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Facebook founder 'defriends' U.S. over taxes. Something for M. Hollande to take note of?

Two news items. Draw your own conclusions. From the New York Times:

Eduardo Saverin, one of the founders of Facebook, officially defriended the United States in September, giving up his American citizenship for the more tax-friendly residency status of Singapore.

Mr. Saverin, who was born in Brazil and has lived in Singapore since 2010, plans to remain in the Asian island nation indefinitely. Singapore has a maximum personal income tax rate of 20 percent and no taxes on capital gains Continue reading Facebook founder 'defriends' U.S. over taxes. Something for M. Hollande to take note of?

The head of Google News on the future of journalism, objectivity, and everything else

Richard Gingras is the head of Google News. Here’s one of the many interesting things he had to say about journalists during a recent talk at Harvard’s Nieman Foundation:

We need to reconsider our missions and our ethical guidelines (in terms of behaviors and audience engagement, not core ethics), and the concept of objectivity. Richard sides with transparency in this debate and believes readers place their trust in the individual online rather than the brand, and expects reporters to be transparent about their views. He doesn’t buy the opaque objectivity of yore where reporters said, “Trust us,” and consumer opinion surveys bear this out. Continue reading The head of Google News on the future of journalism, objectivity, and everything else

Yes Lab/Occupy types punk US trade negotiator Kirk

The TPP is the new black in the world of international trade negotiations. Forget about GATT, the Doha Round or whatever else you’ve got going on. The Trans Pacific Partnership or TPP is the new New Thing.

One of the key things that distinguishes the TPP from other trade agreements is that companies from TPP member countries have to be treated like local companies. So, for the U.S., that means “Buy American” provisions which might prohibit Vietnamese companies from bidding on a government contract would be waived for that Vietnamese company. Canada would like to be part of the TPP but the big sticking point there is that Canada protects some agricultural sectors — namely dairy and poultry — from foreign competition. If Canadian firms are to get unfettered access to the markets in TPP countries, then TPP countries are going to want unfettered access to Canadian markets. Already, New Zealand wants Canada kicked out of the TPP talks because the Harper government says its sticking to protectionism in agricultural sectors. Continue reading Yes Lab/Occupy types punk US trade negotiator Kirk

Meanwhile in the South China Sea: China moves its warships

Hong Kong’s largest circulation English daily newspaper reports:

China has sent five warships to the disputed Scarborough Shoal off the west coast of the Philippines with the warning that Beijing is ready for “any escalation” of the conflict. Continue reading Meanwhile in the South China Sea: China moves its warships

RCMP commish to provinces: Kill the registry. Now.

In response to concerns that some provincial chief firearms officers were continuing to collect data on firearms, in effect creating a “back-door long-gun registry”, RCMP commissioner Bob Paulson issued this letter today:
RCMP Commissioner Paulson instructions to Chief Firearms Officers

With all the hunger and food security issues in the world, the UN focuses on… Canada?

My column across our papers today takes a look at the visit this week and next of a special envoy from the United Nations, the UN Rapporteur on the Right to Food. Its the first time this Rapporteur, who has just wrapped up missions to Syria and Benin, has decided to ‘investigate’ food systems in a developed country:

I’m not so sure Canada should be honoured in achieving this ‘first.’ In fact, it feels rather like there’s a nosy, do-gooder pestering one of the world’s model citizens when there are dozens of ne’er-do-well nations whose citizens would benefit from international scrutiny.

Not only that, this do-gooder reports to the United Nations Human Rights Council, a group whose legitimacy and credibility is untenable so long as that council’s current membership includes Cuba, Saudi Arabia and the nastiest human rights offender of them all, the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Please click through to read the rest …

Key Alberta cabinet posts go to Redford think-a-likes

Duane Bratt of Calgary’s Mount Royal University and I take our first blush of the smaller cabinet named by Alberta Premier Alison Redford today. I was particularly interested to hear Prof. Bratt’s observation about the new transportation minister — Ric McIver — and the relationship he’s soon going to have to have very soon with the man who beat him last year in the race for Calgary’s mayor, Naheed Nenshi.

More from colleague Jackie Larson at the Edmonton Sun on the new cabinet.

'Dutch Disease' metaphor wrong for Canada

Mike Moffatt, an economist and assistant professor at Western University in London, Ont., and I assess NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair’s claim that Canadian resource development, particularly in the oilsands, have given Canada’s economy “Dutch Disease”:

 

First ever "Bike Day" on Parliament Hill Wednesday

Just in from the office of John Weston, MP:

MP John Weston Hosts First Bike Day on the Hill

(May 4, 2012 – Ottawa, Ontario) – On Wednesday May 9, 2012, British Columbia MP John Weston will bring together cycling experts and enthusiasts from across the country to participate in the inaugural Bike Day on Parliament Hill. This event is in keeping with the priorities of Weston’s Parliamentary Fitness Initiative, a non-partisan movement he began in 2009 with House colleagues NDP MP Peter Stoffer, Sackville – Eastern Shore and Liberal MP Kirsty Duncan, Etobicoke North, to encourage healthier lifestyles among MP’s and Senators.

Continue reading First ever "Bike Day" on Parliament Hill Wednesday