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A message from Rick Simpson:
Dear Jason,
I am very sorry your family had to learn the hard way what the
medical system is all about. Unfortunately, it is not just the medical system but
everything the government controls that is working against us all. I have been
through the so-called legal system and the lawyers are just as bad as the
doctors. Lawyers all know that the laws prohibiting hemp´s use are corrupt, but
they like filling their pockets and will do nothing to change it.
I approached
this issue in the proper way right from the beginning, I hid nothing from the
system or the public. Instead of investigating what I was saying about the
healing power of this oil, the system persecuted me for supplying it. I guess
they thought if they came down hard enough on me that I would just go away. This
would allow them to continue with this insanity and of course, the bought and
paid for media did nothing to bring the real truth to the public.
What people
seem to miss is the fact that we are being controlled by these monsters with
lies and deception.
When the legal system refused to allow the patients to
testify during my court case, that said it all. When you have people that used
the oil to cure their terminal cancer ready to testify and their testimony is
not allowed, that should tell you something about our system, I truly feel sorry
for the Canadian people but I have done all I can possibly do.
It is now up to
the people themselves to finish the work I have started. All the public has to
do is stand up for their rights and all this will come to an end. If they do
not, the evil that is running our country will win and we will continue to
suffer and die needlessly.
If I were in the public´s shoes, I would not hold my
breath waiting for the Canadian system to get anything right.
Stand up and tell
them you've had enough and if they refuse to act, they will face the
consequences.
I really don’t think the public will be in a very good mood
when they learn the truth about what the so-called system has been doing to
them. If anyone with the Canadian government has a brain in their heads, they
will do something rational about this situation. If they refuse to act, then
they are the ones putting themselves in harm´s way.
Best wishes,
Rick Simpson
P.S. I would be happy to speak to the media via telephone or Skype etc. You can reach me afternoons and evenings Central European time.
By Alice Klein | Photo: Kevin Konnyu
AN HISTORICAL TIMELINE - TORTURE FILE
“If you know your
history, then you would know where you’re coming from. Then you wouldn’t have to ask me, who in the
hell do I think I am.”
– Bob Marley
2007
April 27
Prof. Michael Byers (Canada Research Chair in Global Politics & International Law, University of British Columbia) and
Prof. William A. Schaba (Irish Centre for Human Rights) sent a letter to the Prosecutor of the
International Criminal Court in The
Hague. The letter, asks the Prosecutor to investigate whether Canada's two most senior military
officials committed war crimes by allowing unlawful transfers to take place, and by
not stopping them when credible reports of torture surfaced.
2008
December 17
"Canadian Soldiers Complicit in Rape of Afghan Children" is published by peaceculture.org, calling for the ICC to probe allegations that some Canadian officers serving in Afghanistan told
subordinates to 'look the other way' when Afghan soldiers and local
interpreters sodomized young boys...
"It's common knowledge that young boys are used in this way in
Afghanistan," said Brad Adams, executive director of the Asia division
of Human Rights Watch. "It's the great dichotomy of Afghanistan.
Homosexuality is treated as a cardinal sin, but it's still common for
men to have sex with boys." Moreover, Adams said he wasn't surprised that some Canadian soldiers say they were told to 'ignore' cases of abuse. "I think (Western soldiers) look the other way about a number of
things, like opium production and warlordism. They are looking the
other way on almost everything."
"I think it's safe to say that they had other worries, like how they
were staying alive," said retired Canadian major-general Lewis
MacKenzie.
2009
September 9
The chief prosecutor at the
International Criminal Court, Mr. Luis Moreno-Ocampo, announced that the ICC had received
"allegations from many different sources", and that he has launched a preliminary examination. If he finds grounds, a full
investigation into war crimes committed by NATO soldiers and
insurgents in Afghanistan would be required. Law experts say there is a very real chance Canadian officials could be charged with war crimes. (The Spin)
November 18
Richard Covin testifies to a Special Committee of Parliament in respect of obstruction, intimidation and contempt on the part of Harper's government, and confirms the commission of widespread war crimes by parties within the government, including the armed forces.
November 19
"Clearly the reality is there is no credible evidence, none, zero, to suggest that a Taliban prisoner transferred from Canadian Forces was ever abused."
- Peter MacKay (Question Period, Nov. 19, 2009).
"Not a single Taliban soldier turned over by Canadian forces can be proved to have been abused. That is the crux* of the issue."
- Peter MacKay *"Crux simplex", a simple wooden torture stake, according to the classic Greek word "stavros" ("σταυρός"), by Justus Lipsius (1547-1606), De Cruce Libri Tres, Adwerp, 1629, p. 19.
November 26
The Special Committee on the Canadian Mission in Afghanistan presents its THIRD REPORT. (That the Committee believes a serious breach of privilege has occurred and members’ rights have been violated, that the Government of Canada, particularly the Department of Justice and the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, have intimidated a witness of this Committee, and obstructed and interfered with the Committee's work and with the papers requested by the Committee - therefore the Committee reported the breach to the House for consideration).
December 9
Harper's Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Walter Natynczyk finally, and for the first time, reveals to reporters that such torture had, in fact, occurred in Afghanistan. (Harper's ministers say they were aware of neither Natynczyk's torture reports, nor indeed any of the widespread reports that Afghan
authorities were abusing detainees). (The Spin)
December 11
Liberals / NDP / BLOQ MPs pass a motion (votes: 145-143) in the House Commons that orders Harper's minority government to release thousands of pages of unedited documents in order that Parliament can examine whether Afghan prisoners detained by Canadian forces were subject to torture when handed over to local authorities, and what the government knew about the issue. (The Spin)
December 16
Embassymag.ca publishes "Could Canadians be charged with war crimes?"
December 30
Harper's PR officials announce to Canadians that he has shut Parliament down until March by issuing the following angry "ALERT":
From: Alerte-Info-Alert <Alerte-Info-Alert@pmo-cpm.gc.ca> | To: Alerte-Info-Alert <Alerte-Info-Alert@pmo-cpm.gc.ca> | Sent: Wed Dec 30 13:25:11 2009 |
Subject: New Throne Speech / Nouveau discours du Trأ´ne | Today, the Prime Minister announced that the next phase of our Economic Action Plan will be launched, following the Olympic Games, with a Throne Speech on March 3 and a Budget on March 4. | This is the 105th time in Canada's history that a new Throne Speech will launch a new session of an existing Parliament. | The economy remains Canadians' top priority and our top priority. The three economic themes of the new session will be: (1) completing implementation of the Economic Action Plan, (2) returning the federal budget to balance once the economy has recovered and (3) building the economy of the future. | Ms Hoeppner's bill to repeal the long-gun registry will be unaffected by the launch of a new session. We will reintroduce in their original form the consumer safety law (Bill C-6) and the anti-drug-crime law (Bill C-15) that the Ignatieff Liberals gutted. | We will seek Opposition agreement to proceed expeditiously with other Government legislation -- particularly laws urgently needed to fight crime -- that the Ignatieff Liberals have blocked and obstructed.
