Buckdog

"In his final hours on death row, Cameron Todd Willingham and his attorneys tried frantically to show the governor of Texas a new scientific report proving his innocence. The evidence was apparently ignored, and Willingham was executed on February 17, 2004."
Huffington Post

(NEW YORK; August 31, 2009) – An exhaustive new investigative report shows that Cameron Todd Willingham, who was executed in Texas in 2004, was innocent. The report comes three years after the Innocence Project released analysis from some of the nation’s leading forensic experts who found that the central evidence against Willingham was not valid. The Innocence Project also obtained public records showing that Texas officials ignored this evidence in the days leading up to Willingham’s execution.
Innocence Project

On August 29, 2008, Republican Presidential candidate, John McCain surprised everyone with his announcement that Alaska Governor Sarah Palin would be his running mate.

American politics have not been the same since.

1 "As Putin rears his head and comes into the air space of the United States of America, where– where do they go? It's Alaska. It's just right over the border." --Sarah Palin, explaining why Alaska's proximity to Russia gives her foreign policy experience, interview with CBS's Katie Couric, Sept. 24, 2008

2. "I think on a national level your Department of Law there in the White House would look at some of the things that we've been charged with and automatically throw them out." --Sarah Palin, referring to a department that does not exist while attempting to explain why as president she wouldn't be subjected to the same ethics investigations that compelled her to resign as governor of Alaska, ABC News interview, July 7, 2009

3. "We believe that the best of America is not all in Washington, D.C. ... We believe that the best of America is in these small towns that we get to visit, and in these wonderful little pockets of what I call the real America, being here with all of you hard working very patriotic, um, very, um, pro-America areas of this great nation." --Sarah Palin, speaking at a fundraiser in Greensoboro, N.C., Oct. 16, 2008

4. "Ohh, good, thank you, yes." --Sarah Palin, after a notorious Canadian prank caller complimented her on the documentary about her life, Hustler's "Nailin Paylin," Nov. 1, 2008

5. "Well, let's see. There's ― of course in the great history of America there have been rulings that there's never going to be absolute consensus by every American, and there are those issues, again, like Roe v. Wade, where I believe are best held on a state level and addressed there. So, you know, going through the history of America, there would be others but ―" --Sarah Palin, unable to name a Supreme Court decision she disagreed with other than Roe vs. Wade, interview with Katie Couric, CBS News, Oct. 1, 2008

6. "All of 'em, any of 'em that have been in front of me over all these years." --Sarah Palin, unable to name a single newspaper or magazine she reads, interview with Katie Couric, CBS News, Oct. 1, 2008

7. "They are also building schools for the Afghan children so that there is hope and opportunity in our neighboring country of Afghanistan." --Sarah Palin, speaking at a fundraiser in San Francisco, Oct. 5, 2008

8. "They're in charge of the U.S. Senate so if they want to they can really get in there with the senators and make a lot of good policy changes that will make life better for Brandon and his family and his classroom." --Sarah Palin, getting the vice president's constitutional role wrong after being asked by a third grader what the vice president does, interview with NBC affiliate KUSA in Colorado, Oct. 21, 2008

9. "I told the Congress, 'Thanks, but no thanks,' on that Bridge to Nowhere." –Sarah Palin, who was for the Bridge to Nowhere before she was against it

10. "I'm the mayor, I can do whatever I want until the courts tell me I can't.'" --Sarah Palin, as quoted by former City Council Member Nick Carney, after he raised objections about the $50,000 she spent renovating the mayor's office without approval of the city council

~Compiled by Daniel Kurtzman

The man accused of kidnapping, raping and confining an 11 year old girl from 1991 until this week, has a Blog on blogspot.com. The site has not yet been taken down. Here is some background:

"In 1991, Garrido and his wife, Nancy, snatched a then-eleven-year-old Jaycee Lee Dugard off the street as her stepfather looked on. Eighteen years later, Jaycee, who had been repeatedly raped by Garrido in a compound he kept in his backyard and made to bear two of his children, told officials of her identity during a parole hearing of Garrido’s to which she’d been brought along. Garrido had introduced Jaycee, now in her late 20s, as his wife, “Allissa.” [...]

