This post is a comment written (with some tweaks) for the following article on the Tyee.
Hot Button Bill: Libs Rush to Change Election Laws
Diverse foes say Bill 42 would crimp free speech, hurt poor voters.
By Andrew MacLeod and Monte Paulsen. Monday, May 12, 2008.
********
Most people on here would not understand what a serious and structural attack on democracy this is for those who live (and die) in the lower socio-economic classes.
The BC government, as a matter of policy and practice, denies income assistance clients the human right to obtain identification. If welfare has copies on file, they will not fund replacement ID. That in itself is a violation of people's human rights. With the pittance people receive on income assistance, or disability, there are thousands and thousands of citizens who are marginalized by the BC Liberals already. To use this structurally embedded circumstance and to now push through this legislation, which will disenfranchise (even more) of these citizens is a Charter of Rights violation, as well as quite likely a violation of Canada's commitment to several United Nations Charters.
This exclusion and barrier to full participation in society will now disproportionally disadvantage and disenfranchise individuals with disabilities. There is a new UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, I suggest all of these clever lawyers around consider working to put together a case to present at the new UN Committee about democracy, inclusion and justice for marginalized citizens BC Liberal-style. I'm sure the UN would be quite interested to hear about Mr. Campbell's (and his backroom masters')plans and they might even have some feedback for him and his ilk.
Mr. Oppal, if you allow this legislation to be passed, as a learned jurist and now as the Attorney General, you have ceased to have any relevancy as a man of justice, democracy and as a representative of the public good in BC. You will also go down in history as the man who excluded generations of BC citizens from their right to participate in democracy and be included in the province of BC. How is that for a legacy? You should resign if they push it through in spite of your disagreement as the AG. And then, you should write a great "tell-all,"because now, you know where A LOT of the bodies are buried and that will be helpful when the next election rolls around in May 2009.
If liberty and equality, as is thought by some, are chiefly to be found in democracy, they will be best attained when all persons alike share in the government to the utmost.
- Aristotle (384 BC - 322 BC), Politics.
Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.
- Martin Luther King Jr. (1929 - 1968), Letter from Birmingham Jail, April 16, 1963.
Ensure your MLA knows that if they vote for this Bill, they are history next election, no matter what their political "stripe."
Monday, May 12, 2008
Saturday, May 3, 2008
America Moves Ever Closer to Martial Law & a Totalitarian State
If these things don’t scare the crap out of you… you have ice in your veins:
Check this video clip out from You Tube. It is an interview from Amy Goodman from Democracy Now, interviewing Matt Rothschild, the editor of The Progressive, who broke the story of InfraGard, described on it’s own website as “a collaboration for infrastructure protection.”
VIDEO: FBI Authorizing US Corporations (InfraGard) Shoot 2 Kill under Looming Martial Law
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDX0CuuRYDI#>Less%20info">
Who is InfraGard:
InfraGard is a P3 partnership between the FBI, Department of Homeland Security and US Corporations, with 36 chapters in USA since 1996. This organization involves more than 23,000 business executives in USA, which means it is also world wide, because US corporations have branches all over the world. Members are NOT allowed to talk to the news media.
*******
Matthew Rothschild in The Progressive
The FBI Deputizes Business
By Matthew Rothschild, March 2008 Issue
http://www.progressive.org/mag_rothschild0308
One business owner in the United States tells me that InfraGard members are being advised on how to prepare for a martial law situation and what their role might be. He showed me his InfraGard card, with his name and e-mail address on the front, along with the InfraGard logo and its slogan, “Partnership for Protection.” On the back of the card were the emergency numbers that Schneck mentioned. This business owner says he attended a small InfraGard meeting where agents of the FBI and Homeland Security discussed in astonishing detail what InfraGard members may be called upon to do.“The meeting started off innocuously enough, with the speakers talking about corporate espionage,” he says. “From there, it just progressed. All of a sudden we were knee deep in what was expected of us when martial law is declared. We were expected to share all our resources, but in return we’d be given specific benefits.” These included, he says, the ability to travel in restricted areas and to get people out...
But that’s not all...
“Then they said when not if martial law is declared, it was our responsibility to protect our portion of the infrastructure, and if we had to use deadly force to protect it, we couldn’t be prosecuted,” he says...
I was able to confirm that the meeting took place where he said it had, and that the FBI and Homeland Security did make presentations there. One InfraGard member who attended that meeting denies that the subject of lethal force came up. But the whistleblower is 100 percent certain of it. “I have nothing to gain by telling you this, and everything to lose,” he adds. “I’m so nervous about this, and I’m not someone who gets nervous...
The way InfraGard has been set up reads like the development of the Mafia including its “made men” and code of Omerta (silence) especially when it comes to speaking to the media. Rothschild is to be complimented for committing great public journalism in writing this article. I’m sure when martial law is declared in this country, he’s on the A list...
Of course, several such scenarios for a possible declaration of martial law have been discussed here and elsewhere. Anything from another ‘terrorist’ attack to gasoline shortages or financial meltdown could trigger a few strokes of the President’s pen which is all that is needed to place the entire nation under martial law, thanks to several executive orders going back to JFK’s time...
