Tim Hudak Blue Tory on the right-wing of the provincial party,

Political views

Hudak is a Blue Tory on the right-wing of the provincial party, and falls more in line with the ideals of former Premier Mike Harris than those of John Tory. In April 2003, he accepted an invitation to take part in a "Canadians for Bush" rally in support of the 2003 Invasion of Iraq, attending to show his support for America and American soldiers, organized by controversial activist Tristan Emmanuel.^[1] Hudak's leadership platform included abolition of the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal,^[2] replacing the province's progressive income tax with an 8% flat tax along with raising the basic personal amount from $8,881 to approximately $18,000; reform EI and make it more fair to Ontario or build a made-in-Ontario EI solution; cracking down on crime buy targeting repeat offenders, gang violence, and illegal cigarettes; freezing the minimum wage for 4 years.^[3]

[edit] Personal life

Hudak is married to Deb Hutton, who was executive assistant to former premier Mike Harris.

Happy Pride, everyone! :.)

Happy Pride, everyone!

Fewer Swedes feel lonely today middle of the 1980s. cool!

Fewer Swedes feeling lonely: study

Published: 23 Jun 09 08:00 CET
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/20220/20090623/

Dictionary tool Double click on a word to get a translation

Fewer Swedes feel lonely today than they did in the middle of the 1980s and it is people in their thirties who feel most alone, according to research by Lars Tornstam, sociology professor at Uppsala University.

After hearing about all of the isolated elderly people, increasing stress and poor psychological health, Tornstam assumed that more people would feel lonely. But his study of 1,742 individuals between the ages of 25 and 79 revealed less loneliness than an equivalent study in 1985.

“Then 49 percent of the adult population experienced loneliness often or sometimes, compared to 42 percent when we asked the same question this time,” Tornstam told Svenska Dagbladet (SvD).

Women experienced greater loneliness – and younger people more than older individuals.

When people were asked for the factors contributing to their loneliness, younger people attributed their social isolation to personality traits, such as being uninteresting or deviant. Older people cited a lack of close relationships and transportation to get out of the house.

People in their thirties experienced the greatest degree of isolation. “It might be that it is then that you are expected to have paired off, gotten married and had children. Not following that time line might lead to a sense of exclusion,” Tornstam said.

Tornstam will present the full results of his findings later this year.

120 killed in action. or (KIA.)

Me to Prime Minister Stephen Harper
Get us out of there NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!

the Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL) needs to do better job!

See this would be back.!

Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL)

On November 18, 2007, Atomic Energy Canada Limited (AECL) shut down its nuclear reactor at Chalk River, Ontario, halting production of two-thirds of the world’s radioisotopes used for medical diagnostic testing.

Lunn" width="100" height="130"> Gary Lunn, Minister of Natural Resource(Source: pm.gc.ca)

The shutdown, requested by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC), resulted from the failure of AECL to install a backup power system to the reactor’s cooling pumps. According to an assessment by the Safety Commission, a major nuclear accident of proportions similar to the 1979 Three Mile Island disaster could occur at Canada's Chalk River reactor unless a backup power supply system capable of withstanding natural disasters was installed [1]. In testimony before the House of Commons Committee for Public Safety, Linda Keen, then President of the CNSC, testified that the risks posed by the Chalk River nuclear reactor, far exceeded international standards for nuclear risk tolerance [2].

The extended shutdown caused a global shortage of medical radioisotopes and forced the delay and cancellation of important medical testing for thousands of critically ill patients around the world. During the shutdown, the Conservative government came under intense criticism amid public concerns for not only continued medical care but also of nuclear safety.

Facing questions from the public, Conservative Natural Resources Minister Gary Lunn claimed he was not made aware of the extended reactor shutdown and the ensuing isotope shortage until December 3, 2007. Health Minister Tony Clement claimed that he was only informed on December 5, 2008 [3].

