Olympic Protesters Go Home!

As we get nearer to the opening ceremonies, I hear more and more about protests around the 2010 Olympic Games.

I’m perfectly okay with people speaking their minds, but decisions were made about these games back in 2003. 7 years ago, the city of Vancouver held a plebiscite in order to decide whether or not Vancouverites wanted to host the Olympic Games.

As a result 64-percent of voters were in favor of the games coming to Vancouver. Those who chose not to exercise their right to vote waived their right to complain, and those who voted against it unfortunately you’re in the minority and the games are coming.

There is a group claiming that there shouldn’t be Olympic Games on “stolen native lands”, but their argument doesn’t stick. The games take place on public and private property.

BC place, home of the opening and closing ceremonies and the Richmond Olympic oval are two venues on public land. GM place and Whistler-Blackcomb are privately owned.

Now, militant protestors affected the Olympic torch relay near Victoria. They turned a public complaint into a private attack when they almost caused a disabled boy to miss his opportunity to carry the torch.

Many people of the lower mainland want to take part in and enjoy this once in a lifetime experience but those few disgruntled people are choosing to ruin the fun for the rest of us.

Maybe it’s our turn to fight back against these anti-Olympic protestors with our pro-Olympic solidarity to help our aspiring Olympic athletes strive for the best and not get bogged down by the disgruntled spiritless Vancouverites.

Bringing fun back to Ottawa

The Press Box’s Ottawa correspondent Farhan Devji reports on day one of the city’s public delegation on the proposed Lansdowne Live project.

Erin Kelly thinks the proposed Lansdowne Live project will bring fun back to Ottawa's core. Photo courtesy of the Ottawa Citizen.

Although Erin Kelly was one of Lansdowne Live’s lone supporters Thursday in the first half of the project’s public delegation at Ottawa City Hall, her presentation may have had the greatest effect.

Kelly, the executive director of the Ottawa Chamber of Commerce, made several candid remarks in support of the proposal throughout her speech, some of which were challenged strongly by members of the council. At one point, mayor Larry O’Brien ordered city councilor Jacques Legendre’s microphone to be turned off after he told Kelly: “I’m not going to get the value out of you that I was hoping for,” which drew a great deal of upheaval among those in attendance at the hall.

Not from Kelly, however. She wasn’t the least bit surprised with the reaction her presentation garnered.

“I wasn’t surprised at all because I think you’ll notice that there were a lot of people that went in who had loosy, goosy ideas and there was no comment whatsoever,” she said in an interview after her formal address. “But the Chamber of Commerce is always met with derision when it comes to some city councilors. They just don’t like commerce and they don’t like business. I fully expected it.”

Although Kelly said she did not take offense to any of the comments made by the councilors, she was upset with the line of questioning.

“Asking me what the BIA thinks is ridiculous. I mean, I’m not the Glebe BIA,” said Kelly, regarding councilor Clive Doucet’s question about the Business Improvement Area’s position on the matter at hand. “Ask me what the chamber thinks and I’ll tell you.”

So, what does the chamber think?

“The Ottawa Chamber of Commerce is in favor of this project. We’ve been meeting with the various groups involved since April. We looked at the financials, and we sat down with the board and said ‘do we want to support this project?’ And the decision was yes.”

Kelly argued that the Lansdowne Live project would bring fun back to Ottawa’s core, an element that it is currently lacking.

“The city shuts down at 5 o’clock; it’s been known as the city that fun forgot,” she said in her address. “I want to put the fun back into Ottawa and that’s what this project does.”

Another one of Kelly’s main points during her presentation spoke to the positive impact the proposed project would have on the economy.

“Much has been made that Ottawa was skipped the economic recession. We haven’t skipped it; it hasn’t hit us yet. What’s our plan? We need economic stimulus and this is natural economic stimulus in the center of our city. This is going to bring people into the Glebe that don’t shop in the Glebe today.”

Most speakers who had the courage to voice their opinion Thursday chose to urge city councilors to vote against the proposal, on the grounds that they didn’t want taxes to be raised, they were displeased by the cancellation of the open design competition, and because they feel the conditional offer of a CFL franchise is rushing the process. Kelly had much to say about each of these points, especially the latter.

“It’s not a rushed process,” she said in an interview. “I mean Lansdowne Park has been sitting there for 10 years with nothing happening. Why are we worried about rushing when we should be worried about the fact that we’ve been dragging our feet for 10 years?”

