Thoughts on BC Politics and More

BC Green Leader Emily Lowan is calling for a pause in building AI data centres in BC until the environmental, health and security risks of these ­facilities are properly ­understood and regulated. The federal government and Telus, the telecom company building the projects, describe the data centres as a bid to boost Canada’s sovereign ­computing and artificial-intelligence ­infrastructure. Two data ­centres ­— the cost of which have not been disclosed — will be in Vancouver and the other in ­Kamloops. Lowan said the current “build first, regulate later” model pushed by the federal and ­provincial governments is ­reckless and unacceptable for British Columbians ... CLICK HERE for the full story  

Watching Finance Minister Morneau and Prime Minister Trudeau congratulating one another over their $585 million subsidy to the media industry made me ill.  The usual suspects came forth denouncing the subsidy as an attempt to buy off the media.   The media in Canada had an income of over $80 billion in 2016.  $585 million is a drop in the ocean – less than 1% of income (0.73%). It is less than one half of what they pump into the CBC every year. The five giants who dominate Canadian media (which does not include the CBC as its revenues are made up largely of taxpayer subsidies) fear that a government may break up their monopolies. The top five - Bell, Rogers, Telus, Shaw and Quebecor accounted for 71.1% of the $80 billion network media economy in 2016.  The media in Canada is vertically integrated. The same owners control newspapers, magazines, radio stations, TV stations, internet, cable and wireless services. When Sun News tried to break into the ma...

Justin Trudeau Says Politicians Should Work On Their Social Media Skills -- He said some leaders are dividing people with technology. Jordan Press   ~~   Canadian Press / Huff Post   ~~   11/12/2018 PARIS — Politicians working to harness the power of social media to connect with voters need to figure out how to do so positively in the face of leaders using those platforms to undermine democracy, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says. Without mentioning anyone by name at an event in Paris on Monday morning, Trudeau suggested there are politicians who are trying to use platforms like Twitter to foster polarization and controversy in the electorate. The medium is not without its benefits, Trudeau said, pointing to the ease of putting out a tweet of condolence or support being easier, more direct and resonating more with citizens than issuing a press statement carried by traditional media. That same ease and directness that Trudeau sa...