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Owning the podium, selling the stadium

The Harper government portrays itself as standing up for Canada, but it is preparing a major sell-off of Canadian interests that will compromise our cultural sovereignty, national identity and national security.

In last week's federal budget, the Harper government signalled its intent to throw open the doors of foreign ownership in three strategic, previously protected, sectors: telecommunications, satellites and uranium.

The issue here isn't foreign investment, which is allowed. At issue is a move to allow giant multinational conglomerates to come in and take over Canadian companies in these key sectors.

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Our way or the Norway: Managing petroleum wealth in Canada

| January 24, 2013

Federal budget worsens inequality, high unemployment future

| April 2, 2012

Is Harper the best person to manage the economic recovery?

| April 27, 2011
Reel Women

DVD Review: Scott Pilgrim Versus the World Dukes it out with Bubba Ho Tep

December 6, 2010
| Reel Women dig into the vaults to review two terrific cult flix: One -- a classic and the other -- brand spanking new!
Length: 07:36 minutes (5.26 MB)

Reality check for Canada on eve of G20

As Prime Minister Stephen Harper heads to London for the G20 leaders' meeting on the global economic crisis, he will undoubtedly tell other leaders that Canada is well positioned to manage the crisis domestically and provide advice on the international effort.

Canada is certainly better positioned than most to implement an aggressive fiscal stimulus package to cushion the blow of the recession, since we have one of the lowest debt-to-GDP burdens of any industrialized country.

This advantage, however, is meaningless unless it is used properly. G20 leaders will not hear from Harper that Canada enters this recession in a far more vulnerable state than in past recessions.

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Obama visit puts Canada on the defensive

When President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Stephen Harper meet in Canada this Thursday, the growing economic crisis will be the main point of discussion.

And Harper could quickly find himself in a position he doesn't like to be in: on the defensive.

Canada, as the smaller of the two trading partners, has become much more an exporter of raw and semi-processed resources in recent years -- accounting for almost 60 per cent of our exports -- and it is deeply dependent on exports to the U.S.

The collapse of U.S. demand and of commodity prices is the main factor behind Canada registering in December a major drop in exports and its first trade deficit in 33 years.

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A Hard Act to Follow

The federal government has a responsibility to protect Canadians from actual and potential human-rights abuses of the sort that took place in New York and Washington on September 11. However, it must also strike a delicate balance between collective security and individual rights. This task is never easy, but is made more difficult in times of heightened fear and tension. It is, though, precisely at such times that the need to protect fundamental rights and freedoms is the greatest.

Bill C-36 creates far-reaching powers with major implications for civil liberties.

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Terrorism, Dissent and Freedom

What parts of Bill C-36 have the greatest potential for civil liberties’ violations, or for rendering our justice system and government more secretive and less accountable? Read on.

Distinguishing Between Terror and Dissent
“Terrorist Activity” — A Definition | Capturing Dissent | Enforcement | Changes to the Definition “Terrorist Activity”
The Terrorist List
New Terrorist Offences
Investigative Procedures

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The softwood deal: a broken election promise

Claiming — without evidence — that “a clear majority” of lumber producers now support the Canada-U.S. softwood lumber agreement, Prime Minister Stephen Harper says this is sufficient for his government to bring forward implementing legislation in Parliament, though it almost certainly falls far short of the original 95 per cent support target.

Given the significance of this settlement — far beyond the commercial effects on a single industry — who won and who lost and what the implications are for Canada, are questions that bear close scrutiny.

The U.S.

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