A Losing G.A.M.E. Plan

The following information was recently leaked to the media:

“Our GAME Plan which stands for Grants for Aboriginal Medical Education, will provide funding to aboriginal health care professional students. The purpose of the GAME Plan is to promote the progression of heath care professionals in the Aboriginal community.  We intend for this to help improve aboriginal health overall as we expect that these new health care professionals will be able to help members in their own community.”

These were the views held by the federal government right up until it was pressed by delegations such as PEI, who has an aboriginal community of only 1,000. The feds then changed their G.A.M.E. Plan to include people living in rural areas. Is there a specific population they have in mind that sets the standard? This is their “made-in-Canada” approach. Thanks for the effort, but please try again. Several delegations, including Nova Scotia, have pressed the federal government to seamlessly integrate foreign trained medical professionals into the Canadian medical system. “We will get better bang out of our buck,” stated the Nova Scotia delegate, by employing these trained immigrants. They feel there must be a standardized test to move these health care professionals quickly into our system, which would be more efficient than the feds’ G.A.M.E. Plan.  

It appears that most provinces are speaking in unison in regards to this issue. New Brunswick made a clear and blunt response to the Federal Government’s G.A.M.E Plan. In relations to transfer payments, which was discussed earlier today, the Federal Government failed to come to an agreement with the provinces. New Brunswick pointed out that while the Federal Government is reluctant to guarantee minimum transfer payments, they are willing to inject money into this plan. Provinces are arguing that this plan is not well thought out and not inclusive.  

Dana Windover and Joyce Chan, The Seditious Times

Q & A with Bobby Huang

Mr. Huang, Director of Communitcations/Public Relations of the British Columbia Delegation, was kind enough to sit down for an interview after the climate change agenda item. 

 

Q: How do you feel the round of talks went on climate change?

A: I think they were fairly productive. All provinces and territories recognize that climate change is a serious issue that must be addressed. This cannot be a unilateral approach; it can’t just be a national issue. 

Q: What do you feel is the best way to combat climate change. A hard national target?

A: Any cap that we set as Canadians will be inefficient if they are inconsistent with our neighbour to the south, the United States. In British Columbia, we have set a 33% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from our 2007 level for 2020 by creating legislation that will come into effect at the end of this calendar year. We have set standards tougher than Kyoto. We believe there must be regional autonomy in fighting climate change. Provinces and territories should be able to set targets and reach them at their own pace without having to sacrifice their economies. British Columbia has demonstrated this through our revenue neutral carbon tax.

Q: Would you then be in favour of a North American target for climate change?

A: Yes, but the provinces and territories must maintain flexibility in setting and the pace in which they reach those targets.

Q: You’ve stated BC’s commitment to Hydrogen Fuel Cells as an alternative energy resource. As I’m sure you are aware, hydrogen is extremely difficult to isolate, which is vital in hydrogen fuel cell energy. One method is to burn fossil fuels, which will defeat the purpose of alternative energy. Another method is from water by means of electrolysis, photochemical splitting, or photobacterial reactions. However, this is extremely inefficient. How do you plan to isolate hydrogen to use as an alternative energy source?

A: There are many different methods in doing this. You can extract it from natural gas or by splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen atoms. We are continually consulting with our scientists to develop the most efficient way. Hydrogen fuel cell technology is currently not commercially viable at this time. Having said that, there is currently a fleet of buses in Whistler that runs on hydrogen fuel cell technology. Within 3 to 5 years, hydrogen fuel cell energy will become commercially viable. Cars will be available to the average British Columbian at competitive prices. There is currently a 5 year, $9 million joint initiative between Hydrogen And Fuel Cells Canada, Ford Motor Company, the Government of Canada and the Government of British Columbia.  We must be flexible in understanding that there are multiple alternative energy sources. For example, hydroelectricity has been very beneficial in reducing our dependency on fossil fuels. We’re not advocating anything drastic. Steps must be taken now so that by 2020, we’re more dependent on these alternatives. It’s not something that can be changed over night.

 

Dana Windover, The Seditious Times

Alberta Going Green?

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Robert Higgins

A new leader in the “Go Green” movement is arising in the west, and it’s not who you might think. Alberta has recently dedicated $2 billion to reducing green house gas emissions through new carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects. Once the projects are fully implemented, the expected results are 5 million tones in annual reductions by 2015. These results are similar to what would happen if one third of all registered vehicles in Alberta were taken off the road.

CCS is a process that captures CO² by separating it from other emissions produced at a refinery, then dehydrating and compressing it, before sending it by pipeline to geological formation deep within the earth.

Critics of CCS argue that it is not a viable solution to the reduction of greenhouse gases because companies will not be willing to accept the extra costs associated with implementing and powering CCS in their refineries. It is this argument that the government of Alberta’s $2 billion dollar plan will dispel. Research projects such as the Long Lake CO² Capture Project, will show how these costs can be offset by the gains achieved by increased production. The average drill site only produces 40-50 per cent of it’s total potential because due to the fact that conventional methods simply can not produce enough pressure in the well to drive the oil out. That captured carbon could be the key to accessing the rest of these untapped resources. Conservative estimates predict a 20 per cent increase in production. This would mean that oil companies would be making a profit off of protecting the environment.

From an environmental perspective, CCS means reducing emissions from big emitters by as much as 90 per cent! This technology has the potential to make a huge impact in Alberta, and with government support, this new green mentality could even serve to attract business into the Albertan oil market. What this reporter finds even more surprising than the fact that Alberta is becoming a green leader, is that all of this is being done on Alberta’s own dime!

Saskatchewan Outnumbered on Environmental Issues

Saskatchewan delegate Amanda Magee plead the province’s case in her opening statements regarding the environment today.  Saskatchewan is greatly outnumbered when it comes to the cap and trade system and concern with carbon emission advocated by most provincial and territorial delegations.  Saskatchewan does not support national cap on carbon emissions.  But why the concern?

