Friday, September 18, 2009

131st Canadian soldier to die as part of the Afghan mission since it began in 2002.

in the line of duty: Canada's casualties

Last Updated September 17, 2009

Since 2002, 131 Canadian soldiers have been killed serving in the Afghanistan mission. One diplomat and two aid workers have also been killed.

First nameLast nameRankUnitProvinceDate of incidentDescending
JonathanCouturier Private2nd Battalion, Royal 22nd RegimentQuebecSeptember 17, 2009
PatrickLormand Private2nd Battalion, Royal 22nd RegimentQuebecSeptember 13, 2009
Jean-FrançoisDrouin Corporal5 Combat Engineer RegimentQuebecSeptember 6, 2009
YannickPépin Major5 Combat Engineer RegimentQuebecSeptember 6, 2009
MathieuAllard Sapper5 Combat Engineer RegimentQuebecAugust 1, 2009
ChristianBobbitt Corporal5 Combat Engineer RegimentQuebecAugust 1, 2009
SébastienCourcy Private2nd battalion, Royal 22nd RegimentQuebecJuly 16, 2009
PatriceAudet Master corportal430 Tactical Helicopter SquadronQuebecJuly 6, 2009
MartinJoannette Corporal3rd Battalion, Royal 22nd RegimentQuebecJuly 6, 2009
NickBulger Corporal3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light InfantryAlbertaJuly 3, 2009
Charles-PhilippeMichaud Master corporal2nd Battalion, Royal 22nd RegimentNew BrunswickJune 23, 2009
MartinDubé Corporal5 Combat Engineer RegimentQuebecJune 14, 2009
AlexandrePéloquin Private3rd Battalion, Royal 22e RégimentQuebecJune 8, 2009
MichelleMendes MajorChief of Defence IntelligenceOntarioApril 23, 2009
KarineBlais Trooper12e Régiment blindé du CanadaQuebecApril 13, 2009
JackBouthillier TrooperRoyal Canadian DragoonsOntarioMarch 20, 2009
TylerCrooks Corporal3rd Battalion, Royal Canadian RegimentOntarioMarch 20, 2009
CoreyHayes TrooperRoyal Canadian DragoonsNew BrunswickMarch 20, 2009
ScottVernelli Master corporal3rd Battalion, Royal Canadian RegimentOntarioMarch 20, 2009
MarcDiab TrooperRoyal Canadian DragoonsOntarioMarch 8, 2009
DennisBrown Warrant officerThe Lincoln and Welland RegimentOntarioMarch 3, 2009
DanyFortin Corporal425 Tactical Fighter SquadronQuebecMarch 3, 2009
KennethO'Quinn Corporal2 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group Headquarters and Signals SquadronNewfoundland and LabradorMarch 3, 2009
SeanGreenfield Sapper2 Combat Engineer RegimentManitobaJanuary 31, 2009
BrianGood TrooperRoyal Canadian DragoonsOntarioJanuary 7, 2009
GregoryKruse Sergeant2 Combat Engineer RegimentOntarioDecember 27, 2008
GaetanRoberge Warrant officerRoyal 22nd RegimentOntarioDecember 27, 2008
MichaelFreeman Private3rd Battalion, Royal Canadian RegimentOntarioDecember 26, 2008
JohnCurwin Private2nd Battalion, Royal Canadian RegimentNova ScotiaDecember 13, 2008
ThomasHamilton Corporal2nd Battalion, Royal Canadian RegimentNova ScotiaDecember 13, 2008
JustinJones Private2nd Battalion, Royal Canadian RegimentNewfoundland and LabradorDecember 13, 2008
DemetriosDiplaros Private1st Battalion, Royal Canadian RegimentOntarioDecember 5, 2008
MarkMcLaren Corporal1st Battalion, Royal Canadian RegimentOntarioDecember 5, 2008
RobertWilson Warrant officer1st Battalion, Royal Canadian RegimentOntarioDecember 5, 2008
PrescottShipway Sergeant2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light InfantrySaskatchewanSeptember 7, 2008
AndrewGrenon Corporal2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light InfantryOntarioSeptember 3, 2008
ChadHorn Private2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light InfantryAlbertaSeptember 3, 2008
MikeSeggie Corporal2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light InfantryManitobaSeptember 3, 2008
ShawnEades Sergeant1 Combat Engineer RegimentOntarioAugust 20, 2008
StephanStock Sapper1 Combat Engineer RegimentBritish ColumbiaAugust 20, 2008
DustinWasden Corporal1 Combat Engineer RegimentSaskatchewanAugust 20, 2008
ErinDoyle Master corporal3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light InfantryBritish ColumbiaAugust 11, 2008
JoshRoberts Master corporal2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light InfantrySaskatchewanAugust 9, 2008
JamesArnal Corporal2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light InfantryManitobaJuly 18, 2008
