tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46689119521144714502011-11-27T16:32:14.828-08:00Uncommon perspectives of two nonpartisan womenChrystal Oceanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171002438761303983noreply@blogger.comBlogger11101100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668911952114471450.post-61763237583266570752011-11-22T08:52:00.000-08:002011-11-22T08:52:18.098-08:00

I've not blogged for several months, given the distractions of moving, settling in, and certain other challenging issues, but I cannot resist responding to the following comment by John Ibbitson, who writes about the infighting occurring within the Opposition parties: And then there are the Liberal MPs who question the wisdom of the proposal to open up every riding to nomination contests. Once

Chrystal Oceanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171002438761303983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668911952114471450.post-3601866837062504042011-04-26T11:03:00.000-07:002011-04-26T11:05:03.649-07:00

This gorgeous, sleek machine makes me drool. I once saw a stealth fighter up close. Gawd, that's one sexy damn thing! The F-35 comes with a hefty, apparently morphing and not-to-be-disclosed, price. And 60 of these things have been ordered, without an open and fair bidding process, by the Government of Harper; the latter not to be confused with the Government of Canada, although it freely

Chrystal Oceanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171002438761303983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668911952114471450.post-11177913268202922182011-04-21T16:15:00.000-07:002011-04-21T16:15:35.697-07:00

On this blog, I've lambasted Jack Layton, Michael Ignatieff, Stephen Harper, Elizabeth May... The only leader of a Canadian federal party I haven't targeted with slings and arrows is Gilles Duceppe and that's only because his party isn't a national one. Some would say I've been particularly hard on Layton. Until Ignatieff came onto the Canadian political scene, they were likely correct. I went

Chrystal Oceanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171002438761303983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668911952114471450.post-70230825591562000912011-04-21T10:28:00.000-07:002011-04-21T10:28:49.700-07:00

From La Presse: Portant les couleurs conservatrices dans Nanaimo-Cowichan, John Koury a dit qu'il ne voulait pas prendre part à un débat où la députée et candidate néo-démocrate Jean Crowder amènerait ses partisans. «Je pense qu'il est plus utile de passer mon temps à rencontrer les gens dans leur porte d'entrée de leur maison», a-t-il dit. Throughout the country, Conservatives are failing to

Chrystal Oceanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171002438761303983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668911952114471450.post-9736353588368115512011-04-02T10:18:00.000-07:002011-04-03T16:18:53.873-07:00

Do you get paper delivery each morning? Read the national, provincial or local headlines from newspapers at work? Catch up on the news from papers left at Tim Hortons? Do you instead get your news from the airwaves, via radio? From TV? Or online, from traditional or alternative news magazine and newspaper sites? Regardless of where you get your news, its delivery begins with the journalist or

Chrystal Oceanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171002438761303983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668911952114471450.post-11082399632333109522011-02-28T13:05:00.000-08:002011-02-28T13:08:33.673-08:00

Over the past three months, I've written extensively about the BC Liberal leadership race and made public my struggles to make the right choices. First, I wondered if I should join the BC Liberal Party. No other way existed to vote so directly for British Columbia's 35th premier. Therefore, I decided, Yes, go for it - and signed up for membership on February 2nd. It felt very strange. Not once

Chrystal Oceanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171002438761303983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668911952114471450.post-41488828190860755612011-02-26T08:14:00.000-08:002011-02-26T10:42:30.191-08:00

VOTED! As a spanking new member of the BC Liberal Party, I have just voted for the party's next leader and this province's 35th Premier. It came down to a matter of choosing among flavours of vanilla, but ultimately the choices were clear given the candidates' proposed policies. Here's how I voted: 1-George Abbott 2-Mike de Jong 3-Kevin Falcon 4-Christy Clark Lots of people were bowled over

Chrystal Oceanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171002438761303983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668911952114471450.post-9334722567111302722011-02-17T12:23:00.000-08:002011-02-22T15:37:38.610-08:00

The three top issues guiding my decision remain as they have been throughout: Democratic reform. Support for greater independence and return of powers to local governments.    We work, play, live and die in communities. Local elected officials are the closest to the people and best positioned to identify their communities' unique strengths and needs, and to provide the best solutions.

Chrystal Oceanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171002438761303983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668911952114471450.post-50693105142753769782011-02-07T11:00:00.000-08:002011-02-07T13:51:55.955-08:00

The headline of the Globe and Mail article asks the question, Why Not a Metered Internet? The argument that follows defends the big telecoms in terms of market forces: for example, the cost of infrastructure building. Here's a different answer to the question: with a metered Internet we would have another case of them that haves and them that don't. We already have a growing economic

Chrystal Oceanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171002438761303983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668911952114471450.post-15065288801128302372011-02-03T13:41:00.000-08:002011-02-03T13:41:29.246-08:00

Am glad the CRTC has been ordered to review (read: 'reverse') its decision on usage-based Internet billing. But I won't be happy until the CRTC has gone the way of the dinosaurs, just like the dinosaurs its morphed mandate has been so busy protecting. That aside, I wanted to share this great letter I received from my MP, NDP Jean Crowder, written in response to my terse email regarding the

Chrystal Oceanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171002438761303983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668911952114471450.post-43113300875197638962011-02-03T12:38:00.000-08:002011-02-04T10:24:01.208-08:00

Non profits throughout British Columbia rely on the province's Community Gaming Grants program for their funding. For many, it's their sole source of desperately needed dollars. The important work that these non profits do toward addressing social needs in their communities cannot be overstated. They deliver far more for the tax dollars they receive than do the majority of government agencies.*

Chrystal Oceanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171002438761303983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668911952114471450.post-14618994072354178282011-02-03T04:41:00.000-08:002011-02-03T08:30:08.561-08:00

You may have missed the news hidden in an ETA at the bottom of my post on the BC Liberal Party's weighted vote proposal. I suppose it deserves a post of its own: ... drum roll please ... I. Am. Now ... a Liberal. A BC Liberal, of the BC Liberal Party. Eeeekkkk! Unlike with a BC NDP membership, which automatically and without choice to opt out, makes one a member of the federal NDP,