January 5
Harper tells the CBC that torture is not on Canadians' "radar". (The Spin)
Canadian voters start ICC letter writing campaign re: war crimes investigation. (The Spin)
January 10
OURCANADA.TK website is launched (The Spin)
Our Canada One Gun Tribute feat. 5.4.4.0. Harper et al. vs. Canada from J Bowman on Vimeo.
Our Canada - "Killing in the Name Of"
Feat. RATM Harper, MacKay et al.
v. Richard Colvin & Canadian Heros
Our Canada is "Against Torture"
January 14 2010 search display results:
"TORTURE"
cbc.ca/news
Results 1 - 10 of about 3750
AD: "Torture at Amazon Great selection of nonfiction books Qualified orders over $39 ship free Amazon.ca/Nonfiction"
The Instruments of Torture, Revised and Updated (Paperback)
by Michael Kerrigan (Author)
No customer reviews yet. Be the first.
torture of prisoners handed over by Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan. ...
www.cbc.ca/politics/story/2009/11/19/afghanistan-torture-colvin-inquiry.html
CBC News - Politics - Hillier didn't hear detainee torture ...
Former chief of defence staff Rick Hillier says he's never heard suggestions that
Canada may have been complicit in the torture of detainees in Afghanistan. ...
www.cbc.ca/politics/story/2009/11/20/hillier-afghanistan-detainee-torture.html
[ More results from www.cbc.ca/politics/story/2009 ]
... Colvin testimony on torture 'ludicrous': Hillier. Last Updated ... Gauthier also
denied he had heard any allegation of torture in 2006. "To be ...
www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2009/11/25/hillier-detainees.html
CBC News - Canada - Muddying the waters over torture
... The Colvin allegations. Brian Stewart. Muddying the waters over torture. ... Torture
in a far off, turbulent land such as Afghanistan seems grimly foreign to us. ...
www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2009/11/25/f-vp-stewart.html
[ More results from www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2009 ]
... Torture claims inquiry report to be submitted on Monday. Last Updated: Monday,
October 20, 2008 | 7:44 AM ET. CBC News. A report from ...
www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2008/10/20/iacobucci-inquiry.html
"The allegations were based on Taliban propaganda and baseless reports."
"The Former deputy head of the Canadian embassy in Afghanistan's testimony, is not to be believed."
Who's telling us about torture?
Bush / Harper / Media Cover Up
Jihad Schoolbook Scandal
Washington Post investigators report that, during the past twenty
years, the US has spent millions of dollars producing fanatical
schoolbooks, which were then distributed in Afghanistan.
"The
primers, which were filled with talk of jihad and featured drawings of
guns, bullets, soldiers and mines, have served since then [i.e., since
the violent destruction of the Afghan secular government in the early
1990s] as the Afghan school system's core curriculum. Even the Taliban
used the American-produced books..." [from: http://www.globalissues.org/article/431/bush--the-media-cover-up-the-jihad-schoolbook-scandal]
Taliban meeting at White House w/ Reagen c.1983
Back to Work Jan. 23 Rallies
Canada: A People's History
First Nations of Canada Welcome Harper to Copenhagen, DK | 2009
The Truth About War
The Story of Stuff
9408
Response from the International Criminal Court Re: Canadian War Crimes Investigation
Today, I received the following reply to my e-mail correspondence from the Prosecutor’s office at the ICC (sent via airmail post):
+++++++++++++++++++++++
Our reference: OTP-CR-15/10
The Hague, 18 January 2010
Dear Sir,
The Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court acknowledges receipt of your documents/letter.
This communication has been duly entered in the Communications Register of the Office. We will give consideration to this communication, as appropriate, in accordance with the provisions of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.
As soon as a decision is reached, we will inform you, in writing, and provide you with reasons for this decision.
Yours sincerely,
M.P. Dillon
Head of Information & Evidence Unit
Office of the Prosecutor
+++++++++++++++++++++++
NOTE:
I have yet to receive any reply from within Canada (i.e. my correspondence to MPs appears to have been utterly ignored).
It is now clear to me that the ICC is taking this matter very seriously, whether Canadian MPs wish to, or not.
I encourage all Canadians who have not already done so, to write to Mr. Ocampo’s office in respect of this matter in order that attention is paid to the PMO’s attempts to stifle / delay / obstruct / the Canadian inquiry into these matters. By writing to the ICC, I have done my part in drawing attention to these shameful allegations that the regime appears to be running from.
Harper and his cohorts may be able to manipulate matters inside of Canada, however the ICC will come to its own conclusions, and Harper will have to deal with justice one way or another – just as all implicated in war crimes ought to.
Please see: http://www.facebook.com/board.php?uid=260348091419&f=524290#!/topic.php?uid=260348091419&topic=12525
Thousands Protest
JAN. 23 2010
January 23rd, 2010 - Victoria Park - London, Ontario, Canada 12 - 2 p.m.
Peaceful Anti-Harper Demonstration Disrupted by Abusive Goons (Run off by Protesters)
O U R C A N A D A
London Protest Rage Tribute
January 21, 2010
Anti-prorogation protesters picket (Truro, NS)
But the prime minister didn’t even get to see their banners and
placards as he was whisked
into a back entrance of the Holiday Inn
enroute to delivering a $10 million cheque
as the federal government’s
contribution to a new regional civic centre.
January 20, 2010
Anti-prorogation protesters picket (Toronto, ON)
Outside 67 Yonge Street, Toronto, Ontario
2pm-4pm.
Security was tight.
(Harper snuck in a side-door to the building avoiding the protest).
A time of reckoning has now come,
and as Canadians take to the streets in protest, our police state will
continue to govern with impunity. Few MPs can be found at their
offices, and those who are found are stating the same thing in a united
voice:
Hey hey - ho ho
the status quo has got to GO.
Jan. 20, 2010 (2 pm - 4 pm)
@ 67 Yonge Street, Toronto, Ontario
Security was tight.
(Harpo snuck in a side-door to the building avoiding the protest).
OUR CANADA:
MAN IN BLACK
Feat. Johnny Cash
An archive of key Canadian media history as it pertains to the fall of Stephen Harper
The Harper Attack on Canadian Democracy Documented
By: 'Defend Parliament' - January 14, 2010
What I have pasted below will turn your stomach i.e. the
persistent Harper/Tory attack on Canadian democracy. Enjoy and pass
it on!
MUZZLING CABINET MINISTERS, MPs, JUDGES, ETC.
