CopperJonny

You know, tbh.. I don't care about individual charges.atm... Actually ... What I would like to see is.. To have the rivers protected in full up there in the minimum.. So it may become an offence to operate a motor vehicle within the high water marks of any river up there in the least.. Any mountain and or deep foothill waterbody. Any river that is home to native cutthroat and bull trout.. For starters.. Edit: idk... Maybe they already are.. In that case... I'm all for vigilante'isms lolol.. True story Joking.. I'm not promoting any of that mess just to be clear

By all means....please share with anyone who may help put an end to this... Thank you

Hi folks, Was down on the Livingstone on Sunday (long weekend just passed) And here are a couple of short vids i was able to grab on phone... as proof of the crap the river sees on a regular basis. needs to end http://i1079.photobucket.com/albums/w507/Jonnygogoluck/th_IMG_0553_zpsjkvm1l4a.mp4 and http://i1079.photobucket.com/albums/w507/Jonnygogoluck/th_IMG_0554_zpsf6k1rqco.mp4 Very sad .. Wish i was closer Edit: oh.. yeah the island they all left and drove back out too.... if you look hard you can see the profiles of several quads and side by sides.. already parked on it from east to west of the Southern lip..

Please pardon the pun... merely a little defensive about it all since ..is all.. seems.. and a little choked for loosing "my clients" ..the company i floated for

