Canada Will Withdraw All Troops at the end of 2014

Canada has decided that handing over responsibility for Afghanistan to Afghan Security Forces means just that.  Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced, as the NATO Summit wound up, that Canada would withdraw all of its troops by the end of 2014. 

The Prime Minister said that withdrawing the troops was not abandoning the war torn country, but a transfer of responsibility to the Afghan people.  While no Canadian troops will remain in Afghanistan, Harper said that Canada would continue to support the Afghan Army by pledging $110 Million for the next three years.

Canada had been asked earlier by the United States and NATO to extend its present training contingent.  There has also been discussion as to maintaining Joint Task Forces 2 special operations troops in Afghanistan.  While the Prime Minister did not address JTF 2, it is clear that the 950 strong contingent of trainers will be coming home at the end of 2014.

NATO issued a declaration overnight stating that it would responsibly draw down its combat troops by December 31st, 2014.

"We are gradually and responsibly drawing down our forces to complete the ISAF mission by 31 December 2014. By the end of 2014, when the Afghan Authorities will have full security responsibility, the NATO-led combat mission will end."

 The United Kingdom had 414 of its soldiers killed in action, Canada 158, France 82, Germany 53, Italy 46, Denmark 42, Poland 35, Spain 34 and Australia 32, just to name a few.  Overall 3006 NATO soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan.  Add to that those wounded and psychologically damaged, one must ask the question if the cost was worth it.  Read More here 

President Obama announced that US troops would end their combat mission by mid 2013 and during a press conference with Afghan President Hamid Karzai announced that the war in Afghanistan, as we know it, has ended.

During the NATO summit it became clear that all 28 NATO leaders were looking for a way out of the war torn country and that the leaders have recognized that the war is at a stalemate.  You won't, of course, not hear any of the leaders say this.  According to them there has been enough progress that assures that Afghan Security forces can take over and keep the Taliban at bay.

According to the NATO leaders, the Afghan Forces will be in a position to take on much of that role next year, permitting the exit of NATO combat forces.  NATO, however is committed to support and training of Afghan forces.  The bill is estimated to be $4.2 Billion a year.

Canada has been in Afghanistan since 2002 and ended its combat mission in July of 2011, but maintained a contingent of 950 trainers, with a commitment to 2014.  Prime Minister Stephen Harper believes that Canada has carried enough of the load in Afghanistan.  158 Canadian soldier lost their life.  If the trainers leave in 2014, Canada will have done that mission for three years. 

One can only hope that no more Canadians die on that mission.  

 

G8 Summit Camp David - Agreement on the Problem but No Consensus

 G8 Leaders seemed to agree on the problem, but reached no consensus on how to deal with it. 

President Obama hosted the G8 Summit at Camp David in Maryland.  The talks evolved for the most part on the situation in Greece and how to deal with Iran and Syria.  While the official communique attempted to show unity in the approach of G8 leaders, there is a sharp disagreement between those pushing debt and deficit reduction and those that would want to cut back on austerity and provide further stimulus. 

The socialist newly elected President of France, Francois Hollande is pushing stimulus, supported by President Obama and Italian Prime Minister Monti.  On the other side of the issue are German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and UK Prime Minister David Cameron.  Merkel, who lost her major ally, former French President Sarkozy, now has to deal with Hollande on the Greek crisis. 

There is no doubt that President Obama and President Hollande are on the same page when it comes to stimulating the economy.   Merkel on the other hand has to deal with her German electorate, which is tired of bankrolling countries in Europe that have lower retirement ages and lucrative pensions.  One has to wonder if President Obama thinks this is fair? 

Merkel has insisted that the course of the Eurozone remain on debt and deficit reduction.  Merkel said that the the G8 wants send out a unified signal that solid finacing and growth go hand in hand and should not be played against each other.  She said that there were three efforts that can achieve success.  First by consolidating budgets, second through structural reform and in investments for the future.  She said all were united that stimulus programs should not be repeated for the time being.

Prime Minister Harper summed it up this way:

"Fiscal discipline and economic growth go hand and hand. All of our discussions recognize that," Harper said. "Fiscal discipline is not sufficient for economic growth, but it is absolutely necessary."

