Month: April 2007

Hmmm. A history of a brownies…

Today’s brownies, from brilliant pastry minds like Ms. Greenspan, Nick Malgieri and Alice Medrich, bear little resemblance to the tough bake-sale squares of yore: they contain much more chocolate and less flour. Sheila Brass is a culinary historian who, with her sister, Marilynn, wrote “Heirloom Baking With the Brass Sisters” in 2006, which traces the evolution of American baking in the 20th century through their own family history.
“Our father loved the Bangor brownies,” Ms. Brass said. Some legends place the first brownies in Bangor, Me. The classic recipe, dating to the early 1900s, calls for just two ounces of chocolate. To a modern palate, that amount is practically imperceptible. Older recipes reflect the ingredients of their time, when chocolate for the masses was still new, exotic and relatively expensive. The first American chocolate factories were concentrated in New England, and it was there that the brownie first caught the public imagination, in the 1920s.

Julia Moskin “Simple Pleasure, American Style” – New York Times.

Last October, we reported that Canada was buying as many as 100 surplus tanks. The next day Department of National Defence officials rushed out to say, no, no, CTV had got it all wrong and that DND had no plans to buy surplus tanks.

Today, the Department of National Defence announced it will buy 100 surplus tanks.

Josée Verner, (left) Minister of International Cooperation, is back in Afghanistan again. My colleague Lisa Laflamme, who is reporting for the next several weeks from the CTV Bureau in Kandahar, reports that Verner just arrived and announced a $9–million investment in women’s programs  there. She will also tour a development project and meet with members of the Provincial Reconstruction Team.

When you visit the battlefield that has been preserved at the Canadian National Vimy Memorial in France, one of the things that strikes you right away is how close the German front line was to the Canadian front line. It’s maybe a football field, if that. In this video, shot on my little digital camera, I start at the German front line and walk to the Canadian front line.

This video, shot on Easter Sunday morning at the Canadian National Vimy Memorial, is my walking tour around the three sides of the monument.

Belinda Stronach just announced she won’t seek re-election.

BELINDA STRONACH TAKES ON NEW CHALLENGES

PRESS RELEASE (For Immediate Release)

Wednesday, April 11, 2007

AURORA, ONTARIO — The Honourable Belinda Stronach, Member of Parliament for Newmarket and Aurora, today announced that she would assume the position of Executive Vice-Chair of Magna International Inc. effective immediately, and simultaneously, she will not stand for re-election as a Member of Parliament in the next federal election.

“I am always assessing the best role I can play in public life, and, after being encouraged by members of the corporate leadership at Magna to return, I have decided that the timing of my return to the business should not be delayed. My father is looking to the future, the company is facing important strategic decisions, and the Canadian and global auto sector and economy is in a period of great challenge,” said Belinda Stronach. “So I am stepping aside from elected politics for the time being and will now take part in public life in a different way.”

“There are other considerations behind my decision that are important to me. The heavy demands of public life on family time are real, and as a mother I want to spend some more time with my kids” added Stronach. “And I remain concerned with the issue of global security for the coming decades, and will continue to work towards ending extreme poverty and disease in Africa. I will be involved increasingly in this work through such initiatives as www.spreadthenet.org and through the creation of a personal foundation.”    

 “It has been an honour and privilege to serve the people from my community of Newmarket and Aurora and I thank them again for having placed their trust in me.

 I will continue to represent the interests of the constituents I serve until such time as a federal election is called.  I also plan to continue to play an active role in the community,” emphasized Stronach.

Belinda Stronach noted that she had informed The Honourable Stéphane Dion, Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada and Senator Marie-P.Poulin, President of the Liberal Party of Canada, of her decision earlier today. She affirmed her interest in continuing to play an active and constructive role in the growth of the Liberal Party in areas like the recruitment of women into politics, fundraising and the modernization of the Liberal Party, including one member, one vote.

