Advocatus Diaboli

This blog is about things, issues, ideas, and concepts on subjects focusing on Canada, Canadian Issues and Affairs and those that affect Canada and Canadians from afar.

Tuesday, January 30, 2007

Sunday News Magazine - Pickton

Wouldn't a better question to be asked of the coverage of the Pickton trial, is why the media all of a sudden is taking an intense in terest in the matter?

The women involved in the Pickton trial as victims, have been missing for years.

They are someone's daughter, they are someone's mother, they are someone's sister.

I don't think it was because they were female, as there are many males involved in the street drug scene or are involved in the sex trade that also have gone missing. They have been ignored with the same amount of vigour by the media and police.

In fact there is an estimate of more than 50 women that have been missing from the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver that the media and police have ignored.

This I would suggest is on the lower limit of the missing humanity from the streets of the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver.

Now that they are dead, the reporters are trying to put the personal touch on the reporting of their deaths?

Where was this kind of sensitivity to the women when they were alive, or had gone missing, or the years between then and now?

That is what I would like the talking heads at the CBC and other media outlets of the Lower Mainland to address, right on the front pages, leading off on the news cast, or lead the National Newscast.

A reporter with a half a brain could have spent five minutes at Main and East Hastings and heard all the rumours about, 'The Killing Fields,' or the reports of someone snatching the women from the street, since the early 80's if not sooner.

My two years as a part-time contract worker with the Vacnovuer Coroner's office gave me a distinct experience in knowing that the police, and media, did not care.

Why?

That is the question I would like answered.

Norm Greenfield

Alberta will have a new lobbyist and contractor registry this spring

If Steady Eddie really wants to earn the respect of Albertan's, and show us he thinks we are not stupid, he needs to make sure the industry of lobbying that is fast becoming a growth industry in law firms, is not exempted by this law.

As someone who is a Registered Federal Government Lobbyist, I am often miffed that I must report my business to the federal government but because of that old lawyer/client privilege thing, lawyers do not have to.

I guess I could go work for a lawyer.

Ralph Klein may not be a lawyer, but his lobbying work will be allowed to disappear into the briefs of the law firm he works at, for Albertans to never know what he is actually doing.

Steady Eddie also needs to explain to us who in the caucus and cabinet of the past Conservative governments, of which he has been a member of, stopped the drafted recommendations for a lobbyist registry and longer cooling-off periods for government officials and politicians from the all-party committee headed by Tory Neil Brown , moving forward and becoming law. Are those same roadblocks now going to be profiting now that they have retired from this backward thinking?

Honest Ed needs to do right here, so he does not become known as Fast Eddy, the used policy car salesman.

Norm Greenfield

Don Hill is returning to the 'public' airwaves in Alberta, this month - a documentary series for

What exactly is leadership? And what is leading in the 21st century?

It’s a question put to over 50 leaders in a series of conversations for INSPIRING LEADERSHIP,
a new CKUA Radio Network series about leading in the 21st Century.

You’ll hear from people at the top of their game:
Preston Manning, Elizabeth May, leading academics like Henry Mintzberg, and business leaders such as Charlie Fischer and Eric Newell conversations that make a difference. Leadership comes in many flavours. Whether you’re managing in the middle, running a small business or a large multinational -- perhaps you’re a volunteer at the local community league or a coach -- INSPIRING LEADERSHIP speaks to contemporary leadership, best practices, and the challenge of leading.
The documentary series begins January 20th at 8 AM on the CKUA Radio Network.

The complete article is here: http://www.edmontonians.com/Don_Hill.htm

The 20 part series will be on-line, inclusive of many 'web extra' audio files and support materiel at http://ckua.com

You can listen to a 'sneak preview' of INSPIRING LEADERSHIP here:
http://www.appropriate-entertainment.com/ (click on the 'what's new' prompt)

the environment is 'le hot topic de jour in the House of Commons.'

So the environment is 'le hot topic de jour in the House of Commons.' Will they be able to fix the problem and make everything all better again and for ever?

Maybe, but don't hold your breathes.

