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Debates of May 27th, 2008
House of Commons Hansard #99 of the 39th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was food.
- Question Period
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Canada-EFTA Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act
Government Orders
1:05 p.m.
Guy André Berthier—Maskinongé, QC
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his question.
As he was saying, the European Union is a market of capital importance to Quebec and Canada. If we do not have an agreement with the European Union, companies will be tempted to move to countries that have access to the European Union. In that respect, the hon. member for Sherbrooke is right.
Concluding a trade agreement with the European Union should be a priority. If we do not have a trade agreement with the EU, in the coming years we will see companies move to countries that have signed such agreements in order to access this huge market.
One of the priorities of parliamentarians would be to work on establishing an agreement with the European Union. This agreement with the European Free Trade Association is a step in the right direction.
Canada-EFTA Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act
Government Orders
1:05 p.m.
Serge Cardin Sherbrooke, QC
Mr. Speaker, I really enjoy discussing things with my colleague from the Standing Committee on International Trade because of his expertise, his experience and his knowledge.
Businesses in his riding have suffered quite a bit from the Conservative ideology that we have seen in recent years. In his presentation, he mentioned the loss of 150,000 jobs in Quebec, including 80,000 lost since the Conservative regime began.
We are concerned about two factors, as we indicated in our supplementary opinion in the report: supply management and the shipbuilding industry.
My hon. colleague will recall that when we met with representatives from the shipbuilding industry, two important points were raised. One was the accelerated capital cost allowance that the Conservative government readily granted to the oil industry. The shipbuilding industry deserves the same.
The NDP member mentioned it earlier. In the west, the shipbuilding industry represented nearly 31,000 jobs. There are far fewer today. This industry deserves to be supported, however, as it was subsidized in Norway for many years. Businesses have had the time to modernize, restructure and build a strong, lucrative industry.
In the meantime, this government has long since abandoned all types of subsidies. Yet no one is asking for subsidies for the shipbuilding industry, but rather assistance that could be in the form of accelerated capital cost allowance, as mentioned by industry representatives, or loans, loan guarantees or funding through EDC. These are all possibilities.
I would like to know if my colleague believes that the Conservative government will take the necessary action to help the industry develop. People are demanding it. It is possible for the government to do something about this.
I wonder if my hon. colleague can tell us how we can incite the government to do something. Do we have to go as far as replacing the Conservatives with the Liberals, if the Liberals believe in it? For eight years, the Liberals took part in free trade agreement negotiations with the European Free Trade Association. If changes had to be made, which of the two parties would be most likely to implement such measures?
Canada-EFTA Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act
Government Orders
1:10 p.m.
Guy André Berthier—Maskinongé, QC
Mr. Speaker, once again, I would like to thank my colleague for his question.
In response to his concern about shipbuilding, for some time now, the Bloc Québécois has been urging the government to bring in a real marine policy to ensure the development of this industry, which is of strategic importance to Quebec and essential to the protection and environmental safety of the river. As others have pointed out today, the federal government stopped subsidizing the industry in 1988. The government stopped subsidizing it, so Quebec brought in tax credits for the industry, but the federal government clawed back between 20% and 25% of the money allocated to support Quebec's shipbuilding industry. Shame on the government, with its multi-billion dollar surplus, for not offering more support to this industry.
To answer my colleague, the Conservative Party will have to understand this eventually. The government saw what happened in the manufacturing sector where many jobs have been lost in the textile industry and all other manufacturing industries. Despite the fact that it rakes in so much money, the government never offered that industry any support. Its surplus was in the billions—$11 billion last year—but it did not offer any help. I think there is a lesson in that, and we hope that the Conservative government gets it. We cannot leave the industry to its own devices without providing some support to help it deal with competition. Under this agreement, it has 10 to 15 years, depending on the type of vessel, to bring in a real marine policy to support the shipbuilding industry. It has the means. I hope that the government will wake up.
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Government Orders
1:10 p.m.
Brian Masse Windsor West, ON
Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure to stand in the chamber and speak to this important issue.
There are so many different facets to any trade agreement. The principle behind it should be, for obvious reasons, to ensure a fair and principled trading relationship is developed so that it not only fosters economic development and social prosperity in our country, but also leads to greater relations with other countries and improves their trading and prosperity as well.
However, in that discussion there needs to be a balance and restitution when there are policy changes that will affect workers across this country, whether they are in Quebec, in British Columbia or in my home province of Ontario. We have seen some very significant shifts in people's lives when a trade agreement is brought into place by the government, although we are not sure whether we will be doing that here yet as we are just discussing it right now.
We have expressed some concerns on this one from day one with regard to the shipbuilding industry and also supply management for the agricultural industry. What we have sought to do is to find remedies to those main elements because workers will be exposed to some unfair practices and procedures. Until we actually get those things taken care of, that is the reason we object to this trade agreement.
I find it a little naive for the other parties to raise these issues of concern and then blindly hope the Conservatives will bring something in later on. Those things need to be put in the structure of the agreement now because, if we then start to take other measures, there will be challenges by other governments about the faith of the agreement and whether we were acting in good faith when signing it but then we were going to then do something different later on. We will create another complicated situation.
With this trade agreement, we need to ensure that all the parties understand there are a couple of areas of particular concern that are heightened here and which need to have a different set of rules to them.
For the shipbuilding industry, it is a real concern related to the fairness. Norway, in particular, is after this Canadian gem. It really is an opportunity. There has been discussions about the erosion of the industry but there is also an incredible opportunity right now to rebuild our shipbuilding capacity. I will talk a little about that later. However, it is an exciting opportunity for Canadian manufacturing and also Canadian value added work that could be done in our home ports.
It has been done in the past. We have an opportunity right now that we are squandering if we are going to be entering this agreement, because the phase out period, from 10 to 15 years, depending upon the circumstances, is not sufficient to put the proper policy in place. Once again, if we take other measures to try to do that after signing an agreement, I am sure we will end up being challenged on that. These things need to be fixed first before they go forward.
The second element that we have had increasing concern about is the issue of our supply management. What we would be doing right now is giving up our agricultural independence in many respects. Some elements would go to the WTO and there will be trade dispute mechanisms there. I will talk a little about that later. We would also be giving up our sovereignty.
Coming from a community that was reliant on jobs in the auto sector and still is to this day as we try to transition to a certain degree and win back some of the jobs in the auto sector, we witnessed first-hand the catastrophe of trade agreements and also the WTO.
Specifically, we can see it across this land right now with manufacturing. We now have more service jobs in Canada than manufacturing. We have lost around 250,000 jobs in the last five years and 60,000 of those lost jobs have been since January this year alone. That is unacceptable. We have witnessed this basically from a false economy, by having a high export of natural resource commodities, especially in the oil and gas sector, and it is not sustainable. We have driven our dollar so far up so quickly that rapid escalation has taken place and we have not been able to adjust in many ways.
We actually have not had the opportunity to prepare for this. Often what is not discussed in this whole debate is the fact that we had a lot of assembly and manufacturing that did not get the proper research, development and procurement for new equipment because we did not have a proper capital cost reduction allowance program in place to increase productivity levels. That was missed out.
What often ends up happening in a branch plant economy is that even knowledgeless jobs are lost to China, Mexico and the United States. Many of the jobs that are being lost right now in my constituency are sister and feeder plants that are being relocated to the U.S. because of the high dollar. The government has simply not done anything about it.
The new auto policy that it put in place is very vague and it is a modest amount of money. Ironically, it is derived upon a new tax on the auto sector itself and people are furious about that situation. The government has not shown any goodwill to address this issue.
I am not sure why the other parties think that the Conservatives will somehow get it and then, on top of that, politically act and put measures in place that will protect the shipbuilding industry. I do not think that is a realistic expectation. Once we make these decisions, we can change significant features of the Canadian economy. Even though shipbuilding is not at the peak that it was in the past, it has the opportunity to go forward.
I want to touch a bit on what happened with another trade deal. The Auto Pact in Canada was one of the best trade agreements ever entered into. It is a good example of dealing with the situation. Essentially, the deal was that if people wanted to ship vehicles into Canada, the vehicles had to be built here too. It opened up the North American market between Canada and the United States and a lot of value added jobs were added to the Canadian economy. It was very successful.
A number of new plants opened and a whole series of supply elements came with that. We had research and development and headquarters were located in Canada. It created an evolution, in many respects, in the automotive industry. Windsor was where the first automobile was produced in Canada. Despite that, there had not been the big progression that we wanted.
However, when the Auto Pact came into play, it really took off and was very successful. It was different than some of the manufacturing and service sector jobs. The service sector jobs are important too but they do not bring in the type of income that is necessary to sustain and support the average Canadian family. We have seen that through a series of statistics and heard it in testimony from constituents who are having a hard time getting by today and making the payments on their ordinary bills. These manufacturing jobs really became the basis for many progressive values in the Canadian system.
