Canada’s medical marijuana program

16×9 discovered Canada’s medical marijuana program is not only inaccessible, but according to some patients, it’s riddled with abuse.

This 16×9 investigation reveals doctors charging hundreds of dollars to sign medical declaration forms; licenced growers using their licence to supply an underground market; and consultants charging up to a thousand dollars to help with paperwork. It all adds up to many questioning whether Health Canada’s Medical Marijuana program is all “Smoke and Mirrors”.

http://globalnews.ca/news/226845/smoke-and-mirrors/

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Tax Dodge

16X9: Are Canadian companies exploiting a loophole in our tax code?


The Canadian government refuses to make an estimate of the tax gap in Canada – the difference between what they could collect and do collect – caused by the use of offshore havens.

Canada is losing at least 7.8 billion dollars a year. And probably more like ten or twenty billion 

Dennis Howlett, the executive director of Canadians for Tax Fairness, an Ottawa-based NGO

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Things Paul Calandra Has Said of ...

On New Democrats...
"New Democrats are like a stinky skunk in a corner. They are the shadow of what they used to be; a party that used to stand for something in this place, that on occasion used to fight for the things they actually believed in. Now they are like a scared little skunk in a corner, ready to spray that smelly spray one last time before they go into oblivion."

April 1, 2014

On Flowers and Lemonade...
"I do like flowers and, of course, with lemons I like to make lemonade. My two daughters, this summer, actually had a lemonade stand where they sold lemonade for 5¢ on the street. They did very well. I am very proud of them."

November 26, 2013

On Knowing Where You Live...
"One of the first things I taught my daughters when they could speak was their address, so that if they got lost, they would know to tell the police or anybody where they lived."

October 30, 2013

On His Father's Pizza Shop...
"My father owned a pizza store. He worked 16 to 18 hours a day. I can tell the House what my father would not have done if he saw somebody stealing from his cash register. He would not have said 'You are suspended, but make sure you come back every two weeks and collect a paycheque'. What he would have said, 'You're fired, leave', and he would have called the police."

October 29, 2013

On Eugene...
"Mr. Speaker, just to conclude that story, we also had a driver, Eugene. He was a Philippine immigrant and he used to deliver pizzas. Part of the agreement was that he would provide receipts for gas. Could Eugene have provided extra receipts? He could have, but he did not. He was honourable."

October 29, 2013

On How Good It Feels To Be A Tory...
"Thank goodness Canadians elected a strong, stable, national Conservative majority government, led by the best Prime Minister in the world, flanked by a Minister of Finance who has won awards, with the strongest cabinet in Canadian history, and Conservative members of Parliament working all over the country to hope for hope, jobs, and economic prosperity.  Those are the reasons I represent."

October 21, 2013

On His Daughters' Allowances...
"I have two daughters, a seven-year-old and a five-year-old, two beautiful girls, Natalie and Olivia, and each week I give them an allowance. Part of that allowance might be for cleaning their rooms. Both Natalie and Olivia know that sometimes their mother might clean their rooms. They both know that they should not ask for an allowance because they did not actually do the work."

October 30, 2013

On Santa Claus...
"I ask the Liberal Party to join with us in protecting the citizenship of Santa Claus, join with us in making sure the North Pole remains part of Canada. For all of those kids around the world who are depending on Santa Claus, I ask them to abandon their ideas and stick with us, and keep Santa Claus Canadian."

December 10, 2013

Canada's Best Cities For Public Transit

Canada's top cities for public transit.

Source: WalkScore

Transit Score Methodology


10) Hamilton
Score: 42

9) Calgary
Score: 43

8) Edmonton
Score: 44

7) Quebec City
Score: 46

6) Brampton
Score: 48

5) Ottawa
Score: 49

4) Winnipeg
Score: 51

3) Vancouver
Score: 74

2) Montreal
Score: 77

1) Toronto
Score: 78

                                  ...........................................................................


Nelson, British Columbia
Walk Score: 98

Walker’s Paradise
Daily errands do not require a car

Kelowna, British Columbia
Walk Score: 100

Walker’s Paradise
Daily errands do not require a car.

Transit Score: 49
A few nearby public transportation options.

Poverty In Canada

Maybe these conservative politicians in Canada who are so worried about "family values" might be concerned about poverty in Canada!!

10 Things You Might Not Know About Poverty In Canada


10. It's hard to measure
There is no official measure of poverty in Canada. Statistics Canada reports that 14.9 per cent of Canadians have "low income" (i.e. make less than half the median income) but declines to label that group "poor."

