Liberals propose non-confidence motion, governing coalition

THE CANADIAN PRESS

OTTAWA - The Liberal Opposition plans to introduce a motion in the House of Commons on Monday declaring non-confidence in the minority Conservative government and proposing a governing coalition.

The motion comes as emissaries from the Liberals, New Democrats and Bloc Quebecois hold talks about forming a new government should Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s minority fall.

But Harper could still avert the immediate defeat of his weeks-old government through procedural tactics.

The Liberal motion, which has the approval of the NDP and Bloc Quebecois, reads:

“In light of the government’s failure to recognize the seriousness of Canada’s economic situation and its failure in particular to present any credible plan to stimulate the Canadian economy and to help workers and businesses in hard-pressed sectors such as manufacturing, the automotive industry and forestry, this House has lost confidence in this government and is of the opinion that a viable alternative government can be formed within the present House of Commons.”

A source says the opposition parties have agreed that Liberal Leader Stephane Dion would lead the government for the next few months.

Letter to the editor (Edmonton Journal) from Philip Raworth, emeritus professor, University of Alberta School of Business:

What surprises me about the present economic crisis is not that it exists, but that it was so long in coming. For years I have been observing the blinkered education dished out in business schools, the behaviour of investors who manage to combine the greed of jackals with the timidity of sheep and the connivance of governments in the rise of a frantic pursuit of profit that was never sustainable.

For me, the real villains of the piece are the business schools. In the early days of capitalism, most businesses were controlled by the people who created them. Most were not particularly enlightened employers, with some prominent exceptions, but neither were they possessed by an insatiable hunger continually to increase their profits. If they made the five per cent or 10 per cent profit each year, that procured them a good standard of living; they were content.

Then, most larger companies became investor-owned and controlled, and with this came the business schools to provide them with the young Turks to run their businesses. Most graduates of business schools have never created anything, could never create anything.

They are the bureaucrats of business, schooled in a worship of profit, a cringing fear of investors, marketing gimmicks to induce superfluous consumption, financial manipulations and strategic planning based solely on efficiency and profit.

These unimaginative products of a soulless education have one use only, that is to assuage the thirst for profit that has seen the rebirth of a new savage capitalism and which has driven us into this mess.

If the Alberta government wishes to contribute to solving our present crisis, they could do no better than shutting down all the schools of business in the province.

Philip Raworth, emeritus professor, University of Alberta School of Business

The Edmonton Journal

EDMONTON - It wasn’t a bird, and it sure as heck wasn’t a plane, but whatever was in the sky over western Canada on Thursday night was very exciting for the people who saw it.

In Edmonton and across the Prairies, hundreds of people reported seeing a bright flaming object light up the sky around 5:30 p.m. local time. It was variously described as green, yellow, purple or blue, and appeared as either an explosion or an object streaking through the sky.

Sightings came from across the Prairies; from as far south as Medicine Hat, Alta., to as far north as Beauval, Sask. - 600 kilometres from Edmonton.

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I’d like to take this Remembrance Day to remember all soldiers who have fought for their countries. From the earliest wars to modern day wars. I respect soldiers for their willingness to follow the orders of their country; they put their life on the line to do the work that their country asks them to do.

I still have hope that one day war will be a thing of the past. I spent the day remembering fallen soldiers and dreaming of a peaceful future.

As many of you know, I am the New Democrat candidate for Calgary Centre in this election. If you would like to visit my campaign site, you can do so at http://www.whoiskinch.ca