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News from Connect2Canada
Podcast: GM's Corner with Brian Burke
The Connect2Canada Team
Brian Burke, General Manager of the U.S. Men's Olympic Hockey Team and the Toronto Maple Leafs, discusses Team USA's chances at the Vancouver Winter Games. Listen.
Special Features
PM announces Canada to build Haitian Government Administrative Base
Monday, February 15, 2010
Prime Minister of Canada
Prime Minister Stephen Harper today announced that Canada will support the construction of a Temporary Government Administrative Base for the Haitian Government in Port-au-Prince. The Prime Minister made the announcement following a meeting with René Préval, President of Haiti, and Jean-Max Bellerive, Prime Minister of Haiti.
“The support that Canadians and the international community extended to Haiti is a testament to the compassion that unites humanity in the face of catastrophe,” said Prime Minister Harper.
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Minister Van Loan Marks Coming-into-Force of Canada–U.S. Agreement Waiving Buy American Provisions
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada
The Honourable Peter Van Loan, Minister of International Trade, today made the following statement to mark the implementation of the Canada-U.S. agreement on government procurement:
“Today marks an important day in Canada and the United States—the coming-into-force of the agreement on Buy American that we announced two weeks ago. The respective governments have ratified the deal, and it takes effect today.
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Embassy of Canada Kicks off 2010 Olympic Winter Games
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Embassy of Canada
If you weren’t able to take in the likes of Nelly Furtado, KD Lang, First Nations dancers, and fiddlers live from BC Place in Vancouver then the Embassy of Canada in Washington DC was the next best place to be for the Opening Ceremonies of the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games on Friday, February 12.
Guests to the event were treated to a truly Olympic experience featuring snowboard and ski jumping demos, delicious Canadian food and beverage, ice sculptures, and a Nintendo Wii winter sport game challenge with two limited edition OMEGA Olympic time pieces awarded as prizes.
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International News
Snowboard pioneer Canada's newest golden girl
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Mihira Lakshman, CBC Sports
From the beginning, Maelle Ricker has always been a trailblazer.
When she was a little girl growing up in North Vancouver, her dad wanted her to take up skiing — she learned to snowboard.
When she first jumped on a board, she had visions of someday winning a medal at the Olympics. The podium dream was ambitious enough, but snowboarding wasn't even in the Olympics in the early 1990s when Ricker was cutting her first tracks on Blackcomb Mountain — making the goal even more far-fetched.
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Stephen Harper shoots and scores on NBC
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Jane Taber, Globe and Mail
Selling Canada’s game to a U.S. audience. Michael Ignatieff might get a billboard in Times Square posing with Barack Obama but Stephen Harper just got a little face time on one of America’s most popular morning shows — NBC’s The Today Show.
The Prime Minister is in Haiti today as the Canadian men’s Olympic hockey team prepares for its first game, which everyone in the country hopes will lead to a gold medal. Yesterday, however, Mr. Harper was part of a piece by reporter Kevin Tibbles on Canada’s obsession with hockey.
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Cannon seeks accountability on African aid at G8
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
CTV News
Canada won't commit to any increase in African aid until it is satisfied the $2 billion it has already delivered has not been wasted, The Canadian Press has learned.
Canada has fulfilled its aid promises to Africa and now wants to use its G8 chairmanship to ensure accountability for the money already spent, Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon said in an interview.
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Stephen Colbert makes amends
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Jane Taber, The Globe and Mail
After months of mocking Canadian “syrup suckers” and “iceholes,” Stephen Colbert says he “takes it all back.”
The American comedian, all perfect white teeth and well-coiffed dark hair, was on Canadian soil/ice yesterday, attending the Winter Olympics and also taping segments for four of his shows, The Colbert Report.
“I take it all back,” he volunteered to The Globe and Mail, not even waiting to be asked about his derisive descriptions of his northern neighbours.
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Furlong gives Games a rave review
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Rod Mickleburgh, CTV Sports
VANOC boss John Furlong gave the 2010 Winter Olympics a rave review Wednesday, in the face of a storm of criticism over what has been termed The Glitch Games since they opened five days ago.
At a morning media briefing, Mr. Furlong praised every aspect of the Games, from the venues, to the spectators, to the volunteers, to the throngs of people packing the streets of Vancouver.
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PM praises Canada's 'hard power'
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Andrew Chung, The Toronto Star
Visiting the city hardest hit by last month's earthquake in Haiti, Prime Minister Stephen Harper tried to reshape the worldwide perception of Canada's military capabilities.
Canada, typically viewed as wielding "soft power" as opposed to military might, has moved in with the big boys in its resources and influence, Harper suggested.
