Norman Farrell
CBC conflict of interest complaints upheld
The CBC Ombudsman has agreed with me and others who raised the issue of Stephen Smart’s conflict of interest. Now, we await the corporation’s resolution of this matter. You can…
NEB serves industry, not the public
I’ve long been aware of the National Energy Board but never paid much attention to it. However, for my article Regulators throwing loaded dice, I had a look at backgrounds…
If oil industry so wonderful, why the subsidies?
Pumped Up in Sides 3 Updated Enbridge Profile
Regulators throwing loaded dice
Propaganda is a tool favoured by leaders who suppose unthinking citizens can’t determine the common interest. Noam Chomsky says it is to a democracy what the bludgeon is to a…
Romney pays 15% tax on $200m personal fortune
Mitt Romney: the gaffes in full, Josh Marshall, The Guardian “As a fabulously wealthy man running to be the president of a country that prides itself on its middle class…
Sign of the apocalypse
Twinkies maker Hostess seeks bankruptcy protection, Associated Press, January 11, 2012 “NEW YORK — Hostess Brands Inc., the maker of Twinkies and Wonder Bread, is seeking bankruptcy protection, blaming its…
When politics and science diverge
Regardless of its ultimate conclusions about the decline of Fraser River sockeye salmon, the Cohen Commission‘s December hearings may have exposed the most critical of all issues: federal and provincial…
Dystopia is our neighbour
The US schools with their own police, Chris McGreal, The Guardian, Jan. 9, 2012 “…Like hundreds of schools in the state , and across large parts of the rest of…
Toward amoral petro-state
An Open Reply to Joe Oliver’s Propaganda for the Petro State ENERGY & EQUITY: Nikiforuk joins the fray. Andrew Nikiforuk, The Tyee “Canada’s Natural Resource Minister Joe Oliver has just…
Treading on the public welfare
News Item, January 11, 2012: “Shaw Media announced Wednesday that it has filed an application to the CRTC for a 24/7 regional, all-news channel for the province. “The channel is…
Judging the judge, again
Also read: J. Leask: Questions of perspicacity and impartiality B.C. Appeal Court overturns cocaine conspiracy acquittal…, Neal Hall, Vancouver Sun, Jan. 10, 2012 “VANCOUVER — A three-judge panel of the…
"Mistruths and half-truths" from our government
Stephen Harper’s Northern Gateway pipeline parody, National Affairs Columnist Thomas Walkom, The Star “The federal government’s claim that big-money foreign interests are trying to hijack hearings into a proposed west…
Enbridge’s empty promises
The Michigan Messenger, Enbridge denies responsibility for oil spill “Despite public promises to compensate residents for losses associated with the summer oil spill, in Calhoun county court Enbridge is arguing…
Shoes, ships and sealing-wax, cabbages and kings
Global TV Noon News aired a report on the proposed Northern Gateway pipeline Sunday. It lasted 40-seconds while they allocated 11 minutes to a segment on cooking fish and five…
Disappeared item from The Real Story
Ian Reid’s blog The Real Story published an important article Saturday Jan 7. Noon Sunday, the entire blog was down. This might be a meaningless vagary of the Internet or…
Terry O’Reilly begins new CBC Radio series today
Under the Influence from CBC Radio After The Age of Pursuasion, his award winning series about advertising, I’m certain Terry O’Reilly’s new program will be radio that I will not…
"Ethical Oil" – an argument that make no sense
The Devil in the Tar Sands, Jody Williams and Desmond Tutu, Project Syndicate, 2011 CAPE TOWN – …”Oil from the tar sands of Alberta is the dirtiest in the world,…
Conservatives ready to serve paymasters
Harper warns of ‘hijacked’ hearings on Northern Gateway pipeline, Bob Weber, The Canadian Press: EDMONTON – Prime Minister Stephen Harper says he’s listening to concerns that hearings for the Northern…