While many may wonder what goes on through the minds of these men - and their female accomplices (who are, at times, also their victims) - Garrido lends us some insight via his blog, Voices Revealed Blog

In it, he speaks of religious salvation and frequently discusses hearing voices."

guanabee.com

"As everyone in this room knows, it has become a rite of passage for aspiring leaders and prime ministers to promise Senate reform – on their way to the top. But once they are elected, Senate reform quickly falls to the bottom of the Government’s agenda. Nothing ever gets done."
Stephen Harper, 2006

UPDATE:
Jacques Demers, a former Montreal Canadiens hockey coach and former journalist Linda Frum to the Senate. Frum now uses her married name, Sokolowski.

The other appointees are Doug Finley, who managed Harper's election campaigns; Carolyn Stewart-Olsen, his press secretary since 2000; Don Plett, Conservative Party president, and Judith Siedeman, a Montrealer and Conservative Party organizer. Harper also named Montrealer Claude Carignan, former Acadia University president Kelvin Ogilvie, and Nunavut politician Dennis Patterson to the Senate.
Harper Names Nine New Tory Porkers To Senate


Cartoon by kind permission of
Graeme MacKay at mackaycartoons.net

WINNIPEG - Premier Gary Doer will be stepping down this fall, ending his reign as Canada's longest-serving current premier.

At a hastily called news conference this morning, Doer said he won't run in the next provincial election in Oct. 2011.

He did not give an exact date for his resignation, but a press release indicated it would take place in the fall, after a replacement is chosen.

After 10 years as premier, the time is right for renewal, he said.

"I had planned to step down in and around this 10-year period," he said. "I’m a believer that if you ever have a chance to go out on your own timing, do it. Not everyone has the privilege of doing that. I’ve seen people not leave of their own accord."
Winnipeg Free Press

-Gary Doer Bio
-Federal New Democrats React

UPDATE:
Harper Names Nine New Tory Porkers To Senate

ORIGINAL POST:
"OTTAWA — Prime Minister Stephen Harper is preparing to reward some of his longest-serving and most loyal political operatives with Senate appointments that could come as early as this week, Canwest News Service has learned. [...]

Harper's advisers want the news out within the next 10 days, before the Labour Day weekend, while voter attention to politics is less intense than it would be this fall. Harper is sure to come under fire — perhaps even by critics in his own party — for engaging in the same kind of patronage politics that drew harsh criticism from him and other Conservatives when previous Liberal governments did it.

But Conservatives are bracing themselves for a few days of rocky headlines with talking points that include telling reporters that if Senator David Smith, who was former prime minister Jean Chretien's campaign mastermind, deserves a Senate seat, so too does Finley for playing the same role for Harper in his election campaigns. Finley, who was employed by Conservative party and not by the PMO, was and will remain the party's campaign manager."
Canada.com

NOTE:
And just for the record, to all Liberal bloggers who are whining about Harper's Senate appointments, here is a photo of the most recent 'Liberal Party appointments' to the Senate when you were last in government.

Canada's Appointed - Unelected - Undemocratic Senate - Abolish It!!!

(I don't make this stuff up).

A notice of 'Correction' in today's Regina Leader-Post states the following:

"Correction

The Leader-Post
August 26, 2009

Murray Mandryk's Tuesday column incorrectly stated that the government was running a $415-million expenditure-over-revenue deficit. The government actually has a $50-million surplus, after reducing its debt paydown and borrowing an additional $185 million from the Crowns.
© Copyright (c) The Regina Leader-Post"

I am not sure how you 'balance' your budget by borrowing money? If you spend more than you take in, you have a deficit.

"Sen. Ted Kennedy died shortly before midnight Tuesday at his home in Hyannis Port, Mass., at age 77. The man known as the "liberal lion of the Senate" had fought a more than year-long battle with brain cancer, and according to his son had lived longer with the disease than his doctors expected him to."
ABC News

“It's always better to send in the Peace Corps than the Marine Corps.”
Sen. Ted Kennedy



News Links .....

Billion dollar budget mistake keeps rural construction projects in limbo

"NDP critic for Tourism, Parks, Culture and Sport Darcy Furber charged today that the Sask Party’s mismanagement of the province’s finances has left local community infrastructure projects without sufficient funds to be completed. He noted that $7.3 million was recently slashed from the Building Communities Program – created to help communities meet their cultural and recreational infrastructure needs – and is virtually equal to the $7.2 million being spent on the temporary pavilion for the Vancouver Olympics.

