IF TODAY IS YOUR BIRTHDAY: This year, your ability to communicate and express yourself becomes a salient feature. You often share a lot in order to get clarification, but still wonder what you just heard. Your family and home life develop a rich, dynamic tone. If you are single, you could meet someone of romantic significance in 2011. This relationship will have flash and energy. If you are attached, you will discover the excitement of a new venture with your significant other. The more different this happening or decision might be, the better the end results. Leo opens up to you.
BORN TODAY: Actor Jaleel White (1976), American royalty Caroline Kennedy (1957), singer Eddie Rabbit (1941)
ARIES (March 21-April 20)
Express your energy and ingenuity when making plans with a child or loved one. Whether going off on an adventure or following through on an important plan makes little difference. Excitement paves your way. Tonight: Enjoy every moment.
TAURUS (April 21-May 20)
Honour a sense of fatigue, even if a friend or loved one wants to get you motivated. You might not have the whole story regarding a critical situation involving an authority figure. A friend simply doesn’t have the facts. Tonight: Close to home.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21)
Rethink what has been a tough relationship. You reach out for those at a distance, but don’t forget a commitment to someone close, perhaps an older relative. Have a long-overdue talk over a leisurely meal. Tonight: At a favourite spot, with favourite people.
CANCER (June 22-July 22)
Be careful how extreme you get. You could overindulge quite naturally in one area or another. Do try to squeeze in a walk or some other form of exercise. News from a distance could be surprising. Tonight: Your treat.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22)
You cannot and will not be held down. Let your imagination combine with another person’s inspired vision. You learn that nearly anything is possible. Someone of interest will come toward you without that additional nudge. Trust yourself. Tonight: Know that you are top dog.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)
Know when to kick back and let others do the work. Often, you do too much, making others feel like you think they are incompetent. Don’t push a family member too far. Follow the same advice with key relationships. Tonight: Keep plans mum.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23)
Keep your objectives in your mind’s eye. You’ll be less likely to be tossed off course. You know where you are going and what is important. Count on the energy, though a jolt of some sort could toss you off your path — for a while. Tonight: Act like it is any other night of week.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22)
Others seek you out, wanting to know what your plans might be. Realize that an element of confusion in your domestic life and with friends could make revealing plans close to impossible, as you don’t know them yet. Tonight: A force wherever you are.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21)
Your incredible ideas make it impossible not to enjoy plans you make. Just go with spontaneity. Will others enjoy them? Only time will tell. Remember, there are differences in all of us. Tonight: Follow the music.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 20)
You’ll gain a great deal of insight about a partner just by relaxing and letting this person call the shots. (He or she wants to anyway.) Your sense of humour mixed with understanding could make this day more exciting than anticipated. Tonight: Visit with others.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 21-Feb. 19)
You often find a key person in your life nearly magnetic. Once more, this person casts a haze around you, as you enjoy every minute. Don’t over-indulge, as there could be ramifications later. That doesn’t mean not to enjoy yourself. Tonight: Where the action is.
PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20)
Invite others over for a mellow get-together. You hear news that on one level delights you but on the other surprises you. Know that you might not be reading this person correctly. Work with a partner, not against him or her. Tonight: Play it easy.
http://www.jacquelinebigar.com/
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Saturday, November 27, 2010
CRTC gives green light to Sun TV... AKA Fox News North!
CRTC gives green light to Sun TV
Quebecor Inc.’s (QBR.B-T36.720.100.27%) bid to create a new 24-hour news channel in Canada has taken another step toward the TV dial. On Friday, the federal broadcast regulator approved the license application for the Sun TV News Network.
The approval had been expected since last month, when the Montreal-based company adjusted its application to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, to request a standard license for a specialty channel.
The upcoming channel has been surrounded by some controversy, including an online activist group that objected to its launch.
The controversy led to the resignation in September of the head of the project and former spokesperson for the Harper government, Kory Teneycke. Mr. Lavoie – a former spokesman for Brian Mulroney and close associate of Quebecor chief executive officer Pierre Karl Péladeau – took the reins at Sun TV after Mr. Teneycke left in an attempt to “lower the temperature” of the debate.
“When people made the comparison, calling us Fox News North, they were totally mistaken,” Mr. Lavoie said on Friday. “The philosophy behind this was not to be Fox News ... it was to be an offshoot of the Sun Media culture.”
That includes mimicking the “irreverent” and “provocative” tone of the Sun newspapers Quebecor owns, he said. Sun Media journalists will also be expected to contribute to the network, shooting video and doing on-air commentary while working on stories for the paper. (Sun TV is a joint partnership of Quebecor divisions Sun Media Corp., which publishes newspapers across the country, and TVA Group Inc., which runs its broadcast operations.)
But Mr. Lavoie acknowledged the channel did take some inspiration from Fox News in its mix of reporting and punditry. The channel plans news reports during the day, with more commentary in the prime time hours, beginning at 5 p.m.
Sun TV has already hired conservative activist and Sun newspaper columnist Ezra Levant; former Canwest (now Postmedia) reporter David Akin; current Corus talk radio host Charles Adler; and former CBC reporter Krista Erickson, among others. More hiring announcements are on the way, Mr. Lavoie said.
The company is currently constructing the network’s main studio, in downtown Toronto close to the Toronto Sun offices, which will also house a second studio. Others will be built in Ottawa, Calgary, and likely Edmonton.
Sun TV had originally requested a license that would obligate cable and satellite companies to carry it on their services. That was rejected; and Sun TV tried again, asking for a standard license with the exception that distributors would have to offer it to customers on at least one of their packages, in the first three years. In early October, Mr. Péladeau said the company would withdraw that request, and ask for a standard Category 2 license.
“We welcome a diversity of voices. We want to have as much news out there as possible, as many different voices,” CRTC chairman Konrad von Finckenstein said on Friday. “As a Category 2 license, there’s absolutely no problem. If their original application had been in this format, we would have sent it [the license] to them by return mail, basically.”