ColinWilmot Private1 Field AmbulanceAlbertaJuly 6, 2008
BrendanDowney CorporalMilitary Police DetachmentSaskatchewanJuly 4, 2008
JonathanSnyder Captain1st Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light InfantryBritish ColumbiaJune 7, 2008
RichardLeary Captain2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light InfantryOntarioJune 3, 2008
MichaelStarker Corporal15th Field AmbulanceAlbertaMay 6, 2008
TerryStreet Private2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light InfantryQuebecApril 4, 2008
JasonBoyes Sergeant2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light InfantryManitobaMarch 16, 2008
JérémieOuellet Bombardier1st Royal Canadian Horse ArtilleryQuebecMarch 11, 2008
MichaelHayakaze TrooperLord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians)AlbertaMarch 2, 2008
ÉtienneGonthier Corporal5e Régiment du génie de combatQuebecJanuary 23, 2008
RichardRenaud Trooper12e Régiment blindé du CanadaQuebecJanuary 15, 2008
EricLabbé Corporal2nd Battalion, Royal 22e RégimentQuebecJanuary 6, 2008
HaniMassouh Warrant officer2nd Battalion, Royal 22e RégimentQuebecJanuary 6, 2008
JonathanDion Gunner5e Régiment d'artillerie légère du CanadaQuebecDecember 30, 2007
NicolasBeauchamp Corporal5th Field Ambulance, 5 Area Support GroupQuebecNovember 17, 2007
MichelLévesque Private3rd Battalion, Royal 22e RégimentQuebecNovember 17, 2007
NathanHornburg CorporalThe King's Own Calgary RegimentAlbertaSeptember 24, 2007
RaymondRuckpaul MajorArmoured Corps, The Royal Canadian DragoonsOntarioAugust 29, 2007
ChristianDuchesne Master corporal5th Field Ambulance, 5 Area Support GroupQuebecAugust 22, 2007
MarioMercier Master warrant officer2nd Battalion, Royal 22e RégimentQuebecAugust 22, 2007
SimonLongtin Private3rd Battalion, Royal 22e RégimentQuebecAugust 19, 2007
JordanAnderson Corporal3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light InfantryNunavutJuly 4, 2007
ColeBartsch Corporal3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light InfantryAlbertaJuly 4, 2007
ColinBason Master corporalThe Royal Westminster RegimentBritish ColumbiaJuly 4, 2007
MatthewDawe Captain3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light InfantryOntarioJuly 4, 2007
JeffersonFrancis Captain1st Royal Canadian Horse ArtilleryNew BrunswickJuly 4, 2007
LaneWatkins Private3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light InfantryManitobaJuly 4, 2007
StephenBouzane Corporal3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light InfantryNewfoundland and LabradorJune 20, 2007
ChristosKarigiannis Sergeant3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light InfantryQuebecJune 20, 2007
JoelWiebe Private3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light InfantryAlbertaJune 20, 2007
DarrylCaswell TrooperRoyal Canadian DragoonsOntarioJune 11, 2007
DarrellPriede Master corporalArmy News Team, 3 Area Support GroupOntarioMay 30, 2007
MatthewMcCully Corporal2nd Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group Headquarters and Signal SquadronOntarioMay 25, 2007
AnthonyKlumpenhouwer Master corporalCanadian Special Operations Forces CommandOntarioApril 18, 2007
PatrickPentland TrooperRoyal Canadian DragoonsNew BrunswickApril 11, 2007
AllanStewart Master corporalRoyal Canadian DragoonsNew BrunswickApril 11, 2007
DavidGreenslade Private2nd Battalion, Royal Canadian RegimentNew BrunswickApril 8, 2007
KevinKennedy Private2nd Battalion, Royal Canadian RegimentNewfoundland and LabradorApril 8, 2007
DonaldLucas Sergeant2nd Battalion, Royal Canadian RegimentNewfoundland and LabradorApril 8, 2007
BrentPoland Corporal2nd Battalion, Royal Canadian RegimentOntarioApril 8, 2007
ChristopherStannix CorporalPrincess Louise FusiliersNova ScotiaApril 8, 2007
AaronWilliams Corporal2nd Battalion, Royal Canadian RegimentNew BrunswickApril 8, 2007
KevinMegeney Corporal1st Battalion, The Nova Scotia Highlanders (North)Nova ScotiaMarch 6, 2007
RobertGirouard Chief warrant officer1st Battalion, Royal Canadian RegimentNew BrunswickNovember 27, 2006
AlbertStorm Corporal1st Battalion, Royal Canadian RegimentOntarioNovember 27, 2006