In 2008, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) noted that poverty had been steadily rising in Canada since the mid-1990s.

9. It varies widely between different groups
Regardless of how you try to measure poverty, certain groups are worse off than others. A study by the left-leaning Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives found that Aboriginal Canadians make about 30 per cent less than the rest of Canadians. Other groups more likely to be affected by poverty include lone parents, recent immigrants, people with disabilites and seniors, according to Statistics Canada.

8. Child poverty is high in Canada
Canada ranks behind the average in a recent UNICEF survey of child poverty in rich nations. According to the report, 13.3 per cent of Canadian children live in poverty, compared to 11 per cent across the 35 "economically advanced countries" studied. According to one study, half of First Nations children in Canada live in poverty.

7. It's a significant burden on the economy
Poverty can exert extra health care, crime and social assistance costs. According to an estimate from the Ontario Association of Food Banks, poverty costs that province betwen 5.5 and 6.6 per cent of its Gross Domestic Product. That same report pegs the national health care costs attributable to poverty at $7.6 billion.

6. Many Canadians spend too much on shelter
3.3 million households in Canada are paying more than they should on housing, according to data from the National Household Survey released this year.

5. Poverty can shorten your life
An analysis by The Hamilton Spectator showed that there was a 21-year gap in life expectancy between that city's richest and poorest neighbourhoods.

4. Many don't have enough to eat
According to Food Banks Canada, nearly 900,000 Canadians are assisted by food banks each month. Thirty-eight per cent of those helped by food banks are children and youth and 11 per cent are Aboriginal (compared to 4.3 per cent of the total population). 

3. Homelessness is widespread
As many as 200,000 Canadians will experience homelessness each year, according to a recent report from the Canadian Homelessness Research Network. On any given night, about 30,000 Canadians are homeless.

2. Debt levels are on the rise
Last month, Statistics Canada reported that the Canadian household debt-to-income ratio had climbed to a new high of 163.4 per cent — in other words, the average Canadian owes $1.63 for every dollar they earn.

1. Early investment can yield big dividends
A 2008 report from the Public Health Agency of Canada argues that reducing child poverty can have huge spillover effects on society. "It is estimated that $1 invested in the early years saves between $3 and $9 in future spending on the health and criminal justice systems, as well as on social assistance," the report says.

Best & Worst Provincial Climate Change Policies

Best & Worst Climate Change Policies

Here's a look at the best and worst climate change policies in Canada, as ranked by the David Sazuki Foundation. All info comes from the report "All Over The Map 2012." (CP)


Quebec - Very Good
"Quebec is still leading the field in many areas, including being the first province to enact a modest cap-and-trade system on industrial GHG emissions, although its commitment to expanding oil and gas exploration and road and highway building threaten progress and its standing."

Ontario - Very Good
"Ontario's pioneering Green Energy Act is already reaping environmental and economic benefits for the province and could serve as a blueprint for other jurisdictions"

B.C. - Very Good
"Top-ranked in 2008, B.C., although it leads the country on pricing carbon pollution, has lost momentum and stalled on implementing measures to ensure it meets its 2020 reduction target with the threat of shale gas and the potential development of a gas-powered LNG terminal that could undermine the province's leadership." 

Nova Scotia - Good
"Although concerns remain about past failures, Nova Scotia has taken important steps, including a hard cap to reduce GHG emissions from the power sector."

P.E.I. - Good
With emissions already below 1990 levels, P.E.I. has made strong commitments to increasing both energy efficiency and renewable energy.

Manitoba - Fair
"Although Manitoba has shown some leadership on energy efficiency, there have been too many broken promises and half (if any) measures to reduce emissions from major sources."

New Brunswick - Fair
"Progress has stalled in New Brunswick with a change of provincial government. It remains to be seen whether the new government will continue to stall, go forward or go backward." 

Northwest Territories - Fair
"The government of the Northwest Territories still relies more on subsidies than regulations, but it has made a commitment to increasing renewable energy and is considering a carbon tax."

Newfoundland And Labrador - Poor
"Although the government of Newfoundland and Labrador has, more so than many jurisdictions, led by example in tackling its own emissions, its long-awaited updated action plans detail no concrete steps to tackle and reduce emissions from major sources.

Nunavut - Poor
"The territory of Nunavut still has no GHG reduction targets and has failed to include promising measures in official strategies." 

Yukon - Poor
"Despite an admirable goal for government of Yukon operations to be carbon neutral by 2020, there are no territory-wide GHG reduction targets or plans to tackle emissions from industry."

