"The Conservatives generally still feel like rubes. Their MPs went to Bible colleges or no colleges. They’re from out west but not from Vancouver. They are socially hard-right — anti-abortion and pro-religion — which doesn’t play well in the rest of Canada. The fact that Ottawa Inc. throws money at them doesn’t ease their status anxiety."
Full article: Fight the Power! Senator attacks the elite.
The bit about Britain is interesting, too! As an Eton scholar myself, I don't remember having to answer questions as silly as the ones Heather quotes... but that was 60 years ago!
Saturday, May 25, 2013
Thursday, May 23, 2013
Carol Goar: Ryerson allows aboriginal students to learn their own way (in The Toronto Star)
"Ryerson allows aboriginal students to learn their own way....
"... the course is delivered in intensive chunks in rented facilities on the campus of the University of Western Ontario in London [Ontario]. Students use their holidays or unpaid leave to attend, some coming from as far as James Bay. Each segment begins with a culture camp in a First Nations community, led by native elders. “We’re a social people and ceremony and clans are intrinsic to our life,” Brant [Suzanne Brant, academic vice-president of First Nations Technical Institute (FNTI)] said.
"Three-quarters of the professors are indigenous, including Lynne Lavallee, associate director of the Ryerson School of Social Work."
Full article: Ryerson allows aboriginal students to learn their own way.
"... the course is delivered in intensive chunks in rented facilities on the campus of the University of Western Ontario in London [Ontario]. Students use their holidays or unpaid leave to attend, some coming from as far as James Bay. Each segment begins with a culture camp in a First Nations community, led by native elders. “We’re a social people and ceremony and clans are intrinsic to our life,” Brant [Suzanne Brant, academic vice-president of First Nations Technical Institute (FNTI)] said.
"Three-quarters of the professors are indigenous, including Lynne Lavallee, associate director of the Ryerson School of Social Work."
Full article: Ryerson allows aboriginal students to learn their own way.
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Pat Steenberg: Canadian deficits are a distribution problem, not a wealth problem (in The Toronto Star)
"Each percentage point of GST is estimated to return around $5 billion, annually. In 2006, the government reduced the rate from 7 per cent to 6 per cent and, in 2008, from 6 per cent to 5 per cent. This translates into a revenue loss of $5 billion in each of 2007 and 2008, and $10 billion in each of 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012. So what did you and I get out of this $50 billion in “savings”?
"At roughly 33 million to 34 million, that meant every Canadian realized, on average, about $150 in GST savings in 2007 and 2008 — roughly 41 cents a day, or the HST levy on a $3 chocolate bar. Since 2009, those savings have increased to 82 cents a day, or the HST on two chocolate bars. ...
"... in 2011 Canada spent $24.7 billion on defence. That was an increase of about $8 billion since 2006 and more than $10 billion since the start of 2001. An annual expenditure of $24 billion amounts to an expenditure in excess of $700 million for each and every Canadian in a single 12-month period. ...
"Federal corporate income tax brought in $30 billion dollars in 2012. At the 2004 rate, that would have been $42 billion. Repatriating the lost corporate tax revenues from the dead money reserves, brings us $12 billion. Restoring the GST to 7 per cent (at a cost of 84 cents each, a day) — $10 billion. Rolling back defence spending to 2006 levels — $8 billion. Altogether, that gives us an annual revenue increase of $30 billion. Given that the deficit for 2012 is estimated to be $26 billion, we cannot only balance the books this year, but do so with $4 billion to spare.
"Yes, Virginia, we can afford what we need. And if we can afford it, so can our government."
Full article: Canadian deficits are a distribution problem, not a wealth problem (Toronto Star).
Pat Steenberg is a former executive director of KAIROS, and a former vice-president of the Canadian Council on Social Development.
"At roughly 33 million to 34 million, that meant every Canadian realized, on average, about $150 in GST savings in 2007 and 2008 — roughly 41 cents a day, or the HST levy on a $3 chocolate bar. Since 2009, those savings have increased to 82 cents a day, or the HST on two chocolate bars. ...
"... in 2011 Canada spent $24.7 billion on defence. That was an increase of about $8 billion since 2006 and more than $10 billion since the start of 2001. An annual expenditure of $24 billion amounts to an expenditure in excess of $700 million for each and every Canadian in a single 12-month period. ...
"Federal corporate income tax brought in $30 billion dollars in 2012. At the 2004 rate, that would have been $42 billion. Repatriating the lost corporate tax revenues from the dead money reserves, brings us $12 billion. Restoring the GST to 7 per cent (at a cost of 84 cents each, a day) — $10 billion. Rolling back defence spending to 2006 levels — $8 billion. Altogether, that gives us an annual revenue increase of $30 billion. Given that the deficit for 2012 is estimated to be $26 billion, we cannot only balance the books this year, but do so with $4 billion to spare.
"Yes, Virginia, we can afford what we need. And if we can afford it, so can our government."
Full article: Canadian deficits are a distribution problem, not a wealth problem (Toronto Star).
Pat Steenberg is a former executive director of KAIROS, and a former vice-president of the Canadian Council on Social Development.
Thursday, May 9, 2013
Garth Frazer: Punishing Bangladesh over factory disaster will only add to workers’ woes (in The Toronto Star)
"... not buying Bangladeshi apparel will not help the workers in Bangladesh. Buying from a company with stronger worker protections operating in Bangladesh will help Bangladeshi workers more than buying from a company with weak worker protections, but buying from any company operating in Bangladesh will help Bangladeshi workers more than not buying Bangladeshi clothing."
Full article: Punishing Bangladesh over factory disaster will only add to workers’ woes (in The Toronto Star).
Full article: Punishing Bangladesh over factory disaster will only add to workers’ woes (in The Toronto Star).
Haroon Siddiqui: Canada’s flawed national census (in TheToronto Star)
"The voluntary survey drew a response rate of only 68 per cent, not the 95 per cent and more that the mandatory form routinely elicited. Those who did not respond were most likely those about whom Ottawa most needs the information — aboriginals, low-income people, etc. — to fashion informed public policy. Perhaps Harper is happy not to know much about them.
"The latest data, released Wednesday, is good enough to capture national trends but it becomes less reliable as you drill it down. That’s why StatsCan has refused to release data from as many as 1,100 smaller communities — ironically, the bedrock of Conservative support in many parts of the country.
"More egregiously, the new information cannot be compared to previous census data. That’s why the agency is warning against comparing apples and oranges. This is nothing short of tragic. A treasure trove of past knowledge can no longer be put to continuous comparative use."
Full article: Canada’s flawed national census (in The Toronto Star).
"The latest data, released Wednesday, is good enough to capture national trends but it becomes less reliable as you drill it down. That’s why StatsCan has refused to release data from as many as 1,100 smaller communities — ironically, the bedrock of Conservative support in many parts of the country.
"More egregiously, the new information cannot be compared to previous census data. That’s why the agency is warning against comparing apples and oranges. This is nothing short of tragic. A treasure trove of past knowledge can no longer be put to continuous comparative use."
Full article: Canada’s flawed national census (in The Toronto Star).
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