What Makes Canada a Great Place to Live?

[Smurf]

I want Canada to become a Proportional Representation Government. Or even better: Anarchosyndicalism

 

[Tsu]

What's your take on Jack Layton?

 

[iansmith]

^^Yeah, it's unfortunate, but here's one of the reasons why there is such a rift (see link below)...there was a time when I was proud of Canada's diverse/dual nature and wanted to try keep a such a culturally rich heritage within the country...it was part of our identity...proof that as a country we had (more or less) achieved an unprecedented level of social and political harmony and tolerance. But after hearing about incidents like these...I cannot help thinking..."fine, if they have such disdain for the rest of us, why don't they just get the hell out, and see if I care!"

You were naive to think that harmony and tolerance between nationality in Canada. You should should have a look at Canadian history in the last 50 years.

Your are also basing your opinion on an group that contains memeber that are extremestist in their view. They do not necessary represssent a majority but the taught you express part of the reason people from quebec have disdain with mostly ontario. Also, did you ever wonder why the montreal hockey is calle the Canadien.

You should also think about the Canadian identity and if there any person that repressent the this identity in english Canada. When I was in ontario, one of teacher ask if anyome could come up with a person No one could answer the question.

 

[iansmith]

For any american looking to immigrate,

http://www.marryanamerican.ca/

 

[fourier jr]

For any american looking to immigrate,

http://www.marryanamerican.ca/

or this one:
http://www.thatsitimmovingtocanada.com/

 

[Gonzolo]

I am:
...
Pro-Extremism
Anti-Democracy
...

These two caught my attention, so I'm curious : what about Muslim extremists whom are often associated with terrorism?

What is it about Democracy that you don't like? How should the government be chosen?

And how do you reconcile "Anti-'Capitalism" and "Pro-Free Market"?

Just wondering.

 

[JasonRox]

These two caught my attention, so I'm curious : what about Muslim extremists whom are often associated with terrorism?

What is it about Democracy that you don't like? How should the government be chosen?

And how do you reconcile "Anti-'Capitalism" and "Pro-Free Market"?

Just wondering.

The muslims that attacked on 911 are trying to send a message.

Does anyone even know what that message is?

Note: They aren't doing this because Americans have freedom. That's bull**** talk from the Bush Administration. If you know, then you would understand why the Bush Administration didn't say anything about it.

 

[selfAdjoint]

The muslims that attacked on 911 are trying to send a message.

Does anyone even know what that message is?

Note: They aren't doing this because Americans have freedom. That's bull**** talk from the Bush Administration. If you know, then you would understand why the Bush Administration didn't say anything about it.

According to bin Laden, the message was:
1. Get out of the Muslim holy land (Saudi Arabia)
2. Convert to Islam.

 

[Tsu]

HEY!

Jack Layton? :shy:

Also, I've been exploring job possiblilties at hospitals... Why are their shifts 7 hours and 42 minutes long? (42 minutes? That's a little odd to me. )

 

[fourier jr]

The muslims that attacked on 911 are trying to send a message.

Does anyone even know what that message is?

Note: They aren't doing this because Americans have freedom. That's bull**** talk from the Bush Administration. If you know, then you would understand why the Bush Administration didn't say anything about it.

oo! pick me pick me!

from a whole article on 9/11/01 in particular:

Of course it's not America the terrorists hate; it's American foreign policy. It's what the United States has done to the world in the past half century -- all the violence, the bombings, the depleted uranium, the cluster bombs, the assassinations, the promotion of torture, the overthrow of governments, and more.

The terrorists -- whatever else they might be -- are also rational human beings; which is to say that in their own minds they have a rational justification for their actions. Most terrorists are people deeply concerned by what they see as social, political, or religious injustice and hypocrisy, and the immediate grounds for their terrorism is often retaliation for an action of the United States.

