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Prorogation limits an idea with merit |
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Written by Lethbridge Herald
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Monday, 25 January 2010 |
Credit Prime Minister Stephen Harper for one thing: He’s succeeded in sparking a widespread interest in parliamentary procedure.
Steadily declining voter turnout in federal elections might suggest a lack of interest among the general populace in the nitty-gritty workings of Canada’s political system. But Harper’s prorogation of Parliament in December has made the democratic process a hot topic across the country.
The issue drew thousands of Canadians from coast to coast to attend prorogation protests held on Saturday, including one in Toronto featuring more than 3,000 protesters. An event in Lethbridge attracted about 50 demonstrators despite the chilly weather.
The latest wrinkle in the controversy was introduced Monday when federal Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff announced his party will propose changing the parliamentary rules on prorogation to prevent governments from shutting down Parliament for their own purposes.
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Relax, parents, it’s just a game |
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Written by Lethbridge Herald
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Friday, 22 January 2010 |
There’s an old joke that points out while baseball begins a new season by throwing out the first pitch, each new minor hockey campaign starts with the throwing out of the first parent.
It’s a joke with, unfortunately, some truth to it.
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Making the best of a bad situation |
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Written by Lethbridge Herald
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Thursday, 21 January 2010 |
Lethbridge taxpayers have continued to clamour for the nitty-gritty details of the city’s failed third-party asset-backed commercial paper investments.
They’re right — they deserve to know the details. It was their hard-earned tax money that went up in smoke.
But under the terms of the city’s deal with National Bank Financial to cut its losses, city officials must keep the lid on the details.
Yes, that sucks. But it would have been more painful for residents to take an even greater hit from the investment failure.
Instead, the city opted to take a $2-million loss in order to unload $7.9 million in investments which have become worthless for all intents and purposes. The deal is a complicated one that gives Lethbridge the option to borrow $5.9 million from National Bank and repay that loan by transferring the $7.9 million in Class B and C and IA Tracking Notes to the bank when they mature on Jan. 21, 2011.
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Keeping financial reform on radar |
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Written by Lethbridge Herald
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Wednesday, 20 January 2010 |
Federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty sees the window of opportunity closing on hopes of reforming the world’s financial and banking sectors.
As the recession tide begins to subside, Flaherty worries the impetus for reforms to avoid a repeat of the financial sector meltdown that plunged us into a global economic crisis is losing its steam. So Flaherty is hoping the momentum for change will receive a shot in the arm when Canada plays host to the G7 financial ministers next month in Iqaluit.
While the larger Group of 20 is considered the pre-eminent body for dealing with the world’s economic and financial problems, Canada believes the primary responsibility for ensuring financial sector abuses aren’t repeated rests with the G7 nations — in particular the U.S. and Britain, which were at the epicentre of the financial crisis.
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Sounding alarm about cadmium |
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Written by Lethbridge Herald
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Tuesday, 19 January 2010 |
In the area of health hazards, children’s jewelry might not even register on the average person’s safety radar.
But concerns about the cadmium content of children’s jewelry imported from China should perk up parents’ antennae with respect to their youngsters’ health.
A recent investigation in the United States by the Associated Press news agency prompted Walmart to remove jewelry items cited in the probe from its U.S. stores (the products weren’t sold in Walmart Canada stores). Jewelry and accessories chain Claire’s has said it will also stop selling products of concern in its stores in North America and Europe.
The AP investigation found a number of children’s jewelry items manufactured in China contain cadmium, a cheap, easy-to-mould metal often used as a substitute for lead, which is a health hazard regulated in Canada under the Hazardous Products Act.
Trouble is, cadmium is also a health hazard. In fact, the toxic metal — a carcinogen — ranks seventh on the list of the 275 most hazardous substances in the environment by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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