Toyota king of car sales in Canada

Toyota has four of the top ten best-selling cars in Canada in 2007, according to data just released today from Desrosiers Automotive Consultants Inc. of Richmond Hill, Ont. while the North American nameplates placed just three models in the top ten.

Toyota has the Corolla (3), Yaris (4), Camry (6) and Matrix (10) at the top of the charts.

The number one selling-car in Canada is the Honda Civic but sales of that model for the first five months of the year are up just 1.9 per cent compared to the same period last year.

The North American nameplates on the top ten include the Chevrolet Cobalt (5), Pontiac Pursuit/G5 (7), and the Ford Focus (8).

Now when it comes to light trucks, including SUVs, the North Americans rule the roost. The Ford F-Series pickup truck is number one overall in this segment followed by the Dodge Caravan minivan and the GMC Sierra pickup truck. Only one foreign nameplate cracks this category — the Honda CR-V at number 10.

Through May, 361,430 passenger cars have been sold this year in Canada — an increase of just under 2 per cent compared to last year — and 331,985 light trucks and SUVs have been sold, an increase of 9.4 per cent.

 

Jim Peterson resigns

After Question Period today, Liberal MP and former cabinet minister Jim Peterson will rise in the House to announce his resignation.
Peterson's announcement comes a day after a similar announcement from his deskmate Bill Graham.
Peterson's seat in the Toronto riding of Willowdale is expected to be contested Liberal leadership candidate Martha Hall Findlay.

Waiting for new trucks for the Canadian Forces

Three Canadian soldiers were killed in Afghanistan today after a roadside bomb was detonated under or near the unarmoured open-topped truck they were travelling in.

As soon as he heard the news, a defence industry source of mine sent me this note: “Why are running around in open unprotected trucks with DND HQ sitting on a bundle of money for armored trucks for over a year!!!”

You will likely hear a similar line of questioning today from Opposition politicians.

Defence Minister Gordon O’Connor announced nearly a year ago to the day  that his government was ready to spend $1.2–billion on 2,300 new “medium-sized logistics trucks”.

“These new trucks will ensure the lifeline of supply for front-line troops will continue,” said then Lieutenant-General Marc Dumais, Commander Canada Command, in a press release at the time.

But a year later, this truck project is hopelessly bogged down and the department has yet to put out the call to manufacturers to invite them to even bid on the project. Insiders say the project is stalled because of internal disagreements between department bureaucrats and senior officers at HQ who cannot agree on what kind of truck to buy.

In the meantime, here’s some talking points prepared for O’Connor on the issue of new trucks for the troops. These talking points, taken from the daily “House Cards” prepared for the Minister’s daily grilling in the House of Commons, were obtained by CTV News under an Access to Information Request. These notes were prepared in September, 2006 and House Cards we have obtained from late November, 2006 make similar points:

IF PRESSED ON THE HEAVY TRUCK FLEET

  • While visiting our troops in Afghanistan, I was able to witness the condition of our heavy truck fleet.
  • These vehicles are operating continuously in an unstable and harsh environment. It is no surprise that the maintenance on these vehicles has increased. Having said that, they are an excellent piece of equipment and are serving the troops well. As I told our soldiers, I understand that these trucks are an important contribution to our mission in Afghanistan and I have made it a priority to acquire new trucks that will offer better reliability and increased levels of protection.

IF PRESSED ON G-WAGON USE OUTSIDE OF KAF [Kandahar Air Field]

  • As I have said in the past, I haven't given any order to restrict the use of the G-Wagon in Kandahar, nor have I said that the G-Wagon would never be used outside the base.
    We are continuing to use the G-Wagon outside of
  • Kandahar airfield with certain restrictions. Those restrictions are made to reduce the risk to our soldiers as much as possible. For security reasons, I cannot talk publicly about those restrictions.
  • Despite these efforts, we cannot completely eliminate the risks to our soldiers operating in Afghanistan, whether using G-Wagons or other vehicles.

IF PRESSED ON G-WAGON I NYALA SAFETY

  • The Canadian Forces use a variety of vehicles in Afghanistan, depending on the situation. The safety of our troops is our top priority when making decisions about the use of equipment on operations.
  • No vehicle is immune to incidents involving powerful explosives. The G-Wagon has proven to be effective in certain roles in Afghanistan and will continue to be an important asset to our mission there.
  • As the threat evolves, DND will continue to evaluate the equipment provided on operations to ensure it meets the needs of the CF.

From a “House Card” prepared on Nov. 22, 2006:

MEDIUM TRUCK FLEET REPLACEMENT PROJECT

  • We are investing approximately $1.1 billion in 2,300 new medium sized logistics trucks for the Canadian Forces.
  • The new fleet will be the logistics backbone of the Army, getting supplies and special capabilities where they are needed in the most efficient way possible.
  • We are in the process of acquiring these trucks through a competitive process that is still ongoing. We will ensure that Canadian firms have significant involvement over the life of this project.

