By: Obert Madondo | The Canadian Progressive: Stiffer penalties for election fraud, more voter privacy and robust investigative powers are some of the recommendations Elections Canada made in its long-awaited report on the robocalls scandal, which rocked the May 2011 federal election. Canada’s Chief Electoral Officer, Marc Mayrand, presented the report to Parliament
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Blast Furnace Canada Blog: Let the "muzzled" speak
As disgusting the comments are from several MPs from the far right of the already right-wing and ruling Conservative party, I think they have a point about being muzzled by PMS, and should have the right to speak their minds in the Commons unimpeded. After all, several MPs from the
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive | News & Analysis: Toronto Mayor Rob Ford Has a Serious Drinking Problem
By: Obert Madondo | The Canadian Progressive: That’s right, the Mayor of Toronto has a serious drinking problem. Actually, one that calls for rehab. The Toronto Star says Rob Ford’s drinking problem is so seriously that, since he was elected in 2010, his inner circle has repeatedly urged him enter rehab “over pattern of
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive | News & Analysis: Stephen Harper personally asked for the Chinese pandas, memo reveals
By: Obert Madondo | The Canadian Progressive: The two giant Chinese pandas, Da Mao, a four-year-old male, and Er Shun, a five-year-old female, jetted into Toronto today to much fanfare. Prime Minister Stephen Harper was on hand to give them the VIP welcome. Did you know that the Conservatives were prepared to keep Canadians
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive | News & Analysis: Journey of Nishiyuu: A quest to solidify bonds between First Nations
A quest undertaken by the youth of Great Whale to solidify the traditional bonds between First Nations By: Chief Stan George Accompanied by one experienced guide, 6 youths from the community of Great Whale, located in Northern Quebec on the shores of Hudson’s Bay, have commenced a sacred quest that is
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: Sitsabaiesan, NDP MPs urge Conservatives to take principled stance on Sri Lanka
By Obert Madondo | The Canadian Progressive In Parliament earlier this week, New Democrat MP for Scarborough-Rouge River Rathika Sitsabaiesan and fellow NDP MPs urged the Harper government to take a principled stance on Sri Lanka. They called on the Conservatives to support international calls for an independent investigation into allegations of war crimes
Continue readingBlast Furnace Canada Blog: Gender identity wins, and Justin proves he`s a loser
What a pleasant surprise to hear that the House of Commons gave third reading to an opposition bill, C-279, that would include gender identity as an aggravating circumstance in determining if a criminal act was motivated by hate and therefore deserved an extended sentence. More astonishing is that 18 Conservatives,
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: House of Commons Approves NDP’s Transgendered Rights Bill C-279
By: Obert Madondo | The Canadian Progressive: The House of Commons has passed Bill C-279, the NDP’s transgendered rights bill, by a 149-137 vote. The bill, sponsored by New Democrat Randall Garrison (Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca), now proceeds to the Senate. This is a great victory for human rights in Canada. The bill prohibits discrimination against transgendered Canadians.
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: “Just watch me”: Justin Trudeau on whether he can beat Stephen Harper
By: Obert Madondo | The Canadian Progressive: Liberal leadership front-runner Justin Trudeau wants you to be assured that he can beat Prime Minister Stephen Harper at the ballot. During a flight from Halifax to Ottawa Tuesday evening, a fellow passenger send him a note with the question: “Can you really beat Harper?” Trudeau responded
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: TransCanada Pipelines Whistleblower Receives National Award
By: Obert Madondo | The Canadian Progressive A former TransCanada Corporation employee who blew the whistle on the rising pipeline incidents and rule-breaking by Big Oil has been chosen as the recipient of the 2013 Golden Whistle Blower Award. Evan Vokes, a former professional materials engineer at TransCanada Pipelines (TCPL), received the award in Ottawa on Monday.
Continue readingBlast Furnace Canada Blog: Weekly roundup (ending Mar 16 / 13)
First and biggest news of the week was the upset election of 76 year old Jorge Bergoglio, the Archbishop of Buenos Aires, who interestingly has taken the name Francis I. No sooner was he elected, and leading up to his investiture next week (since 1978, new Popes have refused to
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: Implementation of FATCA Likely Unconstitutional: Constitutional Expert
By: Obert Madondo | The Canadian Progressive | Mar 14, 2013: Chances are very few Canadians have heard of the Foreign Accounts Tax Compliance Act (FATCA). Green Party leader and MP for Saanich-Gulf Islands, Elizabeth May, wants us to pay attention. That’s because FATCA is likely “unconstitutional and in violation of Section 15 of
Continue readingBlast Furnace Canada Blog: Devolution for NWT — a start
I cannot agree too much with PMS’ agenda, but today he took a huge step forward in signing a tentative devolution agreement with the Northwest Territories and five of the region’s First Nations. It could come into effect as early as next year. Basically speaking, the territory will be able to
Continue readingBlast Furnace Canada Blog: Métis wuz robbed sez Supremes
Finally, one of the three pillars of Canada’s aboriginal peoples — the Métis — have won justice. They are owed a lot of money — perhaps ten billion or even more. And it’s because of one thing. Our constitution. There’s one thing about constitutions. The way they’re drafted can leave
Continue readingBlast Furnace Canada Blog: Arkansas: Crossing the line of decency
Arkansas has finally gone too far when it comes to women. Really. This is a new forward advance in the war against women and it’s awful. And it’s on abortion. If you’ve followed my entries here you know that I think abortion is absolutely despicable and that Canada should have
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: Conservative Senator Pierre-Hugues Boisvenu under scrutiny over relationship with employee
Conservative Senator Pierre-Hugues Boisvenu in spotlight over reports he is in romantic relationship with one of his employees on Parliament Hill. By: Joanna Smith | Published by Toronto Star on Tue Mar 05 2013: OTTAWA – A Quebec senator is in the spotlight over reports that he is in a romantic relationship
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: NDP: Abolish the “unelected and unaccountable Senate of Canada”
By: Obert Madondo | The Canadian Progressive, Mar 4, 2013: The New Democrats today repeated their call for the abolition of Canada’s scandal-ridden “useless, expensive, undemocratic appendage of government”, the Senate. The Official Opposition’s MP for Toronto-Danforth, Craig Scott, issued the following statement earlier today: In order to address the irresponsible conduct of the unelected Senate, NDP Democratic and
Continue readingBlast Furnace Canada Blog: Free choice in communications? (Competition Tribunal says no)
To my surprise and dismay, the Competition Tribunal has approved Bell Canada’s takeover of most of Astral Media’s assets. This comes some time after a similar buyout attempt was rejected. Yeah, Bell will have to divest several cable channels — namely Family Channel (Read: Disney Channel Canada), Teletoon (English and French), Teletoon Retro
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: The Obama Drone War Doctrine We Still Know Nothing About
By: Cora Currier and Justin Elliott | ProPublica, Feb. 26, 2013: The nomination of John Brennan to be CIA director has prompted intense debate on Capitol Hill and in the media about U.S. drone killings abroad. But the focus has been on the targeting of American citizens – a narrow issue that accounts for a miniscule proportion
Continue readingBlast Furnace Canada Blog: Charles McVety vs sex ed
I really have to hand it to some social conservatives who are so sexually repressed they recoil at the word sex. I don’t know if Charles McVety of the Canada Family Action Coalition is quite that regressed, but his playing on people’s worst instincts would be comical were it not for
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