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Bilodeau finds inspiration at home
Monday, February 15, 2010
CBC Sports
One of the lasting images of the Vancouver Olympics will likely be freestyle skier Alexandre Bilodeau pumping his fist to the crowd at Cypress Mountain after realizing he had won Canada's first gold medal on home soil.
But the moment when Bilodeau embraced his older brother, Frederic, may resonate more with the athlete from the Montreal suburb of Rosemère than anything else.
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L'argent pour ses 20 ans
Jeudi 18 février 2010
Radio-Canada
Marianne St-Gelais ne pouvait s'offrir un plus beau cadeau.
Le jour de son 20e anniversaire, St-Gelais a décroché l'argent au 500 m courte piste, mercredi, au Pacific Coliseum de Vancouver.
« Je ne réalise pas ce que je vis, a lancé St-Gélais avec un sourire contagieux. C'est un rêve pour moi. Je me suis donnée à fond dans chacune des courses et je me retrouve avec une médaille olympique.
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Business and Trade
Americans must understand that border barriers will hurt them, too
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Barbara Yaffe, Vancouver Sun
A new academic study funded by Ottawa reaffirms a story of serious decline in economic activity along the Canada–U.S. border.
The 15-page report, titled Border Barometer, contains a litany of disappointing statistics, showing the value of trade between the two countries dropped nine per cent in 2008.
At the same time, auto and truck traffic at the border declined 4.8 per cent from one year earlier.
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U.S. needs oil sands, ambassador says
Friday, February 12, 2010
Susan Delacourt, The Toronto Star
Two big U.S. retailers may have written off Alberta's oil sands, but the U.S. ambassador to Canada says the fuel is too important to his country to simply snub the controversial resource.
"If we're looking for long-term safe and secure sources of energy, Canada, and therefore the oil sands, need to be part of it," David Jacobson said in an interview with the Star.
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U.S. investment in Canada soaring
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
David Pett, Financial Post
U.S. investors continued to plow their money into Canadian bonds and stocks during December, putting another exclamation mark on a record-shattering year for foreign investment north of the border.
U.S. purchases of Canadian equities netted US$1-billion in the last month of 2009, while net U.S. investment in Canadian bonds hit US$2.7-billion, according to figures from the monthly U.S. Treasury International Capital report, known as TIC.
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Canada Bread to open big new plant in Hamilton; replaces 3 in Toronto
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Winnipeg Free Press
Canada Bread Co. Ltd. (TSX:CBY) says it plans to locate its big new bakery in Hamilton.
The company says the $100-million, 35,000-square-metre facility will be built on a 10-hectare property in North Glanbrook Industrial Park.
It is expected to provide 300 jobs once completed in 2011.
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Flaherty tightens mortgage taps
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
CBC News
Federal finance Minister Jim Flaherty announced new rules Tuesday aimed at preventing homebuyers from getting into financial difficulty when mortgage rates rise.
After consulting with major Canadian lenders, Flaherty outlined the latest weapons at Ottawa's disposal aimed at removing some of the speculative froth in the housing market.
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Shaw to buy control of CanWest
Friday, February 12, 2010
Globe and Mail
The company that owns Shaw Cable and the StarChoice satellite TV service has arranged to buy a controlling stake in CanWest Global Communications Corp (CGS-X0.06----%) .
Calgary-based Shaw Communications Corp. (SJR.B-T19.80----%) would own at least 20 per cent of CanWest's equity and 80 per cent of its voting stock after the deal.
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Une entente énergétique sensée entre le N.-B. et le Québec?
Mardi 16 février 2010
L'Acadie Nouvelle
Les révisions à l'entente énergétique entre le Nouveau-Brunswick et le Québec annoncées le 20 janvier sont importantes. Le Nouveau-Brunswick sera toujours propriétaire du réseau de transport et de distribution et Énergie NB demeurera une société de la Couronne provinciale qui continuera d'employer environ deux tiers de la main-d'œuvre actuelle. Les autres employés se verront offrir un emploi avec Hydro-Québec. Le gouvernement provincial continuera de jouer un rôle essentiel pour ce qui est de déterminer et de mettre en œuvre la politique énergétique du Nouveau-Brunswick. Il est certain que l'entente originale annoncée en octobre dernier était plus importante et plus complète, mais les avantages pour le Nouveau-Brunswick sont toujours considérables.
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Laura Secord back in Canadian hands
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Hollie Shaw, Financial Post
Laura Secord is back in Canadian hands.
The classic chocolatier, named for War of 1812 heroine who warned British forces of the advancing Americans, has been sold to Aliments NutriArt Inc., an affiliate of Quebec-based Biscuits Leclerc Ltee, for $19.5-million, said sources familiar with the transaction.