And from a “House Card” prepared on Feb. 2, 2007:

IF PRESSED ON RELEASING THE PLAN BEFORE ANNOUNCING FUTURE PROCUREMENT PROJECTS

  • This government has shown time and again that it is committed to giving the Canadian Forces the equipment they need to get the job done. The procurement announcements that were made last June
    represent the most significant investment in the Canadian Forces in a decade.
  • Those announcements included the procurement of new strategic and tactical aircraft, helicopters, support ships and logistics trucks – all of which are required by the Canadian Forces as quickly as
    possible to support their operations.
  • For these projects, the department had secured the necessary funds and approvals to move forward.

U.S. National Security Strategy shows "positive signs" for Canada, says DND officials

Using an Access to Information request, I recently received a briefing note submitted to Defence Minister Gordon O’Connor last year in which department officials review the 2006 National Security Strategy of the United States, a document that each U.S. administration is supposed to produce every year but which the current Bush administration has produced in 2002 and then not again until last year.

Here’s some excerpts from the conclusion, written by Corey Michael Dvorkin,  who was, when this document was prepared in March 2006, working in the office of the director of strategic analysis at the Department of National Defence.

What is perhaps unique about this document is the extent to which a strategy statement devoted to long-term security issues repeatedly articulates the belief that the US has a calling to spread democracy and freedom. For many Americans, this 21st century version of 19th century American Manifest Destiny is not simply a tool to enable victory in the war on terror; rather it is seen by many as a moral obligation which the United States is expected to assume. The document notes that in the fight against tyranny, history teaches that other states may not act unless the US does its part. Some of this can perhaps be dismissed as hyperbole used to justify the policies of an increasingly unpopular President. To do so, however, would ignore a long and historic trend in which such concepts lie at the core of American selfdefinition and, at times, US foreign policy.

While the 2006 Strategy reveals that the US will be unrelenting in its resolve, it is also is quite direct in stating that it will remain flexible on its choice of means in pursuing national security objectives. In other words, the document reveals a subtle but important  shift away from the previous emphasis on force, which is repeatedly described as a last resort. It is also signalling that America's allies have an opportunity to influence U.S. behaviour by acting proactively, bilaterally and multilaterally, rather than waiting until the US concludes it has no other choice but to act unilaterally.

From a Canadian perspective, the new US National Security Strategy shows many positive signs. Foremost among these is the repeated emphasis it places on working with old friends and allies in areas of common cause. Indeed, the 2006 Strategy states that “there is little of lasting consequence that we can accomplish in the world without the sustained cooperation of ow allies and partners.” This stands in marked contrast to the 2002 Strategy, under which the US would engage multilateral institutions only to the extent that they could contribute to the war against terrorism, and only if such cooperation did not restrict America's freedom of action.

Read the entire 4–page briefing note.

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Air Canada and Celine and Hilary

Want to see the video of Hilary Clinton's new campaign song, “You and I”? It's been online here since 2004 after I covered the Air Canada presser at which the company announced that Celine Dion would be the star in its new marketing materials. Air Canada produced a video of the song shown only on its flights — and never on MuchMusic or MTV.
So I've gone back into my blog archives here and found the post from 2004 where I wrote about the Celine presser and — for you Celine (and Hilary) fans — I've got the link there to the video Air Canada produced of “You and I”.

Bill Graham resigns

In a few minutes, Liberal MP Bill Graham will rise in the House of Commons
and announce his resignation, clearing the way for Bob Rae to run in Toronto
Centre.
Graham is among the best-liked MPs in the House and commands a great deal of
respect from all sides.
In his parliamentary career, he served as minister of national defence, as
minster of foreign affairs, and also served as interim leader of his party.
David Akin
CTV News
+1 613 220 7935
www.davidakin.com

Amazon more trusted than eBay

Two University of British Columbia professors contend that consumers tend to trust the reputations of sellers affiliated with Amazon.com/Amazon.ca more than they trust sellers at eBay. This has important implications for online commerce because, in several studies, one of the significant barriers that inhibit consumers from making purchases online are concerns about data privacy, protection of credit card information, a confidence that they will actually receive the goods purchased online; and that they have confidence that they will be able to return the goods in the event of an unsatisfactory purchase.

UBC officials say the paper is online though I couldn’t find it when I visited the site this morning. Here’s an excerpt from the press release:

[UBC] professors Paul Chwelos and Tirtha Dhar compared the reputation mechanisms for two popular online retail sites, Amazon and eBay. Both sites allow for publicly-visible feedback on commercial transactions, covering everything from product quality to timely delivery of the goods.

The researchers argue that sellers who inflate their reputations may be doing online marketplaces such as eBay more harm than good.

Making the better business case is Amazon, where the researchers found that more useful feedback on these transactions leads to higher sales and prices.

