRTC ownership regulations to permit Wind to operate.

[Asher]

Speak of the devil.

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/737600--ottawa-oks-fourth-cellphone-player?bn=1

Ottawa OKs fourth cellphone player
Decision to overturn CRTC ruling on company with foreign ties increases wireless competition

OTTAWA – The Conservative government has paved the way for increased cellphone competition by overturning a CTRC decision barring Globalive Wireless service from operating in Canada.

"Globalive is a Canadian company, and meets Canadian ownership and control requirements under the Telecommunications Act," Industry Minister Tony Clement said today.

The CRTC had ruled the company, Globalive Wireless Management Corp., had not met Canadian ownership requirements.

"The impact of this decision means a near national (wireless) competitor," Clement said.

Bell, Rogers, Telus and others had objected to the new company, which has Egyptian ties, entering to market.

Now THIS is news.

[KrazyHorse]

How about they get rid of ridiculous Canadian ownership laws instead of issuing fiats which contravene those laws?

[Asher]

That takes a long time.

[KrazyHorse]

I agree with the final consequence here, but I'm uncomfortable when executive action is sufficient to override written law.

[Wezil]

Hey why not? It's not like the Coverup Party of Canada gives two ****s what the elected representatives of the people have to say in the House.

Rumours swirling around Ottawa suggest the Conservative government is thinking of shutting down Parliament until after the Olympics, killing some of its own bills but also ending the discussion of Afghan detainees that is nibbling away at Tory popularity.

“I have heard that from some of the public servants,” Liberal House Leader Ralph Goodale said Monday of a potential prorogation. “The word they are getting is ‘get ready to clear the decks. Anything that needs to get done before a parliamentary session ends, get it done.' ”

Conservative staff members said they also have received hints that a prorogation may be in the offing. But a spokeswoman for Government House Leader Jay Hill said his office “won't indulge the Hill rumour mill.”

The rumours suggest that Parliament would return in March, when the Games are over, with a new budget that could be used to provoke an election.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ottawa-buzzing-with-talk-of-proroguing-parliament/article1400284/

[Asher]

No parliament for a while.

[notyoueither]

Saw this on the Globe's review of cartoons for the decade.

[Dinner]

Har Har! Canadians are beavers.

[Wezil]

No parliament for a while.

Once again, it takes a comedian to call it like it is.

Rick Mercer

From Wednesday's Globe and Mail Published on Tuesday, Jan. 05, 2010 5:36PM EST Last updated on Wednesday, Jan. 06, 2010 2:42AM EST

There's a very good reason why the word prorogue doesn't come up that often in our society. Why would it? The word has absolutely no resonance with anyone in Canada because the notion that you can shut down anything for months at a time is a total fantasy. That's the thing about life; it's relentless. If you are an adult and live in the real world, proroguing isn't on the agenda, in much the same way levitating isn't.

God knows I love the idea of proroguing. Everyone in Canada has lain in bed and prayed for the elusive snow day. The idea that while you slept, the heavens opened up and dumped so much snow on the ground that the front door can't open and the school bus just can't come. We all remember snow days and that glorious feeling that the deadlines, the tests, the irritating people, the routine and the responsibilities could be avoided for one entire magnificent day with no consequences whatsoever. And if you didn't do your homework, or you were heading into what you knew was going to be a world of hurt, a snow day meant you dodged the bullet.

But snow days happen to children. If you are an adult, it doesn't matter how much snow falls – you still have to get to work and you still have to shovel the walk. Snow days don't apply to adults unless you happen to be the Prime Minister of Canada, who with one phone call has the ability to give every member of Parliament two months off.

We elect these men and women to travel to Ottawa and represent us in the House of Commons. Well, forget that notion – it's old-fashioned and democratic. Welcome to Canada 2010 – we embark on a brand-new decade as a country that has taxation without representation.

It is ironic that while Parliament has been suspended, we remain a nation at war. On New Year's Eve, we greeted the news that five Canadians were killed in a single day with sadness but not surprise. We are at war because, ostensibly, we are helping bring democracy to Afghanistan. How the mission is progressing is open for debate but this much is certain – at present, there is a parliament in Afghanistan that it is very much open for business. Canada has no such institution.