The joined communique read in part,  "The global economic recovery shows signs of promise, but significant headwinds persist," the G8 leaders said, underlining an imperative "to promote growth and jobs," and affirming their interest in Greece remaining in the eurozone while "respecting its commitments."

 

What that means is that all the leaders had grave concern over the crisis in Europe, especially Greece, but there was really no consensus on how to move ahead.  

Canadian Politics This Week

This week has been full of events in Canadian politics and Parliament has taken another turn when it comes to good behaviour.   Highlights this week were the election in Alberta, the student protests in Quebec and the raising of the "abortion" issue in a private members bill in the House of Commons.  There was also the apparent request by the U.S. for Australia and Canada to leave a small number of troops in Afghanistan post 2014.  A new poll suggests that the Conservative Party is in a statistical tie with the Official Opposition "New Democratic Party."

Alberta led the growth in the Canadian economy, which expanded 2.6% in 2011, well behind the 3.4% expansion in 2010.  Alberta and Saskatchewan were well ahead of the remainder of Canada with an expansion of 5.2% and 4.8% respectively.  In contrast Ontario and Quebec expanded 2.0% and 1.7%.  The economies in P.E.I, N.B. and N.S. are all but at a standstill ranging from 1.1 to .01%, while Newfoundland is above the national average at 2.9%.  Manitoba at 1.1% growth is the only Western Province below the national average.  The Yukon and Nunavut far exceeded the national average, while the economy of the North West Territories contracted by 5.5%.

Turning to the Alberta elections, Monday nights results were a major misreading of the polling organizations.  Pollsters had predicted a Wildrose sweep, yet when it was all said and done, Alison Redford's Progressive Conservative Party had an overwhelming majority, capturing 61 of 87 seats in the Alberta Legislature.  The big loser is the Alberta Liberal Party, which went from 26% of the popular vote in 2008 to just 10% in Monday's election.  While the Wildrose Party did not meet the expectations of the polls, it nonetheless gained 16 seats over 2008 and now forms the official opposition.  Many analysts believe that the election turned into Redford's favour during the last three days of the campaign.  The politics of fear worked and many Liberals joined the Redford camp, especially the unions and teachers. 

Alison Redford has a job on her hands to keep her promises, improve the ailing health care system and stamp out corruption and intimidation in her party.  The Wildrose Party will, no doubt, hold her and the Progressive Conservatives to account.  It should make for an interesting four years in the Alberta Legislature.

In Ontario, the Liberal government is one seat short of a majority and after the Progressive Conservative leader rejected the proposed the budget outright, Premier Dalton McGuinty made concessions to the New Democrats to pass his budget, another deficit budget, which resulted in Ontario's credit rating being downgraded. 

The fortunes seem to be turning in the favour of the Ontario Liberals though, since Tory MPP Elizabeth Witmer resigned on Friday, triggering a byelection.  Witmer is the MPP for Kitchener-Waterloo.  In last October's vote, Witmer had 21,356 votes while Liberal candidate Eric Davis finished second with 17,837 votes.  That riding is now up for grabs in a byelection that must be called within six months. 

Then there was the issued of student protests and violence in Montreal over tuition fees.  Even with the newly proposed increases by the Charest government, Quebec students pay the lowest tuition fees anywhere in Canada.  In Alberta for full time tuition the cost is double compared to Quebec students.  If Quebec students ever had the sympathy of the public, it is unlikely that anyone is on their side after the violence and destruction caused by their protests.  Every day they strike costs the taxpayer additional fund to pay for police forces.  Go figure.

On the national scene a private members motion once again ignited the fire between pro-life and pro-choice forces.  The motion called for a committee to be formed to examine when life starts.  While the bill will go nowhere, it again raised doubts as to the Prime Minister's secret agenda.  The Prime Minister already indicated he would vote against the motion.  In likelihood most of his caucus will as well.  The Liberals will allow a free vote on the issue, while the NDP has instructed its MPs to vote against the motion.  One has to shake his head and wonder why this issue has to be raised yet again.  These issues have been settled decades ago.

As it became know this week that there may be a request by the U.S. for Canada to leave some troops in Afghanistan past 2014, the debate was once again ignited.  The NDP is absolutely against any troops remaining in Afghanistan, while the government indicated they would consider it.