Ok ok.. now this is getting stupid.. and I've seen enough.. lol Here's what happened.. like it or not these ARE the facts... step by step.. as was proven on the video... Also which NONE of you have any business seeing unless you pay me ppv.. $130 million made last weekend on boxing fights... just pay me 1/10th of that you can see it. I had no idea was being made as was a shtstorm and hornets nest i stepped into early on a beautiful saturday morning at the gd boat launch. Quit being nosey rubbernecking gossiping old hags lol... or near the same.... jesus tupperware party at my place this saturday.... like you've never heard of a tuning before.. ffs.. its not the first time, and at my age i hope to fk it's the last! If you want to condemn me for defending myself, pretending that you wouldn't have ... you go ahead.. but you would have been the one in the hospital! .. And yeah.... it was in front of clients.. I WASN'T GIVEN THE CHOICE!!! And I'd f'king do it again!!!! Now to shut ya all the fk up here's EXACTLY what happened! Anyone else that was there will be able to attest to it I'm sure.. 1. arrived at boat launch.. tied up in area to do so .. 2. as there were several vehicles parked where they shouldn't have been along with one boat getting ready to launch .. IN the "turn around/ backing area".. I chose to turn around outside the grassy bottleneck and wait.. no problem at all.. merely an extra 15m in reverse.. I turned around and waited. 3. The guys with the boat getting ready to launch waved me in as i was all set.. and they were great about it, totally cool.. so i proceeded to reverse into the launch area. 4. As I was reversing into the water i noticed a "Big Reddish almost Burgundy truck" crowding my from in front of me.. and following me into the launch he was coming in nose to nose, as i was reversing. So I waved him off.. as it was too crowded and proceeded to launch. And that was it. I continued launching. 5. Paying attention to where my clients were standing on the bank... and the ordeal of getting boat off trailer, into the water and anchored in a safe, place away from the actual launch area.. I was beginning to walk down the bank after an " I'll be right back" to my clients. So I could go park. 6.yep im doing the number thing.... disregard the first #6. 6. Oblivious to anything already happening.. I was walking the bank above the black matt type of ledge.. back to my Jeep. And was to walk around the front, rather than back into the water , around the back of the trailer then up the driver side.. So as i was walking towards my Jeep, I walk into earshot of what sounded like loud voices.. What that was... was.... the guides and fly fishers already at the boat launch prepping to launch who waved me in... looked like they were giving him shyt for butting in front and then i notice I'm blocked from being able to leave and go park.. as he apparently pulled in instead of stopping at my wave off.. when i was reversing.. and did a big wrap around my jeep on the outside, and between the other truck already in the water launching as i was pulling in.Get it?! 7. So now I'm ready to go park... And as he was arguing totally telling the other guys off.. I mentioned... "Do you mind backing up so I can leave ...Dude you're blocking me!" 8. He rotates his feet and is now facing me as I'm now walking in front of my jeep, to go between his truck and my Jeep.. proceeding to my driver side door.. so right now I'm still in front of my Jeep asking hime to move.. he spun and started telling me to "f off.. and that i should learn how to drive" Only problem was he blocked my in and i couldn't drive the jeep up over the ledge.. its a patriot... not a wrangler lol... anyhow he's telling me to fk off and giving me a what for" ... for asking him to back up. Totally spittle flying and frothing.. 9. As I'm in awe and hes approaching me.. I'm now between his truck passenger door and my Jeep's front 1/4 panel light section.. and watching this fella loosing it.. All of a sudden a huge lab comes flying out his passenger window... well halfway out and was totally Cujo'ing me about a foot from my face.. HOLY FIK the dogs teeth are in my face and he meant it... So the dog scared the shyt out of me, and when i noticed it was a Lab.. (I grew up with Lab's, best dog ever imo).. I thought oh hey crazy boy....and pointed at him... still a little pissed from whackjob master in front of the truck and him (the dog) scaring the bejeezus out of me.. I pointed at him and said firmly 'SHUT UP'... 10. So the idiot in front of the truck telling me off the whole time (and the other guides too) starts to yell at me " NO YO SHUT UP.... YOU SHUT THE F UP!" bla bla bla and is rushing towards me getting in my face.. as i see this... i think hmmm.. fkers lucky i have clients or i would've dropped him earlier for being a mouth.. but he's rushing up on me... and i decided oh yeah...?!! not me no .. and his mouth going like a machine so I chose with body language to meet him in the middle.... you don't rush up on me! You may mouth me off in front of clients but you don't physically get away with anything around me... thats the line!! There is ALWAYS a line!! 11. As I was meeting him in the middle he spun and went to his driver's door, got in and started up... so let him him flee... was kind of funny... mouthy goof.. and that was it.. so now I'm in front of his truck.. and he's revving his engine and I'm like ....what? .... what are you going to do? And he takes off....... I jumped to my right/ his left(of the truck) and as he's going past where i was just standing he hit the brakes and decides to mouth off more... well ..... Now Im pissed.. i look to see where my clients are.. they're still near the boat about 45 50m away.. upstream in the back eddy. 12. So now I'm near mad... I rush up and shove my head in his driver side door and tell him he's lucky i have clients... you piece of sh*t!! and then he starts to lunge at me.. 13. So i back out of his radius .. and he's still frothing at the mouth.. lunging at me enough to make me react like wince... does it ( i say to myself.. next time) .. does it twice ( i again said to myself .. next time... Jonny your clients are over there).. third time... I'm restraining) .... fourth time... I snapped his lips in a beautiful shower of crimson, if only to get his attention.. 14. So he's reeling.. and comes flying out of his truck leaving the door open, launching lefts and rights at MY head and I'm back pedalling and blocking everyone of them... was great... fking awesome.... not my first dance!! but he was throwing haymakers.. and i was back pedalling .. I had a "fat ugly blonde" coming at me from the water side who i had to fend off..(on my right)..... fkface coming at me from centre field throwing bombs, a big/taller black fella coming at me from my left.... and a Labrador retriever biting my ass... simultaneously.. 15. So i knew i had to even the ratio.. and i threw a left at fknutz... deleted that threat.. Then the BS after he woke up began, that i'm "A f'ing pussy! For snapping him in while he was in his truck" (yet is fine with hime trying to run me over)While i was on the phone with the head guide trying to sort and explain what happened. Again he approached and asked if i saw or was the guy who dropped him... i said nope!! The RCMP came had me in the back of the car.. due to me telling the truth... and they're need to "detain" me for it.. as they did an investigation. Only problem was i forgot to mention that he tried vehicular murder/assault .. with his truck and only noticed that I had a dog bit on my rear leg as i was sitting in the car waiting.. they came and said.. " he's claiming he was in fear, due to your assault, just so happens your client has it on video, with her phone.. and clearly shows him being the aggressor, including after he woke up.. he continued to instigate yelling across the parking lot.. and approaching me. An you trying to avoid", " So Jon.. take your clients and go fishing". As they let me out of the car and shook my hand.. looking over to where jerkoffs truck and and company where.. we could see him collapse on the ground.. and curl up, jerking and shaking..... I said to the officer... "Is he ok? what's going on with him?" he said they "see this all the time" lol " we're not going to let him launch, we're going to make him pull his boat out" and they did and that was it... due to fear of vandalism of my vehicle, i chose not to float. My clients were a little surprised by the ordeal.. but still wanted to go.... with me.. But i requested from the head guide out of respect for that company.. that he get someone else to do it.. i didn't feel right on the water that day after that.. although the officer did mention to me... " after something like this, a good way to get over it is.... fishing!" So the guy mouthed off.. big deal.. total fking idiot... no biggie... tried to hit me with his truck... yup... game changer! Anyone wants to condemn me for that!! Kindly Go Fk yourself! Do i wish it didn't happen? Absolutely! Also turns out.. I'll never be invited out to do floats for the company again.. Oh well, you win some and you lose some. Even if it is self defence! Hopefully no one will have the same trouble again, on any launch. And I have never met, nor seen that guy before... never heard of him.. until now.. nothing but negative crap about him.. anyway.. none of my business.. So now you know the whole story... GoldgloveJonny lol