DarcyTedford Sergeant1st Battalion, Royal Canadian RegimentAlbertaOctober 14, 2006
BlakeWilliamson Private1st Battalion, Royal Canadian RegimentOntarioOctober 14, 2006
MarkWilson TrooperRoyal Canadian DragoonsOntarioOctober 7, 2006
CraigGillam SergeantRoyal Canadian DragoonsNewfoundland and LabradorOctober 3, 2006
RobertMitchell CorporalRoyal Canadian DragoonsOntarioOctober 3, 2006
JoshKlukie Private1st Battalion, Royal Canadian RegimentOntarioSeptember 29, 2006
GlenArnold Corporal2nd Field AmbulanceOntarioSeptember 18, 2006
DavidByers Private2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light InfantryOntarioSeptember 18, 2006
ShaneKeating Corporal2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light InfantrySaskatchewanSeptember 18, 2006
KeithMorley Corporal2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light InfantryManitobaSeptember 18, 2006
MarkGraham Private1st Battalion, Royal Canadian RegimentOntarioSeptember 4, 2006
WilliamCushley Private1st Battalion, Royal Canadian RegimentOntarioSeptember 3, 2006
FrankMellish Warrant officer1st Battalion, Royal Canadian RegimentNova ScotiaSeptember 3, 2006
RichardNolan Warrant officer1st Battalion, Royal Canadian RegimentNewfoundland and LabradorSeptember 3, 2006
ShaneStachnik Sergeant2nd Combat Engineer RegimentAlbertaSeptember 3, 2006
DavidBraun Corporal2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light InfantrySaskatchewanAugust 22, 2006
AndrewEykelenboom Corporal1st Field AmbulanceBritish ColumbiaAugust 11, 2006
JeffreyWalsh Master corporal2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light InfantrySaskatchewanAugust 9, 2006
RaymondArndt Master corporalThe Loyal Edmonton RegimentAlbertaAugust 5, 2006
KevinDallaire Private1st Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light InfantryAlbertaAugust 3, 2006
VaughanIngram Sergeant1st Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light InfantryNewfoundland and LabradorAugust 3, 2006
BryceKeller Corporal1st Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light InfantrySaskatchewanAugust 3, 2006
ChristopherReid Corporal1st Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light InfantryNova ScotiaAugust 3, 2006
FranciscoGomez Corporal1st Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light InfantryAlbertaJuly 22, 2006
JasonWarren CorporalThe Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of CanadaQuebecJuly 22, 2006
AnthonyBoneca CorporalLake Superior Scottish RegimentOntarioJuly 9, 2006
NicholaGoddard Captain1st Royal Canadian Horse ArtilleryAlbertaMay 17, 2006
MatthewDinning Corporal2nd Military Police PlatoonOntarioApril 22, 2006
MylesMansell Bombardier5th (British Columbia) Field Artillery RegimentBritish ColumbiaApril 22, 2006
RandyPayne CorporalCFB/ASU Wainwright Military Police PlatoonOntarioApril 22, 2006
WilliamTurner LieutenantLand Force Western Area HeadquartersOntarioApril 22, 2006
RobertCostall Private1st Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light InfantryOntarioMarch 29, 2006
PaulDavis Corporal2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light InfantryNova ScotiaMarch 2, 2006
TimothyWilson Master corporal2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light InfantryAlbertaMarch 2, 2006
GlynBerry DiplomatDepartment of Foreign Affairs, CanadaWalesJanuary 15, 2006
BraunWoodfield Private2nd Battalion, Royal Canadian RegimentNova ScotiaNovember 24, 2005
JamieMurphy Corporal1st Battalion, Royal Canadian RegimentNewfoundland and LabradorJanuary 27, 2004
RobbieBeerenfenger Corporal3rd Battalion, Royal Canadian RegimentOntarioOctober 2, 2003
RobertShort Sergeant3rd Battalion, Royal Canadian RegimentNew BrunswickOctober 2, 2003
AinsworthDyer Corporal3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light InfantryQuebecApril 18, 2002
RichardGreen Private3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light InfantryNova ScotiaApril 18, 2002
MarcLéger Sergeant3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light InfantryOntarioApril 18, 2002
NathanSmith Private3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light InfantryNova ScotiaApril 18, 2002