Chrystal Oceanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171002438761303983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668911952114471450.post-58329081582702277582011-02-02T12:01:00.000-08:002011-02-26T09:04:03.241-08:00

The BC Liberal Party on February 12th will decide whether to adopt the weighted vote or to retain the current one-member-one-vote policy. It will take a two-thirds majority for the motion on the weighted vote to pass. Weighting votes, goes the reasoning, would be more inclusive of less populated regions and smaller constituency associations. As the situation currently stands, in terms of vote

Chrystal Oceanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171002438761303983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668911952114471450.post-80644404427631271642011-01-28T14:37:00.000-08:002011-01-31T08:19:21.025-08:00

At one time, I worried that BC Liberal leadership candidate George Abbott's conciliatory positioning might impede a government lead by him from getting much done. The concern centred around a seeming lack of both opportunities for decision- and policy-making, and of timelines with respect to such policy creation and policy outcomes. I've begun to change my mind. First was Abbott's early

Chrystal Oceanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171002438761303983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668911952114471450.post-62657519211432482312011-01-21T13:53:00.000-08:002011-01-24T13:24:43.225-08:00

A dear friend who died just over a year ago spent her last decade, all the while coping through severe illness, trying to get community groups and non-profits recognized by governments for the beyond-their-weight work that they do for communities. Ronnie Phipps would have been thrilled to see a leadership candidate make a proposal such as this. Christy Clark: "If elected premier, I want to hold

Chrystal Oceanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171002438761303983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668911952114471450.post-37352317970965479042011-01-19T10:40:00.000-08:002011-01-20T10:12:50.442-08:00

[UPDATED Jan 20, 10:00 a.m.] My three top issues that will guide my decision remain as before: Democratic reform. Support for greater independence and return of powers to local governments. This is the key issue for me. We work, play, live and die in communities. Local elected officials are the closest to the people and best positioned to identify their communities' unique strengths and needs;

Chrystal Oceanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171002438761303983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668911952114471450.post-83461943243888353052011-01-15T14:15:00.000-08:002011-01-15T14:16:06.654-08:00

Finally! More, though not all expected, contenders for leadership of the BC NDP have entered the race. Adrian Dix isn't expected to do so until next week. That is past the due date (January 17th) for new members whose votes can affect the leadership race. That January 17th deadline irks me to no end. It has affected my decision with respect to which of the two parties I will sign up for

Chrystal Oceanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171002438761303983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668911952114471450.post-65282347549459353152011-01-13T10:49:00.000-08:002011-01-13T13:00:34.603-08:00

The issue of corporate taxes comes down to a single straightforward principle for me: Remove person status from corporations; then, and only then can you, and should you, remove corporate taxes. If you do not remove corporate person status, then corporations can pay income tax like the rest of we persons. Some people argue against corporate taxes on the basis that shareholders already pay

Chrystal Oceanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171002438761303983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668911952114471450.post-18797437907335209322011-01-13T09:13:00.000-08:002011-01-13T09:13:33.238-08:00

Just like I said last time, the per-vote subsidy will be in Harper's next election platform - and likely in the upcoming budget. See around the 10-minute mark.

Chrystal Oceanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171002438761303983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668911952114471450.post-50713028665557924772011-01-13T08:01:00.000-08:002011-01-13T08:02:54.983-08:00

Well, not quite anyone. If you've not a patch of land or a balcony or suitable space indoors for growing pots (not to mention the required additional equipment), then you're out of luck. But otherwise, yea, anyone can grow shit themselves, as Ms Broke-Ass Grouch makes so eloquently clear in this fantastic article. Here's a snippet: Listen up, locavores, opportunivores, dumpster-diving

Chrystal Oceanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171002438761303983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668911952114471450.post-8681878081908643302011-01-12T08:39:00.000-08:002011-01-12T09:13:52.605-08:00

Any non-members of the BC NDP who want to have a say on the party's new leader - who will be elected April 17th - must sign up for membership in the party by January 17th. So far, the only declared "heavy-hitter" in the leadership race (according to insiders) has been John Horgan, who announced his intention January 10th. Other 'heavy hitters' rumoured to enter but yet to declare are Adrian Dix

Chrystal Oceanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171002438761303983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668911952114471450.post-21413508700663455622011-01-10T20:54:00.001-08:002011-01-11T06:10:39.670-08:00

Last week I received a query from a pregnant woman who saw a documentary called ' Earthlings'. The video upset her so much that she asked how to embrace a vegan diet. Her request got me to thinking that others would benefit after viewing this. It may influence them into doing some research. It may aid them in realizing that there IS another way to live respectfully, and in harmony, with all

Daphne Moldowinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05469181012833419032noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668911952114471450.post-18131087389386764382011-01-04T11:33:00.000-08:002011-01-08T09:58:32.972-08:00

[See ETAs below] It's early days yet in the BC Liberal leadership race, but it appears there will be only the five contenders who have already declared - although a BC Liberal in good standing could run for leader as late as 13 days before the leadership vote. [See ETAs Dec 21 2:40 p.m., Jan 4 10:15 a.m.] When evaluating the possibility of a new government, these issues rank as the top three

Chrystal Oceanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171002438761303983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668911952114471450.post-80925244707706223572010-12-31T23:59:00.000-08:002011-01-01T11:24:30.356-08:00

As 2010 comes to a close, my hope for the coming decade is for an overhauled Canadian Parliament and similar changes to the BC Legislative Assembly. I doubt anything substantive will change in terms of policy or direction - for this country, this province or its communities - if these changes do not happen. I hope for the people's representatives to be elected through a new inclusive electoral

Chrystal Oceanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171002438761303983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668911952114471450.post-87650490882769761342010-12-29T19:51:00.000-08:002010-12-29T19:58:06.112-08:00

I take exception to Keith Baldrey's simplistic interpretation of why female voters will play a key role in the next BC election - not that they will, but why their support may be shifting from the NDP to the Liberals. According to Baldrey (chief political reporter for Global BC - oh dear!), one of the pillars pushing women's support away from the NDP is "the brutal take-down of a female leader"

Chrystal Oceanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171002438761303983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668911952114471450.post-16774605204177278102010-12-29T16:37:00.000-08:002010-12-30T17:04:38.118-08:00

An interesting comment appeared on economicus ridiculous to my post about anti-HST sentiment plummeting. Actually, the HST screwed my mother-in-laws [sic] best friend out of 15 thousand dollars when she sold her last home. She was looking to move into a retirement home and already had to sell her house at a reduced rate because of the poor shape of the economy. She got double dinged by the HST.