In such a scenario, the government doesn’t have enough soldiers or cops to secure all this vast nation’s infrastructure. You might be thinking of obvious choices like power plants but the story tells us there’s far more included under the rubric of infrastructure...
In any case, this secret Mafia (or Corporate Gestapo, take your pick or make up your own term) of more than 23,000 business executives comes in pretty handy, especially when you let them into the super-secret information channels, make them feel like James Bond and give them ‘license to kill’ authority...
Mussolini may not have actually said ‘fascism should more properly be called corporatism,’ but in practice, the terminology is correct: what we are seeing is the fusion of corporate and government power in an authoritarian state where the average person is automatically suspect...
From their own website:
InfraGard is an association of businesses, academic institutions, state and local law enforcement agencies, and other participants dedicated to sharing information and intelligence to prevent hostile acts against the United States. InfraGard Chapters are geographically linked with FBI Field Office territories… “350 of our nation’s Fortune 500 have a representative in InfraGard.”
*********
National “DNA warehouse” bill passes
Association of American Physicians and Surgeons, Inc.
Passing the House of Representatives on a voice vote, S. 1858 has been sent to President Bush for signature. The Newborn Genetic Screening bill was passed by the Senate last December. The bill violates the U.S. Constitution and the Nuremberg Code, writes Twila Brase, president of the Citizen’s Council on Health Care (CCHC). “The DNA taken at birth from every citizen is essentially owned by the government, and every citizen becomes a potential subject of government-sponsored genetic research,” she states. “It does not require consent and there are no requirements to inform parents about the warehousing of their child’s DNA for the purpose of genetic research.
***************
Military Preparing for Martial Law
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71Jux68F_AQ
Three States Subjected To "Martial Law Sweeps" Local, state police and sheriff's office join feds for "terror" sweeps that result in hundreds of citations for traffic violations.
Steve Watson (Friday, April 18, 2008). Infowars.net
Federal law enforcement agencies co-opted sheriffs offices as well state and local police forces in three states last weekend for a vast round up operation that one sheriff's deputy has described as "martial law training".
http://infowars.net/articles/april2008/180408impact.htm
********
Not in Canada you Say:
Homeland Security Canada-style:
From Wikipedia:
In 2003 Canada created a Ministry of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness led by Deputy Prime Minister Anne McLellan. Now of course led by the mental giant, Stockwell (Doris) Day. I’m not sure about all of you, but I sure don’t feel a lot safer with Mr. Day at the helm of our national security.
Check this video clip out from You Tube. It is an interview from Amy Goodman from Democracy Now, interviewing Matt Rothschild, the editor of The Progressive, who broke the story of InfraGard, described on it’s own website as “a collaboration for infrastructure protection.”
VIDEO: FBI Authorizing US Corporations (InfraGard) Shoot 2 Kill under Looming Martial Law
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDX0CuuRYDI#>Less%20info">
Who is InfraGard:
InfraGard is a P3 partnership between the FBI, Department of Homeland Security and US Corporations, with 36 chapters in USA since 1996. This organization involves more than 23,000 business executives in USA, which means it is also world wide, because US corporations have branches all over the world. Members are NOT allowed to talk to the news media.
*******
Matthew Rothschild in The Progressive
The FBI Deputizes Business
By Matthew Rothschild, March 2008 Issue
http://www.progressive.org/mag_rothschild0308
One business owner in the United States tells me that InfraGard members are being advised on how to prepare for a martial law situation and what their role might be. He showed me his InfraGard card, with his name and e-mail address on the front, along with the InfraGard logo and its slogan, “Partnership for Protection.” On the back of the card were the emergency numbers that Schneck mentioned. This business owner says he attended a small InfraGard meeting where agents of the FBI and Homeland Security discussed in astonishing detail what InfraGard members may be called upon to do.“The meeting started off innocuously enough, with the speakers talking about corporate espionage,” he says. “From there, it just progressed. All of a sudden we were knee deep in what was expected of us when martial law is declared. We were expected to share all our resources, but in return we’d be given specific benefits.” These included, he says, the ability to travel in restricted areas and to get people out...
But that’s not all...
“Then they said when not if martial law is declared, it was our responsibility to protect our portion of the infrastructure, and if we had to use deadly force to protect it, we couldn’t be prosecuted,” he says...
I was able to confirm that the meeting took place where he said it had, and that the FBI and Homeland Security did make presentations there. One InfraGard member who attended that meeting denies that the subject of lethal force came up. But the whistleblower is 100 percent certain of it. “I have nothing to gain by telling you this, and everything to lose,” he adds. “I’m so nervous about this, and I’m not someone who gets nervous...
The way InfraGard has been set up reads like the development of the Mafia including its “made men” and code of Omerta (silence) especially when it comes to speaking to the media. Rothschild is to be complimented for committing great public journalism in writing this article. I’m sure when martial law is declared in this country, he’s on the A list...
