For anyone wanting to keep track of PM Stephen Harper and his jam-packed travelling tour, I would suggest checking in with David Akin both on his blog and Twitter.
(H/T Kelly McParland)
* * * *
Saturday Update:
Harper urges climate rules for all countries - CBC
Harper, other world leaders press U.S. at APEC summit – David Akin (H/T Bec)
Young Canadian trade advocates meet with PM – David Akin (H/T Maz2):
...The four-member Junior Team Canada team had a 40-minute meeting with Harper, Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon and Trade Minister Stockwell Day.
“The prime minister was very warm, very welcoming. He’s a straight-forward man and cuts to the chase,” said Amy Boultbee, a 21-year-old from Penticton, B.C., now studying at the University of British Columbia.
“They do a great job promoting the country,” said Harper…
Rolling up the Pacific rim to win – John Ibbitson (H/T Bec)
Climate change an ‘international priority’ Harper says – CTV (with stress on the word ‘international’)
Harper will only go to climate conference if other leaders do: aides – David Akin:
…“We’re already close to half of global emissions coming from emerging economies. The future of that is going to be two-thirds. If we don’t control those, whatever we do in the developed world will have no impact on climate change, so it’s important to include everyone,” Harper said...
“If everyone is not included, you set up the possible risk that certain countries will gain economic advantage from being included or not included, so the burden is much lighter if we all contribute. If some contribute or some contribute disproportionately, then the economic risk for others becomes enormous,” Harper said.
O/T: Khadr to face military trial south of the border
13/11/2009 7:43:21 PM
CTV.ca News Staff
http://news.sympatico.ctv.ca/abc/home/contentposting.aspx?isfa=1&feedname=CTV-TOPSTORIES_V3&showbyline=True&date=true&newsitemid=CTVNews%2f20091113%2fkhadr_court_091309
Omar Khadr will be among a group of five terror suspects held in Guantanamo to be tried by military commission on U.S. soil.
The PM has been gone for a full day, and it is Friday the 13th. Libs must be slipping, even on this day. Perhaps their secret camera person could not stowaway on the plane to catch someone doing something.
No luggage lost, no purse stolen. No missed photo ops, oh well, there is always tomorrow. LOL
O/T: Question of the Day
Are the Canadian media
overreacting to H1N1?
Yes
82%
No
11%
Not sure
7%
40103 responses, not scientifically valid, results updated every minute.
http://www.sympatico.ca/default.aspx?lang=en-CA
Rising exports narrow Canada’s trade deficit
13/11/2009 11:16:38 AM
CBC News
“Canada’s exports were 3.5 per cent higher in September, narrowing the trade deficit to $927 million from $2 billion.
“The big story in this report was Canada’s diversification away from the United States,” BMO economist Benjamin Reitzes said.
Exports to the EU and other OECD countries jumped 34 per cent and 15 per cent respectively, he noted. “As U.S. consumption is likely to lag the global recovery, a shift towards other markets will be a key to Canadian exporters’ success,” he said.”
http://finance.sympatico.ca/Home/ContentPosting?newsitemid=trade-deficit-september&feedname=CBC-BUSINESS-V3&show=False&number=0&showbyline=True&subtitle=&detect=&abc=abc&date=True
Canada’s trade deficit drops by more than 50%!!
My 3 posts tonight give further weight to the intelligent guidance of our country by PM Stephen Harper and his Conservative government!!
“The prime minister was very warm, very welcoming. He’s a straight-forward man and cuts to the chase,” said Amy Boultbee, a 21-year-old from Penticton, B.C., now studying at the University of British Columbia.”
…-
“Young Canadian trade advocates meet with PM”
“The four-member Junior Team Canada team had a 40-minute meeting with Harper, Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon and Trade Minister Stockwell Day.”
http://www.vancouversun.com/Young+Canadian+trade+advocates+meet+with/2223883/story.html
“In speech after speech on the first day of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, one leader after another took to the podium to hammer the U.S. for its rising protectionist sentiment.”
http://www.canada.com/business/Harper+other+world+leaders+pressing+APEC+summit/2221991/story.html
Thanks for these links folks. I’ll try to add an update later.
