Monday, November 12, 2018

For a Monday

(sigh)


The frat-boy who groped a lesser member of the Fourth Estate, who elbowed a woman in the chest, told a man to "get the f--- out of my way", called another MP a "piece of sh--", ran out of "Question Period" to decry those opposed to releasing a convicted child-murderer to a spa "ambulance-chasing politicians", whose government has consistently lied or withheld the truth from its own citizens  and looked at a veteran square in the eye and told him that he and his lost leg were asking for far too much money makes it abundantly plain that he will not tolerate gutter attacks or censorship:

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says politicians need to learn how to enhance citizen engagement through the use of social media in the face of leaders using those platforms to undermine democracy.


Also - Mr. "No Core Identity" warns everyone of the dangers of jingoism, as if anyone is listening:

“Attacks on the media are not just about getting your preferred political candidate elected, for example, they are about increasing the level of cynicism that citizens have towards all authorities, towards all of the institutions that are there to protect us as citizens,” Trudeau said to a crowd of about 150 people.

“When people feel their institutions can’t protect them, they look for easy answers in populism, in nationalism, in closing borders, in shutting down trade, in xenophobia.”

(Sidebar: like when the government lets its statistics agency take bank data without authorisation or when it plans on buying a hotel to house all of the migrants it let in? Like that?)




Who else is xenophobic? Ah, yes - the Chinese government:

According to the CP, International Trade Minister Jim Carr “says while Canada is in talks with China on a number of fronts, he insists efforts to promote deals involving individual sectors would not preclude the opportunity for a wide-ranging trade agreement between the two countries. Carr says China’s interest in so many Canadian products could ultimately lead to a comprehensive trade agreement.”

Amazingly, Carr appears to be falling for China’s rhetoric on free trade:

“Carr said Canada and China also discussed a recent meeting on World Trade Organization reform, hosted in Ottawa without either the U.S. or China. China understands the need to hold an initial meeting without them, Carr said. “The Chinese are absolutely committed to a world system that’s rules-based, and I thought that’s also very positive.”

More of that transparency one keeps hearing about.




It's just money:

But between indirect costs rising from the carbon tax and the news that the feds will be charging GST on the carbon tax, it’s certain Trudeau’s carbon tax will in fact cost most families more than they pay.
First off, the Trudeau plan will not reimburse you for what you spend on direct increased costs due to the carbon tax such as higher gasoline or home heating costs.

Instead they will put a schedule in your income tax forms that will reimburse you for parts of it based on Canadian averages.

If you have a larger-than-average family size, a larger-than-average home or a longer-than-average commute, then you will pay more.



It's just a series of illegal migrants deciding the political future of a nation:

British Columbia is currently in the middle of a referendum on electoral reform. Sure, voters turned down proportional representation before but with the NDP back in power, let’s try again!
So can non-citizens vote in this referendum?

Well they aren’t supposed to but they can because neither Elections BC, not it turns out Elections Canada, has the ability to check.

News 1130 in Vancouver followed this story after hearing from a listener who is not a citizen but was able to vote. Turns out the whole system is based on honour
“The system is an honour system for confirming that you are in fact a citizen,” Rebecca Penz with Elections BC said. “We don’t have the ability to use records such as health records to validate citizenship. We don’t have that authority to do that.”

Also:

A law student unimpressed with all of the candidates running in his riding in the 2015 federal election who wanted to vote “none of the above” has lost his Federal Court of Canada challenge that election rules breach his right to freedom of expression.

Of course the unelected judges would feel that way.




No one really cares what Justin thinks, especially about a president who eventually did commemorate the war dead:

Trudeau visited the memorial to fallen Canadian soldiers at Vimy Ridge on Saturday and spoke at a peace forum organized by French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday. He’ll leave France on Tuesday for a six-day trade trip to Singapore and Papua New Guinea.

Trump, meanwhile, flew home to the U.S. on Sunday after addressing a crowd at the Suresnes American Cemetery and Memorial on the outskirts of Paris. At one point in his speech, Trump thanked by name six American Second World War veterans who were in attendance.

“You look so comfortable up there under shelter, as we’re getting drenched,” Trump said as he saluted the veterans. “You’re very smart people.”
 And good luck with the tariff wishful thinking.




People are douchebags:

Police are looking for three suspects after a 66-year-old man was reportedly assaulted while standing vigil at the cenotaph in downtown Chatham.



But ... but ... global warming!:

There are too many polar bears in parts of Nunavut and climate change hasn't yet affected any of them, says a draft management plan from the territorial government that contradicts much of conventional scientific thinking.



Apologising to fascists who demand cakes or else is a sign of weakness:

A member of Alberta's United Conservative Party is apologizing for making what he says was an unintentional comparison between the rainbow LGBTQ pride flag and swastikas in a speech this weekend.

They will still come after you.



A great deception? NO!:

North Korea is moving ahead with its ballistic missile program at 16 hidden bases that have been identified in new commercial satellite images, a network long known to U.S. intelligence agencies but left undiscussed as President Donald Trump claims to have neutralized the North’s nuclear threat.



(Merci beaucoup)




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