Of course, several such scenarios for a possible declaration of martial law have been discussed here and elsewhere. Anything from another ‘terrorist’ attack to gasoline shortages or financial meltdown could trigger a few strokes of the President’s pen which is all that is needed to place the entire nation under martial law, thanks to several executive orders going back to JFK’s time...
In such a scenario, the government doesn’t have enough soldiers or cops to secure all this vast nation’s infrastructure. You might be thinking of obvious choices like power plants but the story tells us there’s far more included under the rubric of infrastructure...
In any case, this secret Mafia (or Corporate Gestapo, take your pick or make up your own term) of more than 23,000 business executives comes in pretty handy, especially when you let them into the super-secret information channels, make them feel like James Bond and give them ‘license to kill’ authority...
Mussolini may not have actually said ‘fascism should more properly be called corporatism,’ but in practice, the terminology is correct: what we are seeing is the fusion of corporate and government power in an authoritarian state where the average person is automatically suspect...
From their own website:
InfraGard is an association of businesses, academic institutions, state and local law enforcement agencies, and other participants dedicated to sharing information and intelligence to prevent hostile acts against the United States. InfraGard Chapters are geographically linked with FBI Field Office territories… “350 of our nation’s Fortune 500 have a representative in InfraGard.”
*********
National “DNA warehouse” bill passes
Association of American Physicians and Surgeons, Inc.
Passing the House of Representatives on a voice vote, S. 1858 has been sent to President Bush for signature. The Newborn Genetic Screening bill was passed by the Senate last December. The bill violates the U.S. Constitution and the Nuremberg Code, writes Twila Brase, president of the Citizen’s Council on Health Care (CCHC). “The DNA taken at birth from every citizen is essentially owned by the government, and every citizen becomes a potential subject of government-sponsored genetic research,” she states. “It does not require consent and there are no requirements to inform parents about the warehousing of their child’s DNA for the purpose of genetic research.
***************
Military Preparing for Martial Law
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71Jux68F_AQ
Three States Subjected To "Martial Law Sweeps" Local, state police and sheriff's office join feds for "terror" sweeps that result in hundreds of citations for traffic violations.
Steve Watson (Friday, April 18, 2008). Infowars.net
Federal law enforcement agencies co-opted sheriffs offices as well state and local police forces in three states last weekend for a vast round up operation that one sheriff's deputy has described as "martial law training".
http://infowars.net/articles/april2008/180408impact.htm
********
Not in Canada you Say:
Homeland Security Canada-style:
From Wikipedia:
In 2003 Canada created a Ministry of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness led by Deputy Prime Minister Anne McLellan. Now of course led by the mental giant, Stockwell (Doris) Day. I’m not sure about all of you, but I sure don’t feel a lot safer with Mr. Day at the helm of our national security.
Saturday, April 26, 2008
BC Experiences a Boomtime for Threats & Lawsuits
Interesting comments about what's happening over the ICBC scandal. It's totally dropped off the radar of the mainstream media. There are no less than 5 investigations into conduct. These comments from BC Mary's Legislature Raids are quite informative. One might speculate about whether individuals involved in Organized Crime have been able to get in on some of the ICBC stuff, since high end SUV's & trucks are the vehicles of choice for a lot of them. You see them driving around. It's pretty noticeable in certain areas. Organized crime is everywhere in BC, most people have no idea how extensive their reach us and how "legit" many of them present.
Express Collision Shop Said,
Speaking of organized crime. Whistleblowers have it tough in BC. I just got off the phone with a friend and lawsuits and threats are rampant in the past few weeks. It seems that these threats are all being made to the whistleblowers and trade association that are helping expose this ICBC mess. The RCMP, media, lawyer's and the Competition Bureau have been notified of all threats.
The investigation has found that this mess is getting larger by the day. Many of the vehicles that were talked about being high end SUV's and trucks and sports cars maybe the tip of the iceberg. There are some really nice vintage, antique, classic cars under investigation now. Were not talking about $40-$70 thousand dollar vehicles here, these are worth a hell of a lot more than that. "Zero Tolerance For Fraud.
****
Another interesting thing is I know of other lawsuits being filed against folks for blowing the whistle on various bad things happening in other sectors. Also a lot of intimidation, coercion and other nasty stuff. I know some of the media involved are also having legal action taken against them, but that may be karma, since some of them have allegedly violated sources who came forward in good faith. It also might be the case that the police authorities are advising the media to stop reporting on certain cases, there is a lot of information making it into the public domain these days when citizens are making comments, things that often should be getting reported to the investigating police.
At this stage of the game, I would advise anyone of thinking of going to the media not to do it, there is absolutely no certainty over who is trustworthy these days and I include anyone related to the NDP in that. They know a lot of stuff they are not bringing forward, they pick & choose what fits their agenda. If people have any direct involvement, or evidence about anything, go to the police investigating complaints, or in some cases, initiate your own police complaint.