— 30 —

Magna International just put out the following release:

 AURORA, ON, April 11 /CNW/ – Magna International Inc. (TSE:MG.A, MG.B; NYSE:MGA. Following the announcement earlier today by Belinda Stronach, the current Federal Member of Parliament for Aurora and Newmarket, that she will not be standing for re-election as a Member of Parliament in the next federal
election, Ed Lumley, Magna's Lead Director commented that: “Our Board of Directors welcomes Belinda rejoining the Magna executive management team as Executive Vice-Chairman. She has extensive experience in the auto industry, has gained national and international exposure as a Minister while in
Government and will bring an unparallelled understanding of Magna's unique corporate culture which has been the major contributor to Magna's historical success. As such she will be in a special position to balance the needs of all Magna stakeholders, including shareholders, employees and customers.”

Co-Chief Executive Officers, Don Walker and Siegfried Wolf, stated that:

“Belinda will play an important role and make a valuable contribution to Magna's ongoing success in the challenging auto industry, particularly in terms of long term strategic planning and related policy decisions,
international relationships, public relations, social responsibility and employee and labour relations. Her continuing interest and experience in education and job skills training will also contribute to Magna's future global competitive success.”

Well, this is a bit like setting the cat among the pigeons. The federal Conservatives has just announced that they have appointed Daniel Paille, a former provincial minister of Parti Quebecois governments to look into public opinion research contracts awarded by the previous Liberal government.

Canada's New Government Appoints Independent Advisor to Review Public Opinion Research Practices
Canada's New Government is delivering on its commitment to implement the Federal Accountability Act
 
 OTTAWA, ONTARIO–(CCNMatthews – April 11, 2007) – The Honourable Michael M. Fortier, Minister of Public Works and Government Services, and the Honourable Vic Toews, President of the Treasury Board announced today the appointment of Mr. Daniel Paille as an Independent Advisor who will conduct a review of public opinion research (POR) practices across government.

….

The Independent Advisor will review documents related to government public opinion research practices for the period of 1990 to March 31, 2003. More specifically, the review will be conducted on public opinion research contract files; program files and records; public opinion research reports; reviews of public opinion research practices and management carried out by central agencies and departments (i.e., reports, action plans and follow-up reports); and reports of the Auditor General that have been tabled in Parliament. The Independent Advisor will also address issues raised, directly or indirectly, in Chapter 5 of the Auditor General's November 2003 report, and determine whether further action is required. …

Daniel Paille is a guest professor in the finance department at the Ecole des Hautes Etudes Commerciales (HEC) in Montreal, where he gives some courses on corporate finance, ethics and regulations.

…

Daniel Paille was Minister of Industry, Commerce, Science and Technology and a member of the Treasury Board in the Government of Quebec from 1994 to 1996. From 1976 to 1988, he was a Tax Expert; Financial Advisor to the Minister; Director of Treasury; Director General, Public Debt and Treasury; and Director General, Financial Management of Government Corporations and the Privatization Program within the Government of Quebec.

Daniel Paille has been a board member of many corporations and member of audit committees. He was also a member and Chairman of the Board of Directors at l'Accueil Bonneau in Montreal, as well as a Member of the National Assembly for the riding of Prevost from 1994 to 1996.
 

Just issued by the Department of National Defence:

Family Statement: Statement from the Family of Corporal Brent Poland
 

“Brent was our dear son, brother, uncle, nephew and cousin.

Brent graduated with a History degree from York University and a Media Arts degree from Ryerson University.

In his thirties, Brent chose to follow his heart and his passion. He enlisted in the Canadian Armed Forces where he volunteered for a career as an infantry soldier.

He thrived in his chosen field, and was excited about taking part in this deployment to Afghanistan. He believed in this mission and he would not for a moment want his death to be the cause of any wavering will or political opportunism concerning the worthiness of the mission of Afghanistan.

He told us before he left that he saw this tour as his chance to help in the effort to bring peace and stability for the people of Afghanistan. He was inspired by the thought that his efforts might help to ensure that little girls had the chance to go to school and women might be given an opportunity to thrive in an environment free of brutal oppression.

Brent was a good, strong and loving man. He was a proud soldier and proud Canadian. Our family is devastated by his death, but take comfort knowing that he died doing what he wanted to do, in an honourable cause and in the service of country.

We are so very proud of Brent's service and willingness to endure adversity to accomplish the goals of his heart. He is in every sense our hero and he will always be.

The family would also like to thank all of our dear friends and family who have given us such tremendous support in these early days of our grief”