How Harper controls the spin
Zeal to manage message sees journalists shunned, bureaucrats, cabinet ministers
routinely muzzled. Public appearances by cabinet ministers – whether it's a
speech or an interview – are carefully staged, starting with a "message
event proposal" vetted by the Privy Council Office, the bureaucratic wing
of the Prime Minister's Office (PMO).
http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/429906
PM slaps muzzle on military brass
http://www.ottawasun.com/News/National/2006/04/15/1535119-sun.html
Hillier, Sr.Officials Muzzled by PMO
http://forums.army.ca/forums/index.php/topic,42247.0.html
Mum’s the word: Harper tells MPs to keep mouths shut
http://www.carleton.ca/ctown/archiv/mar3106/Insite2.htm
Tories tighten muzzle on PS [Public Service] for campaign
http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=93e98b5c-593a-4eac-b835-a4359e80babd
Former chief justice of Canada accuses PM of trying to "muzzle" the
judiciary
http://www.anticorruption.ca/forum/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=4792&sid=44cad6d7756e9bd7010d182cb62e00da
'Muzzle' Placed On Federal Scientists
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=47bf0fba-b98f-43fb-89fb-58b6464a7b24&k=65248
Tories muzzle environmental scientist
http://www.hour.ca/news/news.aspx?iIDArticle=8942
Minister stops book talk by Environment Canada scientist
http://www.cbc.ca/story/arts/national/2006/04/13/ambrose-climate.html
Mum's the word till message vetted
No federal cabinet minister speaks to a journalist, gives a speech or makes a
policy announcement until a "message event proposal" has been vetted
by a wing of the Prime Minister's Office.
http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/429903
Harper lawsuit smacks of authoritarian state: prof
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2008/08/07/harper-lawsuit.html
Holland shocked by Conservative comments on media
http://www.markholland.ca/news/2006/060331harpermedia.htm
Harper government whips Tories into line with secret handbook
http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/columnists/story.html?id=b8122d51-95e8-4b29-b99b-34217406425d
Information Commissioner Robert Marleau told The Hill Times recently that the
Harper government has been quietly drafting about 25 government policies that
impact on the rights of officers of Parliament, and that it has been happening
without their knowledge or input.
http://www.thehilltimes.ca/members/login.php?fail=2&destination=/html/cover_index.php?display=story&full_path=/2008/may/12/spindoctors/
Conservative headquarters scripting calls to radio shows
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080325.wtorytalk0325/BNStory/National/home
Feds keep lid on Atomic Energy Canada sale report
http://www.montrealgazette.com/health/Feds+keep+Atomic+Energy+Canada+sale+report/2121029/story.html
Huge loss expected in any AECL sale, MPs concede
http://www.montrealgazette.com/business/Huge+loss+expected+AECL+sale+concede/2129653/story.html
Is he sitting on it?
Public Safety Minister Peter Van Loan still has not tabled the 2008 report from
the Commissioner of Firearms. Knowing the report will likely be favourable to
the existing gun registry, many have questioned whether Van Loan is suppressing
the report until after tonight's vote on scrapping the long gun registry.
http://www.cbc.ca/politics/insidepolitics/2009/11/is-he-sitting-on-it.html
Canada slips in 'press freedom' rankings
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/712978--canada-slips-in-press-freedom-rankings
Torture probe delayed; Tories deny gagging witness
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/704155
Lawyers seek to gag witnesses in Afghan prisoner inquiry
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20090929/taliban_prisoners_090929/20090929?hub=Canada
Has Canada entered a 'Bush-like vortex'?
Richard Colvin's torture allegations suggest civil servants aren't writing down
what the government doesn't want recorded
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/has-canada-entered-a-bush-like-vortex/article1404311/
PMO issued instructions on denying abuse in '07
Former NATO official says response to reports was 'scripted' in Ottawa
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/afghanmission/article/729157--pmo-issued-instructions-on-denying-abuse-in-07
Tories attack credibility of diplomat who blew whistle on torture
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/tories-attack-credibility-of-diplomat-who-blew-whistle-on-torture/article1369993/
Attack on senior diplomat signals demise of independent public service: experts
"If we don’t have a public service that speaks truth to power we might as
well have everything run out of the Prime Minister’s Office.”
http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Attack+Colvin+signals+demise+independent+public+service/2283460/story.html
Diplomats told to keep quiet on torture allegations, sources say
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/diplomats-told-to-keep-quiet-on-torture-allegations-sources-say/article1367390/
Former ambassadors condemn Ottawa's attack on diplomat
Response to Colvin's detainee testimony discourages honest reports, letter says
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/former-ambassadors-condemn-ottawas-attack-on-diplomat/article1392248/
Public service in crisis over Colvin
The Harper government's attack on a senior diplomat could be the final blow in
the unravelling of Canada's once-sacred tradition of an independent,
non-partisan public service, warn experts
http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Public+service+crisis+over+Colvin/2285239/story.html
Afghan detainee watchdog warns of Tory ‘chilling effect'
Departing military commission chief's [BECAUSE HE WAS REFUSED REAPPOINTMENT BY
THE TORIES] comments come as Harper government digs in its heels in face of
parliamentary order to turn over confidential files
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/afghan-detainee-watchdog-warns-of-tory-chilling-effect/article1397570/
Detainee watchdog post remains unfilled
Military police commission set to meet in March, but Ottawa's delays in
appointing new chairman could prompt delay
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/detainee-watchdog-post-remains-unfilled/article1428874/
Feds refuse legal funding to whistleblower diplomat
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20091027/whistleblower_legal_091027/20091027?hub=Canada
Ottawa's stance on whistleblower's legal costs called 'unethical'
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/716489--ottawa-s-stance-on-whistleblower-s-legal-costs-called-unethical
Feds tried to order nuclear regulator to bend rules
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20071218/reactor_order_071218/20071218?hub=Politics
Ottawa fires nuclear safety commission head [nuclear regulator]
http://www.cbc.ca/news/yourview/2008/01/ottawa_fires_nuclear_safety_co.html
Ousted regulator just doing her job
http://www.thestar.com/comment/columnists/article/294886
Tories drop RCMP complaints commissioner
Paul Kennedy sparred with government over office's powers, budget
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/731775--tories-drop-rcmp-complaints-commissioner
Clement slams CMA doctors for supporting drug-injection site
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=732204
Scientific data backs Insite
http://www.straight.com/scientific-data-backs-insite
Budget officer [Kevin Page] questions projected federal surplus
http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/canada/Budget+officer+questions+projected+surplus/1054174/story.html
If the object of the exercise was “truth in budgeting”, that’s what Kevin’s
office provided. But that realism, whether in regard to rosy but flawed
government fiscal forecasts or the true cost of the war in Afghanistan,
has been a bit too much truth for this government. Mr. [Kevin] Page’s office
has had its budget cut by one million dollars.
