Thoughts on BC Politics and More

Canada’s deteriorating relationship with China takes its toll on farmers, ranchers Carrie Tait ~~ Globe and Mail ~~ June 30, 2019 Graham Friesen is sitting in a comfy leather office chair in the front row of a cattle auction in rural Alberta, bidding on bulls and heifers with subtle head nods and fist shakes. He’s a cattle broker, making him a regular fixture at sales like this one last week in Strathmore, Alta., where about 30 others have gathered for the auction or to just gossip over pancakes and coffee in the lobby. China banned Canadian beef and pork imports two days prior, injecting confusion, frustration and anger into conversations with those in the livestock industry who say that they are, once again, coming under unjust pressure because of frayed diplomatic relationships around the globe. “World politics is dirty,” Mr. Friesen says as cattle plod through the sale ring. “We’re losing at that game.” CLICK HERE to read the full story ...

Facebook's Zuckerberg, Sandberg won't appear before committee, could be found in contempt of Parliament Catharine Tunney ~~ CBC News ~~ May 27, 2019 Canadian MPs are warning that Facebook's top officials could be found in contempt of Parliament if they continue to ignore a subpoena to testify in Ottawa ... company representatives confirmed ... founder Mark Zuckerberg and chief operating officer Sheryl Sandberg would not attend. "I don't think it would send a good message internationally about, you know, blowing off an entire country of 36 million people," said Conservative MP Bob Zimmer, the chair of the Commons committee. NDP MP Charlie Angus; “"You have a company that acts with complete disregard for the democratic systems that we've put in place … that's just unbelievable that a company could be that dismissive ...” CLICK HERE for the full story The irony is delicious! Members of Parliame...

Mark Norman’s lawyer warns of interference in courts despite dropped charge Lee Berthiaume, ~~ The Canadian Press ~~ May 8, 2019 OTTAWA — Canadians must be on guard against government efforts to tip the scales of justice, said Vice-Admiral Mark Norman's lawyer on Wednesday, as she hailed the surprise stay of a breach-of-trust charge against her client. That decision came despite — "not because of" — the Trudeau government's interference in the case ... that included withholding key documents and information that could have helped ... demonstrate his (Mark Norman) innocence on allegations he tried to undermine a federal cabinet deliberation on a large shipbuilding contract. "No person in this country should ever walk into a courtroom and feel like they are fighting their elected government or any sort of political factors at all," Henein told a packed news conference right after Norman's final court appearance. The ...