Thanks Guy's.. hmm... i originally felt a mix of what everyone has mentioned... STABILITY is key... and the fundamental source of healing for this little guy... and your right Dave.... I have to figure out to what extent I am willing or capable of being a consistent role model in this fella's life.. I've always had a knack for getting to know kids... i kind of empathize and put myself to there level and learn what makes them tick.. is how I reach them... I have volunteered at a Summer Camp as a junior then senior counsellor for under privileged children when I lived back home in the maritimes throughout high school and after wards. Taught me a lot about we as youngsters and myself too.. You are accurate in stating any little move may "shatter" young ones forever, if not a long time... we're so impressionable at that age. Children spend the rest of there lives nearly second guessing everything that comes into contact with their lives after something as "tragic" as a simple breakup by two people who thought they would last forever initially. Too us its not only a disheartening often dark moment in our lives, a window pane of learning... and an attempt at what we dream of.. which we usually get over in time.. but to them.. its everything..huh.. i've a lot of thinking to do.. tact... .. And I agree.. positive.. encouragement.. and i like the thought of leading by example.... to "show him myself getting angry, and dealing with it constructively" as in teach him it can be done.. and even telegraph some tactics how... in a positive way... silver lining to every cloud... Thank you.. this is what i was praying for when i wrote this... a collage of ideas ... and to attempt a masterpiece! for this kid. Yet i do ponder about professional help... as i don't want his future headspace to be cast by my opinion alone! I agree about the " complete stranger and sharing in confidence" as a child.. but it may also teach him that there are avenues he may reach out for when in need.. hmm.. and yes definitely the parents are due for some as well.. I will figure a way to push that though... first off..

Thanks Guys, I appreciate your advice... I thought of that yet was not sure if a psychologist or psychiatrist was the proper route... I will mention it for sure now.. money isn't a question .. both are actuaries/accountants.. so it is within their realm to get him the best help he needs. Hopefully.. Thank you very much, I shall heed your advice... I do agree, it certainly is beyond my means, and much larger than i may assist, in considering the "threats".. very scary situation here... which is why I spoke up in search of advice from you... "Red Flags" you know.. Thanks... Jonny Oh .... and yes.... I do plan ASAP to get this little fella out in the boat for some relaxing, quality time and introduce him to some trout.. try and get that smile on his face... like only catching one has that magic to do to us..