There's no need to wonder about the possible motivations of those from the Middle East or other Muslim countries to commit terrorist acts against the United States. Consider these actions of American foreign policy during the last 20 years:
The shooting down of two Libyan planes in 1981; the bombardment of Beirut in 1983 and 1984; the furnishing of military aid and intelligence to both sides of the Iran-Iraq War of 1980-88 so as to maximize the damage each side would inflict upon the other; the bombing of Libya in 1986; the bombing and sinking of an Iranian ship in 1987; the shooting down of an Iranian passenger plane in 1988; the shooting down of two more Libyan planes in 1989; the massive bombing of the Iraqi people in 1991; the continuing bombings and sanctions against Iraq; the bombing of Afghanistan and Sudan in 1998, the latter destroying a pharmaceutical plant which provided for half the impoverished nation's medicine; the habitual support of Israel despite the devastation and routine torture it inflicts upon the Palestinian people; the condemnation of Palestinian resistance to this; the abduction of "suspected terrorists" from Muslim countries, such as Malaysia, Pakistan, Lebanon and Albania, who are then taken to places like Egypt and Saudi Arabia, where they are tortured; the large military and hi-tech presence in Islam's holiest land, Saudi Arabia, and elsewhere in the Persian Gulf region; the support of anti-democratic Middle East governments from the Shah to the Saudis.

http://members.aol.com/bblum6/sep11.htm

or better still...
We sent Marines into Lebanon and you only have to go to Lebanon, to Syria or to Jordan to witness first-hand the intense hatred among many people for the United States because we bombed and shelled and unmercifully killed totally innocent villagers -- women and children and farmers and housewives -- in those villages around Beirut. ... As a result of that ... we became kind of a Satan in the minds of those who are deeply resentful. That is what precipitated the taking of our hostages and that is what has precipitated some of the terrorist attacks. - Jimmy Carter, after he left office

& from a debate on US foreign policy...

>> Attempting to overthrow more than 40 foreign governments.
>> Unprovoked military invasion of some 20 sovereign nations.
>> Working to crush more than 30 populist movements which were fighting against dictatorial regimes.
>> Providing indispensable support to a small army of brutal dictatorships: Mobutu of Zaire, Pinochet of Chile, Duvalier of Haiti, Somoza of Nicaragua, the Greek junta, Marcos of the Philippines, Rhee of Korea, the Shah of Iran, 40 years of military dictators in Guatemala, Suharto of Indonesia, Hussein of Iraq, the Brazilian junta, Trujillo of the Dominican Republic, the Taliban of Afghanistan, and others.
>> Dropping powerful bombs on the people of about 25 countries, including 40 consecutive days and nights in Iraq, 78 days and nights in Yugoslavia, and several months in Afghanistan, all three of these countries having met the first requirement as an American bombing target -- being completely defenseless. And not once ever has the United States come even close to repairing the great damage caused by its bombings. Afghanistan and Iraq are of course the latest examples.
>> Increasing use of depleted uranium, one of the most despicable weapons ever designed by mankind, which produces grossly deformed babies amongst its many endearing qualities, and which, in a civilized world not intimidated by the United States, would be categorically banned.
>> Repeated use of cluster bombs, another fiendish device designed by a mad scientist, which has robbed numerous young people of one or more limbs, and some of their eyesight, and continues to do so every day in many countries as the bombs remain on the ground.
>> Assassination attempts on the lives of some 40 foreign political leaders.
>> Crude interference in dozens of foreign democratic elections.
>> Gross manipulation of labor movements.
>> Shameless manufacture of "news", the disinformation effect of which is multiplied when CIA assets in other countries pick up the same stories.
>> Providing handbooks, materials and encouragement for the practice of torture.
>> Chemical or biological warfare or the testing of such weapons, and the use of powerful herbicides, all causing terrible effects to the people and environments of China, Korea, Vietnam, Laos, Panama, Cuba, Iraq, Afghanistan, Serbia and elsewhere.
>> Encouragement of drug trafficking in various parts of the world when it served the CIA's purposes.
>> Supporting death squads, particularly in Latin America.
>> Causing grievous harm to the health and well-being of the world's masses by turning the screws of the IMF, World Bank, WTO, and other international financial institutions, as well as by imposing unmerciful sanctions and embargoes.
>> Much of the above has led to millions of refugees wandering homeless over the earth.

http://members.aol.com/bblum6/debate.htm

 

[devious_]

According to bin Laden, the message was:
1. Get out of the Muslim holy land (Saudi Arabia)
2. Convert to Islam.

Actually, the message is:
Stop messing with Muslims and meddling in their affairs.

 

[Gonzolo]

This link answers quite well what bin Laden wants :
http://observer.guardian.co.uk/worldview/story/0,11581,845725,00.html

Thanks to russ_watters from the boards.