Thursday, September 17, 2009

Un problème de visa qui ne s'arrêtent pas mordre la PM dans la partie arrière et une communication en cas de catastrophe sans mélange je persiste à cr

Alors qu'il participait au sommet de l'Amigo Three's, la position du premier ministre Harper sur la question des visas mexicains a explosé au visage. It was his own fault. C'était sa propre faute. To paraphrase the explanation as to why visas are now necessary, he stated it was due to a loophole in Canadian refugee law that allowed people to make bogus refugee claims either inside or outside of Canada. Pour paraphraser l'explication des raisons pour lesquelles les visas sont désormais nécessaires, il a déclaré qu'elle était due à une lacune dans le droit des réfugiés au Canada qui a permis aux gens de faire des réfugiés les pseudo-réclames à l'intérieur ou à l'extérieur du Canada. He then went on to say that it is not the fault of the Mexican government or its people for this situation and then pledged his great friendship with the people of Mexico. Il a ensuite poursuivi en disant que ce n'est pas la faute du gouvernement mexicain ou à son peuple de cette situation et alors engagé sa grande amitié avec le peuple du Mexique.

Now, if we translate his statement from Conservative political language into English or French, it would sound like this ... We screwed up because we didn't fix a loophole we didn't like so we have to impose the visas. Maintenant, si nous traduisons sa déclaration du langage politique conservateur en anglais ou en français, cela sonnerait comme ça ... Nous screwed up parce que nous ne fixait pas une échappatoire nous n'avons pas aimé que nous devons imposer des visas. It's not your fault, it's our fault, but you have to live with the visas. Ce n'est pas votre faute, c'est de notre faute, mais vous devez vivre avec les visas. We have no idea how to fix the immigration claims system and don't know when we will have a solution available or if it will get past parliament. The non-political problem the Conservative government will have is making changes to the immigration claims criteria. Nous n'avons aucune idée de comment fixer le système de demandes d'immigration et je ne sais pas quand nous aurons une solution, ou s'il obtiendra parlement passé. Le non-problème politique que le gouvernement conservateur aura apporte des modifications aux revendications critères d'immigration. Presently, that criteria is based on the 1985 Supreme Court ruling which grants the right to anyone who is in this country without citizenship the right to ask to be recognized as a refugee. Actuellement, ce critère est basé sur la décision de 1985 la Cour suprême qui accorde le droit de toute personne qui est dans ce pays n'ayant pas la nationalité le droit de demander à être reconnu comme un réfugié. As Supreme Court rulings are extremely difficult to overturn, Mr. Harper has taken the easy way out of his "imagined" problem of fraudulent refugee claims from Mexico and the Czech Republic by imposing visas to slow the claims process down. Comme arrêts de la Cour suprême sont extrêmement difficiles à renverser, M. Harper a pris la voie de la facilité de son «imaginaire» problème des demandes d'asile frauduleuses en provenance du Mexique et la République tchèque, en imposant des visas pour ralentir le processus des demandes vers le bas. If he ever does manage to change the immigration claims process the way he wants, he is going to have one hell of a problem (the 1985 Supreme Court ruling) which is why he can give no timetable as to when the changes will take place or what those changes will be. Si il ne parvient jamais à changer les demandes d'immigration processus de la façon qu'il veut, il va avoir un sacré problème (de 1985 arrêt de la Cour suprême), qui est pourquoi il ne peut donner aucun calendrier pour savoir quand les changements vont avoir lieu ou ce que ces changements seront.