Hey all, Considering that I feel there are quite a few level heads on here who I respect, I'm reaching out and would like to ask for some help. Long story short........a friend of mine has recently split up with her husband apparently this guy was a piece of work.. i.e.: calling her names (yep the "C" word) in front of the kids (3yrs & 10yrs) and calling her down, even telling the kids he didn't want them etc etc... unreal, and imo... somethings no child should ever witness or hear! ESPECIALLY from there Dad.. anyway .. thats not the point... thankfully she came too, and the last time he threatened her to divorce him... she agreed! rocked his world! I'm proud of her for finally having enough and the guts to oblige... This woman is a good girl... she didn't warrant nor deserve that treatment, and paramount to that, neither did the children.. So here is my concern... the 10 year old young fella'.. the poor little guy is going through some tough times, I get it! I remember when my parents split up i was younger so its not the same, but i remember... when parents split up its simply a relationship between two that has not worked out as planned. Only problem is hen there are kids involved.. well ... that messes em up... i.e.: that kitchen, set of stairs, TV room, playroom, bathtub, bedrooms... well nothing less.. are their WHOLE world! So when the parent split up .. well the foundations are rocked.. and being a youngin' and not ever having to deal with anything like that, nor the skills to cope with..you know ... it affects em pretty harshly... for better or worse... the parents are no longer the "rock" they once were. So this little fella is dealing with anger issues.. The parents don't agree, but i know... this little guy is soo pissed, I get it. What the problem is, nearly on a daily basis, the young fella threatens to kill his baby sister, beats up his mom, throws temper tantrums, no matter how hard they try to calm him.. he ends up in his room and has broken the handle of his door, been kicked out of summer camp last year, even before they broke up etc... becomes violent. He has never been hit or anything, yet he takes after his Dad in that he is verbally abusive to his mom.... I get that too... the only influence he's ever witnessed was the way his Dad spoke to his mom.. and he thinks its ok.. Not being a parent myself ... yet.. (I have a God daughter, yet I'm not a bio Dad .. yet) I feel funny trying to cosole and offer advice... my fear is offering the wrong advice. Too date I've mentioned to .. " not let him feel like he is right in doing so, yet sit him down after he calms down and be a friend, and ask whats wrong.. and to support him and let him know how proud they are ei.. in his accomplishments in hockey etc... tell him how much he is loved... and how important he is.. and that he now has a responsibility (10 i know but...) in being a big brother and explain how he is looked at by his baby sister... let him know how much she looks up to him, and will nearly (for lack of a better term) "worship" his every move... and emulate him... too merely to kind of get his attention.. and give him a role as in being the "Big Brother". I don't know.. just thinking out loud when i say this stuff.. it sure beats grabbing those little ankles and baseball battin' him off the wall lol.. to get him to delete the tantrums and threats... yeah sick joke sorry.. I haven't actually had the chance to take him fishing yet.... have a friend to friend talk with him... oppose to one of his "parents" trying to have a chat.. and being a "grown up" who went through a break up as most of us these days did when we where young.. i feel a responsibility to help this young fella get through this.. (and heck NO i had nothing to do with it, so I'm not a participant in the breakup! I swear! and that is not the reason i feel why i want to help) Both parents were 100% faithful and actually the 1st for each... was kind of one of those things you would think should've worked, yet didn't. So... What do you think? What would you say? ... How would you deal with that? What is the best way to help this little guy overcome his anger issues?... It's taking a lot out of the parents and being the only children of the two... they haven't dealt with this before either.. so i thought I would reach out and ask this Dr. Phil scenario, hoping some of you may help give me some ideas... I'm all ears!! tia Jonny

Edit: Oops .. sorry SeanD, I hadnt seen your post , havent looked in a bit.. you covered what i was saying! original post Hey guys... I own G3's in convertible... I love them... but i did have a problem with the suspenders too... a bit of a nuisance when using merely the pants... until one day i sat down and pulled the rear attachment from the .... weld .. or attachment... i was a lil worried that i wouldnt be able to get them fixd without a big problem... so it being a month ago... with great temps ... i simply through them on my hook and wet waded for a bit... finally a week or two ago i figured i would have a look and see what had to be done.. and low and behold... I SWEAR TO GOD these suspenders are removable... from all three points... its merely a loop connected to an open loop... have a look... play with them... pull them abart... DO NOT tear anything.. is not needed... they truly are removable suspenders... and are made that way.... i found out the hard way.. but the only reason why it let go when it did... is ...the stitched strap is a closed loop... but the buckle that is attached to the wader itself is not... trust me! ... ill post a pic... HAHA and my waders are still AWESOME... So... in saying that.... i thought i needed to get my waders fixed.... NOPE!! they just came apart where they are supposed to. I don't even know if they are meant to happen like this, but they are totally removable like they were manufactured like this!! EUREKA!! It works... It really works ! PM me if yu have any questions ill show you, or tell you how... its like.... so perfect! and they become true pants... and then chest waders when you want, at will! Just like I hoped when i bought em! spend the money i say! you'll not regret it....

Just to be clear...the point my rant was all about which I realize I didn't make clear... Without a full inspection, that bridge nor any other should not have been open for use... At all! Edit: for safety reasons Alone!!!

