Trudeau government contemplating to sell A minority stake of Pearson airport?

Canadian government contemplating to sell A minority stake of Pearson airport? (MSM). By Josh Wingrove and Scott Deveau.

Canada is considering the sale of at least a minority stake in Toronto Pearson International Airport that values the country’s busiest airport at about C$5 billion ($3.7 billion), according to people familiar with the matter.

The stake sale, just one of many options laid out in a report to government prepared by Credit Suisse Group AG, would free up billions of dollars for new infrastructure projects, the people said, asking not to be identified because the matter is private.

A federal advisory panel recommended last year the government look at selling its airports, and the C.D. Howe Institute estimates privatization of the country’s eight major airports could rake in between C$7 billion and C$17 billion, with Pearson alone fetching as much as C$6 billion. Selling the airports would cut costs for travelers and create opportunities for more shops and services, the non-partisan research institute said.

“The subject is still being studied and no decision has been taken,” Marc Roy, a spokesman for Transport Minister Marc Garneau, one of the lawmakers overseeing the consideration of privatization. “We won’t comment on any rumors.” The government has so far declined to release the Credit Suisse report.

Selling slightly less than half of Pearson would be the easiest of several scenarios Credit Suisse presented to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government in a report last year, according to the people. That scenario would allow the government to retain control of the airport while raising billions for other projects.

Sam Pollock, the head of Brookfield Asset Management Inc.’s infrastructure group, has said there would be a “feeding frenzy” among institutional investors if airports were put up for sale.
Benefits and Pitfalls

The confidential Credit Suisse report outlined the potential benefits and pitfalls of various scenarios of such a move. Trudeau downplayed airport sale expectations last month when he said he was more “interested in other things.” Sources familiar with the government’s thinking said the privatization of any of the nation’s airports is still being considered.

Credit Suisse’s findings represent “one element of a broad range of information the government will consider” in weighing airport privatization, Dan Lauzon, a spokesman for Finance Minister Bill Morneau, said by email Friday. “The government has taken no decisions at this time.” Hmmm.....Where's there smoke there's a fire. Read the full story here.

Video - One year in: Top 5 ways Trudeau and his Liberals are ruining Canada

Canada - Trudeau’s government urged to stop ignoring Kurdish Yazidi refugees their plight.

Source picture and quote here.

Canada - Trudeau’s government urged to stop ignoring Kurdish Yazidi refugees their plight. (EKurds).

OTTAWA,— At least 400 Kurdish Yazidi women raped and tortured by Islamic militants (IS) could have safe passage to Canada if the government would heed a proposal to rescue them, a religious freedoms organization says.

One Free World International says in their drive to resettle more than 25,000 Syrian refugees, the Liberals are turning their backs on the most vulnerable — religious minorities who are often a direct target of warring factions in the ongoing conflicts in the region.

The group has identified 400 Yazidi women and their families, about 1,600 people in all, living in displaced persons camps in Iraqi Kurdistan. It has a plan to bring them to Canada, but says the proposal is being ignored.

Their situation is in part what prompted then-prime minister Stephen Harper to join international air strikes against IS.

But their fate is now forgotten, (By the Liberals) said Majed El Shafie, founder of the One Free World group.

Girls as young as nine are sold into sex slavery, tortured, forced to convert or be killed and yet the Canadian government is doing nothing to help, he told a House of Commons committee on Tuesday.
“The government has failed big time in helping them,” he said.

“Even if the government brought only nine cases, what will this do to the community that is facing genocide?”

The question of whether what’s happening to the Yazidis amounts to genocide will get renewed attention in the House of Commons on Thursday. A Conservative motion will be debated calling for the House to condemn the atrocities perpetrated by IS against religious and sexual minorities and to declare the crimes a genocide.

The Tories already tried and failed to move a motion to that effect in April.

Three months earlier, El Shafie said he’d met Immigration Minister John McCallum at a reception, chatted with him about the group’s plan and followed up a few days later with his chief of staff.
The group never heard back and held a press conference on the Hill last month to apply further pressure, but there’s been no action.

Initially Tuesday, neither McCallum nor his chief of staff could recall the meeting.

Later in the day after reviewing all their files, chief of staff Mathieu Belanger said he had discussed the issue with a consultant working with the group but the government’s policy remains that they directly resettle only refugees selected by the UN.

Belanger said, however, that they will take another look at the group’s proposal and discuss it with them in the next few days.


The government is already working with a group in Winnipeg sponsoring Yazidis through the private system but McCallum noted refugees in places like northern Iraq or Turkey are hard to reach and officials are doing what they can..

But NDP immigration critic Jenny Kwan said bureaucracy is no excuse for inaction when the reports of what’s happening to the Yazidis continue to circulate.