What also came about because of that trade agreement was the first program in Canada, developed in Windsor, that provided payments for prescription drugs as part of people's health care plans. That resulted from the trade agreement and the auto policy. Later on it became a feature of negotiations by the CAW and other labour organizations. Now the system is used is many places across Canada. It is a way of compensating employees by providing partial coverage for drug plans.
We entered into NAFTA with the United States and we became exposed to the WTO that then ruled against Canada having the Auto Pact. What became the recipe to create a good environment then became another one to dismantle it. The result is that we have gone from being the fourth largest assembler of vehicles in the world to number ten, and we are slipping further on that. We are continuing to witness a decline.
It is sad. At a time when the industry is starting to change significantly because of newer technologies and an exciting future, we are not there. Some projects in this country have gone forward and have been positive but, by and large, we are missing out on greater opportunities for vehicle development that is now happening in other countries for a whole host of reasons. A lot of that is over policy.
I see the same type of situation taking place with the WTO in the supply management situation that we will be facing with this trade agreement deal. I have a lot of concern. When we look at the WTO and how it rules, it has been described in some categories as a kangaroo court because the bodies listening to complaints are often controlled by corporations and business interests and can override domestic laws and sovereignty issues.
It is very important to recognize that the dairy and some of our other agricultural sectors will be giving up terms and conditions that could be favourable to Canadians in having other people set our rules. I do not particularly get great comfort in that given the experience we have had in the auto sector on this.
I want to turn my attention to this agreement and the shipbuilding industry. Right now there is a current tariff of 25% and Norway has been really good. It is interesting because Canada, despite having the largest coastline of any nation, really does not have the shipbuilding industry that it should have and historically has had since World War II. What is important about this deal is that there was an attempt by the shipbuilding association and the unions to carve this out of the actual agreement.
People might say, that is fine but they cannot get their way, so we should just go ahead with it anyway and see what happens and that is the way we do things. It is not. In the United States the Americans have the Jones act. The Jones act was something they put in place to protect their industry, not only just in terms of military ships but also other ships so that they are not only going to be built there, but they are actually going to be repaired and serviced there, and they are going to protect that industry.
They see it through the lens of not only just in terms of the protection of jobs but also what I think is important and being missed in this debate, and that is the ability to maintain sovereignty over national defence along with the security of the country.
If Canada sees a further erosion of our shipbuilding industry, and we have had some recent success stories because there is now a maturation in some of the fleets and there is a requirement to build at quite a significant increase in pace, we are going to witness a loss of that capacity, and we will be dependent upon others. I cannot understand how a country, with such a large coastline and such a strong tradition with regard to building and being engineers on the cutting edge in many respects of advancement, would want to pass up that opportunity.
For example, in the Great Lakes, when we had the last period of shipbuilding, there was a large influx that came in about 30 to 40 years ago or longer actually. Collingwood evolved as a shipbuilding community and a lot of the Great Lakes shipping was replaced there. Now the industry is having to change its ships, extending their life cycle, and there needs to be a large replacement of them over the next number of years.
That is a challenge because there are environmental issues, a whole host of manufacturing issues, but also it is an exciting opportunity at a time when we are witnessing the erosion of other types of employment in manufacturing in the country.
Why not now use this as an important opportunity to redefine the Canadian lens on shipbuilding and also manufacturing? We know that the work has to be done. The association admits it. It has been out there advocating because it needs to replace its fleets. At the same time we have this incredible opportunity.
Instead, by signing this agreement, we are actually going to be like Norway, having a different set of rules, and it will have more access to Canadian jobs and we will lose out on this.
We can see the characteristic comparisons with the auto industry quite clearly. After the second world war, Japan and Korea set up very specific strategies to get into the automotive market and the manufacturing market to rebuild their economies. They set up national strategies that would make them efficient and also would support the development of the industry because they knew that the jobs would be good and important, and they could create a based economy on that which was stable.
Therefore, they went ahead and did that, everything from Kia Motors in South Korea and Japan was very much supported by the American industry at that time. They got into an industry where they are now shipping into our industry quite lucratively and we cannot ship back to them.
Meanwhile, it has been the same thing with Norway. It has been very aggressive building its industry and good for it. Norway decided that as a public policy and decided to move forward with it. Now it has phased out that support, but it has done it at a time when it is really at the top of the game. It will be very difficult for us to be able to penetrate into that market. Therefore, we are going to be losing out on jobs which is unfortunate. Once again, this is a clear economic opportunity for Canada to move forward.
The testimony just did not come from the unions that are concerned about losing jobs and opportunities for the workers. Some of the shipbuilding association members actually came forward as well and presented this evidence. That is important to recognize because once again there was an attempt to say, "Let's carve it out and make sure the proper policy is there. At the same time, the deal could go forward if there were going to be those changes."
So, as we are faced with this decision, we have to ask the fundamental questions about whether or not we should be entering into this agreement right now. The government has a period of time right now to consider it before signing this or bringing it back to the House of Commons for a vote.
I would argue that if the other parties are sincerely concerned about the shipbuilding and supply management issues, they should not support this bill until we get those clear indications from the minister and, as well, from this government. That would be the strategy that we would employ. There is no requirement right now for us to hang out this opportunity and to lose it.
What we should be doing is exercising our leverage as political parties to say, "Listen. This is a minority Parliament. There are some issues here that have been identified with this particular bill". There are some strengths in it as well, recognizing that there are some positives, but we believe that these two things need to be examined and dealt with. That is the responsible way to go about dealing with other nations when we are entering into agreements.
If we think, and the other parties think, that once again we can just basically in a couple of years from now try to roll out some big policy that is going to shift investment opportunities that other people have already tried to go after or terms and conditions of this deal, and that they are just going to stand down, that is not going to happen.
They are going to challenge Canada on those things. We have even seen that with the softwood lumber sellout. There is a signed agreement right now. It was a sellout, a bad deal, but at the same time, despite it being a bad deal, the United States is now challenging what the provinces are doing. So we have to be accountable and upfront on this.
At the very least, we have an opportunity right now to say no to this and send it back to the government and say, "Let's fix this". We can go to the partners that have actually said that they have some terms and conditions. They have some financing suggestions, as well as a couple of cash reduction allowance suggestions, and also a few other measures smaller than that, that they would be willing to negotiate with to derive a solution to this. Let us go back to them and actually sit down and come up with that type of a strategy.
The shipbuilding aspect, in terms of this trade agreement, is really focused on Norway. So, our leverage is quite good in many respects because only one other nation is really seriously interested in this shipbuilding component.
We have to deal with the supply management issue, as well, but I think it can be done. I think it can go forward in that context. However, until that time we, as New Democrats, are not willing to hang this industry out to dry by itself. There are too many workers.
It is interesting. I had a chance to go down to the shipyards, and speak to the workers and management as well. There is a lot of pride there. There is also a lot of willingness to work and to do the right thing. Some of those workers in the skilled trades who have been laid off have actually gone to other communities to work and then come back home.
They are willing to do those things to be productive for Canada and to be basically a breadwinner for their home, despite the fact that they cannot write off their travel expenses. This is an interesting side subject. Those workers who work in the skilled trades cannot write off the travel expenses if they travel for their work; however, curtain salesmen can. It is just unbelievable that we can have one set of standards for one group who are in sales and another set of standards for Canadians who are skilled tradespeople. It makes no sense.
I know the government has talked about this a bit and has not shut down the discussion on this, but it really needs to move on that right away. The mobility of people moving back and forth from their families needs to be dealt with. I have talked to those workers and they are willing to do that, whether the work be in Halifax, whether it be in British Columbia, or whether it be even in Alberta, when they are actually working on different projects.
I would say, just to summarize as I know my time is up, that living with the trade agreements, and coming from a constituency like mine, we are seeing the demise of the auto industry based upon the loss of trade agreements and by going to the WTO. There is an opportunity that we have in front of us, not just the challenges but the opportunity with the new procurement that is necessary for shipbuilding. With the massive loss of manufacturing jobs right now, the opposition parties need to tell the government strongly no to this deal. Let us take advantage of the opportunity of shipbuilding in our country and do it right. We can do that and we can move forward. But until then, we will not support this deal.
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1:30 p.m.
Francine Lalonde La Pointe-de-l'Île, QC
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to speak to this bill and to say that the Bloc Québécois supports the free trade agreement with EFTA, the European Free Trade Association. This association refers to Europe but EFTA does not represent the Europe we know. It represents four small countries—Switzerland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Iceland—with a total population of just over 12 million and a small percentage, about 1%, of Europe's GDP.
However, we support this agreement because it has significant benefits for Quebec. The free trade agreement will liberalize trade between Canada and these four European countries. I am referring to trade in non-agricultural goods. In fact, this agreement covers only goods and not investments or services.
