Polygamy Charges in BC

Two leaders in a polygamous community in Bountiful, BC have been charged under Criminal Code for practising polygamy, Jim Oler and Winston Blackmore. Mr. Oler is charged with "practising polygamy" with two women and Mr. Blackmore's charge relates to 20 women. “This has been a very complex issue,” said B.C. Attorney-General Wally Oppal. “It's been with us for well over 20 years. The problem has always been the defence of religion has always been raised.” Mr. Oppal and legal experts do not believe that the charge will withstand due to the Charter of Rights over the issue of freedom or religion. "Mr. Blackmore was considered the bishop in Canada of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints from 1984 until 2002, when he was replaced by Mr. Oler. He is reported to have more than 20 wives and dozens of children. In an exchange of e-mails with The Globe and Mail earlier this year, Mr. Blackmore said he had no legal wives but lots of family members." Previous to this incident a raid took place in Texas. Authorities concluded that 12 of the 439 children who were seized during the raid were under aged child brides, seven of which who were between the ages of 12 and 15 and had one ore more children. The raid led to the largest child welfare apprehension in U.S. history.

I think that this article is very interesting. It is clearly very sick that this is practiced and even considered a religion as I personally do not see any religious aspects through having multiples wives. I think that all polygamy communities must be stopped of their activities regardless of whether or not it is illegal. I do not think it is fair for children to be born into, as well as forced into these practices and beliefs.

Source:http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090107.wbountiful0107/BNStory/National/home

Parliament Shut Down For Seven Weeks

Governor General Michaelle Jean granted Prime Minister Stephen Harper's request to suspend parliament until the new year.Her consent to prorogue Parliament means the work of the Commons has been discontinued, allowing Harper's Conservatives to escape a confidence vote next week that would have meant the defeat of his government. PMO spokesperson Kory Teneycke told reporters later that the Conservative government is prepared to do whatever it can to "defuse the situation" and "get out of the current crisis." He said the government is making a "good faith offer" to the opposition parties to make suggestions for the upcoming budget but added that it only wants specific suggestions. "There needs to be give and take." says Kory. Earlier in the week the Liberals and NDP signed a document agreeing to form a coalition to govern the nation, with the support of the Bloc Quebecois. Layton said his party will continue to express its lack of confidence in Harper when Parliament begins again next year. Layton also said his party expects to vote against the government. When asked why he would try to bring down the government before it delivered a budget, he said"That confidence isn't going to be restored by seven weeks of propaganda".

Personally as much as I do not enjoy have Stephen Harper as our Prime Minister, I think I would prefer him over Dion and a coalition government made of the NDPs and Liberals. However, I do agree with Jack Layton in the statement "That confidence isn't going to be restored by seven weeks of propaganda". I think that many people will still have the same view points even after the seven week break from parliament. However hopefully the Conservative plan will be enough to prevent Canada from having a coalition government.

Source: http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/548382

Ted Rogers 1933 - 2008

Canada's most successful businessmen, transforming his name into a nation-wide brand that signified high-speed Internet, cellular telephones and major league baseball, Ted Rogers has passed away. Rogers was currently being treated for an on going heart condition, died in his Toronto home. He was 75 years old. Ted Rogers brought his company from a small radio station into a $25 billion Canadian institution. He was as happy to talk with his truck drivers as with his executives, but there is one point that every one held true: if you worked for Ted Rogers, you had better be on your game. John Tory is the Ontario Progressive Conservative party leader. He once ran RCI's cable division and was well acquainted with Rogers' mental dexterity.
"He could sit at one meeting and he could have a learned, intelligent discussion about a legal issue, then he could move on and have a learned discussion about a tax issue, and then if it happened to go around the table and there was an engineering issues with the company, he could discuss and debate it intelligently and then move on to a financial issue," said Tory. Rogers attended Upper Canada College in Toronto. It was here, in 1949 and 1950, where he installed a cable in his room, attached to a hidden rooftop antenna, and connected it to a television set. "Viewers were invited to gather around, for a small fee, to watch the marvels of television."
He wrote, "It dawned on me that I shared my father's two gifts, his passion for electronics and business acumen." "If my life has a lesson for others," he wrote, "I think it is that everyone has a shot. Don't follow your dream; live it. No matter what it is you want, take your best shot. Be passionate, work hard, maybe harder than you've ever dreamt, but the opportunity is there."