BTW, I bought a laptop recently and noticed that the keyboard seems to have French accents. Does anyone have tips on how to access them? Merci.
Mao Stlong say,
Boob Lae, my nephew, is Canada’s “Liberal leader”.
Say No, Bob, to the fine CanPeoples.
Yes, Uncle Mo.
…-
“China dissidents ‘detained ahead of Obama visit’
AFP – 4 hours ago
BEIJING – China has detained several dissidents and campaigners ahead of US President Barack Obama’s much-anticipated first visit to the country, their relatives and close contacts told AFP Saturday.”
I’m sending you guys to this link to get the comments back on track…. Sheesh….
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/rolling-up-the-pacific-rim-to-win/article1363098/
Hoping the media will cover the PM’s travels free of their standard bias, just the facts sans their usual negative spin.
With the PM away maybe they’ll be concentrating on the newly housecleaned Iggy Office with his new brain kicking in tomorrow.
Does anyone else think it bad strategy to be clearing out his Toronto gang when that’s the Liberal stronghold in Ontario? That along with firing Coderre as Quebec lieutenant seems to be a recipe for disaster. It appears the disaster is already happening.
Re: accents on a Mac.
1. The vowels a, e, and u are already on my Mac keyboard with an accent grave [`].
2. To use the key with the umlaut [¨] the accent circumflex [ ^] and the accent grave for other vowels:
• For the umlaut hold down the upper case key while hitting the umlaut key. The umlaut will appear highlighted in yellow, then type whichever vowel you need with the umlaut. For example: ä, ë, ï
• For the accent circumflex [ ^] just hit that key. Once again the accent will appear highlighted. All you need to do is hit the vowel you want. For example: â, ô, û.
• For the accent grave, hit the key while holding down the “alt” key (next to the control key on the bottom lefthand side). Once again the accent will be highligthed and then you type in the vowel you need. Example: ì, ò
However, when using those accents, some websites will show them as question marks or other marks, i.e. they will not show as the accent you typed on your home computer.
Sorry if it sounds “clear as mud.”
Maybe checking the “Help” menu in the Finder, under “accents” or “keyboard” will be simpler than my directions. Good luck.
Umm … I got carried away, thinking you’d bought a Mac laptop … my instructions may not apply to your PC laptop.
=====
On the PM’s trip … of course all the coverage will go towards other leaders rather than our PM, unless there’s a so-called gaffe that the intrepid reporters back here can criticize.
To his credit, David Akin wrote in this story referenced by Bec http://www.canada.com/business/Harper+other+world+leaders+pressing+APEC+summit/2221991/story.html :
“Prime Minister Stephen Harper has been pushing that message at various international leaders summits for more than a year“. [on protectionism]
And
“Harper, who will attend that meeting, has long argued that a new climate change deal will be ineffective unless China and India commit to greenhouse reductions.” [on any climate change agreements binding some countries but not others]
In other words, our PM’s ideas are being adopted by other leaders. He may not get the credit due to him in his own country, but at least he’s able to influence other world leaders while advancing Canada’s interests at the same time.
Try this for the french accents: http://www.fcgw.org/Accents.html
Precisely Liz J!
I love how the usual suspects seem to feel that they have all of the answers, spew all of their wisdom and are frankly not much more than Scribes with little or no personal expertise on the subjects that they tackle.
Take the humiliating moment on PP for example, where Oliver who acts and sounds on a daily basis as an expert on all things Canadiana and world events, cannot hardly answer any of the ‘New Canadian’ test questions.
And yet he goes on and on as though he is such a smarter and wiser and more worldly Canadian than this Conservative PM.
Thanks for the tips Gabby & Neil. I do have a PC but I’ll experiment with your ideas and see what happens.
“Liberal leader” Boob Lae:
Ji. I’m Red-Green Boob Lae, Mao Stlong’s nephew; here* is Moi Kyoto commissar, Iffy*Lae.
…-
Peter Foster: Chairman Mo’s little red website
Maurice Strong, inventor of climatism, wants to reform democracy to produce strong governments
By Peter Foster
Why are people not more aware of the greatest threat to human freedom and prosperity since the collapse of Communism?