Why do we support it? Why are we saying that it benefits Quebec? For example, Switzerland is known for its pharmaceutical industry which is very active in the area of brand name drugs. Drugs represent 40% of Canadian exports to Switzerland and 50% of imports. That is a great deal of trade. To penetrate the American market, Swiss pharmaceutical companies might be tempted to manufacture drugs here. Quebec is the home of the brand name drug industry because of its pool of skilled researchers and its tax breaks. Given that a free trade agreement facilitates trade between a company and its subsidiaries, it is likely to mean new investments in the pharmaceutical industry in Quebec. That is fortuitous.
As for Norway, nickel accounts for over 80% of our exports to that country.The largest mine in Canada and the third largest in the world is owned by the Swiss company Xstrata and is located in Ungava.
Aluminum is our main export to Iceland. Aluminum production is also concentrated in Quebec.
Thus, we have a de facto agreement with respect to production in Switzerland and in Quebec.
One of the extremely important factors, in the Bloc Québécois's opinion, is that this agreement does not include the same condition as previous agreements, which we did not approve of. I am referring to the agreements with Costa Rica, Chile and Colombia. I am talking about the infamous chapter on investments that gave companies the right to directly sue any government that adopted measures that caused a reduction in their profits.
We fought against those provisions, which are contained in several bilateral agreements between Canada and the countries I named. There are no such provisions in the agreement with the EFTA, no doubt because this is not a situation where Canada can impose such provisions, which it can do when dealing with underdeveloped countries. We will come back to that at another point.
As I have said, the agreement does not deal with goods or services. Accordingly, there is nothing to open public services to competition, whether or not they are provided by the state, because they are not covered. In the same way, banks and financial services will not be exposed to competition from Switzerland, or from the very solid and very discreet banking system in Liechtenstein, a veritable paradise—we will say it a whisper—for the financial world, because of its tax regime and its banking secrecy.
It is a similar situation for government purchasing. The government retains complete freedom to promote buying at home, subject to the World Trade Organization's agreement on government procurement. Obviously, it would make no sense for the government to negotiate some room to manoeuvre and later to decide not to make use of that option. Let us fervently hope that the federal government, the largest buyer of goods and services in Canada, will favour domestic suppliers and consider the spinoffs from its purchases.
I am sure that many people are concerned about the provisions on agriculture. What is important for us and for Quebec producers is that supply management is not affected. Bill C-55 allows for the implementation of bilateral agricultural agreements, which would be added on to the free trade agreement with the EFTA. There are bilateral agreements that in no way threaten supply management and will not have a great impact on Quebec agriculture. I should mention that milk protein, for example, is excluded from the agreement.
The agricultural agreements will primarily benefit the west, since they liberalize trade in some grains. But even there, the impact will not be huge. Where there are problems, however, and it must be said—I heard my NDP colleague speak about this as well because he is familiar with the problems facing shipyard workers in Canada—is in the area of shipyards.
We will try to fix these problems by calling for a shipyard support and development policy, and I am sure many members in this House will join us in doing so. We also have some concerns about the future of our shipyards.
Imported vessels are currently subject to a 25% tariff. Under the agreement, these tariffs will gradually decrease over three years, and will be completely eliminated in 15 years. Our shipyards are far less modern than Norwegian shipyards and in worse condition. Norway has invested heavily in modernizing its shipyards, while the federal government completely abandoned ours long ago.
If the borders all had to be wide open tomorrow morning, our shipyards could end up whisked away like straw in the wind, or swept away with the tide, I should say. But, for economic, strategic and environmental reasons, we cannot give up our shipyards.
Imagine the risks to Quebec if no shipyard could repair vessels that ran aground or broke down in the St. Lawrence, the largest waterway in the world? It is unthinkable, and we will not give up on our belief—this is more than just a flighty idea—that we need shipyards that are equipped with the latest technology, robust and able to stand up to competition. A little later we will see that there are several conditions that need to be met for shipyards to truly be able to develop.
For years, the Bloc Québécois has been calling for a real policy.
For years, the government has been dragging its feet. Now that the agreement has been signed, time is of the essence.
Moreover, this is the only recommendation in the report of the Standing Committee on International Trade on the free trade agreement between Canada and the European Free Trade Association. The committee agreed to insert the recommendation proposed by the Bloc Québécois international trade critic and deputy critic:
—the Canadian government must without delay implement an aggressive Maritime policy to support the industry, while ensuring that any such strategy is in conformity with Canada's commitments at the WTO.
This is the only recommendation in the report. The Conservative policy of leaving companies to fend for themselves is deadly for shipyards. We expect the government to give up its bad policy, and we ask that, by the end of the year, it table a real policy to support and develop the shipbuilding industry. Given the urgency, we will not be content with fine talk. We need a real policy that covers all aspects of the industry. I will come back to this at the end of my speech.
I want to say that when it comes to free trade, the real issue is the European Union. A free trade agreement with Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein is nice, but we have to realize—and everyone does—that it is limited. As I mentioned, it represents just over 12 million people and roughly 1% of Canadian exports.
The real issue is the European Union, with its 495 million inhabitants who generate 31% of global gross domestic product. The European Union is the world's leading economic power.
Canada is far too dependent on the United States, where we send over 85% of our exports. The American economic slowdown, coupled with the surge in value of Canada's petrodollar against the U.S. dollar, reminds us that that dependence undermines our economy. Quebec has lost more than 150,000 manufacturing jobs in the past five years, including more than 80,000 since the Conservatives came to power, with their laissez-faire doctrine.
To diversify as we must do, we should not look to China or India, countries from which we import, respectively, eight and six times more than what we export to them. The European Union is an essential trading partner if we want to diversify our markets and reduce our dependence on the United States.
The fact that Canada has not concluded a free trade agreement with the European Union considerably diminishes how competitive our companies are on the European market. With the rising value of the petrodollar, European companies tend to skip over Canada and open subsidiaries directly in the United States. The Canadian share in direct European investments in the United States went from 3% in 1992 to 1% in 2004.
Add to that a free trade agreement between the European Union and Mexico since 2000. The Europeans are saying that they can negotiate a real tariff reduction with Mexico, while that is not really possible with Canada. They are saying that there needs to be a reduction in non-tariff barriers with Canada.
When Pierre Pettigrew was Minister of International Trade, Pascal Lamy, European Commissioner for External Trade, said he would negotiate another type of agreement.
No such negotiation is known to be taking place. I think it will not happen because it is too difficult. Just consider the fact that Europe requires GMOs in products to be identified, while in Canada, as we know, the government just recently refused to accept this measure.
The European Union has a free trade agreement with Mexico. That is an advantage for Mexico, an advantage that is prompting companies in Quebec to invest more in their own operations in Mexico since this gives them access to the European market as well as the U.S. market.
Again, Quebec would benefit from a free trade agreement with Europe. In fact, it would probably be the primary beneficiary. For example, 77% of the people who work for French companies in Canada are from Quebec, as are 37% of those who work for U.K. companies here and 35% of those who work for German companies here. In contrast, just 20% of people working for U.S. companies in Canada are Quebeckers, hence the great interest for Quebec of having a free trade agreement with Europe.
The Government of Quebec has been working with companies since the Quiet Revolution, and that is a major advantage when it comes time to seek out European investment. We have everything we need to become the bridgehead for European investment in North America.
I will use my last few minutes to appeal for a real marine transportation policy. It would include several factors, because otherwise, it will be impossible to revive this complex industry. I would remind the House that the federal government has been ignoring it since 1988. The industry needs funding, assurances and loan guarantees linked to sales contracts. In this case, access to credit at a reasonable rate is an important determining factor for the buyer. It needs loans and loan guarantees intended for shipbuilders who must invest or deposit a financial guarantee to bid for new contracts. It needs better fiscal regulations for leasing and a refundable tax credit for shipowners. Those are some measures that would help the industry.
We also need measures specifically for marine transportation in Canada. For example, we must eliminate the fees charged to marine transportation companies that practice cabotage. Truckers' employers do not pay for the damage caused to highways—and Lord knows it is extensive—although those who practice cabotage pay ice breaking fees, among others. It makes no sense.
Second, the government must implement a plan for major investments in port infrastructure. It must also bring up to standard all the ports that have been left to crumble and it must strengthen the Coastal Trading Act. It must also do something to fight against flags of convenience and poison ships. It is the federal government's responsibility to do something. It must negotiate an agreement like the Auto Pact and, lastly, eliminate all subsidies to shipyards. This House owes it to shipyard workers to pass real legislation that will allow shipyards to prosper once again.
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1:50 p.m.
Roy Cullen Etobicoke North, ON
Mr. Speaker, I listened with great attention to the member from the Bloc. My own perspective is that this trade agreement is a very positive thing for Canada. It gives us a window into enhancing trade and investment with Europe. I think it is a very good start.
I have a question for the member with respect to shipbuilding, which I know has been a matter of contention. I wonder if she could comment on the state of the shipbuilding industry in places such as Lévis, for example.