"As we approach that date, we will examine all options and we will take the decision that is in the best interest of this country and in the best interest of our security objectives for the globe," PM Harper said. 

When Mulcair asked the prime minister about the extension, Harper attacked the NDP for being pacifists regardless of the situation. "In 1939, the NDP leader didn’t even want to support the fight against Hitler," said Harper. Of course the PM was referring to the CCF, the predecessor of the NDP.  This created a lot of chatter in the twitter sphere, with Canadians offering history lessons to the PM. 

All in all it has been a busy week in Canada, with the election campaign heating up in British Columbia, the Question Period comedy hour, student violence and demonstrations in Quebec and the Alberta election.  

Alison Redford's First 45 days in Office

Alison Redford was elected by the Progressive Conservative Party of Alberta on October 1st and sworn in as Premier of Alberta the following Friday.  During the first ballot she came a distant third, which required a run-off election.  Gary Marr, who was the winner with 41% of the vote on the first ballot, also came first of three prospective candidates during the run off, gaining around 40% support.  Since none of the three candidates had a clear 50% majority, second choice votes were used to determine the final count.  Redford won fair and square by party rules.  IMHO this should have gone to a third ballot with the third place candidate dropping off.  In all likelihood the results would have been different.

Alison Redford really doesn't have a mandate from the electorate to make some of the the decisions she has made during the past 45 days.  She should present her platform and call a general election.  Let Albertans decide if they want to support that platform.

As soon as she got into office, Redford restored $100 Million to education, without making any adjustments to her budget.  Although she promised to do this within ten days, diligence should have been used to ensure that all other aspects are covered.   It is no surprise that whenever cuts are announced bureaucracies have difficulty in cutting in their own backyard.  Cuts are almost always carried on the backs of teachers.  At the very least the PC government should have conducted a study to see where the education funding is being spend.

Redford's second move was the approval of Bill 50, the portion that approved the Heartland Transmission  Project to the East of Sherwood Park, near Edmonton.  This action was taken despite the fact that a closer examination of the requirement for the transmission lines were needed.

The Alberta Uitilities Commission(AUC) states in its decision that the Alberta Government has taken away the Commission’s legal ability to deal with the costs of the line and whether Bill 50 lines are even needed.  The AUC emphasized in its decision that Cabinet now makes those decisions and Bill 50 prevents the Commission from turning down any Bill 50 line on the grounds that it is not needed or that it is not in the public interest.  

Strathcona County Mayor Linda Osinchuk has been speaking out regarding the transmission line and has send a letter to Premier Redford's government urging that Alberta's energy needs and costs be  reviewed before proceeding with the above  ground line.

Strathcona County's mayor has seized the opportunity to take her concerns on electricity transmission to the energy minister.
Strathcona County Mayor Linda Osinchuk has been speaking out against the Heartland Transmission project since the Alberta Utilities Commission approved the 65-kilometre above ground powerline through Strathcona County.
The line is a 500 kilovolt, double-circuit transmission line that would cover 65 kilometres from south Edmonton to the Heartland region near Fort Saskatchewan.
At a session Thursday with cabinet ministers at the Association of Municipal Districts Convention, Osinchuk renewed her call for the province to review electricity needs and costs in Alberta.
Energy Minister Ted Morton says the new line is needed, not just for the Heartland, but to power the oilsands as well.
This comes one day after Osinchuk delivered letters to MLA's on the county's plans to file an application in court to review the decision by the Alberta Utilities Commission. CTV Edmonton

Redford traveled to Washington, D.C. this week, apparently to tell Alberta's story on the XL Keystone Pipeline.   She also met with business leaders in New York City, before a final stop in Ottawa for a discussion with Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

 Alberta's Premier is taking some heat on the last leg of her tour promoting the province's energy sector.  Thursday, Alison Redford criticized New Democrat M.P.'s who went to Washington, D.C. and openly opposed the Keystone XL pipeline.  Prior to her meeting with the Prime Minister, Redford told reporters that it's not appropriate for Canadian politicians to advise American decision makers and serve as political activists.Redford's words raised the ire of the opposition.  Alberta's only NDP Member of Parliament, Linda Duncan, says she was appalled to hear Redford's statement. Redford met with Stephen Harper Thursday afternoon. Along with a Canadian energy strategy, she discussed immigration policies and pushed for per capita health funding.Redford says the discussion went well but no promises were made.Source CTV

The big news from the national media tonight is that Redford  is calling for a National Energy Strategy.  You can read more about it here.