In a statement, Mr. Péladeau welcomed the CRTC decision, calling it “the dawn of a new era for Canadian news media.”
Quebecor Inc.’s (QBR.B-T36.720.100.27%) bid to create a new 24-hour news channel in Canada has taken another step toward the TV dial. On Friday, the federal broadcast regulator approved the license application for the Sun TV News Network.
The approval had been expected since last month, when the Montreal-based company adjusted its application to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, to request a standard license for a specialty channel.
The upcoming channel has been surrounded by some controversy, including an online activist group that objected to its launch.
The controversy led to the resignation in September of the head of the project and former spokesperson for the Harper government, Kory Teneycke. Mr. Lavoie – a former spokesman for Brian Mulroney and close associate of Quebecor chief executive officer Pierre Karl Péladeau – took the reins at Sun TV after Mr. Teneycke left in an attempt to “lower the temperature” of the debate.
“When people made the comparison, calling us Fox News North, they were totally mistaken,” Mr. Lavoie said on Friday. “The philosophy behind this was not to be Fox News ... it was to be an offshoot of the Sun Media culture.”
That includes mimicking the “irreverent” and “provocative” tone of the Sun newspapers Quebecor owns, he said. Sun Media journalists will also be expected to contribute to the network, shooting video and doing on-air commentary while working on stories for the paper. (Sun TV is a joint partnership of Quebecor divisions Sun Media Corp., which publishes newspapers across the country, and TVA Group Inc., which runs its broadcast operations.)
But Mr. Lavoie acknowledged the channel did take some inspiration from Fox News in its mix of reporting and punditry. The channel plans news reports during the day, with more commentary in the prime time hours, beginning at 5 p.m.
Sun TV has already hired conservative activist and Sun newspaper columnist Ezra Levant; former Canwest (now Postmedia) reporter David Akin; current Corus talk radio host Charles Adler; and former CBC reporter Krista Erickson, among others. More hiring announcements are on the way, Mr. Lavoie said.
The company is currently constructing the network’s main studio, in downtown Toronto close to the Toronto Sun offices, which will also house a second studio. Others will be built in Ottawa, Calgary, and likely Edmonton.
Sun TV had originally requested a license that would obligate cable and satellite companies to carry it on their services. That was rejected; and Sun TV tried again, asking for a standard license with the exception that distributors would have to offer it to customers on at least one of their packages, in the first three years. In early October, Mr. Péladeau said the company would withdraw that request, and ask for a standard Category 2 license.
“We welcome a diversity of voices. We want to have as much news out there as possible, as many different voices,” CRTC chairman Konrad von Finckenstein said on Friday. “As a Category 2 license, there’s absolutely no problem. If their original application had been in this format, we would have sent it [the license] to them by return mail, basically.”
In a statement, Mr. Péladeau welcomed the CRTC decision, calling it “the dawn of a new era for Canadian news media.”
Friday, November 26, 2010
G20 Police officers not at fault for injuries during protests: SIU.
Brendan Latimer was knocked down by a herd of fellow protesters during a G20 demonstration at Queen’s Park.
Lying on the ground, police moved in and arrested the delivery worker. That’s when one of the officers allegedly struck him in the face, causing a fracture.
The 19-year-old’s case is one of six from the June G20 summit that has been probed by Ontario’s Special Investigations Unit.
On Thursday, the agency announced no charges will be laid against police officers for injuries to civilians during the G20 protests.
In Latimer’s case, the agency interviewed nine witness officers from the Toronto Police Services as well a civilians. SIU director Ian Scott concluded that while there was “reasonable ground” to believe excessive force was used, they were unable to tell which officer caused his injuries.
“I’m let down, I’m very frustrated,” said Latimer, who says he also suffered two broken ribs and a deep cut to his head.
“They spent all this money installing cameras and surveillance devices . . . I’m enraged that they could use that stuff to catch protesters but not to catch police.
“It just seems like a double standard,” he added.
The SIU has a mandate to probe incidents involving police that result in death, allegations of sexual assault or serious injury.
Frank Phillips, an SIU spokesperson, said that only six complaints from the G20 were investigated by his agency because, “these cases met our mandate of serious injury.”
Dorian Barton, 29, was at a demonstration near University Ave. and College St. when he turned around to take pictures of mounted police officers with his cellphone. He was allegedly taken to the ground by a male anti-riot officer and suffered a fracture to his right arm.
Like Latimer, the officer could not be identified. Scott also said that Barton could not fully explain how the injury occurred.
“I ended up suffering a lot because of what happened to me and it’s frustrating no one is going to be held accountable,” said Barton.
In another incident, a YouTube video titled “Toronto G20, Peaceful Protester Tackled and Roughed Up,” shows Adam Nobody being chased by a group of about six uniformed police officers.
He is then tackled to the ground.
Because the officers all wore identical helmets and uniforms, it was impossible to identify which one is responsible for causing a fracture below Nobody’s right eye, said Scott.
Two officers were identified as having something to do with the incident, but exercised their rights, declining an interview with the SIU.
Nobody, 27, also alleged that two plainclothes officers took him behind a van, and repeatedly kicked him in the head. Scott said he found “no corroborative evidence.”
“It’s disappointing that the SIU felt that they were unable to get sufficient evidence to lay charges against any of the officers given the fact that all six of the complainants investigated did receive serious injuries,” said Toronto lawyer Peter Rosenthal.
“One would have thought the SIU would have been able to identify some of the officers.”
The Star recently ran a series of investigative reports examining a lack of results and accountability for police officers probed by the SIU over two decades. The series, “Above the Law,” found evidence that Ontario’s criminal justice system heavily favours police and concluded that officers are often treated far differently than civilians when accused of shooting, beating and running over and killing people.
“The record of the SIU has not been very good at pursuing charges against officers who have seriously injured people,” added Rosenthal.
