Summary of Stephane Dion's speek to the reporters

Liberal Leader Stephane Dion spook to reporters after meeting with his Quebec caucus in Montreal on Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2007. Dion set four demands for the upcoming speech from the Throne, saying his party will vote against it unless the Conservatives meet his party’s requirements. Dion’s requirement of the Harper’s government are Bill 30 on climate change, ending poverty and helping families, international economic concerns and the Canadian mission in Afghanistan. He also warned repeatedly of Harper's "hidden agenda and said Canada under a Conservative majority government would be akin to the U.S. under George Bush or the U.K. under Margaret Thatcher.” According to the CTV’s Chief Political Correspondent Craig Oliver there won’t be an election, for a number of reasons, such as the outcome of the three by-elections in Quebec, which Liberal cam up with empty handed. NDP and Bloc have both made demands of the Throne Speech and it is impossible for the government to meet, and it is left up to Liberal. More here

Is Stephane Dion ready for an election?

It is very hard to predict whether there will be an election or not, because of the opposition parties position mainly Liberal Party. Liberal party is not ready to trigger an election soon for a number of reasons. According to the Chief Political Correspondent Oliver there will not be an election because of the Liberal party position in Quebec. Even Liberal party Leader Dion who made 4 requirements to the Conservative government for the up coming speech of Throne, this does not tell if he and his party are willing to force an election. His comment seemed to suggest that Liberal party will settle if the Conservative government is willing to make some relatively minor concessions.

I don’t think there will be an election soon because of the Liberal Party's position. Both the NDP and Bloc have made demands of the Throne Speech and it is impossible for the government to meet, and it is left up to the Liberal Party. Liberal party is not looking to loose another federal election and they do not see an up coming election would be in their favor because of the three by-elections defeat in Quebec. They are not willing to risk an election with a defeat to Liberal and they know it is not the right time to call an election.

By Karwan Waissi

Summary of the "Air India probe to encompass terrorism funding"

The Air India public inquiry is going to expand its program and looking at the charities’ organizations and religious organizations whether some are raising money for terrorist organizations under Canada's nose. This inquiry is headed by Former Supreme Court justice John Major, will examine whether terrorist organizations banned in Canada, are collecting cash form institutions fronting as temples, mosques and charities. The “federal agency that monitors money transfers and terrorist financing, the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (also known as FINTRAC), flagged $140 million worth of suspected terrorist-linked transactions in 2006.” Liberal MP Ujjal Dosanjh in Vancouver said in his interview “it's about time the government started taking the problem more seriously, we need to be tougher in our approach because that's part of the prevention of terrorism, not just in Canada, but terrorism abroad and in other parts of the world."
Full story here

Canada should take tougher measures against terrorist organizations in and outside of Canada

I personally agree with Vancouver Liberal MP Ujjal Dosanjh, it is time for the Canadian government to take such problems more seriously. This issue has been a problem in the past and still continues to be a more serious problem for everyone of us in Canada and outside of Canada. Canada currently has about 2,500 soldiers are deployed as part of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force serving in Afghanistan. We all have seen the Canadian soldiers have faced an enormous challenges in fighting terrorists groups in that region, and we have lost many lives in order to provide peace and security to Afghanistan and other part of the world. The Canadian Intelligence groups “have suspected that some charities with special tax status are funneling money for any of the 40 extremist groups that Public Safety Canada has banned, such as Hezbollah and the Tamil Tigers”.

Canada needs to take tougher measures to prevent these charities organization, and religious groups who are raising money through religious ideologies to fund terrorist organizations in and outside of Canada. Earlier this month, a judge in New York sentenced former Toronto immigration consultant Khalid Awan to 14 years in prison. Khalid was a Muslim of Pakistan and admitted to wiring hundreds of thousands of dollars to the Khalistan Commando Force, a Sikh separatist group waging a bombing campaign in India. If we do not stop this today it will be a bigger issue tomorrow and many of us will pay the consequences.
By Karwan Waissi

Summary of Dion vows change after byelection defeats

Stéphane Dion the Federal Liberal Opposition leader took the blame and the responsibility for his party’s defeats in three Quebec by-elections. Dion said, "A leader has to put himself out there and I didn't do it." Dion over and over again admitted the responsibility of the by-elections defeat in his interview with the CBC’s French-language television. This is what Stephane Dion said in an interview with the Radio-Canada host Céline Galipeau during a candid interview in French, "I've always focused on the stakes … but I've never put myself on the line and I understand now that a leader must do that.… A leader has to put himself out there and I didn't do it." Dion also pledged after a speech in Montreal on Thursday make himself better known to Canadian, and this is what he said "If you want to speak about the water policy, we can talk about it. People have to see what drives me, people have to know me." Full story Here

You Can also watch Dion interview Here

Does Leadership Personality is Matter to Canadian Voters?

Stephane Dion Federal Liberal Leader speech and interview was just sounded to me like other party leaders vowing to bring changes and make them self better known to Canadian after either by-elections or national elections defeat. This is exactly what Dion did, stated in his interview with the CBC’s French-language television program Telejournal Wednesday night,
"A leader has to put himself out there and I didn't do it and he pledged “to make himself better known to Canadians." First of all, I don’t believe that was the issue here, many Quebecois are angered at the Liberal party’s history corruption. Secondly many Quebec voters and other Canadian voters do not see a leadership personality and character in Dion. Dion has been criticized across this country and even among his party members for the lack of his leadership personality and character. This has obviously become disappointing for a lot of liberal members across the country.