Chrystal Oceanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171002438761303983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668911952114471450.post-28636168943208137182010-12-24T11:09:00.000-08:002010-12-24T17:52:25.266-08:00

More to the point... What does it take to become blacklisted from future employment as a columnist by Canada's traditional media? The Globe and Mail has removed the unsupported-by-evidence column by Norman Spector regarding PM Harper's marital state. But let us not forget this opinion also expressed by the same man and unapologeticly repeated by him. Most media outlets seem keen to rewrite

Chrystal Oceanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171002438761303983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668911952114471450.post-42300577201728708732010-12-23T11:29:00.000-08:002010-12-24T10:02:47.702-08:00

From approximately 85 percent at the height of the period during which signatures calling for the HST referendum were collected, to the latest figure of 54 percent, anti-HST sentiment is plummeting. British Columbians are thinking twice. Some have privately told me of regret for having signed the petition calling for the referendum, or for having too hastily judged the value of the tax. British

Chrystal Oceanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171002438761303983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668911952114471450.post-68240129484055672612010-12-20T12:11:00.000-08:002010-12-20T20:55:21.157-08:00

Fellow non-partisan James Bow writes an important article on The Forgotten Bloc - the 40 percent of the electorate who are non-voters in this country. I wrote the following response in the comments section: James Bow’s comments are bang on, including the one to Robert McClelland. [To Bow's question "Why is no party leader or policy maker going out and talking to the 9.5 million Canadians to

Chrystal Oceanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171002438761303983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668911952114471450.post-45046381540051529572010-12-17T23:13:00.000-08:002010-12-19T08:21:07.881-08:00

For decades I have supported lowering the voting age to 16 for election of officials to all levels of government. I might even support lowering it to 14. This week BC Liberal leadership hopeful Mike de Jong was first out of the gate with the proposal to lower the voting age in this province to 16. None of the arguments against the change have borne up, not even under the most halfhearted

Chrystal Oceanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171002438761303983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668911952114471450.post-641604982313552812010-12-17T13:47:00.000-08:002010-12-17T13:47:24.666-08:00

I loathe the formulaic pseudo-answers politicos give to avoid answering specific questions asked by members of the voting public. One of those responses includes the 'I am proud' waffle. As I tweeted to BC Liberal candidates yesterday: Voters don't give damn if you are "proud" of policy x or the track record of y. We want to know what YOU and your government would do now and in the future.

Chrystal Oceanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171002438761303983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668911952114471450.post-29686534633034772872010-12-14T23:55:00.000-08:002010-12-15T07:58:27.977-08:00

A few recurring themes have come up in the Twitter stream regarding the BC Liberal leadership race. First is the nauseating use by leadership contenders of the 'families first' or 'focus on family' theme. It is meaningless fluff intended to make people feel good. Somewhere, sometime, someone (likely Frank Luntz) did a 'focus group' and determined that family could be a key into manipulating

Chrystal Oceanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171002438761303983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668911952114471450.post-38977646387825378602010-12-06T15:30:00.000-08:002010-12-06T16:36:09.379-08:00

Here is the audio video version of today's resignation speech and scrum by BC NDP leader Carole James. James: "I'll be stepping down..." from Sean Holman on Vimeo. Nowhere does James take responsibility or ownership of problems faced by her party. Indeed, she may only have furthered the divisions by blaming the 13 MLAs - to whom she refers as "bullies" - who were calling for a OMOV leadership

Chrystal Oceanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171002438761303983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668911952114471450.post-60718181661196897222010-12-06T12:07:00.000-08:002010-12-06T12:17:54.244-08:00

Took bloody long enough. Let the speculation begin! Maybe now British Columbians will have viable options, including substantive policy, for which to vote at the polls. Maybe now the Liberals will be challenged by public opinion regarding their leadership choice. Maybe now public opinion, not just the opinions of party members, will sway the choices for both parties. Which is only right,

Chrystal Oceanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171002438761303983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668911952114471450.post-78270567350251349512010-12-06T10:28:00.000-08:002010-12-07T08:33:00.936-08:00

For political junkies, the political brouhaha in British Columbia surrounding our (currently) top two parties provides a high ride. Its end may not come before Spring 2013. First, we have the NDP imploding with dissidents and loyalists fighting over leadership, democratic process and control. The labelling largely thrown by the 'loyalists' at the 'dissidents' is loathsome. The media of course

Chrystal Oceanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171002438761303983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668911952114471450.post-79066477142649263042010-12-03T09:10:00.000-08:002010-12-03T09:15:32.724-08:00

Alberta, your buddy Steve has done another number on you. He's done it to British Columbia and Ontario too, this time with plenty of company: In April, the Conservatives announced with great fanfare Bill C-12, which would add 30 seats to the House of Commons, taking it to 338 from 308, to address severe underrepresentation among Canada's fastest-growing provinces. Sounds good, although this was

Chrystal Oceanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171002438761303983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668911952114471450.post-35614920864663701412010-12-03T07:23:00.000-08:002010-12-03T07:23:56.269-08:00

This is starting to become an annual event! What is it about this time of year that makes Canada's federal parties suppose they can write off citizens' rights, in the service of their own self-interests? Perhaps they think we won't notice. The prompt for this reprise of a reprise of an original post written two years ago is another collective, self-interested act by all parties, done in full