I think it is very sad that such a great man died today. I also think that this will effect all of Canada as Ted Rogers has made such a large contribution to Canadian society with his company. I think that Ted rogers is also a strong example and leader for many kids as well as anyone else, that have dreamed to do something. I know that regardless of if people knew him, everyone will miss him.

Source: http://www.thestar.com/article/546983

Five Cent Bag Fee Proposed by City

Toronto shoppers may have to start paying five cents for every plastic shopping bag that they get from stores. This is under a new proposal worked out between the the city and big grocery companies. Industry officials from he Canadian Council of Grocery Distributors which represent the major grocery chains, have called a conference today to announce what they are billing as an alternative proposal the stop the use of plastic bags. The hopes of this is to cut plastic bag use by 70% by 2012. Retailers had complained that under the city's proposal it would be hard to know how many throwaway bags have been saved if customers brought their own bags. Also they complained that the previous ten cent refund on plastic bags would drive up their costs and increase grocery prices. :Negotiations over the past 10 days produced a revised plan: Instead of refunding money for bags saved, shoppers will have to pay a nickel every time they walk away with a non reusable bag. Some discount stores like No Frills already charge for grocery bags."

I think that charging people for bags can be used positively in grocery stores in Toronto. Charging people for bags will in turn cause people to want to bring their own bags, most likely being reusable. This can benefit Toronto by reducing the amount of plastic bags used therefore bettering our environment.

Source:http://www.thestar.com/News/GTA/article/543376

Remains of Copernicus Found

Researchers in Warsaw, Poland believe that they have discovered the remains of the astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus. Nicolaus Copernicus is famous for identifying the Sun and no the Earth as the center of the universe. His remains were identified from he skeleton they found with hair they retrieved from Copernicus' books. Jerzy Gassowski, an academic at archeology school in Poland says that facial reconstructions of his face resemble portraits of him in a cathedral in Poland. Marrie Allen a Swedish DNA expert, told reporters that the DNA of the bones and teeth match the DNA of the hair found in the books.

I believe that this discover is very important to the world, including Canada. I think that it is so important because it may reveal many things about a man who created a theory that is so important to our studies today, as well as it may illuminate more about the past in the terms of how Copernicus lived and actually looked.

Source: http://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/540328

Legislation Proposed to Limit Driving Priveleges

A proposed Ontario legislation is set to limit driving privileges for anyone under the age of 22. These restrictions include a zero blood alcohol limit for all Ontario drivers under 21 as well as sanctions for young drivers who speed, starting with a 30-day license suspension. Drivers between 16 and 19 will also be limited to having only one teenage passenger in the vehicle. The legislation is set to be tabled today and already many people are in protest against it. “How does it make sense to try and teach us about saving gas by carpooling and buying hybrids and things such as that when it is illegal for teenagers to carpool if this passes?” one person wrote on a group against the new laws on facebook. Progressive Conservative Leader John Tory said he likes the idea of new rules for younger drivers, but worries the restrictions on teenage passengers could be unworkable, especially in rural Ontario.

I personally am against this. I do not think that this law will be effective at all and that it discourages many of the benefits of being able to drive. This law proves to discourage carpooling, which means that it is discouraging saving on gas and saving the environment. I think that regardless of the law many teens will drive with more passengers either way. I also think that since you cannot carpool this means that teens at parties will drink and drive either way, since they can't have a designated driver to take them all home. In conclusion I think that this law is a bad idea and will not be beneficial to the safety of roads in Ontario.

Resource: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081118.wyoung_drivers1118/BNStory/National/home

World Leaders Gather to Discuss Financial Crisis

World leaders are meeting today in Washington for a two-day emergency meeting to discuss ways to turn the global financial crisis around. The meeting was called by US President George Bush, and will look at ways to reform financial markets. The group that is meaning is of 20 countries and represents about 85% of the world's economy and two-thirds its population. The countries included int his are: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Britain, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, United States and the European Union. Leaders at the summit, which will include officials from the World Bank and International Monetary Fund, are expected to discuss the causes of the crisis and review the progress that nations have already made. Prime Minister Stepehen Harper, who will be attending the meeting said that he wants to see the leaders of the 20 countries put forward regulations that ensure that this crisis will never happen again.

I think that this crisis is very prominent in our day to day lives. I also think that this meeting is most necessary to help ensure that the world will not go through such a strong financial crisis again. I think that Canada will play an important role in this meeting and will be a good model to follow in hopes of ending the Crisis.

Source: http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2008/11/14/g20-summit.html