The member talked about the need for various incentives or subsidies, if I may call them that, to help this industry compete with the Nordic countries. I wonder if anything within the EFTA agreement would preclude that, anything that would say it would constitute a subsidy. Are there any provisions in the agreement that address those particular matters?
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Government Orders
1:50 p.m.
Francine Lalonde La Pointe-de-l'Île, QC
Mr. Speaker, that is a good question. Perhaps my hon. colleague, whom I have known for a long time and who supports the sector, could help me answer it.
I do not believe that it would prevent this development. I know—and so does he undoubtedly—that, in 2000, there was an agreement with the European Free Trade Association. However, the agreement was blocked because it was not satisfactory to the shipbuilding sector.
This time around, we reached a consensus because the agreement—which will lead to competition and enable Norway in particular to be a fierce competitor, if nothing is done in the interim—will cover a 15-year period and will begin implementation in three years' time.
I do not believe that we would have signed this agreement, even unwillingly, if shipyard representatives had believed that this would prevent even governments from helping them to revive their industry.
Canada-EFTA Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act
Government Orders
1:55 p.m.
Roy Cullen Etobicoke North, ON
Mr. Speaker, I appreciate that good answer by the member from the Bloc.
Within the EFTA agreement itself, what growth areas does the member see as possibilities for Canada and for her home province of Quebec? Are there any particular sectors, products or services in which Canada and the province of Quebec would be poised to take advantage of this agreement? Does she see any possibilities for investment back and forth between Canada and the EFTA countries?
Canada-EFTA Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act
Government Orders
1:55 p.m.
Francine Lalonde La Pointe-de-l'Île, QC
Mr. Speaker, I cannot cover all aspects of this question. I do know, however, that several sectors in Quebec are complementary and have significant industries.
For example, the pharmaceutical sector is clearly complementary. Had this agreement not been signed for Quebec, which has a strong pharmaceutical industry, investments might have been made in the United States given that the euro and the dollar are almost at par. However, with this agreement, Switzerland will be inclined to invest more in Quebec and Canada.
In other sectors, we have mining products and there again there is a complementarity.
I did not examine the question from the perspective of the rest of Canada. However, I do know that the agreement is very favourable for certain sectors in Quebec.
Simon House
Statements by Members
1:55 p.m.
Rob Anders Calgary West, AB
Mr. Speaker, I would like to bring to the attention of the House a wonderful institution in my riding of Calgary West.
Simon House is an addiction treatment centre with one of the best recovery rates in North America. It was founded in 1983 by Brother Bernard Barry.
The Catholic diocese provided two houses to develop safe housing for indigent men. It has helped over 2,400 men with alcoholism, drug addiction and physical and mental disabilities.
In 2007 Simon House was the recipient of the William H. Donner Award for Excellence in Delivery of Social Services, the Donner Canadian Foundation Award for Excellence in the Prevention and Treatment of Substance Abuse, and the Peter F. Drucker Award for Non-Profit Management. The Donner Award is the highest award achievable in Canada for addiction treatment.
Simon House is a privately funded institution that does not receive any government moneys. It relies on donations from corporations and the public.
I express congratulations to Simon House on its 25th anniversary.
Khilafat Jubilee
Statements by Members
2 p.m.
Judy Sgro York West, ON
Mr. Speaker, I am honoured to rise in the House of Commons to recognize a very special anniversary. This year marks the Khilafat Jubilee for the Ahmadiyya Movement in Islam, Canada.
I am very fortunate to have many Ahmadiyya community members in my riding of York West and I am blessed to enjoy a wonderful friendship with the entire community. I applaud their ongoing positive initiatives as we work together to build a stronger and more united country.
On behalf of all members of the House of Commons, I am delighted to congratulate the Ahmadiyya community on its 100th anniversary.
Saint Vincent de Paul Social Club
Statements by Members
2 p.m.
Robert Carrier Alfred-Pellan, QC
Mr. Speaker, on May 31 I will be proudly attending the 25th anniversary gala of the Amicale Saint-Vincent-de-Paul , an organization that has been operating in my riding since 1983. This social club organizes activities for seniors, including weekly get-togethers, community suppers and group outings.
The organization, which has been run by Gaston Lavoie for 12 years, has nearly 200 members from all over the eastern part of Laval, and particularly the Saint-Vincent-de-Paul neighbourhood. They meet every Thursday evening at the Groulx community centre to play bingo and dance. Every major holiday is an opportunity to hold a dinner and dance, many of which I have had the pleasure of attending.
On behalf of the Bloc Québécois, I congratulate Mr. Lavoie and his entire board of directors for their commitment to seniors.
Statements by Members
2 p.m.
Pat Martin Winnipeg Centre, MB
Mr. Speaker, asbestos is the greatest industrial killer the world has ever known.
More people die every year from asbestos than all other industrial toxins combined, yet Canada remains one of the world's largest producers and exporters of asbestos, dumping nearly 220,000 tonnes of asbestos every year into third world countries and developing nations.
Canada not only allows and promotes the use of asbestos, but it subsidizes the asbestos industry and blocks international efforts to curb its use.
The Minister of Health recently commissioned a Health Canada study on the health effects of asbestos. He has refused to release the report because the report affirms that asbestos kills.
All asbestos kills. Even the type of asbestos mined in Quebec kills. There is no such thing as benign asbestos, but the Minister of Health is sitting on the report because he does not want Canada to be further embarrassed by the fact that it is polluting the world with asbestos.
International Remembrance Flame
Statements by Members
2 p.m.
Peter Goldring Edmonton East, AB
Mr. Speaker, first leaving Australia on a journey through 33 of the world's countries, the torch arrived on Parliament Hill to remind all of the evil of genocide.
The torch, the International Remembrance Flame, brightly illuminating the darkness of the past, commemorates the Holodomor, the planned genocidal famine inflicted on Ukraine by the hand of a despotic Joseph Stalin 75 years ago when millions of Ukrainians died.
Canada's government yesterday added its voice, formally recognizing the Holodomor for what it was: a genocide of unspeakable horror, of man's supreme inhumanity to man.
This International Remembrance Flame will continue on its world journey to arrive in Kiev in November for the concluding ceremonies of this 75th anniversary year of remembrance.
The torch's world trek is just a reminder to humanity to learn from history and to not repeat past crimes. As the International Remembrance Flame continues its mission across the globe, let it burn brightly.
Sealing Industry
Statements by Members
May 27th, 2008 / 2 p.m.
Nancy Karetak-Lindell Nunavut, NU
Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Nunavut Legislative Assembly unanimously passed a motion calling upon the Government of Canada to act now and ban the use of the hakapik as a sealing tool in order to protect our traditional seal products market.
The imagine of the hakapik is being used successfully in misinformation campaigns against Canadian seal products even though the hakapik accounts for only 10% of the seals taken each year in southern Canada.
Inuit communities are under threat from this outdated, incorrect and misleading information by the animal rights fundraising industry, which wants European legislators to ban all trade in seal products within the European Union.
Inuit have always hunted seals for food, clothing and fuel, although not with the hakapik. This is a very important part of our culture.
Even if the Europeans permit an Inuit exemption, the entire market will be destroyed, so what help is that? If the Conservative government really wants to stand up--


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Mary Robinson: Reflections on Peace and Social Justice, Wednesday, October 10, 2012, 4:00 pm - Eccles Conference Center Auditorium
The Center for Women and Gender and the Provost's Series on Instructional Excellence invites you to join us for "An Evening with Mary Robinson: Reflections on Peace and Social Justice." Mary Robinson, the former President of Ireland (1990-1997) and the former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (1997-2002), has spent most of her life as a human rights advocate. The former Chair of the Council of Women World Leaders and the founder and President of Realizing Rights: The Technical Globalization Issue (2002-2010), Ms. Robinson returned to Ireland and established the Mary Robinson Foundation - Climate Justice (http://www.mrfcj.org/). Ms. Robinson was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Obama in 2009. A book signing will follow the presentation..

subset: commoncrawl


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Embrace the ice! Bring the outdoors in with black and white photos (thank you to my very talented friend Kathleen Johnson), a clever string
of lights with mirrored garland, bare branches in jars of sand, silver and white throw pillows or ornaments in the same hues in glass jars.
If you're like me there's a little feeling of sadness as the holidays wind down. You've put away the decorations and it's too cold to really enjoy the outdoors. What to do…
Rather than cursing the winter frost, why not embrace it? While the old saying is "Don't wear white after Labor Day" the same doesn't need to hold true for your home décor. Try these simple and inexpensive ideas to bring a touch of frost to your home.
- Treat yourself to beautiful white flowers in containers throughout the house. Intersperse them with sprigs of pine or twigs painted white and silver. If you really want that frosty feel, add some glitter to the arrangement.
- Get yourself some white sand, pour it into a tall glass container and place some small bare branches in it. Or, replace the branches with white candles…Wintry and romantic.
- Keep one or two strings of white lights out when packing away the holiday decorations. Place them in large jars or old lanterns on mantles or shelves. You could add white and silver ornaments to the jar as well.
