Hockey is a business

Hockey is part of Canadian Culture. It is a game that was started in Canada and has become a symbol of Canadian Identity. Canadians play, watch, and volunteer for hockey. Hockey has brought out the best in Canadians by uniting Canadians and it also has brought out the worst in Canadians.

The NHL is responsible for hockey's biggest scars. A riot started in Montreal after the Rocket was suspended. An entire nation realized that Canadians couldn't even keep their greatest stars when Wayne Gretzky was traded. It worsened when NHL teams like Winnipeg and Quebec left Canada too.

The new NHL cap was suppossed to create an equal playing ground. But in the end it's still a business. Players claim loyalty to their team but some leave winning teams for more money. Teams claim they will be loyal to their players if they sign for reduced salaries but the moment the players start underachieving they drop them. Today was one of the NHL's darkest days. The Edmonton Oilers lost star players like Gretzky, Messier, and Weight because they couldn't afford them.

Today the Oilers did have the money to re-sign Ryan Smyth but refused because they felt he wasn't worth $5 million a year over 5 years. A player who originally was drafted over 10 years ago gave his all for the Edmonton Oilers. His uncompromising work ethic brought the Oilers into the playoffs and in the post-lockout NHL the Oilers were one game short of winning the Stanley Cup. But what did the Oilers reward him with? A one-way ticket to a team that has most of its money locked up in 2 over-rated players. With moves like this players should not be expected to show any loyalty to their team.

US Salmonella-infested peanut butter still entering Canada

Hundreds of Americans have been infected by a salmonella outbreak through the consumption of peanut butter. China and South Korea have already banned 2 US brands of American peanut butter. But Canada is still allowing unsafe american food products into our country.

When Canada found one Mad Cow the US banned out Canadian beef. There was no human cases linked to that one cow but the US took precautionary measures. But when hundreds of Americans are sick because of unsanitiary peanut butter- our border remains open.

Stephane Dion Must Sell Himself

The Liberals knew the weaknesses of all the 4 candiates running for the leadership. Ignatieff was a rookie politican, Rae was a very unpopular Premier, and Kennedy has poor french. Dion's English is weak and his charisma is even worse. The Liberals are not in power and may not be able to move up in the polls for choosing the safe option at the convention. Dion was the most experienced cabinet minister running for the leadership and his career has been scandal free.

But he doesn't have the ability to win over the masses. With Martin gone how did Stephen Harper end up being the more charismatic leader? In a recent poll Dion has fallen to third. In the era of 5 second media clips, Dion must get noticed or risk being side-lined to a devastating loss and being forced out as Liberal Leader.

Harper has a loyal base and is moving to the centre to attract more voters. Most Liberals foolishly think Canadians will flee to the Liberal party again after a short minority government. But if they can't sell their own leader, Canadians will keep the status quo.

Climate Change Denialists Have No Scientific Credibility

"The era of procrastination, of half-measures, of soothing and baffling expedients, of delays, is coming to a close. In its place, we are entering a period of consequence."
- Winston Churchill

The Environmental is now front and centre and dithering over the severity of the problem must end now. The recent IPCC report has raised alarm bells throughout the world. The report stated it is "very likely" climate change is caused by human interference in the environment. Heavy industry polluters have led the charge against the reality of global warming. With the crisis escalating and more detailed scientific evidence refuting the deniers, it is now time to act and drastically lower CO2 emissions.

Climate Change Deniers have repeatedly stated the reductions of CO2 emissions will result in massive job losses and the crippling of national economies. But with sea levels rising by 28-43 cm, how many cities will be flooded in the next century? What will the economic cost of that be? What will the economic cost be of melting glaciers closing ski resorts and the crippling of Northern Hemisphere tourist destinations? Global Warming is also connected to the increase of diseases and droughts that will devastate fragile southern hemisphere economies.

In Canada, the Green party is on the rise and the recent election of Stephane Dion as the new liberal leader have shown a quantum shift in Canadian politics. The environment is now the biggest political issue and parties from all political perspectives must create policies to lessen the effects of climate change and stop denying reality.