They have to empty the cars, I can't believe they haven't started it this morning for crying out loud! Safety MY ASS! I volunteer to go drag the hoses and connect to the valves!!!! #1 Drain the effing cars 100% #2 Steam the cars for 8 hrs (just in case they fall) because no dozer will hold them back lol #3 Bring in the heavy lift cranes I've been Rigger for hoisting some of the heaviest lifts in the world.... and NO!! one mobile crane can't handle that weight.... We routinely hoist and place vessels up to and over 190,000 lbs... on a weekly basis for crying out loud.... if CP can't do it, get out a the way! Just leave those cheques blank afterwards..... "18 inspections since the high water began last week!" they say.... "the underside is impossible to inspect!" they say.... We'll if it wasn't inspected 100%, then "IT WASN'T INSPECTED AT ALL" I'm telling it like it is.... as an inspector! If it wasn't inspected fully, and that means EVERY GOD DAMN SQUARE INCH, then the inspector who signed off on the reports... is one of two things.... #1 -Lazy, or #2 - Incompetent. They now stand up to be liable for there errors! And most likely will lose their jobs/license. Either way.. the Bow is in the predicament it is now, due to incompetent people! And it doesn't matter if the company (unless they terminated inspectors like Nenshi asks) or the Government where or are concerned about their infrastructure ... I'm sure we can all agree that NObody wanted something like this to happen... for various and reasons alike... it always falls on the inspector.... period. And I will reiterate .... if one cannot inspect every square inch of an article... regardless of size.... then Inspection is NOT complete!!! And not one of those reports should be signed off... period! And there AIN'T NO debating a damn thing about it.... yes to average out if no flaws/faults/defects/discontinuities are found...assumptions become ideal... to save the client money.... but when its 100 yr old steel... every goddamn process (LPI,MPI, RT-X-ray, UT-Ultrasound, ET- Eddy Current) shall be used to determine if any discontinuities are present... otherwise... it wasn't honestly inspected! End of transmission....

Always here to help! Just to be clear, All of the Policemans Flat's pics were tertiary to safety and the actual supply food, water deliveries I was making for friends who live down there and where stranded. Opportunistic moments... at safely calculated times! If it weren't safely wadeable ... I most certainly wouldn't have been there! Safety is always paramount to any photo opportunities, under any circumstance! those who challenge that "theory" .... we'll ... that's where Darwin introduces himself! Thanks for bringing it up, as I forgot to add a note like such.... so darn involved figuring out how to add photo's on here...

Policeman's Flat's Flash Flood Friday! [[/url][/media]

yeah.... also as have been mentioned , it certainly has to be water levels. With the weir work/Harvie Passage having been completed over the past couple of years until the opening, and the the water treatment project near the extender bridge being done without giving the river time to recuperate to "normal" conditions. I'm sure placed the river to the breaking point where something had to give... and prevailing disease being the foremost threat in any circumstance of over crowding(due to low water) ie: salmon farms and most likely due to the levels being so low and temps rising. became prime habitat for bacteria to thrive. I sincerely pray that the river will have a rest from any construction for minimum 5 yrs... I know daydreams lol Edited: Hey Jay thanks for bringing this up man. To be honest I swung by FT on the weekend, and had myself all worked up over it on the drive.. I'm not sure what started it, yet by the time I arrived my usual cheery attitude was completely covered in cloudy skies... i felt like my knuckles where draggin' lol, and was not in a friendly frame of mind.... man i was choked and the more i thought of it the worse i felt. I couldn't stay long I have heard that one of the rivers in Montana (the Missouri i believe) has suffered an outbreak in '04. And it impacted the quality of fishery for 3-4 yrs.. and apparently is back to normal.. from what I've heard they are somewhere around 8,000 fish per mile... I won't claim that as an accurate number... i will google it, but that is what I've heard from a friend who goes down regularly. Is down there now on his 7th trip this spring already. Also with this topic at hand I will bump once again a friendly reminder to all of us and others to not forget about cleaning our gear, even lines etc as we hit up different waters in our lifestyle and ventures. (and don't forget stories hehe) I know its a pain in the butt, yet as the old saying goes.. an ounce of prevention....something, something, and I can't remember the rest