http://informedvote.ca/2009/11/07/our-parliamentary-budget-officer-kevin-page-%E2%80%93-a-canadian-hero/
Conservatives stop funding for learning organization
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/conservatives-stop-funding-for-learning-organization/article1423912/
Ottawa is cutting off public input into climate-change policy
http://www.montrealgazette.com/opinion/Ottawa+cutting+public+input+into+climate+change+policy/2126254/story.html
Tory candidate dumped for frank TV comments: Mused riding wouldn't get
infrastructure cash because it's Liberal-held
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/article/702396
Tory candidates avoiding debates [Election Campaign, 2008]
Campaign official says 'there's no policy' forbidding participation in certain
all-candidates' meetings
http://www.thestar.com/FederalElection/article/510147
Gov't program wants job applicants' views on Tory budget
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20091104/interns_federal_091104/20091104?hub=QPeriod
Insults, discourtesy and disrespect mark Harper team's behaviour: Targets have
included AIDS activists, Nobel Prize winners and Road to Avonlea star
http://www.harperindex.ca/ViewArticle.cfm?Ref=00145
THE CULTURE OF SECRECY
Watchdog blasts Tories for secrecy obsession: Information chief challenges Ottawa
to ease 'stranglehold'
http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/593921
Watchdog alarmed by Harper's information clampdown
Canada's information watchdog says the public knows less than ever about what
its government is doing – a stark contrast to Barack Obama's push for openness
in the United States.
http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/575765
Government secrecy ‘grim,' watchdog says
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090226.wPOLinformation0226/BNStory/politics/home
Ottawa nixes bid to expand transparency
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ottawa-nixes-bid-to-expand-transparency/article1325061/
Watchdog slams lack of transparency in stimulus spending
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20091009/watchdog_stimulus_091009/20091009?hub=TopStoriesV2
Can't say if federal stimulus is working: watchdog
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2009/12/11/stimulus-funding-watchdog011.html
Tory stimulus boast tough to verify
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20091203/stimulus_cash_091203/20091203?hub=Canada
Tories blasted for secrecy on stimulus cash
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/stimulus/article/718466--tories-blasted-for-secrecy-on-stimulus-cash
Stimulus spending watchdogs stymied by lack of data
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20091004/stimulus_data_091004/20091004?hub=Canada
Tories not so open now
http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/article/712110--tories-not-so-open-now
Ottawa seeks secrecy in Tamil migrant case
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/ottawa-seeks-secrecy-in-tamil-migrant-case/article1406347/
CENTRALIZING POWER IN STEPHEN HARPER’S HANDS
Siddiqui: Harper acting like an elected dictator
http://www.thestar.com/comment/article/740829?bn=1
Gomery slams Harper for ignoring him
The man who investigated the sponsorship scandal says Prime Minister Stephen
Harper seems to have abandoned any commitment he once had to transparent
government in favour of a top-down style that centralizes power in his own
hands.
http://www.marketingmag.ca/english/news/agency/article.jsp?content=20080131_777333_2206
Gomery slams increasing power of PM's office
http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/345503
Failure to decentralize PMO power poses danger to democracy: Gomery
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2008/03/13/gomery-committee.html
CONTEMPT FOR ACCOUNTABILITY
Ottawa moves to block detainee-transfer hearings [2008]
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/article722656.ece
Redactions hamper Afghan detainee probe [2009]
Unreadable documents make meaningful inquiry ‘almost impossible’ and reflect
government efforts to keep record a secret
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/redactions-hamper-afghan-detainee-probe/article1383375/
Ottawa won't release Afghan documents
Harper government says it will not comply with Opposition motion passed by
Parliament, setting stage for legal battle
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/afghanmission/article/737634--ottawa-won-t-release-afghan-documents
Tories to ignore vote on releasing prisoner reports
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20091211/afghanistan_motion_091211/20091211?hub=TopStoriesV2
Parliament in showdown with Harper government over Afghan documents
http://www.cbc.ca/cp/national/091211/n1211113A.html
Tories refuse to release uncensored documents on Afghan detainees
http://www.montrealgazette.com/Tories+refuse+release+uncensored+documents+Afghan+detainees/2330193/story.html
Tories force shutdown of hearing on torture [2009]
Opposition blasts boycott as whistleblower readies rebuttal to Ottawa today
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/afghanmission/article/739427
Tories dodging detainee debate to slurp eggnog?
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/blogs/bureau-blog/tories-dodging-detainee-debate-to-slurp-eggnog/article1409101/
Ritz avoids listeria joke questions at agriculture debate
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/article713835.ece
Promised listeriosis probe still lacks investigator
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090104.wlisteriosisprobe0104/BNStory/politics/home
Harper government withholds listeriosis notes
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090222.wfoilisteriosis0222/BNStory/politics/home
Did lag in releasing listeriosis notes break law?
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20090223/listeriosis_notes_090223/20090223?hub=Canada
Tories opened patronage doors before election: CP
Harper, who railed against Liberal patronage in the 2006 election, later failed
to deliver on a campaign pledge to put an independent commission in charge of
vetting cabinet appointments. He angrily shelved the idea after opposition MPs
refused to ratify his nomination of Gwyn Morgan, a Calgary oil baron who is also a friend of the
prime minister, as the commission chair.
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080929/election2008_patronage_080930/20080929?s_name=election2008
Harper makes history by naming 18 senators in one day
http://www.cbc.ca/cp/national/081222/n122280A.html
Stalled investigation
In April of last year Elections Canada asked the RCMP to help raid Conservative
headquarters in Ottawa
to search for evidence. Investigators seized dozens of boxes of documents and
copied millions of files from the party's computers. But according to an
affidavit filed in court, the Conservatives' lawyer claimed virtually all the
documents were subject to solicitor-client privilege. Meaning everything had to
be sealed.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/politicalbytes/2009/01/stalled_investigation.html
'NAFTAgate' began with PM's chief of staff
http://news.therecord.com/article/318895
Harper says Obama leak might have been illegal
Prime Minister Stephen Harper says leaks from his government that rocked Barack
Obama's U.S. presidential campaign were "blatantly unfair" - and may
have been illegal.
http://www.thewesternstar.com/index.cfm?sid=114599&sc=505
Not investigating 'NAFTAgate' leak: Conservatives
http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/309381
Prentice defends use of government jet
An analysis of federal air travel by a French-language television network found
that 15 ministers had used the private plane 72 times after four years in
office, including 31 trips that did not appear to meet government criteria for
use of the plane.
http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Prentice+defends+government/2421858/story.html
Tories stall on Liberal request for jet passengers
The Harper government says it is unable to provide the names of passengers who
have flown on its fleet of Challenger executive jets since 2006 because it
would take longer than a month-and-a-half to assemble the list.