I believe leadership personality, character, and popularity is very highly valued among voters and party members. When it comes to election in this country federally or provincially voters are concerned about the character, personality and popularity of the party leaders and even candidates in their ridings. Voters would like to see a strong ethic and confident leadership in the party leaders or candidates. Unfortunately voters across the country do not see this in Dion’s leadership. Dion unpopularity in leadership personality and character among his party members and voters across Canada continues to rise.

Karwan waissi

Summary of Indymedia Presentation

The Independent Media Center was established by various independent and alternative media organizations for the purpose of providing grassroots coverage of issues that are not covered by main stream media: such as the World Trade Organization, poverty, racism, feminism, indigenous issues, globalization, and social issues. It is a participatory site; members can publish stories and documents regarding their community and country. The (IMC) is a network of collectively and a news website runs media outlets for the creation of radical, accurate, and passionate telling of the truth. Trisha stated in her speech the main purpose is to cover issues in politics and social issues that are not covered by the main stream media. They investigate issues that have high priority, which citizens are unaware of it. They are getting information to citizens on matters that are important to them.
For further information about (IMC) can be found here

The Independent Media Center Presentation

The Independent Media Center (IMC) in one of the many important independents networks and news website to raise citizens’ awareness of issues that are the most matter to us. Imagine that we get most of our information regarding politics, social issues, and other domestic issues from these independent media instead of just relaying on the mass media. The influence of the mass media in the political system and other areas are profound and appears to be constantly increasing. Most of the information Canadian receive about the political process comes from television, newspapers, or radio rather than from direct observation or other sources.

The IMC is a wonderful network and news website and it is the views of hundreds of different people who are trying to make changes and raise our awareness on issues that is the most matter to us. This is one of the many ways through this independent media we can be aware and aware others on issues: such as poverty, racism, women issues, and social issues still continues to be problem for many of us.
I personally believe our reliance on the mass media only establishes a common point and the most important effect on the general public is enormous because there is only one aim is to sell us the party agendas and platforms. The independent media is not only about raising our awareness of certain issues, it is also about knowing, what matters to us and others rather being told this is the issue or the problem. In other words, the mass media tell people what to think about, what the important issues are, and which political personalities are significant. I don’t think that is the issue here, the issue here is the participation of public and raising one another awareness on the most important issues

Stéphane Dion on Kyoto, Afghanistan and confidence votes

Summary of PM Stephen Harper's speech to the Australia's Parliament

On September 11, 2007 PM Stephen Harper addressed Australia's Parliament in Canberra and characterized the "Afghan mission as a global and necessary cause." PM Harper as always stayed firm and positive behind the mission and hoping the debate in Canada would turn to really what should we do? What's the right thing to do, "because I don't hear anybody in the world saying the right thing to do is abandon the people of Afghanistan?" More here

PM Stephen Harper's Speech to the Australia's Parliament

Canada should not abandon Afghans, PM says in Australia

As time goes on with the Canadian citizens and Politicians debating the nature of the mission in Afghanistan, support is becoming more and more divided and shifting downward. Since the nature of the mission has shifted to a more serious and danger path in securing and controlling the southern hot zones of Afghanistan; attention for an early pull out has grown higher both among the citizens and the politicians. Canada has lost 70 soldiers and one diplomat and currently has 2,500 soldiers in Afghanistan. PM Harper as always stays behind the mission and believes Canada should see the "mission through until the Afghan people are able to stand alone and take over security responsibility in their country." Many politicians and citizens does not see it this way as PM does, they believe the purpose of the mission has changed, because Canadian soldiers are no longer acting as peace keepers. This mission is not turning out the way they imagined. The once noble cause of providing security to liberate the Afghan people is looking more and more like full-scale war, war with an enemy who does not follow rules; war with an enemy who is killing their friends.
First of all, Canada’s mission in Afghanistan is not a peace keeping mission. Canada joined coalition forces to make a change and difference in a place where it is necessary and noble. That change and difference have lightened and opened door to a brighter future for million men, women, and children who have been waiting for years. PM Harper stated in his speech to the Australian government " if we abandon our fellow human beings to lives of poverty, brutality and ignorance in today's global village, their misery will eventually and inevitably become our own." I agree with PM Harper, we went there for many reasons and those reasons were to bring democracy, prosperous, and eliminate brutality, discrimination, and poverty. We have to remember you cannot provide these without a safe atmosphere to administer it. Therefore, it is necessary to fight and destroy those terrorist organizations that are active in and outside of Afghanistan. Who are harming and causing destruction to the people and societies of Afghanistan and outside Afghanistan. The purpose of our goals has not yet been accomplished, we should see the mission through until the Afghan people and government are able to stand alone and take over security responsibilities in their country. Hundreds of lives have been lost for many reasons and goals in this mission. Those reasons and goals have not yet been accomplished, but today thousands of our men and women side by side with the coalition forces are risking their lives to grand these wishes to millions of Afghan people and create a better and safer world for all us. This is noble and privilege for every one of us. It is very heart breaking and sad when we hear that a Canadian soldier or a coalition soldier is hurt or killed for a cause or reason beyond their borders. That is not what this mission is about, it is true that we are divided by boundaries, language and culture but we are all human being and we all deserve democracy, happiness, prosperity, dignity and equality. Support the mission and our soldiers, pray for those who lost their lives and their families and wish them all the best.

Karwan Waissi