“Our analysis shows that online marketplaces are more likely to win over consumers when they provide more useful reputation management mechanisms,” says Chwelos. “People are willing to hand over their money when they're getting meaningful feedback.”

Their study, Differences in 'Truthiness' across Online Reputation Mechanisms, shows that consumers find that the reputation mechanism at Amazon elicits much more truthful and helpful feedback than eBay's.

The current system at eBay encourages buyers and sellers to dole out positive feedback since this will enhance their position to buy or sell the next time around. As well, they fear that negative comments could trigger a backlash that will impact their own standing.

“The design of the eBay feedback provides an environment for buyers and sellers to pat each other's back, with glowingly positive feedback,” says Chwelos.

There are no such incentives at Amazon to tippy toe around reputations since only buyers can post their comments. The one-way system invites shoppers to be as honest as they want without any fear of reprisal. As a result, the feedback at Amazon reflects more accurately the user's underlying experience with the transaction, whether good or bad.

Not surprisingly, adds Chwelos, shoppers pay more attention to reputation scores that they believe to be true and accurate, but will discount scores when they are suspect.

“Buyers aren't keen on sites where bloated and perhaps unwarranted reputations are the norm.” he says, “Buyers largely ignore positive feedback on eBay.”

However, eBay is retooling its website with a new mechanism called “Feedback 2.0” that invites buyers to provide four categories of feedback about sellers: item description, communication and delivery time, and postage and packaging charges.

AT&T's network no longer to be neutral

A top executive at America's biggest Internet service provider says the interests of Hollywood are more important than the interests of its customers:

AT&T to target pirated content

It joins Hollywood in trying to keep bootleg material off its network.

AT&T Inc. has joined Hollywood studios and recording companies in trying to keep pirated films, music and other content off its network — the first major carrier of Internet traffic to do so.

The San Antonio-based company started working last week with studios and record companies to develop anti-piracy technology that would target the most frequent offenders, said James W. Cicconi, an AT&T senior vice president.

The nation's largest telephone and Internet service provider also operates the biggest cross-country system for handling Internet traffic for its customers and those of other providers.

As AT&T has begun selling pay-television services, the company has realized that its interests are more closely aligned with Hollywood, Cicconi said in an interview Tuesday. The company's top leaders recently decided to help Hollywood protect the digital copyrights to that content… [Read the full story]

As smart guy David Weinberger says, “Putting a cop in the middle of the network and making available content not accessible by other networks means that if AT&T says it's offering Internet connectivity, it's lying.”

Who Really Runs the World?

If you’re looking for a little light reading this summer, perhaps this is what you’re looking for:

WHO’S WATCHING YOU?
The Chilling Truth About The State, Surveillance, and Personal Freedom

New York, NY–Like a scene out of the hit series 24, the government has used the threat of terrorism and the corresponding climate of fear to erode our freedoms; we no longer have the ability to live our lives away from the prying eyes of hidden cameras. Our government is truly tightening its grip on us by watching and recording nearly everything we do. They do this because they know they can and because knowledge is power. But exactly who are “they” and why do they want to know so much about us?

Who’s Watching You? (June 2007, ISBN: 978-1-932857-57-3, $13.95) includes chilling, accurate and up-to-date descriptions of the methods the government (and private company proxies) uses to watch us. Essential reading for everyone concerned about privacy and freedoms of speech and association, even–perhaps especially–if you don’t plan on doing anything wrong.

WHO REALLY RUNS THE WORLD?
The War Between Globalization and Democracy

New York, NY–The world is a mess. It’s constantly at war, things cost too much and the average person struggles to survive against powers it can barely see, let alone control. It appears so at odds with common sense, in fact, that it begs a fundamental question: Who really runs the world?

Who Really Runs The World? (June 2007, ISBN: 978-1-932857-58-0, $13.95) looks at the conspiracies in everyday life, both hidden and not-so-hidden. It examines actual people, businesses, social networks, corporate alliances and the dark forces of conspiracy and secret history that hold them together. Writing soberly and with authority, the authors address myriad conspiracy theories with open minds. The conclusions they reach may shock and scandalize some people–especially those who fervently believe in democracy–but will fascinate everyone.

About The Disinformation Company:

Based in New York, The Disinformation Company (www.disinfo.com) is active in book publishing, film/DVD distribution and other home entertainment. Recent book releases include Jim Marrs’ The Terror Conspiracy, Graham Hancock’s Supernatural, true crime sensation Circle of Six, Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price, and Everything You Know Is Wrong. Disinformation books are distributed to the trade by Consortium Book Sales & Distribution (www.cbsd.com).

About the Books:

Who’s Watching You? 
By Mick Farren and John Gibb
Published in June 2007
The Disinformation Company Ltd. 
Paperback, SRP: $13.95, 232 pages

Who Really Runs The World?
By Thom Burnett and Alex Games
Published in June 2007
The Disinformation Company Ltd.
Paperback, SRP: $13.95, 256 pages