Human Smuggling Bill Draws Criticism

http://www.cbc.ca/politics/story/2010/10/22/humna-smuggling-bill-folo.html

This article is about a bill about smuggling humans in to Canada and talks about why some people don't think it is fair and hopes to see changes. It also tells what happens if you get caught either smuggling humans or if you are the human being smuggled.

Air Canada Must Create Nut-Free Zones

Air Canada is now obligated to provide nut-free buffer zones on their airlines for people with alergies. Since there is an increase in the peanut allergies and more and more people are concerned about this they have envoked a regulation making people contact the airlines 24 hours in advance and the airlines has to have a row of seats peanut free. Along with this the seats infront and behind the seats are in the buffer zone and are also peanut free.

www.cbc.ca/consumer/story/2010/10/19/con-air-nut-allergy.html

Lobbying for change to voting age

http://www.brandonsun.com/bits-and-pieces/neelin-views----lobbying-for-change-to-voting-age-105163729.html?thx=y

Council OKs multi-phase development - Brandon Sun

Council OKs multi-phase development - Brandon Sun

Standard report cards in the works - Brandon Sun

Standard report cards in the works - Brandon Sun

A Convenient Truth: Gearing Up For Climate Change Could Supercharge The Job Market

www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/09/28/a-convenient-truth-gearin_n_741430.html

This article talks about how investing in green energy could help solve the unemployement crisis. The article is an American article, however I believe the concept applies for Canada as well. Any investment by the government that helps create jobs is a good idea in my books. Enjoy the read and let me know what you think!

Manitoba's New Animal Protection Rules

I don't know how many of you are animal lovers but I sure am. I found a couple of articles on Manitoba's new animal protection act. It's kind of interesting to see the changes the province has made to further protect animals. Personally, I'm totally for the new amendments and act. I think the province is only going to get better with protecting animals as animal cruelty and negligence is a huge problem that isn't given enough attention. Anyways, just wondering what your thoughts/opinions are and if you think there's anything else Manitoba should do to protect animals. The first link is from the Province of Manitoba site and states the act and the changes. The second article is from CBC News and shows how vets feel about the new act. Enjoy!

http://news.gov.mb.ca/news/index.html?archive=2010-09-01&item=9745

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/manitoba/story/2010/09/20/manitoba-animal-protection-regulations-veterinarians.html?ref=rss

First Nations wager on southwest casino - Winnipeg Free Press

First Nations wager on southwest casino - Winnipeg Free Press

Liberals head to city to boost gun registry - Brandon Sun

Liberals head to city to boost gun registry - Brandon Sun

Minority or Majority

Canadians have been polled and they are frustrated with the minority government and the effectiveness of the House of Commons. Are Canadians ready to have a majority government, will this be the year?

Article: Times up on minority government

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ottawa-notebook/times-up-on-minority-government/article1705263/?cid=art-rail-politics

Fluffy's law

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/fluffys-friends-howl-over-pet-ban-93223409.html


Seeing as were all students and many of us live in apartments or places that won't allow pets I thought this article might be of interest to some of you. It discusses the fight to create a law called Fluffy's law, which would allow pets to be accepted in apartments and buildings that otherwise ban tenants from having pets. Any pet lovers that are for this law? Anyone against it?

Should Canada spend 9 billion on new aircrafts?

http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/Canada/20100901/haper-cf-18-100901/


This article discusses money to be spent on new aircrafts what are your thoughts?

Government Funding of Sports Arenas - Good idea or bad idea?

This article was on CBC last night.
http://www.cbc.ca/sports/story/2010/09/09/sp-harper-sports-arenas.html

Should the Federal government be spending money to build sports arenas? What is the argument in favor of doing this? What is the argument against providing money for this type of project? What do you think?

Does this type of debate happen at other levels of government?

Business Development

Interesting article:

http://news.gov.mb.ca/news/index.html?archive=&item=9486

Good example of how government tries to stimulate business development.

What do you think?

Welcome - Read this First!

Hi,

Welcome to Government class! During the term we will be learning more about the functions of government and how government decisions and policies can have an impact on individuals and business owners.

I would like everyone in this class to contribute to the discussion on this page over the next seven weeks. I expect that everyone in the class will start at least one discussion or thread on this page during the next seven weeks and that everyone will contribute on an ongoing bases to the discussions or threads that are started by their classmates (and me.) Your participation will be worth 5% of your final marks and I may generate midterm and/or final exam questions from topics discussed on this blog.

A good way to start a discussion might be by looking for a news story that is of interest to you, summarizing that story (or provide a link to the story) and providing your opinion on the story. Your opinion might include action that you think should be taken, reasons that you agree or disagree with the idea put forward in the story or discussion around why the story will impact business owners or individuals.

Some common sense rules apply to this blog:
(1) You can disagree with someone else's opinion but you can not make a personal attack on that person. i.e. It is OK to say: I disagree that students should be required to post weekly on this blog because I feel in class discussion would be more beneficial. It is NOT OK to say: I think that posting on this blog is a stupid idea.

(2) Try to base your opinions on facts. You might have to do a little bit of research to back up your opinions.

(3) No profanity

Please read pgs 8 and 9 in your course pack and refer back to this summary of critical thinking when posting on this blog. Consider when reading news articles, others posts and when writing your own posts if your are distinguishing fact from opinion, are watching for faulty logic and looking out for propaganda techniques.

Hope you enjoy this exercise and I would welcome any feedback that you might have about it.

Amanda