- Take crystals or inexpensive dangly rhinestone earrings and hang them from your sconces or the chandelier in your dining room. You can also add them to the twigs or arrangements.
- Buy or make yourself throw pillows in shades of light gray, winter white and silver and place them on chairs, couches and beds.
- Get outside and channel your inner Ansel Adams. It's amazing what a different look you can get with photos simply by converting them from color to grayscale. If you don't think you have what it takes, every community has a photographer or two in their midst that would love to help you. A black and white photo with a nice white mat and black frame can feel wintry even if the image isn't snow-covered.
Many of these ideas are a great way to reuse and recycle. You can be a trend-setter… and green! Here's another thought. If you were to order Vermont-made hardwood furniture now, about the time you've had just about enough of the snow and ice, you could be enjoying your new table or bed.
This blog is written by your friends at Vermont Woods Studios. Check out our Vermont made furniture and home decor online and visit our showroom and art gallery at Stonehurst, the newly restored 1800s farmhouse nestled in the foothills of the Green Mountains.


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Fushimi Inari Taisha
My favorite place in Japan from a tourist's point of view is probably Fushimi Inari Taisha, the large shrine to Inari, diety of cereal grains and business. It's a really quick train ride away from central Kyoto. If you read Japanese, you might be interested in the official site.
Even if you've never been, you're probably already familiar with the site. It was featured in Memoirs of a Geisha. It was also the inspiration for the art installation "The Gates" by Christo and Jean-Claude. The epic arrangement of Shinto gates (鳥居 / torii) packed so tightly together creates an amazing, surreal illusion – you feel as though you're walking through an otherworldly hallway.
I've been to Fushimi Inari Taisha 4 or 5 times now, and it sure doesn't get old. It's sort of like Miyajima in that it stands apart from other shrines and temples. If that sort of thing isn't up your alley, you may find yourself thinking "if you've seen one, you've seen them all." You won't get that feeling here. Visiting at different times of day, in different seasons, etc. all change the scenery drastically.
I included Fushimi Inari in my old student travelogue from my study abroad days. You can see a video clip that I put together by clicking here (it will open in an overlay) or by visiting the original. I also wrote about it a few years ago when I spent Christmas vacation in Kyoto at the J-Hoppers hostel with friends, including J-Web vlogger/blogger Claytonian.
If you do go, I recommend taking the extra time to wander up to the upper loop past the lakes. I love the view at the top – you can even see Kyoto Tower. Most people tend to go a little bit into it and turn back, imagining that things look the same all the way up. The truth is, the scenery changes. Fox statues, mini-torii and all sorts of devotionals, incense burners, and the like are scattered throughout the area. Perhaps you'll meet and befriend a shrine cat there like I've done on more than one occasion.
The theme for this Japan Blog Matsuri was "your favorite place in Japan." It's being hosted by Shane at the Nihon Sun.
Customary Drivel, JBMatsuri, Media, Photos, RIH Entries, Trips, Unsolicited Commentary


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2014-05-05 / General
Honor Roll Students Announced At Patricksburg Elementary School
Students making the honor roll list for the third nine weeks of the 2013-2014 school year at Patricksburg Elementary included the following:
The full version of this story is only available to online subscribers.
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Electronic reproduction of any kind forbidden without written consent.


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Deniz Martinez set "Image of an unknown taxon" as an exemplar on "Atractaspididae".
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Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard
Location Created: Liwale,Southern Prov.,Tanganyika Terr, Africa, Tanzania, United Republic of, Lindi
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Take the next step in style and functionality with the latest version of the Tide sandal. Set yourself apart from the rest while you relieve foot and back problems as you walk. The Vionic Tide Sequins is an updated version of the classic Tide flip flop casual women's thong sandal.
Vionic Tide Sequins Gold Synthetic Women's Sandal
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For the greatest comfort, we recommend wearing your new Vionic with Orthaheel Technology footwear or orthotics for just a few hours for the first few days to allow your feet to adjust to the new level of orthotic comfort and support.
Within one to two weeks you should find the product completely comfortable and supportive.
When I first put this shoe on, I just said, "WOW!!" I cannot believe how comfortable they are. I love the sequin silver color as well. They are so attractive and really as dressy as a flip flop can be. A perfect shoe. So thankful I followed my sister's lead and bought a pair. Highly recommend!!!
This is a great flip flop for me after developing plantar fascitis. they provide great arch support and are cute. I had never worn Vionics before so I didn't know how the sizing ran. I bought the same size I wear in sneakers, but they are too big. wish they came in half sizes, but I tried on a pair 1 size smaller that my friend ordered and they are a perfect fit. my next pair will be the right size. I still wear them all the time, but not quite as comfy as my Vionics sneakers. great shoe for going anywhere, and especially near the pool
This is my third pair of Vionic sandals, I wear them 24 hours a day! They comfortable right out of the box and only get better as you wear them. Love them!
I gave two pairs of these and love them. They are really cute and feel great on my feet. No heel pain!
These flip-flops are fantastic - attractive and comfortable! The fit is excellent - not too loose. I think the sizing may be different than in the past, though. I went down a size.
I use these flip flops as house slippers as I was unable to keep Vionic slippers on my feet (too wide for me). They are comfortable, can slip them on after a shower, and they have a nice grip on wet, slippery surfaces. They are stylish and sparkly, which is always a good thing.
The Tide Sequins is a good twist on a classic. They are super girl and great for everyday! Love the support of the shoe and will wear them all the time.
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"Vionic Orthaheel sandals and shoe inserts are great. I had plantar fasciitis so bad I was going to physical therapy, had a custom made set of orthotics & a Dr was telling me to have surgery. Nothing has helped any better than the Orthaheels. Footwear etc. had fast delivery and I would definitely recommend this company."
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"Just the Two of Us" Sterling Silver Medium Heart Pendant
by Othahyuni | Item #: 294054 | Model #: JTTUSMD |
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About this itemAn artist designed sterling silver heart pendant on an 18" sterling silver chain.
In this vast universe… quiet moments of you… reach out to me, I am reminded of the magic of Just the Two of Us…
Contemporary designs by Native American Artist, Diane Schenandoah that will become classic. Originally hand sculpted by the artist then cast in sterling silver.
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State court wants judge suspended
October 3, 2007
ALBUQUERQUE — The New Mexico Supreme Court has rejected a proposed formal reprimand of an Albuquerque judge, saying it isn't sufficient punishment.
Instead, the justices said Bernalillo County Metropolitan Judge Theresa Gomez should be suspended without pay for two weeks.
Last month, Gomez — who lived rent-free for nearly two years in a home owned by a government affordable housing agency — agreed to a reprimand and to pay $17,000 in back rent.
Gomez, who earns more than $93,000 a year, moved into the home after the Region III Housing Authority bought it in October 2004. She left at the end of 2006 after paying the authority $4,250, representing five months' rent.
The judge has said she dismissed two traffic citations and canceled a related arrest warrant for Vincent "Smiley" Gallegos, who headed the housing agency at the time.
Gallegos, a Clovis native, was a state representative for Curry and Roosevelt counties from 1987 to 1996.
Gomez said Gallegos told her someone using his identity received the citations.
Gomez and the state Judicial Standards Commission had asked the Supreme Court to approve a reprimand, the minimum punishment the commission could request.
But the court on Sept. 25 sent the case back to the commission for further proceedings, saying a formal reprimand "does not appear to be adequate."
The justices said that Gomez's communications with Gallegos, which resulted the traffic citations being dismissed, "warrants a period of suspension."


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Romance author Penny Watson and I are at the Fools for Luv bloghop – come join us for food and fun.
I've shared a recipe for Thai Pulled Chicken and Penny has shared one of her faves – the famous (or infamous) Mango Martini!
Stop by: Fools for Luv.
You can win a book too!
I promised to promote this blog hop, because it's gonna be smokin' hot, but I've been super sick. Just climbed out of bed with a semi-functional brain. So I apologize to the hosts. Forgive me.
To paraphrase Scarlet O'Hara– "I'll get my health back, because tomorrow… is another day."


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Ai Yori Aoshi
Enishi: Friends
Episode 26 | TV-14
Chika's high school friends Chizuru and Natsuki get the impression that Kaoru's her live-in boyfriend—she relishes the thought and replies to inquiries vaguely. The girls' insist on satisfaction, resulting in a raucous and embarrassing house visit!
Dub Expires: 07-25-2014
Official Site: www.funimation.com/shows/ai-yori-aoshiHide Details


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Here's how RW members rated this race in the past (95 votes).