Relating this back to the topic ... I believe the people who dissaprove of US foreign policy etc. have a somewhat more positive view of Canada, even though US-Canada relations are generally good.

 

[ek]

The minority system is indeed a silly system. It is highly unstable as they last for a very short period. In fact, the average minority government in Canada only lasts about a year and a half. According to Mapleleafweb.com, 1 year, 5 months and 27 days.

You're so anti-Canada it's disgusting.

What kind of system do you propose we use? Let me guess, the American one?

 

[check]

With a parliamentary system, minority governments are bound to happen. Yes, they may be unstable but it gives parties a chance regroup and reform strategies and policies. If a ruling party suddenly goes from majority to minority after an election, it’s a sign that their polices weren’t working as well now then they were in the past, so they have to reformulate their ideas. If a new party comes into power as a minority then it would be obvious to them that the people like something about their party as least a little more than anyone else’s and so they’ll try to build on that in order to achieve a majority when then feel like calling an election.

At least, that’s my own view of the system. Love it or hate it, when it’s a greater than two party system these things happen.

 

[check]

Ok Tsu, I’ll take it.

Personally Jack Layton seems like a very nice, smart man. I truly believe he wants what’s best for the country and would probably make a good PM. HOWEVER, it’s the NDP party that has some issues. I don’t trust them with the economy at all. I’m for most of their policies but realistically; I don’t think there’s anyway they could possibly pay for much of what they’re proposing. Perhaps a minority NDP government wouldn’t be such a bad thing though. Sort of a ‘try it before you buy it’ routine. :p

 

[Smurf]

These two caught my attention, so I'm curious : what about Muslim extremists whom are often associated with terrorism?

What is it about Democracy that you don't like? How should the government be chosen?

And how do you reconcile "Anti-'Capitalism" and "Pro-Free Market"?

Just wondering.

Also on my list is Anti-Violence and Anti-Religion (gonna change that to organized religion). So obviously I don't support Islam or the bombing of the WTC (because it was violent).

I try not to associate myself with media terms like 'Muslim Extremist'. Besides, in my opinion Bin Laden and his group are more Fanatical than anything else.

What don't I like about Democracy? It denies the rights of the people to govern their own country, it is the single most inefficient Government I have ever studied. Is it better than Fascism? By all means. Is it the best we have? Not in a long shot. Is it the best we've tried? Yes, because we're too scared to try anything else that might deny Big Business control of our lives and minds.

I currently Support Anarchosyndicalism and one or two forms of Technocracy, but I expect this to change.

Free Market is the Idea that by not restricting prices (among other economic activity) the economy will flourish. This is a very good system and I think it is the best economic system implemented to date (I love Keynes though). However I do not support the Idea (unless i got the definition wrong) that this is the 'perfect' way to implement it and that a completely unrestricted economy will be the most fair, the most rich, in short, the best. Some would call me a Socialist.


Ivan - I'm the 'odd one out', don't get the idea that Canada is full of Radical Technates, most people here are just as naive about Political Theory as Americans.

Quote of the Day:
Harry Lime "In Italy for 30 years under the Borgias they had warfare, terror, murder, and bloodshed, but they produced Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, and the Renaissance. In Switzerland they had brotherly love - they had 500 years of democracy and peace, and what did that produce? The cuckoo clock!"

 

[tribdog]

Gawd, I can't believe this thread is still alive. I did some research and there aren't enough interesting facts about Canada to warrant 14 pages of posts. Wanna hear my interesting Canadian story?
I had a 4th grade teacher who was from Canada. He told the most interesting stories and hinted that he might take us to his Lodge up North on a field trip. We had a Christmas party on the last day of school before the holidays and my mom made two cakes (she's an amazing cake decorator) After the party this teacher comes up to me and explains that he had forgotten to serve the cakes, so he'd freeze them and we'd have them after New Years. then he took the two cakes to the teachers Christmas party. He quit during the break and we never saw him again.

 

[revelator]

Maybe this is more of a testament to your mothers cake baking ability?

 

[Smurf]

or lack thereof

 

[Tsu]

Ok Tsu, I’ll take it.

