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CBC blew more than $70,000 for a Strombo party

I’m with Wells when it comes to Defence Minister Peter MacKay’s hotel bill to attend an important security conference in Munich.

Nonetheless, despite the reasonable argument put forward by M. Wells, there has been much hyperventilating from the opposition (and from several news organizations) about this hotel bill.

Well, for those who were hyperventilating over Mackay’s $3,000 hotel bill, you’re gonna love this: CBC spent more than $72,000 to throw a B-list party for George Stroumboulopoulos to promote the late-night talk show he hosts on CBC. Continue reading CBC blew more than $70,000 for a Strombo party

From GlobalPost: Kim Jong Il: 10 weird facts, propaganda

Over at the CBS News web site, GlobalPost has compiled 10 “weird facts” about Kim Jong-Il. Here’s the propaganda about what a “High Achiever” Kim was:

Official records reportedly show that Kim learned to walk at the age of three weeks, and was talking at eight weeks. While at Kim Il Sung University, he apparently wrote 1,500 books over a period of three years, along with six full operas. According to his official biography, all of his operas are “better than any in the history of music.” Then there’s his sporting prowess. In 1994, Pyongyang media reported that the first time Kim picked up a golf club, he shot a 38-under par round on North Korea’s only golf course, including 11 holes-in-one. Reports say each of his 17 bodyguards verified the record-breaking feat. He then decided to retire from the sport forever.

Read ’em all at: Kim Jong Il: 10 weird facts, propaganda – World Watch – CBS News.

Angus Reid poll on premiers' popularity: Wall, Dunderdale tops

Polling firm Angus Reid releases today a ranking of the country’s premiers according to popularity among their respective electorates.

Brad Wall and Kathy Dunderdale continue to dominate the ranking of provincial premiers in Canada, a new Angus Reid Public Opinion poll has found. Continue reading Angus Reid poll on premiers' popularity: Wall, Dunderdale tops

Harper on the death of Kim Jong-Il: He "violated basic human rights"

Prime Minister Stephen Harper issued the following statement this morning, on the death of North Korea’s Kim Jong-Il:

“Kim Jong-il will be remembered as the leader of a totalitarian regime who violated the basic rights of the North Korean people for nearly two decades. Continue reading Harper on the death of Kim Jong-Il: He "violated basic human rights"

Daily Brief Video: Conservative MP John Williamson defends the "reprehensible" Cotler calls

The Speaker of the House of Commons — and Conservative MP — Andrew Scheer says what his party was doing to Liberal MP Irwin Cotler was “reprensible.” Conservative MP John Williamson tells the Daily Brief he believes Scheer’s language was “over-the-top” and defends a controversial polling practice. Continue reading Daily Brief Video: Conservative MP John Williamson defends the "reprehensible" Cotler calls

From the U of T biz school: Dear Santa, Who's Your City?

A fun little seasonal data project from the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto:

After the many years of commuting on Christmas Eve, jolly old St. Nicholas is reconsidering his home at the North Pole. Given his job description, extreme isolation has lost its appeal. In true Christmas spirit, the MPI is offering Santa a top 10 list of places Continue reading From the U of T biz school: Dear Santa, Who's Your City?

The GOP Debate; NDP Leader Nycole Turmel; and Michael Coren on Christopher Hitchens

Tonight on the Daily Brief on Sun News Network:

A poll in memory of Christopher Hitchens

A poll — albeit a slightly facetious one — in memory of Christopher Hitchens and one of the themes which dominated his writing for the last few years of his life and which was the subject of his 2007 bestseller God Is Not Great. Take the poll … Continue reading A poll in memory of Christopher Hitchens

FT: IMF chief warns over 1930s-style threats

Meanwhile in Europe…

The managing director of the International Monetary Fund has warned that the global economy faces the prospect of “economic retraction, rising protectionism, isolation and . . . what happened in the 30s [Depression]”, as European tensions again flared over suggestions in Paris that the UK’s credit rating should be downgraded before France’s.

[Read the rest: IMF chief warns over 1930s-style threats – FT.com.]