Chrystal Oceanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171002438761303983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668911952114471450.post-59753682334227147442010-12-02T12:48:00.000-08:002010-12-02T13:31:14.339-08:00

Jenny Kwan, the BC NDP MLA who spoke out yesterday on behalf of true democratic process in her party... she, who thus ultimately spoke out on behalf of the people of British Columbia... That Jenny Kwan was lambasted today by the majority of guest commenters on the popular Bill Good Show. One commenter accused Kwan of having been silent throughout her tenure as one of only two NDP MLAs sitting as

Chrystal Oceanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171002438761303983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668911952114471450.post-42076911439124312852010-11-30T09:55:00.000-08:002010-11-30T11:44:05.996-08:00

Kevin Falcon just now declared his intention to run for the leadership of the BC Liberals. Should he win, Falcon would instantly become Premier of this province. The website of Falcon's campaign is now up and his inaugural speech for the Liberal leadership is available. From this non-partisan's perspective, Falcon appears to deserve the "Campbell light" label others have stuck to him. His

Chrystal Oceanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171002438761303983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668911952114471450.post-31781021715609679932010-11-29T06:49:00.000-08:002010-11-29T09:25:13.867-08:00

All democratic and electoral reformers, get out your notepads, do write-ups in your blogs and include the following video: Did you get that? During British Columbia's 2009 referendum on electoral reform, Christy Clark may have come late to supporting BC's version of the Single Transferable Vote (BC-STV); but once she did support it, she did so passionately, without reservation and on-air.

Chrystal Oceanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171002438761303983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668911952114471450.post-54631620652529852622010-11-27T12:36:00.000-08:002010-11-27T12:38:15.589-08:00

Electoral reform is currently second place in a Globe and Mail poll asking "what the next discussion Canada needs to have." Go. Vote. Yes, the environment, currently number one in the poll, is a vitally important issue. However, unless our 'representatives' in Parliament actually represent& we, their constitituents, over their own - which means their party's - interests, then the environment

Chrystal Oceanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171002438761303983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668911952114471450.post-52956207857464976652010-11-25T09:22:00.000-08:002010-11-25T09:29:44.817-08:00

According to a new report, the number of seniors living in poverty soared almost 25 percent between the years 2007 and 2008. Women have been the most affected. Up to 80 percent, suggests the report. Daphne and I are, or soon will be, counted among those women. At 60 years of age we don't yet officially qualify as seniors. However, with the Bank of Canada having kept interest rates ridiculously

Chrystal Oceanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171002438761303983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668911952114471450.post-25665476503431062292010-11-24T23:53:00.000-08:002010-11-25T05:08:49.402-08:00

Bob Rae says, "You can't promote peace unless you put force behind the law and behind the collective will of the international community." First, times have been when the "international community" has been wrong. Second, right or wrong depends on whose interests shape the agenda. Military superpowers head the so-called international community. Such powers, rather than promoting peace through

Chrystal Oceanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171002438761303983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668911952114471450.post-44138487613949325282010-11-24T09:39:00.000-08:002010-11-24T10:12:23.429-08:00

The nature, ideology or beliefs of the people who govern matter less than the actions of those people; and, logically, if such people get it wrong the majority of the time, they sometimes get it right. John Flaherty's refusal to extend the stimulus deadline exhibits a case of getting it right. Yes, the government dragged its feet getting the stimulus out the door. Anyone but the credulous would

Chrystal Oceanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171002438761303983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668911952114471450.post-44471828855096488452010-11-23T15:10:00.000-08:002010-11-23T15:38:55.558-08:00

Cowichan Tribes has been dedicated, especially in the past few years, in pushing innovative solutions to address local problems. There's no question that the entire community, native and not, has appreciated and benefited from it. Here the Cowichan Tribes are again, leading a landmark move to wrest control of their children from the hands of British Columbia authorities. Cowichan Tribes'

Chrystal Oceanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171002438761303983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668911952114471450.post-57772624747503591722010-11-23T12:33:00.000-08:002010-11-23T15:27:37.213-08:00

Since the 2009 election (crowning?) of this riding's NDP candidate and ultimately-elected MLA, Bill Routley, there has been a fracturing of the local NDP constituency association. From this nonpartisan's point of view, I can see why. Our former NDP MLA, one DOUG Routley, was forever helpful. BILL Routley not so much. When a constituent (me) requested his assistance regarding a government service

Chrystal Oceanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171002438761303983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668911952114471450.post-51992330265062722352010-11-21T17:09:00.000-08:002010-11-21T17:14:42.963-08:00

We all could learn from these two, not least Stephen Harper & Company:

Chrystal Oceanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171002438761303983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668911952114471450.post-72725387414362718972010-11-21T08:53:00.000-08:002010-11-21T09:25:28.426-08:00

During the weekend "showdown" over Carole James' leadership of the BC NDP, a clear difference in the divisions between party officials and the NDP caucus became evident. Yes, James was approved as leader by 84 percent. This vote included members of the provincial party executive, other party officials, certain members of the federal NDP and a stacked number of delegates representing organized

Chrystal Oceanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171002438761303983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668911952114471450.post-80098971610095061152010-11-18T20:33:00.000-08:002010-11-19T07:42:59.589-08:00

The Bank of Canada's interest rate policy punishes saving and rewards debt. As does the federal government when it bails out "too big to fail" corporations and industries and rescues banks from the results of their rash decisions. Such policies punish those people who scrimp and save, who put off buying today so they'll be able to live tomorrow. Many of these people are now in, or about to enter

Chrystal Oceanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171002438761303983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668911952114471450.post-11917775296790753932010-11-18T20:29:00.000-08:002010-11-18T20:38:19.786-08:00

An important article on copyright appears in the Straight today. Written from the perspective of a student at Simon Fraser University, it highlights how copyright law can infringe the rights of creators - researchers, scientists - to share their information with the public. In other words, it can prevent knowledge from getting to all but an elite few. Excessive copyright law can create

Chrystal Oceanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171002438761303983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668911952114471450.post-27709138525841997512010-11-18T19:58:00.000-08:002010-11-18T20:38:49.073-08:00