Hey all I found this today, thought I will share..... ""Home » Harper’s War on Science: The Break Down Canada’s Information Commissioner, Suzanne Legault, agreed at the end of March to launch an investigation into the extensive muzzling of federally-funded scientists at the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), Environment Canada, Natural Resources Canada and other federal agencies. Her decision comes after a February 20th complaint formally filed by Democracy Watch in partnership with the Environmental Law Clinic of the University of Victoria, which called for a full investigation and was accompanied by a 128-page report, Muzzling Civil Servants: A Threat to Democracy. That report documents systematic silencing since 2007 of federal scientists involved in research on climate change, the Alberta tar sands, fish farms, and other areas. But the muzzling of scientists is only one aspect of Harper’s War on Science. Far more troubling is the actual elimination of scientific programs and the firing of scientists. Jim Turk, director of the Canadian Association of University Teachers, puts it well: “The Harper government wants politics to always trump science. It wants its political views to dominate even if science shows that it’s wrong.” The NDP’s Megan Leslie is even more caustic: “This government has abandoned evidence-based policymaking to pursue its own brand of policy-based evidence-making.” The New Inquisition According to information provided to me in March by the Professional Institute of Public Service Canada (PIPSC) – the union which represents federal scientists and other professionals employed by 38 federal government departments – 5,332 of their members have already either lost their jobs or been transferred to other duties. That number includes 139 scientists/professionals at Environment Canada (cut by $53.8 million in 2012, after cuts of $200 million in 2011), and 436 scientists/professionals at Fisheries & Oceans (already cut by $79.3 million, with $100 million more in cuts announced in the March 2013 budget). Thousands of unionized support staff have also been cut from these, and other, departments. Harper claims that his drastic cuts to most federal agencies are necessary in order to eliminate the deficit before the next federal election. But as business writer David Olive recently observed (Toronto Star, March 20, 2013), “Harper’s ultra-low corporate tax [15%] deprives Ottawa of $13.7 billion a year according to Finance’s own estimates. That’s enough to wipe out the deficit in two years without cutting a single program.” Canada now has the lowest corporate tax rate of G8 member nations. Indeed, according to a 2012 study by the World Bank, PwC and the International Finance Corporation, of 185 countries examined, only seven countries have a lower corporate tax rate than Canada. The DFO has been especially hard hit by Harper’s War on Science, with three rounds of cuts and another three to come. The entire ocean contaminants research program has been axed, including laboratories and research stations across Canada. World-renowned scientists have been fired, including Dr. Peter Ross, an expert on contaminants’ effects on marine mammals. Working out of DFO Institute of Ocean Sciences in Sidney, BC for the past 13 years, Dr. Ross is known for his path-breaking research on dioxins in pulp mill effluent, the effects of flame retardants on beluga whales, the impacts of pesticides on wild salmon, and the effects of industrial contaminants on orca whales. Dr. Ross told DeSmog Canada (Jan. 21, 2013), “If someone is saying that we have to cut 5% from every department, that’s one thing. But when you turn around and cut 100% of a program, to me that indicates something more than fiscal restraint. It argues in favour of a targeted reduction of a program for some other reason.” More than a dozen scientific programs important to Canada’s environment and oceans health have been targeted and dismantled over the past year, while others have been slashed to the bone. (See full list..HERE) The Terrible Toll DFO’s Habitat Management Program – which monitored the effects of harmful industrial, agricultural and land-development activities on wild fish – is gone. DFO’s teams of experts on ocean contaminants in marine mammals, on marine oil pollution, and on oil spill countermeasures have all been disbanded. Gone too is the Centre for Offshore Oil, Gas and Energy Research – the only agency with the ability to adequately assess offshore projects. Nine out of 11 DFO marine science libraries will be shut. And the Experimental Lakes Area is closed. At Environment Canada, the Polar Environment Atmospheric Research Laboratory (PEARL) in Nunavut, involved in monitoring the Arctic ozone hole discovered in 2011, has been closed. Similarly, the Canadian Foundation for Climate and Atmospheric Sciences, Canada’s main research foundation on climate change, has been axed. The Canadian Centre for Inland Waters – the most important science monitoring agency for the imperilled Great Lakes – has lost key staff members. Cuts to the Action Plan on Clean Water, which funds water remediation, makes communities more vulnerable to toxics. Harper’s War on Science has also eliminated the Hazardous Materials Information Review Commission, the independent agency that ensured fracking companies complied with regulations. And by dismantling the Smokestacks Emissions Monitoring Team at Environment