Green Shift Debate New Free Trade Debate

Before Stephane Dion introduced the carbon tax polls showed the majority of Canadians supported it. But it's a huge risk for the Liberals. Dion's acceptance of a carbon tax is the biggest risk by a major Canadian political leader since Mulroney's embrace of Free Trade. It's a wise move by Dion who needed something bold to reassert his leadership and in the next election the major issue will be fought on his idea.

The majority of Canadians believe high carbon dioxide emissions are a problem. It's makes sense to tax carbon as sin tax. We tax smoking, speeding, and alcohol. Reducing income tax and shifting taxation against excessive carbon consumption is a great idea in principle.

Canadians support carbon reduction but if the implementation of a carbon tax is flawed the Liberals will lose. The biggest drawback to the carbon tax is the reality that poorer Canadians will be punished more severely. That is why the NDP doesn't support a carbon tax and why the Liberals plan on offering more tax credits to lower income Canadians. The other drawback to a carbon tax is the timing. Right now oil is already at record prices and Canadians are making adjustments to lower consumption. Conservatives predictively are comparing it to the National Energy Program in order to sweep Alberta again, and Canadians across Canada who value lower gas prices rather than the environment will not be persuaded by the liberals argument. But for Canadians who have blamed the last 3 governments for just talking about the environment and offering very little solutions against climate change. Finally they will feel motivated to vote for the Liberals.

Climate Change needs to be combated now. The Conservatives need to stop avoiding any serious action for decades. The NDP must stop cherry picking which industries will be exempt from carbon taxes (eg. Ontario auto industry). The Liberals have usually been the nation's most cautious party but the sponsorship scandal forced them into opposition and if they want a serious shot at government they must be bold.

HNIC Theme is more than a just song

CBC didn't pay for enough for their own theme song on Hockey Night in Canada and lost it hours after the deadline to CTV who attempted to portray themselves of saviours of Canada's other national anthem. $3 Million is an outrageous amount to pay for a theme song whose rights should have been purchased by the CBC decades years ago. The tune is more than just a TV themeas shown national outrage against all parties involved in this dispute. The song is part of Canada's heritage and it is doubtful the song will have the same feel on TSN broadcasts. The bigger issue is this the beginning of the end of Canada's national broadcaster or just a poor decision that will have no long standing effects? If CBC wants to rebound they should use Stompin Tom Conners 'Hockey Song' as the basis for a new theme song rather than a pathetic national contest.

Red Wings not Penguins-more likely dynasty

The Red Wings were the more experienced team and with help from a very stingy defense the Red Wings easily defeated the Pittsburgh. Penguins. The series lasted 6 games because of Marc-Andre Fleury's extraordinary play and the Penguins talent was able to breakthrough the Wings defense sometimes.

The Penguins are a young team with plenty of talent but due to the salary cap they will only be able to keep a few core players and take their chances on inexperienced or inconsistent talent to fill the voids.

On the other hand the Red Wings who already are more experienced are in better shape. Most of their players are tied to long-term contracts and their starter Chris Osgood is only making $800, 000. The Wings have the ability to resign Brad Stuart who was supposed to be just a rental and any players they lose will be by choice-not financial issues.

Crosby, Malkin, Fleury, Whitney, and Staal's salaries will keep rising. If the Penguins decide to keep all 5 players they will have very little salary room to maneuver. This season if the Penguins decide to sign Marian Hossa even at a reduced rate they still won't be able to resign Ryan Malone and Brooks Orpik. The Penguins could easily be the league's next dynasty like the Oilers of 1980's but the salary cap will force the Penguins to give up their talent. The Penguins will have to decide if they want to keep their star players or surrender a star player or allow several role players to leave.

US Election 2008 Ballot: McCain vs Obama

The democratic race is over. Barack Obama has officially won it. There was no voting irregularities, no hanging chads uncounted, and partisan appointed judges didn't interfere in the process. Obama was the underdog and he secured the nomination cleanly. Hillary should have ended the race weeks ago when it came clear it was impossible to catch up Obama. Any effort to continue this meaningless fight against the winner is selfish and disgraceful to the nation who claims to be the world's leading democratic example.

Donuts and Bikers

This past week US hard right-wing commentators attacked Rachel Ray and Dunkin Donuts for wearing an Arab looking scarf. No other nation on Earth would have even taken this debate seriously. Why is there no distinction between a military tactic and entire ethnicity. No word yet if Dunkin Donuts will stop selling another arab/terrorist symbol that originated in the Muslim world- coffee.

The Canadian example looked 2 weeks ago to be just as ridiculous. A foreign affairs minister should not be restricted who he can spend time with as long he is not divulging state secrets and seeking counsel from unscrupulous figures. The more we know about Julie Couillard, the more incumbent our government looks. Bernier has left secret documents at a former biker girlfriend's residence and brought her to state dinners. This incident is an embarrassment for Canada. Privy Councilors need to have more vigorous security checks and people who they are closely associated with need to be vetted also because people who are associated with organized crime should not given access to secure governments that are off limits to ordinary Canadians.