Cuts to the environment and science budgets are the sign of the future

Having been an elementary teacher, I know the importance of teaching using an holistic approach. My curriculum included Music - Art - Dance - Drama (MADD!) as well as language arts, math, science, integrating all this with computers and technology. Elementary teachers understand the balance that is necessary in this world. It is important to balance science, information, and environmental issues, with human's need to change the world around us. What worries me is the government's move to save money, at the cost of science and nature
Climate change - no policy.
Cutting the long-form census which provided information for non-profits who care for others.

Here is a long article worth reading:

1984 in 2012 – The Assault on Reason

Notes for Remarks to Carleton University – September 5, 2012
By Allan R. Gregg
Researcher, and pollster, Allan Greg's key points: the cuts to science and the environment made by our PM Harper are crippling us.

• Cuts at Stats Canada – 50% of employees were warned that their jobs were at risk. (Why do we data to make informed decisions?!)
• 20% of the workforce at the Library and Archives of Canada put on notice.
• CBC was told that it could live with a 10% reduction in their budgetary allocation.
• In 2014, Parks Canada will receive $29-million less from federal coffers than it did last year. Some parks will be open for shorter seasons and more than 600 staff will lose their jobs. Many of those who have received notices are scientists.
•  30% of the operating budget of Parks Canada was cut, eliminating 638 positions; 70% of whom would be scientists and social scientists. 
• The National Roundtable on the Environment, the First Nations Statistical Institute: the National Council on Welfare and the Canadian Foundation for Climate and Atmospheric Science, all were cut saving $7.5 million.
• The Experimental Lakes Area, a research station that produced critical evidence on acid rain 3 decades ago and groundbreaking research on water quality, is to be shut down. Savings? $2 million. The northernmost lab in Eureka, Nunavut, awaits the same fate.
• The unit in charge of monitoring emissions from power plants, furnaces, boiler and other sources is to be abolished in order to save $600,000.
• Against the advice of 625 fisheries scientists and four former federal Fisheries Ministers – saying it is scientifically impossible to do — regulatory oversight of the fisheries was limited to stock that are of “human value”. Has PM Harper not heard about ecosystems and the cycle of life?
• These amendments was bundled in with 68 other laws into one Budget Bill, so that – using the power of majority government – no single item could be opposed or revoked without defeating the government and calling another election.

BUT: Canada Revenue Agency received an $8 million increase in its budget to investigate the political activity of not-for-profit and charitable organizations. What is with this?

Resources

FEDERAL BUDGET DECISION ELIMINATES FUNDING

OTTAWA – March 30, 2012 –The federal government's Budget 2012 has resulted in cuts

For the Canadian Environmental Quality Guidelines go to the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment :

Go to "CEQG Online" to view all current guidelines for air, water, soil, sediment and tissue residue.

When a new guideline is approved it will be posted to "CEQG Online" where users can print the ones they want.

For the Canadian Environmental Quality Guidelines Summary Table:

Go to http://st-ts.ccme.ca/.

Pledge to vote!

I am voting. It is my democratic right. As a woman, there are many countries in which I could not exercise my vote, or I would suffer bribery, or mortal harm.

That said, at least we are talking about it. But the various choices are scary. One of the choices is party leader, Stephen Harper.
'Stephen Harper has consistently chosen to put his fetish for power and control ahead of fundamental constitutional principles. He has even chosen to lie about the Constitution.'


Then there are journalists heavily lobbying for or against:


READ ’5 REASONS NOT TO VOTE FOR STEPHEN HARPER’
My take on this:
1. Harper lies. No question. (Don't most of them?)
2. He doesn't hang with the best of characters. 
3. He sets back the women's movement 45 years. 


4. He is sending us the way of the American Tea party...


He is onside with Charles H. McVety, who is against same-sex marriage choices, and seems to be Tea Party North.
5. Harper and his government are in contempt of parliament, to what end? A conservative majority? Spending $300 million on an unnecessary election, since he wouldn't compromise on a budget that serves the people, not the upper class. Harper and his cronies made our precious census, the statistics that stand up for the poor, the underserved in our society, the working classes, those living on the edge of society.
5. Harper takes from the poor, cuts business taxes, and gives to the middle class (eventually - 2015?) and protects big business.
6. Harper has filled the prisons with those who are mentally ill, and suffering from addictions. Crowded prisons (I volunteered in one teaching a creative writing class) breed serious convicts. The policy of rehabilitating is impossible for those prisoners who we might be able to reach. Treatments are overwhelmed by those who are stuffed in prisons too small to accomodate their numbers.


But the other side of the story...
READ ‘5 REASONS NOT TO VOTE FOR MICHAEL IGNATIEFF’


I have to stop here...with 5 main parties, there are reasons for disagreeing with them on on various issues. Surely these politicians can work together to create a working, functional parliament?