http://www.montrealgazette.com/Tories+stall+Liberal+request+passengers/2240281/story.html
CONTEMPT FOR ETHICS
People don't care about Afghan detainee issue: Harper
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/746448--people-don-t-care-about-afghan-detainee-issue-harper?bn=1
PM's former adviser accused of peddling access to corridors of power
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081212.wbrodie12/BNStory/Front
Bureaucrats objected to gov't ad campaign: sources
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20091008/govt_advertising_091008/20091008?hub=Politics
PM ignores fixed-election date law
http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/CanadaVotes/News/2008/09/07/6690346-cp.html
Conservatives confusing public on 'in and out' financing says Prof. MacIvor
http://www.thehilltimes.ca/html/index.php?display=story&full_path=2008/april/21/legislation/&c=2
RCMP raids Tory party headquarters
The Conservatives insist the transactions were legal but Elections Canada
disagrees and rival parties have labeled the scheme outright fraud
http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/414652
Tories overspent on election by $1M: warrant
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2008/04/20/rcmp-torieswarrant.html
Tory dissenters 'idiots, turds'
Workers on the campaign of a Conservative MP who declined to participate in the
in-and-out advertising scheme in the 2006 election were denounced as
"idiots" and a "bunch of turds"
by senior party officials, who wanted to "put the fear of God" into
them for not taking part in the contentious TV and radio purchases.
http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/decisioncanada/story.html?id=060d55a6-71be-4426-9188-f67987e472f9
Tory MP admits he broke elections law
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090401.wPOLelxn0401/BNStory/politics/home
Tory MP derides jobless as 'no-good bastards'
MPs' comments on unemployed, abortion show party's 'meanness,' opposition
critics say
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/730478--tory-mp-derides-jobless-as-no-good-bastards
Finley under fire for 'lucrative' jobless comment
Conservative government has no interest in increasing Employment Insurance
payments and making it “lucrative” for jobless workers to sit around the house
http://www.montrealgazette.com/business/Finley+under+fire+lucrative+jobless+comment/1245571/story.html
“In terms of the unemployed... don't feel particularly bad for many of these
people. They don't feel bad about it themselves, as long as they're receiving
generous social assistance and unemployment insurance.”
Stephen Harper, Speech to the [American] Council for National Policy, June 1997
Full text of Stephen Harper's 1997 speech
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20051213/elxn_harper_speech_text_051214/20051214/
PM's Jewish pitch hits a new low, critics say Tory flyer suggests Liberals are
anti-Semitic
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/727885--pm-s-jewish-pitch-hits-a-new-low-critics-say
Speaker slaps Tory wrists over hyper-partisan flyers
http://www.cbc.ca/cp/national/091119/n1119147A.html
Speaker rules flyers may have damaged MP's reputation
http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Speaker+rules+flyers+have+damaged+reputation/2273061/story.html
“… new book made the claim that former Conservative MP Chuck
Cadman was essentially offered financial inducements [ a $1 million life
insurance policy] by Conservative party officials to vote down the Liberal
government's 2005 budget …. Chuck Cadman's widow [a current Conservative MP]
has said her late husband told her about the offer. Two other family members
say Cadman told them the same thing ….”
Quoted from “Dion, Harper clash over Cadman allegations”, http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080303/harper_lawsuit_080303/20080303
PM's cutback plan: Choke rival parties
http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/544388
NDP considers legal action after Tories tape private meeting
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/article725170.ece
Recreational stimulus favours Tory ridings
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/recreational-stimulus-favours-tory-ridings/article1332609/
Tory ridings get more stimulus money
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2009/10/22/stimulus-spending.html
Stimulus funds forget high jobless areas
http://www.cbc.ca/cp/national/091111/n111141A.html
Lobbying czar probes firm with ties to Tories
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/lobbying-czar-probes-firm-with-ties-to-tories/article1339588/
Raitt accused of expense abuse: She improperly approved her London trip, Port
Authority's former chair says
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/721434--raitt-accused-of-expense-abuse?bn=1
Why were port authority board minutes altered?
Documents approved in December 2008 differ greatly from those rewritten and
approved six months later, Star examination finds
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/722028--why-were-port-authority-board-minutes-altered
Raitt under fire for calling cancer, isotope crisis 'sexy
http://www.canada.com/news/Raitt+refuses+apologize+calling+cancer+radiation+sexy/1678638/story.html
Tories overstate cost of Liberal EI plan: budget office
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2009/09/11/employment-insurance.html
Tory attack on carbon tax is dishonest: economist
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080610/tory_ads_080610?s_name=&no_ads=
Harper won't rule out carbon tax
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/741961--harper-won-t-rule-out-carbon-tax
Tories outspent Liberals on consultants
The Conservative government spent almost $1 billion on consultants in its first
two years in office – nearly double what the Liberals spent in a similar time
period, a Toronto Star investigation shows
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/550044
PM's pal gets government job
Appointment to board of directors is geologist's third posting to be criticized
for favouritism
http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/624802
Conservative spending on polls hits $31-million, DOUBLES Liberals [under the
previous gov’t] http://www.nationalpost.com/news/canada/story.html?id=142342
Tory MP who led anti-drug campaign charged with cocaine possession
http://www.cbc.ca/cp/national/090916/n0916139A.html
Tories spend 5 times more on ads than H1N1 prevention
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/698415
Harper so far unscathed by HST blowback
Federal support key to tax harmonization that has been poorly received by
Canadians
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/harper-so-far-unscathed-by-hst-blowback/article1308907/
Tories reject fast-tracking of sentencing bill
Conservatives rejected a bid Thursday to expedite a key piece of their
tough-on-crime agenda, even as they continued to bash Liberal senators for
holding up the legislation
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20091009/nicholson_legislation_091009/20091009?hub=Canada
Canada quietly asks EPA to weaken anti-pollution measures
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/canada-quietly-asks-epa-to-weaken-anti-pollution-measures/article1327805/
Ethics czar to investigate Tory logos on cheques
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20091020/cheque_probe_091020/20091020?hub=TopStoriesV2
Taxpayers on hook for $1.7-million as PMO rolls out video
Extra funding requested to help bolster Stephen Harper's communications support
services
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/taxpayers-on-hook-for-17-million-as-pmo-rolls-out-video/article1393248/
Tories spend $108,000 on 1-hour event
The Conservative government spent more than $100,000 staging a one-hour event
in June to provide an update on its economic recovery program
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/712078--tories-spend-108-000-on-1-hour-event
John Baird won't let truth blunt a good barb
For second consecutive day, Transport Minister misquotes Liberal defence critic
in fending off criticism on Afghan detainee torture allegations
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/blogs/bureau-blog/john-baird-wont-let-truth-blunt-a-good-barb/article1384665/
Climate walkout `certainly happened'
Despite minister's denial, email confirms incident
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/744092--climate-walkout-certainly-happened
Flaherty's deficit plan: Take an axe and cut deep
'I've done it before,' in Harris-era Ontario
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/742220--flaherty-s-deficit-plan-take-an-axe-and-cut-deep?bn=1
Tory prison policy 'wedge politics': study
Critics say Harper's blueprint for revamping corrections policy disregards
studied evidence
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/tory-corrections-policy-just-wedge-politics-study/article1300457/
Tory suspended for comments about dead soldier's father is back on job
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2008/10/21/sparrow-tories.html
Harper was in on the ground floor of coalition building
Ironically, it was Stephen Harper who first brought the option of vaulting to
power from the benches of the official Opposition to the fore in the early days
of Paul Martin's 2004 minority regime.Even before the presentation of Martin's
Speech from the Throne, Harper had sought out his two opposition rivals to lay
the groundwork of an alliance to unseat the Liberals.
