When it was Conrad Black buying up the media, the usual suspects on the left were throwing a hissy-fit trying to get the government to regulate him out of existance.
Ironic that it was US Democrat that finally did it...
This explains two salient facts, viz., the deliberate leftward tack of the Globe over the past few years to position itself for effective, friendly takeover, and the more recent upward push on dividend-paying BCE stock by Ralph Goodale (the income-trust affair), which fact resulted in the enrichment (read payoff) of the sellers at the expense of the investing public. In the end, the LPC is the net beneficiary.
Posted at 2005-12-02 11:04:48 [PermaLink]The Teachers' Pension Plan also owns part of the SUN, doesn't it?
It seems all the information sources in Canada are going to be owned by a few select people/groups.
...but then again, don't pay any attention to all these tedious details. We all know that the JOOOOOOOOOS control all the papers anyhow. SO who cares, right?
Posted at 2005-12-02 11:26:28 [PermaLink]Buying newspapers makes about as much financial sense now as buying buggy whip factories did in the early twentieth century.
Posted at 2005-12-02 12:25:11 [PermaLink]This is off-topic, well, mostly.
I couldn't find your email..
I have a post on my blog about the Green Party being shutout of the Debates. I think this is a travesty, especially considering they're being funded with public money.
SO... I'm proposing a call to action for the blogging community across the political spectrum. I'm about to post it on my blog at:
[External Link]
I just wanted to see if you would support this.
Please send me an email I'm trying to get on this ASAP.
Thanks!
Chris
Chris:
Re: Green Party eligibility in the debates
The GP did not finish even second in any of the ridings last election.
Official party status should be the threshold - nothing less. And yes, I know that that would have meant Preston Manning would not have been eligible in his first debate. He shouldn't have been.
Regarding the debates, why not have one debate that includes the Green party along with the CPC, Libs, NDP & BQ.
And then the following night have a one-on-one debate between Harper & Martin, the only two guys that have a shot at forming a government.
I know which one I'd rather watch.
"Official party status should be the threshold - nothing less. And yes, I know that that would have meant Preston Manning would not have been eligible in his first debate. He shouldn't have been."
That is an incredibly high standard for any party. The Green Party is funded by taxpayers, they should, at the very least, be shown who they're funding so that if it really is worthless, they can register their protest by *not* allowing the Green party to cross the 2% threshold.
"The GP did not finish even second in any of the ridings last election. "
And where did the Bloc Quebecois finish in Vancouver-Burrard?
Before we go all googoo eyes over the poor little green party, I think you should read this.
[External Link]
Yep, the US GP has asked all its member groups (including the Canadian GP) to divest...where else but from Israel of course (because of the way Palestinians show their respect of the environment but blowing up Israeli consumers, I guess). What this has to do with the GP's mandate (especially when Israel is one of the most advanced country in terms of slow irrigation and land reclaiming, etc...), I don't know.
I intend to ask that question to the candidate in my riding...the one who ran last time was a complete tree-hugging imbecile. Not expecting much better this time!
I'm not asking you to vote for them. (I likely won't anyway)
I'm saying that they have reached a threshold where Canadian voters see them as an alternative place to cast their vote.
That is why they are publicly funded, just as the other 4 parties are.
As such, they should be represented in the Debates.. just as the other 4 parties are... so that when people vote for them, they do so in the most informed way possible.
Damian:
Who knows what the future of any pension fund will be but the Ontario Teachers Pension Plan is not run by a bunch of left wing nutters. It has consistently been one of the best run plans and is strictly focused on return on investment without any interference by the various teachers unions. I believe it may be the largest (and is certainly one of the largest) pension funds in Canada.
BTW - here is what a bunch of left wing loonies have to say about the OTPP:
"Greenpeace Canada and the Sierra Youth Coalition have combined to battle what they call unethical investment choices of the Ontario Teachers Pension Plan (OTPP)."
"Originating in 1989, the OTPP is Canada’s largest pension fund. All Ontario teachers are obligated to be members. With investments in tobacco companies, as well as Canada’s largest investor in coal, the OTPP has drawn fire from environmental groups. "
"In response, the OTPP defended its investments as a fiduciary duty. If it dropped its investments in tobacco and fossil fuels, it would lead to substantial financial losses, a spokesperson said."
“The type of screen that Greenpeace has suggested is a very wide-ranging screen and would indefinitely cost the teachers extra,” said Lee Fullerton, the OTPP’s communications director. “While teachers can bring in an ethical screen if they choose to do so, they have to accept the costs involved.”
"The OTPP has an estimated $68.2 billion in assets. It is responsible for the retirement income of 154,000 elementary and secondary teachers. The pension plan annually pays retired educators more than $3 billion."
[External Link]
the green party is a joke and will always be one. having them in the debate is as rational as having the marxist-lenninists, yogic flyers, rhinos, christian heritage, or canadian family parties be part of the debates.
hell, there are more ridings in rural canada where canadian family party has a shot (and its a decent amount) than ridings where the green party has a shot.
we already have two leftist buffoons in the debates (though one of them is a very good debater). we don't need to add a jim to the jack and gilles show.
if the greens prove me wrong and elect a few members, then invite to the next one, so help us all.
Did any of you watch the "debates" in the last election? I think every leader embarassed the country, acting like children speaking over each other. Just like the House of Commons. Any more than TWO debaters is just a lot of noise. You want to hear more debating? Have more debates.
Posted at 2005-12-03 20:23:15 [PermaLink]