Canada - Carbon Emissions: Harper’s a climate hypocrite – we all are - by Margaret Wente

Leona Aglukkaq has the world’s most thankless job. Every day, Stephen Harper’s Environment Minister has to say with a straight face that the government cares deeply about climate change, takes it very seriously and is going to do something about it any day now. This charade has been going on for years. It should be obvious to the smallest child by now that the government isn’t going to do a thing about climate change unless it absolutely has to.

In fact, the biggest news from this week’s climate gabfest in Lima – one observer called it “the green blob’s annual ritual” – is that the dream of a grand global deal is officially dead. Even the negotiators have finally admitted that it can’t be achieved. Instead, they’re aiming for something much more modest – a deal in which every country will make its own emissions pledges, suited to its own circumstances. Sure, that’ll work. And if they don’t comply, maybe they’ll get 20 lashes with a wet noodle.

Read more: Harper’s a climate hypocrite – we all are - The Globe and Mail

Canada, EU inch closer to free trade deal

The Harper government has agreed to smooth the way for more takeovers of Canadian companies by European firms in one of several concessions during free-trade talks, sources tell The Canadian Press.

Canada has also agreed to open up parts of its hydro-electric sector to a limited amount of foreign investment, say sources in Canada with intimate knowledge of the talks.

Other sources close to the talks say issues on wine and spirits have been settled, with Canada agreeing to make a technical change on how duties are applied on imports.

The change is designed to be revenue neutral, but it may have the effect of lowering prices on premium wines and spirits.

As well, Ontario and British Columbia have agreed to freeze the number of independent stores that exclusively sell domestic wines, although there was already a moratorium on new licences.

Overall, the two sides say they will completely eliminate all industrial tariffs within seven years, a measure that will save Canadian exporters $213 million annually – and European exporters $635 million – at current exchange rates.

Canada has also significantly moved to appease European demands for opening up provincial energy utilities, again affecting mostly those in Ontario and Quebec, in procurement of goods and services. Documents obtained by a Quebec civil society network, the Reseau quebecois sur l'integration continentale, suggest that 35 per cent of Hydro Quebec's annual procurement – currently about $1.1 billion – will be up for grabs to European suppliers.

With Prime Minister Stephen Harper in Europe over the next week hoping to hammer out the remaining barriers to the ambitious deal, sources say Canadian negotiators have agreed to a provision to raise the threshold for reviewing foreign acquisitions from Europe to $1.5 billion.

All acquisitions under that value would not be subject to a government assessment about whether they create a net benefit for Canada. Just this Monday, the House of Commons passed the budget implementation bill raising the threshold from the current $334 million to $1 billion over the next four years. The new threshold would only apply to private, not state owned firms.

Read more: Canada, EU inch closer to free trade deal - Business - CBC News

Canada: Harper’s brand hits ‘new low’ amid robo-call, F-35 scandals: poll - by Gloria Galloway

The numerous clouds looming over theCanadian  Conservative government have caused many Canadians who thought highly of Prime Minister Stephen Harper two months ago to question his competence, his trustworthiness and his vision for Canada, a new poll suggests.

Mr. Harper still edged out NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair – and easily outdistanced Interim Liberal Leader Bob Rae - in the leadership index portion of a telephone survey conducted by Nanos Research between April 13 and April 18.

The dramatic decline in Mr. Harper’s personal cachet occurred as his Conservatives were being accused of suppressing the opposition vote during the last election and hiding billions of dollars in the planned purchase of a fleet of fighter jets. It was also a period when Industry Minister Christian Paradis was found to have broken parliamentary ethics rules.

“It’s pretty clear that Stephen Harper’s brand has taken a hit in the last month on all of these measures. This is a new low for him over the last four years,” pollster Nik Nanos said in a telephone interview. “I think this has to be of big concern for the Conservatives because a big part of their brand has been built around Stephen Harper.”

For more: Harper’s brand hits ‘new low’ amid robo-call, F-35 scandals: poll - The Globe and Mail

EU-Digest/RFI - Prime Minister suspends parliament to avoid censure

For the complete report from the RFI click on this link

Prime Minister suspends parliament to avoid censure

The Canadian Parliament was shut down Thursday after an unprecedented request by Prime Minister Stephen Harper allowed him to avoid a vote that would have surely toppled his government.Harper had scheduled a confidence vote on several budget proposals for next Monday, but once the opposition Liberal and New Democratic Party (NDP) released a public agreement to bring the government down and form a coalition to replace it, Harper asked the Governor General, Michaëlle Jean, to prorogue Parliament until January. Opposition leaders cried foul, saying the Prime Minister’s request was an overt attempt to save his own job. "We must realize the enormity of what has happened here today. For the first time in the history of Canada, the Prime Minister of Canada is running away from the Parliament of Canada," said Liberal leader Stéphane Dion after the suspension was made official.

Note EU-Digest: Suspending parliament is something only dictators do. Mr. Harper's 44 % popularity with the Canadian voters does not sound like an overwhelming vote of confidence to do so? All we need now is that President Bush and his confidants find this an appealing idea and declare Martial Law in the US before the inauguration of President elect Barack Obama, giving the economic meltdown there as the excuse to do so. If he does, he should realize the US population will not be as passive as the Canadians have been so far.