Canada Will Look Like A Côte D'I·Voire When Harper Gets Finished
Posted on Wednesday, June 13 at 17:26 by Wayne Coady
Canadians kicked their asses back across the border in 1812 and burned their bloody White House ... that's why they painted it white ... to hide the charring. Brian Mulroney made a gift of something he didn't own when he rammed through NAFTA (the Liberals weren't totally averse to this and should share the blame). People cried foul but eventually acquiesced. Typically "Canadian".
Now, Harper is doing his damndest to complete the dismantlement of the country by getting us all to fight with one another ... the opposite of "united we stand, divided we fall".
Canada will be overtaken without firing a shot. The gun registration fiasco started by the Liberals and retained by the CONservatives is considered by many to have been a contributing factor in controlling any Canadians who might resist.
This action has its historical precedent in actions Adolph Hitler and his Nazis took in pre-war Germany in the '30s.
Harper hasn't got the majority he needs to do whatever the hell he wants, but even that doesn't seem to impede him.
So, now he's reneged on the Atlantic Accord. Last month it was the Income Trust reversal. God only knows what else this son of a bitch has done to cause uncertainty in our country.
So, "Sue me" (Screw you) is Harper's attitude and reply.
He certainly has the attention of loads of drooling lawyers. Whatever the outcome, it's always the people who pay ... with their tax dollars.
Instead Harper should be charged with sedition, for starters.
Why would Harper say "Sue me" ?
BECAUSE:
1. Nova Scotia, Saskatchewan and Newfoundland will get ZIP while it’s before the courts … and this is the kind of irony Harper’s sick little mind enjoys.
2. Whenever Harper or any of his lieutenants get questioned on how they screwed Atlantic Canadians out of billions of bucks (and THAT really remains to be confirmed), he and the Sopranos can reply, “ I/we cannot comment on that, while it’s before the courts.” That is, if Der Fuhrer allows anyone in his party to talk at all these days. The people of Canada thrive on this arrogance, it seems.
So, it appears that Canada’s “NEW” crooks are just as crafty as all of the others Canadians have been dumb enough to elect in our recent history. This is an age-old trick “governments” and politicians employ to shield themselves from heat when the public has questions. Other tricks frequently used are “Studies”, “Public Inquiries” and “Royal Commissions” … all of which employ a lot of lawyer friends who will be paid enormous amounts of OUR tax dollars.
As mentioned before, Harper is playing the "Regionalism Game", pitting one province/region against the other. You can call it speculation on my part or call me paranoid ... I don't care.
I believe this is a manifestation of what others (Joe Clark, Orchard, et al.) have referred to as Harper's "Hidden Agenda". Here, in Nova Scotia, we have been subjected to the ravings of one Brian Lee Crowley, who, until being seconded to Ottawa by Heir Harper, was the "head and arse" of an elite and "well-connected" (in every sense of that word ) group that operates under the innocuous group name of the Atlantic Institute of Market Studies (AIMS).
This group seems to have open access to the media and occasionally makes pronouncements on this and that...but, if you were to ask most people to define who they are, what they do, and, most importantly, who they're working for, you would be hard-pressed to get definitive answers. Those who claim to be "in the know" say AIMS is a "hard core" group of NeoCons who lean heavily toward the U.S. and are bent on promoting close economic union (total assimilation ) of Canada with that country. Good bye social programs and health care.
If I can believe much of what I've heard on the CBC over the years, British Columbia and Alberta are aligned more closely to the United States than the "East" (which ends somewhere north of the Quebec border).
Harper's application of billions of tax dollars into Quebec, primarily ... as well as Ontario, was, ostensibly, to garner him a majority in the next election, but also serves to "piss off" the people in Atlantic Canada, as well. Harper has never had any respect for Atlantic Canadians, and for that matter, neither does much of Ontario. The rest of the country has forgotten that it all began here and considers everything east of Quebec a quaint joke, at best, and certainly NOT worthy of inclusion. Harper has played on this regional inferiority and exacerbated the problem, now, by reneging on the Atlantic Accord and compounding it with his "Sue me" challenge. He's hoping that this attitude and action will promote more of an alignment with the south for Atlantic Canada.
To which all Canadians SHOULD tell Harper to go do something to himself that, hitherto, has been generally considered physically impossible.
My guess is that the aforementioned Brian Lee Crowley, has been breathing heavily into Harper's ear and telling him what to do and how to do it ...to us. Crowley has been a strong proponent of something called "Atlantica" which has been touted as an economic philosophy for the Atlantic region, but really disguises a tight union with states in the U.S. northeast. Again, there are heavy hitters involved in this movement, many known businessmen and (typically) many others who prefer to remain anonymous, who have spawned a political party using the same name.