The Manitoba government will raise the age for truancy to 18, the age at which a person is eligible to vote in that province (and everywhere else in Canada?). Students only will be allowed to leave earlier if they earn their high-school diploma or join a workforce training program.How about instead lowering the voting age to 16? Unless voting age isn't the issue but something else is behind this

Chrystal Oceanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171002438761303983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668911952114471450.post-60133028360253100422010-11-18T19:46:00.000-08:002010-11-18T20:39:21.643-08:00

Recently, friend Ocean's monetary income was enriched, as she had applied and has received, Canada Pension Plan benefits and the Supplement for Elderly Renters. Her quality of living soared. For those of us living in financial poverty, it is a real relief when our fortunes improve. It also gives us the opportunity to say thank you to all who support us along the way. Ocean has done this in the

Daphne Moldowinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05469181012833419032noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668911952114471450.post-1591457043825759242010-11-17T14:41:00.000-08:002010-11-17T15:43:10.058-08:00

We need mass protests again, country-wide, as was done when King Harper prorogued Parliament. When the people's representatives in Parliament, elected by the majority of Canadians, can have their collective votes in the House of Commons denied by an appointed Senate, something has gone seriously wrong with our democracy. Yet that is what happened when today the Senate killed the climate bill

Chrystal Oceanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171002438761303983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668911952114471450.post-46128242630652020492010-11-15T11:08:00.000-08:002010-11-15T11:08:33.972-08:00

To the editors of the CBC, the Globe and Mail, the Toronto Star, etc., etc., etc.... That so-and-so plans to announce something isn't news. When so-and-so DOES whatever he/she/it plans, then it's news, provided that so-and-so and the deed in question are themselves news. Got it?

Chrystal Oceanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171002438761303983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668911952114471450.post-80394337352829873852010-11-15T08:36:00.000-08:002010-11-15T08:36:23.385-08:00

The BC Liberal executive decided on Saturday the dates for their next biennial convention (May 13-14) and the ratification of their new voting system (Feb 12). The latter will be applied to the yet-to-be-announced leadership race. Not announced in the BC Liberal news release and so ignored by BC's lazy media monopolies, which prefer to regurgitate what is handed to them, is this nugget: Two

Chrystal Oceanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171002438761303983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668911952114471450.post-41334470194154075432010-11-13T09:00:00.000-08:002010-11-13T13:44:08.589-08:00

... is not "a few folks," Ms. James. That's what Carole James intimated in a recent radio interview: "There are always people who are going to be complainers, ... a few folks calling for change." When her interviewer asks about a momentum of riding associations calling for an "outright leadership convention" in the Spring, James discounts it, says she's "not concerned at all." James should be

Chrystal Oceanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171002438761303983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668911952114471450.post-60466031720702693642010-11-12T15:17:00.000-08:002010-11-14T10:21:21.454-08:00

Typical of a politician. Carole James keeps repeating the same talking points in this radio interview, regardless of the question raised by the interviewer. She's both delusional and disrespectful of the mounting criticism and call for her resignation, much of it coming from within her own party. And James shouldn't be ignoring the mounting criticism from outside the party either. It's ALL the

Chrystal Oceanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171002438761303983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668911952114471450.post-87361547462104324472010-11-12T10:45:00.000-08:002010-11-12T10:45:36.829-08:00

What a horrible story! What a terrible ordeal this poor woman has gone through! Ms DeWaegeneire said in evidence the doctor told her of his intention when she was helpless, about to pass-out from anaesthesia on the operating table. "His face came close to mine and for my ears only he said 'I'm going to take your clitoris too' with which I slid under the anaesthetic," Ms DeWaegeneire said.

Chrystal Oceanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171002438761303983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668911952114471450.post-935889445607742832010-11-12T06:43:00.000-08:002010-11-14T09:20:00.516-08:00

A local Cowichan Valley man, Richard Hughes, has just begun a petition demanding there be a BC NDP leadership convention and one-member-one-vote in the Spring 2011. Good on him! No matter how much you may like Carole James, you cannot deny that she has missed two opportunities to defeat Gordon Campbell, in 2005 and then again in 2009. Despite he and his government having LIED to the people of

Chrystal Oceanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171002438761303983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668911952114471450.post-50805200244963212422010-11-09T09:36:00.000-08:002010-11-09T09:51:55.076-08:00

... for the BC government now to permit public servants to use Facebook, Twitter and other social media, but still not permit them to use email to communicate with members of the public seeking their help. I have written extensively about the problems for people of low income who must choose between having phone service - landline and cell - and having access to the Internet. For such households

Chrystal Oceanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171002438761303983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668911952114471450.post-26371849807628095652010-11-09T07:51:00.000-08:002010-11-09T07:55:00.755-08:00

Please read Sabina's latest post. She has a cyberstalker.

Chrystal Oceanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171002438761303983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668911952114471450.post-27934408862883917712010-11-06T14:35:00.000-07:002010-11-06T17:33:55.746-07:00

Popular Surrey mayor Diane Watts may have trouble turning down a run for the BC Liberal leadership. Not only does she rank first in all polls so far that have asked British Columbians who they favour, but now a Draft Watts campaign has begun. Should Watts run and then win the Liberal leadership and therefore the premiership, she'll be a hard contestant to beat in 2013. A Carole James-led NDP as

Chrystal Oceanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171002438761303983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668911952114471450.post-8775657078573420852010-11-06T08:56:00.000-07:002010-11-06T10:11:14.763-07:00

What an absurd tale! Cobble Hill Director and CVRD [Cowichan Valley Regional District] Chair Gerry Giles summonsed dog owners to a meeting in Cobble Hill recently. The get together was held to scold those who allowed their dogs to bark while visiting the Cobble Hill Village Dog Park. Ms Giles was supported by her Alternate Director John Krug and CVRD Parks Manager Brian Farquar, and South

Chrystal Oceanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171002438761303983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668911952114471450.post-80609670895566888222010-11-05T14:00:00.000-07:002010-11-07T11:46:19.668-08:00