“Is it acceptable to just turn around and say, ‘I’m sorry, there’s nothing we can do?’,” she said.
El Shafie’s plan would involve sending teams to Iraqi Kurdistan in conjunction with settlement workers poised in Canada to accept the women and their families.

Since the women are in their home country, they would have to come to Canada under special provisions within immigration law, not the existing refugee resettlement program. Read the full story here.

"Plan to bring 400 Yazidi refugee families..but plan was ignored"
Is our GVT racist-only prioritize Muslim refugees? https://t.co/una4MYCEXY

— Manny Montenegrino (@manny_ottawa) June 9, 2016

Much more sinister
"special relationship" with muslims
Explanation for this priority is owed to Canadians https://t.co/JHGioJMJF2

— Hugh Grant (@MrDarcyNo1) June 9, 2016

Liberals urged to give refuge to hundreds of Yazidi women raped and tortured by Islamic militants https://t.co/vfIlJhzhux via @nationalpost

— Jacqueline (@Jacinallhonesty) June 9, 2016

Canada - Muslims were murdered in hate crimes, Liberals propose task force against Islamophobia

Liberals: Muslims were murdered in hate crimes, propose task force against Islamophobia. HT : CIJNews.

“WHEREAS the Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau has repeatedly declared he is ‘deeply disturbed’ by the increasing Islamophobia in Canada, and joining governments from around the world in condemning such heinous acts towards Muslim communities;

“BE IT RESOLVED that the Liberal Party of Canada strike a Task Force for the Elimination of All Forms of Islamophobia;

“BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the recommendations of the Task Force be forwarded to the Rt. Hon. Prime Minister, Cabinet and all MPs to be used as the Government of Canada’s strategic vision to eliminate all forms of discrimination and hatred.”

Ontario Liberals did not provided any details about their claim that at least two Canadian Muslims were murdered in Canada in 2015 because of Islamophobia.

According to Statistics Canada, Canadian Jews who comprise 1% of the population were the most targeted minority group in Canada, 8 times more likely to be the victims of a hate crime than Canadian Muslims. In 2013, Canadian Muslims were victims of 6.2 hate crime incidents per 100,000 people but Canadian Jews were the victims of 54.9 incidents per 100,000 people.

According to B’nai Brith Canada, a Jewish human rights group which tracks anti-Semitic incidents in the country, 2014 was the worst year for hate crimes since 1982, the year they began recording the data, with 1627 incidents (or a 28% increase over the numbers from 2013). “This means that the Jewish community is not only disproportionately targeted, but also that anti-Semitism is a growing problem in Canada.”

On March 18, 2016, Toronto Police issued its 2015 Annual Hate/Bias Crime Statistical Report which again listed the Jewish community as the most targeted group for hate crimes, followed by the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) community.

“The Jewish community was the most victimized group for mischief to property occurrences, while the LGBTQ community was the most victimized group for assault occurrences” the report said. Read the full story here.

"My government has abandoned me," says Canadian Robert Hall held hostage by Abu Sayyaf in final plea video.

"My government has abandoned me," says Canadian held hostage by Abu Sayyaf in final plea video.(CTV).

Abu Sayyaf militants in the Philippines have released a new video of the three hostages abducted from a resort last fall, including Canadian Robert Hall.

In the footage released Sunday, Hall is dressed in an orange T-shirt with handcuffs around his wrists. Two fellow captives, a man from Norway and a woman from the Philippines, are seated on the ground beside him.


Hall, who was captured last September on an island resort, pleads with Philippine president elect Rodrigo Duterte to “work on our behalf as soon as possible to get us out of here.”

“It appears my government has abandoned me and my family in this endeavour,” he adds.

Hall also addresses his family and friends. “I know you did everything you can. I truly appreciate it. I’m sorry I got you in this mess,” he said.

Global Affairs Canada issued a statement confirming that they are aware of the video.

“The Government’s first priority is the safety and security of its citizens,” the statement went on. “Therefore we will not comment or release any information which may compromise ongoing efforts or endanger the safety of the remaining hostages.”

The SITE Intelligence Group, a U.S.-based counterterrorism organization, also noted the new video on their website. Read the full story here.

Ontario's Wynne to spend $7-billion on sweeping climate 'insanity' plan.

Ontario's Wynne to spend $7-billion on sweeping climate 'insanity' plan. (GlobeAndMail).

The Ontario government will spend more than $7-billion over four years on a sweeping climate change plan that will affect every aspect of life – from what people drive to how they heat their homes and workplaces – in a bid to slash the province’s carbon footprint.

Ontario will begin phasing out natural gas for heating, provide incentives to retrofit buildings and give rebates to drivers who buy electric vehicles. It will also require that gasoline sold in the province contain less carbon, bring in building code rules requiring all new homes by 2030 to be heated with electricity or geothermal systems, and set a target for 12 per cent of all new vehicle sales to be electric by 2025.