“It’s extremely disappointing to witness the Wall government’s misplaced priorities in this area,” Furber said. “The Sask Party is now forcing communities to pay for its billion dollar budget mistake by refusing to assist with infrastructure projects – many of which are already under construction.”

Furber pointed to the construction of the Warman Sport and Cultural Village and the Wickenheiser Centre in Shaunavon, both of which will soon come to a halt due to ballooning costs and the refusal of the Sask Party to provide increased funding. Furber questioned the Wall government’s commitment to attracting young families to these communities.

Saskatchewan New Democrat Opposition Caucus

I'm certain that the Irish government has not clearly thought out the potential problems that are going to occur when their new law on 'Blasphemy' comes into effect this fall.

"DUBLIN -- The Irish government plans to bring into force a new law in October that critics say is a return to medieval justice.

The legislation, aimed at providing judges with clear direction on the 1937 Constitution's blasphemy prohibition, imposes a fine of up to 25,000 euros - about $39,000 - for anyone who "publishes or utters matter that is (intentionally meant to be) grossly abusive or insulting in relation to matters held sacred by any religion, thereby causing outrage among a substantial number of the adherents of that religion."

Police with a search warrant will be able to enter private premises and use "reasonable force" to obtain incriminating evidence.

The initiative has stunned some Irish and international commentators who say it contradicts Ireland's recent emergence as a more multicultural, tech-savvy country that has in recent years showed its independence from the Roman Catholic church by liberalizing its divorce law.

"It is a wretched, backward, uncivilized regression to the Middle Ages," said prominent atheist author Richard Dawkins in a statement last month, arguing that the law risks shattering Ireland's new image as a "modern, civilized . . . green and pleasant silicon valley."

One Canadian publication lightheartedly warned lawyers attending the Canadian Bar Association's annual conference in Dublin this month to watch their language as they head out to one of the countless pubs in Ireland's capital.

A blog in the New York Times, meanwhile, featured in its coverage a YouTube link to a famous blasphemy scene from the Monty Python comedy classic Life of Brian. (Click here to see video.)

While some have noted that even countries like Canada still have their own blasphemy laws still on the books, the prohibition in western countries is typically considered obsolete.
Calgary Herald

"Former U. S. homeland security chief Tom Ridge charges in a new book that top aides to then-president George W. Bush pressured him to raise the 'terror alert' level to sway the Nov. 2004 U. S. election.

Then defense secretary Donald Rumsfeld and attorney general John Ashcroft pushed him to elevate the colour-coded threat level, but Ridge refused, according to a summary from his publisher, Thomas Dunne Books.

"After that episode, I knew I had to follow through with my plans to leave the federal government ...."
Calgary Herald

"A massive miscalculation of potash revenue may be a signal to rethink how Saskatchewan makes its provincial budget."
Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall

Ya think...????

The largest producer of natural gas in Canada is the province of Saskatchewan. The people of Saskatchewan are paying more than twice the current market price for that commodity. Why? .....

Natural gas prices sink below $3 mark, lowest level in seven years
CALGARY - The price of natural gas fell to its lowest level in more than seven years Thursday, continuing a trend that dealt blow after blow to Canada's energy sector.
Lauren Krugel
THE CANADIAN PRESS


NDP Demands Natural Gas Price Reduction
Saskatchewan farmers, businesses and families should be receiving a significant reduction in their natural gas bills effective September 1 as the price that SaskEnergy is currently charging its customers is more than double the current market price of natural gas, NDP Leader Dwain Lingenfelter said today.

“The Wall government should not be waiting for winter to adjust natural gas rates. With the late, wet harvest in many parts of the province, farmers will be forced to use large quantities of natural gas to run grain dryers when they bring in their crops,” Lingenfelter noted. “Small businesses and residential customers were recently hit yet again with the highest cost of living increase in Canada and deserve cost certainty going into this winter as well. The Wall government should require SaskEnergy to introduce an emergency rate reduction request to take effect September 1st.”

In 2008 and again this year, the Saskatchewan Rate Review Panel recommended that SaskEnergy update its commodity price every quarter. It has been more than four months since the rate was last adjusted and Lingenfelter wonders why the Sask Party is causing the delay.

