New rules to spur rush for passports? Or Government Revenues?

Well that’s just great; the federal government is predicting a record surge in passport applications over the next year as Canadians get ready for tougher U.S. border rules. Passport Canada is bracing for 5.2 million passport applications for the year, ending March 31, 2009, a jump of 10% over the previous fiscal year when a record high number of passports was issued, an internal document shows. For travellers by land and water will need passports as of June 1 next year, a requirement expected to drive Passport Canada applications to record levels because most Canadians travel to the U.S. by car. Applications must be accompanied by an $87 fee, although the auditor general recently questioned how part of the fee is set, you multiply $87 with the 5.2 million passport applications a year, that churns to 452.4 million dollars in government revenue, even the Foreign Affairs does not know how the $87 dollar fee is set. This is just another method for government to generate revenue at the cost of the people they serve.

Yours Truly,

-Waterloo University: Alex.C, PSCI-260

The Star, 2008

http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/463999

They're Politicians Not Hollywood: Parliament Hill Blocks Need $1B Facelift

Today, the cost of renovating and rebuilding the historic Parliament Hill buildings has climbed to a minimum of $1 billion, according to Public Works budgets and plans; that estimate is without merit seeing how cities can be constructed with that budget. Apparently Canada's national archives building is prone to leaks and the Library and Archives Canada building near Parliament Hill in Ottawa was given a second soaking June 1 when a cold-water valve in a women's washroom failed. Though Parliament Hill reflections the political stature of Canada, and the imagery of rust and flooding may not be appealing, I still believe the budget is overestimated and could probably lead to another Gomery Inquiry where contracts are negotiated and favoured by party supporters.

So currently, high wire fencing has been erected at a north corner of Centre Block to prevent people from coming too close to crumbling mortar and into danger from bits of stone falling from the walls and towers. Since the chain of government is not majority and can change within the contract periods and even fact suspending it, it proves very difficult for the Public Works to prioritize the renovation of Parliament Hill.

Yours Truly,

-Waterloo University: Alex.C, PSCI-260

The Star, 2008

http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/464006

The Star, 2008

http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/463758

Minimum Sentences in Canada: Throw Away The Key!

As of today, a new law that toughens mandatory minimum sentences for gun-related crimes is under ponderous scrutiny. A proposed bill will do the same for anyone convicted of a long list of drug crimes, including those caught growing just one marijuana plant. It honestly does not matter how large or illegal the crime is, a crime is a crime, Canada must enforce tougher laws to set an example of potential criminals considering such crimes.

So far 76% of Canadian support the increase of minimum jail time, although it has cost Canada $49 billion a year. Howard Sapers, the federally appointed Correctional Investigator, who oversees Canada's prison system says: "Prison populations will increase and, if the evidence that's available is any indication, crime rates won't decrease." However using this thought, if criminals are kept in jail and away from society, wouldn’t the crime rate itself drop in Canada?

Yours Truly,

-Waterloo University: Alex.C, PSCI-260

The Star, 2008

http://www.thestar.com/SpecialSections/Crime/article/460704

RCMP Chief Should be Tazed First!

Today in Vancouver, RCMP Commissioner William Elliott said yesterday there was nothing improper about his support for the four officers involved in using a Taser on a Polish man at the Vancouver airport, Robert Dziekanski, 40, died last October shortly after being hit with the stun gun and then being pinned to the ground by officers. The fact that the RCMP Commissioner failed to reveal such emotions and to support the murder of this innocent bystander by promulgating his officers as having done nothing wrong stems police corruption for the RCMP and tarnishes their image. A comment made that, "Right from the beginning we have said the RCMP should not be investigating the RCMP," said Kosteckyj yesterday. Just ridiculous, so using this logic, the RCMP are exempt from any malfeasant acts they construe and can legitimize their wrongs.

Yours Truly,

-Waterloo University: Alex.C, PSCI-260

The Star, 2008

http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/462638

Just MADD Drivers!

It’s about time that the Ontario government considers new restrictions for young drivers by the Ministry of Transportation. Today is a day that premises safer drivers and more cognitive realizations that driving is a privilege, not a right. It was sad to see that 3 people died at the age of 20 and younger last week to merit this notion; this is a mere list of all the fatalities occurred by teenagers or young drivers who drive for the sake of flexing testosterone or for fame and popularity.