, Tony Clement, Minister of Health (Source: pm.gc.ca)

However, reports and witness testimony after the isotope crisis say otherwise. Former AECL Chairman Michael Burns testified he briefed Mr. Lunn as early as November 22, 2007; MDS Nordion – the medical company that marketed the radio-isotopes – testified that they warned senior officials at the Department of Natural Resources about the isotope shortage on November 22, 2007; AECL itself e-mailed the Department on November 22, 2007; the nuclear medicine industry was informed of the shortage on November 27, 2007; and a source close to AECL told the Globe and Mail that an e-mail was sent to Mr. Lunn before Dec. 1, 2007 urging him to turn his attention to the mounting problem [4].

Rather than working with AECL to install the backup power supply system, Minister Lunn demanded Ms. Keen and the Safety Commission approve immediate start-up of the reactor, without the backup power supply, a violation of national law and international standards regarding nuclear safety [5].

Finally, on December 11, 2007, the Conservative government introduced Bill C-38, calling for the immediate start up of the reactor. In an effort to protect those in need of medical isotopes all parties supported the bill. By December 16, 2007, the backup power supply was installed and the reactor was restarted.

In the aftermath, experts criticized the Conservative government’s mismanagement of a routine shutdown that led to an international medical crisis. Why was there not adequate scrutiny to ensure the proper safety of the reactor before a shutdown was needed? If a shutdown and the resulting loss of radio-isotope production was predictable, why did the government not seek to purchase nuclear materials from other suppliers in order to maintain the supply of radio-isotopes?

Testifying before the House of Commons Health Committee, Health Minister Tony Clement claimed his department had made calls to foreign isotope suppliers but found “overseas suppliers could only increase their output by ten to 15 per cent. Furthermore, overseas suppliers indicated that the earliest they could provide the additional supply was Dec. 29." This was later refuted by Grant Malkoske, a vice-president at MDS Nordion, who told the Commons health committee his company had already received from South Africa by Dec. 12 about 20 per cent of required isotopes used to diagnose and treat cancer and heart patients. [6].

In the ensuing investigation, the House of Commons Natural Resources Committee called on Linda Keen, President of the CNSC to give her account of the events. However, late at night, on the eve of her appearance, Minister Lunn fired Ms. Keen for failure to "take into account the health of Canadians who, for medical purposes, depend on nuclear substances produced by nuclear reactors," delaying her testimony [7].

Two weeks later, her appearance rescheduled, Ms. Keen informed the committee that the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission’s “primary responsibility in the case of this facility is to protect Canadians by ensuring that the nuclear facility is operating safely. Indeed, under the law, the commission did not have the authority to take the issue of isotopes into consideration when making its decision up to Dec. 10.” In the estimation of the CNSC, Ms. Keen testified, the Chalk River reactor posed an unacceptable risk, a risk 1,000 times greater than the international standard [8].

Critics decried the Conservative government’s actions as attacks to silence those who refuse to toe the party line and for firing Ms. Keen for doing her job – looking out for the safety of people working in and living near a nuclear reactor. Critics also expressed serious concerns concerning the Conservative government’s actions and its implications for the proper oversight of arms-length, independent bodies tasked with the ensuring the safety of Canadians [9].

