Canada

Obama a shining light for us, too: Canadian reaction

Posted by Shemuses from CBC

"All the different issues that Barack talked about for the United States of America, we're really hoping that that translates into an agenda for Canada," said Jones. Jones hopes Obama's win forces leaders in Canada to address some of the problems facing black Canadians, such as high unemployment and imprisonment rates. Daurene Lewis agrees with Jones that Canada needs a phenomenon like Obama. Lewis made history of her own in 1984 when she was elected mayor of Annapolis Royal and became the first black woman elected to the position anywhere in Canada. "It also is very reflective or very indicative of why we had such low turnout in Canada," Lewis said.

1 comment

Last cut-off land claims settled with four B.C. First Nations

Posted by Shemuses from CBC

The B.C. government has struck a deal to return lands cut off from First Nations reserves nearly a century ago under what was known as the McKenna-McBride commission of 1912-1916. Aboriginal relations Minister Mike de Jong said the agreements settle the last of 22 historic claims that took more than 40 years to resolve. "These agreements with the Seton Lake Indian Band, Gitwangak Band Council, Metlakatla Band and Lax Kw'alaams Indian Band, dating back more than 90 years, grew out of our collective desire to make right the past and achieve lasting reconciliation," said de Jong on Tuesday.

Post a comment

Home for Halloween

Posted by Jeff from New York Times

This story touched me. It's about a family seeking refuge in Canada from Ugandan persecution of Idi Amin. Sensing my mother's fear, the immigration agent assured her that this wasn't an interrogation. "It's just that I'm looking at your daughters," she explained, "and I realize that they're all dressed for tropical weather. Madame Manji, have you ever seen snow?" Terrified at the prospect of being booted out, my mother blurted out, "No, but I can't wait to!"

Post a comment

Canada Votes - Voter turnout drops to record low

Posted by Shemuses from CBC

An estimated 59.1 per cent of Canadians cast votes in Tuesday's general election - a figure that appears to be a record low in the history of Confederation. Voter turnout across Canada Newfoundland and Labrador 48.1% New Brunswick 62.8% Nova Scotia 60.7% P.E.I. 69.5% Quebec 61.1% Ontario 59.1% Manitoba 56.8% Saskatchewan 59.4% Alberta 52.9% British Columbia 61.0% Northwest Territories 48.6% Yukon 63.7% Nunavut 49.4% A total of 13,832,972 votes were cast nationally of the 23,401,064 registered electors, Elections Canada figures showed as of 9 a.m. ET Wednesday. The highest voter turnout appeared to be in P.E.I., where 69.5 per cent of registered voters cast ballots.

Post a comment

Activist government could cure Canada's ills: economists' group

Posted by Shemuses from CBC

The federal government must take an activist role to counter financial crisis and stimulate economic investment, even if it means going into deficit, say more than 80 leading economists. In an open letter released Wednesday, the mostly left-leaning analysts say there are "worrisome weaknesses" in the Canadian economy that have been laid bare by wider global troubles. "Complacent expressions of faith in our 'fundamentals,' and other varieties of economic denial, will not protect Canadians from the coming storm," they warn. That appeared to be a shot across the bow of Conservative Leader Stephen Harper, who has repeatedly assured voters that the economic fundamentals are strong and that Canada need not fear the kind of turmoil gripping the United States.

Post a comment

Vancouver rally points to housing crisis

Posted by Shemuses from CBC

Advocates called for a national housing policy during a rally and federal all-candidates meeting on housing and poverty in Vancouver Saturday. The event was part of a provincewide "Stand for housing" campaign, in which advocates in communities throughout B.C. staged protests to call attention to what they say is a housing crisis in Canada.

Post a comment

Roads to nowhere

Posted by Shemuses from Canada

Opposition to the provincial government's Gateway Project is heating up. But it may be too late.

From Anthony Perl's condo in Coal Harbour you can see small commuter planes, cruise ships, freighters loaded with containers and the Seabus trundling towards North Vancouver. At writer Richard Gilbert's Gastown apartment, you can view the CPR yards, the West Coast Express, a helipad, tourist buses, a car rental company and heavy trucks working the port. What they all have in common is their dependence on fossil fuels, a resource rapidly escalating in price as it diminishes in supply. It's also a resource that the B.C. government has picked as the backbone of its multi-billion dollar Gateway Project.

Post a comment