So, if Atlantic Canada is under the control of the U.S. through an alliance with its northeastern states and Alberta and B.C. do the same thing at their end of the country, it won't be much of a stretch to break down the barriers to a "North American Union" that puts us all under total control from Washington. Ontario and Quebec will "follow the money", in any event.
If Canadians continue to allow themselves to be driven down an unknown road by Harper and his "New" CONservatives, they will soon wake up in a "new" country. And they won't even have to use any of that expensive gas (which, under NAFTA, "we" don't own anymore, either) to get there.
Wayne Coady
Cole Harbour
Nova Scotia
[Proofreader's note: this article was edited for spelling and typos on June 15, 2007]
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<a href="http://www.narconews.com/Issue46/article2691.html">http://www.narconews.com/Issue46/article2691.html</a><br />
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Quote:<br />
...If you live or work there, you will soon no longer be a Mainer, a Vermonter, an upstate New Yorker, a Québécois, a Nova Scotian, a Newfoundlander, a Prince Edward Islander or a citizen of New Brunswick or New Hampshire. You have been conscripted into a new kind of citizenship that comes without any of the freedoms that you thought were your birthright. You shall be – by big business decree – an “Atlantican.” /end quote<br />
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This Atlantica story from Narco News has already been posted on Vive, just thought I would repost the link in case someone might have missed it and wondered what the Atlantica reference was all about.
The only good thing I see coming out of the latest round of BS from the NEW liars is that perhaps the provinces involved (which is all of them in some way or another) will make enough stink that a few more of the electorate will start to smell the stench. There is no doubt that the current lot must be thrown out ASAP, but what then? The only solution (not really but the best we can hope for) that I can see is another minority government with someone else at the helm and a greater presence by the Greens and even the NDP so that more “consensus” is needed in the house. (The BLOC should not even be allowed to participate given their agenda) Unfortunately there is little chance of that happening and we have seen how much being in a minority position means to the current lot of sheep (being guarded by a pack of wolves it would seem), so I am really at a loss of how to affect change.
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When you are up to your ass in alligators it is difficult to remember that the initial objective was to drain the swamp
So are we going to cut bait or fish.
The more things stay the same , the worst things get ...we are going to lose our country, it is that simple.
If we take to the street, they will either shot us, jail us or mace us to death.
I say we should organize a NATIONAL BOYCOTT AGAINST THE PRESENT SYSTEM ..AND STAY TO HELL AWAY FROM VOTING. AND DEMAND REFORM.
Put up lawn signs saying .."FIX THE POLITICAL SYSTEM OR LOSE IT"
I would sooner see all parties chased away, but this will not happen..so at least lets those other rats away, (Liberals / Conservatives). But we must never give up on reforms.
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Good government is not a party government
On a recent phone in show on Atlantica, Charles Cirtwill was commenting on the prospect of truck train as long as 10 km long (for offloading half of one of these container ships) rolling down our highways. He claimed the increased traffic would have zero impact on the infrastructure. The proposed increase in traffic will be phenominal , which was the point an opponent of Atlantica was making, and we haven't discussed what the impact to environment and infrastructure will be, and more importantly who will foot the bill. Charles Cirtwill keeps talking about the looming prosperity to our region in the wake of Atlantica, but that prosperity is slated to drive over the roads we pay for to be offloaded stateside. We will heavily fund the bottom line but get only crumbs of the so called prosperity. Anyway you might guess I got a mental target painted on this Cirtwill peice of slime
Also, rarely mentioned is the fact that for many intents and purposes 'Atlantica' already exists. Graham's environmental plan basically sticks to the 2001 energy agreement that was signed between the atlantic provinces and northeastern governors. That political union has been in place for decades.
Things are so bad in the maritimes that AIMS is simply stirring the pot to keep attention on 'capitalism first', since otherwise people would be saying "why the *&^%^ are we giving away all our resources for nothing?" Whether there are truck trains or not does not depend on government policy, but on the market, and thats out of their control. The private sector is perfectly happy the way the port of halifax is, there has been expansion as its been needed and the feds would only give them enough money to update their security to keep the americans happy (meanwhile in vote rich BC they are putting twice the money in a private shipping terminal in Prince Rupert).
So go beyond the Harper bashing to what is really going on. WHY are they talking about Atlantica? Simply because the political union of the northeastern governors and the maritime provinces already exists, but also because of national strategy. It's not Harper who is 'breaking up the country', just ask yourself why the maritimes has to ship in their own oil-because the national pipeline stops at Quebec. Ask why they are ten years behind ontario for natural gas-same reason. No national energy policy, no country. That's not Harpers doing, thats the status quo.
WHY that occurs is because the maritimes, unlike the west, never learned to political mobilize. Quebec did it, the reform did it, but maritimers have always been divided, and so have no voice. The squeeky wheel gets the grease.