A new study done in the US predicts that obesity rates there will peak at 42 percent, not the 34 percent previously predicted. My immediate reaction: a shrug of the shoulders. If you live in the poverty well, you know more than most of the 'experts' about the chief cause of certain illnesses. You know more than the health professionals, political advisers or policy makers. To whit, you know

Chrystal Oceanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171002438761303983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668911952114471450.post-83798367754879426432010-11-05T12:50:00.000-07:002010-11-05T12:59:55.152-07:00

Remember back, oh, about a month ago, when leader of the BC NDP Carole James ousted 'rebel' MLA Bob Simpson? Simpson had dared mild criticism of her speech to the Union of BC Municipalities. Now Simpson is an Independent MLA. Still a loyal member of the NDP, his new status has not stopped Simpson from saying that, just as Gordon Campbell's resignation could/should lead to a change in direction

Chrystal Oceanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171002438761303983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668911952114471450.post-88771372909573406362010-11-03T12:39:00.000-07:002010-11-03T18:32:45.174-07:00

British Columbians' loathing for Gordon Campbell was not due primarily to the various policies he implemented, such as the carbon tax, the HST, the latest-announced 15 percent income tax cut, the cuts to public services and programs, the sale of BC Rail, etc., etc., etc. The chief cause of people's loathing was Campbell's circumvention of democratic process. It was his lying to the

Chrystal Oceanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171002438761303983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668911952114471450.post-41300848616761974632010-10-28T07:59:00.000-07:002010-10-28T08:04:46.595-07:00

When BC Premier Gordon Campbell spoke last night in a 20-minute TV special, he announced a 15 percent reduction in income taxes for anyone earning less than $72,000. I applaud this move. Campbell should have announced it at the same time he announced the HST. It would have made clearer to British Columbians the connection between the income tax reduction and the consumption tax increase. As

Chrystal Oceanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171002438761303983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668911952114471450.post-66063164694918476392010-10-25T16:49:00.001-07:002010-10-25T16:54:49.827-07:00

Today, I went to my post box and discovered a card from a special friend. My smile lightened my step as I went forward to my little shack in the woods. Once I got home and opened the envelope to find a treat from one who could least afford it, I was elated. It is amazing to feel so uplifted! Such a small thing, others would say, but I know how much it means to receive this unexpected present.

Daphne Moldowinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05469181012833419032noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668911952114471450.post-84516844753262418062010-10-15T09:20:00.000-07:002010-11-23T12:27:45.926-08:00

Party leader, Carole James, says one thing in public. Party president, Moe Sihota, says another thing in private. New Democratic Party president Moe Sihota is encouraging members to help organize recalls against Liberal MLAs, according to an NDP executive's personal notes from a meeting of top party officials. The move comes after NDP leader Carole James said her party will not get involved in

Chrystal Oceanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171002438761303983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668911952114471450.post-82822239734104905042010-10-09T12:50:00.000-07:002010-10-09T12:58:24.520-07:00

Bernard von Schulmann raises an important point in his post regarding the two-now-grown-to-three independents in BC's legislature. While he writes specifically of these three politicians - Vicky Huntington (ran as Independent in 2009), Blair Lekstrom (former Liberal MLA) and Bob Simpson (former NDP MLA) -, his key critique could apply to any politician, at any level of government. The first two

Chrystal Oceanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171002438761303983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668911952114471450.post-81337111448523521922010-10-08T10:01:00.000-07:002010-10-08T10:42:35.880-07:00

It would have been so much better had Carole James ousted herself from the BC NDP caucus rather than Bob Simpson. The man's crime? In two sentences, he dared mild criticism of James' (and Gordo's) speech to the Union of BC Municipalities. Someone has since created a Facebook page supporting Simpson. Online commenting there and on news sites is strongly in his favour. As with so many of James'

Chrystal Oceanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171002438761303983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668911952114471450.post-44170725530571945122010-09-16T19:22:00.000-07:002010-09-16T19:49:14.067-07:00

I am enraged, again, with this story about the pro-life righteous, religious, right-wing-nutters in the USA. Is there no end to other people deciding how a woman comes to a decision about seeking an abortion? I'm beginning to realize that all the die hard pro-lifers seem to believe that a woman thinks 'Ho-hum, I'm pregnant. I better find an abortion clinic and get rid of the damn thing.' Where

Daphne Moldowinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05469181012833419032noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668911952114471450.post-53759513270738658552010-09-16T09:39:00.000-07:002010-10-06T08:00:06.694-07:00

I support the HST and have given my reasons in several posts. More, I support true democratic process and have spent a good deal of this space writing about that. No matter the topic of the day, the problem almost always returns to the majority of voices having been left unheard. Democratic reform topped the list of WISE's three major goals. The WISE women, all of whom lived in households of

Chrystal Oceanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171002438761303983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668911952114471450.post-69621315991475871982010-08-29T21:46:00.000-07:002010-08-30T07:03:44.990-07:00

The present volley between Stephen Harper and Michael Ignatieff on who makes the rules (SH: "I think I make the rules!"; MI: "We make the rules, the people of Canada make the rules!") misses the point. As Harper has shown, 'the rules' can be ignored. That hardly makes them rules, now does it? The Harper Conservatives have treated the rules like conventions. Conventions can and usually do

Chrystal Oceanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171002438761303983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668911952114471450.post-15595476984548283422010-08-26T13:53:00.000-07:002010-08-26T15:47:51.509-07:00

Several people on the progressive side of Canadian politics are demanding that the opposition parties whip the vote in support of the long gun registry. With respect to this issue, the NDP is being targeted particularly because, in a previous vote, certain MPs failed to vote per the party line. The long gun registry is only the latest issue for which whipping the vote has come up, but it

Chrystal Oceanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171002438761303983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668911952114471450.post-49630117950063923092010-07-25T12:24:00.000-07:002010-07-25T12:26:55.474-07:00