Norm Morcos, whose complaint was also being investigated, said he wasn’t surprised. But not because the SIU was ineffective.
“The (SIU) officers I was dealing with were diligent and motivated,” said Morcos, who suffered a hand fracture, possibly from a police baton, while being corralled at Queen’s Park during the summit.
“I did not think that it would be likely that police officers would come forward and identify themselves as having contributed to my injury,” he said.
Toronto Police Association President Mike McCormack said it’s important to remember there were officers from across the country who came in to police the G20, “not just ours.” Responding to the SIU’s conclusions, he said: “Mr. Scott put it the best. There was insufficient evidence for him to the lay the charges.”
For Brendan Latimer, it’s all very frustrating.
“Just to know that they can say ‘Yes, we know this happened, but there’s nothing we can do about it,’ ” he said.
“If they can’t do anything about it, who can?”
Lying on the ground, police moved in and arrested the delivery worker. That’s when one of the officers allegedly struck him in the face, causing a fracture.
The 19-year-old’s case is one of six from the June G20 summit that has been probed by Ontario’s Special Investigations Unit.
On Thursday, the agency announced no charges will be laid against police officers for injuries to civilians during the G20 protests.
In Latimer’s case, the agency interviewed nine witness officers from the Toronto Police Services as well a civilians. SIU director Ian Scott concluded that while there was “reasonable ground” to believe excessive force was used, they were unable to tell which officer caused his injuries.
“I’m let down, I’m very frustrated,” said Latimer, who says he also suffered two broken ribs and a deep cut to his head.
“They spent all this money installing cameras and surveillance devices . . . I’m enraged that they could use that stuff to catch protesters but not to catch police.
“It just seems like a double standard,” he added.
The SIU has a mandate to probe incidents involving police that result in death, allegations of sexual assault or serious injury.
Frank Phillips, an SIU spokesperson, said that only six complaints from the G20 were investigated by his agency because, “these cases met our mandate of serious injury.”
Dorian Barton, 29, was at a demonstration near University Ave. and College St. when he turned around to take pictures of mounted police officers with his cellphone. He was allegedly taken to the ground by a male anti-riot officer and suffered a fracture to his right arm.
Like Latimer, the officer could not be identified. Scott also said that Barton could not fully explain how the injury occurred.
“I ended up suffering a lot because of what happened to me and it’s frustrating no one is going to be held accountable,” said Barton.
In another incident, a YouTube video titled “Toronto G20, Peaceful Protester Tackled and Roughed Up,” shows Adam Nobody being chased by a group of about six uniformed police officers.
He is then tackled to the ground.
Because the officers all wore identical helmets and uniforms, it was impossible to identify which one is responsible for causing a fracture below Nobody’s right eye, said Scott.
Two officers were identified as having something to do with the incident, but exercised their rights, declining an interview with the SIU.
Nobody, 27, also alleged that two plainclothes officers took him behind a van, and repeatedly kicked him in the head. Scott said he found “no corroborative evidence.”
“It’s disappointing that the SIU felt that they were unable to get sufficient evidence to lay charges against any of the officers given the fact that all six of the complainants investigated did receive serious injuries,” said Toronto lawyer Peter Rosenthal.
“One would have thought the SIU would have been able to identify some of the officers.”
The Star recently ran a series of investigative reports examining a lack of results and accountability for police officers probed by the SIU over two decades. The series, “Above the Law,” found evidence that Ontario’s criminal justice system heavily favours police and concluded that officers are often treated far differently than civilians when accused of shooting, beating and running over and killing people.
“The record of the SIU has not been very good at pursuing charges against officers who have seriously injured people,” added Rosenthal.
Norm Morcos, whose complaint was also being investigated, said he wasn’t surprised. But not because the SIU was ineffective.
“The (SIU) officers I was dealing with were diligent and motivated,” said Morcos, who suffered a hand fracture, possibly from a police baton, while being corralled at Queen’s Park during the summit.
“I did not think that it would be likely that police officers would come forward and identify themselves as having contributed to my injury,” he said.
Toronto Police Association President Mike McCormack said it’s important to remember there were officers from across the country who came in to police the G20, “not just ours.” Responding to the SIU’s conclusions, he said: “Mr. Scott put it the best. There was insufficient evidence for him to the lay the charges.”
For Brendan Latimer, it’s all very frustrating.
“Just to know that they can say ‘Yes, we know this happened, but there’s nothing we can do about it,’ ” he said.
“If they can’t do anything about it, who can?”
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Swiss banking giant Credit Suisse will try to block the Canada Revenue Agency's efforts to obtain volumes of client records as Ottawa cracks down on Canadians suspected of hiding money overseas.
MONTREAL — Swiss banking giant Credit Suisse will try to block the Canada Revenue Agency's efforts to obtain volumes of client records as Ottawa cracks down on Canadians suspected of hiding money overseas.
Bank officials tell QMI Agency it won't hand over 500 boxes of documents because it's not required to do so under Canadian law. Credit Suisse adds the Canadian government's request is too broad, and it has filed an injunction in Toronto Federal Court to stop the request.
"Canadian law requires certain conditions to be met before CRA can issue such a request and we do not believe that those legal conditions have been satisfied," the bank said in a statement. "Furthermore, we are very concerned about the personal and financial privacy interests of our clients."
The bank says no money was ever hidden in Credit Suisse accounts, though a Canadian citizen has confessed to sheltering money from tax officials after transferring it from the bank.
The client told tax officials that he conducted the transaction on advice from a financial adviser at another bank. Credit Suisse shut down its Canadian private banking offices in 1998.
CRA has until Saturday to tell the court if it will contest Credit Suisse’s injunction. A department spokesman had no comment Tuesday.
A total of 3,000 Canadians have admitted to tax evasion since last year and have paid out $138 million. Most said they hid money overseas through the UBS and HSBC banking groups.