Among the Highlights included:

• $3.8-billion for new grants, rebates and other subsidies to retrofit buildings, and move them off natural gas and onto geothermal, solar power or other forms of electric heat. Many of these programs will be administered by a new Green Bank, modelled on a similar agency in New York State, to provide financing for solar and geothermal projects.
• 
  
• New building code rules that will require all homes and small buildings built in 2030 or later to be heated without using fossil fuels, such as natural gas. This will be expanded to all buildings before 2050. Other building code changes will require major renovations to include energy-efficiency measures. All homes will also have to undergo an energy-efficiency audit before they are sold.
• $285-million for electric vehicle incentives. These include a rebate of up to $14,000 for every electric vehicle purchased; up to $1,000 to install home charging; taking the provincial portion of the HST off electric vehicle sales; an extra subsidy program for low– and moderate-income households to get older cars off the road and replace them with electric; and free overnight electricity for charging electric vehicles. The province will also build more charging stations at government buildings, including LCBO outlets, and consider making electrical vehicle plug-ins mandatory on all new buildings. The plan sets targets of expanding electric vehicle sales to 5 per cent of all vehicles sold by 2020, up to 12 per cent by 2025, and aiming to get an electric or hybrid vehicle in every multivehicle driveway by 2024, a total of about 1.7 million cars.
• New lower-carbon fuel standards would require all liquid transportation fuels, such as gasoline and diesel, to slash life-cycle carbon emissions by 5 per cent by 2020. The plan will also provide $176-million in incentives to fuel retailers to sell more biodiesel and 85-per-cent ethanol blend. The government will also oblige natural gas to contain more renewable content, such as gas from agriculture and waste products.

Hmmm.....Good luck heating homes in Winter without fossil fuels & transporting all goods with electric trucks......MORONS!  Read the full lunatic story here.

Trudeau gov contemplating using the military to bring Ten thousand of additional Syrian refugees to Canada.

Trudeau gov contemplating using the military to bring Ten thousand of additional Syrian refugees to Canada. HT CIJNews.

Talks are underway between the Liberal government and the military to ascertain whether the latter may be able to assist the government to resettle thousands of privately sponsored Syrian refugees in Canada, reported The Canadian Press.

Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship John McCallum confirmed that he is deploying staff overseas, including existing and retired employees of the Immigration Department, to work through hundreds of applications which were previously submitted by private groups across the country in order to bring as many as 10,000 additional refugees by the end of 2016. Hmmm.....Can't use Military for Fort McMurray? Read the full story here.

PS:

#Trudeau gov committing $1.6 billion taxpayer $ to #Jordan & #Lebanon over the next 3 years. https://t.co/Nm3mAbZFE3 pic.twitter.com/glmAkFAsBr

— MFS - The Other News (@MFS001) May 7, 2016

Trudeau gov committing $1.6 billion taxpayer $ to Jordan & Lebanon over the next three years.

Trudeau gov committing $1.6 billion taxpayer $ to Jordan & Lebanon over the next three years. (CanadaGov).

Pamela Goldsmith-Jones, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, on behalf of the Government of Canada, today signed a memorandum of understanding with Jordan to increase cooperation between the two countries on security and stabilization in the region.

Jordan is essential to stability in the Middle East. This memorandum is part of Canada’s whole-of-government strategy, announced in February 2016, to support the Global Coalition’s efforts against the so-called Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and to respond to the crisis in Syria and Iraq.

The strategy includes a commitment of $1.6 billion over the next three years to provide security, stabilization, humanitarian and development assistance. 

The funding will address the impact of this crisis on Jordan and Lebanon and will increase Canada’s diplomatic engagement in the region. The memorandum also increases accountability for all current and future Canadian assistance projects in Jordan. Hmmm........Alberta ....Fort McMurray you're on your own..Read the full story here.

Dutch government is discussing the possibility to stop sales of gas powered cars starting in 2025.

Dutch government is discussing the possibility to stop sales of gas powered cars starting in 2025. (Electric).

After India evaluating a scheme for all its fleet to be electric by 2030, now we learn that the Dutch government is discussing the possibility to ban gas-powered car sales and only allow electric vehicle sales starting in 2025.
Although the parliament is considering the possibility to implement such a drastic law, the house is divided and the liberal coalition in power does not see the rule being implemented any time soon.
Hmmm..... the nanny state on steroids. Read the full story here.

$13 million wasted on windy last day of March: Ontario pays to get rid of excess Hydro.

$13 million wasted on windy last day of March: Ontario taxpayer pays to get rid of excess Hydro. (WindconcernOntario) By Parker Gallant

These spring windy days are costing you: Ontario’s Wynne government  pays millions for power it can’t use including wind, produced exactly when we don’t need it.

                                   More than $13 million wasted on windy last day of March

March 2016 left like a lion with the wind roaring mightily. Wind on March 31^st could have generated over 90% of its IESO posted capacity of almost 3,900 MW— but it didn’t.