“It’s shocking that the Wall government hasn’t instructed SaskEnergy to come forward with a natural gas rate reduction to take effect September 1st,” Lingenfelter said. “Farmers could benefit during the harvest and residential customers could see their heating bills reduced before the winter. We have the highest increase in the cost of living out of every province in Canada yet where the government has the capacity to help, it does nothing.”

On April 1st the SaskEnergy rate for a Gigajoule of natural gas was set at $5.96, but the open market price has been well below that rate in each of the past four months. In April the average cost was $3.37 per Gigajoule; the average price in May was $3.46; in June the average price dropped to $3.00 and in July the average price dropped again to $2.87 per Gigajoule. So far, the average open market price for August has been $2.91 per Gigajoule, less than half SaskEnergy’s rate.

“Surely SaskEnergy has used the summer to lock in these record low natural gas prices for the coming winter, and has put considerable amounts of natural gas in storage. Let’s pass on these savings from the government to the consumer as quickly as possible,” Lingenfelter concluded.

-30-

For further information, please contact:
NDP Caucus Office - (306) 787-7388

Canada's right wing Conservative government holds an ideological belief that health care should be delivered by the private sector for profit. As a result, they have not been good administrators of Canada's existing public health care system. Proof of that came when they were blasted by the outgoing Chair of the Canadian Medical Association:

SASKATOON — Canada's Conservative government has mishandled the medical isotopes crisis, the Canadian Medical Association's outgoing president charged Wednesday.

"The federal government didn't play the role it should have played there," Dr. Robert Ouellet said after the association passed numerous motions prodding the government to dive back into the isotope business.

The association called on the federal government to retain a leading role in providing medical isotopes for the world, and reconsider a decision to back away from isotope production.

Delegates at the association's annual meeting in Saskatoon passed five motions they said they hope will help turn around a shortage of medical radioisotopes for diagnostic tests.

The anger and worry about the government's handling of the nuclear reactor shutdown in Chalk River, Ont., and subsequently cancelled medical tests was palpable from doctors who spoke at the meeting.

"There was a warning a year-end-a-half ago when the Chalk River reactor went wrong. They didn't provide any views on what will come in the future. And this reactor is 53 years old," Ouellet said.
The Vancouver Sun

Massachusetts representative Barney Frank had a run-in with a town hall protester who opposes President Obama's proposed health care reform.

PHOENIX (AP) - "About a dozen people carrying guns, including one with a military-style rifle, milled among protesters outside the convention center where President Barack Obama was giving a speech Monday—the latest incidents in which protesters have openly displayed firearms near the president.

Gun-rights advocates say they're exercising their constitutional right to bear arms and protest, while those who argue for more gun control say it could be a disaster waiting to happen.

Phoenix police said the gun-toters at Monday's event, including the man carrying an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle slung over his shoulder, didn't need permits. No crimes were committed, and no one was arrested."
Breitbart

POSTSCRIPT:
I wonder how right wing extremists would react if newly released Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme turned up with a loaded semi-automatic rifle at a George Bush or a Sarah Palin rally (now that Squeaky has paid her 'debt to society' and has a 'right to bear arms)'?

Over the course of this past weekend, the Canadian Bar Association has delivered two scathing criticisms of the way that the Harper government is handling international justice issues:

-The Khadr Fiasco leaves Canada looking incompetent.

-Harper Will Not Consistently Defend Canadians Abroad From Death Penalty

While they were in power, Canada's former Liberal government introduced marijuana reform legislation a number of times ... and then let the Bills die on the order paper session after session, year after year.

Why?

Well because they were playing both sides of the political fence at the same time. Let me explain.

If you were absolutely in favour of marijuana law reform, the Liberals pointed to their proposed legislation that would lessen sentences for simple possession. They sounded progressive and sincere. However, if you were not in favour of marijuana law reform, the Liberals pandered to you by NEVER actually passing the many bills that they introduced.

For years, pot reform advocates let the Liberals off the hook, because, 'reform was on the horizon'! The Libs were going to show progressive action on the issue. Hmmm ... not so much.

Because they did nothing, Liberals have some explaining to do!

But what is this, hypocritical Liberal bloggers criticising New Democrats?

