Ethics Watch: Olivia Chow calls on commissioner to investigate appointments to Oshawa Port Authority

NDP MP Olivia Chow is calling on Ethics Commissioner Mary Dawson to look into what she alleges may be too-cosy-for-comfort partisan ties between Finance Minister Jim Flaherty and the current crop of federally appointed directors on the board of the newly created Oshawa Port Authority, as well as the subsequent approval by that same board of a proposal to build an ethanol refinery on the waterfront -- which, she notes, was given "despite the objection of Oshawa City Council and Mayor and the Durham Regional Council."

(Earlier this month, the city council approved a motion directing Oshawa Mayor John Henry to lodge a similar request with the commissioner, but under the current law, only MPs can do so.)

Government tries to block MP's questions at pipeline review

The NDP's natural resources critic claims the government is trying to shut him up when it comes to questioning federal bureaucrats at the joint review panel looking into Enbridge's Northern Gateway pipeline proposal.

Nathan Cullen's request to cross-examine officials from the departments of the environment, natural resources, transport and fisheries and oceans was met by a letter from the Department of Justice asking the panel to deny his appeal.

"It's a bit of an intimidation tactic," says Cullen. "All along, if you've been opposed or raised concerns about this pipeline, Mr. Harper's government has called you a radical or an enemy of the state. These are all tactics to say 'you're just going to have to accept what we tell you to accept.'"

Ethics controversy deepens around PM's chief of staff over gold giant's lobbying

OTTAWA - The ethics controversy swirling around Prime Minister Stephen Harper's chief of staff deepened Wednesday with news that Nigel Wright was lobbied on three separate occasions by a company with which he had deep personal connections.

The belated disclosure by Barrick Gold Corp. (TSX:ABX) that it lobbied Wright a third time in May undermines the Harper government's official defence of the prime minister's right-hand man.

War Of 1812 Poll Finds That, Despite Ad, Canadians Have No Clue About Conflict

OTTAWA - There was a war in 1812? Really?

The Harper government has been highlighting a war with our American neighbours 200 years ago, but the relevance of commemorating the event seemed lost on almost all of those who participated in a comprehensive survey for National Defence.

The poll, conducted annually, measures impressions of the Canadian military, its missions, equipment and important events.

NDP: Tories complicit in rights abuses

The Conservatives are condoning immoral abuses — and flouting the law — by allowing RCMP and Canada Border Services officers to use information obtained through torture, say opposition MPs.

Newly disclosed records show Public Safety Minister Vic Toews quietly issued the instructions to the Mounties and the border agency last September after giving nearly identical orders to Canada’s spy service.

The government directives, released under the Access to Information Act, state that protection of life and property are the chief considerations when deciding on the use of information that may have been extracted through torture.

Tips for Protesters

Tampa Police will hand out a guide with tips for protesters during the Republican National Convention. The Tampa Bay Times reports the guide has maps of the official parade route, the designated protest areas, and places to use the restroom, cool off, get water and seek first aide.

    —Associated Press

Welcome, protester, and greetings from the Tampa Police! We’re extremely glad you’re here protesting, for reasons that have everything to do with our shared love of the Constitution and free speech and absolutely nothing to do with our eagerness to try out the new rubber bullets.

Citigroup Reaches $590 Million Settlement Over Financial Crisis Charges

NEW YORK, Aug 29 (Reuters) - Citigroup Inc has reached a $590 million settlement of litigation accusing the bank of fraudulently concealing tens of billions of dollars of exposure to risky collateralized debt obligations heading into the global financial meltdown.

The settlement is one of the largest arising from the 2007-2008 crisis. It resolves claims that Citigroup failed to take timely writedowns on the CDOs, many of which were backed by subprime mortgages, and that shareholders suffered billions of dollars of losses once the risks were realized.

In Tampa Suburb, Extreme Poverty Arrives While Jobs Remain Distant

THONOTOSASSA, Fla. -- Having spent most of his life in a low-income neighborhood on the outskirts of Tampa, Raymond Smith has long recognized that being poor in the suburbs is quite a bit different from being poor downtown.

"It would be good if we had a bus that run out here," the 51-year-old Smith lamented as Hurricane Isaac blew past town on Monday, spitting rain on his neighbors who had to bike to the store or to work. "There's no transportation, and it’s a lot of people out here. Things are tight."

Debt Crisis: Europe Economy Now Functioning Like Developed World, Unilever Boss Says

If you want a good way to gauge how an economy is really doing, look at the retailers working in it, what they’re selling, and to whom.

If the experience of consumer goods giant Unilever is to be believed, Europe may be devolving back to a developing economy.

Paradis says review of CNOOC's $15.1-B takeover of Nexen has begun

CALGARY - Ottawa has kicked off its review of China National Offshore Oil Co.'s $15.1-billion deal to buy Calgary-based Nexen Inc.

Industry Minister Christian Paradis says CNOOC has filed its application and he's conducting a review of the proposed acquisition.

The review will take 45 days initially, but can be extended by 30 days or more.

In reviewing foreign takeovers, the minister must decide whether the deal would be of net benefit to Canada.

The Competition Bureau is also conducting its own review.

Nexen (TSX:NXY) and CNOOC announced their friendly deal on July 23 after two months of negotiations.

Original Article
Source: winnipeg free press
Author: The Canadian Press