As for Atlantica, that barely gets a mention in the US, you can't find a person who has heard of it, and in Maine, where they have citizens initiatives they aren't about to bend over for Canada. To play devil's advocate, the above 'rant' is a perfect example, by staying outside the political system it guarantees that such views have no politial power. Change, like it or not, comes from within the political system. Maritimers need to learn that, while there is still a maritimes left.
When you look at the members / Board of Directors in AIMS, you will see that many are the same people who get their hands on our taxes. Thus when they join this gang, the fees are made so high ,as to prevent the average citizen from joining. These guys do not mind the high fee, because I am of the opinion they use those tax dollars and tax breaks to make it happen .
We must find away to correct this abuse in our system, we are going to see Canada chopped up, if we do not. I still feel that we must organize a boycott against voting. Other than that, we have little choice.
Where is David Orchard when you need him???? Surely Peter MacKay didn't stick the knife in that far as to silence David for life, did he??
Right now in front of the Halifax World Trade Centre police are at the ready to put down protesters against this meeting AIMS put together on ATLANTICA.
Some democratic country Canada has turned into, looks more like a police state, run by oligarch's .
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Good government is not a party government
He is doing everything to split this country into regions , thus turning on one another. He knows Crowley and AIMS want Atlantica to happen...because Brian Lee Crowley was called to Ottawa to work in the FINANCE DEPARTMENT for HARPERS CONSERVATIVES.
Crowley has his head up Harpers butt so far, it will take an operation to have his head removed. This will be another bill the taxpayers will have to finance.
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Good government is not a party government
The remainder of my post about the role of AIMS and Charles Cirtwills I stand by, although admittably it was more of a kneejerk to Wayne mentioning AIMS and Brian Lee Cwrawley's, that a real testiment to absolute priorities. Charles Cirtwill has repeatedly stated, as well, that like it or not Atlantica already exists, and depending on how you define Atlantica in terms of aim and scope of influence, or whether or not it’s a political union, that may well be true. Atlantica is a bit of a shape shifter to define, even Cirtwill has failed to provide a concise definition of it. You no doubt are aware of the contentious issue of Atlantica identifying minimum wage laws and union density as "distressing factors", so I have to ask in terms of how these distressing factors are to be adressed by the "organization" who identified them, if indeed "Atlantica" is here yet? It seems most likely that along with some legitimate trade expansion that might well benefit some in the region that an attempt to lobby our provincial governments will be necessary if factors like union density and minimum wages are to become less distressing.
I would also have to question the statement that whether or not there are truck trains is dependant on market and not government policy. Government policy can define the scope that the market can operate within or even it’s size. I’m thinking about set limits for commercial traffic traveling on our highways, or commercial taxes for trucking operators etc. Also what if the governments federal and provincial commit to infrastructure projects designed to strictly to facilitate this new traffic? Charles Cirtwill would have us believe that no new infrastructure will be necessary, and that the increased traffic will have zero impact. But Maude Barlow speaking in Halifax last night says that the government has already made infrastructure commitments to facilitate the increased traffic.
I would agree with your pointing out the need for a national energy policy to ensure domestic supply first as the Maritimes is in the most vulnerable position importing the highest percentage of foreign oil. It was Harpers Conservative who tried to shut down Gordon Laxer at the SPP hearings, who testified about this very need for a national energy policy and pointed out the Maritimes status as most vulnerable. Harper wrote the handbook that Benoit was following that day when trying to shut down the testimony, declaring the meeting adjourned and storming out. So maybe there is more meat to chew than mere Harper bashing.
Well, I hope that is clearer than my usual mud
For AIMS, they are simply the same lobby group that Fraser and CD Howe represent. How you fight a lobby is with a lobby. However, some points are pertinent. Why does Prince Rupert get billions in subsidies and help to turn the railroad into a direct link to central canada and the states, while Halifax gets a piddly amount for a security overhaul?
This has been argued before, AIMS wants traffic from China, while a recent study from the Center for Policy ALternatives says 'why not europe?' Either way the central point is needing transportation infrastructure.
As for transportation, I didn't mean insignificant little changes like the recent NB announcement to allow longer wheelbases, I'm talking about the 'truck trains'. If you live in the maritimes you already know that the highway system from Halifax to the states is relatively empty most of the time and there are very few accidents. Whether it turns into a massive trade conduit for China is up to the market, and so far there are few takers.
As for the 'what to do' situation, that seems obvious to me. Get politically active. Being at websites does next to nothing. A bunch of guys started an Atlantica Party and part of their design is to co opt the name from the lobby group. It seems a little silly to be criticizing Atlantica based on a paper five years ago that called minimum wage legislation a 'problem area'. You'll get a real sense of their clout shortly since the self sufficiency task force in NB and even many articles in the Irving owned media have been talking about RAISING the minimum wage. That AIMS original study is crazy goes without saying as NB has the lowest minimum wage in the country and is an economic basket case.