Even though Canadians feel the environment is the top issue of the day for them, the party who best represents a real change to both the issue of the environment and the way our federal government does the business of politics and democracy, still want to vote for one of the other four tired old political parties.

It might be time for the Green Party of Canada to take a long hard look at the way we do things, and decide it is time to change.

Yes, we can remain the positive party, with positive ideas and policy ideas, but we need to get in the game. Standing on the sidelines whining about the fact the big boys will not let us on the field is quickly becoming a tired and worn out song on a record that has been moved to the back of the shelf in Canadian's minds.

We need to get in the game, and start throwing some very sharp elbows, to have not only the media notice us, but to get Canadians notice us and be prepared to put an 'X,' beside the name of their local Green Party candidate the next time they step in the voting booth.

Oh. There are other issues that are important to Canada and the Canadians but we have a House of Commons and government that think we as Canadians are not smart enough to think about, or concern ourselves about more than one thing at a time.

Maybe it is also time, while the Green Party is climbing into the ring, to show that we too can concern ourselves with thoughtful and meaningful policy and ideas for these issues.

Canada is a complex country with Canadians that are able to have a complex combination of issues we worry and think about on the same plate, that need to be addressed.

This Just in - So Much for Honest Ed's new way of doing business...

A Calgary fundraiser set for next week is offering exclusive access to Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach and several of his ministers for $5,000 to help wipe out leadership campaign debts.

Tickets to a reception at Stampede Park are selling for $500 each, but a smaller `more exclusive' event is also offered for a minimum donation of $5,000.

The events are being held to raise money for Stelmach, Finance Minister Lyle Oberg, Health Minister Dave Hancock, and former cabinet minister Mark Norris, who was also a leadership contender.

An e-mail from an event organizer says both events will offer those willing to pay with an excellent opportunity to spend time with the new premier and ministers to discuss issues of mutual interest.

The premier could not be reached for comment and his spokesman referred calls to a leadership campaign official, who said such fundraisers are a reality because `there are bills that need to be paid.'

Liberal Leader Kevin Taft says this type of event should be illegal, while NDP Leader Brian Mason says this represents an enormous lapse in judgment by the new premier.

There is a lot of chatter both by and in the media and politicians of other parties that the Green Party

There is a lot of chatter both by and in the media and politicians of other parties that the Green Party should be allowed to participate in the upcoming Federal general elections televised leaders' debates.

I know in some circles this sounds like the panacea to the Green Party winning a seat in the House of Commons, or to push the Green Party on to the national political stage finally.

The problem with this push, is that the vast majority of voters don't watch the forum, either live or dead (delayed broadcast at another date). Nor do they watch the previews or chattering heads that analyze these things for the tired old grey mass broadcast media.

Hence the reason both the debates and analysis is done in the off-prime time hours of the television networks' time tables.

A better solution for any party that wants to spark an interest in them that is going to truly help them, and push them to victory on the national political stage, is to go tot he alternative media, and host a leadership debate, including inviting the other leaders. The rule would be, it would be a true debate following the debating rules that have been used for centuries, and be focusing on the real issues, and putting forward real solutions and ideas for Canadians to see and hear.

This would be helpful in luring the non-voter, fallen away voter, and the yet to vote youth to the polling booth. The research shows that those three groups are tired of the same same old in this country's politicians and political theatre.

A true virtual debate, held on the internet, on Much Music, and via pod-casting. Available for anyone, anywhere, and at anytime.

In fact if the leaders really wanted to debate and discuss their ideas with Canadians, this national debate should also be truly interactive. Unmanaged, unscripted, and sans-Peter Mansbridge.

People now get most of their news and information from sources other than the grey old mass media.

Norm Greenfield

For All To Know

For all that call themselves anonymous that show up on my blog to post things of a hardening nature, please stop.

From my past I know I have no problem in the erecting of my male organ.

From my recent past, I know it still works, still leaves a smile, and is capable of a full night's, full day's, and maybe even a fortnight's worth work.

I do thank Anonymous for allowing me this opportunity to let the female of the human species of my abilities, and always welcome communications from them.

Norm

Sunday, January 14, 2007

Microsoft finds security holes

Why is it that car and other product manufacturers are held to one set of standards when it comes to product defects, but Microsoft is not?