As many whistleblowers learn the hard way, when they start making waves internally, asking questions, or have too much knowledge about what's happening within certain organizations, they're in for a rough ride and character assassination & defamation of character are part of the offenders' modus operandi (m.o.). This reinforces silence and fear amongst other staff. Those are the simplest reasons why so many of these corrupt organizations continue with these heinous and often illegal practices for so many years. Workers who know, or stumble on the truth, are afraid to speak up and when they do, they and their families are the ones who suffer, while the "bad guys" continue on their merry way, often being promoted and continuing to prosper and take advantage of insider privilege. This in itself also convinces some "good" people that its the path of least resistance to start getting in on the action, thus continuing to reinforce the organizational dysfunction and sometimes criminal activities taking place within. Most people aren't in a position where they can be fired and out of a job with one day's notice. And that happens more than most people know. And the employers' often just get away with it all. If you're a unionized worker in BC, Employment Standards are not in force for you. Many people don't know that. It's part of the Liberal changes. CCPA wrote a great report on that, called Negotiating Without a Floor.
And, the Labour Relations Board contains Liberal appointees from both employer and labour sides. The LRB will use their authority to get around taking direct complaints from unionized workers as well. And, its' really unclear how successful harassment complaints are at arbitration, many unions won't even let those get to that point, some won't even let their own workers file harassment and discrimination complaints.
****
But, How Bad Is the Record has some other thoughts on his blog:
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Whistleblower Threats
There is a very interesting developement on BC Marys' blogsite The Legislature Raids about how whistleblowers from some quarters in the ICBC Scandal have been threatened. A person who calls themself Express Collision Shop has reported the threats. He goes on to say that the police have been made aware of these threats.
Now I don't know about the rest of you folks, but I know that threats to anyone for any reason is a criminal offense. And if the RCMP are aware of this, and it is true, it should be reported to the public. I personally have no doubt that what this person says is true. They have been reporting on this case from the get-go and have been quite accurate in what they are reporting. Get the mainstream media on it NOW. This is outrageous.
Express Collision Shop Said,
Speaking of organized crime. Whistleblowers have it tough in BC. I just got off the phone with a friend and lawsuits and threats are rampant in the past few weeks. It seems that these threats are all being made to the whistleblowers and trade association that are helping expose this ICBC mess. The RCMP, media, lawyer's and the Competition Bureau have been notified of all threats.
The investigation has found that this mess is getting larger by the day. Many of the vehicles that were talked about being high end SUV's and trucks and sports cars maybe the tip of the iceberg. There are some really nice vintage, antique, classic cars under investigation now. Were not talking about $40-$70 thousand dollar vehicles here, these are worth a hell of a lot more than that. "Zero Tolerance For Fraud.
****
Another interesting thing is I know of other lawsuits being filed against folks for blowing the whistle on various bad things happening in other sectors. Also a lot of intimidation, coercion and other nasty stuff. I know some of the media involved are also having legal action taken against them, but that may be karma, since some of them have allegedly violated sources who came forward in good faith. It also might be the case that the police authorities are advising the media to stop reporting on certain cases, there is a lot of information making it into the public domain these days when citizens are making comments, things that often should be getting reported to the investigating police.
At this stage of the game, I would advise anyone of thinking of going to the media not to do it, there is absolutely no certainty over who is trustworthy these days and I include anyone related to the NDP in that. They know a lot of stuff they are not bringing forward, they pick & choose what fits their agenda. If people have any direct involvement, or evidence about anything, go to the police investigating complaints, or in some cases, initiate your own police complaint.
As many whistleblowers learn the hard way, when they start making waves internally, asking questions, or have too much knowledge about what's happening within certain organizations, they're in for a rough ride and character assassination & defamation of character are part of the offenders' modus operandi (m.o.). This reinforces silence and fear amongst other staff. Those are the simplest reasons why so many of these corrupt organizations continue with these heinous and often illegal practices for so many years. Workers who know, or stumble on the truth, are afraid to speak up and when they do, they and their families are the ones who suffer, while the "bad guys" continue on their merry way, often being promoted and continuing to prosper and take advantage of insider privilege. This in itself also convinces some "good" people that its the path of least resistance to start getting in on the action, thus continuing to reinforce the organizational dysfunction and sometimes criminal activities taking place within. Most people aren't in a position where they can be fired and out of a job with one day's notice. And that happens more than most people know. And the employers' often just get away with it all. If you're a unionized worker in BC, Employment Standards are not in force for you. Many people don't know that. It's part of the Liberal changes. CCPA wrote a great report on that, called Negotiating Without a Floor.
And, the Labour Relations Board contains Liberal appointees from both employer and labour sides. The LRB will use their authority to get around taking direct complaints from unionized workers as well. And, its' really unclear how successful harassment complaints are at arbitration, many unions won't even let those get to that point, some won't even let their own workers file harassment and discrimination complaints.
****
But, How Bad Is the Record has some other thoughts on his blog:
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Whistleblower Threats
There is a very interesting developement on BC Marys' blogsite The Legislature Raids about how whistleblowers from some quarters in the ICBC Scandal have been threatened. A person who calls themself Express Collision Shop has reported the threats. He goes on to say that the police have been made aware of these threats.