In her formal presentation, she also spoke to this matter: “The risk of not taking this project is the bigger one. Ottawa’s problem is that they’re not taking action. Let’s not waste any more time, let’s not do any more analysis-paralysis.”

Public delegations are scheduled to continue on Friday, before the city councilors debate and ultimately vote on the project’s future. It is expected that the final vote will take place on Monday. If Kelly gets her wish, the Lansdowne Live proposal will be approved and Ottawa will go from the city that fun forgot, to the city that fun finally remembered.

Farhan Devji is a freelance journalist based in Ottawa. Help send Farhan to the 2010 Olympics by voting for him in the Globe and Mail’s journalism dream contest. Votes are allowed once a day.

Canadian Judges Using Hockey as Political Statement

It is time for judges and crown prosecutors to stop picking out hockey players for fighting. The most recent occasion was when last season in a QMJHL game where the son of Hockey Hall of Famer Patrick Roy, Frederick Roy, cross-checked an opponent prior to an impending fight. He was subsequently charged for an assault with a weapon and a Quebec judge found him guilty.

Judges and prosecutors have to stop going after hockey players and vilifying the game of hockey and start going after the real criminals like gangster and murderers. How is this in the public interest of any of the tax-paying public? Its not in my interest. The sports field is too easy for a prosecutor to find fault in any play, just the act of playing hockey by some bleeding heart socialist can be argued that they’re breaking some law. Its time for us all to grow a pair and start taking risks again.

All players understand what they are getting into when they step on the ice and what the risks involved are. Soon enough we will see all our children wearing helmets to school and shin pads when walking around on a regular basis. How did we become so sterile and over litigious wasting money on ridiculous court cases.

Just a tip for you prosecutors all across the country, before you go after hockey players for fights and hockey plays, first go after real criminals like those drug traffickers who are importing cocaine into Canada, and those gangsters who are shooting their way through night clubs in different cities, and the murderers who are around. Only once you’ve solved those problems then feel free to go after athletes.

News Straight Up: No Drama, No Problem

In this installment of The Press Box News Straight Up in the wake of the Canadian Federal budget Shaheed Devji talks about the Canadian political situation, how the drama pales in comparison to that of the United States and how that is a positive for Canada.

Catch all the exclusive video content from The Press Box at http://videos.thepressbox.org

Rae gone for the good

Bob Rae backed out of the Liberal leadership race on Tuesday. Photo: CTV.ca, Adrian Wyld/THE CANADIAN PRESS

Yesterday Liberal MP, Bob Rae, who was one of three candidates in the emerging Liberal leadership race, announced after one of his competitors, Dominic Leblanc, bowed out of the race that he would continue his bid to become the next leader of the Liberal party of Canada. Today, however, was a different story as Rae did the same as his party-mate yesterday and removed himself from the face for what he said was “the good of the party.”

Leblanc backed out of the race to support Michael Ignatieff. This meant that Rae and fellow Liberal, Ignatieff, would be the two remaining combatants. The finish line was to be the Liberal Leadership Convention in Vancouver in May of 2009, but since the announcement that incumbent leader Stephane Dion would step down as soon as his successor was chosen, the Liberal party allegedly wanted that process expedited. In fact, there was whispers within the party that a conclusion and recommendation would be made in a caucus meeting on Wednesday that Ignatieff should be the next leader. Suffice it to say that Rae was not pleased.

After Leblanc took himself out of the running yesterday, Rae reaffirmed that he would still be in contention and that he hoped that the party would go through due diligence to elect a new leader, rather than abide by a caucus recommendation. Overnight, it became quite obvious that the Liberal party powers that be would not back down from their desire to have Ignatieff as their leader, and so this morning Bob Rae respectfully pulled himself out of the running, leaving Ignatieff as the only candidate for leader.

Rae made it abudantly clear during his press conference that not only was he stepping out of the race for “interim leader” but if there was to be a leadership convention held in May that he would not be running then either. And although Rae remained respectful of Ignatieff throughout what was a short lived campaign, including Tuesday’s press conference during which he offered Ignatieff his “full support”, he didn’t pull any punches when it came to criticizing the process that made Ignatieff the new leader of the party.

Rae said that he hoped that the next time a leader for the Liberal party is selected that there would be a “one vote, one leader” process adopted. When asked whether he would still be in the race if the Liberal party went through what Rae wanted, a thorough and complete assesment by the entire Liberal party membership, he answered with “of course.”

Interest rate cut any help?