I refer not to the 2008 financial crisis, or man-made climate change, but to that eminent Canadian Maurice Strong. He is, after all, more than any other person responsible for sending the nations of the world down the path to Copenhagen.
It seems that Mr. Strong too may be fed up with his lack of profile. He has set up a website, http://www.mauricestrong.net, where you will find the bald — but accurate — statement that “Maurice Strong is the world’s leading environmentalist.” From heading the first UN environment conference in Stockholm in 1972 to masterminding the 1992 Rio summit, “Maurice Strong,” says Maurice Strong’s website, “has played a unique and critical role in globalizing the environmental movement.”
Mr. Strong is now 80 years old and thus out of the running for the title of CEO of “Earth Inc.,” but it is his environmental nightmares and dreams of global governance that will dominate Copenhagen. This is a man, we might remember, who welcomes the collapse of industrial civilization, and has described the prospect of billions of environmental deaths as a “glimmer of hope.” My editor didn’t believe me when I wrote this, so here’s what Mr. Strong actually said, in his autobiography, in a section described as a report to the shareholders, Earth Inc, dated 2031: “And experts have predicted that the reduction of the human population may well continue to the point that those who survive may not number more than the 1.61 billion people who inhabited the Earth at the beginning of the 20th century. A consequence, yes, of death and destruction — but in the end a glimmer of hope for the future of our species and its potential for regeneration.”
The site raises questions about just what Mr. Strong’s role and status might be at Copenhagen. A cloud fell over his UN career when he was implicated in the Iraqi oil-for-food scandal, but Mr. Strong never abandoned his crusade. He just moved to Beijing.”
http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/fpcomment/archive/2009/11/12/peter-foster-chairman-mo-s-little-red-website.aspx
…-
Red-Green Kyoto commissar, Iffy*Lae:
“*Sarah Palin did more for environment than the Tories – Ignatieff
Federal Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff vowed Friday night to attack the policies of Prime Minister Stephen Harper, saying the Conservative leader’s four years in power gives him lots of political ammunition.”
IffyMao’s Gleen Wolld:
“A Liberal government will make Canada the greenest, most energy efficient economy in the world, he said.”
http://dailygleaner.canadaeast.com/cityregion/article/857166
Well it worked on my desktop PC Neil! That’s great. I’m going to print out that chart for future reference.
Maintenant je peux taper en français.
Unfortunately the laptop doesn’t have a num pad. Stupid PC.
Does anyone else think it bad strategy to be clearing out his Toronto gang when that’s the Liberal stronghold in Ontario? That along with firing Coderre as Quebec lieutenant seems to be a recipe for disaster. It appears the disaster is already happening.
Liz – Yeah. One might be tempted to call it overkill.
Bec, not really sure what Clark was trying to prove with that little Q&A skit on Pee Pee, he has a sneaky look about him.
Note also how he manages to lose the feed on Conservative leaning guests on a regular basis.
Is CTV the unofficial Liberal trumpet?
Recently bought a laptop too and I love it. But I also bought a wireless keyboard and mouse for when I use the laptop at my desk. It’s wonderful not having all the wires around, but to still have the ease of a keybaord, and of course the num pad. Just a thought. I got mine from Dell, but I can’t remember how much they were.
Hmm.. Thanks Jad. Good Christmas idea. I actually have the wireless mouse already. I love it!
Is CTV the unofficial Liberal trumpet Liz J
David Akin writes, “Canada, China, Mexico and others are using a weekend meeting of Pacific Rim leaders to press the United States to reduce trade barriers it has thrown up in the wake of the global recession.“. This is something that the PM has been pushing every time he has met Obama.
But the only story that CTV is reporting on APEC is criticism by Professor Tim Flannery of the Copenhagen Climate Council on Canada’s environmental policy. Concidentally,(?) Ignatieff is on the environmental issue kick as well in his New Brunswick speech.
Check out the good professor here. By comparison, he makes Suzuki seem almost sensible.
Just saw a clip of O in China, wearing a Mao outfit, the announcer said everyone visiting China wears this. So, be forewarned of the bad media PMSH will get for doing the same thing when he goes to China.