Now I don't know about the rest of you folks, but I know that threats to anyone for any reason is a criminal offense. And if the RCMP are aware of this, and it is true, it should be reported to the public. I personally have no doubt that what this person says is true. They have been reporting on this case from the get-go and have been quite accurate in what they are reporting. Get the mainstream media on it NOW. This is outrageous.
Monday, April 21, 2008
Fallout from 2006 Canadian Census
This was some news to me. I didn't know that the Canadian government privatized and "outsourced" the handling of the 2006 Canadian census to Lockheed Martin, the transnational aerospace manufacturer and advanced technology corporation and the the largest arms manufacturer in the world. They are also the world's largest defense contract holders and strategically linked to the American government. As of 2005, 95% of Lockheed Martin's revenues came from the United States Department of Defense, other U.S. federal government agencies, and foreign military customers.
Now, what is the fallout... well, our good old Canadian government is now in the process of charging and prosecuting 63 Canadian citizens for refusing to participate in the 2006 Census on grounds that this information is being collected by Lockheed Martin, brought into the United States and now fully subject to the Patriot Act. If this doesn't curl your hair, it should. It continues to rapid and increasing pace in which Canada is being gobbled up by the despots to the South.
Just today, April 21st Stephen Harper, George Bush and Mexican President Calderon are meeting for the fourth leaders' summit of the Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP), the biggest threat to Canadian sovereignty that exists today, unless you count Stephen Harper, George Bush, Dick Cheney in there too.
One cannot fail to see the links to what is happening here in BC as well. As scandal after scandal unfolds: ICBC, Ministry of Children & Family Development, Ministry of Employment & Income Assistance contracts to American corporations to the Legislature Raids & "sale" of BC Rail, the sale of our power & rivers. The corruption that seeps out of Victoria reeks of American influence and a diminished regard for our citizens. Gordon Campbell spends a fair amount of time in the States & meeting with American leaders around the world. All of these public policy decisions are not a coincidence. People like Campbell don't do anything for anyone without having a BIG reward somewhere, where is his? It's time for a vote of non-confidence in Gordon Campbell and the BC Liberal government. If they aren't out soon, like the Conservatives, there will be nothing left to call home, whether that is Canada, or BC.
See Murray Dobbin's excellent latest article, Americanize Me? No Thanks in the Tyee for more about it all.
Here's a little excerpt:
Most recently it was a secretively signed agreement called the Civil Assistance Plan, which "allows the military from one nation to support the armed forces of the other nation during a civil emergency."
Good government. There is much, much more dire data about where the U.S. ranks on many social and economic scales. The cause of most of it is the catastrophic decline in democratic governance, the virtual abandonment of any serious social or regulatory role for government under George Bush and the Republicans. At no other time in the past century has the U.S. had people in power so dedicated to the dismantling of democratic governance.
When governance is hijacked by the likes of Bush and Brown there is only one possible outcome: massive, intractable, endemic corruption permeates the whole system. Stories following up on the Katrina catastrophe show that nothing has changed. Billions have been wasted, stolen or remain unaccounted for. The tragedy has been used as a useful crisis to dispossess thousands of New Orleans' poorest residents, privatize the education system and ensure that the wealthy get the benefit of public money.
Now, what is the fallout... well, our good old Canadian government is now in the process of charging and prosecuting 63 Canadian citizens for refusing to participate in the 2006 Census on grounds that this information is being collected by Lockheed Martin, brought into the United States and now fully subject to the Patriot Act. If this doesn't curl your hair, it should. It continues to rapid and increasing pace in which Canada is being gobbled up by the despots to the South.
Just today, April 21st Stephen Harper, George Bush and Mexican President Calderon are meeting for the fourth leaders' summit of the Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP), the biggest threat to Canadian sovereignty that exists today, unless you count Stephen Harper, George Bush, Dick Cheney in there too.
One cannot fail to see the links to what is happening here in BC as well. As scandal after scandal unfolds: ICBC, Ministry of Children & Family Development, Ministry of Employment & Income Assistance contracts to American corporations to the Legislature Raids & "sale" of BC Rail, the sale of our power & rivers. The corruption that seeps out of Victoria reeks of American influence and a diminished regard for our citizens. Gordon Campbell spends a fair amount of time in the States & meeting with American leaders around the world. All of these public policy decisions are not a coincidence. People like Campbell don't do anything for anyone without having a BIG reward somewhere, where is his? It's time for a vote of non-confidence in Gordon Campbell and the BC Liberal government. If they aren't out soon, like the Conservatives, there will be nothing left to call home, whether that is Canada, or BC.
See Murray Dobbin's excellent latest article, Americanize Me? No Thanks in the Tyee for more about it all.
Here's a little excerpt:
Most recently it was a secretively signed agreement called the Civil Assistance Plan, which "allows the military from one nation to support the armed forces of the other nation during a civil emergency."