Reports say another 1,800 Canadians might be hiding millions in Switzerland.
Under Swiss law, Swiss banks can't be forced to reveal the names of Canadians who hold accounts in the European country. Canada can ask about specific account holders but only if it assembles evidence in Canada of possible wrongdoing.
Earlier this month, Prime Minister Stephen Harper signed a treaty with his Swiss counterpart to allow the two countries to exchange tax information for future tax years.
The deal will apply to individuals who earn taxable income in either country.
Bank officials tell QMI Agency it won't hand over 500 boxes of documents because it's not required to do so under Canadian law. Credit Suisse adds the Canadian government's request is too broad, and it has filed an injunction in Toronto Federal Court to stop the request.
"Canadian law requires certain conditions to be met before CRA can issue such a request and we do not believe that those legal conditions have been satisfied," the bank said in a statement. "Furthermore, we are very concerned about the personal and financial privacy interests of our clients."
The bank says no money was ever hidden in Credit Suisse accounts, though a Canadian citizen has confessed to sheltering money from tax officials after transferring it from the bank.
The client told tax officials that he conducted the transaction on advice from a financial adviser at another bank. Credit Suisse shut down its Canadian private banking offices in 1998.
CRA has until Saturday to tell the court if it will contest Credit Suisse’s injunction. A department spokesman had no comment Tuesday.
A total of 3,000 Canadians have admitted to tax evasion since last year and have paid out $138 million. Most said they hid money overseas through the UBS and HSBC banking groups.
Reports say another 1,800 Canadians might be hiding millions in Switzerland.
Under Swiss law, Swiss banks can't be forced to reveal the names of Canadians who hold accounts in the European country. Canada can ask about specific account holders but only if it assembles evidence in Canada of possible wrongdoing.
Earlier this month, Prime Minister Stephen Harper signed a treaty with his Swiss counterpart to allow the two countries to exchange tax information for future tax years.
The deal will apply to individuals who earn taxable income in either country.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
More than 50 federal government agencies and departments rely on long-form census data .
More than 50 federal government agencies and departments rely on long-form census data on ethnic origins, visible minorities, citizenship and immigration for planning and policies, according to a newly released internal report.
In the documents, Statistics Canada says more than 700 different clients bought reports or data based on the 2006 census, including 297 government bodies from all levels, 232 businesses, 66 non-profit organizations, 54 health and social service agencies and 62 educational institutions.
In June, the government announced it was replacing the mandatory long-form census with a voluntary National Household Survey (NHS).
"Statistics Canada is confident that the NHS will produce usable and useful data that will meet the needs of many users," the agency says in the documents. "It will not, however, provide a level of quality that would have been achieved through the mandatory long-form census."
Among the federal departments and agencies that reported purchasing Statistics Canada reports or using data based on the census questions about ethnic origin and immigration are Indian Affairs and Northern Development, Status of Women, National Defence, Canada Revenue Service, Citizenship and Immigration, the Bank of Canada, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation and the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada.
Included among the approximately 60 agencies and departments that said they had not made use of the data are the National Research Council, Correctional Service of Canada, Environment Canada, Passport Canada, Canadian International Development Agency, Export Development Canada, Canadian Security Intelligence Service, Canadian Transportation Agency and VIA Rail Inc.
The documents were released this week in response to questions tabled in the House of Commons in September by Liberal MP Ruby Dhalla.
"There is going to be a great void with the scrapping of the long-form census," Dhalla said. "I think it's going to have an impact on many diverse communities across Canada, and most importantly, have an impact on ethnic communities in Canada."
The Bank of Canada reported using long-form data to track Canadian migration patterns during economic changes. Health Canada employs it to assess well-being in First Nations communities, while the Public Health Agency relies on this information to target services to clusters of immigrants or particular ethnic groups. The Canada Student Loan Program uses this census data for demographic analysis of post-secondary enrolment, and the Department of Justice uses it to tailor studies on elder abuse to different ethnic populations.
Many agencies and departments said they use the census data to evaluate whether their employee demographics are in line with the Canadian population and employment equity rules.
The biggest impact of replacing the mandatory census with a voluntary survey will be "non-response bias," or the fact that people who don't respond tend to have different characteristics than those who do, Statistics Canada says — meaning that a voluntary survey won't be representative of the Canadian population.
"Given that the NHS is anticipated to achieve a response rate of only 50 per cent, there is a substantial risk of non-response bias," the agency says in the documents.
Statistics Canada says it has never conducted a survey on the scale of the NHS, nor does it know of any country that has, so it's "largely unknown" how effective its efforts to mitigate these and other issues will be.
Read more: http://www.canada.com/technology/Dozens+federal+departments+agencies+count+census+Report/3857519/story.html#ixzz16Aj7Y6YO
In the documents, Statistics Canada says more than 700 different clients bought reports or data based on the 2006 census, including 297 government bodies from all levels, 232 businesses, 66 non-profit organizations, 54 health and social service agencies and 62 educational institutions.
In June, the government announced it was replacing the mandatory long-form census with a voluntary National Household Survey (NHS).
"Statistics Canada is confident that the NHS will produce usable and useful data that will meet the needs of many users," the agency says in the documents. "It will not, however, provide a level of quality that would have been achieved through the mandatory long-form census."
Among the federal departments and agencies that reported purchasing Statistics Canada reports or using data based on the census questions about ethnic origin and immigration are Indian Affairs and Northern Development, Status of Women, National Defence, Canada Revenue Service, Citizenship and Immigration, the Bank of Canada, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation and the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada.
Included among the approximately 60 agencies and departments that said they had not made use of the data are the National Research Council, Correctional Service of Canada, Environment Canada, Passport Canada, Canadian International Development Agency, Export Development Canada, Canadian Security Intelligence Service, Canadian Transportation Agency and VIA Rail Inc.
The documents were released this week in response to questions tabled in the House of Commons in September by Liberal MP Ruby Dhalla.