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/712078--tories-spend-108-000-on-1-hour-event
Bloc part of secret coalition plot in 2000 with Canadian Alliance
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/article725469.ece
Tory aide tried to scuttle Hanukkah event: organizer
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20081224/Hanukah_Flap_081224/20081224?hub=Canada
Payroll taxes to wipe out income tax cuts in 2009: watchdog group
http://www.cbc.ca/consumer/story/2008/12/30/taxes.html
Harper zigzags on economy
For the past three months, the only thing consistent about Prime Minister
Stephen Harper's position on the economy has been its inconsistency
http://www.thestar.com/comment/article/554978
CONTEMPT FOR CANADA AND CANADIANS
“Canada appears content to become a second-tier socialistic country, boasting
ever more loudly about its economy and social services to mask its second-rate
status….”
Stephen Harper,
National Post editorial, 2000
“It may not be true, but it's legendary that if you're like all Americans, you
know almost nothing except for your own country, which makes you probably
knowledgeable about one more country than most Canadians.”
Stephen Harper, Speech to the [American] Council for National Policy, June 1997
Full text of Stephen Harper's 1997 speech
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20051213/elxn_harper_speech_text_051214/20051214/
“Canada is a Northern European welfare state in the worst sense of the term,
and very proud of it.”
Stephen Harper, Speech to the [American] Council for National Policy, June 1997
Full text of Stephen Harper's 1997 speech
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20051213/elxn_harper_speech_text_051214/20051214/
Flaherty calls Ontario 'last place' to invest
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/toronto/story/2008/03/01/flaherty-budget.html
Economists warn against Flaherty's attacks on Ontario
http://www.nationalpost.com/related/topics/story.html?id=360520
Conservative government seems to be picking on Ontario
http://www.navdeepbains.ca/.%5Cupfiles%5CBram%20Guard.pdf
"Whether Canada ends up as one national government or two national
governments or several national governments, or some other kind of arrangement
is, quite frankly, secondary in my opinion ….”
Stephen Harper,
Speech to the Colin Brown Memorial Dinner, National Citizens Coalition, 1994
“If Ottawa giveth, then Ottawa can taketh away… This is one more reason why
Westerners, but Albertans in particular, need to think hard about their future
in this country. After sober reflection, Albertans should decide that it is
time to seek a new relationship with Canada …Having hit a wall, the next
logical step is not to bang our heads against it. It is to take the bricks and
begin building another home – a stronger and much more autonomous Alberta. It is time to
look at Quebec
and to learn. What Albertans should take from this example is to become
“maitres chez nous”.
Stephen Harper
National Post, December 8, 2000
“You’ve got to remember that west of Winnipeg the ridings the Liberals hold are
dominated by people who are either recent Asian immigrants or recent migrants
from eastern Canada: people who live in ghettoes and who are not integrated
into western Canadian society."
Stephen Harper,
The Report newsmagazine, January 22, 2001
"I think in Atlantic Canada … there is a culture of defeat that we have to
overcome. …Atlantic Canada's culture of defeat will be hard to overcome as long
as Atlantic Canada is actually physically trailing the rest of the country.”
Stephen Harper,
New Brunswick Telegraph Journal, May 29, 2002
CONTEMPT FOR PARLIAMENT
WAR WITH ELECTIONS CANADA
RCMP raids Tory party headquarters
The Conservatives insist the transactions were legal but Elections Canada
disagrees and rival parties have labeled the scheme outright fraud
http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/414652
Tories oppose Bloc motion supporting Elections Canada
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2008/04/29/elections-motion.html
Legal fees mount in Tory case against Elections Canada
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/article729554.ece
PARLIAMENT DIMINISHED
PM's 'bizarre' report card under attack
Critics charge that not only are his claims that he and the Conservatives saved
the economy meaningless, his pattern of disdain for Parliament reached new
levels when he upstaged his finance minister and delivered the [economic]
update while overseas.
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/733969
PROLOGUE: THE FIRST LIES ABOUT DETAINEE TORTURE EXPOSED
April 27, 2007
Reports confirm Canada’s complicity in Afghan state torture
http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=5501
Nov.15, 2007
'Credible' case of torture found in Afghanistan
http://www.thestar.com/article/276691
Transfer of detainees is complicity in torture
http://www.thestar.com/comment/article/276161
THE FIRST WAR ON PARLIAMENT: LOCKING OUT PARLIAMENT TO SAVE STEPHEN HARPER’S
JOB
Opposition parties won't support Tory economic update
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2008/11/27/question-period.html
Harper's reckless game of chicken could lead to election
http://www.montrealgazette.com/harper+reckless+game+chicken+could+lead+election/1013467/story.html
Conservatives 'fume' about blunder
Their blades remain sheathed but astonished Conservatives are quietly fuming
about the tactical blunder they fear could toss them into opposition. And the
blame seems to be landing on the prime minister's doorstep.
