Lazy Norwegians Blame Oil and Welfare State for Truancy

In what should stand as a reminder of the dangers of the welfare state, Norway has surpassed Sweden as the country with the worst work ethic in the world. Budget after budget of oil surpluses and the constant and often ill-advised expansion of the welfare state, has turned this nation into one where workers “take off half the calendar year.”

Albertan’s, and their politicians, should pay close attention to this situation. With budget surpluses poring more and more money into government coffers and the Alberta governments proclivity to spending it quicker than you can say, “non-renewable resource,” they too could be dealing with a situation where government handouts and lazy, unmotivated workers become more than just a problem of northern Europe.

Slow Newsday – Justin Trudeau to Volunteer

Why, with all that is going on in the world, is this news?

Justin Trudeau to volunteer at Harvest Montreal

MONTREAL (CP) – Justin Trudeau, the eldest son of former prime minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau, will volunteer and be a spokesman for Harvest Montreal, which supplies most of the city’s foodbanks.

Congratulations Justin, you’re doing something that a good portion of Canadians do everyday.

U.N. Oil for Food Cash Funding Terrorists

In what is surely the most under-rated scandal to hit the United Nations, it now appears that the billions of dollars Saddam Hussein skimmed from the scandal-plagued U.N. oil-for-food program are now being used to fund terror against U.S. forces and the new Iraqi government.

U.N. OIL $$ LINKED TO IRAQI TERRORISTS

U.S. intelligence officials and congressional investigators said last night that the “oil-for-insurgency link” has been recently unearthed in the numerous probes now under way into the giant U.N. humanitarian program, in which Saddam is believed to have pocketed $10.1 billion through oil smuggling and kickbacks from suppliers.

U.S. intelligence officials believe a portion of the funds in these hidden accounts — possibly millions— is now being used to fund the Ba’athist guerrillas responsible for much of the postwar violence against coalition troops, sources said.

The oil for food program, which was administered by the United Nations as a way to provide aid to the Iraqi people, appears to have been corrupt as Saddam’s regime – and it wasn’t just Saddam who was getting rich,

The Times of London calculated that French and Russian companies received $11 billion worth of business from Oil for Food between 1996 and 2003.

Arabic Al-Jazeera Welcome In Canada

The CRTC has decided that it will allow the Arabic Al-Jazeera network to broadcast 24/7 in Canada. Thank god Canadians now have the option to fill their living rooms with anti-Semitic, anti-American/West propaganda. Imagine a world where we couldn’t get both sides of the story?

On a related topic, the CRTC still refuses to allow Fox News to broadcast in Canada.

American conservative news bad; anti-Semitic pro-Islamofascist news good!

Welcome to Canadian values.

Police Seize Guns for Stupidity

Islander uses rifle as a nail gun to fix screen

Last week, Michael Porter dug a rifle out from under his bed, filled it full of nails and strolled in front of his home to shoot a window screen into place.

“It’s my own fault,” Mr. Porter conceded. “But I’m originally from Nova Scotia. In Nova Scotia, you can just bring a gun anywheres.”

When police discovered four more rifles under Mr. Porter’s bed, they seized his entire collection, citing improper storage.

Police donated the two antiques to the Prince Edward Island Regiment Museum, confirmed museum curator Sergeant Greg Gallant. The three other guns found at the man’s home will be destroyed.

This is the state of our gun laws in Canada; and no, I’m not going to argue that they should be stricter. One incidence of stupidity and this guy’s whole gun collection is seized and disposed of – including those weapons that weren’t even involved in the initial act of idiocy. One wonders if the same punishment would be legal if police seized and destroyed the vehicles of those drivers who acted and drove like idiots.

Putting Moore in the Clink

Following up on my earlier post on whether Micheal Moore should be charged for meddling in Canada’s recent federal election, it appears that Elections Canada might actually be considering the move.

Elections Canada — in an unintentional parody seemingly right out of a Michael Moore film — would not “confirm or deny the existence of any complaint or investigation” into the filmmaker.

King Maker Jack Layton and the Liberals

Good old Jack is deluding himself, again. According to Jack Layton, the Liberals shouldn’t move on any major policy initiatives without first consulting with him and the other 19 NDP MPs. Jack apparently thinks that his 19 seats make him the king-maker in the parliament, ignoring the fact that on issues involving fiscal prudence, Medicare reform and missile defence, the Liberals and the Conservatives are basically on the same page.

Forcing another election too soon isn’t in the best interest of any of the parties. Particularly seeing that the Bloc and the NDP, who both had a great showing in the election (the Bloc seat count [54] and the NDP’s percentage of the vote [16%]), are more likely to lose ground (in both seat count and overall vote percentage), and influence, if the Liberal or Conservative party managed to secure a majority.

Should Canada Charge Michael Moore?

In case you missed it, during the last federal election Michael Moore offered his opinion on who we Canadians should vote for.

“You’ve got four days after it opens, to get people out to the polls to make sure that Mr. Harper doesn’t become your next prime minister,” he said.

“We’re trying to get rid of our conservative, you know. We’re going one way, you guys shouldn’t be going the opposite direction,”

“You should be saying, ‘You know what? We don’t want this country, Canada, to become like Bush’s America,’

“The American way is pull yourself up by your bootstraps: ‘Me, me, me, me, me. It’s mine. It’s mine.’ You know? Don’t go that way. Your Conservatives are trying to take you that way.”

It’s too bad Moore didn’t bother to consult the Canada Elections Act before opening his mouth and offering his opinion. It is an offence for,

“[Any] person who does not reside in Canada [to], during an election period, in any way induce electors to vote or refrain from voting for a particular candidate unless the person is (a) a Canadian citizen; or (b) a permanent resident.”

Any person found guity of such an act,

is liable on summary conviction to a fine of not more than $2,000 or to imprisonment for a term of not more than six months, or to both.”

For those of you who feel strongly enough, head on over and sign the petition to charge Moore at, chargemoore.com.