"There is going to be a great void with the scrapping of the long-form census," Dhalla said. "I think it's going to have an impact on many diverse communities across Canada, and most importantly, have an impact on ethnic communities in Canada."
The Bank of Canada reported using long-form data to track Canadian migration patterns during economic changes. Health Canada employs it to assess well-being in First Nations communities, while the Public Health Agency relies on this information to target services to clusters of immigrants or particular ethnic groups. The Canada Student Loan Program uses this census data for demographic analysis of post-secondary enrolment, and the Department of Justice uses it to tailor studies on elder abuse to different ethnic populations.
Many agencies and departments said they use the census data to evaluate whether their employee demographics are in line with the Canadian population and employment equity rules.
The biggest impact of replacing the mandatory census with a voluntary survey will be "non-response bias," or the fact that people who don't respond tend to have different characteristics than those who do, Statistics Canada says — meaning that a voluntary survey won't be representative of the Canadian population.
"Given that the NHS is anticipated to achieve a response rate of only 50 per cent, there is a substantial risk of non-response bias," the agency says in the documents.
Statistics Canada says it has never conducted a survey on the scale of the NHS, nor does it know of any country that has, so it's "largely unknown" how effective its efforts to mitigate these and other issues will be.
Read more: http://www.canada.com/technology/Dozens+federal+departments+agencies+count+census+Report/3857519/story.html#ixzz16Aj7Y6YO
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Many Canadians believe the Supreme Court made the right decisions on two recent cases, but question a ruling related to the legal rights of suspects who are being interrogated, a new Angus Reid Public Opinion poll has found.
Canadians Disagree with Court on Interrogations Without Legal Counsel
Most respondents agree with the way the Supreme Court handled the cases related to journalistic sources and sexual abuse by a priest.
Many Canadians believe the Supreme Court made the right decisions on two recent cases, but question a ruling related to the legal rights of suspects who are being interrogated, a new Angus Reid Public Opinion poll has found.
In the online survey of a representative national sample of 1,014 Canadian adults, 76 per cent of respondents agree with the decision taken by the Supreme Court on the case of Shirley Christensen.
The Supreme Court ruled last month that Christensen—a Quebec woman who was sexually abused as a child at the hands of a priest—can launch a lawsuit against the Catholic Church.
Two-thirds of Canadians (65%) agree with a recent decision that looked into the issue of journalistic sources. The Supreme Court ruled that journalists have a qualified right to protect their confidential sources, if such protection outweighs the public interest in the disclosure that the law would normally require.
The case stemmed from an investigative report into the federal sponsorship scandal, in which Globe and Mail reporter Daniel Leblanc relied on a confidential source, identified only as “MaChouette.”
On a third case, the Supreme Court does not get the endorsement of most Canadians. More than half of respondents (54%) disagree with the ruling which states that suspects do not have a right to legal counsel while they are being interrogated.
Last month’s 5-4 decision effectively signifies that, if suspects reveals information to officers or detectives during an interrogation, this information may be admitted into evidence in a legal process against them.
Full Report, Detailed Tables and Methodology (PDF)
CONTACT:
Mario Canseco, Vice President, Communications & Media Relations
+877 730 3570
mario.canseco@angus-reid.com
Methodology: From October 29 to October 30, 2010, Angus Reid Public Opinion conducted an online survey among 1,014 randomly selected Canadian adults who are Angus Reid Forum panelists. The margin of error—which measures sampling variability—is +/- 3.1%, 19 times out of 20. The results have been statistically weighted according to the most current education, age, gender and region Census data to ensure a sample representative of the entire adult population of Canada. Discrepancies in or between totals are due to rounding.
Most respondents agree with the way the Supreme Court handled the cases related to journalistic sources and sexual abuse by a priest.
Many Canadians believe the Supreme Court made the right decisions on two recent cases, but question a ruling related to the legal rights of suspects who are being interrogated, a new Angus Reid Public Opinion poll has found.
In the online survey of a representative national sample of 1,014 Canadian adults, 76 per cent of respondents agree with the decision taken by the Supreme Court on the case of Shirley Christensen.
The Supreme Court ruled last month that Christensen—a Quebec woman who was sexually abused as a child at the hands of a priest—can launch a lawsuit against the Catholic Church.
Two-thirds of Canadians (65%) agree with a recent decision that looked into the issue of journalistic sources. The Supreme Court ruled that journalists have a qualified right to protect their confidential sources, if such protection outweighs the public interest in the disclosure that the law would normally require.
The case stemmed from an investigative report into the federal sponsorship scandal, in which Globe and Mail reporter Daniel Leblanc relied on a confidential source, identified only as “MaChouette.”
On a third case, the Supreme Court does not get the endorsement of most Canadians. More than half of respondents (54%) disagree with the ruling which states that suspects do not have a right to legal counsel while they are being interrogated.
Last month’s 5-4 decision effectively signifies that, if suspects reveals information to officers or detectives during an interrogation, this information may be admitted into evidence in a legal process against them.
Full Report, Detailed Tables and Methodology (PDF)
CONTACT:
Mario Canseco, Vice President, Communications & Media Relations
+877 730 3570
mario.canseco@angus-reid.com
Methodology: From October 29 to October 30, 2010, Angus Reid Public Opinion conducted an online survey among 1,014 randomly selected Canadian adults who are Angus Reid Forum panelists. The margin of error—which measures sampling variability—is +/- 3.1%, 19 times out of 20. The results have been statistically weighted according to the most current education, age, gender and region Census data to ensure a sample representative of the entire adult population of Canada. Discrepancies in or between totals are due to rounding.
Monday, November 22, 2010
Petroleum production in Canada 2010.
