The Keystone Tarsands Pipeline Will Have Minimal Environmental Impact... Really?

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A recently released State Department report claims the environmental impact of the Keystone pipeline would be "minimal." So... I guess we have no choice, but to build the tarsands pipeline. No need to address the environmental impact of tarsands extraction, we can ignore that Harper is moving ahead - and faster - on this while muzzling scientists who raise concerns about climate change. Harper's Tarsands Minister Joe Oliver was jumping up and down with this report, eager to use it to justify building the tarsands pipeline. Another concern, what if the pipeline leaks? This is something that has already happened. True the pipeline may be safer than transporting by train, but this neglects the bigger question, the need to seek alternative - greener - fuels, and the increasingly maddening pace of tarsands oil extraction. Also, there are reports of undue bias towards the oil industry in the State Department report.

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Harper government:CBC Fifth Estate Documentary Exposing Damage to Scientific Research -"Silence of the Labs"

I knew about Harper's war on science but CBC's Fifth Estate documentary, Silence of the Labs, was revealing, showing the full extent of the damage being wrought by the Harper Conservatives. I never thought it was this bad. The damage done is immense, scientists muzzled, world renowned research projects axed, all in the name of politics.

An archeologist leading a team researching Viking landings on Baffin Island - a project that received international media attention - was axed because the Harper CONS wanted to emphasize British history, including the War of 1812, and did not want anything that distracted from that.

Research that reveals inconvenient truths about the oilsands, exposing the ecological destruction they are unleashing, is also being axed. Harper is blatantly acting at the behest of the oil industry.

Harper has made Canada a joke in the scientific community, putting his head in the sand and ignoring facts and reality.

You can find a link to the whole documentary as well as extra clips and documents at this link.

The full version of "Silence of Labs" is also available on YouTube:

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Harper government legalizing marijuana farms

That is something coming from the conservative government – especially Harper regime.

 The Conservative government is launching a $1.3-billion free market in

medical marijuana this Tuesday, eventually providing an expected 450,000

Canadians with quality weed. (Pawel Dwulit/Canadian Press)

Read CBC story here.

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Harper Government: $3.1 billion missing - auditor general's spring report

It is a small change for Harper. But how is taxpayers' money being spent? Maybe Harper built another fake-lake. This time for himself.

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Harper Government wants to watch you naked

First it was Vic Toews who wanted to watch over you especially what you do on the internet. Now Harper government wants to strip you naked if you decide to travel by air. There is a headline in The Huffington Post which reads,'Naked' Scanners Being Pushed On Travellers Even Though Canada's Government Hasn't Tested Them”.

“Canadian airport security officers are pushing travellers to use 'naked' scanners that were not independently tested and are now tied to documented cases of severe headaches and at least one unexplained radiation burn.”

George Orwell’s 1984 is being fully materialized as Big Brother is going to watch very closely.

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Harper government and environment

It is nothing new that the Harper government has put environmental issues on the backburner. Instead of making progress it is going for regression. It is a very depressing situation.

Evan Solomon of CBC interviews Environment Commissioner Scott Vaughn who illustrates Harper government’s failure on environment.

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“The Jet That Ate the Pentagon”

Interesting headline on the front page of The Huffington Post about F-35.

“Claimed to be near invisible to radar and able to dominate any future battlefield, the F-35 will replace most of the air-combat aircraft in the inventories of the U.S. Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, and at least nine foreign allies, and it will be in those inventories for the next 55 years. It's no secret, however, that the program -- the most expensive in American history -- is a calamity.”

If F-35 debacle can eat the Pentagon then it should gobble up Harper government as it is facing the same predicament.

Read the story here.

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Federal Subsidy For Sexy Summum Magazine

Federal grants worth $190,000 for two Quebec magazines,
Summum and Summum Girls, featuring scantily-clad models
are under fire in the wake of broad arts cuts announced in
the last Conservative budget.

"Radio-Canada is reporting that Canadian Heritage approved the financing for Summum and Summum Girls, as part of the federal periodical fund earmarked for Canadian publications."

What are the Harper government’s priorities? They have cut programs for the women's rights groups and social programs for the poor but they like scantily-clad young girls. Where is Harper taking us? Maybe Harper should join hands with Larry Flynt of Hustler Magazine.

Read the story here.

Update: For the fans of Summum Magazine it is available on E-Bay.:)It is even racier than I originally thought. Harper’s next job: to manage this Magazine.

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AECL: Harper Government Sells to SNC-Lavalin

The gist of the story is that the seller – the Government of Canada – will pay $75 million to SNC-Lavalin for some new initiatives, and the buyer will write a cheque for only $15 million to buy AECL. That’s a great deal, eh.

It does not end there. The seller – the Government of Canada – and hence the taxpayers of Canada will also undertake all the current liabilities which can amount to anywhere from $3 billion to $4 billion. Moreover, Ontario may lose close to 800 AECL jobs, and more jobs will be lost overall.

Cheers to the chief salesman Mr. Harper, what will he sell next? Maybe Parliament buildings? And for what price? He will give you $100 million and then you can pay $20 million to buy the building. All the maintenance costs will be borne by the seller, which is the Harper government through the taxpayers of Canada. Where else in the world can you ask for a deal like that?

Click here to read the story.

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Julie Couillard: A bug was found in her bedroom ;)

Surprise, Surprise!
Bed 'bug' story raises doubts
It was a revelation straight out of a dime-store spy novel, conjuring images of the dashing foreign minister swapping state secrets in bed with his voluptuous paramour, while men in baseball caps and sunglasses listen from the flower truck parked outside. Click here to read more.

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