In short: Brilliant training for marathonIn full: Got to say for a 1st time race this was well-worth the trip and the £££ , hotel had all the mod-cons and the course although challenging was a nice change , this year its been modified so i,m up for the 21 miler ....Date of review: February 21, 2010
In short: bit boring to be honestIn full: the 2 long streches along the A20 were boring at best ! was great when you were up on the north downs, but were not up there for long enough, needed more mile markers and a few more water stops , cadets were great though,lack of support too :-(Date of review: March 26, 2009
In short: Next time I want to run on a an uneven footpath next to a road I won't both paying £18 for it. There's better runs in Kent then this and far more scenic ones....Date of review: March 25, 2009
In short: A Great EventIn full: Very well organised and marshalled but personally I didn't enjoy running along the A20 for most of the run. The loop around the lanes was lovely.Date of review: March 25, 2009
In short: Well-organised, friendly raceIn full: Can't fault it; particularly liked the rolling start, instant electronic results and the hotel hq. My only grumble was other runners (i) despite the clear instructions to overtake on the grass verge, a couple of runners (old enough to know better) barged past slower ones shouting "on your left" i.e. get out of my way (ii) the moans about the A20 section - the clue is in the title, running by a busy road should not be a surprise! and (iii) the moaning about the price of the refreshments, which were quite normal for a hotel. Making such a fuss serves only to antagonise the hotel staff who seemed very pleasant to me.Well done to the organisers! Look forward to next year.Date of review: March 24, 2009
In short: Great Cadets which quite made the run !In full: An unsual race due to the staggered start. The run along the A20 there and back was pretty tedious & I have scratches on my arms from the narrow path and the uncut trees. Met some great runners which really helped to take away the tedium of the run. Would only recommend for those who are doing FLM / Spring Marathon. Facilities at hotel were fantastic & great for those of us who weren't local. Cadets at water stations were just awesome, would have been good to have mile markers to help motivate us.Date of review: March 23, 2009
In short: Perfect for FLM training, good race that gives you a sense of achievement and feel good factor when completed. In full: Good Race. Facilities were excellent and made pre and post race preparation / wind down a lot easier. Rolling start worked ok for me, it was tough to pass in some places but not impossible. Water stations were well spaced and the cadets were great but definitely need more mile markers so that you can pace yourself, the 1st one I saw was at 9 miles! I had to use the water stationes as guides as I had read that they were approx every 5k. Also find energy drinks as well as water at some races which is a real bonus. Jaffa cakes at the end was a real treat though. Would prefer medal to trinket and def should state the mileage achieved. Thanks that all that were involved on the day.Date of review: March 23, 2009
In short: Tough race but well organised & great atmosphereDate of review: March 23, 2009
In short: Challenging course, hampered by dodgy surface of pathways.In full: Good rolling start, a little boring on the out and back sections along the A20 (a bit mind numbing)overtaking was a bit awkward along the narrow paths. However once the hill was climbed great scenery and enjoyable. Cadets were great but I felt there could have been more water. Date of review: March 23, 2009
In short: Well organised, different distance, hill not as hard as I thought.In full: Good organisation, well marshalled but could probably do with a cuople more. Cadets at drinks stations were brilliant. Chip timing was great no pressure on starting at front of pack although was some difficulty in over taking or being overtaken. Views were great on top of the downs but it was a bit depressing on the A20.Many thanks to my adopted running partner for the day got me around quicker thans expected, great confidence boost for FLM. Goody bag left a bit to be desired but facilities befoere and after were tremendous.Date of review: March 23, 2009
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Delta Force members learn governing city no easy task
ESCANABA – A group of adults involved in a local leadership program are learning a lot about the responsibilities of community leaders. During a mock council meeting Thursday, members of the Delta Force program produced a balanced $1 million budget for the pretend city by the same name.
"Delta Force Mayor" Allison Kirby found out "it's tough" to be a city leader making decisions that affect people's lives, emotions, and the quality of life while considering realistic revenues and available manpower.
"Delta Force City Manager" Chris Perryman had a similar realization, saying, "People have to be willing to pay for extra services."
When asked if either would be interested in serving on a city government, Kirby replied no but Perryman said it's something he's interested in.
The two are among 22 residents who are participating in this year's Delta Force, a program for individuals to learn about and experience different aspects of the community so they can become more involved as citizens and leaders.
The group meets monthly for nine months. Thursday's mock meeting was part of Government Day which began with a history of Delta County's government presented by Peter Strom, local historian and attorney.
The Delta County Chamber of Commerce organizes the nine-month leadership program.
According to Sheila Krueger, associate director of the chamber, "Government Day is meant to get students to realize the complex issues that go into local government and the difficult decisions they have to make."
Thursday's mock council meeting involved Delta Force participants taking on roles as council members, department heads, business people, and local citizens. Each offered input into a proposed budget for the city of Delta Force. Participants got a taste of how financial decisions are made by local leaders in creating a balanced budget.
Delta County Clerk Nancy Kolich, a facilitator for Government Day, explained to the group that local municipalities and the state government are required to have balanced budgets for upcoming fiscal years; the national government is not required to have a balanced budget but can operate under a deficit budget.
Several factors which play into a municipality's financial picture include increases in expenses such as health care and retirement costs and decreases in revenue such as cuts in state funding, said Kolich.
Typically, because of the cost of living and other factors, the bottom line results in cuts in programs or services, she noted.
"The biggest responsibility (of a municipality) is to provide necessary services at a responsible cost," said Kolich.
During Thursday's budget preparation, the city of Delta Force decided to not raise taxes or utility rates but planned to hire one police officer, reduce library funds, and raise administrators' salaries.
The remainder of Thursday's activities included guest speaker Tom Butch, a member of the Bay College Board of Trustees and a local attorney. Following lunch, a panel discussion took place involving township, city and county officials.
The day ended with a presentation by Kolich on the process of running for office or joining a committee.
– – –
Jenny Lancour, (906) 786-2021, ext. 143, firstname.lastname@example.com


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Beach Winners in Atlantic City
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Sept. 8, 2013) – Jennifer Kessy and April Ross won their second AVP Tour event of the season on Sunday as did Jake Gibb and Casey Patterson at the AVP Atlantic City Open.
| April Ross, right, attacks the block of Summer Ross during the
women's final on Sept. 8 in Atlantic City.
Kessy (San Juan Capistrano, Calif.) and April Ross (Costa Mesa, Calif.), the tournament's top seeds, defeated No. 7 Emily Day (Torrance, Calif.) and Summer Ross (Carlsbad, Calif.), winners of last week's AVP Tour event in Cincinnati, in the women's final, 23-25, 21-16, 15-13.
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"We know a lot of you came a long way to be here this weekend so we really appreciate you being here," April Ross told the crowd following the victory.
Kessy and April Ross also won the women's title at the AVP's opening event in Salt Lake City.
In the men's final, No. 2 seeded Gibb (Bountiful, Utah) and Patterson (Van Nuys, Calif.) beat No. 1 Sean Rosenthal (Redondo Beach, Calif.) and Phil Dalhausser (Ormond Beach, Fla.), 21-19, 21-15. Gibb and Patterson also took the men's title in Cincinnati.
|Jake Gibb, right, hits against Phil Dalhausser in Atlantic City.
"We have a bit of a rivalry with these guys and it was really sweet to finally win them in the finals," Gibb said. "There are a lot of hardcore volleyball fans in Atlantic City who really know the game of beach volleyball."
In the men's semifinals, Dalhausser and Rosenthal beat No. 3 Theo Brunner (Ridgefield, Conn.) and Nick Lucena (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), 21-16, 21-12. Gibb and Patterson beat No. 4 Todd Rogers (Santa Barbara, Calif.) and Ryan Doherty (Toms River, N.J.), 21-18, 21-16.
In the women's semifinals, Day and Summer Ross beat Whitney Pavlik (Laguna Beach, Calif.) and Kerri Walsh Jennings (Saratoga, Calif.), 21-16, 21-15. Day and Summer Ross also defeated Pavlik and Walsh Jennings in the first match of the winners' bracket, 21-15, 21-17, but Pavlik and Walsh Jennings fought their way back in the consolation bracket.
In the other women's semifinal, Kessy and April Ross had to hold off Lauren Fendrick (Carlsbad, Calif.) and Brittany Hochevar (Fowler, Colo.), 22-20, 17-21, 15-12.
The next stop for the AVP Tour is in St. Petersburg, Fla., on Sept. 13-15. The AVP web site is avp.com.


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Skip to comments.Florida judge OKs 3-parent family: two lesbians and a homosexual man
Posted on 02/08/2013 2:23:21 PM PST by NYer
click here to read article
Not a chance.
I just LOVE the way ELSIE scratches behind my ears!
Isaiah 3:9
The look on their faces testifies against them; they parade their sin like Sodom; they do not hide it. Woe to them! They have brought disaster upon themselves.
Genesis 18:20-21
20. Then the LORD said, "The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so grievous
21. that I will go down and see if what they have done is as bad as the outcry that has reached me. If not, I will know."
Genesis 19:4-7
4. Before they had gone to bed, all the men from every part of the city of Sodom--both young and old--surrounded the house.