Saskatchewan is heavily dependent on their national resources as a means for a stable economy.  They fear in combination with their low population they will be unable to meet national standards.  With carbon emissions as an inevitable part of their economy, Saskatchewan is left on a limb when it comes to cap and trade and carbon emissions.

On the other hand, Saskatchewan fully supports research in carbon capture and are leading the way along with the province of Alberta.  Funding for other environmentally friendly projects is also a high priority for the province in areas such as wind and solar energy.

Will Saskatchewan get the short end of the stick as the provinces push for national standards?  Will they be punished for providing energy to the country?

Ariane Fleischmann, The Seditious Times

“Canada is stable” responds Li

“Our economy is stable” asserts Federal Finance Minister Emily Li.  In a recent interview, I presented the minister with the recent statement of dissent (signed by 12/13 delegations) concerning the federal government’s position on financial transfers to provinces.

Li voiced concern over the provincial communique, but remained steadfast on her position. “The government is unwilling to commit to a freeze in transfers, and as the economic situation unfolds, Canada will keep all options open. The government must be fiscally cautious at this time.”

Li was metaphorically ripped to shreads earlier tody, viciously confronted by delegates from Quebec, Alberta and PEI after maintaining her position on transfers.

Nick Banerd, The Seditious TImes

Dissent Among the Ranks

BREAKING NEWS

A near unanimous condemnation of the federal government was just provided to the Seditious Times:

Joint Delegation Statement: Transfer Payments

The federal government’s refusal to hear a near-unanimous request from the provinces to ensure the strength of federal transfer payments is extremely disappointing. That the federal delegation is unwilling to preserve the stability of essential services such as health and social programs speaks to the narrow-mindedness of its approach to the global economic slowdown. The people of Canada, French and English, need stability. By diminishing the capacity of provinces to assure their citizens’ health and security, the federal government has betrayed their commitment to the well-being of the Canadian people.

We, the collected delegations of the First Minister’s conference affirm our commitment to improving standards of health care and social programs. We also express our dissatisfaction with the actions of the federal government in this regard.

Signed,

Delegation of Quebec

Delegation of Ontario

Delegation of Nova Scotia

Delegation of New Brunswick

Delegation of British Columbia

Delegation of Manitoba

Delegation of Alberta

Delegation of Prince Edward Island

Delegation of Newfoundland and Labrador

Delegation of Saskatchewan

Delegation of the Yukon and Northwest Territories

Nick Banerd ~ The Seditious Times

More interesting than the conversation being held on the floor……

Where have the delegates been dissapearing to? Clearly there is some kind of deal being made here, but we here at the seditious times have been told to wait for a press release and are otherwise being kept in the dark just as those who have chosen to continue to pay attention to the First Ministers Meeting proper.

We here at the SeditiousTimes will keep you updated as we learn more.

Walker Smith

Seditious Times

Look up, Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan delegate James Fairbothnam apparently has difficulty        looking other delegates in the eye. Fairbothnam dryly read his opening economic statement, hardly looking up throughout.

The province is perhaps concerned about the feasibility of its “ready for growth” initiative, which pledges millions to improve the province’s roads, rail and other infrastructure. Though such a fiscal stimulus is undoubtedly welcome in light of the global financial crisis, the province is maintaining a staggering $11 billion debt, or $24 000 per man, woman and child in the province.

With falling potash prices falling in tandem with other Saskatchewan commodity exports, and looming uncertainties discouraging new private investment, the province’s books are sure to take a hit as it unveils its infrastructure policy. Is the province willing to take a huge financial hit in order to make the drive a bit less bumpy for Regina truckers?

Nick Banerd, The Seditious Times

And I will [not] try to fix you

11:04a.m. The popularity of the Brit band Coldplay’s “Fix You” song clearly has not hit a note with the Federal Government. This morning, the provincial delegations demanded the federal government dig deep in order to help them run their economies and social programs smoothly. However, the Government of Canada delegate clearly stated, “We will not pinch our pockets.” There seems to be a growing sentiment among the provinces that the federal government is leaving them in the dust to “deal with their own problems.” The feds protest they are not abandoning the provinces and claim that they have bigger fish to fry than the provinces do. The federal government is busying “running national programs,” whereas the provinces are merely taking care of themselves. Sorry provincial and territorial governments, you might as well start pinching now. 

Dana Windover, The Seditious Times

Nunavut Reaps rewards.

Forecasting by the federal government places federals transfers to the province of Nunavut at an estimated $995 million dollars in the 2008-09 fiscal year. This translates to a cash deal of $31,184 per resident of Nunavut and roughly 10% of all federal transfer payments.

The minister of intergovernmental affair for Nunavut came out in support of the federal government for not fixing transfer payments. Recognizing the consistent increase of transfers to the territory of Nunavut over the last four years, no less then $40 million per year, this is no surprise.

The Minister also called for infrastructure development to focus on the mining sector. Perhaps we could see a deal struck between the province of Alberta and the territory of Nunavut if the Federal government is unwilling to guarantee greater funding for resource development. Support was found in minister for the joint delegation of the Yukon and the Northwest Territories.

During the morning plenary session the territory of Nunavut surprisingly backed off their demands for community development infrastructure. Supporting the national infrastructure development fund but cautioned that federal funding should be aimed directly at resource development projects.This is a departure from earlier statements leading up to the conference which wanted infrastructure funding to focus on transportation and community projects. Both more in line with Nunavut’s “People First” Campaign.

However if the Nova Scotian, Saskatchewan, and other provincal delegations get there way, and gain control over resource generated revenues this may be a mute point.

Devon Carr

The Seditious Times