Finance Minister Jim Flaherty says Canadians will fill in the voluntary survey for "the good of the country." Hey, Flaherty! What about the "strong and free," who object to the federal (and other) government's intrusive questions? The people least likely to complete your voluntary survey are from among your far-right voter base. They are those who cry out FREEee ... DOM! and celebrate

Chrystal Oceanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171002438761303983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668911952114471450.post-88755473240759551502010-07-24T11:44:00.000-07:002010-07-24T14:44:46.057-07:00

I just retweeted this from Angus Reid: @AngusReidGlobal: A majority of Canadians think the long form census yields important data and should remain mandatory. http://bit.ly/9BHIlW #census #cdnpoli Among the poll results, 58 percent vs. 24 percent of respondents accept the importance of the data obtained from the long-form mandatory census. I received the following response to my retweet of

Chrystal Oceanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171002438761303983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668911952114471450.post-48711024991291285912010-07-22T10:46:00.000-07:002010-07-22T14:18:08.578-07:00

... and replaced with this: Media advisory: 2011 Census July 16, 2010OTTAWA — Statistics Canada is not in a position to answer questions on the advice it gave the Minister in relation to recent statements the Minister has made. Anticipating such a move, I saved Munir Sheikh's letter of resignation, together with its embedded link, to my Mac's hard drive. Like other bloggers, I paste it here, for

Chrystal Oceanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171002438761303983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668911952114471450.post-85277827467432710122010-07-22T09:57:00.000-07:002010-07-22T09:58:13.655-07:00

Okay, so here I am, still visiting at my sister's place in Southwestern Ontario. She says, 'Let's go camping for a few days along Lake Huron'. 'Great', I say. I view this as chance to enjoy some of Ontario's beautiful natural conserves without having to fork over pots of money for overnight accommodation. We will use tents! We will bring our own food and cook it over an open fire! However,

Daphne Moldowinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05469181012833419032noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668911952114471450.post-84597541996332774582010-07-21T16:15:00.000-07:002010-07-21T16:32:06.786-07:00

First, it's my birthday today. Sixty years of age. I made it! Second, my name, the WISE book and economicus ridiculous get mentions in an article today in The Tyee. The writer has done a good job on the issue. That's no surprise coming from The Tyee, an independent media organization that does British Columbians proud.

Chrystal Oceanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171002438761303983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668911952114471450.post-64180244142148212452010-07-20T13:12:00.000-07:002010-07-20T13:14:06.921-07:00

Tony Clement tweets: 168,000 felt strongly enough last time about mand long form to refuse on pain of jail. Yet that sample was deemed valid. * How many of those 168,000 ultimately completed the form, after initial refusal? * Assuming None, how many were jailed? Fined? Incidentally, over 200,000 people lodged protest of Stephen Harper's misuse of prorogation in 2008 and they took their

Chrystal Oceanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171002438761303983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668911952114471450.post-41395651100947814582010-07-19T20:36:00.000-07:002010-07-19T20:36:16.454-07:00

Who says Canadians don't care about the infringement of civil liberties, nine billion dollars for inferior aircraft ... the census!

Chrystal Oceanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171002438761303983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668911952114471450.post-58724384644029662262010-07-19T16:00:00.000-07:002010-07-19T16:00:20.452-07:00

... but that shouldn't be the end of the record. Allowing that the "thousands of emails" reported by Maxime Bernier existed, contained complaints about the 2006 census and were deleted, wasn't his office collecting the data these emails contained? You know, like in a spreadsheet that categorized them by the nature of the complaint? - for example, about the long form, or the involvement of

Chrystal Oceanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171002438761303983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668911952114471450.post-2179514077871583282010-07-19T10:22:00.000-07:002010-07-19T10:31:57.198-07:00

If you're not accessing this resource for information on the current long-form census issue, you should. Of course, if you're a Harper Conservative, you'd be best to ignore it. You wouldn't want to be swayed by facts. They do so get in the way of propaganda! The author is concentrating her PhD dissertation on open data/open government. Investigating the census is part of that project. Tracey's

Chrystal Oceanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171002438761303983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668911952114471450.post-12367302268474043262010-07-16T12:44:00.000-07:002010-07-23T17:53:30.228-07:00

But that's OK. Harper has ensured that most Canadians are too overburdened, too stressed, too oblivious or too stupid to care. His master stroke has just been played... How to convince the gullible (whilst ensuring more of them) that Canada's federal government should not fund social programs or transfer funding to provinces for such programs and services: 1. Remove the key resource upon which

Chrystal Oceanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171002438761303983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668911952114471450.post-59933752198704247892010-07-15T15:23:00.000-07:002010-07-15T15:49:44.729-07:00

The Young Liberal president in Yukon has written of his embarrassment in being a Liberal, citing the party's latest failure, that of allowing the omnibus budget to pass in the Senate, and stating that "it's getting really hard to support the party as a whole." Yet Conal Slobodin also writes: The Liberal Party will always be my party, we have amazing MPs, hardworking volunteers, and a great

Chrystal Oceanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171002438761303983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668911952114471450.post-62145142406344576442010-07-15T09:58:00.000-07:002010-07-15T15:43:07.439-07:00

An Angus Reid poll did a comparison among Canadians, Britons and USians on the question of "the origin and development of human beings on earth." That's my emphasis. Am guessing Angus Reid doesn't want to rule out humans having originated and/or developed elsewhere in the universe. To the results! 68% of Britons and 61% of Canadians believe human beings evolved from less advanced life forms

Chrystal Oceanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171002438761303983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668911952114471450.post-63911713218766909942010-07-13T11:59:00.000-07:002010-07-13T18:32:20.362-07:00

"Fuck you, Canada!" Courtesy of the following, no-show Liberal senators, on the matter of the Conservatives' 900-page omnibus 'budget' bill: * Tommy Banks * Sharon Carstairs * Pierre de Bane * Francis Fox * Serge Joyal * Nick Sibbeston * David Smith Source (of the names, not the message): the great Kady O'Malley. Let us not forget also the Liberals in the House of Commons, who undertook