Petroleum production in Canada is a major industry which is important to the economy of North America. Canada is the seventh largest oil producing country in the world. In 2008 it produced an average of 438,000 cubic metres per day (2,750,000 bbl/d) of crude oil, crude bitumen and natural gas condensate. Of that amount, 45% was conventional crude oil, 49.5% was bitumen from oil sands, and 5.5% was condensate from natural gas wells.[1] Most of Canadian petroleum production, approximately 283,000 cubic metres per day (1,780,000 bbl/d), was exported, almost all of it to the United States.[2] Canada is the largest single source of oil imports into the United States.
The petroleum industry in Canada is also referred to as the Canadian "Oil Patch"; the term refers especially to upstream operations (exploration and production of oil and gas), and to a lesser degree to downstream operations (refining, distribution, and selling of oil and gas products). In 2005, almost 25,000 new oil wells were spud (drilled) in Canada. Daily, over 100 new wells are spud in the province of Alberta alone [3].
Contents
1 History
2 Divisions
2.1 Alberta
2.2 British Columbia
2.3 Manitoba
2.4 Saskatchewan
2.5 Northern Canada (onshore)
2.6 Northern Canada (offshore)
2.7 Eastern Canada (onshore)
2.8 Eastern Canada (offshore)
3 Major players
4 Long-term outlook
5 See also
5.1 Oil fields of Canada
6 References
7 External links
History
Main article: History of the petroleum industry in Canada
The Canadian petroleum industry developed in parallel with that of the United States. The first oil well in Canada was dug by hand (rather than drilled) in 1858 by James Miller Williams near his asphalt plant at Oil Springs, Ontario. At a depth of 20 metres (66 ft) he struck oil, one year before "Colonel" Edwin Drake drilled the first oil well in the United States.[4] Williams later went on to found "The Canadian Oil Company" which qualified as the world’s first integrated oil company.
Petroleum production in Ontario expanded rapidly, and practically every significant producer became his own refiner. By 1864, 20 refineries were operating in Oil Springs and seven in Petrolia, Ontario. However, Ontario's status as an important oil producer did not last long. By 1880 Canada was a net importer of oil from the United States.
Canada's unique geography, geology, resources and patterns of settlement have been key factors in the history of Canada. The development of the petroleum sector helps illustrate how they have helped make the nation quite distinct from her neighbour to the south.
Divisions
Most exploration and production occurs in Alberta, with a significant number of operations in British Columbia—particularly in winter—and consistent activity in Saskatchewan. Drilling from large offshore platforms occurs on the Newfoundland continental shelf.
Alberta
Drilling rig in northern Alberta
Oil extraction near Drayton ValleyAlberta is the largest producer of conventional crude oil, synthetic crude, natural gas and gas products in Canada. Two of the largest producers of petrochemicals in North America are located in central and north central Alberta. In both Red Deer and Edmonton, world class polyethylene and vinyl manufacturers produce products shipped all over the world, and Edmonton's oil refineries provide the raw materials for a large petrochemical industry to the east of Edmonton. There are hundreds of small companies in Alberta dedicated to providing all sorts of services to this industry—from drilling to well maintenance, pipeline maintenance to seismic exploration.
The Athabasca Oil Sands (previously known as the Athabasca Tar Sands) have estimated oil reserves in excess of that of the rest of the world, estimated to be 1.6 trillion barrels (254 km³). With the advancement of extraction methods, bitumen and economical synthetic crude are produced at costs nearing that of conventional crude. This technology grew and developed in Alberta. Many companies employ both conventional strip mining and non-conventional methods to extract the bitumen from the Athabasca deposit. With current technology, only 315 billion barrels (50 km³) are recoverable. Entire towns, like Fort McMurray, have grown up entirely because of the large multinational corporations which have taken on the task of oil production.
While Edmonton is considered the pipeline junction, manufacturing, chemical processing, research and refining centre of the province, Calgary is known for its senior and junior oil company head offices.
Major oil fields are found in southeast Alberta (Brooks, Medicine Hat, Lethbridge), northwest (Grande Prairie, High Level, Rainbow Lake, Zama), central (Caroline, Red Deer), and northeast (Athabasca Oil Sands)
Structural regions include: Foothills, Greater Arch, Deep Basin.
Oil and gas activity is regulated by the Alberta Energy Resources Conservation Board (ERCB)(Formerly the Energy and Utility Board (EUB))[5].
[edit] British Columbia
Drilling rig in northern British ColumbiaDrilling for gas and oil in the Peace Country of north-eastern British Columbia, around Fort Nelson (Greater Sierra oil field), Fort St. John (Pink Mountain, Border Ring) and Dawson Creek
Oil and gas activity is regulated by the Oil and Gas Commission (OGC)[6].
Manitoba
A few rigs drilling for gas in southern Manitoba
Saskatchewan
Mostly shallow gas wells in southwestern Saskatchewan (Hatton, Cypress Hill) and the southeast (Lougheed, Weir Hill), heavy oil extraction around Lloydminster, oil wells around Weyburn.
Oil and gas activity is regulated by the Saskatchewan Industry and Resources (SIR) [7].
Northern Canada (onshore)
Drilling for oil in the Mackenzie Delta by Petro-Canada
Northern Canada (offshore)
Production in the Beaufort Sea off the Mackenzie Delta.
Sporadic drilling along the continental shelf of the Beaufort Sea.
Eastern Canada (onshore)
Sporadic drilling in southern Ontario by Talisman Energy Inc.
Sporadic drilling in western Newfoundland
Sporadic drilling in northern Nova Scotia and western Cape Breton Island
Sporadic drilling in northern and eastern Prince Edward Island
Production of natural gas at the McCully Field in southern New Brunswick, connected to the Maritimes and Northeast Pipeline
Eastern Canada (offshore)
Offshore oil drilling and production at Hibernia, Terra Nova, and White Rose fields off the coast of Newfoundland
Offshore gas drilling and production on Sable Island fields off the coast of Nova Scotia
Sporadic drilling along continental shelf off Nova Scotia.