Isn't it time someone launch a class action lawsuit against Microsoft for the number of, 'vulnerabilities,' and 'security holes ,' and have the owners and users of Microsoft products recoup some of the losses we incur because Microsoft is in too much of a hurry to rush their products to market.

Having a disclosure meeting on the second Tuesday of every month to tell the world, that Microsoft has discovered another, 'oops,' is not good enough.

We would not stand for the CEO of GM to stand up and say, 'oop,' if they discovered a problem with the wiring or brakes on one of the models. We would not stand for Ford saying, 'Ooops,' for the Firestone 500 fiasco, or the Exploder.

Why do we allow Microsoft to live to a lower standard?

Thank youNorm Greenfield

Second-hand woes

It's time the Alberta Solicitor General step in and launch an independant inquiry into the Edmonton Police Service.

How many more stories of mismanagement, thuggishness, or down right illegal activities do we need to read about in relation to the Edmonton Police Service before someone stands up and says, enough is enough?

The problem either rests with the management of the EPS, the rank and file members, the political bosses of the EPS, or all three.

It really is time for a house cleaning of the EPS so people can have respect for their police in Edmonton, and not have be embarrased yet again when they open the Edmonton Sun to learn of another citizen of Edmonton experiencing a violation of their rights or self by the EPS.

Thank youNorm Greenfield

Scourge of the checkout lin

I totally disagree with Mike Jenkinson.

The real scourge of the retail store, shopping mall, or even the farmers' market are the latte lifters that insist on bringing out the newest in baby carriages, that are the size of Volkswagon Beetle.

They seem to have to carry everything in the stroller, and at the most inappropriate, usually the aisle that is the narrowest at the busiest time of the day in that particular store, stop to chat or read intensely the contents list of the latest trendy item.

What is wrong with hoisting the kid's patoot onto your shoulder, or using the shopping carts that the stores were forced to put five point harnesses in for your kids because we were too stupid to supervise our kids in them?

Is the new, 'Volkswagon Beetle' size baby stroller, the new status symble, as the SUV is in the parking lot?

There use to be a time when you did not need to bring half of all your baby's worldly possessions with you and the kid when you went out.

I guess those are the good old days.

Thank youNorm Greenfield

The Greening of the Oil Sands

Anyone in the business of producing oil by way of conventional methods or the oils sands, that say they did not see the issue of pollution and the environment looming large on the horizon of the federal government and the next election should resolve to get rid of their toadies in their government, public or community relations departments.

The people who run the largest companies involved in the oil sands are probably more surprised that they are not being looked as the pure and innocents that they think they are.

It is time that Canada's federal government grow the spine that our government in Alberta does not have and put a stop to the growing and continuing poluting of the environment of Canadians that spans provincial boundaries.

It is only people like Ralph Klein who could not see the future of allowing the oil sands industry to use water we don't have, to pollute the water we do have downstream from their operations.

The fear mongering done by the oil sands industry that it will mean disaster is empty.

The oil will be there for centuries and can be removed at a more sustainable and economical rate, and leave the environment in a state that our future generations can still use.

It is time for both Canadians and Albertans through the federal and Alberta governments to reap the rewards of the oil and gas at the same rate as countries like Norway do. It is time we demand the oil and gas industry live to a higher standard, rather than having us live in an environment created by the lowest standards as demanded by oil and gas companies that live and breath outside of Canada.

There has been no change for the positive made in the way the oil and gas industry operates in Alberta with out the threat of the law or regulation.

Corporate Canada should really get their heads out of the clouds and start to hire people around them that will tell them what they need to hear and not what they want to hear.

The false sense of surprise over this change in the public attitude about the environment and the change to the way income trusts were to be treated by the federal government were all obvious to people who do not wear rose coloured blinders.

Thank youNorm Greenfield

Rush To Condemn Teens

I have rarely seen a more ridiculous set of excuses by a supposedly professional journalist as to why a story could not pursued as those set out by Paula Simmons in her mea culpa column on the Conley death.