Dana Larsen, needs to maybe go and speak at the next federal Liberal convention. Think that will happen ??? ... not so much! As Stephen Harper prepares to increase penalties for simple pot possession and mandatory sentences for any amount of cultivation, will the Liberals support him? I guess we will wait and see.

(This story is reposted from my original on the topic ... August 14, 2007)

On August 14, 1945, the Imperial Japanese Empire surrendered unconditionally (V-J Day) to Allied Forces.

Spontaneous celebration broke out around the world! Typical of the scene in the major Allied cities, a young sailor in Times Square - New York, stopped and kissed a young nurse in what has now become an iconic capture of the joy and the celebration of that moment in history.

Over the years, no one had ever definitely identified who the young nurse and sailor were. Since 1945, numerous individuals have stepped forward claiming to be one or the other. Officially, the identity of the nurse is unknown but claims on who the sailor is continue to come forward.

A statue that captured that famous moment entitled, "Unconditional Surrender" has been erected in Times Square

Since 2004, on the anniversary of the August 14th kiss, a group of people have gathered in Times Square for what is becoming a traditional 'Kiss-In For Peace'.

So much for the myth of Saskatchewan's booming economy under the 'fiscally conservative' right wing Brad Wall administration.

"This means the Wall government is now running a budget deficit in the current year, hidden only by its fiscal sleight of hand in the First Quarter report, sucking nearly $400 Million from its so-called rainy day fund and hitting the Crown Corporation utilities for a total dividend of $480 million. No wonder the Wall government delayed the release of these results by nearly a month – the politicians took the time to try to spin their way out of this mess."
Trent Wotherspoon
New Democrat Finance Critic

-Regina Leader Post
-Even Sask Party Radio admits it ...

In 1962, the CCF (forerunner to the New Democratic Party) government of Saskatchewan implemented Universal Health Care. Immediately, Right wing opponents from both the provincial Liberal and Progressive Conservative parties organized massive demonstrations and protests. The province's medical doctors went out on strike to try and kill public health care. The Saskatchewan government did not blink, the protests died out and Medicare went on to be so hugely popular, that a later Liberal federal government implemented it across the nation.

Obama should hold his ground and not be swayed by the right wing advocates of 'for profit' health care in the USA which keeps 40 million Americans without health coverage!

Postscript:
And by the way .. public health care CONTINUES to be completely popular in Canada except amongst those on the extreme political right.

Don't for one second believe that the big players in Saskatchewan's corporate media (Leader-Post, Star Phoenix, CTV and Global) are neutral disseminators of the 'news' in Saskatchewan. They are not! They continue to demonstrate a strong pro- Sask. Party bent by ignoring everything except what falls from the mouth of Mr. Wall.

Case in point ... I found an interesting news release yesterday issued by the New Democratic Caucus concerning wind power and the fact that Wall and Co. are ignoring any alternatives to their desired nuclear power generation for the future of Saskatchewan's power needs.

A scan of Saskatchewan's MSM shows that our big corporate media players are completely ignoring anything but what Brad Wall's minions spoon feed them.

August 11, 2009

Wall Government Falling Behind on Wind Power

NDP Leader Dwain Lingenfelter today questioned the Wall government’s inaction on wind power in Saskatchewan, noting the province is falling behind other jurisdictions which are rapidly expanding electrical generation from this cost-effective source of renewable energy.

The Canadian Wind Energy Association expects up to fifteen wind power projects to be completed this year, with a total capacity of more than 650 Megawatts. These projects are in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. Another thirty-two wind power projects are in the advanced planning stages or under construction.

“Saskatchewan used to be one of Canada’s wind power leaders, but under the Wall government, we’re becoming a laggard,” Lingenfelter said. “Between 2002 and 2006, the former NDP government built 172 Megawatts of wind power capacity—enough electricity to power more than 73,000 homes. Brad Wall hasn’t built a single new Megawatt in the last two years.”

The NDP Leader noted that Saskatchewan also trails its American neighbors in wind power production. Wind power accounted for 42% of all new electric generating capacity in the United States last year, with 8,558 Megawatts of new wind capacity added. Two American states, Iowa (13.3%) and Minnesota (10.4%) now get more than 10% of their electrical power from wind and six American utilities now have more than 10% of their total generation coming from wind power projects. Meanwhile, wind power is still just 4% of SaskPower’s electrical generation.