Canada, the government has eliminated “the only Canadian group capable of writing and supervising credible testing methods for new and existing rules to impose limits on pollution from smokestacks” (PostMedia News, March 18, 2013). In other cuts that are environment-related, the Cereal Research Centre in Winnipeg – which developed popular spring wheat varieties for Western Canada – is set to close in April 2014. Even the National Research Council’s world-renowned Canada Institute for Scientific & Technical Information (CISTI) has been cut drastically. These are the people who solve issues such as responding to pandemics, and maintaining food and product safety. Gary Goodyear, Minister of State for Science and Technology, has consistently defended the Harper government from accusations of a War on Science by emphasizing the $5.5 billion that the Feds have provided to the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI), including another $225 million to the CFI in Economic Action Plan 2013 released on March 21. Who Decides? The CFI – the key decision-maker for all science funding in Canada – has a governing body of 13 members, seven of whom are appointed by the Minister of Industry (Christian Paradis). These members then select the other six members. This governing body then appoints seven of the 13 CFI Board of Directors, receives reports from the Board, appoints auditors, approves the Annual Report, sets strategic objectives and makes final decisions about what science projects will be funded, including at universities. According to the CFI website, the members are “similar to a company’s shareholders, but representing the Canadian public.” But a look at the CFI members indicates that it is a highly politicized body (including a founding trustee of the Fraser Institute) that is making the decisions about what science to support with its $5.5 billion in taxpayer dollars. CFI Co-Chair David Fung is so thoroughly embedded in China-Canada business/trade collaboration that he may as well be seen as a de facto vice-president of CNOOC (China National Offshore Oil Corp.). The other Co-Chair, Roland Hosein, is a vice-president of GE Canada, a company that is thoroughly engaged in promoting “energy export corridors” and water-privatization efforts across Canada, including GENI (September-October 2011 Watershed Sentinel) and (with Goldman Sachs) the Aqueduct Alliance (January-February 2012 Watershed Sentinel). Meanwhile, the Board of Directors of the CFI includes the President/CEO of the Montreal Economic Institute (a perennial advocate of bulk water export), and an executive for Husky Energy (whose Hong Kong billionaire owner Li Ka-Shing is buying up water/utilities around the globe). Otherwise, both the CFI Members List and the CFI Board are packed with corporate biotechnology representatives. (See HERE for a list of members.) So Harper’s War on Science has some obvious goals, including getting rid of all federally-funded science that would impede water export, as well as any science standing in the way of aquaculture, tar sands and offshore oil development, and natural gas export. As Maude Barlow and renowned freshwater scientist David Schindler wrote in the Star Phoenix (March 15, 2013), “The Harper government is systematically dismantling almost every law, regulation, program or research facility aimed at protecting freshwater in Canada and around the world.” Harper even killed the Global Environmental Monitoring System, an inexpensive project that monitored 3,000 freshwater sites around the world for a UN database. In 2010, the Harper government created the Red Tape Reduction Commission, a little-known advisory body overseen by Treasury Board’s Tony Clement and packed with private-sector members. They came up with a strategy for “reducing the regulatory burden on businesses to better enable them to make needed investments in productivity and job creation.” Called the “one-for-one” rule, the measure “requires regulators to remove a regulation each time they introduce a new regulation that imposes new administrative burden on business.” The Harper government adopted the “one-for-one” rule in January 2013, with Treasury Board bragging that “Canada will be the first country to give such a rule the weight of legislation.” Of course, the Harper government has already wiped out most federal environmental regulation with omnibus budget bills C-38 and C-45. And now, with the War on Science, a few bean-counters left in federal departments will be tasked with choosing which rule to eliminate if a new regulation is added. That kind of stupidity is what has made the Harper Conservatives (and Canada) look truly medieval to much of the scientific world. Now the Harper government is scrambling to look “green” and “scientific” in order to get US approval for its Keystone XL dilbit export pipeline and to bolster various trade issues (including the Fuel Quality Directive) pending with Europe. But having axed so much environmental and climate science, including the Canadian Foundation for Climate and Atmospheric Sciences, and having fired hundreds of scientists across the land, the Harper Cabinet looks like nothing less than the New Inquisition dressed in a cowboy hat. *** Joyce Nelson is an award-winning freelance writer/researcher and the author of five books. source Bookmark Us"" ............................This was Posted today I noticed on FB, felt it may do some good here. -CJ