Alberta - Worst
"Alberta's commitment to heavily polluting, damaging and unsustainable fossil fuel industries continues unabated with a recent analysis showing the province is only on track to achieve one third of its pollution-reduction target for 2020."

Saskatchewan - Worst
"It is difficult to imagine any jurisdiction taking the threats of climate change less seriously than Saskatchewan currently does."

5 Reasons Why You Pay High Gas Prices

1. Crude Oil Prices
It starts with crude oil. Although Canada may produce more oil than it consumes, the country is at the mercy of global markets for the commodity. Increased Middle East instability, sparked by popular uprisings, has lead to concerns about supply. Better-than-expected economic growth, especially in developing nations such as China and India, has also increased demand.

2. Refining Oil into Gas
The next link in the supply chain is refining. In order to turn thick, black crude oil into useful products such as gasoline, diesel, heating oil and jet fuel, it must be sent through a mind-boggling array of pipes and tanks, heaters and condensers to sort the components of the substance from lightest to heaviest. This is a complex and costly process, and is paid for by what is known as the "crack spread," or refining margin.  This represents the difference between prices fetched for the products produced, and the cost of crude oil inputs.

3. Transportation to Retailers
Once the oil has been refined into gasoline, it must be transported to retail outlets across the country. This is accomplished through a network of 23 terminals - from St. John's to Nanaimo, B.C. -- forming the backbone of the distribution network.

4. Retail Mark-Up
The retail mark-up averaged 7.6 cents per litre in April. This national average masks wide variation, from lows of 4.6 cents in Calgary up to highs of 25.8 cents in Whitehorse, according to Kent Marketing Services, an industry consulting group. 

5.Taxes at the Pump
New York, Indiana, Illinois and New Hampshire are among the first states talking about temporarily suspending part or all of the state and local taxes that can add 14 cents to nearly 50 cents to a gallon of gas.

Property Taxes In Canada

Average estimated property tax bill, based on CREA average house prices and REALpac data on residential property tax rates.

LOWEST: Vancouver - $2,322

Montreal - $2,704

Calgary - $2,830

Edmonton - $2,947

Winnipeg - $3,347

Halifax - $3,875

Toronto - $3,947

Ottawa - $4,057

Regina - $4,065


HIGHEST: Saskatoon - $4,440

Inequality

Redistribution, Inequality, and Growth

IMF study finds inequality is damaging to economic growth
International Monetary Fund paper dismisses rightwing argument that redistributing incomes is self-defeating

The study appears to debunk a tenet of conservative economic ideology — that taxing the rich to give to the poor is bad for the economy.

In the most controversial finding, the study concludes that redistributing wealth, largely through taxation, does not significantly impact growth unless the intervention is extreme.

In fact, because redistributing wealth through taxation has the positive impact of reducing inequality, the overall affect on the economy is to boost growth, the researchers conclude.


While in Canada ...

Stephen Harper's Conservatives have boasted that tax cuts, particularly deep reductions in corporate taxation, are at least partly responsible for why the Canadian economy outperformed other G7 countries both during and after the 2008-09 recession.

Who Wants To Fight The Power?

Percentage of people in each country who say the economy favours the wealthy and is rigged against them. Source: Pew Global Attitudes Economic Report, 2013.

Australia: 44%

Canada: 58%

United States of America: 61%

Japan: 61%

United Kingdom: 65%

France: 70%

Germany: 72%

Mexico: 74%

Czech Republic: 75%

Israel: 76%

Russia: 78%

Poland: 79%

Brazil: 80%

South Korea: 85%

Italy: 86%

Spain: 89%

Greece: 95%

Why Income Inequality Matters

Income inequality is directly correlated to higher levels of child poverty, poor health, and shorter lifespans.

There are other concerns:

Income inequality undermines the democratic process that our country was founded on. As the middle class shrinks and more people fall to subsistence living levels, they spend more time on their own survival and far less time participating in any form of democratic debate. They "disengage" from the democratic process -- and leave the decision making to others, without any direct input.

We need to question the notion that income inequality and economic efficiency are trade-offs.

Instead have a greater income equality. I believe it's a  prerequisite for sustainable long-term economic growth.

Countries With Largest Income Inequality

Countries With Largest Income Inequality Across OECD Countries 

10. Japan

9. Greece

8. Spain

7. U.K.

6. Portugal

5. Israel

4. U.S.

3. Turkey

2. Mexico

1. Chile

Where Canada's 1 Per Cent Live

http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/130128/dq130128a-eng.htm?HPA


Number of earners in the top one per cent of Canadian incomes.


