The other week Martin Tisne, the UK Policy Director at the Omidyar Network, as well as one of the key architects of the Open Government Partnership (OGP), posted a blog post expressing concern that Civil Society participants have misunderstood the OGP. Specifically Tisne is concerned that by focusing on entrance
Continue readingThe Disaffected Lib: A Decent Interval
The Taliban know it. Kabul knows it. So does Islamabad. What U.S. negotiators want from the Talibs is “a decent interval.” We want to leave Afghanistan without losing face, without appearing to have been run out of Dodge with our tails between our legs. We’re prepared to accept defeat so
Continue readingDeSmogBlog: State Department Admits It Doesn’t Know Keystone XL’s Exact Route
The State Department’s decision to hand over control to the oil industry to evaluate its own environmental performance on the proposed Keystone XL tar sands pipeline has led to a colossal oversight. Neither Secretary of State John Kerry nor President Barack Obama could tell you the exact route that the
Continue readingThe Common Sense Canadian home page: Why Rafe Mair is Cancelling his Sun, Province Subscriptions
Rafe Mair on cancelling his subscriptions to the Vancouver Sun and Province, following last week’s announcement by Publisher Gordon Fisher of upcoming cost increases to readers: “Mr. Fisher – If I don’t want a critical look at fish farms; if I don’t want a critical look at highways tearing up
Continue readingThe Disaffected Lib: The Minister of Family Values Quits
No one exemplifies the mean-spirited, in your face nature of the Harper regime than Vic Toews. That’s about to change. The Serial Diddler is taking his Wild West moustache and heading back to Provencher, Manitoba. Goodbye, you worthless piece of shit.
Continue readingThe Disaffected Lib: 800-Million Indians to Receive Government Food Aid
The Indian government has signed into law a scheme to make subsidized food available to two out of three Indians. From The Sydney Morning Herald: Every eligible person will be entitled to five kilograms of rice for three Rupees (5.4 cents), five kilograms of wheat for two Rupees (3.6 cents),
Continue readingThe World Famous Dan Shields: 6222…Vic Toews Finally Quits
It is being reported widely that tomorrow is the last day for the Public Safety Minister from Manitoba. The worst Justice Minister ever, ever, ever, the Honourable Vic Toews brought in laws during his reign of error at that department, laws that were proven not to work in America, but
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: The unengaged majority
Samara has released a study on the sadly limited level of public participation in Canadian politics and community activities. And Susan Delacourt and Misty Harris both follow up – with Harris catching what looks to me like the most important point: Sixty per cent of Canadians say they haven’t discussed
Continue readingRecreating Eden: When a Drink on a Terrace-Bar Leads to Tragedy: Lac Mégantic
It’s been a long time since I’ve been down to Lac Mégantic. What I remember is a nice little towan that seemed to have survived the great changes that have gone on this region. There are several factores, mostly processing wood products, as well as world-renowned astronomical observatory nearby that
Continue readingLisaKirbie.com: Good luck with open nominations
I said it was dumb before, and I’ll say it again – unless of course, you like running a slate of white guys, or special interest group candidates in winnable ridings. I’m not terribly concerned that Ms. Alvero thinks my views are “outdated,” either. I just hope the Trudeau Brain
Continue readingRecreating Eden: What’s in a Name Department: The Canadian Association of Retired Persons
Now I know why I find myself getting so critical about somethings–like the state of the world. The acronym for a senior citizens’ watch dog group in Canada is CARP Well, after all these years I expect we’ve earned the right to carp a bit!
Continue readingThe Disaffected Lib: The Heat Turns Up on The Land Down Under
To most Canadians, Australia is synonymous with “hot.” Well it’s going to get hotter a lot more often for the Aussies. A University of Melbourne study predicts that Australia’s devastating heat waves will increase about five times and they’re blaming global warming for causing much of it. Sophie Lewis and
Continue readingBigCityLib Strikes Back: Twitter: Who Is Real, Who Isn’t?
July 4, 2013 — Tweet timing can differentiate individual, corporate and bot-controlled Twitter accounts independent of the language or content of a tweet, according to research published July 3 in the open access journal PLOS ONE by Aldo Faisal and Gabriela Tavares from Imperial College London, UK. […] Perhaps not
Continue readingWarren Kinsella: Lac-Megantic: the latest victim of government deregulation?
The photos, and the stories, coming out of that Quebec town are truly astonishing. We should pray for the people there, and collectively push for a comprehensive investigation of the cause. But after doing some research, I’ve formed some of my own conclusions. A taste of tomorrow’s Sun column: Given
Continue readingExcited Delirium: Rail Tragedy Strikes (Anytown) Canada, Real Strategy Needed
The rail tragedy in Lac Megantic on the weekend reflects a real failure of all stakeholders to plan ahead. If they don’t, expect it in your town next.
Continue readingThe World Famous Dan Shields: 6221…Panties And Nazis
Weirdest picture ever. From The Atlantic. WFDS
Continue readingThe World Famous Dan Shields: 6220…Was Mike Duffy Invited?
He is the Senator representing Kanata-PEI and I am certain if he was not invited it was a mistake. Invited to what you may ask? The wedding of the year in Prince Edward Island. The groom is Dion Phaneuf, the Toronto Maple Leafs captain; the bride is Elisha Cuthbert, TV
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Monday Morning ‘Rider Blogging
Two games into the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ regular season, the “experienced team starting quickly” theory is looking fairly solid. But let’s take a look at what’s gone better than expected – as well as where there may be room for concern. To start with, a couple of areas which looked like
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Are You Psychologically Fit To Be The Next Parliamentary Budget Officer?*
The Globe and Mail reports that those vying to replace Kevin Page, the man who so distinguished himself as our last Parliamentary Budget Officer, are being asked to undergo psychological testing. I understand there is also an asterisked portion at the bottom of the application. * Those with integrity need
Continue readingcmkl: Customs complaints at Ottawa International Airport – What manner of pile? Complaints or something else?
In the three years covering the 45 complaints written of in this Glen MacGregor Ottawa Citizen story (Complaints pile up over airport border guards) about 1.6 million people have flown in and out of Ottawa on international flights – so far.
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