PM Stephen Harper is ready to trip the light fantastic…
http://www.thestar.com/news/insight/article/725106–are-these-nine-our-leaders-in-waiting
I for one, believe he’s ready!
Thanks for the links Joanne, as always great stuff..
Just waiting to see what faux scandal the media will drum up this trip. It will be pretty hard to top “wafergate”, but I believe the MSM is up to the task.lol
Iggiot speaks at NB Liberal gathering;
http://dailygleaner.canadaeast.com/cityregion/article/857166
JAD, Joanne:
Why buy a PC or laptop? I stopped years ago. Lease a Dell laptop/desktop for under $55/$65 a month depending on what’s installed. I run Dell Vostro computers as you can “build your own” without all that extra stuff stuck on shelf style purchases. Return at lease end, get a new computer. These days you have the option to keep your hard drive and install it into the new one. If not, purchase Active@killdisk software to “clean” the hard drive if you return that as well.
If you own, or run your own business the lease costs are 100% deductible. No capitalization of assets, or disposal issues to worry about.
Liberal Iffy’s Harvard buddy.
…-
“[ O-Bow-Mao's ] botched bow
Bad enough that Obama bowed down to another head of state yesterday. Even worse that he did not bother to learn how one bows in Japan, and just winged it.
I agree with Scott Johnson, Steve Gilbert, Andrew Malcom, and many others that the President of the United States should not be bowing before any head of state. But unlike these astute observers, I actually know a little something about the art of the bow in Japan, having lived in Japan four different times on a resident visa, taught East Asian Studies at Harvard, and counseled many hundreds of American, European, Middle Eastern, and Australasian executives on how to work negotiate and with the Japanese — including teaching them the right way to bow.
Obama’s bow (below) violates a fundamental precept: NO TOUCHING while bowing.
Here is one of many websites that illustrates how to bow in Japan. The one thing that virtually everyone who teaches bowing etiquette stresses is under no circumstance try to combine a bow with a handshake.
The Emperor appears to smile, which is something polite Japanese are taught to do when embarrassed. Unlike just about everyone who comes into the Emperor’s presence, Obama obviously received no instruction on Imperial etiquette. (Note: The Japanese take their monarch and etiquette in general about 100 times more seriously than do the British.)
That’s fine with me. I wouldn’t like our president to receive such instructions from a foreign entity. But he obviously did not indicate to any of the American embassy staff, nor to any aides familiar with Japan that he intended to bow, and bow deeply. Anyone with about two days’ familiarity with Japan knows about bowing. The average person in Japan bows dozens of times a day. You see it everywhere.
Another fundamental precept of the ordinary bow: it must be reciprocated. To do otherwise is a grave insult. Yet, we see in this short video clip that the Emperor did not even nod his head. To be honest, I am not sure the Emperor is ever supposed to bow back to anyone. He is, after all, according to Shinto, a god.”
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2386540/posts
Here For Iggy’s Harvard buddy’s bow:
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2009/11/obama-emperor-akihito-japan.html
As for Obama bowing low,can we assume it’s got to do with the height of the participants?
Could we do a caption contest?
Memo to PM Harper and Minister Prentice: Get off Mao Stlong’s AGW/”climate change” railroad.
Stop with the “climate change” propaganda/scam.
Nature is in control with its own mechanisms.
Get off the track, PM Harper.
Fess up to Canadians: Mao Strong’s “climate change” is a heresy.
Remember Kyoto Dionky and his Green Shaft and PET with his NEP, PM Harper.
Those scams are interred in the PET Cemetery. Do not attempt to resurrect those frauds.
BTW, PM Harper: Cut our income taxes.
…-
“Every cloud has a silver lining – Antarctic glacier retreat creates new carbon dioxide store
14 11 2009
From a British Antarctic Survey Press Release. Next time some alarmist wails about ice melt in Antarctica, point them to this story that shows nature has self regulating features for our planet. (h/t to Hu McCullough)
Antarctica glacier retreat creates new carbon dioxide store”
http://wattsupwiththat.com/
Can you imagine the media pile on if PMSH had done that.
He doesn’t look too bad in that mao outfit.