The Home of Canada's Central Bank in Ottawa

This morning the Bank of Canada cut its overnight lending rate from 2.25% to 1.5%, in an attempt to try and curb a decline in spending by Canadians and bring some confidence back to consumers. This is the lowest Bank of Canada rate in 50 years. Now many of you will have noticed the economic slowdown here in Canada like car sales are down, less people spending in the malls, and obviously the news saying we’re all in for a long haul. Today’s announcement of the rate cut also marked the designation of the state of the economy and Canada is officially in recession.This is quite the opposite to any forcasts from earlier this year saying that Canada was headed into a strong 2009 with bright economic forcast, but with the credit crunch in the USA, there is fear all around that the inability for many people and companies to get credit will further cripple our economy.

Along with the Central Bank’s rate cut, TD Canada Trust also announced a .5% rate cut that would drop their overnight lending rate to 3.5 percent, hopefully to be followed suit by their competitors, this will allow Canadians to buy now and pay later without such a high lending rate.

One reason for such a large cut was to drive consumer confidence because there has been no stimulus package been announced by the government and there will be no budget until late January 2009.

The cut may have a short term affect on the economy, but long term solutions will have to be devised if the government wishes to curb an extended recession.

Sussex Drive has a new tenant

Prime Minister and the Aga Khan at the Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat. Photo: Farhan Devji, the Charlatan.

Stephen Harper has not been greeted with the most courteous of welcomes by anyone, anywhere as of late but the Prime Minister, who is currently tangled in Canada’s latest web of government drama, had that trend bucked when he attended a house-warming party of sorts for his newest neighbour on Saturday.

The Aga Khan, spiritual leader – or Imam – of approximately 80 thousand Ismaili Muslims in Canada and 20 million across the world, officially opened the Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat on Saturday in the presence of his family, the Prime Minister, former Canadian Governor General Adrian Clarkson, and government and Ismaili leaders from across Canada. And the trying time in Canada and for Harper specifically was not lost on the Imam.

“I particularly want to thank the Prime Minister of Canada, Mr. Stephen Harper, for the honour of his presence, at a time of immense global challenges for those who bear the responsibilities of national leadership” said the Aga Khan at the beginning of his speech, according to a transcript from theismaili.org.

Sussex Drive’s latest landmark is a 50-million dollar, beautifully constructed edifice designed by internationally renowned Japanese architect Fumihiko Maki of Toronto’s Moriyama & Teshima. At the request of the Aga Khan, the Delegation creates a certain mystique by way of the “mysteries of rock crystal”. While its elegance is sheer and awe-inspiring, gazers from the outside and in, may not necessarily be struck by its outward beauty, rather though by its subtle and striking fascination, which the Aga Khan believes emanates from the rocky crystal.

An outside view of the Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat. Photo: theismaili.org

Physically and through the likening to rock crystal, the Aga Khan wanted the building to represent “symbolically to the Faith of Islam”.  He said that “qualities [of] rock crystal seem to be such an appropriate symbol of the profound beauty and the ever-unfolding mystery of Creation itself – and the Creator,” referring to the Islamic God of Allah.

But going beyond its physical beauty, there was a reason why the Aga Khan chose Canada to establish his first ever Delegation – a building which will act as a home to his various developmental organizations such as the AKDN – in Canada. The Aga Khan, who returned to Canada for the second time in as many weeks as a part of his Golden Jubilee commemoration to open the Delegation, has had a longstanding relationship with Canada. Stemming from the time of Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, who welcomed immigrants into Canada from unsettling times in East Africa during the late 70’s, the Ismaili population and the Aga Khan have not been strangers to Canada and have become an instrumental part of its makeup.

A view of the spacious atrium inside the Delegation. Photo: Farhan Devji, the Charlatan.

Additionally, the Aga Khan – who is the 49th hereditary Imam of the Ismailis and is believed to be a direct descendant of the Prophet Muhammad – said that the Delegation is intended to be “new creative link between the spiritual dimensions of Islam and the cultures of the West”.

It has been well-documented that, according to His Highness, there has been a misunderstanding between the Western world and the Islamic world. A misunderstanding which he has called a “clash of ignorance” as opposed to what other scholars and critics have called a “clash of civilizations”.

The Aga Khan seemingly hopes to put both of these clashes to an end through his continuing relations with Canada. Other projects underway in Canada, founded by the Aga Khan and some with backing from the Canadian government, are the Global Center for Pluralism which will be housed in the old Canadian War Museum, also on Sussex Drive, in Ottawa, and a new Ismaili Jamatkhana, Center and Museum in Toronto.

His Highness makes a speech at the opening of the Delegation. Photo: Farhan Devji, the Charlatan.