Moving on to Jason Kenny, the other side of this dog and pony show, paraphrasing from Mr. Kenny ... Mr. Passant à Jason Kenny, de l'autre côté de ce chien et de montrer à poney, en paraphrasant M. Kenny ... M. Kenny believed it was right of Mr. Harper to point out the problems with the current refugee system. Kenny a estimé qu'il était juste de M. Harper de signaler les problèmes avec le système actuel des réfugiés. He also believes that Mr. Harper should not be criticized by the media for bringing the problem to light. He also went on to say that it was basically the Supreme Court of Canada's fault for too many refugee claims. Il croit aussi que M. Harper ne devrait pas être critiqué par les médias pour porter le problème à la lumière. Il a également poursuivi en disant qu'elle était pratiquement la Cour suprême de la faute du Canada des demandes d'asile de trop. As he was saying this, he appeared to laugh. Comme il disait cela, il est apparu à rire. I don't know if this was because he realized how absurd his statement was as he said it or whether he gets nervous in from of the camera crew from the CBC. Je ne sais pas si c'est parce que il s'est rendu compte de l'absurdité de sa déclaration a été comme il le dit ou s'il est nerveux à partir de l'équipe de tournage de la CBC. Either way, because of the laugh, it could be implied he was making fun of the Supreme Court of Canada or the fair immigration policy the court set up. De toute façon, en raison du rire, on pourrait déduire qu'il se moquait de la Cour suprême du Canada ou de la politique d'immigration juste le tribunal mis en place. Either way, he looks like a complete idiot. De toute façon, il ressemble à un idiot fini. now I understand why the press secretary left a couple weeks ago and last week the head of strategic communications for the PMO, whose job it is to be the chief spin doctor, resigned. je comprends maintenant pourquoi le secrétaire de presse a quitté il ya quelques semaines et la semaine dernière le chef des communications stratégiques pour le CPM, dont le métier est d'être le médecin chef de spin, a démissionné. They got tired of dealing with the clowns. Ils ont eu assez de traiter avec les clowns.

Note to politicians: See what happens when you have no communications staff left?!. Note aux politiciens: Voyez ce qui arrive quand vous n'avez pas le personnel des communications à gauche?!.

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

A visa issue that will not stop biting the PM in the rear end and an unmitigated communications disaster I still believe this!

While attending the summit of the Three Amigo's, Prime Minister Harper's position on the Mexican visa issue blew up in his face. It was his own fault. To paraphrase the explanation as to why visas are now necessary, he stated it was due to a loophole in Canadian refugee law that allowed people to make bogus refugee claims either inside or outside of Canada. He then went on to say that it is not the fault of the Mexican government or its people for this situation and then pledged his great friendship with the people of Mexico.