Good government. There is much, much more dire data about where the U.S. ranks on many social and economic scales. The cause of most of it is the catastrophic decline in democratic governance, the virtual abandonment of any serious social or regulatory role for government under George Bush and the Republicans. At no other time in the past century has the U.S. had people in power so dedicated to the dismantling of democratic governance.
When governance is hijacked by the likes of Bush and Brown there is only one possible outcome: massive, intractable, endemic corruption permeates the whole system. Stories following up on the Katrina catastrophe show that nothing has changed. Billions have been wasted, stolen or remain unaccounted for. The tragedy has been used as a useful crisis to dispossess thousands of New Orleans' poorest residents, privatize the education system and ensure that the wealthy get the benefit of public money.
Canadian Health News
Canadian Government & the Marijuana Game
Health Canada is on the hot seat over its’ handling of medical marijuana, which became available in 2003. It’s reported that individuals with medical prescriptions owe over $500,000 for marijuana received. There are 739 registered users in Canada, who have a variety of health issues, including cancer, Hepatitis C and HIV/AIDS. Health Canada provides licenses to certified users, who've been prescribed cannabis by their doctors, and allows them to grow their own, have someone grow it for them, or buy directly from the department. Although people can receive prescriptions from their doctors, and receive the drug from the grower of choice of the Canadian government, Prairie Plant Systems Inc. (based in Flin Flon, Manitoba) marijuana is not covered under medical services plans as a prescription drug.
Health Canada is reported to have paid their producer over $10 million since 2003 and said it plans to stop providing licenses to individuals who can grow their own medicine at home, thus forcing all medical users to buy their supplies directly from the government. Recipients, who are often impoverished, unable to work, on disability and cannot afford to pay the high price charged by Health Canada, which apparently applies a 1500 percent mark up on the product provided by Prairie Plant Systems. Complaints have also been made about the quality of the product grown by the government’s grower, with THC content at 12.5, which is below street sold marijuana. Many of these ill citizens have had to return to the black market for their medication, while Health Canada turns their names over to collection agencies. Some are able to obtain medical marijuana products from Compassion Clubs with the support of their doctors.
Health Canada is on the hot seat over its’ handling of medical marijuana, which became available in 2003. It’s reported that individuals with medical prescriptions owe over $500,000 for marijuana received. There are 739 registered users in Canada, who have a variety of health issues, including cancer, Hepatitis C and HIV/AIDS. Health Canada provides licenses to certified users, who've been prescribed cannabis by their doctors, and allows them to grow their own, have someone grow it for them, or buy directly from the department. Although people can receive prescriptions from their doctors, and receive the drug from the grower of choice of the Canadian government, Prairie Plant Systems Inc. (based in Flin Flon, Manitoba) marijuana is not covered under medical services plans as a prescription drug.
Health Canada is reported to have paid their producer over $10 million since 2003 and said it plans to stop providing licenses to individuals who can grow their own medicine at home, thus forcing all medical users to buy their supplies directly from the government. Recipients, who are often impoverished, unable to work, on disability and cannot afford to pay the high price charged by Health Canada, which apparently applies a 1500 percent mark up on the product provided by Prairie Plant Systems. Complaints have also been made about the quality of the product grown by the government’s grower, with THC content at 12.5, which is below street sold marijuana. Many of these ill citizens have had to return to the black market for their medication, while Health Canada turns their names over to collection agencies. Some are able to obtain medical marijuana products from Compassion Clubs with the support of their doctors.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Whistleblowers at ICBC: Can you say 'Tip of the Iceberg'
ICBC concerns never reached the top: report
Management unaware of repaired vehicles sold without disclosing history
Jeff Rud and Lindsay Kines, Times Colonist
Published: Thursday, April 17, 2008
Concerns about activities at an ICBC research and training facility in Burnaby were raised as far back as 2006 but never reached the company's CEO or senior management, according to a document tabled yesterday in the legislature.
A letter from ICBC chairman T. Richard Turner to Solicitor General John van Dongen, tabled yesterday, reveals that "concerns about activities at the Research and Training facility were raised on three separate occasions in 2006 and 2007.
"At the time the issues were identified, they were not escalated to the CEO or to a member of the executive committee," Turner wrote.
The six-page letter provides a summary of the investigation into the ICBC centre, including a detailed chronology. That investigation began after employees presented concerns about the facility's operations to an ICBC Special Investigations Unit officer.
**
Hmmm, I have to call BS on this one. Several managers bought cars and the CEO has hightailed it out at the first hint of problems. The investigators might want to find out if the employees who “presented concerns” are still employed by ICBC, or whether they later ended up receiving disciplinary letters for trumped up charges, were harassed, were fired, or quit. It’s kind of funny, managers and others who cheat and swindle to get sweet deals on cars don’t like it when peon’s start yapping about things like that. And, CEO’s and executives don’t like peons who blow the whistle on their “superiors” either. Maybe the RCMP should go back, hmm, like 7 years.
