New membership info

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13 heroes needed to split up the budget bill C-38

What: Local event to protest the federal government's proposed Omnibus Budget Bill, Bill C-38 as part of a National Day of Action

Who: Canadians from all walks of life, and all parties

Where: Colin Mayes Vernon office (old railway station)
3105 29 Street
Vernon, BC V1T 5A8

Tel: 250-260-5020
Fax: 250-260-5025
Toll Free: 1-800-665-5040

When: Wednesday, June 13th, at 5:30PM

#13HEROES: Okanagan–Shuswap – Vernon, BC

heroes.leadnow.ca

'Dutch Disease' defined

Thomas Mulcair referred to an economic phenomena labelled 'Dutch Disease' in an Evan Solomon interview. The interview included an explanation of the term, but further research may be necessary. Here's the Wikipedia definition:

In economics, the Dutch disease is a concept that explains the apparent relationship between the increase in exploitation of natural resources and a decline in the manufacturing sector. The mechanism is that an increase in revenues from natural resources (or inflows of foreign aid) will make a given nation's currency stronger compared to that of other nations (manifest in an exchange rate), resulting in the nation's other exports becoming more expensive for other countries to buy, making the manufacturing sector less competitive. While it most often refers to natural resource discovery, it can also refer to "any development that results in a large inflow of foreign currency, including a sharp surge in natural resource prices, foreign assistance, and foreign direct investment".[1]

The term was coined in 1977 by The Economist to describe the decline of the manufacturing sector in the Netherlands after the discovery of a large natural gas field in 1959.[2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dutch_disease

 And for a cartoon skewering Christy Clark's reaction to Mulcair's interview, see http://thecanadian.org/item/1502-cartoon-who-you-callin-goofy?-clark-vs-mulcair-on-expanding-the-tar-sands

For a thorough listen to all the related interviews by Evan Solomon, see http://www.cbc.ca/thehouse/2012/05/19/house-additions---alberta-environment-minister/

UPDATE: Poll results are in, post-'dutch Disease' remarks http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2012/05/28/ndp-leading-tories-poll-forum_n_1550775.html?ref=canada The sky is not falling, apparently.

Ted.com Nick Hanauer believes the middle class are the job creators

This is what Alice Brown has been saying for years, but somehow hearing a TED.com participant saying makes it more important. If you are tired of throwing taxpayer's money at corporations in gratitude for us having to work long hours for less take home, then this is worth five minutes of your life.



ps. Ted.com was worried that this is 'too political'. 

Alexandra Morton May 2012 tour of Shuswap

Alexandra Morton, fish biologist and  Canada's foremost advocate for wild salmon, is visiting the Shuswap May 9 through 12th.

She is the subject of an in-depth Globe & Mail article about her efforts  to bring attention to the effects of farming salmon on wild salmon stocks. The author is Mark Hume, a National Correspondent based in Vancouver

During her visit Ms. Morton will speak on:

1. her impressions of the Cohen Commission.
2. recently released results from testing store-bought salmon for viruses.

Schedule of tour

Many thanks to the Adams River Salmon Society for covering the travel costs for this tour!

Lumby
Wednesday May 9th
Doors open at 6:30pm
White Valley Community Centre    Map
2250 Shields
Contact: Priscilla Judd, 250-547-9475
Sponsored by Okanagan Shuswap NDP

Salmon Arm
Thursday May 10th
Senior's Centre on 5th Ave.  Map
7:30 pm
Contact: Jim Cooperman, 250 679-3693
Sponsored by SEAS video , Adams River Salmon Society and Salmon Arm KAIROS

Enderby
Friday May 11th
Enderby Seniors Hall   Map
1101 George St
7:00 pm
Contact Jean Clark, 250 838-7299

Adams River
Saturday, May 12th
10-1
Roderick Haig-Brown Provincial Park (meet at Interpretive Cabin - parking lot)
Hike with Alexandra
Bag lunch
Sponsored by the Adams River Salmon Society
Contact: Sonja Vernon-Wood, 250 318-4344

Norway estimates F-35 costs at $40 billion for 52 planes

and the Secretary of State for Defence tells a Canadian parliamentary committee that on November 24th, 2011.

Ms. Christine Moore (Abitibi—Témiscamingue, NDP):

    Thank you.

    I want to start by saying that I heard your message that you really want to work with other countries and launch exercises in the high north. Several members of the Canadian NATO Parliamentary Association are here today, and I think you chose the right venue for your message. Their chair is even here, so the message has been delivered.

    I want to discuss the F-35 aircraft. You said your budget was realistic. What is your budget for procuring the F-35s?

[English]
 

Mr. Roger Ingebrigtsen:

    It's about $10 billion U.S. That's for 51 or 52 air fighters. That's $10 billion today, but I'm sure there could be another answer in just a few months, when we know more about what's happening in the United States. I'm sure that they are going to put some of their procurement to right...not cuts in the program. It's 2,400 fighters. I think that the United States is going to procure 2,400 fighters, but they are going to procure them more slowly, and this will definitely affect the price for Norway. But the answer to your question is $10 billion U.S. for 51 fighters.

   (0940)
[Translation]
 

Ms. Christine Moore:

    Is that with or without maintenance? How many years does the maintenance plan cover? Is it 20 or 30 years?

[English]
 

Mr. Roger Ingebrigtsen:

    You are talking about the lifetime cost.

 

RAdm Arne Røksund:

    It is included in the initial logistics support. The life cycle costs will be, I think, about—this is not public yet, so I have to be careful—$40 billion U.S. over 30 years. So that's life cycle costs over 30 years, all included.

[Translation]

http://www.parl.gc.ca/HousePublications/Publication.aspx?DocId=5272974&Language=E&Mode=1&Parl=41&Ses=1#Int-4933443  Look for 0935  Ms. Christine Moore (Abitibi—Témiscamingue, NDP)

Our Canadian government tells us the cost to buy & maintain 65 of the same planes is $15 billion. The auditor-general is suggesting $25 billion. The Norwegian Secretary of State for Defense, (40 / 52 * 65), is suggesting Canadians will be spending $50 billion.

Update:
Fantino: Don't compare Norway, Canada's F-35 costs
http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/TopStories/20111201/julian-fantino-commons-committee-f35-costs-norway-canada-111201/

Neskonlith Indian Band v. City of Salmon Arm duty to consult - Supreme Court ruling

The judgement for the case brought to the BC Supreme Court by the Neskonlith band has been posted http://www.courts.gov.bc.ca/jdb-txt/SC/12/04/2012BCSC0499.htm

Should the city have consulted with the band prior to approving a development permit for a shopping centre next door to the reserve? Apparently not.

Map showing location of shopping centre

More info on the Salmon River delta