All of the details behind the case such as Conley's past, the details from witnesses phoned into the Journal, the lame media stunt by the Chief of police to help pack up the victim's home, and even an interview with previous EPS members who had run in's with Conley could all have been reported on in the Journal.

A ban on publication of evidence that was presented during the bail hearing was not the road block to good journalism.

The road block to presenting the other side of the story was in a lack of interest in presenting the other side of the story because it is better to be seen jumping on the bandwagon of, 'knee jerk reaction,' than doing your job properly.

Has the Journal has dumbed its reportage squad down so far that no one could find a way to get the truth out?

If Simmons is right in her column, and the Journal received phone calls seperate from the bail hearing, then that is information that can be disseminated in the press, and it should have been.

It seems all the Journal wanted to risk was getting slivers in their knees from jumping on to the pandering bandwagon of, 'knee jerk reaction,' and adding to false sense that our youth justice system must be to blame for this unfortunate death.

Or the Journal did not want to spend the money to investigate the story past the usualy media release handout of the Edmonton Police Service.

Thank youNorm Greenfield

Changing world

Yes Toto, it is a changing world, here in Edmonton and around the world, and it all unfolds on the front pages of the Edmonton Sun. We are a city of 1,000,000 people.

We get to see the results of parents who see no problem in having their underage child host a party at a community centre or at home with alcohol and send out a blanket invitation.

We get to see a father who gets his picture and story in the paper about how he is going to fight a rule at his kid's school about not using their cell phones in the school classroom and on the school property, purely because he does not like the rule. Despite the child having been warned several times before.

We see the city spend millions of dollars on Whyte Avenue during the run to the Stanley Cup last year, yet no one wants to hand the bill to the people who caused the problem, the drunks and the bars who serve them on Whyte Avenue.

We see a dramatic rise in murders and violence in the city, yet no one wants to admit we have a problem and the problem lies in the majority of the cases in the ethnic and drug gang problem.

We have kids and adults that show us everyday that the laws and rules of this land are for others to obey and not them, but they have a right to tax payer funded health care for their stupidity.

It is a changing world, and to stop the change for the worse we only need to take a close look in the mirror.

There lies the solution.

Thank youNorm Greenfield

Cafferty Fil CNN - America's War

I think it would be interesting to ask what affect the war in Iraq has had on America's friends outside of America.

Those of us outside of the myopic American view of the world know that the bogus war that the USA embarked on in Iraq has made the world a much more dangerous place to do business or live in.

President Bush is in so deep in the Iraq war that was based on lies, that he has lost view of the forest.

President Bush should be tried as a war criminal and face charges of murder for the lives of both American soldiers in the Iraq war and the lives lost of the Iraq citizens.

American's and their Presidents must realize that not all people in the world want the freedom or democracy just like that of the American style.
Thank you
Norman Greenfield

RE: Daily Digest December 31/January 1, 2006/07

Joe:

Lying about reality has always been a trait only the USA could master.

Lying or hiding the truth has always been a trait only the USA could master.

Saddam Hussein is only another example.

Hussein's execution will be the best example as to why Canada needs to extricate itself from the one way, and disastrous relationship it has with the USA.

Do we really want to be an importer of the ability to lie as well as the USA, or do we want to be known as a nation that understands reality?

Eric Margolis is about the only realistic writer at the Sun, who does not see everything as the Americans do.
He should be required reading for all who study international relations, based in reality.

Thank you
Norm Greenfield

Waiting for answers in Overtime fiasco

The Overtime fiasco is an example of the fact that we as citzens need to stop blindly supporting our police as if they can do no wrong and are somehow angels and above the law.

Like the media, the police are given special in the law, society and our communities by the citizens of Edmonton through our laws and constitution. Both must not use or abuse this power to further their own positions in life, but to help the community and country to maintain our freedoms both from them and of them.

If those that enforce the law consider themselves to be above the law, and start to use their coercive powers against the very citizens that give them their special place in the law, society and our communities, then we do have a serious problem.

That being said, as a freelance journalist, I will be going to the downtown Overtime for New Years Eve.

I will not raise a protest if the city of Edmonton's finest want to get me drunk on their tab.

Thank youNorm Greenfield

Religion is entrenched in the state

Tom Brodbeck is right.