Prince Karim the Aga Khan IV, who is approaching his 72nd birthday on December 13th, said that “the establishment of the Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat represents yet another step on a long path” of positive relations between himself, his institutions and Canada. Additionally, he said that being able to have the Delegation sited on Sussex Drive is “a symbol of the outgoing, interactive spirit which must guide our response to global challenges”.

But what Ismailis, Canadians and citizens globally should take from the Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat being housed on Confederation Drive in one of the world’s most pluralist, tolerant, accepting countries, is that the Aga Khan truly represents all that is good in Islam. And what is good in Islam is good for the world.

Photos courtesy of TPB News Ottawa Correspondant, Farhan Devji, who was on assignment for the Carleton University student newspaper, The Charlatan, during the opening of the Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat. Stay tuned for Farhan’s article covering the opening for the Charlatan, in early January.

Running away from Parliament

Stephen Harper has avoided a confidence vote until late January.

On Thursday morning after meeting with her excellency Michaelle Jean, Governor General of Canada, Prime Minister Stephen Harper and the Canadian government was granted permission to prorogue parliament only weeks after it opened, a democratic tool that is scarcely used. This time off from governing, effectively, is a time for cooler heads to prevail and Canadians to forget this tumultuous week that was in Ottawa.

During this past week the Conservative government proposed an economic plan, which according to the opposition was laughable and not in the interest of Canadians. The three major opposition parties – the Liberals, the NDP and the Blog Quebecois – opposed this plan and pledged to vote against it in a confidence vote that was schedule for next Monday. Government not passing a vote of confidence, democratically, would open to door for the official opposition, led by the Liberals, to form a coalition government to replace the Conservatives or for an election to take place.

But the government was prorogued before the vote could take place. And so we sit and wait for parliament to reopen on January 26th. But what really are we waiting for?

When parliament does reopen, it will begin with a speech from the throne followed the next day by the presentation of a budget by the government. The question that should be burning in the minds of Canadians is “what will be different come January”?

The opposition coalition continues to hold that by proroguing parliament, Prime Minister Stephen Harper is delaying the inevitable by shutting down parliament and that they have lost confidence in the Prime Minister. The government suggests that taking a break from parliament is a time for cooler heads to prevail, for the government to work on a budget and for the parties to work together to create a passable budget.

The fact of the matter is that in January, when parliament does reopen, you will see much of what you have seen over the past week. The coalition is suggesting that they no matter what they hear in January in the throne speech and the budget, they do not have confidence in the Prime Minister and will most likely vote against any proposed budget.

As for the Canadian government, will they propose a throne speech or budget that is categorically different than what they proposed or intended to propose in the first place? Probably not. And if they do, it will demonstrate that our minority government does work democratically. But don’t count on it. The Conservatives have already said that over the break, they will be focusing on strengthening relations with Canadians in addition to the budget, potentially paving the way for another election.

What is more likely to occur than monumental change from the government, is a feeble attempt to sugar coat the wound that has been created this week. And if that does happen, the stage is set for one of two things. The first – and the priority for the opposition – would be for the coalition between the Liberals and NDP to take over and form a new government, supported by the Bloc Quebecois. The second option, which is probably preferable for the Conservatives but not likely only months after the October federal election, is calling another election.

Will the opposition coalition survive the time off or will a new story emerge?

Either way, it doesn’t look like the two sides will play together over the Christmas break. The current government will be trying convince Canadians that they do have a strong economic plan and that they have offered to work with the opposition. The opposition, the coalition, will attempt to stay strong and convince Canadians that Stephen Harper is a Prime Minister that cannot be trusted.

But the proof will be in the pudding. Both sides suggest that they are working for the benefit and immediate economic stability for Canadians. If what we see in the budget is exactly that, then all will be good and well, the coalition will come apart and everyone will be happy. But if the budget does not pass, then we are in for more drama in the new year than we have seen yet in the weeks leading up to it.

Either way, whatever the result, democracy will be served.

Placing Blame

It seems these days that no matter who or what you are talking about in American politics that the conversation always degrades into how evil of a man President Bush is. His tyrannical administration is war hungry and bringing upon the destruction of the United States. While I think there is a certain validity in these statements they are exaggerated beyond belief and a product of ignorance. It has become almost a fad to bash the Bush administration and is done by those with little or no knowledge of how the presidency works. I am by no means a Bush supporter, a right winger, or an expert on American politics; however a little research and unbiased review will enlighten a person on how Bush is not the only one to be blamed for America’s problems.

