Today's Speech From the Throne

There’s no doubt the last few weeks in Canadian politics have been fairly boring and uneventful, especially relative to the recent coalition fiasco. But things sure look like they’ll be picking up again, fast.

Today’s Speech From the Throne paved the way for what is sure to be an exciting week in Canadian politics. Although today’s speech was only 4 pages long compared to the controversial November 19th speech 16 pages in length, it was jam-packed and heavily focused on our sagging economy. The exact details of the stimulus plan will be announced tomorrow, but according to today’s speech, massive efforts will take place to boost the economy through deficit spending.

Here’s what we do know about the stimulus plan to be announced tomorrow thanks to leaks from the Conservatives:
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As reported by Michael Sheps, MPPs were summoned to Queen’s Park today in order to attempt to pass a bill that would immediately send York University strikers back to work and resume classes for 50,000 students. The strike will soon enter its 82nd day, and both York and CUPE 3903 union representatives are at a deadlock.

The back-to-work legislation could have ended the strike at York University, but the NDP’s eight members voted against early passage, arguing that an end to the 11-week-old labour dispute should not be forced by the government. They argued that the bargaining process should still be given a chance.

So what happens next?
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Ontario’s premier, Dalton McGuinty, will soon announce plans to legislate the CUPE 3903 workers – who have been striking since November - back to work. The government is hoping students will be back in class by next week.
MPPs have been called to Queen’s Park in order to pass a bill sending the strikers back to work and they will be meeting Sunday, January 24th, at 1:00 pm.
The mediator has stated that there is no hope of the two sides agreeing on anything and this appears like it is the only solution. Finally, the interests of the students will be considered and placed above those interests of the striking workers who have threatened the educations of 50,000 students with their strike.
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When I first heard about the Canadian do-not-call list a few months ago, I was ecstatic. Finally, I thought, I would be able to get rid of the endless, annoying and constant telemarketing calls that put me past the point of frustration. At the time, I was getting around 2-3 calls per day. It was unbearable. So without thinking twice, I signed up.

For those of you who don’t know, the Canadian do-not-call list allows Canadians to decide whether or not to receive telemarketing calls. Signing up takes about 5 minutes, and upon doing so, a large portion of telemarketers will be forbidden from calling you. If they do, they can face up to a $15,000 fine.

But it’s not all that rosy.
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Barack Obama made his first call to Canada today. He discussed many issues with Prime Minister Stephen Harper, which included the economy, the auto industry, energy, the environment, and Afghanistan, according to CBC.
What does this mean for Canada? Well, for starters, it is nice to know that Obama doesn’t just view Canada as the 51st state.
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Honourable Iggy thinks our PM is playing games again.  According to Lord Ig, Mr. Harper has no respect for Parliament because he’s letting a few choice budget details slip out beforehand. Before we all get our shorts in a knot, let’s not forget that this budget slippage scenario was I believe (correct me if I’m wrong) started by none other than … Paul Martin.

Mind you, Paul’s strategy was meant to gently stoke the peace loving natives and booming markets of our great Dominion – in times of plenty. Mr. Harper’s may well be designed to divide and conquer them. A measly $1-billion for displaced workers. Buzz Hargrove wanted that for the auto sector alone. Sure enough, he’s turning the air blue on the phone already.  But who is he talking to?  Is it smilin’ Jack and his blinkered bunch of budget busters. Or is it Iggy – Buzz’s future boss when he finally pursues his political career.

Meanwhile here in Quebec, Gilles Duceppe and Pauline Marois watch gleefully as their approval ratings climb – for doing diddly squat. And Premier Charest looks for another way to suck more dough out of the federal coffers to keep his propped up. God only knows where it all goes. Our provincial health care system is abysmal, our taxes outrageous, water pipes are bursting in air and we’re decades behind the R.O.C. on more than one portfolio.
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With the resumption of parliament only a few days away, most people are at the edge of their seats awaiting the new budget to be announced by Harper. To avoid a vote of confidence, we are expecting as much as a $30 Billion deficit, with spending on infrastructure, tax cuts, and employment insurance. Considering only a few months ago, Harper denied the allegations of Canada even being in a recession; this will be a major step towards fixing the economic hardships which we are all enduring. The idea is to put government spending towards the growth of the lower and middle classes to ensure consumer spending, thus kick-start the economy.

Thirty-billion dollars is a lot of money. What happens if this deficit occurs and no change is done to our economy? Worse, what happens if with this major spending and deficit, our country goes further into recession? Where is this money going to come from? Will Canada spiral further into debt? Could we face the ever growing fear of another depression?

While these questions linger on everyone’s mind, infrastructure plans need to be perfected, spending must occur, but at the same time futile transactions must stop; jobs need to be created. Money must be put into the hands of the consumers. Confidence in not only the economy, but also the corporations and companies that keep it running, must grow. How do we go about doing that? Economists from around the country are working around the clock to figure out plans to ensure the growth of our economy, but they are – in the end – trapped within a box of their own creation, unable to take a step away from it, to gain an outside perspective on things.
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I’ve been many things in this life, a bestselling author, a successful IT entrepreneur, a
consultant to the government, an alcoholic, a junkie, a mother and a criminal….

(I said I’ve been many things, I didn’t say they were all good.)

But today, I sit at the lowest point in my life.

(clean sober and ethical for 16yrs by the way)

This isn’t something I normally talk about openly.

My own family knows none of this…They wouldn’t help me and it would give them more reasons to dislike me, not that they need actual reasons. I’m just reluctant to offer them any voluntarily.

But for you, I’m flinging the doors wide open on these deeply private matters because I can offer you a view of our country that most voters never get to see…..how it looks from the bottom.
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Inauguration Night. I have two remote controls, a bag of Smartfood, a gallon of aspertame. Really psyched. I’m eagerly channel surfing the coverage, CNN, CBC, CPAC, CTV. I know what the game is. I am to fall. I should fall. I want to fall. Last summer I was so thrilled watching the Democratic Convention. I had tears watching Wrigley Stadium on November 4^th. But something slows me now. I’m a wallflower. I can’t join in with Will.I.am’s tears tonight. I’ve come down with something and I believe it’s a case of Post Republican Stress Disorder.

I call a girlfriend I know will be watching. “It came on all of a sudden,” I tell her. “I just don’t think I can make the jump. Eight years of Bush and I may be too cynical.” She tells me to give it up. Face it. The Obamas Might Be Cool. I know it but I just can’t do it.
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It is really incredible to watch the development of an idea, as it grows into something grand.

I have been lucky enough to watch the idea of one Thornhill, Ontario (my hometown) resident, Jonathan Maister expand right before my very eyes.

In an April 2008 issue of Canadian Geographic Magazine, Jonathan read about the West Toronto Initiative for Solar Energy (WISE). The community-led renewable energy project organized the bulk purchase of Solar Photovoltaic (PV) and Solar Hot Water (SHW) systems. In the first wave of this initiative, 86 units (60 solar hot water systems and 26 solar electric systems) were ordered. Residents were able to take their own personal energy use into their own hands while reducing their environmental impact (through the reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions their energy source resulted in).
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