The government says it will enact the 91 recommendations of the task force this year, one of which is to raise the minimum wage. So its certainly far from the case that AIMS is calling all the political shots.
For strategy, NOW is the time as we seem to be deadlocked in a permanent minority government. So ask yourself this: in a minority government how do you get power? There are two options, one is to form an Atlantic Party that would run federally, the other is to lobby on behalf of the NDP. IF a large group of NDPers from the maritimes were elected they'd not only have more NDP clout in the House, but the group would have power over the NDP nationally. Both of those take work. Of course there is always complaining on websites. Politics- Take part or get taken apart.
It a seed being planted and if it gets watered it will grow. The master planner of Atlantica is Brian Lee Crowley of AIMS..Brian is now working for Harper in Ottawa and has been blowing into Stephens ear.
When Harper reneged and changed the equalization formula in the orginal contract, he opened the door to setting Atlantic Canada back and opened the door for AIMS to push hard for their Atlantica. Not to mention bringing about arguments between all provinces his Conservative Party gave the finger to. In other words if you thought Quebec on its own upset Canada, now Harper has pissed of many more.
AIMS is like a fox, when they see their prey might be weaken, they will pounce. Harper set us up, to be eaten up by these greedy businessmen in AIMS who want to control the EAST COAST.
Keep your eye on AIMS...look into this gang. I guess time will tell.
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Good government is not a party government
I see your point though, there's no doubt that Canada is embracing Ronald Reagans manouver of gutting social spending so that they can be privatized. I don't necessarily agree with protesting ALL the facets of Atlantica, like I said, there are guys who started an Atlantica Party, but their policies are far different than AIMS. Crowley of course also wanted massive investment in the Port of Halifax and never got it, I suspect he works for the PM because he has that same ideologically lunatic bent. Who cares what he is doing, what matters is policy. I would like to see more federal investment in the maritimes, whether its Crowley crowing for it or Cirtrill, if it comes, then great.
I think this is standard canadian politics. The two parties are essentially the same. The 'job' of the tories is to bring in the horribly unpopular draconian legislation, the liberals then get elected and fine tune it. How much the provinces get from equalization usually tends to be a political battle anyway, not an economic one.
As for Atlantica, New Brunswick was and is essentially a corporate run society-their name is Irving. The policies enacted for the last twenty years has essentially been anything they ask for. So I don't have the same 'fear' of Atlantica or Harper. In New Brunswick the minimum wage is the lowest in canada, so there isn't much fear that it will go down-it can only go up. Since McKenna's time virtually every penny of federal money has gone into highways anyway, so transportation isn't such a big leap.
So the 'seed' of Atlantica could well turn out politically to be something useful for the maritimes IF maritimers get politically active and make it useful. Like I said, federally the maritimes have always been screwed, this would be a golden opportunity. It's not 'ideas' or 'seeds' that people need to worry about...it's POLICY. You do that by looking at policy and lobbying it. SOmetimes in politics you have to support politicians you don't like. If Harper is wrecking things, make sure your Premier knows you stand behind him. If they don't, make some noise.
I think its time the Maritime Rights Movement was resurrected. Unfortunately, most of the people of the activist age have left, the few left are scared for their jobs.
Then the logical thing to do would be to expand the playing field.
I wonder what would result if the leaders of Germany, France, Russia, China, Australia, India etc where to receive e-mails and faxes from thousands of Canadians that say:
"Watch what Prime Minister Harper does to his own people. Can you really trust a man who breaks treaties with his own countrymen? If Haper can do that to them, then he can do it to you."
Imagine, hundreds if not thousands of his own countrymen tell them not to trust this guy.
Imagine the effect on his credibility and reputation.
That SOB wants to go global, I say we take him there.
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If George W. Bush and Tony Blair are really Christians, then pork and shrimp are Kosher.
A smart business person should be investing in manufacturing of consumer goods closer to the North American market not further away.
An organization like AIMS is not promoting the interests of businesses in Atlantic Canada but the forces of corporate globalization. That hit me when I attended an event with a successful Nova Scotian businessman where a representative of AIMS gave a presentation that highlighted what the organization was seeking (elimination of corporate taxes and social programs, privatization of health care, construction of transportation and other business infrastructure, etc.) He considered the presentation a joke and even challenged her ideology during questions.
AIMS represents a group that wants to external costs by using our money and land to transfer goods from low cost regions of the world into the heart of the continent. There are huge costs and few benefits for this region and in the intermediate to long term it is not even economically viable. They only pretend to be concerned with local business and as such they practice another level of deception.