THANKS NeilD for the keyboarding codes for French accents. I had sort of a makeshift “list”, but this is a much better chart which will come in handy occasionally with my work when it comes time for preciseness in Canada’s alternate official language.
Keep up the great plugs, everyone! PM Stephen Harper and Co. are carrying on with wisdom at the forefront. I’m elated he’s opting out of the Copenhagen fiasco, and Mr. Prentice can adequately represent Canada’s interest (or disinterest) there.
“If you go carrying pictures of Chairman Mo, you ain’t gonna make it anyone,
any Ho…” (Revolution; revised – Yo Yo -With A Little Help From My Friends)
Steady as she goes… If strength is built by resistance, then I hope the CPC isn’t in trouble by the isometric disappearance of the Igneutered bunch on the Left. “Platform” soles (souls) are required to give some balance to the political spectrum, and to keep the forthcoming Harper Majority a reality perhaps by 2011.
Liberal Iffy/Rae/Bennett’s swine flu has pigged out.
Question for Bennett: Where are the swine flu deaths on the Indian reserves?
…-
“Economy will be healthy despite H1N1: study
Strain is likely too mild to seriously impact GDP growth”
http://www.vancouversun.com/health/Economy+will+healthy+despite+H1N1+study/2218366/story.html
When will Ontario Liberal emperor McGuinty run out of cabbage heads?
Liberals McGuinty and Iffy are cleaning their houses? Some metaphor!
How many cabbages have Liberals McGuintyIffy lopped off recently?
When will one of the cabbage heads rat/squeal on the Liberals? Remember the old saw: Revenge is sweet.
Iffy and McGuinty trade recipes: cole slaw for slaw cole.
BTW, BullyBoy Smitherman jumped out of McGuinty’s garden/Cabinet.
However, Smitherman is keeping his seat in the Legislature warm. When asked why; Smitherman replied: depends on TO.
…-
“Three senior officials resign over eHealth, more expected to go”
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/three-senior-officials-resign-over-ehealth-more-expected-to-go/article1363453/
More from David Akin:
The Harpers make the papers, thanks to Laureen
http://davidakin.blogware.com/blog/_archives/2009/11/14/4380564.html
Mary, Here is the “scandal”.
Get the snark&sneer from left-liberal Akin/MSM.
These* venomous words from Akin are demeaning/insulting to PM Harper, Mrs. Harper and Canadians:
>>> “*But having Mrs. Harper handy”.
…-
“The Harpers make the papers, thanks to Laureen”
“It was good enough that the photo of the Harpers arriving for the evening’s entertainment made the local paper, albeit on page A6 (left).”
“But having Mrs. Harper handy seems to be the secret to getting a bit of Canada into the local paper, the first mention (below left) I’ve seen of our country here all weekend.”
http://davidakin.blogware.com/blog/_archives/2009/11/14/4380564.html
Maz2, I’m not sure that David Akin intended a jab there at the PM. I think he was just observing how well Laureen Harper fits into these types of functions.
I wonder how Iffy’s wife would do.
However, Smitherman is keeping his seat in the Legislature warm. When asked why; Smitherman replied: depends on TO.
Do you have a link for that, Maz2? I was under the impression that he was just staying on as MPP for a short period of time. Thanks.
Akin needs to be called on such an insulting statement. Who’s his boss?
Imagine if it were the Shawinigan choker and wife on such a trip, we’d have pictures and anecdotes galore and on the front pages of the Red Rags, Toronto Star, Ottawa Citizen.
Let us all demand a front page/prime time apology from this hack.
Joanne, Akin is a seasoned reporter,he should know better.
It’s a bad choice of wording and can’t imagine Laureen will appreciate the “handy” label either, she’s her own person and much more than an arm decoration as implied by such a statement. It comes off as an insult to the PM which it may well have been meant to be.
“Let’s hope Prentice is a fossil
The angrier greens get at Canada’s environment minister in Copenhagen, the happier we should be
By LORRIE GOLDSTEIN”
“the policy being pursued by Prime Minister Stephen Harper today — pay lip service to Kyoto while doing as little as possible to implement it, or any successor agreement.
Better if Harper and Prentice would just honestly explain to Canadians why this is all such a bad deal for us.
