Canada Considers Taking Fight Against ISIS To Libya, Syria

Defence Minister Jason Kenney has indicated the government is not ruling out taking Canada's military mission against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) group beyond Iraq — to Syria and Libya.

Evan Solomon, host of CBC Radio's The House, asked Kenney about participating in missions in those countries.

"Well, we're going to look at all of the options," Kenney said an interview broadcast Saturday.

"Obviously there are practical limits to our ability to operate around the world, but we will look at our options to see where we can have the most impact, where we're most needed," he said. "That requires ongoing consultation with our allies. We don't just decide these things unilaterally."

Ralph Nader tells Stephen Harper to stop acting like George W. Bush

February 18, 2015

The Right Honourable Stephen Harper, P.C., M.P.

80 Wellington Street

Ottawa, ON K1A 0A2

Dear Prime Minister:

Many Americans love Canada and the specific benefits that have come to our country from our northern neighbor’s many achievements (see Canada Firsts by Nader, Conacher and Milleron). Unfortunately, your latest proposed legislation—the new anti-terrorism act—is being described by leading Canadian civil liberties scholars as hazardous to Canadian democracy.

Money and influence cast long shadow over province's decisions on Fraser River, records suggest

Scientists say money and connections have too much power in B.C. politics, following the green-lighting of a controversial gravel mining project on the Fraser River expected to have serious impact on sturgeon and salmon habitat.

Asked whether political contributions may have influenced the approval, former provincial biologist Marvin Rosenau responded:

"Is the Pope Catholic? I am not trying to be trite, but the history of Fraser River gravel removal has been one of constant and intensive political interference from the gravel interests in the eastern Fraser Valley."

How ISIS-Allied Militants Gained Ground In Libya

Militants linked to the Islamic State group released a gruesome video on Sunday showing the beheadings on a Libyan beach of 21 Coptic Christians from Egypt. The brutal murders once again put the spotlight on the power vacuum in the North African nation and have raised concerns the failing state is proving to be fertile ground for extremist groups.

Saturday's killings weren't the first by Libyan fighters claiming allegiance to the Islamic State group, which has taken over parts of Iraq and Syria. IS-linked militantsclaimed responsibility for the January attack on a luxury hotel in Tripoli, which left 10 people dead. They also claimed a role in the murder of more than a dozen soldiers and the execution of two Tunisian journalists, The Guardian notes.

Can You Identify These Participants of South Korean Trade Trip?

If news organizations want to know what companies sent representatives on a recent government trade mission to South Korea, they'll have to look at a group photo and figure it out for themselves.

On Feb. 5, the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade issued a release predicting success for International Trade Minister Ed Fast on his five-day trip that began Feb. 8. About 100 Canadian business delegates participated.

The trip comes months after Canada sealed a free trade deal with the Asian country.

''Now on a level playing field with global competitors, Canadian businesses are eager to seize new opportunities created by the coming into force of the Canada-Korea Free Trade Agreement,'' said the release.

Illinois Governor Seeking To Raid Higher Education Budget A Month After Being Sworn In

Higher education is set to take a major hit in Illinois.

Following similar announcements by the Republican governors of Wisconsin andLouisiana, newly-sworn in Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner released what he called a “turnaround” budget, that would slash nearly $209 million from the University of Illinois.

“It’s time to make education our top priority again – and that’s what this budget does,” he told lawmakers Tuesday night, touting his plan to give about $25 million more to early childhood education. “With reform, we will be able to invest more in education and give our kids world class schools.”

Families Whose Lives Were Destroyed By Sandy Blast Christie’s Presidential Hope

Stoking anticipation that he will launch a 2016 presidential campaign, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie (R) urged a conservative audience in New Hampshire this week to watch his YouTube videos to understand the full picture of who he is as a person and a state leader. On his YouTube page, Christie frequently appears wearing his signature fleece and speaking on boardwalks across the state on various occasions — including the first and second anniversary of Superstorm Sandy — about New Jersey’s ability to recover from the devastating hurricane.

Kinder Morgan President Says B.C. Spill Plan Doesn't Need To Be Public

VANCOUVER - An emergency response plan for the proposed $5.4-billion Trans Mountain pipeline expansion will remain secret in British Columbia — even though a similar plan was recently made public in Washington state.

Kinder Morgan president Ian Anderson defended his company's decision to publish a heavily redacted version in B.C., saying disclosure of the plan wasn't required by the National Energy Board.

Prime minister a no-show at Commons' anti-terror debate

Despite hailing new anti-terror legislation as fundamental to the fight against “the most dangerous enemies our world has ever faced,” Prime Minister Stephen Harper did not attend either of two days of debate on the bill in the House of Commons this week.

Bill C-51 is expected to head to committee Monday after the Conservative government voted to limit the hours allotted in the Commons on what Justice Minister Peter MacKay called an “important debate (over) …. extraordinary powers.”

The federal Liberals have said they will back the far-reaching legislation, which would expand the mandate and power of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, criminalize the promotion of terrorism, share Canadians’ personal information more easily across government, make it simpler for police to arrest and detain individuals without charge as suspected national security threats, and other measures. A recent poll showed a strong majority of Canadians back the bill; most also want robust oversight of it.

CSIS watchdog agency starved of staff, resources

The independent watchdog Stephen Harper points to as providing the necessary oversight of Canada's spy agency, CSIS, is operating with fewer resources than it had when his government took power nearly a decade ago.

"We already have a rigorous system of oversight on our national security and police agencies," the prime minister told the Commons earlier this month.

"Specifically on intelligence, we have the Security Intelligence Review Committee, which is a robust mechanism for independent, expert, third-party oversight. It functions very well."