Now, if we translate his statement from Conservative political language into English or French, it would sound like this ... We screwed up because we didn't fix a loophole we didn't like so we have to impose the visas. It's not your fault, it's our fault, but you have to live with the visas. We have no idea how to fix the immigration claims system and don't know when we will have a solution available or if it will get past parliament. The non-political problem the Conservative government will have is making changes to the immigration claims criteria. Presently, that criteria is based on the 1985 Supreme Court ruling which grants the right to anyone who is in this country without citizenship the right to ask to be recognized as a refugee. As Supreme Court rulings are extremely difficult to overturn, Mr. Harper has taken the easy way out of his "imagined" problem of fraudulent refugee claims from Mexico and the Czech Republic by imposing visas to slow the claims process down. If he ever does manage to change the immigration claims process the way he wants, he is going to have one hell of a problem (the 1985 Supreme Court ruling) which is why he can give no timetable as to when the changes will take place or what those changes will be.

Moving on to Jason Kenny, the other side of this dog and pony show, paraphrasing from Mr. Kenny ... Mr. Kenny believed it was right of Mr. Harper to point out the problems with the current refugee system. He also believes that Mr. Harper should not be criticized by the media for bringing the problem to light. He also went on to say that it was basically the Supreme Court of Canada's fault for too many refugee claims. As he was saying this, he appeared to laugh. I don't know if this was because he realized how absurd his statement was as he said it or whether he gets nervous in from of the camera crew from the CBC. Either way, because of the laugh, it could be implied he was making fun of the Supreme Court of Canada or the fair immigration policy the court set up. Either way, he looks like a complete idiot. now I understand why the press secretary left a couple weeks ago and last week the head of strategic communications for the PMO, whose job it is to be the chief spin doctor, resigned. They got tired of dealing with the clowns.

Note to politicians: See what happens when you have no communications staff left?!.

Monday, September 14, 2009

The last time I checked, I wasn't in Victorian England but...

RE- post..

The last time I checked, I wasn't in Victorian England but you'd think Canada was in Victorian times where Mr. Harper is concerned. The Prime Minister of Canada and several agencies of the crown were ordered by the Federal Court of Appeals on Friday, August 14, 2009 to ask for the eventual release of Omar Khadr from U.S. custody at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Our government had argued unsuccessfully that there was an ongoing U.S. legal process and did not want to interfere. They could have asked the American for his return but chose not to. All we are talking about here is asking - doesn't mean we are going to get him. This is now the second time the government of Canada has lost it's argument of non-interference in the legal process of another country. The court found that there were clear Charter of Rights and Freedoms violations and on that basis is forcing the government to act in defence of Khadr to protect his rights. The response so far from the Prime Ministers office has been that they will study the decision. If they choose to appeal the case will be going to the Supreme Court of Canada. If the Supreme Court chooses to accept the case, it be more legal limbo for Omar Khadr while waiting for the ruling.

One of the things Harper is complaining about is that the Federal Court of Appeal ruling encroaches on the powers of the Prime Minister. If Harper had not changed the long-standing policy of Foreign Affairs from automatically seeking the repatriation of Canadian citizens held abroad to hearings on a case by case basis, the Federal Court of Appeals would not have had to direct him on two separate occasions (for Mr. Khadr) to properly represent Canadian citizens in foreign countries. Thus, he would not be stuck with the possible legal precedent of having to do something that he is dead set against, interfering in the legal process of a sovereign state. At this point, he should be realizing he is not a King. Just because you don't like to do something doesn't mean you don't have to do it. Just like your mother told you! He is not qualified to make the statement that such a ruling encroaches on any Prime Ministerial powers as he did not train to be a lawyer. He trained to be an economist. His Justice Minister is a lawyer and perhaps he should have consulted with him before making that statement.