Poster by one of my Gr. 8's, 2006

While this election is ridiculous, a message must be sent across to those who would gamble with our money, essentially with the $300 million this election will cost us. Harper gambles his minority, and the privilege and power that he won, with a majority,  with our economy and the direction this country is taking. I think I will be voting strategically.

I am so very angry with the finger pointing and the recriminations. The attack ads are abhorrent. The games they play must stop. The media spend time arguing points,
e.g., by Andrew Potter


The CBC has been taking a lot of criticism for its Vote Compass, an online quiz that asks you questions about where you stand on various questions of public policy, and then tells you which party you should vote for. 


Then there is Glen McGregor

Sun Media ignored Flanagan on VoteCompass prof's objectivity

Debating the name-calling, blaming by the Conservatives, while explaining a debating point not moot to the election issues.

Nearly $300 m.!

We need a balanced plan for this country. We have been much less hard hit by the recession than other countries. We have to ensure that small towns, like those in southern Ontario who are being hit by American head office decisions to close local plants, survive the US's recession. (Cornwall's recent 400 job losses, Smith's Falls loss  from Hershey's plant closures, Stanley Tools, Rideau Regional Centre).

We need politicians who respect the people; those who work for hourly wages, who suport failing family members, the working poor, as well as those who shoulder the responsibility of being employers, or caregivers.
We need to look after those unable to look after themselves. The animals, the environment. This country isn't broken, but it is bruised.We must show politicians that we are watching them, and we are not pleased.

Yes, I am voting. Probably strategic voting in my riding. Read, research, check out your local candidates.

*McVety is with Defend Marriage Coalition, a lobby group seeking to repeal the Civil Marriage Act (also called Bill C-38), the 2005 federal law legalizing same-sex marriage in Canada. A common theme of news coverage of McVety is the degree of his influence and that of his evangelical colleagues over Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and the Conservative government generally.

Pledge To Vote

@pledgetovote Canada

Election Primer for my American friends!

Rick,

Always nice to hear from , what Ed Sullivan (well before your time) referred to as "all you youngsters out there". 

I'm afraid that I'm still watching the old fogies sport of curling.

Actually got up at 5:00 yesterday to watch.

Of course us country folk are early risers anyway.

Canada won silver today, in the unlikely event that you run into some Canadian seniors in Florida, you can now have a conversation piece.

Hope you enjoy a youth full, manly day on the golf course.

Perhaps there is also a paint ball, or off road dirt bike spot nearby, as I understand you young people like those as well.

Up here in the great frozen tundra, we are having an election.

I doubt if you spend enough time here to know how that works so I will try to explain in American terms.

First of all we have a Parliament.

I won't bore you as to how it works, as President, er..., Prime Minister (PM) Harper says, it doesn't work anyway.

Think of it like the House of Representatives, except that President Harper is there.

It would be as if your president sat in the House, but, and here is the big difference, had no accountability to it.

April 3rd Toronto Sun

We also have a Senate, but we don't elect them, they are appointed for life, sort of like union guys with lots of seniority.

Anyway, although we, like you, have fixed terms, we think its more fun to have an election every two years or so, usually in summer, as we have few summer sports.

We have 5 political parties, yes three more than you, unless you count Sarah Palin's "Don't retreat,  RELOAD!"  Alaskans as another party, or species.

The Conservatives are like southern democrats.

Photo: courtesy Anna
of Nepean-Carleton

The Liberals are like California democrats.

The NDP and Greens have no USA equivalent and would be illegal in 27 states.

The Bloc Quebecois is a best explained this way.

Suppose that in 1865 after General Lee surrendered, Lincoln decide to leave the Confederacy intact, and that a hundred and forty six years later, southern secessionists were still being elected to congress.

(I don't see why people think Canadians are boring).

Well there you are. In early May, we will hitch up the dog sleds and head to the polls, except in the odd place where the ice bridges have melted.

Well that's all for now. Cheers from us up north in Perth!

 

No, I did not write the above item. Hubby, ever the spewing font of information, decided to help our of Canadian snowbird friend, Rick, explain the principles of Canadian politics to their winter friends.

We old fogies keep in touch with modern technology. The myth is that we are too busy leaning on our canes to understand technology. Fact is, many of us are having a blast. This election has provided many opportunities for a laugh. Our PM won't debate, the opposition leader wants to... one-on-won. Oopsie, Freudian slip.
Ignatieff accepts Rick Mercer debate offer
Media consortium won't allow the only female party leader, Elizabeth May, debate in the televised debate, despite a fine showing last time, and nearly a million votes. They claim it is because she doesn't have a seat in parliament. Sets back the women's movement 40 years. 

Elizabeth May blocked from TV Debates

We can't vote for the BLOC leader, either. But he still gets national air time. Lots of fodder for people like Rick Mercer!