5. They called to Lot, "Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us so that we can have sex with them."
6. Lot went outside to meet them and shut the door behind him
7. and said, "No, my friends. Don't do this wicked thing.
Isaiah 3:9 The look on their faces testifies against them; they parade their sin like Sodom; they do not hide it. Woe to them! They have brought disaster upon themselves.
2 Peter 2:13b Their idea of pleasure is to carouse in broad daylight. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their pleasures while they feast with you.
Ezekiel 16:49-50
49. "`Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy.
50. They were haughty and did detestable things before me. Therefore I did away with them as you have seen.
1. But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them--bringing swift destruction on themselves.
2. Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.
3. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.
4. For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them into gloomy dungeons to be held for judgment;
5. if he did not spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others;
6. if he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly;
7. and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the filthy lives of lawless men
8. (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)--
9. if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials and to hold the unrighteous for the day of judgment, while continuing their punishment.
10. This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire of the sinful nature and despise authority. Bold and arrogant, these men are not afraid to slander celestial beings;
11. yet even angels, although they are stronger and more powerful, do not bring slanderous accusations against such beings in the presence of the Lord.
12. But these men blaspheme in matters they do not understand. They are like brute beasts, creatures of instinct, born only to be caught and destroyed, and like beasts they too will perish.
13. They will be paid back with harm for the harm they have done. Their idea of pleasure is to carouse in broad daylight. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their pleasures while they feast with you.
But there IS hope!!!
1 Corinthians 6:9-11
9. Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived:
Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders
10. nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.
11. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
If you could NOT change, you would be in most pitiful shape...
Try explaining the next logical step to Gay Marriage, polygamy, to the low information young. They will say "well I guess they should be allowed to marry too." It's scary.
I was thinking government should just stay out of defining marriage. Let it be a sacrament.
However, here's one problem: when these three people divorce, the "family" law courts will utterly destroy this poor child's life.
A better legal solution is list the biological father and mother on the birth certificate. The father then gives up his rights and the baby is adopted by the second lesbian.
The father is listed, but gives up his rights to not have to pay child support. The second "mother" gets her legal status via adoption. And the legal definition of parents isn't turned into a three-some.
Photo of...somebody...here:
After the two-year legal battle, when Gerina was not permitted to see his daughter, Judge Antonio Marin signed off on an agreement reached on January 31, granting Gerina weekly visits with Emma for several hours, at the mothers residence or an otherwise agreed upon location. Emmas birth certificate was issued with all three parents names on it.
I am the father and I have visitation, but legally speaking they [Italiano and Filippazzo] are the parents, but that does not exclude me from Emmas activities or major decisions, Gerina says.
Everyone seems to forget the rights of the child; hence my initial comment of treating babies as chattel. Children are not furniture. This entire farce of lesbian reproduction requires a man. He is the child's biological father. The woman who bore the child is her biological mother. The child carries both their dna and when asked by doctors if there is a history of _____ (fill in the blank) in her family, has a legal right to that information from her biological parents, not the "pseudo maternal" partner.
Each of the individuals pictured above, has approached the conception, birth and rearing of this child from a selfish perspective. This notion of "ownership" began with the legalization of artificial contraception. That set the stage for the the acceptance of legalized abortion. Since life is no longer reverenced, we have already seen the next phase, legalized euthanasia. As a society, we continue to degenerate and this child is just one more victim.
Oooo, twice weekly visitation righs... Moron judge. How can he father that way?
Cut the baby into THREE PIECES and distribute to the 'parents'.
Sorry. For some reason it started doing this.
Polygamy, only good when the fags do it.
The sociopathic agenda of gays promoting their legit grief cause in munchausen syndrome style in order to hide their rape agenda is most creepy.
We are going to be destroyed.
I ask them where they draw the line, What is unacceptable to you? I tell them that I really love the neighbor across the street and my wife and I want to make it a three way union. I then tell that the guy down the road really loves his dog and the dog obviously loves him, why shouldn't they be allowed to marry?
How about those outmoded ages of consent laws? Shouldn't a couple be able to decide when it is right for them? Even if he is 40 and she is only 10-12?
At some point they begin to squirm and get very uncomfortable. I then point out they do have a line they won't cross, it is just farther down the road to perdition. They rarely change their mind, but they know they are full of crap and I am correct.
"If you can turn intercourse into something other than the reproductive type of act (I don't mean of course that every act is reproductive any more than every acorn leads to an oak-tree but it's the reproductive type of act) then why, if you can change it, should it be restricted to the married?
"Restricted, that is, to partners bound in a formal, legal, union whose fundamental purpose is the bringing up of children?
"For if that is not its fundamental purpose there is no reason why for example "marriage" should have to be between people of opposite sexes...
"If contraceptive intercourse is all right, it becomes perfectly impossible to see anything wrong with homosexual intercourse."
-- "Contracepton" (1972) Elizabeth Anscombe
She was of course against all this, but saw that the non-Christian could folow her logic, while (unlike her) approving of he result: the polymorphous pervert would agree that if contraception is OK, anything you can imagine is OK.
But even in 1972, ever in Britain, it was still possible to hope that many readers would agree that contraception is wrong because the logic of contraception is that "Sex is anything you want it to be."
Her whole essay (it's 16 pages) is here:http://www.orthodoxytoday.org/articles/AnscombeChastity.php
"Getting out when he had the chance" in this context could only mean "keeping his semen out of some deranged woman's genital tract."
He had no business becoming a part of these women's baby-making scheme. But once he's a willing participant in procreation, he's acquired obligations, flowing directly from the fact that the child has rights.
What I'm getting at is this: this is a massively screwed-up situation, but the central considertion (which isn't even being recognized) is that every child has a natural right to be cared for by her natural mother and father.
The natural father is the DNA father. The genetic father. The begetting father.
It's not that he has rights, but that the child has rights.
In theis case, the right to derive identity, kinship, and support from the natural father.
I don't see how any law, any judge, or any lesbian mother can justly rule or bargain or negotiste away the child's rights.
This whole freak show is based on the premise that the two-year-old daughter has no natural rights.
I realize that the UK doesn't have our understanding of the Declaration of Independence, but they must understand that "endowed by our Creator with certain inalienable rights" applies to all human beings at the moment of Conception
Or, my shoe. Soon it will be legal to marry my shoe. Or an orange juice can.
Freaks are on a roll now.
Quite a few years ago I commented to someone that we have reached the age where anyone who says what used to be considered such obvious truth that it seems not worth a mention is now called extreme or crazy while those who spout utter insanity are elected to high office. The first time I said that I got a look of disbelief as if I were some kind of nutcase. Now when I say the same thing it is usually received with a nod of agreement.
If you can watch what passes for "news" reporting on television now without wanting to scream you have a problem. In other words if you cannot spot the schizoid on MSNBC then you are schizoid.
The type of person who used to be called "role model", "pillar of the community" etc. is now called "extreme".
She must have known that the dolphin would have a shorter life span than herself. This was quite convenient, because she got the publicity, the sensationalism, probably money too for her charade.
I'll bet she married an aging dolphin so it would not be a long time to wait until Cindy's death.
In other words, I think she did it on porpoise.
I only live 40 miles from the freak show that is miami. Ft lauderdale is pretty weird too.
This is more bad news for George Zimmerman; there is justice in FL and no balm in Gilead, it would seem. Who could trust a FL jury or judge now? And FL juries are just an organization of the FL people, who virtually always let us down.
#26 and #40...
I've just about got that list memorized... :-)
Yep....they must be feeling very smug about their accomplishments, because they are many.
2 mommies, 1 daddy. What could go wrong?
The world has gone mad.
There is only one concept of a family, and that is God's concept: father, mother, and child.
I'm glad the father refused to sign away his paternity rights.
On another thread some people were supporting the idea of a "paper abortion" in which a father would be able to permanently relinquish his paternal rights to a child. Equally insane.
Permitting contraception to the MARRIED at least still preserved a vestige of "principle." The same principle by which in the older, wiser days we still would smile upon marriages of the senescent set, obviously well past child bearing years. Nobody told 70 year old Aunt Bertha that she shouldn't marry because children would be impossible.
Sex outside marriage blows the principle galley-west.
There are also adoptions.
I don't know that there's ever been any moral or legal objection to 70-year-old Aunt Bertha getting married to Old Bachelor Bert. True, procreation isn't possible (barring a Sarah-style Geriatric Pregnancy miracle) but if they are still able to unite as a husband and wife with a marital act, then more power to them.
Happy Honeymooning at Viagra Falls!
That's not even remotely related to contraception. Contraception involves the intentional impairing of one's sexual wholeness. It's taking a naturally fertile act and twisting its so it's chemically or structurally incapacitated. Old Aunt Bertha and her Old Bert aren't doing that. They're not disabling themselves.
Women are naturally infertile most of our lives, due to being pre-puberty, post-menopausal, pregnant, lactationally anovulatory, or just in the 3 infertile weeks of every month. Add that up, and at all those times intercourse cannot result in conception. That does not mean that sex at those times is "contraceptive." It isn't contra anything. It's still natural sexual union.