Full disclosure, I am not a lawyer either. I look at these legal issues as a hobby. As always, I may be wrong in my legal assessments but I stick to general principles. Some lawyers have claimed that this is the first time in history that the Federal Court of Appeals, or any court for that matter, has directed foreign policy in a ruling. Technically, this is incorrect as the Federal Court of Canada made a ruling on Khadr's behalf last year, the government appealed and this is the result of the appeal, making it the second time. Now we will have to wait and see if Ottawa wants to fight this case in the Supreme Court of Canada. For Omar's sake, I hope this does not happen.

msdoogfood@hotmail.com

Sunday, September 13, 2009

stupid stupid Canada Border Services Agency

Wrongly deported Ajax man home at last
Reunited with daughter, he is suing Ottawa after mistake sends him to Australia for 3 years
September 12, 2009

IMMIGRATION REPORTER

An Ajax man mistaken for an illegal immigrant and wrongly deported by Canada is finally home after spending three years in a birthplace he left as a 9-month-old baby.

"I'd lost hope that I'd ever be allowed to come back here," said Tavis Lamprell, 38, who was adopted at birth in Australia and arrived here with his parents in 1971 as a permanent resident. "There is just a rush of emotions right now. It still hasn't sunk in that I'm home."

In 2005, Lamprell was summoned by immigration officials for an interview at the Greater Toronto Enforcement Centre and slapped with a deportation order as a result of several criminal convictions, including an assault involving a girlfriend. The Canada Border Services Agency did not properly verify his immigration status before sending him to Australia in April 2006, separating him from his 12-year-old daughter.

By law, a permanent resident cannot be automatically deported as a result of a conviction, and is entitled to an admissibility hearing before an immigration judge and to be informed of appeal rights.

Lamprell claimed officials refused to look at his old Australian passport from 1971 with the "permanent resident" stamp on it and threatened to throw him in jail.

"I sold everything I had in Canada and left with two suitcases and a carry-on. I didn't know anyone there," recalled a teary Lamprell, who was deported to Sydney.

Lamprell, a roofer by training, had trouble putting bread on the table because his skills and experience working with asphalt and shingles didn't work in Australia, where builders use slates, concrete tiles and steel for roofing. He ended up working part-time as a furniture mover.

Meanwhile, Lamprell kept looking for a way back to Canada and enlisted the help of Toronto immigration lawyer Lorne Waldman through the Internet.

In March 2007, the Canadian Consulate General in Sydney acknowledged an error had been made and Lamprell had been deported by mistake.

Canadian officials told him he would have to apply for a temporary resident permit, authorization to return and to reapply for permanent residence upon his arrival in Canada. However, Waldman successfully asked the Federal Court of Canada to quash the deportation order, which automatically reinstated Lamprell's landed immigrant status.

Lamprell, who returned to Canada on Sept. 1 at the expense of the Canadian government, and his daughter Natasha have filed a $2.5 million lawsuit against the federal government for negligence in handling his deportation.

In its statement of defence, the government says, "At no time during the (deportation) interview did Lamprell ever indicate or suggest that he was a permanent resident, or that there was any error." It argues he has no right to damages because he didn't challenge the deportation order in a timely fashion.

Natasha, now 15, said she suffered depression after her father left. She was cared for in Canada by Lamprell's now ex-girlfriend.

"It was really hard ... I'd lived with my dad for eight years before he left," said Natasha, who spoke with her father by phone once a week and online over the last three years. "I'm just glad he's back."

Election myth busters Prime Minister Stephen Harper is a Numbnuts!!!.

OTTAWA–They say truth is the first casualty of war– and that goes for political wars, too.

As momentum builds toward another election campaign, so are the urban political myths. Here's a look at some of the most prominent mind-benders.

MYTH: An election would imperil economic recovery.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper says an election would "screw up" the fragile economic recovery.

But that's not the view on Bay St. There, it elicits laughter.

"You believe that?" blurted Avery Shenfeld, senior analyst at CIBC World Markets.

National political campaigns are not a cause for concern on Bay Street, he said.