There is no separation of church and state in Canada. It's a myth.

There is no separation of church and state in reality in the USA either. It's a myth.

When religious groups taking sides by campaigning, organizing and demanding that a government pass a law that codifies something of or in their dogma, or doctrine, they have opened the door to allowing the church into the government and the government into the church.

Currently we have tax collectors in certain jurisdictions collecting school taxes to be turned over to the school boards responsible for Catholic school boards. That is the state doing the bidding of the church, or actually to be truthful, something the church cannot do itself.

We have the Catholic school system enshrined in our constitutions for some provinces.

We have the government paying the damages for sexual and physical abuse inflicted in the residential school system on our Native's.

We have the religious leaders of our churches issuing marriage licenses, which is a government task.

Churches do not pay property taxes, their ministers, priests and such get a special tax break, and the buildings they work in can offer sanctuary to people who may be persecuted by the government through its police forces.

So when a level judge or bureaucrat decides that we can not have a Christmas tree, a menorah or the lights of Diwali in the lobby of any government building or courthouse, I just wonder if maybe their workload is a little too light.

Frankly I think in today's Canada, having a Christmas tree, a menorah or the lights of Diwali in the lobby of any government building or courthouse, shows we have matured as a country and realize Canada is not some monolithic Catholic or Christian country.

We were founded by the Natives, and populated by immigrants from all over the world, with all sorts of religions and beliefs, and should not be afraid to celebrate one or all of them, anyway those people want or need to, in a public or private place.

This is Canada.

Thank youNorm Greenfield

Marriage issue is over, this time for good

Unfortunately what has gotten lost in the loud and acrimonious debate over the issue of same sex marriage is that the churches that have entered into the debate forgot something on the way in.

No church has ever been forced to do anything with-in its walls if the actions are based in their theology, doctrine, or dogma.

The problem that has occurred in the evolution of the marriage rite, is that many churches have taken over the role, or added the role, of being marriage license issuers.

This is where they may be tripped up if at all in the issue of whether they perform same-sex marriages or civil unions.

Let the churches perform all of the marriages they want, and let the province and its registry offices do the issuing of the marriage licenses.

If the church wants to stand firm on the notion of a separation of church and state, then it is an issue and principle that swings both ways. They must stay out of the state's business.

If the churches return all that is Caesar's, including the administration of justice and government and be content in doing just what they are good at, the teaching and practice of religion, then all will be right.

An officer of the court, or an agent of the government, which the local registries office is, must operate according to the law, and process applications and such according to the regulations, laws, and directives approved and passed down to them by the provincial, federal, or civic governments.

That is what a democracy is all about, and anything else makes no better than a tin pot dictatorship.


Thank youNorm Greenfield

Stephane Dion a citizen of Canada and France.

We can see that the government of Stephen Harper is doing nothing but trying to sling as much at Stephane Dion as they can.

Is it out of fear, stupidity, ignorance or arrogance?

Lets just keep in mind the following MPs who are citizens of Canada and some other country, from both sides of the House of Commons.

Diane Ablonczy, United States * Omar Alghabra, Saudi Arabia * Vivian Barbot, Haiti * Susan Barnes, Malta * Maurizio Bevilacqua, Italy * John Cannis, Greece * Raymond Chan, China * Chris Charlton, Germany * Olivia Chow, Hong Kong * Tony Clement, England * Libby Davies, England * Sukh Dhaliwal, India * Ujjal Dosanjh, India * Steven Fletcher, Brazil * Joe Fontana, Italy * Hedy Fry, Trinidad * Nina Grewal, Japan * Albina Guarnieri, Italy * Rahim Jaffer, Uganda * Jim Karygiannis, Greece * Wajid Khan, Pakistan * Maka Kotto, Cameroon * Gurbax Malhi, India * Inky Mark, China * Keith Martin, England * Tony Martin, Ireland * Maria Minna, Italy * Maria Mourani, Ivory Coast * Deepak Obhrai, Tanzania * Daniel Petit, Belgium * Yasmin Ratansi, Tanzania * Pablo Rodriguez, Argentina * Michael Savage, Northern Ireland * Mario Silva, Portugal * Peter Stoffer, Netherlands * Andrew Telegdi, Hungary * Lui Temelkovski, Macedonia * Myron Thompson, United States * Vic Toews, Paraguay * Joe Volpe, Italy * John Williams, Scotland

Thank youNorm Greenfield

Campaigning, by stealth

One has to wonder who is starting the stealth campaign for Stephane Dion, the Liberals or the media who seem bent on jumping on his bandwagon cause it looks like it is the one that might just win the next election race, not because there is any substance to it..