4.  British Columbia - 29,500 earners

3.  Quebec - 42,600 earners

2.  Alberta - 52,200 earners

1.  Ontario - 110,300 earners

Scotland Votes On Independence

Should Scotland be an independent country?

The Yes side, in particular, has energized young people and previously disillusioned working-class voters.

Do the Scots feel optimistic enough about Scotland's future as an independent country?

Why not roll the dice for once?

Canada-China investment treaty (FIPA)

5 things to know about the Canada-China investment treaty

Canada-China investment treaty to come into force Oct. 1
Conservatives ratify foreign investment treaty more than 2 years after signing deal

Delayed China trade deal reflects Tory dissent, NDP says

Tory backbenchers troubled by Canada-China trade deal, NDP critic says

Deconstructing FIPA: Frequently Asked Questions & Answers

Find out what is a FIPA?

New Treaty Allows China to Sue Canada to Change its Laws

Canada ratifies investment deal with China
Canada is set to ratify the contentious Foreign Investment Protection Agreement, known as FIPA.

Chinese investors will have the right to challenge our laws with no recourse to Canadian courts

The government can keep lawsuits secret

There was no public consultation, no debate, no legislation

Canada will be bound by the treaty for 31 years

Some say it’s a better deal for China than for Canada

Minority shareholders will be able to sue

There’s a legal challenge to the deal in the courts right now

Subjects the federal Conservatives don’t want to talk about

Why are Canadian soldiers on viagra?

Why their planned $2-billion purchase of armoured vehicles was cancelled?  

How Canada feels about the proliferation of chemical weapons?

What Transport Canada thought about rail safety criticism from the auditor general?

The Globe and Mail 


Why did the Franklin discovery have to happen when Harper was PM?


The Globe and Mail 


          12 Things Harper Doesn't Want You To Know About Spying On Canadians

1. Feds Make Warrantless Requests For Data 1.2 Million Times A Year
According to documents given to Privacy Commissioner Chantal Bernier, the federal government asks telecom for data on subscribers 1.2 million times a year. That’s one request for every 30 Canadians, every year. Most of those requests don’t involve a warrant, and in 2011 telecoms complied with at least 784,000 of those requests.

2. The Feds Buy Their Phones From The NSA
The federal government spent more than $50 million buying high-security communications technology from the U.S. National Security Agency, according to data unearthed by Vice magazine.

There have been at least 73 contracts for telecommunications equipment procured through the NSA over the past decade.

3. Some Of Canada’s Telecoms Have Built Databases Specifically For Police
According to documents given to NDP MP Charmaine Borg under an access to information request, some telecoms are building databases of customer information specifically for police use. A Competition Bureau document noted the bureau had "accessed the Bell Canada Law Enforcement Database" 20 times in 2012-2013.

4. Some Telecoms Are Apparently Giving The Government Access To Everything
At least one Canadian telecom is evidently giving the government unrestricted access to communications on its network, according to documents from Canada’s privacy commissioner. The unnamed telecom says the government has the ability to copy the traffic on its communications network, then mine the copied data to determine what sort it is.

5. The Anti-Cyberbullying Bill Is Really A Pro-Spying Bill
Critics say Bill C-13, the “anti-cyberbullying bill” the Harper government is promoting, is essentially a back-door for a host of measures that would allow greater government intrusion into private lives. The bill would provide legal immunity to telecoms that hand over customer data without a warrant, and would lower the standard under which police can get warrantless data.

Digital rights group OpenMedia says the bill “would let ... authorities create detailed profiles of Canadians based on who they talk to and what they say and do online.”

6. The ‘Digital Privacy Act’ Is An Attack On Digital Privacy
Industry Minister James Moore's Digital Privacy Act is being billed as “protection for Canadians when they surf the web and shop online,” but critics say it amounts to a wholesale threat to the privacy rights it ostensibly aims to enshrine.

Bill S-4 would allow internet service providers to share customer data with any organization that is investigating a possible breach of contract, such as a copyright violation, or illegal activity. Thus, private corporations, and not just the government, could obtain personal information about you.

The bill would also eliminate court oversight of file-sharing lawsuits, which critics fear would lead to the sort of “copyright trolling” seen in the U.S.

7. There’s Pretty Much No Way The NSA Isn’t Spying On Canadians
An estimated 90 per cent of Canadian Internet traffic moves through the U.S., which means that Canadians are being caught up in the NSA’s surveillance dragnet, experts say.

Data passes through “filters and checkpoints” and is “shared with third parties, with law enforcement and of course intelligence agencies that operate in the shadows,” says Ronald Deibert, head of the University of Toronto’s Citizen Lab.

