First up, Canadian peace activists believe a visa was denied to an Iraqi doctor as a little US ass-kiss. (ALPF, good thing you sent the CBC link, the anarchists removed their story.) From the CBC:
The Canadian Peace Alliance invited Dr. Salam Ismael, 29, to Canada later this month to speak about his experiences as a doctor during both sieges of Fallujah. However, he was denied a visa by Canada's embassy in Jordan.Next, journalist Michaelle Jean was named Canada's new Governor General.
Salam heads a group called Doctors for Iraq Society and has frequently traveled abroad to raise money for food and medical supplies. He's known for speaking about the suffering of Iraqi civilians during the war.
He has also written articles and given photo presentations accusing the U.S. forces in Iraq of committing atrocities.
Salam said he was told he had failed to convince the visa officer his trip was legitimate, and that there were fears he might try to stay in Canada because there are few job opportunities in Iraq. He also said his credentials for his hospital job were not persuasive.
A spokesperson for Citizenship and Immigration refused to discuss the case, citing privacy laws, but said that visa officers have discretionary powers to turn down any applicant.
A member of the Ottawa-based peace alliance said the doctor had already been to several other countries -- including Norway, Ireland, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom -- and always returned home to his family and his hospital job in Iraq.
"All of us know that there are many little ways in which our government tries to help the United States under the radar of Canadian public opinion," said Jo Wood. "I think this is one example of that."
At 48 years old, the award-winning journalist will become one of the youngest governors general ever, the third woman in the job and the first black person to call Rideau Hall home. . . .She sounds awesome. Will someone explain what a Governor General does?
Jean is probably best known to English-Canadians as the host of The Passionate Eye and Rough Cuts on CBC Newsworld.
She was born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. She left in 1968, her family fleeing the oppressive regime of Francois "Papa Doc" Duvalier, settling in Quebec with her family.
She has a six-year-old daughter whom she adopted from Haiti, and she is married to filmmaker Jean-Daniel Lafond. As well, she is fluent in five languages: French, English, Spanish, Italian and Haitian Creole.
And last, this is kind of nuts:
A visit by the Canadian defence minister to a barren island in the Arctic has sparked a row with Denmark.Discussion of this silliness is going on here and here, from which I've learned that Denmark sent troops to Iraq. We talked about the pastries, but we forgot about the really big dog.
Bill Graham landed on Hans Island, which is claimed by Canada and Denmark, during a tour of Canadian military outposts in the region.
The status of the island - an outcrop barely 100 metres wide between Canada's Ellesmere Island and Greenland - has been disputed for more than 30 years.
The Danish government says it will send a letter of protest to Canada.
The dispute started in 1973 when Denmark and Canada drew a border down the Nares Strait, between Canada's Ellesmere Island and Greenland, a semi-autonomous Danish territory.
The sovereignty of Hans Island was left to be determined later. . . .
7 comments:
The Governor-General is the Queen's representative in Canada. The G-G is responsible for giving the Crown's approval to all legislation and has the power of veto (although in practice, that never happens). Though the position is largely ceremonial, if government ever becomes paralyzed, as almost happened a couple of months ago, the G-G has the power to dissolve Parliament and give another party a chance to form a government. Most of the time, however, the G-G cuts ribbons, hands out medals and attends state funerals.
Thanks Rob. Sounds kind of like US Vice President, except for Snarly McNastyFace.
"Will someone explain what a Governor General does?"
Since our Head of State, Queen Elizabeth, lives out-of-country and has some other countries she's in charge of, she delegates the day-to-day Queeny duties to the Governor General. The GG is responsible for opening and closing parliament, disolving governments before elections, and opening shopping malls. That sort of thing.
Thanks Rob. Sounds kind of like US Vice President, except for Snarly McNastyFace.
LOL, yes, there are parallels. And Ms. Jean is definitely easier on the eyes than Cheney.
http://www.ledevoir.com/2005/08/04/87573.html
Indeed. I saw her photo in the CBC story, but forced myself not to comment on her appearance, in an effort not to appear sexist. She is beautiful.
Technically speaking, her powers are identical to a President.
If Canada ever dumps the monarchy, the GG's position would be replaced by a (also largely ceremonial) President.
In parliamentary (vs Republican sytems like France or the U.S.), it's generally the Prime Minister who holds the real power.
Technically speaking, her powers are identical to a President.
Wow. Helluva prez.
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