The new Green party leader seems to have fallen for the stealth campaign as well when she said in a recent article written by Mike DeSouza that, ''If they try to smear him and say that he's somehow associated with past Liberal corruption, they're just barking up the wrong tree,'' or ''If they try to say he was anything other than a very strong environment minister, they're making it up.''

It was Dion who was a member of the Chrétien Cabinet during the sponsorship scandal. Mr Dion was also in Cabinet as successive Liberal governments presided over the multi-billion dollar HRDC and gun registry boondoggles.

Dion's record speaks for itself:
Environmentalists criticised Dion’s record as Environment Minister for relying on voluntary measures to reduce pollution.The federal environment commissioner said “[Dion’s plan was] not up to the task of meeting the Kyoto obligations.”Report of the Environment Commissioner, Overview, page 9, 28 September 2006.
Canada received a Fossil of the Day Award in December 2005, while Dion was the host to the climate change summit in Montreal.
Dion voted with the Conservatives against banning scab workers from federal workplaces (22 October 2003 & 13 April 2005)
Dion voted with the Conservatives against mandatory fuel efficiency in cars (22 February 2005)
Dion was absent for the vote on the Liberal bill to implement the Kyoto Protocol (4 October 2006)
Dion was absent for the vote on the Liberal bill to implement the Kelowna Accord (18 October 2006)
Dion voted against improving benefits for the families of fallen firefighters (26 October 2005)
The stealth is not being created by the Dion strategizers, it is being created by the media

Thank you
Norm Greenfield

Tight Races Galvanizes Arts Community

It might be an idea for Bradley Moss, to rid himself of the fuzzy thinking he is using and realize that if Ted Morton win's the leadership it will sink the Progressive Conservative Party and allow parties that truly represent Albertan's to win in the next election.

Jim Dinning thought he could win the nomination by making no mistakes, hence making no big plans or big dreams for the future of the province that lies past the horizon.

Jim Dinning may or may not win the leadership, but he has shown he is nothing more than the status quo, and we have seen what that has gotten us in Alberta.

If those that are buying memberships in another party to make sure a leader that is advantagious to their own party's hopes and dreams, it means that their own party has not grabbed a hole of their hearts and minds.

This whole membership hypocrasy might just be another good reason why people are not showing up to vote at all, let alone for one of the tired 3 old line parties in the Alberta legislature.

Since the Liberal Party does not seem to provide that alternative, and the NDP has lost the wind in its sails, I would suggest Moss look at the Alberta Green Party.


Norm Greenfield

Guarantee of Wait Times to First Nations

One has to applaud the current Conservative government in Ottawa for getting a late start on their wait time guarantee promise. What one has to wonder with the program they have come up with.

It is to guarantee wait times for pregnant First Nations mothers to be.

How will they assure the guaranteed times are met" What is the penalty for not meeting them and who pays it?

If the various health care regions and administrations are struggling to meet acceptable wait times for thier citizens, and most if not all are stretched to the limits for both space and staff resources, where will the federal government come up with the magical answer?

Will they be using the medical resources that somehow exist in the federal department of health, but nowhere else in Canada?

Will they be contracting with public health funded doctors to work outside of the provincial health care system? If they do this, will that not create a problem in the public health care sector where the rest of Canadians must find and wait for their timely health care services?

Will they send the First Nation's mum's to be to the USA?

We have seen how the federal government has delivered on other issues for First Nations, when it tries to target problems with ill thought out ideas and policies.

Will this be a hot button political announcement made by the Harper government with little or no long term thought as to where and how this will end up for both the First Nation's people of Canada, and the rest of Canada.

Norm Greenfield