A question for the Leaders of our Political Partys (this includes the Greens once the election gets rolling)

Over the past year, the imminent decline of global oil resources, or “peak oil” as it is commonly known, has come to the forefront of public discourse. This inevitable occurence is only 2 or 3 electoral “terms” away. We have seen the worry about Natural Gas supplies not meeting demand in the UK and in North America starting this year… What is your position on the Peak Oil phenomenon? How will you prepare Canada and Canadians for a future where the oil economy may not be as cheap and easy as it has been since the start of the Industrial Age?

This is a question that must be asked. Canada is privileged in almost every way. We are blessed with massive oil resources, massive Natural Gas reserves, and more fresh water than any other country in the world.

But with this privilege comes responsibility. As we hold a significant amount of the Worlds resources we must show good stewardship. We must lead by example. I can think of no better thing for Canada than to start a program of lessening our consumption of these precious resources, and as Peak Oil nears, and the inevitalbe shock to the economy that it will have draws closer, Canada must be prepared. We can not afford to be complacent.

Are our political leaders thinking about this? Or are they simply living the dream… this is something we must thrust upon them so that we can be sure they are thinking about more than just the next 5 years.

After clashes with Israeli forces earlier in the week, members of the UNSC came under pressure to condemn the attacks.

Since the pullout of Syrian forces from Lebanon, and the subsequent UNSC resolutions for Lebanon to gain complete control over its’ entire Territory, the situation has changed dramatically for Hezbollah.

Now, instead of Lebanon and Hezbollah bein treated simply as mouthpieces for their Syrian masters, a new expectation has arisen. One of Lebanon autonomy.

So, after intense pressure from the US (and likely UK) delegation at the UN, the UNSC pronounced Hezbollahs’ attacks as “acts of hatred” and expressed its’ “deep concern”. This is far more criticism than Hezbollah is used to, and while I’m not one to give the Israelis any breaks, I am happy to call a spade a spade.

If criticism is not doled out in equal quantities when violence strikes then there will never be hope for an end to that violence. Too often, the UN is set in supporting one side or another, when in fact its’ mandate is to be a neutral, unbiased referee… if only that were the case…

Stephen Harper made a predictable ass out of himself yesterday when, in the House of Commons, he accused the Liberals of having links to organized crime.

These allegations are of course untrue… or at the very least unproveable, and have no place in the daily discourse of the House. (And yes, the Liberals are right to threaten to sue Conservative MPs who brought up the issue outside the House in the media scrums with libel.)

All that said, I did a quick Google search on “Brian Mulroney link organized crime”.

What can I say… I’m honest in my counter-punching.

The result, well, there were a lot… take that from that what you may.
But this was the top hit… The FreeRepublic.com

Canadian police have identified Clinton donor and Macao gambling tycoon Stanley Ho as the leader of a triad gang of organized criminals with strong ties to Communist China.

[But that's not all...]

The Vancouver Province reported that senior Canadian politicians - including former prime minister Brian Mulroney and members of current Prime Minister Jean Chretien’s Cabinet - have “feted and wooed” Ho, and that “despite the listing 10 years ago, Ho has unfettered access to Canada and its top politicians and is a major contributor to political parties in Canada.” The RCMP roster, first issued in 1990, remains current, according to the report.

Setting aside the fact that theFreeRepublic.com seems to think Vancouver is the Capital of British Columbia… the message here is clear.

If Stephen Harper is looking for links to organized crime, he need not focus solely on one party or politician. There are plenty of smears to throw around, including, likely in his own caucus.

So it’s basically a done deal. Canada is headed for its’ 2nd Federal election in less than 2 years.

As such, the political fur is flying, and there are already wild and wully happenings going on.

First… it must have been a cold day in [Washington] because the United States decided to decrease the Softwood Lumber tariffs. They will be a fraction of their former selves, from 18.8% to 0.8%.

Granted, this is not a definite resolution to the trade dispute. But if Paul Martin wanted something on the International stage to point to and say. “Look, I got this done… for Canada. I stand up for Canadians.” The Americans just handed him a very juicy morsel.

Second… Ralph Klein. Illustrious [drunk] leader of Alberta. Leader of the Conservatives in Alberta and head Stupid-White-Guy. What does he say a yesterday of Federal Conservative Party leader Stephen Harper?

“bright, articulate individual, perhaps he’s seen as too much on the right.”

Deputy Conservative Leader Peter McKay takes the cake for best pre-election jab:

“He said he was going to be helpful. This is not helpful,” federal Conservative deputy leader Peter MacKay said.

Asked how internal disputes and too-candid remarks from people like Klein should be handled, MacKay said, “Well, duct tape.”

And there you have it, if there was any doubt we were in Canada, and on the eve of an election, there shouldn’t be any now.

The Liberals are going to have a head start. For once, Ralphy and I agree on something, I just don’t think Harper is right for Canada, hopefully this is the last time we’ll have to endure his anti-folksyness through an election campaign.

On the eve of a likely an Election call in Canada there is another election coming soon half a world away, in Iraq.

Iraq the Model has a good explanation of the new election scenario for Iraqis.

each province will constitute one circle and a certain number of seats will be allocated to each province/circle according to its population count.

These 18 circles collectively will make up 230 of the 275 seats of the parliament while the remaining 45 seats are going to be allocated what is now known as the compensatory national circle.
This national circle was made to serve voters living outside Iraq since their votes cannot be related to particular provinces.

The National “circle” is filled by the “extra” votes in the provinces for parties. The Extra votes are votes that are over and above the 20,000 needed to elect a representative. If, when combined from all the provinces, these extra votes are enough to pass the 20,000 votes needed to fill one seat, then the party grabs one (or more), of those extra 45 seats.

This system is not dissimilar to the Single Transferrable Vote system that British Columbians nearly approved last year.

The BC Government has committed to revisiting the electoral reform question (59% is hard to ignore)… this is one area where Iraqis are getting a head start, even as their democracy is only in their infancy. Hopefully Canadians, or at least British Columbians aren’t too far behind.