Sporadic drilling in Laurentian Fan at southern end of Cabot Strait
Sporadic drilling in eastern Northumberland Strait
Major players
The country's four largest integrated refiners are Imperial Oil, Husky Energy, Petro-Canada, and Suncor Energy. In 2007 Canada's four biggest oil companies brought in record profits of $11.75 billion, up 10 percent from $10.72 billion in 2006. Revenues for the Big Four climbed to $80 bilion from about $72 billion in 2006. The numbers exclude Shell Canada and ConocoPhillips Canada, two private subsidiaries that produced almost 500,000 barrels per day in 2006.[8]
EnCana Corporation
Canadian Natural Resources Limited
Husky Energy Inc.
ConocoPhillips
Talisman Energy Inc.
Devon Canada Corporation
Suncor Energy
Cenovus Energy
Long-term outlook
Oil Production In North America Canadian conventional oil production peaked in 1973, but oil sands production is forecast to increase to at least 2020
US oil production (crude oil only) and Hubbert high estimate.
Mexican production peaked in 2004 and is now in decline
Broadly speaking Canadian oil production (via standard deep drilling) peaked in the mid-1970s, but due to the new offshore basins being exploited in Atlantic Canada and the boom of the Alberta Tar Sands overall production will not peak until the 2020s.
See also
Canada portal
Book:Canada
Books are collections of articles that can be downloaded or ordered in print.
These topics are related to offshore or onshore oil and related gas production in Canada
History of the petroleum industry in Canada
List of Petroleum Companies in Canada
Peak Oil an economic condition of oil production that Canada reached in the late 1970s
Peak Gas, related to Peak Oil
the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) has a clause in it relating to oil and gas export celinge that may force Canada to abandon the treaty to keep its own economy functioning
Oil fields of Canada
These oil fields are economically important to the Canadian economy, either in the present or historically
Athabasca Oil Sands, Alberta
Hibernia Oil Platform
Terra Nova Oil Field
White Rose oil field
Hamburg oil field, Alberta
References
1.^ "Estimated Production of Canadian Crude Oil and Equivalent". National Energy Board. 2009. http://www.neb.gc.ca/clf-nsi/rnrgynfmtn/sttstc/crdlndptrlmprdct/stmtdprdctn-eng.html. Retrieved 2009-01-27.
2.^ "Total Crude Oil Exports (m3 and bbl) - Annual". National Energy Board of Canada. 2009. http://www.neb.gc.ca/clf-nsi/rnrgynfmtn/sttstc/crdlndptrlmprdct/ttlcrdlxprt-eng.html. Retrieved 2009-01-27.
3.^ Canadian Rig Locator
4.^ "Six Historical Events in the First 100 Years of Canada's Petroleum Industry". Petroleum Historical Society of Canada. 2009. http://www.petroleumhistory.ca/history/wells.html.Retrieved 2009-01-27.
5.^ Alberta Energy Resources Conservation Board (ERCB)
6.^ British Columbia Oil and Gas Commission (OGC)
7.^ Saskatchewan Industry and Resources (SIR)
8.^ Vancouver Sun. Record Profits for Canada's big oil companies
Canadian Wellsite "Homepage of the Canadian Oilpatch"
The petroleum industry in Canada is also referred to as the Canadian "Oil Patch"; the term refers especially to upstream operations (exploration and production of oil and gas), and to a lesser degree to downstream operations (refining, distribution, and selling of oil and gas products). In 2005, almost 25,000 new oil wells were spud (drilled) in Canada. Daily, over 100 new wells are spud in the province of Alberta alone [3].
Contents
1 History
2 Divisions
2.1 Alberta
2.2 British Columbia
2.3 Manitoba
2.4 Saskatchewan
2.5 Northern Canada (onshore)
2.6 Northern Canada (offshore)
2.7 Eastern Canada (onshore)
2.8 Eastern Canada (offshore)
3 Major players
4 Long-term outlook
5 See also
5.1 Oil fields of Canada
6 References
7 External links
History
Main article: History of the petroleum industry in Canada
The Canadian petroleum industry developed in parallel with that of the United States. The first oil well in Canada was dug by hand (rather than drilled) in 1858 by James Miller Williams near his asphalt plant at Oil Springs, Ontario. At a depth of 20 metres (66 ft) he struck oil, one year before "Colonel" Edwin Drake drilled the first oil well in the United States.[4] Williams later went on to found "The Canadian Oil Company" which qualified as the world’s first integrated oil company.
Petroleum production in Ontario expanded rapidly, and practically every significant producer became his own refiner. By 1864, 20 refineries were operating in Oil Springs and seven in Petrolia, Ontario. However, Ontario's status as an important oil producer did not last long. By 1880 Canada was a net importer of oil from the United States.
Canada's unique geography, geology, resources and patterns of settlement have been key factors in the history of Canada. The development of the petroleum sector helps illustrate how they have helped make the nation quite distinct from her neighbour to the south.
Divisions
Most exploration and production occurs in Alberta, with a significant number of operations in British Columbia—particularly in winter—and consistent activity in Saskatchewan. Drilling from large offshore platforms occurs on the Newfoundland continental shelf.
Alberta
Drilling rig in northern Alberta
Oil extraction near Drayton ValleyAlberta is the largest producer of conventional crude oil, synthetic crude, natural gas and gas products in Canada. Two of the largest producers of petrochemicals in North America are located in central and north central Alberta. In both Red Deer and Edmonton, world class polyethylene and vinyl manufacturers produce products shipped all over the world, and Edmonton's oil refineries provide the raw materials for a large petrochemical industry to the east of Edmonton. There are hundreds of small companies in Alberta dedicated to providing all sorts of services to this industry—from drilling to well maintenance, pipeline maintenance to seismic exploration.
