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Afghanistan Exit Could Bring Escalated Air War

TORONTO - Amid reports that the Barack Obama administration is quietly lobbying the Conservative government in Ottawa to keep Canadian troops in Afghanistan's Kandahar province beyond 2011, Stephen Harper is finding himself in an increasingly awkward dilemma.

The Canadian prime minister needs to appease a popular U.S. president who just deployed 4,000 Marines in a new Afghan offensive in Helmand, and at the same time avoid further alienating a war-weary electorate.

Posted in airstrikes, drone attacks, Af-Pak, canada

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 1, 2009
1:19 PM

CONTACT: Council on Hemispheric Affairs (COHA)

Phone: (202) 223-4975
Email: coha@coha.org

Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement Could Be a Lose-Lose Deal

* The Canadian Parliament is on the verge of passing a free trade measure with Colombia * The trade deal faces staunch opposition from human and labor rights bodies

Foreign direct investment (FDI) in Colombia could potentially exacerbate flagrant current human rights abuses in the country

WASHINGTON - May 1 - Just a few hours prior to meeting his counterparts from all over the Western Hemisphere at the recently concluded Summit of the Americas, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper reaffirmed Canada’s newfound commitment to the region, most clearly reflected in the newly signed free-trade deals with Peru and Colombia. On March 26, the Canadian government submitted legislation to the House of Commons that would implement the Canada-Colombia Free Trade, Labor Cooperation and Environment Agreements. Ottawa is confident that Parliament will ratify the treaties as early as June.
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Founded in 1975, the Council on Hemispheric Affairs (COHA), a nonprofit, tax-exempt independent research and information organization, was established to promote the common interests of the hemisphere, raise the visibility of regional affairs and increase the importance of the inter-American relationship, as well as encourage the formulation of rational and constructive U.S. policies towards Latin America.
Council on Hemispheric Affairs (COHA) Links:
Posted in ccfta, Economy/Trade, nafta, canada, colombia

RCMP Still Uses Tasers Too Often, Watchdog Finds

Hilary Homes, a human rights campaigner with Amnesty International Canada, says there is a lack of clarity about RCMP policy on Taser use. (AFP/Thomas Coex)

OTTAWA - The RCMP complaints commissioner says the Mounties should be more careful about using stun guns on young people and the mentally ill.

In a final report on RCMP Taser use last year, Paul Kennedy also says the force's tracking and analysis of incidents still needs improvement.

The findings come 10 months after Kennedy, chair of the Commission for Public Complaints Against the RCMP, called on the police force to rein in Taser use and better monitor how officers use the potent device.

Posted in tasers, canada

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 6, 2009
2:56 PM

CONTACT: Council on Hemispheric Affairs (COHA)

Phone: (202) 223-4975
Email: coha@coha.org

Canada and the Mexican War on Drugs: Lack of Involvement But Not of Interest

WASHINGTON - April 6 - - Although increasingly affected from afar by the fight against the cartels, Canada is curiously detached from the Mexican war on drugs
- Canada has numerous economic and political involvements in the Mexican status quo and multilateral and bilateral initiatives could be eyed for their implementation
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Founded in 1975, the Council on Hemispheric Affairs (COHA), a nonprofit, tax-exempt independent research and information organization, was established to promote the common interests of the hemisphere, raise the visibility of regional affairs and increase the importance of the inter-American relationship, as well as encourage the formulation of rational and constructive U.S. policies towards Latin America.
Council on Hemispheric Affairs (COHA) Links:
Posted in war on drugs, canada, mexico

America’s Stupid Health Care Debate

When President Barack Obama made his quick dash up to Ottawa last week, it's too bad he didn't suffer a gastrointestinal attack, or slip on some ice and twist an ankle or something. If he had, he might have had a chance to do what he should have done anyhow: visit a Canadian health clinic.

Maybe then he would have had his eyes opened to a better idea: government-run health care.

Posted in healthcare, singlepayer, canada

Canada's PM Tries to Head Off Bid to Topple Him

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper responds to a question during a Question Period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa Wednesday, Dec.3, 2008. The Liberals, New Democrats and Bloc Quebecois opposition parties, which together control a majority in Parliament, signed a pact Monday agreeing to vote to oust Harper's minority government next week and setting the structure for their proposed coalition government.(AP Photo/ The Canadian Press,Adrian Wyld)

OTTAWA - Canada's prime minister was expected to try Thursday to suspend parliament in an unprecedented effort to delay a vote that could bring down the new government because of dissatisfaction over its handling of the economy.

Stephen Harper set a morning meeting with the unelected representative of the head of state, Governor General Michaelle Jean, who has the power to grant the unusual request to suspend parliament.

Posted in canada
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