Chrystal Oceanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171002438761303983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668911952114471450.post-45360808259737686052010-07-13T08:58:00.000-07:002010-07-14T12:16:48.407-07:00

There's a Twitter conversation going on amongst journalists regarding the arrival in their post boxes of opposing Iggy t-shirts, one each from the Liberal and Conservative camps. The latter, apparently, says 'Just visiting'. Dunno what the other says - perhaps some reference to a whiff of sulfur. Anyway, Rosie Barton just complained that she hadn't received one of the Liberal t-shirts. To which

Chrystal Oceanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171002438761303983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668911952114471450.post-44129410662043182092010-07-12T16:26:00.000-07:002010-07-12T16:30:41.848-07:00

I googled the names of the members of Stephen Harper's secret advisory committee, the one intended to make recommendations regarding potential candidates for Canada's next Governor-General. To my admittedly sensitive nose, something stinks. Sheila-Marie Cook, Chair of the committee, was appointed by Stephen Harper in September 2006 to secretary and deputy to the Governor-General. Rainer Knopff

Chrystal Oceanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171002438761303983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668911952114471450.post-16898096355437967472010-07-12T15:25:00.000-07:002010-07-12T15:27:24.101-07:00

... one cannot MOVE a page and yet not have it found. To anyone interested - and I DO urge that Canadians be interested - here is the NEW, direct link to that pesky "Reinstate our Census Long Form" discussion which was happening over at the Government of Canada's Digital Economy Consultation website. The page was moved from its original location by HarperCo, clearly as an attempt to bury it.

Chrystal Oceanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171002438761303983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668911952114471450.post-36708129116145707652010-07-08T10:30:00.000-07:002010-07-08T10:39:26.420-07:00

Having taken my own advice to show my support for Canadian civil liberties, I've begun receiving correspondence back from MPs. Among the respondents has been Mario Silva, a Liberal who represents the Toronto riding of Davenport. He writes in part that it was the office of the Minister of Public Safety, the Honourable Vic Toews, which coordinated security for the G8 and G20 summits, in close

Chrystal Oceanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171002438761303983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668911952114471450.post-52612555443341566302010-07-05T22:45:00.000-07:002010-07-05T23:17:11.509-07:00

Much focus - and blame - has been attached to the low voter turnout among young people. I've written before regarding that misplaced blame. My point then was to shift it to where it squarely belongs, with Canada's politicians and their puppet-masters who work to maintain Canada's provincial and federal voting systems. The Single Member Plurality majoritarian system we have works very well for

Chrystal Oceanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171002438761303983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668911952114471450.post-57645090024283835152010-07-04T11:18:00.000-07:002010-07-04T12:48:17.132-07:00

Here I am, at my sister's place in Ontario. A surreal land of plenty. A one way plane ticket was sent so I could attend my nephew's wedding. Sis lives in beautiful Southwestern Ontario in a two bedroom, two bathroom, full basement brick home with her hard working husband. Her now adult children (and grandchildren) all live within a 20 mile radius and everyone gets along well. I love my sis

Daphne Moldowinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05469181012833419032noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668911952114471450.post-91822830416998672792010-07-03T15:44:00.000-07:002010-07-03T15:44:39.528-07:00

In an interesting article in yesterday's Globe and Mail, reporter John Lorinc asks lawyer Peter Rosenthal, who has defended activists in court, about the following: Some people say the police were damned-if-they-did and damned if they didn't. To which my response is: the same could be said, even more so, of the G20 detainees. Police told people to leave ... but blocked all exits. Police told

Chrystal Oceanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171002438761303983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668911952114471450.post-51807548737095439562010-07-03T12:27:00.000-07:002010-07-03T13:43:03.668-07:00

and wow. Washington, DC agrees to a $13.7M settlement pertaining to mass arrests that occurred during a protest near the World Bank and International Monetary Fund buildings in 2000. U.S. District Judge Paul L. Friedman said the class-action lawsuit, which has wended its way through the court for about a decade, will benefit "future generations" who want to speak out and air their grievances. He

Chrystal Oceanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171002438761303983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668911952114471450.post-4947436655656046872010-07-03T12:18:00.000-07:002010-07-03T12:20:27.455-07:00

There are four things that you can do, particularly pertaining to the arrests and detentions that took place during last weekend's G20 summit, in support of pulling back Harperian (and now McGuintyan?) authoritarianism and their latest encroachments of our civil liberties: 1. Send an email in support of the Canadian Civil Liberties Association petition. As noted on their website, once in receipt

Chrystal Oceanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171002438761303983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668911952114471450.post-34398364420135611102010-06-28T09:41:00.000-07:002010-06-28T10:24:58.652-07:00

Chief Bill Blair, speaking of the Queen and Spadina incident, is reported to have said "police asked people in the area to leave the area three times." (Original photo by Jonas Naimark.) How were people to leave? Your forces had them boxed in, deliberately, a situation which was repeated several times throughout the summit. The ISU must have ordered the arrest of anyone who was on the

Chrystal Oceanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171002438761303983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668911952114471450.post-19587026101583839742010-06-27T18:47:00.000-07:002010-06-27T19:16:43.599-07:00

... the citizens will gather and they will challenge you. Stephen Harper, you got things backwards; just like your buddies, who hold aggression to be the only road to peace. You build bombs and bombs will fall. You build walls and people will tear them down. You turn Toronto into an armed camp and people will become fearful. The mere presence of 20,000 armed personnel was the primary act of

Chrystal Oceanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171002438761303983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668911952114471450.post-42526061249512422872010-06-25T08:30:00.000-07:002010-06-25T08:44:32.934-07:00

I happened upon this news story today, about (now) former Liberal Hec Cloutier planning to run as an independent in the next federal election. "I met Mr. Ignatieff and he said to me: 'Hector, I would like you to consider running for me because you're the only one who can win the seat back for us.' I said I will consider running, but 'I am going to vote the wishes of my constituents'," Clouthier

Chrystal Oceanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171002438761303983noreply@blogger.com