References
[1] Ottawa thwarts nuclear watchdog; Nuclear Safety Commission warns of possibility of serious accident at ChalkRiver, but PM says there's no safety issue in restarting reactor, The Globe And Mail , December 12, 2007; Isotope shortage jeopardizes cancer treatments, Kingston Whig-Standard (On), December 6, 2007
[2] Reactor posed unacceptable risk, former watchdog says; Keen defends actions before House, claims Lunn stepped 'over the line', Times Colonist (Victoria), January 30, 2008
[3] Clement promises answers on shutdown; Health Minister visits Chalk River facility as questions remain about when cabinet first learned about problem, The Globe And Mail, December 20, 2007
[4] Firm knew of isotope crisis before Ottawa; MDS Nordion warned customers in a letter while government says it was in the dark, The Globe And Mail, December 21, 2007; Gov't aware of crisis at nuclear plant, MP says; Minister had provided funding to fix problem, Edmonton Journal, December 19, 2007
[5] Head of Nuclear Safety Commission fired, Dawson Creek Daily News, January 16, 2008
[6] Government 'scouring the globe' for isotopes, Montreal Gazette, December 11, 2007; Testimony clashes, tempers flare at committee studying nuclear shutdown, North Bay Nugget (On), February 13, 2008
[7] Harper takes new swipe at nuclear watchdog; PM defends decision to restart ChalkRiver reactor to provide medical isotopes, saying shutdown should never have happened, The Globe And Mail, January 11, 2008; Lunn defends late-night move to fire nuclear watchdog; Nuclear safety boss had been scheduled to testify before Commons committee, The Globe And Mail, January 17, 2008
[8] Keen says safety, not isotope production focus of commission's mandate, Canwest News Service, January 30, 2008; Reactor posed unacceptable risk, former watchdog says; Keen defends actions before House, claims Lunn stepped 'over the line', Times Colonist (Victoria), January 30, 2008; Keen defends decision to shut reactor in name of safety; Bureaucrat insists risk was 1,000 times greater than standard, The Ottawa Citizen, January 30, 2008; Reactor posed unacceptable risk, former watchdog says; Keen defends actions before House, claims Lunn stepped 'over the line', Times Colonist (Victoria), January 30, 2008
[9] Ousted regulator just doing her job: National Affairs, The Daily Courier (Kelowna), January 18, 2008; Mugging of bureaucrat will come back to bite Tories, Kingston Whig-Standard (On), January 22, 2008

Harkat search was overly intrusive.

Judge rules Harkat search was overly intrusive

FRED CHARTRAND/ THE CANADIAN PRESS FILE PHOTO

Mohamed Harkat looks on as his wife Sophie (right) checks her watch as they wait to appear in Federal Court for proceedings related to federal attempt to deport him under a national security certificate in Ottawa, June 2, 2009.

Jun 23, 2009 03:46 PM

Tonda MacCharles
Joanna Smith
Ottawa Bureau

OTTAWA–A Federal Court judge has declared a sweeping search of Mohamed Harkat's home overly intrusive, even for a security certificate case.

Justice Simon Noel says the Canada Border Services Agency must return all information, equipment and records seized from the home of Harkat, and his wife Sophie, and destroy any copies of the data.

"The breach of Mr. Harkat's Charter rights was significant," the judge said. Although he did not find the agency acted "in bad faith," Noel wrote the court "cannot condone the type of intrusive search undertaken by the CBSA.

Mr. Harkat may have a diminished expectation of privacy, but that does not give the state a "carte blanche" to unreasonably intrude on what privacy is left to him," Noel wrote in a decision released early this afternoon.

Harkat is one of five men that Ottawa is seeking to deport on national security grounds, under extraordinary immigration warrants known as security certificates.

The case has plodded through the courts for years, and Harkat was released on strict conditions in 2006 while his challenge to the government's move to send him back to Algeria proceeds.

Today, the judge said the agency should have to seek a warrant if it has valid concerns the strict bail order isn't being followed by Harkat.

Noel mentioned evidence which suggested Mrs. Harkat failed to arm an alarm system to a computer room when she left her husband home alone (Harkat's lawyers had suggested CBSA left the family the wrong code for the alarm).

Yet Noel equally warned the Harkats of the importance of respecting his release conditions to the letter, and guarding "that inattention does not lead to a breach.

At a hearing earlier this month, Noel had voiced many of his concerns that the search was over the top. It involved 16 agents and police, including three canine teams, coming just before a full hearing on whether Harkat should be deported to his native Algeria.

Today, he said the CBSA must "carefully review the discretion granted to them by this Court with a view to ensuring that any interpretation they may be using is based in common sense and a respect for the privacy rights, diminished though they may be, of Mr. Harkat."

Harkat's Ottawa-based lawyer Matthew Webber said he is "gratified" the court accepted his argument that the search was unreasonable.

"(It was) outside the rights of law to do what they did," Webber said today.

Webber said that while Harkat had to give up some of his privacy in exchange for his release he did not give up his rights in their entirety.

"Those rights are sacrosanct in this country," Webber said.