8. Canada Probably Has An NSA-Style Program Of Its Own
Documents obtained by the Globe and Mail and The Canadian Press suggest that Canada is engaged in mass warrantless surveillance. The documents show then-Defence Minister Peter MacKay signed a ministerial directive in November, 2011, authorizing the re-start of “a secret electronic eavesdropping program that scours global telephone records and Internet data trails  – including those of Canadians – for patterns of suspicious activity.”

9. Stephen Harper Just Doubled The Budget For Electronic Spying
Canada’s electronic spy agency, CSEC, will see its budget skyrocket to $829 million in 2014-15, from $444 million this year.

Pictured: CSEC's new $1.2-billion headquarters in Ottawa, currently under construction.

10. Canada’s Spies Are Taking Money From The NSA
According to journalist Glenn Greenwald’s book “No Place To Hide,” Canada took some $300,000 to $400,000 from the NSA in 2012 to develop surveillance capabilities. However, that money amounts to a drop in the bucket given CSEC’s $829 million budget for electronic surveillance.

Data-collection program not targeting Canadians: MacKay

Canadians should be demanding answers about secret surveillance programs

Democracy vs. Republic

10 Companies With Excellent Customer

10. Lowe's Home Improvement
Over 80 percent of respondents ranked Lowe's as "excellent" or "good," in part because of the company's commitment to honoring customer service requests both in-store and through their online channels. The company has also made it easier for DIYers to ask questions in person about projects they've found online by equipping stores with wifi and associates with iPhones reports the Los Angeles Times

9. Trader Joe’s
Trader Joe's doesn't carry the biggest selection, but it earns a spot on this list thanks to its drive to stock stores with products requested by the local community. The company also values staying ahead of the curve by taking steps like using allergy labels before they were required and stocking shelves with local goods before they reach a national market.

8. Samsung
After repeated consumers called Samsung "the worst customer service ever," the electronics retailer made a serious investment in improving its reputation. In the last year, the company has wooed customers back by launching a worldwide customer service campaign and offering a free app that provides online support, troubleshooting guides, and how-to videos you can take anywhere.



7. State Farm
Three out of four respondents believe that like a good neighbor, State Farm is there—and they're not the only ones. In a survey of insurance companies by the Temkin Group research firm, State Farm was recently ranked the No. 2 firm for customer service, just under USAA, because of their accessibility, ability to solve customer problems, and the emotional connection consumers had to the brand.

6. Google
With their mantra of "Focus on the user and all else will follow," Google goes to borderline insane lengths to test how even the smallest decisions impact user experience. For example, when faced with a choice between two shades of blue for a Google toolbar, the company tested 41 shades to see what tested best reports the New York Times. Fans can expect that level of attention to detail in all Google products.



5. FedEx
Despite the recently leaked video of a FedEx driver throwing packages, the air freight company has long held a reputation for delivering goods ranging from typical packages to a 320-pound sea turtle on time without damage. Over 40 percent of those who interacted with the brand in the last year ranked FedEx customer service as "excellent."



4. United Parcel Service
UPS garners a 41 percent "excellent" rating by anticipating what customers need before they need it and helping customers through social media. UPS plans to expand those efforts to workers soon. According to the Wall Street Journal, UPS will soon unveil a social networking platform where workers can address safety hazards, concerns, and company criticisms in an effort to make the firm run smoother.

3. Hilton Hotels and Resorts
Of course businesses care about their customers, but Hilton outlines its philosophy for exactly how they'll take care of you. For example, Doubletree, a franchise owned by Hilton Worldwide, maintains a CARE committee within each of its hotels that includes workers from every department and exists to monitor hotel performance and ensure that guests are satisfied. The tactic is working, at least according to Zogby's study where four out of every five respondents reported an "excellent" or "good" interaction.

2. Marriott International
This company is filled with buzz about suite attendants who leave personalized notes and door attendants who provide local homeless people with transportation to the nearest shelter. Details count at Marriott and so does rewarding repeat customers. The hotel chain has taken home numerous accolades for its loyalty program including a top spot on US News and World Report's Best Hotel Rewards Programs list.

1. Amazon.com
With an initiative to hire up to 7,000 new workers, approximately 2,000 of which will be in customer service, the online giant plans to bolster its already robust service wing, reports The Washington Post. The company has long been a pioneer in e-customer service by offering policies like automatic refunds when service standards aren't abided by, free shipping on orders, and price guarantees on pre-ordered items, all of which make it a perennial No. 1 in Zogby's study.