In her first 45 days in office, Redford has demonstrated that she is of the same ilk as the PC old boys club.  In essence, nothing has changed.  The idea of a provincial sales tax was floated yesterday.  The PC government quickly denied that they were even thinking of the idea.

The Wildrose Alliance, under the leadership of Danielle Smith, released the Redford files on November 21st.  In an e-mail it said:

It has been just over 45 days since Alison Redford became Premier of Alberta, and already her list of flip-flops and fumbles is staggering.

From breaking her campaign promise of introducing fixed election dates, appointing Gary Mar and Rick Orman as senior government officials without holding an open and competitive application process, her “missing in action” approach on fighting for the approval of the Keystone XL pipeline, and most recently, her government talking about a provincial sales tax and reintroducing health care premiums, it is clear that Premier Redford is out of touch with the views of everyday Albertans.

That's why today, we have launched The Redford Files, a website which outlines the Premier’s string of broken promises and missteps.

 The Website The Redford Files chronicles Redford's first 45 days, her flip flops and spending. It also carries a tweet from Linda Duncan, New Democratic Party, stating:

@LindaDuncanMP Linda Duncan

#yegfed # cdnpoli pleased Redford adopting federal NDP platform for public dialogue on sustainable energy future for Canadians

Without a mandate from the general public, Redford and her government should stop making life changing decisions for Albertans.   She should call a general election based on her agenda as soon as possible.

Canada's Prime Minister Seeks One on One Bilateral Meeting with Obama

Stephen Harper, Prime Minister of Canada and staunch supporter of the XL Keystone Pipeline, is seeking a one on one meeting with US President Obama.  Canada was caught unaware of the decision by the Administration when it decided to do further studies on the project, voicing environmental and health concerns.

Both leaders are at an APEC summit.  Obama will also be visiting Australia and Indonesia on a nine day trip.

The President, who has been campaigning on his go nowhere "Jobs Act", has turned down 20,000 good paying jobs and an injection of $Billions into the economy.    The long awaited border deal, which would ease movements across the border is also outstanding.  Harper also wants to address the "Buy American" provision, which Obama supports.

The two leaders were to be attending a "Three Amigo" summit, which was abruptly cancelled due to the death of Mexican Interior Minister Francisco Blake Mora in a helicopter crash on Friday.

The President, at the very least, owes Prime Minister Harper a meeting on these subjects and other North American issues.  Canadian Finance Minister, Jim Flaherty said yesterday that the delay of the pipeline could in fact cancel the deal.

The pipeline approval has been in a 19 months process, and both EPA and State Department Environmental Impact Studies have deducted that there would be limited environmental impact.  While the opposition wants a rerouting from the Nebraska Sand Hills, the timing has been questioned.  Nebraska with Kansas and other midwestern states are heavily subsidized for ethanol production and some feel that this is the real motivation.  Of course President Obama also worries about his left base, which he needs to turn out for the 2012 election.

He said Harper is pushing Obama for a bilateral meeting to discuss two key issues: the possible cancellation of the Keystone XL pipeline; and the long-awaited border security deal.
"If he doesn't get (the meeting), journalists could interpret this as a snub of the prime minister," Fife said.
The U.S. president has meetings scheduled with the prime minister of Japan and the presidents of China and Russia.
A meeting with Obama would give Harper a boost in the face of what might otherwise be a lacklustre few days in Hawaii.CTV Edmonton

The bilateral meeting will coccur later today and PM Stephen Harper has reassured Canadians that the US anti-Canadian decisions are political posturing, a part of the political season.

Harper said that Canada has already voiced its disappointment with these decisions, but that he is confident that the projects will eventually go ahead, because they make imminent sense.  He said that the pipeline is not only in the best interest of Canada but also in the best interest of the United States.  He also said that this decision underscores the need to gain access to the Asian markets for Canada’s energy products.

 Harper has three issues that he wants to address with Obama,  The XL Keystone Pipeline Decision, The Perimeter Security Border Agreement and the “Buy America” measure, which has resurfaced in Obama’s Jobs Act.  Politisite.com