Neither the CBSA nor government lawyer David Tyndale immediately responded to a request for comment.

A spokesperson for Public Safety Minister Peter Van Loan said the government is carefully reviewing the decision.

oh i fee so so sorry for the government of canada. not

Grow up PMO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

awww the government did not get its way
TO BAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!

No harm' in asking for Khadr release, judges argue

Janice Tibbetts, Canwest News Service

Janet Hamlin/AFP/Getty Images

OTTAWA -- A federal lawyer conceded Tuesday that she cannot "point to any risks" in the federal government seeking Omar Khadr's repatriation to Canada. But she urged a federal appeal panel to reject the prospect, because judges should not be second-guessing the foreign-policy decisions of elected officials.

Justice Department lawyer Doreen Mueller reluctantly made the admission when she was repeatedly quizzed by the bench on why the Conservative government refuses to ask the United States to release Khadr from detention in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

"If the government makes the request, is there a negative impact on its security interests?" asked Justice Karen Sharlow. "What is the harm in asking?"

"I can't point to any risks," acknowledged Ms. Mueller, who was in court to argue a Conservative government appeal to an April court ruling ordering the government to seek Mr. Khadr's return from the U.S. military unit, where he has been detained for seven years as a terrorism suspect.

Ms. Mueller told the Federal Court of Appeal that Justice James O'Reilly was out of line when he "interfered with government foreign affairs"by ordering the government to act. Moreover, the order was particularly extreme, given there is only a "remote hypothetical possibility" that the U.S. would agree to Mr. Khadr's release, Ms. Mueller said.

Mr. Khadr's lawyer, Nathan Whitling, told the court many countries have secured the repatriation of their citizens, and even non-citizens, from Guantanamo Bay.

"Canada should do what it can to assist Mr. Khadr," said Mr. Whitling. "The fact that it might not work is not justification for doing nothing."

The appeal court reserved its decision on whether to uphold Mr. O'Reilly's unequivocal decision, which concluded the Harper government violated Mr. Khadr's Charter right to fundamental justice, and Canada's human-rights obligations, by years of indifference toward the young man.

Mr. Khadr, who was born in Toronto, was only 15 when he was captured by U.S. forces in Afghanistan. He is accused of murder as a war crime by throwing a grenade that killed a U.S. army medic in July 2002.

In his decision, Mr. O'Reilly took into account that Mr. Khadr was given no special status as a minor, even though he was barely 16 when he arrived at Guantanamo Bay in October 2002.

Moreover, the Canadian government had "direct involvement"in Mr. Khadr's maltreatment at the military camp by handing over information to U.S. authorities to use against him, all the while knowing the teen had been tortured through sleep deprivation, said Mr. O'Reilly.

Ms. Mueller argued that Canada's duty to protect its children ends at the border, and that Mr. O'Reilly got it wrong by surmising that the country's special justice system for minors applies abroad.

"It is one thing when Canada is prosecuting a child . . . but it is quite another thing to say that Canada has these same obligations when a Canadian child is being prosecuted by another country," she said.

Justice John Evans, however, countered it is "a different situation" if there is a Canadian connection to mistreatment of a Canadian child abroad.

Justice Marc Nadon quizzed Ms. Mueller on why the government's appeal factum glossed over Mr. O'Reilly's "serious finding" that Canada was knowingly involved in Khadr's sleep-deprivation torture.

Ms. Mueller responded that it was a "great leap" for Mr. O'Reilly to conclude that Canada condoned Khadr's mistreatment by knowing he was sleep-deprived before officials questioned him, then passed intelligence on to the Americans.

"It is not possible to say Canada condoned his mistreatment," said Ms. Mueller, asserting that complicity would have required "active direct conduct" by government officials.

The Harper government has maintained Mr. Khadr is charged with a serious crime, and the government should wait to find out if the U.S. intends to drop charges before making any moves.

Mr. Khadr's trial was suspended in January after U.S. President Barack Obama said the military unit would close within a year. Mr. Khadr is the only remaining westerner at the prison.