One of the key things the BC Liberals did was get rid of the CEO of ICBC, Nick Geer
& install their own guy, Paul Taylor. A post from another blog:
#11. In 2004, Nick Geer, former President and CEO, left
ICBC. Supposedly a mutual thing. Uh huh. Why on earth
would we want this guy in charge of our public car insurance?
He only turned ICBC around and had it in the black. He also
thought the citizens of B.C. should be protected by low rates
for car insurance, good service and coverage. He was also
skeptical about a little thing called privatization. Man, we
wouldn’t want to get used to that kind of fore thought in
our government officials, it gets in the way of the money to
be made by the Liberals buddies, the private insurance companies.
Hmm, wonder how much it cost them to get rid of Geer?
***
RCMP to start ICBC investigation
CBC News. April 17th 2008.
George Hancock, spokesperson of the United Auto Trades Association, a group representing auto body and glass shops in B.C., hopes the RCMP investigation will have a broad scope.
"We believe that some of the relationships that ICBC enjoys with organizations in the industry are a little bit too cozy and probably not in the best interests of the people of British Columbia."
Management unaware of repaired vehicles sold without disclosing history
Jeff Rud and Lindsay Kines, Times Colonist
Published: Thursday, April 17, 2008
Concerns about activities at an ICBC research and training facility in Burnaby were raised as far back as 2006 but never reached the company's CEO or senior management, according to a document tabled yesterday in the legislature.
A letter from ICBC chairman T. Richard Turner to Solicitor General John van Dongen, tabled yesterday, reveals that "concerns about activities at the Research and Training facility were raised on three separate occasions in 2006 and 2007.
"At the time the issues were identified, they were not escalated to the CEO or to a member of the executive committee," Turner wrote.
The six-page letter provides a summary of the investigation into the ICBC centre, including a detailed chronology. That investigation began after employees presented concerns about the facility's operations to an ICBC Special Investigations Unit officer.
**
Hmmm, I have to call BS on this one. Several managers bought cars and the CEO has hightailed it out at the first hint of problems. The investigators might want to find out if the employees who “presented concerns” are still employed by ICBC, or whether they later ended up receiving disciplinary letters for trumped up charges, were harassed, were fired, or quit. It’s kind of funny, managers and others who cheat and swindle to get sweet deals on cars don’t like it when peon’s start yapping about things like that. And, CEO’s and executives don’t like peons who blow the whistle on their “superiors” either. Maybe the RCMP should go back, hmm, like 7 years.
One of the key things the BC Liberals did was get rid of the CEO of ICBC, Nick Geer
& install their own guy, Paul Taylor. A post from another blog:
#11. In 2004, Nick Geer, former President and CEO, left
ICBC. Supposedly a mutual thing. Uh huh. Why on earth
would we want this guy in charge of our public car insurance?
He only turned ICBC around and had it in the black. He also
thought the citizens of B.C. should be protected by low rates
for car insurance, good service and coverage. He was also
skeptical about a little thing called privatization. Man, we
wouldn’t want to get used to that kind of fore thought in
our government officials, it gets in the way of the money to
be made by the Liberals buddies, the private insurance companies.
Hmm, wonder how much it cost them to get rid of Geer?
***
RCMP to start ICBC investigation
CBC News. April 17th 2008.
George Hancock, spokesperson of the United Auto Trades Association, a group representing auto body and glass shops in B.C., hopes the RCMP investigation will have a broad scope.
"We believe that some of the relationships that ICBC enjoys with organizations in the industry are a little bit too cozy and probably not in the best interests of the people of British Columbia."
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Trial by Media: When Speculation Turns to Libel
Lots of Support for Merritt Mom
CKNW. 4/15/2008
Friends in Merritt say support is strong for a local woman grieving the loss of her three young children.
The hunt for the killer continues.
The prime suspect is their father, 40 year old Allan Schoenborn.
Friends who set up a trust fund at a Merritt bank for Darcie Clark won't say how much money has been collected.
But they say donations have been coming in from all over BC, and from places like Winnipeg and Yellowknife as well.
**********
Unless I missed a whole lot, such as the completed RCMP investigation, charge assessment, Crown recommending criminal charges, a trial and conviction, media outlets have vastly overstepped themselves & committed libel by openly publishing and broadcasting that Mr. Schoenborn is a “killer.”
It is a hallmark of our criminal justice system and a defendant’s rights (once charged by the Crown) that they are innocent until proven and judged guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. In this case, Mr. Schoenborn is known to suffer from mental illness, it is not a fait accomplait that he actually committed the crime, that he is guilty of anything, or that he would meet the test for being criminally responsible, if he were to have committed any crime. Things are very often not what they seem and because of the shocking and horrifying nature of the deaths of these children, it is easy to understand the thirst for justice, but it cannot include libelous actions on the part of anyone.
Ask yourself, what would you feel like if you were accused, tarred & feathered & found guilty in the court of public opinion and the media before your side could ever be learned. What if you weren't guilty? What if someone else did this to your children? One only has to pick up true crime stories to see that sometimes the most unexpected people do the most unexpected things. Facts and evidence are what count and what matter.
