Among the carnage and clutter of last week’s diatribe were several issues that were touched on but are most certainly in need of a bit of a closer look. Here’s a few of them:
2008 Beijing Olympic Games – You may have caught the footage of the new outfits that will be worn by Canadian athletes and delegates during the upcoming Olympic Games – if, of course, they actually go ahead with them. The outfits seem to be very good looking complete with plenty of Red and White along with some Oriental-type symbols. Actually, they’re quite stunning.
It’s a real pity though, that the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) and their overlords in the federal government opted the have them ‘Made in China’. Of the tens of thousands of designers and clothing manufacturers currently operating here, is it so terrible to have them designed and produced by…oh, I don’t know…Canadians!
Whatever happened to Roots? Remember them? Back in previous Olympic Games, not only did they create our outfits, but they created the same for many other countries as well due, in large part, to the quality and durability of their work.
There’s no need to panic just yet however as the COC and the feds announced that they’re working really hard to try and make sure that by the time the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games roll around, they’ll have someone lined up from a bit closer to home the design and produce the outfits.
Altalink power line – You may have heard last week that the provincial government has exempted transmission line projects from requiring Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) as they claim the Alberta Utilities Commission already addresses resident’s major concerns on routing and health.
“Our experience has shown Albertans’ concerns over transmission lines are related to routing, land management and human health – all of which can be addressed through the Alberta Utilities Commission process,” said Environment Minister Rob Renner. “As a result of these changes, resources can be better dedicated to other environmental issues.”
The government said they’ll retain the right to order an EIA where required and they will continue to respond to landowner concerns about, “environmental damage occurring during construction, operation and reclamation of transmission lines.”
As for the rights of landowners and other concerned individuals in opposition to the idea, Bill 46 took care of all that. Oh well, so much for democracy.
There wasn’t enough room in this week’s edition, but check next week’s for a complete and more in-depth assessment of the announcement by local Green Party member Joe Anglin. You’ll find it in our Letters to the Editor section.
Brenda Martin – You are most likely aware that Brenda Martin, a Canadian woman who was convicted of accepting illegal funds by a Mexican judge and sentenced to five years imprisonment and fines $3,500, has been returned to Canada to finish out her sentence here. So in giving credit where credit is due, here’s a big thumbs up to our federal government for getting her out of there and back here so quickly.
It’s just too bad we’re paying such a high price for it.
The feds say they’ll be fast-tracking parole hearings for Martin and by the time you actually read this, she could very well already be freed. Again, thumbs up to the feds.
But in reality, the feds are saying that they have no faith in the Mexican criminal justice system either, but instead of standing up and demanding it last week when our leaders were meeting face to face in New Orleans, our government took the easy way out.
Instead of dealing with the issue head-on, our powers-that-be basically hoodwinked the Mexicans to get Martin home.
Most of us have learned the hard way that on the playground of the School of Hard Knocks, it’s much better to take the punch in the nose – if you absolutely have to, and get it over with rather than connive now to save some face later.
Are the feds going to wipe her criminal record clean and ensure that she is given proper employment opportunities here too?
Either way, at least she’s back home where she belongs and we should all be thankful for that – even if some good old Canadian grit could have saved us from, frankly, looking like sissies over the whole mess.
“…and now let’s throw it over to Jim in sports”
Stanley Cup playoffs – Now that the Stanley Cup playoffs are, for all intents and purposes, over, and the Toronto Blue Jays are basically already out of it, the only thing for the die-hard fans of Canada to look forward to is the upcoming Canadian Football League season.
You still have a bit of a wait to go yet, but Albertans are already anticipating another thrilling season of watching their favorite team – the Saskatchewan Roughriders, as they try to repeat their championship glory of last year.
Fear not Rider Nation, there’s only 45 more sleeps to go until their season opener!