An example of why we need a national daycare program

I’m just starting to re-think this now, since it popped up again.  I guess it depends on what the details of such a program would look like.  In Canada we generally accept that health care is important enough that the government needs to be in control and I’d like to think through whether daycare warrants the same extreme.

But, one of my initial reactions, similar to a comment on Scott’s post linked above, is why does this need to be federal?  Quebec already has a program, although I don’t know how good it is considered to be.  Further, the requirements for a program would likely be pretty different when comparing southern Ontario to small rural towns on the coasts.

Why can’t this be a provincial issue?

Any examples of other countries that do this well?

This is a quick round-up of what’s hot in the Canadian Political Blogosphere.  Counting the number of links to articles is an interesting insight into what the blogosphere is thinking about.

Here are the hottest links from the last several days, in order.

• Rights and Democracy: the Brauning continues
• National Post: One Editorial, Two Falsehoods
• Good – About the new Conservative Senate appointments
• dear ontario punditry; re: alberta.
• Harper at Davos on climate change (video)
• Lead Balloon

This is a quick round-up of what’s hot in the Canadian Political Blogosphere.  Counting the number of links to articles is an interesting insight into what the blogosphere is thinking about.

Here are the hottest links from the last several weeks, in order.  Obviously there are several about shutting down the government.

• The Belated 2009 Awards
• Moment of the Decade: #7 The 2006 Federal Election
• Calling Don Cook
• The Short Parliament
• PM shuts down Parliament until March
• “A Cloud of God’s Wrath”

Have a little chuckle for the new year: Florida made new “fire safe” cigarettes mandatory for this year (they go out if left unattended) and smokers are wary of all the dangerous chemicals in them.

Rattling the Cage: A taboo question for Israelis

In my mind, both sides of this conflict are equally wrong.  They both escalate.  They both kill.  They both are directly responsible for the suffering of millions of people.  Neither has made a genuine effort towards peace.

I would appreciate a political platform in Canada that included cutting off all transfers of money to both countries until there is genuine progress towards peace (which, unfortunately, would be ineffective until the US did the same).

Interesting read: How do I know China wrecked the Copenhagen deal? I was in the room

In the end, though, the Western nations did fail.  This notion of everybody waiting for a deal where they can commit to the least amount possible (being what’s agreed to by everyone) isn’t going to work.  Some country (or set of countries) is going to have to lead by example.  I still don’t understand why no one talks about the economic impact of tight emissions restrictions forcing massive technological innovation, which can then be sold to the other countries.  Sure, I’d assume some negative economic impact in the short term might be possible but the long-term impact could be staggering.

This looks like a great idea: Solar panels for the rest of us

They are solar panels with their own micro inverters in them.  My frustration with solar has been the huge initial investment; I’d like to try it out first on a limited basis.  I have no idea what kind of real efficiency I’ll see at my house (especially in the winter), which makes it sound risky.  Plus, I’m under the impression it’s not worth it (or not really feasible) to do a small-scale installation because of inverter sizing (or you’d have to buy a new one when you install more panels).

The idea of a panel with a typical AC plug is intriguing.  I could easily install one, say on top of my deck, and use it for powering individual devices and testing over time.

Maybe it’s just theater, but things are rocky at the talks: Copenhagen Climate Talks SUSPENDED, In Chaos, As Countries Walk Out Of The Conference

I know I can’t hope the Canadian government will step up to help fix the impasse, but maybe Obama will save the day?

Apparently one of the RCMP officers involved in killing Robert Dziekanski with a tazer in BC got into another bit of trouble.  While off duty he hit a motorcyclist while driving and killed him – all after having consumed a few beers.  He fled the scene to go home and had a few shots of vodka.

Guess what he’s been charged with… the death of the motorcyclist?  Nope.  DUI?  Nope.  Obstruction of justice.

Good job, RCMP.  I hope I never will be, but if I were ever involved in a crash after having been drinking, and especially if someone is hurt or killed, I now know how to get out of it.  I’ll high-tail it home, have a few drinks, and claim it was to settle my nerves after such a stressful event.  Was I drinking beforehand?  Of course not, and you can’t prove it.  We can even reference this case as an example to clear it up quickly.

Mountie at centre of taser incident charged with obstruction over fatal crash

Interesting read on India’s actions and plans for climate change: Dispelling myths about India and climate change.  Surprisingly, it mentions that India already produces 10% of its power from renewable resources,  compared to less than 4% for the US.