But, in the absence of honesty, the more fossil awards Prentice gets in Copenhagen, the better.”
http://www.torontosun.com/comment/columnists/lorrie_goldstein/2009/11/15/11751531-sun.html
Speaking of Smitherman, was he saved from the chopping block because he’s planning on running for the mayoral seat in TO? He was Health Minister when E-Health was instituted and somehow escaped and accepts no blame and his successor takes it all?
At least Smitherman is upfront about his intentions. There’s another Liberal by the name of Jim Watson who is suspected of having his eye on running for the mayor’s chair in Ottawa, but hasn’t yet declared. It’s a job the smooth talking Watson held previously. He was once a Conservative as well. I’ve chalked him up as an opportunist and wouldn’t give him the time of day.
For reaction from the AGW moonbats, go here*.
Sample comment:
“15 Nov 2009, 12:44PM
Obama needs to watch some video recordings of his presidential campaign. Whatever happened ot “Yes we can” and something about “Hope” too?
There’s a sh*tload of opposition out there against him, and against doing anything to stop climate change – but we can’t negotiate with the laws of physics and chemistry. He has to become the president that his rhetoric promised on this most crucial of issues, and has to do all he can to overcome the opposition – so far it looks like he’s given it a good shot, then shrugged his shoulders after a setback or two.”
“*Copenhagen climate summit hopes fade as Obama backs postponement”
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/nov/15/obama-copenhagen-emissions-targets-climate-change
Joanne, Akin is a seasoned reporter,he should know better.
Good point, Liz. The more I think about it, the more I realize that it was a pretty chauvinistic thing to say.
[...] As Lorrie Goldstein says, every time Canada is given a fossil award from environmentalists, let’s put out a great cheer right across the country. (H/T Maz2) [...]
If there were a common sense award on the climate change file our PM would get it hands down.
Alas, there is no sense, common or otherwise in any of the rationale put out by climate change hucksters.
I disagree David Akin meant any disrespect towards Mrs. Harper.
Wasn’t there a discussion here some time ago complaining about the fact Mrs. Harper’s qualities were seldom highlighted by the MSM?
Well, here’s a report telling us how Mrs. Harper is the focus of attention because of her beauty and her taste in clothing, and some of us take that as some sort of insult.
Maybe some of us are getting overly sensitive.
Point take Gabby. However, it does seem to be taking a shot at the PM as well highlighting fluff to insinuate lack of substance. Maybe I’m giving Akin more credit for being purposefully subtle than he deserves.
Liz J, please allow me to quote from the Akin article;
“… Harper was accompanied by his wife Laureen who, as she often does at international summits, turned more than a few heads. Mrs. Harper stands out in a crowd not only for her blonde hair and winning smile but also because she is an elegant dresser. Last night, she arrived on the prime minister’s arm in a white dress with a South Asian-inspired print in pink and black. It was good enough that the photo of the Harpers arriving for the evening’s entertainment made the local paper …”
IMO, the highlighted words are not “offensive.” The one word pointed out as poorly chosen – “handy,” meaning near-by – does not convey anything offensive either, IMO.
Actually, I’m surprised by the “offensive” reaction, because as I previously said, many have said here in the past that they would welcome attention focussed on Mrs. Harper.
Anyway, as in many other things, to each his own.
Yes, Gabby, “to each his own”, especially when we’re dealing with a media we have every reason to mistrust as to motives with the select items they choose to report on. Too bad but that’s the way it is.
I’ll give Akin the benefit on this one if there truly wasn’t anything else to report on but will hold out on the “handy” part, handy is for tools.
So Obama is off to Shanghai, China where he is to raise human rights abuse issues with the Chinese, do you think that the Canadian MSM might take issue with this like they did when our PM Stephen Harper raised the same concerns a couple of years ago?
Bruce, well no, it’s not the message, its the messenger, that’s the rational when it come to the Left. With one of their own heroes, Mo Strong, practically a citizen of that place they wouldn’t want to worry the Chairman about human rights. That’s something they like to carp on in our own North American democracies, the US and Canada. Their grave concern about the Khadr terrorist spawn is an example.