New Generation of American Deserters in Canada

Some Vietnam era American draft dodgers who still live in Canada are now heading up an "underground railroad" of sorts for American deserters, Asharq Al-Awsat reports. When 26 year old Lee Zaslofsky bid his parents farewell as he prepared to flee to an unknown future in Canada, rather then serve in a war he did not believe in, little did he ...

Canadian Dollar Reaches Parity with Greenback

For a brief moment this afternoon, the Canadian dollar was worth more than its American counterpart. It closed at 99.87, its highest level since the Ford Administration. Canada's dollar traded equal to the U.S. currency for the first time in three decades, capping a five-year run on the back of booming demand for the nation's commodities. The Canadian dollar rose ...

Americans Emigrating to Canada

Erica Alini highlights an Association for Canadian Studies report [PDF] showing the number of Americans emigrating to Canada has hit a 30 year high, with nearly 11,000 headed north. Although the Canadian study does not provide statistics about the emigrants' motivations, anecdotal evidence suggests that post-9/11 U.S. policies are a major drive for the move. Other reasons may include ...

Optometric Horror Stories

Kevin Drum's optometrist got even for his electing to pass on a $35 exam by double dosing him with those nasty dilation drops. As a commenter points out, however, it could have been worse: "In Canada it takes six months to get an eye exam, the the dilation lasts for over two years, and its all done by terrorists." ...

Nancy Pelosi Supports (Canadian) Troops

Currently on Nancy Pelosi's website: It's nice that Pelosi supports veterans and all but couldn't she find a photo of an American veteran? Bruce McQuain suggests that this "again points out how very little the Democrats know about our military. This is simply basic stuff, but apparently not something any of Pelosi's staffers could be bothered to check out or most ...

The Would-Be Prime Minister Of Canada

Or, at least, one of them. Liberal Member of Parliament (and critic for the environment) Scott Brison is one of eight remaining candidates to take over leadership of "Canada's natural governing party". Perhaps he was just trying to keep up with the frontrunners.

BC Teachers Federation suing Google

Via Dust My Broom; The B.C. Teachers Federation and its president, Jinny Sims, are suing Google Inc. over allegedly defamatory comments and images posted on a blog hosted by Google. A statement of claim filed in B.C. Supreme Court says the defamation by two unnamed contributors or authors on the blog at “bcpolyblog.blogspot.com” occurred between April 5 and June 28 this year. ...

Canadian Military Valour Decorations Awarded For First Time

For service in Afghanistan; OTTAWA—Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada, announced today the awarding of the first four Military Valour Decorations to members of the Canadian Forces who have displayed gallantry and devotion to duty in combat. The recipients will be invited to receive their decoration from the Governor General at a presentation ceremony to ...

Dixie Chicks Move to Canada

Beset by slow album and ticket sales in the South and Midwest, the Dixie Chicks have canceled 14 shows in the United States and rescheduled them in Canada. Several concerts on the Dixie Chicks' "Accidents & Accusations" tour have been canceled after slow ticket sales, but the group says it has replaced them with other dates. Kansas City, Houston, St. Louis, ...

Throw The Journos From The Plane

The first step was to tell Canadian media who accompanied him to find their own flight home from the G8 summit to free up seats on the Airbus; Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper ordered his official plane to be diverted to Cyprus on Wednesday to pick up Canadians fleeing Israeli air strikes in Lebanon. Harper was already in Europe at the end ...

Criminal Urination

Ottawa Sun; There will be a case of criminal urination in the nation's capital if a judge convicts a 23-year-old man in connection with the Canada Day peeing incident at the National War Memorial. Ottawa police made their intentions known yesterday, announcing they will lay charges today against the man caught on camera allegedly relieving himself on the memorial. Two Ottawa ...

Terror Suspect Wanted to Behead Prime Minister

CBC; Batasar said he was given an eight-page synopsis of the allegations, including storming Parliament, blowing up some of the buildings and taking politicians hostage to demand the withdrawal of Canadian troops in Afghanistan. If the demands were not met, it is alleged, Chand wanted to behead Stephen Harper. He said his client is also accused of being part of a ...

Terror Cell Apprehended In Ontario

Toronto Sun; In a stunning development yesterday, police made a sweeping terrorist bust within the GTA and expected to make several more arrests throughout the night. "The RCMP, CSIS and the Integrated National Security Enforcement Team arrested individuals throughout the GTA today in relation to terrorist-related offences," confirmed RCMP spokesman Corp. Michele Paradis. As of about 9 p.m. last night, Paradis also ...

“A Hunting Accident In My Living Room”

Imagine the reaction, if, during Watergate testimony, one of the principals testified he believed the "president's men" would murder him if he broke his silence. Now, imagine there were two such witnesses. Montreal Gazette; A former vice-president of Groupaction, told Charles Guité's fraud trial Wednesday that he feared for his life if he were to blow the whistle on what ...

The Can Opens

And another worm wiggles free. An Alberta court has ruled that the law requiring a photo be taken for the purpose of drivers license identification violates the religious beliefs of Hutterites and is unconstitutional. (No link available yet) Next up: Via Canadian radio talk host John Gormley, whose callers were quick to point out that they don't seem to ...