Lingenfelter also noted that many private sector companies, including Nexen, have developed major wind power projects.

“Other jurisdictions are doing it. The private sector is on side. And Saskatchewan already has a history of investing in wind power that we can build upon. There’s simply no excuse for Saskatchewan falling behind on wind power,” Lingenfelter concluded.

-30-

For further information, please contact:
NDP Caucus Office - (306) 787- 7388

Here are a few posts from some of my favorite (and lesser known) progressive American bloggers:

(From The Field Negro:)

Marked for Death
"If there is a dumber person in A-merry-ca than Sarah Palin I would like to meet him/her."

Only some of us A-merry-cans deserve to have good health.
"Black Americans still get far fewer operations, tests, medications and other life-saving treatments than whites, despite years of efforts to erase racial disparities in health care and help African Americans live equally long and healthy lives, according to three major studies being published today.

(From Morning Martini:)

It’s time for them to STFU!
"I really do care about the healthcare reform bill that is floating around in Congress, and here comes the but, but I am so very tired of hearing Republicans and especially blue dog Democrats telling us how harmful and dangerous it’s going to be. Ninety nine percent of what they are saying is lie after lie and we know they know it."

(From Pissed on Politics:)

80 Million Commie Pinkos
"There are 80 million people in this country that have "government run" healthcare. 80 million commie pinkos. 80 million people with socialized medicine. A portion of those protesting "socialized medicine" actually have government run healthcare."


They Don't Want Answers
"I keep seeing Republican and Conservative strategists on TV saying that these thugs attending town hall meetings just want answers to simple questions. They say they are just directing the thugs to ask some basic questions. They say they just want some answers that's all. There's no harm in asking questions right? Except they don't want answers. They want to shout, intimidate, and disrupt. I've seen tons of footage of these astroturf conservative thug rallies and they hardly ever let the Congress person answer their questions. If an answer is given they call the Congress person a liar and let out loud groans."

"We didn't think hunting ducks was that big of a deal."
Saskatchewan yahoos charged with shooting guns from a moving vehicle

UPDATE:
Now, in fairness to the men charged, they told the judge at their very first hearing this morning that they all want to plead guilty to the charges. That being the case, I will say that they have now done the right thing. Rather than fines or any kind of more serious sentence, I would like to see them be sentenced to some sort of community service that would assist either Ducks Unlimited, The Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation or The Saskatoon Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

Click on cartoon to enlarge ...
Cartoon courtesy Tom Tomorrow

There is no one better qualified and equipped to represent Palliser Riding for the New Democratic Party than Noah Evanchuk. You simply will not find a more committed individual than he. Noah brings a deep knowledge of political reality as it currently exists to his candidacy. His commitment to his family is further expressed by his commitment to his communities - Saskatchewan and Canada. I am glad that he has thrown his hat into the ring and I strongly endorse his candidacy!

Regina Lawyer Noah Evanchuk to seek NDP nomination in Palliser August 7, 2009
With a call for a Parliament that addresses the real needs of all citizens, Regina lawyer Noah Evanchuk announced his intention to seek the New Democratic Party nomination in the Palliser constituency. While acknowledging that the present Conservative MP, Ray Boughen, is a decent person who loves his country, Evanchuk decried the way that Boughen and other Conservative MPs have no voice to speak for their constituents.

“The voters of Palliser deserve a Member of Parliament who will serve them, instead of serving the Prime Minister’s backroom spin doctors,” said Evanchuk. “In Stephen Harper’s Canada, Conservative MPs are muzzled and unelected PMO appointees rule the day.”

Evanchuk pointed to Conservative inaction on childcare as one of the many examples where Conservative MPs have place party interests over representing the needs of their constituents.

“Instead of addressing the bread and butter issues that matter to Canadians – issues like affordable childcare, skyrocketing housing prices, economic instability and a government awash in debt – Ottawa Conservatives are engaged in the lowest of partisan mudslinging and scapegoating the most vulnerable citizens.”

Evanchuk, who practices criminal law and employment law in Regina, is involved in a range of community and volunteer activities, including the Salvation Army free legal clinic and coaching football with Ranch Ehrlo’s Monday Night Football program for inner-city youth. He was recently appointed to the board of the Canadian Mental Health Association (Saskatchewan Division).