The MADD group has lobbied for more regulations with the Liberal government, debating that the blood-alcohol limit is zero for all drivers under 21, with limitations on passengers under a G2 status, also for the turn off of cellphones. I cannot agree any more, at the age of 21 and under, is an age of stupidity for some and a ‘why not’ attitude for others, for the smart ones, it’s a privilege taken seriously, if this is the case, then stipulating such laws would allow everyone to take driving with the utmost certainty of life and liberty. The Liberals must enforce legally, safer drivers.

In 1994, after the implementation of stringent licence requirements -resulted in an immediate drop in the percentage of young Ontario drivers getting into collisions. In 1993, 15.1 per cent of 16-year-old drivers had accidents; 2 per cent did in 2005, the last year for which figures are available. Where 9.1 per cent of 20-year-old drivers had accidents in 1993, 6.2 per cent did in 2005.

Drivers must take responsibilities as a life lesson, that when you’re on the road, other people’s lives are at stake, and implementing stringent licencing requirements, can improve this habit, safeguarding, life and liberty, everything that Canada symbolizes.

Yours Truly,

-Waterloo University: Alex.C, PSCI-260

The Star, 2008

http://www.thestar.com/News/Ontario/article/457677

Surprise Surprise: Dion's green plan faces legal challenge

Today, Stephane Dion faces legal challenge from a firm that says the party swiped its name.

The Liberal plan, which would tax fossil fuels and redistribute the revenue in personal tax breaks, has nominated candidates in the province working overtime to sell it. But ironically, this concept is becoming battered by the very consulting firm that promoted this idea, Green Shift Inc., said yesterday it intends to sue the Liberal party over its Green Shift proposal because it has co-opted the name and damaged its reputation. I for one am not surprised of this stupid indecision made by the Liberals, an example would be the ownership of the domain name www.thegreenshift.ca and they believes that there is no confusion between the party and the company, nor a commercial threat to worry Green Shift Inc., whose website is www.greenshift.ca. Stephane Dion, thank you for analyzing your political moves and alienating your own affiliates and political ‘strategies’ that you conger up, and reinforcing the ‘Fiberal’ definition of misconduct in the Canadian political arena.

Yours Truly,

-Waterloo University: Alex.C, PSCI-260

The Star, 2008

http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/456116

"Canada Loses Ground"

Well well well, Canada is ranked 1 of the 17 wealthiest countries in socio-economic evaluations according to the Conference Board of Canada, today. They gave Canada four Bs — for economy, education, health and the social environment — but only a C on environment and a D on innovation. The board gives a B to countries in the second quartile, a C in the third and a D in the bottom. I for one am glad they got such a relegated mark, it is asinine to think that Canada’s progress on the environment and innovation is anymore improved than the Neolithic Age where agriculture, hunting tools, the invention of the wheel, sought positive changes in civilization as we know it. Today such truths were revealed, the environment with all the policies out there, volumes stacked in parliament cannot justify internal preference of socio-economic development over the environment or innovation for that matter. Canada has not legally enforced the Clean Air Act nationwide, and stepped away from Kyoto despite their international obligations, and proof that greener innovative technologies lead to a better country. Why is this the case? Well, the plot thickens, it appears that the Western Oil/Gas industries in Canada, the 2^nd largest oil industry in the world plays the favourtism card. Simply put, Canada will not bankrupt itself by developing greener technologies or enforcing national air quality standards for the sake of Canadians, but moreso for the sake of monetary justifications, Canada ranked in socio-economic evaluations of being 1 out of 17 wealthiest countries proves this theory.

Canada ranked No. 2 in education because high school and college graduation rates are very high. But there are problems, including the 40 per cent of adults who have trouble coping with the literacy and numeracy demands of life and work. Also, just their graduation analysis does not measure their level of success or life achievements, from my highschool in my hometown of Mississauga, only 25% of the grade 12s graduated but the figures were renumerated with the cohort figures so the absent students were replaced with those who cohorted.

Canada needs to subsidize its own GDP and place funds into the environment, education and innovation; without internal political malfeasance.

Yours Truly,

-Waterloo University: Alex.C, PSCI-260

CBC Canada, 2008

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/toronto/story/2008/06/27/canada-report.html?re