Progressive Bloggers // Blogues progressistes

Source: Globe and Mail: Prairie Farmers Vote to Keep Wheat Board So, we have a few things to talk about today. I realize that I’ve spent a bit too much time on the blog looking only at ‘Federal’ politics, while neglecting my home province of Saskatchew…

The Harper Government of Canada is continuing on a path to acquire Lockheed Martin F-35 multirole fighter jets. First Canadian deliveries originally were anticipated in 2016 but the U.S. Air Force reported in March this year that it expects a two-year delay in the airplane’s initial operational capability, which would push it back to 2018.

Deliveries to this country are unlikely to begin before 2020 and the program cost, initially estimated at $18 billion including maintenance agreements, will rise dramatically. The country’s largest ever procurement is a single-sourced deal, made without a competing bid.

Further delays and cost increases are likely because in August, for the third time in less than a year, the Pentagon grounded all F-35 joint strike fighters because of mechanical problems. Numerous problems remaining.

Senator Carl Levin, chairman of the U.S. Senate Armed Forces committee, said the cost growth could have significant implications for the rest of the Pentagon’s multibillion-dollar acquisition programs and for its budget as a whole. The Michigan Senator said,

“People should not conclude that we will be willing to continue… strong support without regard to increased costs coming from poor program management or from lack of focus on affordability.” 

Further reading:
Canada stands firm on F-35s as questions fly on price and production
Why the F-35 stealth fighter is wrong for Canada
Pilot Error

From Big City Lib: You know, I don’t know what more Tim Hudak could do to prove his “Principled Conservatism” bonafides short of personally hurling a brick through the window of an East Indian restaurant. And as BCL points out,…

Oh yes, close libraries too.

Sounds like the gravy train was carrying a lot of kids.

Seriously, this is what happens when you make wild assertions about cutting taxes and maintaining services.

During his campaign Rocco Rossi, now a PC candidate, …

“NDP president Brian Topp is running to replace Jack Layton as leader, having already secured the support of Quebec MP Françoise Boivin and former leader Ed Broadbent.The trio appeared together at a news conference in Ottawa ahead of an NDP caucus mee…

Hart v. DuBois, 2011 MBCA 75 deals with a stay pending appeal:

5                     It is, however, necessary to consider that decision sufficiently to permit an assessment of whet…

In her Oshawa campaign office: Jacquie Menezes is a lifelong advocate for social justice and economic development. She has a B.Sc. in Agricultural Marketing, Economics and Bioscience from the University of Guelph. Working in rural Ontario, she became a…

When the U.S. invaded Iraq riding a pack of lies and monstrous manipulation, the entire U.S. elite, including major news services, academics, and politicians from both “sides” of the spectrum, lined up to cheerlead and off they went to war….

…but much better articulated and with more pieces to the puzzle than i obviously have…As Gaddafi falls – Lessons from Libya – imperialism, anti-imperialism & democratic revolutionif what you’re reading here grips you, holds you, fascinates you,…