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/546661
Harper to blame for political crisis
http://www.thestar.com/comment/article/546179
Fighting for his career, Harper will use all weapons at his disposal
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081202.wcosimp03/BNStory/politics
Tories may dodge confidence vote
http://www.montrealgazette.com/Tories+dodge+confidence+vote/1025030/story.html
PM hangs on as Parliament shut down for seven weeks
http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/548382#video
Canadian Leader Shuts Parliament
Canada’s parliamentary opposition reacted with outrage on Thursday after Prime
Minister Stephen Harper shut down the legislature until Jan. 26, seeking to
forestall a no-confidence vote that he was sure to lose and, possibly,
provoking a constitutional crisis.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/05/world/americas/05canada.html?_r=2&hp
THE SECOND WAR ON PARLIAMENT
ACT I: ESCAPING THE COPENHAGEN FIASCO
Canada contradicts climate change consensus at Commonwealth
http://www.montrealgazette.com/business/Canada+contradicts+climate+change+consensus/2275617/story.html
Canada falling behind U.S. in clean-energy efforts: experts
http://www.montrealgazette.com/business/Canada+lags+behind+clean+energy+experts/2382672/story.html
No faith in Harper on climate
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/no-faith-in-harper-on-climate/article1394595/
Harper lies low in Copenhagen
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/harper-lies-low-in-copenhagen/article1404101/
With the world watching, Canada draws line in the oil sands
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/climate-change/with-the-world-watching-canada-draws-line-in-the-oil-sands/article1401901/
Prentice hints there may be 'special breaks' for tarsands
http://www.thestar.com/news/sciencetech/environment/copenhagensummit/article/739078--prentice-hints-there-may-be-special-breaks-for-tarsands?bn=1
Ontario and Quebec slam Ottawa on climate
http://www.thestar.com/news/sciencetech/environment/copenhagensummit/article/738264--ontario-and-quebec-slam-ottawa-on-climate
Prentice delivers Canada's unpopular position
Harper leaves it to his Environment Minister to present plenary session
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/climate-change/prentice-delivers-canadas-unpopular-position/article1404676/
Harper lays low, Prentice addresses UN in Copenhagen
http://www.thestar.com/news/sciencetech/environment/copenhagensummit/article/740177--harper-lays-low-prentice-addresses-un-in-copenhagen
Groups declare Canada world's biggest environmental offender at climate talks
http://www.cbc.ca/cp/national/091218/n121867A.html
Canada's a joke at climate talks
http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/article/739272--canada-s-a-joke-at-climate-talks
Quebec premier tears into Harper government's performance on environment
http://www.cbc.ca/cp/national/091222/n122287A.html
Charest rips into Harper government over environment
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20091222/charest_harper_091222/20091222?hub=TopStoriesV2
Canadians cool to Harper's climate change stand
http://www.montrealgazette.com/technology/Canadians+cool+Harper+climate+change+stand/2371025/story.html
Canadians, Conservatives differ on climate: poll
Petition, protest keep pressure on Harper government, as key U.S. agency moves
on greenhouse gas emissions
http://www.thestar.com/news/sciencetech/environment/copenhagensummit/article/735389
PM suspends Parliament
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/744175--pm-suspends-parliament?bn=1
ACT II: WAS THE HARPER GOVERNMENT COMPLICIT IN WAR CRIMES?
Scene I: THE ACCUSATION
Canada handed over innocent Afghans to torture: diplomat
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/canada-handed-over-innocent-afghans-to-torture-diplomat/article1368631/
Scene II: THE VILLAIN’S ROLE IS MISCAST
Tories attack credibility of diplomat who blew whistle on torture
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/tories-attack-credibility-of-diplomat-who-blew-whistle-on-torture/article1369993/
Canada generals deny ignoring Afghan abuse warnings
Generals say crucial reports did not mention torture
"Ludicrous" to say most detainees abused – general
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN25361220
Scene III: THE SUPPORTING CAST REVEALED
PMO issued instructions on denying abuse in '07
Former NATO official says response to reports was 'scripted' in Ottawa
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/afghanmission/article/729157--pmo-issued-instructions-on-denying-abuse-in-07
Diplomats told to keep quiet on torture allegations, sources say
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/diplomats-told-to-keep-quiet-on-torture-allegations-sources-say/article1367390/
Many detainees were just farmers, Afghan official says
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/many-detainees-were-just-farmers-afghan-official-says/article1372428/
Detainee ties to insurgency could not always be established: Afghan agency
http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Detainee+ties+insurgency+could+always+established+Afghan+agency/2285358/story.html
Canadians warned early that Afghan detainees faced torture
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/canadians-warned-early-that-afghan-detainees-faced-torture/article1323231/
EU diplomat backs claims on torture
Canadian's warnings on Afghan detainees reflected common view, says his
European colleague
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/afghanmission/article/728958--eu-diplomat-backs-claims-on-torture
Dutch raised concerns over conditions in 2006: Netherlands suggested a separate
facility
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/afghanmission/article/731044--dutch-raised-concerns-over-conditions-in-2006
Coalition allies faulted Canada over handling of detainees
Complaint was lodged over secretive approach on captures as early as summer of
2006
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/coalition-allies-faulted-canada-over-handling-of-detainees/article1400522/
Red Cross warned Canada of Afghan prison abuse
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20091202/red_cross_091202/20091202?hub=TopStoriesV2
Afghans rejected Canadian-captured prisoners for 'insufficient evidence'
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/afghanmission/article/734238--afghans-rejected-canadian-captured-prisoners-for-insufficient-evidence
Hillier accused of 'trivializing' torture at detainees hearing
http://www.montrealgazette.com/life/Hillier+accused+trivializing+torture+detainees+hearing/2371954/story.html
The record and the falsehoods: The government's insistence it knew nothing
about the torture of Afghan detainees becomes more and more tenuous
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/opinions/editorials/the-record-and-the-falsehoods/article1392183/
Canada defended Afghan 'human-rights abuser,' memos allege
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/afghanmission/article/738292--canada-defended-afghan-human-rights-abuser-memos-allege
Canada kept feared Afghan governor in power despite rep as 'human-rights
abuser'
http://www.cbc.ca/cp/national/091213/n121375A.html
Scene IV: PETER MACKAY, CANADA’S VERSION OF SARGEANT “I KNOW NOTHING” SCHULTZ,
DELIVERS HIS SOLILOQUY
Government denies liability in torture cases despite report
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/697974
Tories reject call for Afghan torture inquiry
No proof detainees were tortured, defence minister says
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2009/11/19/afghanistan-torture-colvin-inquiry.html
Scene V: NEMESIS, THOU ART A BITCH!
Proof of detainee abuse exists, despite MacKay's denials
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/subscribe.jsp?art=1390782
Ex-ambassadors condemn gov't on detainee issue
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20091208/afghan_ambassador_0911208/20091208?hub=TopStoriesV2
Warnings on detainees were e-mailed to MacKay's office
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/warnings-on-detainees-were-e-mailed-to-mackays-office/article1377821/
MacKay's office got Red Cross warnings about Afghan treatment
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/afghanmission/article/731056--mackay-s-office-got-red-cross-warnings-about-afghan-treatment
Documents confirm whistleblower's emails were sent to then-Foreign Affairs
minister Peter MacKay's office
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/afghanmission/article/733623--heavily-censored-afghan-abuse-memos-released?bn=1
Why was Harper so blind to abuse?
http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/article/736829--why-was-harper-so-blind-to-abuse
Scene VI: HARPO, I HAVE A FEELING THAT WE’RE NOT IN KANSAS ANYMORE!