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Canadian News
Déclarations de Bouchard : un effet négatif, mais un débat salutaire
Jeudi 18 février 2010
Catherine Handfield, La Presse
À court terme, les déclarations de Lucien Bouchard auront inévitablement un effet négatif sur le Parti québécois (PQ). Mais à long terme, elles pourraient générer un débat salutaire pour le parti, selon des spécialistes.
Mardi soir, l'ex-premier ministre péquiste a reproché au parti et à sa chef, Pauline Marois, leur manque d'ouverture envers les immigrés. Il a également affirmé que la souveraineté n'est plus un enjeu prioritaire.
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Energy and environment top of agenda for Canadian premiers in D.C.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Lee-Anne Goodman, The Canadian Press
Seven Canadian premiers descend upon the U.S. capital this week for the winter meeting of the influential National Governors Association, where they'll sit down with their stateside counterparts and some key members of President Barack Obama's cabinet.
The premiers of Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island are in town for the first-ever meeting of the governors association and its Canadian counterpart, the Council of the Federation.
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Northern GG for a northern power
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Don Martin, National Post
There's a rough script being written in the Prime Minister's Office on how Stephen Harper will crown Canada's next Governor General.
The plan, according to one informed source which the PMO didn't dismiss as delusional speculation Wednesday, would see Gov. Gen. Michaelle Jean replaced July 1 on the eve of her fifth anniversary as a phenomenally popular force of personality and fashion sense.
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Ont. legislation creates all-day kindergarten
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
The Canadian Press
Legislation has been introduced to create all-day learning for four- and five-year-olds in Ontario starting this fall.
The bill calls on school boards to offer full-day junior and senior kindergarten in addition to extended-day programs that would be offered even on days when schools are closed.
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Calgary adventurer plans to pedal boat across the Pacific Ocean to Hawaii
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Canwest News Service
Three years of hard work will be tested as Calgary's Greg Kolodziejzyk, pictured, pedals his high-tech, human-powered boat from Nanaimo to Port Hardy, B.C., this week. The Albertan adventurer launched his red-and-yellow, 28-foot, custom-built boat on Tuesday morning to set sail on a five-day trial run up the B.C. coast. If it's smooth sailing, the 48-year-old will follow through with plans to pedal the craft on a 4,500-kilometre, solo venture from Tofino, B.C., to Hawaii on July 1. Mr. Kolodziejzyk's completely enclosed boat has solar panels, GPS systems, a satellite phone and tracking devices.
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Mulroney champions ‘brilliance’ in foreign service
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Jennifer Campbell, Ottawa Citizen
Battered by the Colvin affair, Canada’s foreign service got a much needed pat on the back Monday night from former prime minister Brian Mulroney.
Speaking at an event that commemorated the Open Skies Conference of 1990, and the role it — and his government — ultimately and unexpectedly played in the reunification of Germany after the fall of the Berlin Wall, Mulroney took a break from his speaking notes to encourage his successors to use the department’s expertise.
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Qui paiera la taxe sur les boissons gazeuses?
Jeudi 18 février 2010
Stéphanie Bérubé, La Presse
L'idée de taxer la malbouffe fait son chemin au Québec. Les jeunes libéraux sont en faveur d'une nouvelle taxe applicable sur certains aliments à très faible valeur nutritive. La Coalition Poids demande au gouvernement de commencer par taxer, le plus vite possible, les boissons gazeuses et les boissons énergisantes. Plusieurs sont d'accord avec cette idée, laquelle compte aussi de nombreux détracteurs qui estiment qu'on ira chercher de l'argent dans les poches des plus démunis sans leur proposer de solutions de rechange.
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Opinion/Editorial
Why Canada is cheering
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Nathan Vardi, MSN Canada
As the world assembles in Vancouver for the Winter Olympics, Canucks have a lot to celebrate.
Canada has avoided many of the problems that currently bedevil other developed countries like the U.S.—mountains of public debt, a banking system in crisis, a housing debacle, and a weakened currency. As the world assembles in Vancouver for the Winter Olympics, the 21st century is shaping up great for Canada.
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‘I love Canada and Canadians because they like me’
Friday, February 12, 2010
Andrew Ryan, Globe and Mail
Contrary to urban myth and the Republican Tea Party, Bill Maher loves America. It's the people running America that make him see red.
Over the past decade, Maher has made a career out of railing against the American political machine — be it Bush or Obama at the helm — and rarely holds back his vitriol toward organized religion, the war against terror, marijuana laws and, oddly enough, the H1N1 flu shot. Or consider the recent debate in the U.S. regarding a public option for health care.
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