The Athabasca Oil Sands (previously known as the Athabasca Tar Sands) have estimated oil reserves in excess of that of the rest of the world, estimated to be 1.6 trillion barrels (254 km³). With the advancement of extraction methods, bitumen and economical synthetic crude are produced at costs nearing that of conventional crude. This technology grew and developed in Alberta. Many companies employ both conventional strip mining and non-conventional methods to extract the bitumen from the Athabasca deposit. With current technology, only 315 billion barrels (50 km³) are recoverable. Entire towns, like Fort McMurray, have grown up entirely because of the large multinational corporations which have taken on the task of oil production.
While Edmonton is considered the pipeline junction, manufacturing, chemical processing, research and refining centre of the province, Calgary is known for its senior and junior oil company head offices.
Major oil fields are found in southeast Alberta (Brooks, Medicine Hat, Lethbridge), northwest (Grande Prairie, High Level, Rainbow Lake, Zama), central (Caroline, Red Deer), and northeast (Athabasca Oil Sands)
Structural regions include: Foothills, Greater Arch, Deep Basin.
Oil and gas activity is regulated by the Alberta Energy Resources Conservation Board (ERCB)(Formerly the Energy and Utility Board (EUB))[5].
[edit] British Columbia
Drilling rig in northern British ColumbiaDrilling for gas and oil in the Peace Country of north-eastern British Columbia, around Fort Nelson (Greater Sierra oil field), Fort St. John (Pink Mountain, Border Ring) and Dawson Creek
Oil and gas activity is regulated by the Oil and Gas Commission (OGC)[6].
Manitoba
A few rigs drilling for gas in southern Manitoba
Saskatchewan
Mostly shallow gas wells in southwestern Saskatchewan (Hatton, Cypress Hill) and the southeast (Lougheed, Weir Hill), heavy oil extraction around Lloydminster, oil wells around Weyburn.
Oil and gas activity is regulated by the Saskatchewan Industry and Resources (SIR) [7].
Northern Canada (onshore)
Drilling for oil in the Mackenzie Delta by Petro-Canada
Northern Canada (offshore)
Production in the Beaufort Sea off the Mackenzie Delta.
Sporadic drilling along the continental shelf of the Beaufort Sea.
Eastern Canada (onshore)
Sporadic drilling in southern Ontario by Talisman Energy Inc.
Sporadic drilling in western Newfoundland
Sporadic drilling in northern Nova Scotia and western Cape Breton Island
Sporadic drilling in northern and eastern Prince Edward Island
Production of natural gas at the McCully Field in southern New Brunswick, connected to the Maritimes and Northeast Pipeline
Eastern Canada (offshore)
Offshore oil drilling and production at Hibernia, Terra Nova, and White Rose fields off the coast of Newfoundland
Offshore gas drilling and production on Sable Island fields off the coast of Nova Scotia
Sporadic drilling along continental shelf off Nova Scotia.
Sporadic drilling in Laurentian Fan at southern end of Cabot Strait
Sporadic drilling in eastern Northumberland Strait
Major players
The country's four largest integrated refiners are Imperial Oil, Husky Energy, Petro-Canada, and Suncor Energy. In 2007 Canada's four biggest oil companies brought in record profits of $11.75 billion, up 10 percent from $10.72 billion in 2006. Revenues for the Big Four climbed to $80 bilion from about $72 billion in 2006. The numbers exclude Shell Canada and ConocoPhillips Canada, two private subsidiaries that produced almost 500,000 barrels per day in 2006.[8]
EnCana Corporation
Canadian Natural Resources Limited
Husky Energy Inc.
ConocoPhillips
Talisman Energy Inc.
Devon Canada Corporation
Suncor Energy
Cenovus Energy
Long-term outlook
Oil Production In North America Canadian conventional oil production peaked in 1973, but oil sands production is forecast to increase to at least 2020
US oil production (crude oil only) and Hubbert high estimate.
Mexican production peaked in 2004 and is now in decline
Broadly speaking Canadian oil production (via standard deep drilling) peaked in the mid-1970s, but due to the new offshore basins being exploited in Atlantic Canada and the boom of the Alberta Tar Sands overall production will not peak until the 2020s.
See also
Canada portal
Book:Canada
Books are collections of articles that can be downloaded or ordered in print.
These topics are related to offshore or onshore oil and related gas production in Canada
History of the petroleum industry in Canada
List of Petroleum Companies in Canada
Peak Oil an economic condition of oil production that Canada reached in the late 1970s
Peak Gas, related to Peak Oil
the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) has a clause in it relating to oil and gas export celinge that may force Canada to abandon the treaty to keep its own economy functioning
Oil fields of Canada
These oil fields are economically important to the Canadian economy, either in the present or historically
Athabasca Oil Sands, Alberta
Hibernia Oil Platform
Terra Nova Oil Field
White Rose oil field
Hamburg oil field, Alberta
References
1.^ "Estimated Production of Canadian Crude Oil and Equivalent". National Energy Board. 2009. http://www.neb.gc.ca/clf-nsi/rnrgynfmtn/sttstc/crdlndptrlmprdct/stmtdprdctn-eng.html. Retrieved 2009-01-27.
2.^ "Total Crude Oil Exports (m3 and bbl) - Annual". National Energy Board of Canada. 2009. http://www.neb.gc.ca/clf-nsi/rnrgynfmtn/sttstc/crdlndptrlmprdct/ttlcrdlxprt-eng.html. Retrieved 2009-01-27.
3.^ Canadian Rig Locator
4.^ "Six Historical Events in the First 100 Years of Canada's Petroleum Industry". Petroleum Historical Society of Canada. 2009. http://www.petroleumhistory.ca/history/wells.html.Retrieved 2009-01-27.
5.^ Alberta Energy Resources Conservation Board (ERCB)
6.^ British Columbia Oil and Gas Commission (OGC)
7.^ Saskatchewan Industry and Resources (SIR)
8.^ Vancouver Sun. Record Profits for Canada's big oil companies
Canadian Wellsite "Homepage of the Canadian Oilpatch"
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