Personally Jack Layton seems like a very nice, smart man. I truly believe he wants what’s best for the country and would probably make a good PM. HOWEVER, it’s the NDP party that has some issues. I don’t trust them with the economy at all. I’m for most of their policies but realistically; I don’t think there’s anyway they could possibly pay for much of what they’re proposing. Perhaps a minority NDP government wouldn’t be such a bad thing though. Sort of a ‘try it before you buy it’ routine. :p

Thanks, check. I'm still reading through the platforms of both parties. I find it very interesting that when you have elections, you are not only filling offices but sometimes choosing a whole new government! I read on the Liberal Party webpage that "Canadians elected a new Government on June 28th, the 38th in our nation’s proud history"! Do you not have term limits for your MP's? How often do you hold elections (and change governments )?

Can ANYONE shed some light on the lost 18 minutes in a work shift? In America, work shifts are typically 8 hours. Why are yours 7 hours and 42 minutes? This one is driving me BANANAS!

edit: WAIT! WE'VE GOT IT! They give you 18 minutes to get home before the hockey game starts. RIGHT? HOC-KEY!

 

[Smurf]

We hold elections every 5 Years max, the Prime Minister has to call it but he can't wait more than 5 years, if he does the queen gets medeival on his ass (thats when the PM runs and hides behind the bar in the House of Commons). Usually it happens in the 4th year.

18 minutes is the standard amount of time it takes to get to the hockey rink.

edit: Ha! Figured it out right before I said it.

 

[Tsu]

OMG! I WAS (close to) RIGHT!

(I was editing as Smurf was posting )

 

[tumor]

Hey! I'm from Canada but each time I see someone in Europe having his/her bagpack emblazoned with maple leaf, I feel like smacking them in the head!

 

[Gonzolo]

Gawd, I can't believe this thread is still alive. I did some research and there aren't enough interesting facts about Canada to warrant 14 pages of posts...

Here's are facts that might interest some (it's not all hockey!) :

-Whistler B.C. is constantly cited as the best snowboarding resort (must be good for ski also) in North America by (U.S.) magazines.

-Jim Carrey, Mike Myers, Shania Twain, Dan Akroyd, Leslie Nielson (I think), Pamela Anderson, Bryan Adams, Celine Dion, Cirque du Soleil are from Canada.

-Rutherford (nuclei), Bell (telephone), and Banting (insulin) worked in Canada.

-I think the origin of basketball is closely related to McGill University.

-Superman was first drawn by a Canadian guy.

-Quebec city is the only fortified city north of Mexico, and perhaps the first ever founded in North America by Europeans (1608).

-If you look at any Quebec province map, you will immediately note a large crater (round island in round lake) from an ancient meteorite.

-The Avro Arrow was perhaps one of the first (if not the first) supersonic planes ever built (in the fifties).

-Canadian soldiers formed the first wave in Normandy (Dieppe, 1942).

-Canada is a major supplier of executive jets.

 

[ek]

Do you not have term limits for your MP's?

Prime Ministers, Premiers, Members of Parliament and Members of Legislative Assembly can be voted in as many times as they can.

As an example, Alberta Premier Ralph Klein has been in power for 12 years and is about to be re-elected for another term.

 

[check]

Hey! I'm from Canada but each time I see someone in Europe having his/her bagpack emblazoned with maple leaf, I feel like smacking them in the head!

Why?

 

[tribdog]

Why?

because people in Europe are supposed to use pot leaves.
hey,nobody was biting on my Canada stuff, going to try offending a few Europeans.

 

[fourier jr]

Prime Ministers, Premiers, Members of Parliament and Members of Legislative Assembly can be voted in as many times as they can.

As an example, Alberta Premier Ralph Klein has been in power for 12 years and is about to be re-elected for another term.

Wilfred Laurier was in office continuously longer than any other PM, 15 yrs from 1896-1911. The WLM King was in office longer though (23yrs, longer than anyone in the British Commonwealth) but he had 2 terms, 1921-1930 & 1935-1948 or something like that. I think WAC Bennett was Premier of BC longer than any other premier (19yrs continuously), except possibly Tommy Douglas (Sask).

 

[Smurf]

Gonzolo;
You forgot Tom Green and Sandford Fleming (time zones). Then of course there's all our rock bands. And Lester Pearson (former PM) may have saved the world from a nuclear holocaust by proposing the creation of the UN security Council during the Suez Crisis.

 

[revelator]

Then of course there's all our rock bands.

Damn straight! Go Rush.

Don't forget the Trailer Park Boys, got to love them guys..