In Afghanistan, President Hamid Karzai's government faces fierce opposition at every turn. Many of his cabinet choices have been rejected in a secret ballot by the more than 200 parliamentarians who sit in the legislature. Simply closing it down and operating without their consent is not an option; to do so would be blatantly undemocratic or at the very least downright Canadian. If Mr. Karzai suspended the legislature on a whim, we might be forced to ask the question why Canadians are dying to bring democracy to that country.

Stephen Harper doesn't have that problem. Our Parliament has been suspended for no other reason than the Prime Minister simply can't be bothered with the relentless checks and balances that democracy affords us. He doesn't want to have to stand in the House of Commons and hear anyone question him on any subject. I don't blame him. Parliament is filled with jackals, opportunists and boors. The problem is, like it or not, they were elected.

I also don't blame the Prime Minister for wanting to keep his ministers out of the spotlight. This is a man who could argue that he is Canada's greenest PM simply because he's the only one who has gone out of his way to give potted plants key portfolios.

The problem is, he is the one who appointed cabinet and like it or not, they are supposed to be accountable. A minister's job is not to hide in his or her riding; it is to be accountable in Ottawa – or at least that was the promise.

This Prime Minister has gone from the promise of an open, accessible and accountable government to a government that is simply closed.

It is too bad that prorogation isn't something that our soldiers had in their arsenal. When faced with the order to head out on a foot patrol in the Panjwai district of southern Afghanistan, to risk their lives to bring democracy to that place, wouldn't it be nice if they could simply prorogue and roll over and go back to sleep? Soldiers don't get that luxury. That is afforded only to the people who ultimately order them to walk down those dangerous dusty roads in the first place.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/opinions/proroguing-is-for-children-and-stephen-harper/article1420026/

I'm not sure how much more open and accountable I can take from this government. Harper is far worse than any of his predecessors in this regard despite the promises to the contrary.

[Asher]

The problem with the hysteria around the prorogation is mystifying. The Liberals recently prorogued what, 4-5 times? Frequently to avoid embarrassing outcomes (eg, sponsorship scandal) or political infighting in the party (Martin vs Chretien). Where was the uproar then?

And if anyone paid attention to what has been happening the past couple months in parliament, you'll know nothing is getting done. The prorogation, in real terms, does nothing but spare us the theatre of a government pretending to function. The unelected senate was stalling anything and everything just because they don't like the guys creating the bills and they feel emasculated that their counterparts in the House of Commons couldn't vote it down themselves. It was a farce and a waste of time.

[Wezil]

The problem with the hysteria around the prorogation is mystifying. The Liberals recently prorogued what, 4-5 times? Frequently to avoid embarrassing outcomes (eg, sponsorship scandal) or political infighting in the party (Martin vs Chretien). Where was the uproar then?

Is your memory that bad? The Libs were pasted for proroguing to avoid the sponsorship scandal.

And if anyone paid attention to what has been happening the past couple months in parliament, you'll know nothing is getting done. The prorogation, in real terms, does nothing but spare us the theatre of a government pretending to function. The unelected senate was stalling anything and everything just because they don't like the guys creating the bills and they feel emasculated that their counterparts in the House of Commons couldn't vote it down themselves. It was a farce and a waste of time.

You have made your views on democracy more than well known in this thread. Sorry I don't share them.

[Asher]

Is your memory that bad? The Libs were pasted for proroguing to avoid the sponsorship scandal.

It wasn't NEAR on the same scale. The outrage I've heard is unreal on this. There are 12 year olds on facebook starting groups crying out about the end of ****ing democracy. It would be hilarious if it wasn't so stupid.

You have made your views on democracy more than well known in this thread. Sorry I don't share them.

This isn't about views, but facts. Name one significant piece of legislation passed in the past two months.

The appointed Liberal senators were sabotaging democracy, nothing was getting done. They're simple facts -- look at the voting.

[Wezil]

"sabotaging democracy"

We have a Constitution Asher.

Again, I understand you don't like it.

[Wezil]

I notice you don't condemn the C's for sabotaging democracy when they thwart committee work and shut down inquiries.

Make no mistake Asher, this has nothing to do with "bills not being passed" and everything to do with the government not wanting to face any more tough questions about the detainee issue. They have been caught in their lies. Defaming a public servant didn't work so now they will shut down all discussion.