Gay sex isn't even a "sexual union," which means an act that "unites the sexes."
Contracepted sex, and gay sex, aren't even the marital act. That's become a mini-embarrassment in the U.K., where gay marriage campaigners have discovered that there is no act in "gay marriage" which actually matches the legal definition of consummating a marriage.
Neither is there any act possible with gay couples which matches the legal definition of adultery.
Now I suppose they'll protest because those who can't marry, can't divorce! Or because they're only "allowed" to commit adultery heterosexually!
Bizarro world.
You, as a Roman Catholic, have every right to that view, which is also echoed in some evangelical quarters. The idea to many other sincere Christians is that they are letting married Cousin Jane temporarily put herself in some semblance of the biological position of Aunt Bertha, with the consent of her husband. Good Christians do differ over this. And I do not want to offend anyone's sincere faith in Christ.
The underlying idea is this: the healthy, normal, human body, complete in every detail: God demonstrates very, very often that that's what He wants for us.
God's design for us at the outset, at Creation, was very good (that was the First Reading at Mass today!). That's why real medicine is legitimate: because legitimate medicine has the aim of restoring the body, as far as possible, to its normal, healthy condition.
Contraception (to impair the body with a drug, device, or surgery, to disable its power and design)) treats the good, fertile, womanly body as if it's got a design defect. Something that's bad. This is an untruth, and rather an aspersion cast upon the Creator, as if to say, "You made me, and all other healthy normal women, wrong, wrong, seriously wrong: but AHA! I'll nullify it."
Fertility isn't a design defect. It's a design feature. And the Designer said so.
So drugs, devices and surgery are OK if they are directed toward restoring, healing, curing, returning the body back to normal function. BUT...
Think of hormonal drugging & surgery to change one's ... er, what do they call it? gender? ... It has a whole lot in common with contraception: using drugs, devices, and surgery to change one's sexuality by making oneself a procreative neuter.
If Cousin Jane "put herself in some semblance of the biological position of" Nephew Gary, it wouldn't conform to any revelation of the Will of God that I know of.
Um... Book of Neuteronomy?
(I'm not trying to offend anyone's sincere faith. Certainly not your, my dear HiTech. I'm just applying the principle to discover the implications.)
(And the priciple, "It's OK to chemically/surgically impair your body to alter or disable your sexuality," is wrong.) I don't see how the practice of medicine can ethically intentionally cause a disorder, rather than cure it. Contraception, like sex-change surgery, causes a disorder, wether it's temporary or permanent. I would have to call that a disordered medical practice.
I would welcome a further discussion, if you want.
Otherwise, I'm outside to plant more garlic if the weather holds. :o)
Sounds Mormon to me ;-)
Some questions:
1) Is that Hitlery?
2) Are those tatoos on her arms?
3) will those ugly things impact her ability to run for POTUS? (Please, God, Say YES).
I sense another florida constitutional amendment comming forward.
"A Child will have only ONE mother and ONE father where father is defined as a bilogical male and mother is defined as a biological female."
It could be the sleeves of a blouse under the outer garment.
Sometimes fraternal twins have separate fathers...
Sometimes the only phrase that can come to mind is what Stan Marsh says on SouthPark, "Dude, this is pretty *messed* up, right here." (That's the clean version)
I respect your point of view and as I said it has some advocates in the evangelical community as well. By means of medications or things that have the action of medications, many perfectly natural things can be deferred to serve one or another purpose. Drinking coffee can defer sleep so you can study or work more. Swallowing pills containing certain hormones can defer ovulation so that you will conceive children when your family is in a position to support them. (The immature eggs remain there in the ovaries, they do not die, but also do not mature and come out until the hormones are stopped.) Some are horrified at the thought of either or both, even though intercourse could also be timed such that the possibility of pregnancy is mostly evaded, and hardly anybody complains that THIS is evil.
Anyhow — surely procreation is one of the biggest mysteries of which mankind is aware and some very understandably do not want to tread on that holy ground at all.
I was being silly of course!
I was being silly of course!
Yes. Me too.
YOur last sentence, my brother, shows a good insight. May you have a good Lent and may the Lord have mercy on all of us, for we are under judgment.
that what she said ...
Well, thanks in part to being on Weight Watchers "Simply Filling" regime I will have a Lent and maybe the whole rest of the year too without eating anything really rich. Maybe I'll take a diet holiday and indulge for a morning at a church breakfast on Easter, and maybe Thanksgiving and Christmas, but feasting for a "Mardi Gras" just sounded unseemly to me. Might sound strange coming from one who is pretty much indifferent to temporary contraceptive measures in marriage. But the bible didn't say Jesus stuffed His face to prepare for that 40 days of desert testing. For me it's not going to be even testing, it's just an exercise in, well, "extreme moderation."
Must have been that Saint Pie-us who recommended that...
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text:
Here's how RW members rated this race in the past (185 votes).
In short: Sociable and fastIn full: This is a good event, fast course and sociable before during and after the race.The only criticism I have is about the finish line. I crossed what I thought was the finish line, because it had large flags either side of the path saying 'FINISH', when in fact the actual finish line was 10 - 15 metres further on. That mistake cost me 3rd place lady.I saw a couple of other runners make that mistake too.Date of review: November 27, 2012
Date of review: November 27, 2012
In full: full marks to the organisers for getting the event on despite the weather,a good race for beginners but a pretty boring run for regulars.well organised event but one large problem,the course measured very long by my watch,43 seconds between 6.22 miles and my official time crossing the line,a discrepancy of some tenth of a mile!for this reason I probably would not do this event againDate of review: November 26, 2012
In short: Very well organised and great PB potentialDate of review: November 25, 2012
In short: Fast course but not so much in the rainIn full: Great course. Was a shame about the weather this year as the rain was smashing down but didn't dampen the heart or spirit of the race.Date of review: August 14, 2012
In full: Despite the torrential downpour at the start of the race, thoroughly enjoyed it for the pure friendliness of the race organisers. Of course the scenery was dull, it's a race track. There were plenty of first time runners and they all got cheered in at the finish as warmly as the faster runners. Well done.Date of review: July 30, 2012
In short: The race does not have a UK Athletics licence. If had known i would not have enteredIn full: There is no point in running your heart out and getting a good time if this cannot be recognised on your Run Britain profile and in the national age rankings.Also, the winning team competition is based on positions 'in each category' which is not sensible and I have never seen in any other race. It is always based on race finish position irrespective of category, unless there are seperate team competions for each category.Date of review: March 1, 2012
In short: Unexpected perfect conditions....In full: It's a race where the weather condition's can play a major part, but today with perfect condition's a lot of PB's where had....Would like to add a special thank's to one of the guy's at the drink's station... After I had made a right mess (not once but twice) of trying to crab a drink at the beginning of the third lap, he sprinted to catch me up with a much needed drink... Would definitly do this again, in the right condition'sDate of review: February 28, 2012
In short: Very well orgainised, very good PB potentialDate of review: February 28, 2012
In short: got boredIn full: After been advised that no ipods were allowed on the race it was going to go down hill from there.Knew Castle Combe track quite well from driving round in a car which is pure thrilling, but running round it, I was bored. Its long, not the best scenery and straight with a few corners.I wouldnt do it again unless I had music to keep me entertained.But find it good if you want to set a personal best, not for beating a personal best unless you enter it again in the summerDate of review: February 27, 2012
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- Description
The DeWalt D55041 Quadraport Four -Port Line Splitter allows up to four air tools to be run off of one air compressor at the same time, allowing for multiple tasks to be completed at the same time. The D55040 Quadraport can operate at two different PSI settings, further adding to the versatility of this line splitter.
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Specifications In out 3/8'' Out Tool length 12.5'' Tool width 7.0'' Tool height 4.0'' Tool weight 4 lbs
- Customer Reviews


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quoteOf course we may still see new characters. Imo there will be new characters but if he decides to keep the character roster at what Brawls was or even up it to 50, then that would be a fine amount. Hopefully he does fine tune each character better in this game and have them all feel distinctive. Would make for a great game.Smash Bros series creator Masahiro Sakurai has told Nintendo Power that Smash Bros Wii U and 3DS probably won't feature a host of new characters, because the team want to focus on quality, rather than quantity. Sakurai says that he would rather refine the existing roster, instead of adding additional characters.
"It isn't a matter of 'if the next game has 50 characters, that'll be enough.' There is a certain charm to games that have huge casts of playable characters, but they tend to have issues with game balance and it becomes very difficult to fine-tune each character and have them all feel distinctive.
"In terms of quantity, we've probably already reached the limit of what's feasible. I think a change of direction may be what's needed."
quote GotenksSame for me. I think they should really focus on the filling the gaps with other series characters.I'd be fine if they gave the Mario series one more character. But after that, I don't want anymore.
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