"We don't typically see a lot of financial market or business response to Canadian elections," which, Shenfeld noted, "don't tend to be revolutionary."

Few, if any, glaring differences exist between the Conservatives and the Liberals on key economic issues, observers note.

The Liberals supported the budget of Finance Minister Jim Flaherty, above, that contained $35 billion over two years in stimulative spending. And, like the Harper government, the Liberals say that if elected they would tame the deficit without raising taxes or slashing federal transfers to the provinces.

"When you have both the Conservatives and Liberals in favour of corporate tax cuts and both sort of committed to the idea that deficits are a bad thing ... I don't really see how an election is of much consequence to the markets or to the economy," said United Steelworkers economist Erin Weir.

MYTH: The Liberals will wrest power from the Conservatives by joining in a coalition with the NDP and the Bloc Québécois.

Prime Minister Harper fuelled a backlash against his political opponents last winter by saying a proposed Liberal-NDP coalition – supported by the BQ – was an attempt to hijack the results of the Oct. 14 election. And the Conservatives are again reviving the coalition bogeyman.

"If we do not win a majority, this country will have a Liberal government propped up by the socialists and the separatists," Harper told party faithful recently.

But Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff, who spurned the coalition idea after taking over last winter, continues to deny having any interest in it.

"Let me be very clear – the Liberal party would not agree to a coalition," he said yesterday.

"In January we did not support a coalition and we do not support a coalition today or tomorrow."

Canadians want a cooperative, well-functioning Parliament – not a Liberal-NDP coalition supported by the BQ, Ignatieff said.

"We know how to make Parliament work," he told reporters. "I'm favourable to compromise, I'm favourable to reaching out."

Nonetheless, a campaigning Harper can be expected to try to fan fears of a Liberal power grab joined with the NDP and BQ.

MYTH: A Liberal proposal to make it easier for laid-off workers to obtain Employment Insurance would be irresponsibly costly.

The Liberals want to ease employment insurance rules to help laid-off workers who cannot qualify for EI payments.

Reducing eligibility to 360 hours of work would allow another 150,000 to qualify for jobless benefits, the Liberals say, at a cost of $1.5 billion.

But the Conservatives have ridiculed that estimate, saying it would run up Ottawa's EI bill by a massive $4 billion annually.

Arguing that this tally by cabinet minister Diane Finley was vastly exaggerated, the Liberals asked Kevin Page, the independent parliamentary budget officer, to analyze their proposal.

Yesterday, Page estimated the 360-hour standard would have a $1.1 billion annual price tag.

Ignatieff said Page's analysis upheld Liberals' bookkeeping and showed the Conservatives' $4 billion tally was "completely false."

MYTH: An election will cheat Canadians out of their home renovation tax credit.

Harper and other Conservatives have raised the spectre that an election call could nullify the tax credit program for home renovations this year.

That's because the measure, though promoted widely, has yet to become law. Conservatives plan to introduce a ways and means motion soon for that purpose.

However, Liberals say they'll no longer support the minority government, meaning defeat of the Conservatives could come first.

Not to worry, Liberals say.

"We support the home renovation tax credit ... and will ensure Canadians are able to claim (it) in 2009 no matter what," spokesman Jean-François Del Torchio said.

Saturday, September 12, 2009

Volvo Cars have faulty software which can lead to engine problems.


Volvo Cars announced on Wednesday it planned to recall 26,000 cars worldwide because of faulty software which can lead to engine problems.


it's the electronic module which under certain circumstances does not work as it should. The engine doesn't start or just stops after 100 metres," Volvo spokeswoman Maria Bohlin told AFP.

"All customers will receive a letter informing them to go to a dealer and have the software updated," she added.

The cars concerned are the 2008-2010 models of the S80, V70, XC60, XC70 and S80L (sold only in China), which are equipped with a T6, or six cylinder, turbo-charged engine.

Of the 26,000 cars to be recalled, 12,000 are in the United States where the engine is "very common," Bohlin said, while there were "very few" in Europe.