Natynczyk makes major reversal on detainee story
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20091209/mackay_oconnor_091209/20091209?hub=TopStoriesV2
Scene VI: TWAS BUT A DREAM AND THE BLACKED OUT MEMOS ARE STILL A BIT FUZZY
Harper government changes tune on Afghan prisoner issue
MacKay says Tories were aware of concerns and began to act shortly after taking
office
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/harper-government-changes-tune-on-afghan-prisoner-issue/article1381187/
Heavily-censored Afghan abuse memos released
Documents confirm whistleblower's emails were sent to then-Foreign Affairs
minister Peter MacKay's office
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/afghanmission/article/733623--heavily-censored-afghan-abuse-memos-released?bn=1
Scene VII: FRAILTY, THY NAME IS PARLIAMENT!
Parliament in showdown with Harper government over Afghan documents
http://www.cbc.ca/cp/national/091211/n1211113A.html
Ottawa won't release Afghan documents
Harper government says it will not comply with Opposition motion passed by
Parliament, setting stage for legal battle
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/afghanmission/article/737634--ottawa-won-t-release-afghan-documents
Tories to ignore vote on releasing prisoner reports
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20091211/afghanistan_motion_091211/20091211?hub=TopStoriesV2
Tories refuse to release uncensored documents on Afghan detainees
http://www.montrealgazette.com/Tories+refuse+release+uncensored+documents+Afghan+detainees/2330193/story.html
Conservative boycott shuts down Afghan detainee hearing
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/conservative-boycott-shuts-down-afghan-detainee-hearing/article1401524/
Tories force shutdown of hearing on torture
Opposition blasts boycott as whistleblower readies rebuttal to Ottawa today
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/afghanmission/article/739427
Tories dodging detainee debate to slurp eggnog?
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/blogs/bureau-blog/tories-dodging-detainee-debate-to-slurp-eggnog/article1409101/
ACT III
Scene I: THE DEMOCRACY DEATH SCENE?
PM suspends Parliament
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/744175--pm-suspends-parliament?bn=1
EPILOGUE: AT HOME AND ABROAD
Democracy diminished, accountability avoided
By suspending Parliament, Stephen Harper allows the governing party to elude
the detainee issue, a move that undermines the democratic rights of the people
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/opinions/democracy-diminished-accountability-avoided/article1415461/
Prorogation redux: Harper in contempt of Parliament
His request to shut down the House again undermines Canada's democratic
institutions
http://www.thestar.com/comment/article/745949
The Economist vents spleen on PM's decision to prorogue
“His officials faced grilling by parliamentary committees over whether they
misled the House of Commons in denying knowledge that detainees handed over to
the local authorities by Canadian troops in Afghanistan were being tortured.
The government would also have come under fire for its lack of policies to curb
Canada’s abundant carbon emissions.”
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/blogs/bureau-blog/the-economist-vents-spleen-on-pms-decision-to-prorogue/article1422507/
'Harper goes prorogue,' The Economist laments
"Never mind what his spin doctors say: Mr. Harper's move looks like naked
self-interest," says the editorial. The editorial likens Canadian
ministers to hapless former U.S.
president Gerald Ford, "who could not walk and chew gum at the same
time."
http://www.cbc.ca/politics/story/2010/01/07/harper-economist.html
Canadian Leader Shuts Parliament
Canada’s
parliamentary opposition reacted with outrage on Thursday after Prime Minister
Stephen Harper shut down the legislature until Jan. 26, seeking to forestall a
no-confidence vote that he was sure to lose and, possibly, provoking a
constitutional crisis.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/05/world/americas/05canada.html?_r=2&hp
Afghans violating detainee-transfer agreement
A number of insurgents handed over to Afghan police can't be accounted for,
despite Ottawa's
assertion transfer
http://www.A.com/news/politics/afghans-violating-detainee-transfer-agreement/article1399050/
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING:
Facebook wall post by J. Bowman - Jan. 17
"Absolutely mind-boggling, how a government can argue that it makes
us safe to remove the rule of law. Because if you think it through, the rule of law is there to protect us from the state. And yet
the state is passing legislation which seems more geared to
protect the state against us than from us against safety concerns.......And it's not even on our radar that the government
might be trying to pass legislation that violates our rights, that takes
our rights away, that moves away from the rule of law - and we can not
sit still and allow that to happen."
- Steven Buckley - Constitutional lawyer and
president of the NHPPA" from: http://ourcanada.viviti.com
See also: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDQIIMC53yg&feature=player_embedded
Reply from: Bob Grant a.k.a. Stephanie Cormier
"Geeez...I get the impression this person lives in a room
with tin foil glued all over the walls and ceilings so the government won't be
able to eavesdrop on his thoughts..."
Rebuttal from J. Bowman:
Hi Bob. Watch the news clips, read this http://ourcanada.viviti.com/archives
and then please tell me who appears to have tinfoil for a brain, and who is defending our
hijacked democracy. Thanks for your encouragement, support, and showing how out
of touch and rude (belittling) people like you are, asshole. See you at the
rally!
Opinion
The notion that Harper is somehow immune or above-the-law, merely because he thinks that he is, is 'silly'.
'Silly', it seems to me, is the notion that Harper is somehow immune or above-the-law merely because he thinks that he is. (We are in the midst of compiling a list of Canadians who have been forced to take this depraved regime to court in order to compel governance pursuant to respected tradition and the rule of law). See: http://ourcanada.tk/archives to learn more.
"Silly", it seems to me, is also the notion that 'intimidating a witness', 'contempt', and 'obstruction' of Canada's ultimate and supreme authority (that of our Parliament), is somehow 'spinnable' into acts that Canadians swallow like poisonous pills prescribed for them by foreign 'spin doctors' such as Ari Fleisher and David Frum. See more information on MPs' complacent 'hands off' approach to public health emergencies at [http://not4me.tk].
"...Harper's office in Ottawa 'scripted and fed' the precise wording NATO officials in Kabul used to repudiate allegations of abuse at a time when it was privately and generally acknowledged in our office that the chances of good treatment at the hands of Afghan security forces were almost zero."
"It was highly unusual. I was told this was the titanic issue for Prime Minister Harper and that every single statement that went out needed to be cleared by him personally,..." [From: PMO issued instructions on denying abuse in '07 : Former NATO official says response to reports was 'scripted' in Ottawa].
A time of reckoning has now come, and as Canadians take to the streets in protest, our police state will continue to govern with impunity. Few MPs can be found at their offices, and those who are found are stating the same thing in a united voice: Hey hey, ho ho - the status quo has got to GO.
That, it seems to me, is not so silly.
January 22, 2010
POLL RESULTS UPDATE:
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