Can any or our Canadian posters give me a clue about what is happening in Canada? It seems like the government might be collapsing under the weight of some advertising kickback scheme. I have seen not a single word in the MSM. There is apparently some kind of ban on publication of the news up in Canada.
That is about the lump sum of my “knowledge” about the situation. This is being covered about as well as the Eason Jordan story. Maybe after the government collapses, we will actually hear something.
Are you guys ever going to consider getting something like a First Amendment up there?
Are you talking about the situation where they banned that one blogger? That’s about all I know about that.
EDIT:
I wrote the other day about the absurdity of Canada trying to punish its media for linking to an American blogger who ignored the country’s ban on reporting on a corruption probe. Republican blogger Patrick Ruffini (http://www.patrickruffini.com/archives/2005/04/flee_to_canada.php) uses this to slap the left:
"One of the aspects of the Canadian Adscam scandal and its Orwellian ‘publication ban’ that will most assuredly be overlooked are its implications for all those liberals looking to flee to Canada after last November’s election, or at least looking wistfully in that direction. Remember that map divvying up territory between Canada and Jesusland? Well, compare the two, and Jesusland is looking more and more like the haven of free expression and civil liberties.
“The ‘publication ban’ only underscores the fact that Canada and Western Europe are much, much, much more repressive in terms of civil liberties and criminal justice than the ACLU’s vision of what a John Ashcroft-run America would look like. You wonder why bloggers get so worked up about even the most minor threats to free speech? Our worst nightmare is already fully functional in Canada, where incorrect political speech by bloggers is already a criminal offense.”
I am really interested in the underlying adscam story. I am obviously peripherally interested in the censorship that doesn’t allow me to follow or understand the story.
From what I can tell, I could wake up tomorrow with the government of our next door neighbor having collapsed without my seeing a single story about the cause. I am guessing this whole thing is worse than Watergate, but my only information source is a couple of blogs. I am not getting all sides of the story. I am not happy.
As usual, the MSM misses the story. If Tom Delay passes gas or Cardinal Law says mass though, I am sure we will hear all about it.
There is a public inquiry going on into what is being called the “sponsership scandal”. Several years ago the liberal goverment put millions of dollars into an advertising campaign. The campaign was supposed to sell Canada and federalism to Quebec. This happened shortly after the last referendum in Quebec where the federalists won by only a very small majority (that is, Quebec almost voted to separate from Canada). I don’t know the details, but several hundred million dollars was spent on this and the vast majority of it was squandered. Liberal buddies in Quebec got “jobs” that paid them very well for doing nothing and other such funneling of money like that. All of the details are just coming out now.
Needless to say, the government of the day (which is still liberal) is getting slammed for this.
If you search for “Gomery Inquiry” or “Sponsership Inquiry” on cbc.ca or globeandmail.com you will get more details. I haven’t followed it really closely, so I hope I got it right above.
They weren’t going to allow publication of the latest testimony since the lawyers were arguing that it would prevent the person from having a fair trial. The judge (Justice Gomery) disagreed and is allowing the public to hear it all. You should be able to read up on everything, including the actual statements made, if you search enough.
Am I missing something, or shouldn’t this be a major, top of the fold in the NY Times story? On the CNN front page today I see Bush’s iPod selections, test tube gorilla news, a Maria Carey psychology update, confirmation that old cellphones were really big and the latest on the Miss USA pagent, but nothing about the possible upcoming collapse of the Canadian government.
I did read a story today about how respect for the news media has collapsed over the last 15 years though. I wonder why that has happened.
Basically, Jean Chretien (this is second major money scandal he’s involved in) and his buddies were throwing money around and a couple of Quebec ad firms were catching most of it and throwing some of it back.
The publication ban was issued for teh testimony of one of the ad firm exec, but it got lifted quickly as the testimony got leaked. The reason for the ban was that it might need to be used in a real trial and if it leaked out now it could taint the jury pool. Or something like that.
There’s a possibility that spring election could be called, as the current gov. is minority gov and needs opposition’s help.
Keep in mind that, while democratic, Canada has been ruled by two groups for the last 100+ years. Toronto money and Montreal money, with Montreal money having longer tradition and better established channels of corruption.
To succeed in politics up here is to have solid business connections and belong to the right clubs even more than it is in USA.