Born in Kingston, Ontario, where his father was stationed with the Canadian Forces, Evanchuk grew up in Saskatchewan and Alberta. He and his wife, Anna-Marie Kowalsky, live in Palliser riding in Regina where they are raising their daughter.

Palliser, which was held by NDP MP Dick Proctor until 2004, is one of the New Democrats’ best prospects to gain a seat in Saskatchewan. It was the NDP’s second best result in Saskatchewan, in the 2008 election, after Saskatoon–Rosetown–Biggar.

-30-

For further information, contact:
Noah Evanchuk – 306.527.4774

Noah Evanchuk Website

Moose Jaw Times Herald - Regina Lawyer Running For Palliser NDP Nomination

64 years ago today, 140,000 persons died within a few seconds when the first atomic weapon was dropped on the city of Hiroshima, Japan by the United States of America.

Hiroshima Atomic Bomb

Tyler Kinch has a great article in the current edition of Alberta Talks online magazine:

"Late last month, Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney announced that Canada will be exiting out of recession at the end of this year. He predicted a growth this quarter of 1.3 percent and a growth of 3 percent in the last 3 months of the year. [...]
The real Canadian economy has not recovered, regardless of future positive GDP growth or high stock markets. Statistics Canada calculates 370,000 jobs have disappeared since October of last year, and some economists believe more than 500,000 will be lost before employment begins to rise again. The real economy won’t recover until all those 500,000 jobs are recovered. Under a government that properly manages the growth of the economy, those new jobs will produce positive gains to society and increase the quality of life for individuals and the health of our planet too."
Tyler Kinch
AlbertaTalks.ca

At the moment, I am a card carrying member of the New Democratic Party of Canada. My involvement is with the Saskatchewan Division.

I want to be a member of the Democratic Party of Canada.

When the old CCF (Cooperative Commonwealth Federation) merged with the Canadian Labour Congress to form the New Democratic Party, their vision was for a 'new' democracy in Canada. The 'new' did not refer to the freshness of the new party but rather the vision of a truly democratic Canada - one without the APPOINTED, patronage ridden Senate.

Over the years, innumerable pundits referred to us as 'the NDP party'. I have always preferred being called a 'new democrat' as opposed to an 'ndp'er'.

I strongly urge delegates to the upcoming convention of the New Democratic Party to revise our moniker and support renaming our movement to The Democratic Party of Canada!

We are the only party that has it right concerning our ridiculous Senate (be it elected or unelected). Our unelected Senate is the historical tool that Liberals and Conservatives use to put their old duffers (and Duffy's) out to pasture with a nice reward. Abolish it!

Postscript:
And if you need further proof about the undemocratic nature of the patronage ridden Senate ... read this!

Canada.com

Environment Canada has some explaining to do after once again failing to appropriately identify weather conditions that are dangerous to human life.

"Concert organizers said they ran to the main stage at 5:57 p.m. to postpone the popular event after receiving a warning from the RCMP two minutes earlier that violent winds were likely heading straight for the large annual gathering.

But the announcement was never made because the winds, known as “plow winds” or “wind gusts,” toppled the large stage on top of the organizers and about 100 people, including U.S. musician and actor Kevin Costner. Mr. Costner escaped unscathed. At least 75 people were injured, two critically, by falling debris, including large speakers and metal scaffolding.

It wasn't until seven minutes later, at 6:04 p.m., that Environment Canada issued a severe thunderstorm warning for Camrose and area. By that time, emergency workers and police were already searching for survivors and tending to the injured."

Environment Canada staff a short distance away in Edmonton did not do what their job requires to protect human safety!

Even worse, in the province of Saskatchewan, the federal government does not even have an environment Canada forecaster! In a province where our sub-arctic winter temperatures and our summer tornadoes happen yearly, the federal agency uses resources in other provinces to forecast Saskatchewan's weather.

Environment Canada has decided to try and shift blame for the deaths and injury. They have called this 'an Act of God'.

Enough is enough you guys! Get your act together!!

Globe & Mail

-Environment Canada BLAMES God!
-Alberta Government Orders Probe Into Concert Disaster

"A majority (54 percent) of those who attend church regularly said torture could be “justified,” while a majority of those not attending church regularly responded that torture was rarely or never justified."
Consortium News