As we can see from the statements made by law enforcement officials below, the media has done a disservice from the start and misinformation has been published, distributed and transmitted about several facts of importance in this case from the very beginning. That should concern everyone, because someday it could be you, or someone you love. How many people's lives have been torn apart by false accusations of abuse? Many.
***
Suspected killer of 3 children in B.C. has violent past: documents
RCMP warn suspect could have reached Alberta already
Last Updated: Monday, April 7, 2008 | CBC News
Police on Monday said earlier media reports that Schoenborn had been found dead in the trailer home along with his three children were wrong.
**
Police release new photos of father of slain Merritt children
Last Updated: Friday, April 11, 2008 |CBC News
Excerpt:
Timeline still uncertain
It's still not clear how long the children were dead before their mother called police.
Linteau said the "time and cause of death" is not something police are willing to release at this time.
"We've never actually released that information. The only thing we have been saying is that contrary to some media reports that she was only gone a few minutes or 10 minutes, we can confirm that information is false," said Linteau.
Linteau did confirm the children's mother, Darcie Clarke, left the home, and Allan Schoenborn was in the trailer alone with his children for a period of time before police were called on Sunday.
Linteau would not reveal how long the children had been dead before their bodies were found, but at a news conference Thursday, RCMP Asst. Commissioner Al Macintyre said it was "considerably earlier" than was reported by Clarke just after 2 p.m. Sunday when Merritt RCMP were called to the mobile home.
At the same news conference, Macintyre would not comment on whether Clarke has been ruled out as a suspect, but later said, "Personally in my heart, I don't see the mother as a suspect. I could be proven wrong afterwards because something else will have been learned or determined."
Police said Clarke is in a safe location "undergoing care," but they will not reveal if she is still at the local hospital or somewhere else, or if she is under police guard.
CKNW. 4/15/2008
Friends in Merritt say support is strong for a local woman grieving the loss of her three young children.
The hunt for the killer continues.
The prime suspect is their father, 40 year old Allan Schoenborn.
Friends who set up a trust fund at a Merritt bank for Darcie Clark won't say how much money has been collected.
But they say donations have been coming in from all over BC, and from places like Winnipeg and Yellowknife as well.
**********
Unless I missed a whole lot, such as the completed RCMP investigation, charge assessment, Crown recommending criminal charges, a trial and conviction, media outlets have vastly overstepped themselves & committed libel by openly publishing and broadcasting that Mr. Schoenborn is a “killer.”
It is a hallmark of our criminal justice system and a defendant’s rights (once charged by the Crown) that they are innocent until proven and judged guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. In this case, Mr. Schoenborn is known to suffer from mental illness, it is not a fait accomplait that he actually committed the crime, that he is guilty of anything, or that he would meet the test for being criminally responsible, if he were to have committed any crime. Things are very often not what they seem and because of the shocking and horrifying nature of the deaths of these children, it is easy to understand the thirst for justice, but it cannot include libelous actions on the part of anyone.
Ask yourself, what would you feel like if you were accused, tarred & feathered & found guilty in the court of public opinion and the media before your side could ever be learned. What if you weren't guilty? What if someone else did this to your children? One only has to pick up true crime stories to see that sometimes the most unexpected people do the most unexpected things. Facts and evidence are what count and what matter.
As we can see from the statements made by law enforcement officials below, the media has done a disservice from the start and misinformation has been published, distributed and transmitted about several facts of importance in this case from the very beginning. That should concern everyone, because someday it could be you, or someone you love. How many people's lives have been torn apart by false accusations of abuse? Many.
***
Suspected killer of 3 children in B.C. has violent past: documents
RCMP warn suspect could have reached Alberta already
Last Updated: Monday, April 7, 2008 | CBC News
Police on Monday said earlier media reports that Schoenborn had been found dead in the trailer home along with his three children were wrong.
**
Police release new photos of father of slain Merritt children
Last Updated: Friday, April 11, 2008 |CBC News
Excerpt:
Timeline still uncertain
It's still not clear how long the children were dead before their mother called police.
Linteau said the "time and cause of death" is not something police are willing to release at this time.
"We've never actually released that information. The only thing we have been saying is that contrary to some media reports that she was only gone a few minutes or 10 minutes, we can confirm that information is false," said Linteau.
Linteau did confirm the children's mother, Darcie Clarke, left the home, and Allan Schoenborn was in the trailer alone with his children for a period of time before police were called on Sunday.
Linteau would not reveal how long the children had been dead before their bodies were found, but at a news conference Thursday, RCMP Asst. Commissioner Al Macintyre said it was "considerably earlier" than was reported by Clarke just after 2 p.m. Sunday when Merritt RCMP were called to the mobile home.
At the same news conference, Macintyre would not comment on whether Clarke has been ruled out as a suspect, but later said, "Personally in my heart, I don't see the mother as a suspect. I could be proven wrong afterwards because something else will have been learned or determined."
Police said Clarke is in a safe location "undergoing care," but they will not reveal if she is still at the local hospital or somewhere else, or if she is under police guard.
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