I agree, but we in Canada are used to our news being a non-item for Americans. We rate right up there with Norway as far as media coverage is concerned (no offense to Norwegians). The thing that’s interesting here is that this is hot stuff and the American media is still not picking it up. You can’t get more scandalous than what’s coming out in this testimony. It absolutely turns my stomach, especially when the government then says it doesn’t have any more money for health or education.
I guess I don’t understand Canada very well. The terrible or non existent press coverage doesn’t help.
I grant that the bribes may be mundane stuff, but they seem to reach right to the top of government. The implications must be fascinating, but I don’t hear any intelligent commentary.
Will Canadians tolerate this kind of behavior like, say, the French do? I really don’t have a clue.
especially when the government then says it doesn’t have any more money for health or education.
Dawn
I wonder is that means that the Senator from Minnesota and future Pres. Candidate Hillary Clinton will shut up about her stupid plan for Socialized Health Care in the US…think nice pretty things…blue skies, cute bunnies and kitties…and to hell with the consequences…
If you want to read up on this, you need to read the Canadian media. There is quite a bit of coverage here on this inquiry and also loads of intelligent commentary. You’re just not going to get it at NY Times or CNN.
The liberals are already sinking fast in the polls. I think Canadians are outraged about this. The liberals have a minority government so it will be interesting to see how long they can stay in power before an election is called. The problem is that there isn’t a viable alternative for many people. The Conservatives are a mess right now since they have recently merged 2 “conservative” parties into one. The current leader of that party is not someone I would want as prime minister. But, how can anyone continue to vote liberal after hearing the details of this inquiry?
I have recently become a Canadian citizen (was sworn in yesterday), so I’ll actually get to vote in the next election. It’s not going to be an easy choice.
Yes, I did leave the US. I came here to go to school (University of Toronto) and ended up marrying a Canadian. Most of my family is still in the US, so I travel back and forth quite a bit. I have been a permanent resident here for almost 20 years. My husband and I have decided that Toronto is a better place to raise children than the US, so this is where I’ll be living for many years to come. I figured I should get my Canadian citizenship in order to vote here. I have not given up my US citizenship and I would never do that, but this is where I have decided to live and it makes sense to be a citizen here.
Health care?
Vast majority of Canadians are willing to pay more taxes if that means more health care for everyone.
I want universal health care and I’m willing to pay up to 50% of my salary if I can be guaranteed that nobody in my country will go without proper medical care.
It’s my community and if those who can afford to don’t take care of it, why would those that cannot?
ajfranke, how do most Canadians feel?
To quote a friend of mine: “Who cares? Of course they were stealing, they’re politicians. I just care about my next mortgage payment.”
Canadians in general are very slow to get upset over anything, and when they do get upset they’re too polite to do anything about it other than voting for the other party in the next elections. It’s kind of sad.
I read a while back that a Canadian “author” wrote a book basically postulating that the Holocaust never happened, and he was imprisoned for “hate speech.” While I would disagree with his conclusions, I support his right to publish his ideas without going to jail for it, regardless of whether it offends someone’s sensibilities.
I really don’t know if this report was true, but if so, what does that say about freedom of speech in Canada? I am afraid the US is heading down this path, too.
50% - you are insane. You may as well consider the damn Govt your wife for that. I bitch and moan about being in the 35 some odd percent level…I would move before paying 50%. Especially for what I know is the second rate heath care you tend to get in Canada (sorry, I know that for a fact - not yoru fault, just that I know that the health care in most of Canada sucks - so, they come to America and pay cash) I love to hear my many Physicians who are my clients talk about Canadian health care and people dieing of appendicitis.
I would hardly say most. Sure there are many remote locations where this happens, however, our standards are pretty much the same as yours. Next thing you will be saying is that our prescription drugs aren’t as good either?
“Especially for what I know is the second rate heath care you tend to get in Canada”
This is just not true. I have seen and lived on both sides. There are positives and negatives about both systems, but to call the health care we get here second rate is just incorrect.
Our income tax rates go up to slightly more than 50%, but that is only for the upper portion of your income. Once all the different levels are factored in, I paid approximately 37% in 2003 (haven’t done last year’s taxes yet).
We also pay 15% sales tax. 8% provincial sales tax on almost all products and 7% federal GST on almost all products and services. It sucks paying GST on auto insurance and hair cuts! I don’t really mind paying the tax if I know it’s being spent properly. But, this sponsership scandal has me fuming.