The American political system is a series of ‘checks and balances’ and the president of the country has a very powerful but still limited set of powers. Moreover, the president is not responsible for making laws or policies, for that is the job of congress. The presidents job is the role of the commander and chief. He oversees the executive branch of the United States government: a branch whose duty it is to execute the laws of congress. If congress disapproves of a decision the executive has made they hold the constitutional power to make changes. The changes may not be quick but they can be done. Even with a presidential veto on a new legislation, it can still be passed by congress with a two thirds majority.

Congress also controls military spending and is responsible for declaring war on any state or nation. If war is declared it is now in the presidents domain to make wartime decisions. Decisions that are always funded by congress. Congress holds the power to pressure the executive branch into keeping within its natural bounds. If you don’t believe me merely look at the American Constitution. So if congress holds this power why don’t they make change? Is President Bush not merely acting out their wishes? He receives his funding from congress and he acts within the bounds of the constitution. If he has done something unconstitutional why has he not been seriously challenged in the judiciary branch of government? Or at a greater magnitude why has not been impeached? If he is so out of line as the majority of people so readily seem to lecture on, why has he not been seriously challenged by the legislative or judiciary branch of the United States government.

Now lets blame congress. Congress is weak and they have let the Bush administration over run them and dictate the policies of the United States. Ah yes here lies the answer. But wait, who is directly elected by the people. Who is the peoples voice in American politics? That would be the house of representative and the Senate. So if we are blaming Bush for his policies, there by we are indirectly blaming a weak congress for letting the president dictate policy, we have no choice but the blame the people of the United States. After all isn’t this how a democracy works? Don’t we all love democracy?

Before we are so quick to blame President Bush lets take a second to step back and look at the bigger picture. He merely is the head of one branch of government. His job is to execute laws and decisions created by congress. Is that not what he is doing?

Another Super Tuesday in the States

Tomorrow is an important day for the United States President election process as Primaries will be held in the large states of Texas and Ohio. For those of you who are not aware of the US’ election processes, the Primaries are preliminary votes in all states that measure the support for each party’s (Democrats and Republicans) nominees running to become it’s respective parties Presidential candidate.

Te become a party’s Presidential candidate, a nominee has to win a certain number of ‘Delegates’ throughout the primary process. For the Democrats, who have Senators Hilary Clinton and Barack Obama in the final running, this number is 2,025. For the Republicans, John McCain and Mike Huckabee, the number is 1,191. In February ‘Super Tuesday’, a day in which a majority of the US states hold their primary elections, failed to give birth to a clear-cut winner for either party. While John McCain has all but won the Republican nomination with 1,047 delegates already to his name, the Democrats are still in a heated race. Currently, Obama leads the Democrats with 1,378 delegates while Clinton is close behind with 1,269.

Tuesday’s primaries in Texas, Ohio, Rhode Island and Vermont will most likely end up naming McCain as the Republican candidate while they may very well determine the Democratic Presidential candidate as Texas and Ohio are two of the largest and most delegate-laden states. With McCain penciled in, as Canadians, who should we pulling for in this version of Super Tuesday?

If you ask Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harpher which democract he wants to win, he would probably tell you neither. That’s because Harper is most likely pulling for the potential republican nominee John McCain. Over the past couple days both Democratic candidates vowed to pull out of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) because they don’t believe that the States are getting a fair deal. If the States are not happy with NAFTA, they will most likely want to renegotiate at the expense of Canada and I doubt Prime Minister Harper is ready to let that happen. McCain has said nothing to the effect of pulling out of NAFTA, and as the Conservatives have gotten along quite well with the Republicans in the past, you can guess what outcome our Prime Minister may be pulling for.

As for the Democrats, I say pull for Barack Obama. Many of the policies up for debate obviously concern the United States, but even if they did or do concern Canada it would not be important as Obama and Clinton largely have the same views on most questions. Barack Obama is the type of leader that the world has been waiting for. When he speaks, people listen. Obama is inspiring to the uninspired and for that reason alone I would say vote Obama. I am not necessarily looking for Obama to right all that is wrong with the United States but what I do hope he can do is cause change. Change that will see the population become more involved in its politics and change that will have the majority of the population believe in its leader and what he is doing. It is something that we are lacking today in the world as many are extremely cynical and skeptical of what leaders such as George Bush and to an extent Stephen Harper have to say.

Photo courtesy of: http://cache.boston.com/resize/bonzai-fba/Reuters_Photo/2008/02/27/1204140102_5934/539w.jpg