Demand  was relatively low in Ontario that day, with users requiring only 359,000 MWh. That meant the IESO folks were busy getting nuclear to steam off (about 26,000 MWh), spilling hydro, and actively curtailing wind.

Curtailed wind generation on that day exceeded both Ontario’s net exports of 31,400 MWh, and wind-generated electricity actually delivered to the grid.   Our exported surplus was sold at a negative average price of the HOEP (hourly Ontario energy price) as we paid New York, Michigan, Quebec, and others $1.71/MWh to take our excess power.

We also paid wind power generators in the neighbourhood of $120 per MWh to curtail an estimated 40,500 MWh.

Our production costs for the month of March are collectively estimated at $117/MWh, suggesting the Global Adjustment (GA) will average about $112/MWh and the HOEP will average around $5/MWh.
That means the cost of the day’s full generation of 400,224 MWh (Ontario Demand + exports) at an estimated $46.8 million. Included in that figure are costs for net exports,  steamed off nuclear, spilled hydro, curtailed wind, and idling gas plants, needed to back up wind and solar.

The one-day costs included in the $46.8 million are: an estimated $1.5 million for Bruce Power to steam off nuclear; $3 million to pay idling gas plants; $3.7 million to pay for our exported surplus; and about $4.8 million for curtailed wind.

Without including costs for spilled hydro, the total costs for energy not needed for just one day came to about $13 million.  We should be grateful the sun wasn’t shining too or we would have been paying for solar generation at even higher prices.

We also saved about $15/MWh or $600,000 March 31^st by curtailing wind generation or the $13 million daily cost would have been higher.

Now, try to imagine how that $13 million might have helped out our health care system, perhaps by retaining nurses at many hospitals such as Windsor, North Bay, etc., where recent staff reductions have occurred. No wonder an Ontario Health Coalition study a year ago stated:  “we have been deeply disturbed at the devastating cuts we are seeing to needed public hospital care all across Ontario.”

The money that should be earmarked for health care is finding its way into the pockets of the mainly foreign wind turbine and solar panel developers instead of actually helping out Ontarians.

Time to scrap the acquisition of more intermittent wind and solar generation and earmark the money where it belongs. Ontarians don’t want to see $13 million wasted daily, just to pretend wind and solar are better than emission-free nuclear and hydro.

Infrastructure spending OK, but that’s not what the Trudeau gov. proposes to do.

Infrastructure spending OK, but that’s not what the Trudeau gov. proposes to do. (FrazerInstitute).

Some of the details of the Liberal's budget, which ran almost 270 pages, are now emerging, resulting in serious questions about aspects of the budget.

As a number of researchers have already observed, the rhetoric of the Liberal budget simply doesn’t match their specific plans (see here, here, here). This gap between the rhetoric of the budget and its actual proposals is front and center in one of the budget’s signature sections: infrastructure spending.

Without debating the specific merits of any of these individual initiatives, it’s fairly clear that most of the “infrastructure” spending is not aimed at improving the core infrastructure of the country such as our roads, bridges and highways. In other words, simply calling the spending delineated above “infrastructure” doesn’t mean the spending is actually on infrastructure.

In addition, there are genuine questions about the “multipliers” included in the budget as a rationale for this spending.

The argument, rooted in Keynesian economics, is that governments can spend one dollar and generate more than one dollar’s worth of economic activity.

The narrative employed in the budget, which combines the concepts of both improving the long-term performance of the Canadian economy and the multiplier of infrastructure spending, is that such spending pays for itself.

The problems with this argument are twofold.

One, as outlined above, almost none of the spending referred to as infrastructure is actually on infrastructure. 

And two, the concept of multipliers has been rigorously debated in economics and there is genuine debate about their validity. Read the full story here. 

Trudeau' 'budget' slips in proposal to seize your bank account if bank fails.

Trudeau' 'budget' slips in proposal to seize your bank account if bank fails. HT: CIJNews.

Did you see what Justin Trudeau slipped into the budget this week, hidden away on page 223?
It’s called a bank “bail-in regime”.

That means if a Canadian bank starts to fail, it would be allowed to seize your bank account to pay its bills. Seriously.

It’s what they did in Cyprus three years ago, when bankers there made risky loans to Greece. In a back-room deal, politicians and bankers decided to pay off the bank debts by just seizing 10% of everyone’s deposits.

The country had a melt-down. Banks closed, ATM withdrawals were limited. It was a disaster. Of course, well-connected insiders got all of their cash out in time.

It’s all right there in black and white in Trudeau’s budget. Click here to see for yourself.

This outrageous proposal is not yet law. But if Canadians accept it in silence, it will be. Hmmm.....If you want to know a 'man's' Character give him power! Read the full story here. 2016 Budget can be downloaded here.