For my Canadian friends

sear said:
Nutty enough to go both ways:
- government employees conducting personal business via government equipment, &
- government employees disclosing confidential government information on private, non-secure networks.

Still not clear to me which breach was more extensive, Ed Snowden, or Don Trump.
Click to expand...


I support Ed Snowden.
He was not leak, but a whistle blower.

{...
Edward Joseph Snowden (born June 21, 1983) is a former National Security Agency (NSA) intelligence contractor and whistleblower who leaked classified documents revealing the existence of global surveillance programs.
...
In May 2013, Snowden flew to Hong Kong, and in early June he revealed thousands of classified NSA documents to journalists Glenn Greenwald, Laura Poitras, Barton Gellman, and Ewen MacAskill. His disclosures revealed numerous global surveillance programs, many run by the NSA and the Five Eyes intelligence alliance with the cooperation of telecommunications companies and European governments, and prompted a cultural discussion about national security and individual privacy.

On June 21, 2013, the United States Department of Justice unsealed charges against Snowden on two counts of violating the Espionage Act of 1917 and theft of government property, following which the Department of State revoked his passport. He stayed in Moscow's Sheremetyevo International Airport for a month, then was granted asylum in the country. He became naturalized as a citizen of Russia in 2022
...}
 
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It was the Conservative Party who killed the Liberal National Energy Program back in 1985–The same party that today argues why we needed it so badly.
 
I suppose with east/west pipelines then Canada could sell to the international market instead of being tied to the US market only?
 
Rigby5 said:
"I support Ed Snowden." R5 #441
Shiftless2 said:
(y) S2 #442
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
(n)(n)

I'm all for whistle-blowers, rah-rah. BUT !

Providing $taxpaying $voters relevant information that might embarrass incompetent or corrupt government officials is quite different from
betraying heroic covert intelligence assets, subjecting them to murder and or torture.

The former informs the electorate.
The latter damages U.S. ability to gather important intelligence. Is there a more egregious, senseless, self-defeating form of betrayal?

Here's a hint.
Such outright betrayal is a transcendent disgrace. It is potentially, and has proven to be in multiple cases,
the most severe punishment imaginable, for those that have earned much, much better, our unwavering respect & gratitude.

in context of Val Plame & Ambassador Wilson:

"Even though I'm a tranquil guy now at this stage of my life; I have nothing but contempt and anger for those who betray the trust by exposing the name of our sources. They are in my view the most insidious of traitors." GHWB
Former CIA head, U.S. President Bush (the elder), at the dedication of the George Bush CIA HQ in 1991 [ source: NBC-TV Meet The Press ]
 
sear said:
(n)(n)

I'm all for whistle-blowers, rah-rah. BUT !

Providing $taxpaying $voters relevant information that might embarrass incompetent or corrupt government officials is quite different from
betraying heroic covert intelligence assets, subjecting them to murder and or torture.

The former informs the electorate.
The latter damages U.S. ability to gather important intelligence. Is there a more egregious, senseless, self-defeating form of betrayal?

Here's a hint.
Such outright betrayal is a transcendent disgrace. It is potentially, and has proven to be in multiple cases,
the most severe punishment imaginable, for those that have earned much, much better, our unwavering respect & gratitude.

in context of Val Plame & Ambassador Wilson:

"Even though I'm a tranquil guy now at this stage of my life; I have nothing but contempt and anger for those who betray the trust by exposing the name of our sources. They are in my view the most insidious of traitors." GHWB
Former CIA head, U.S. President Bush (the elder), at the dedication of the George Bush CIA HQ in 1991 [ source: NBC-TV Meet The Press ]
Click to expand...

I only vaguely remember how Novak reported on Valarie Plame being CIA, ruining her cover, and making is too dangerous for her to travel anymore.
I think Armitage and Libby were the source of the leak.

But I do not think Snowden named assets, but systems instead.
{...
Edward Snowden revealed extensive global surveillance programs conducted by the NSA and its international partners, exposing how governments collect and monitor digital communications on a massive scale.

Key Revelations:​

PRISM Program: Snowden disclosed that the NSA had direct access to data from major tech companies, including Google, Facebook, Microsoft, Apple, Yahoo, Skype, YouTube, and Dropbox. This program allowed the NSA to collect emails, documents, photos, and other communications without individual court orders, effectively giving intelligence agencies a backdoor into global digital communications.

XKeyscore: This tool enabled the NSA to search and analyze vast amounts of internet data in real time, including emails, browsing histories, and online activity, making it possible to track individuals’ online behavior with minimal oversight.

Tempora: Snowden revealed that the British intelligence agency GCHQ tapped into fiber-optic cables to intercept and store global internet traffic, sharing this data with the NSA. This program collected emails, social media posts, and phone records on a massive scale.

Other Surveillance Tactics: Documents showed that the NSA used “method interdiction” to intercept packages, installing malware or backdoor hardware before forwarding them to recipients. The NSA’s ANT division developed technology capable of monitoring and even altering data on offline computers.

Telephony Metadata Collection: Snowden disclosed that companies like Verizon were compelled to hand over metadata from phone calls, including numbers dialed, call durations, and locations, covering both domestic and international communications.

Broader​

Snowden’s leaks highlighted the global reach of intelligence agencies, the cooperation between the NSA and the Five Eyes alliance, and the involvement of telecommunications companies and foreign governments in mass surveillance. His revelations sparked worldwide debates on privacy, government transparency, and the ethics of surveillance, leading to legal challenges and reforms in some countries.
...}
 
The origins of Maple MAGA

1774611238160.png

The Conservative Party is essentially the Republican Party of Canada today, focused on anti-environmental climate sabotage, culture wars, total bullsh!t conspiracy theories and being unhinged from facts and decency. Pierre Poilievre federally, Danielle Smith in Alberta, Scott Moe in Saskatchewan and John Rustad in BC have been most responsible for this degeneration - gone are the old moderate or red Tories, who have or are migrating to the other parties - wisely so.
 
1774815340466.png

This week, Conservative MPs stood in the House of Commons holding Bibles, taking selfies, and filming videos. That breaks clear parliamentary rules. No props. No phones. The Speaker said nothing. That silence matters.

At election time, these same politicians show up everywhere. Sikh gurdwaras. Muslim community halls. Hindu festivals. They promise to represent everyone. They ask for every vote.

But once elected, the message changes.

They walk into Parliament and signal which worldview they think should lead. Not a shared public standard. Theirs.

That’s not religious freedom. It’s using religion as a political tool while everyone else is expected to accept it.

And it’s not just Ottawa.

In Alberta, Danielle Smith has leaned into the same approach. Her government has even floated handing public healthcare to Catholic control. Canadians already know how dangerous it is when state power and religion mix.

So ask a simple question.

What happens to your voice after election day?

Because democracy isn’t just about winning votes. It’s about representing the people who gave them to you.

We all deserve equal voice. Not conditional inclusion.

SOURCE
 
As for the Maple MAGA ....

1775222566674.png

Even Conservatives should be upset about this.

Pierre Poilievre is leaning hard into the podcast circuit. After appearing on The Joe Rogan Experience in the United States, he followed it up on April 2 with another major appearance on The Diary of a CEO in London with Steven Bartlett.

Bartlett is a business entrepreneur and podcast host. He’s not a political journalist and has no background in Canadian public policy.

So why is the leader of Canada’s opposition going on foreign podcasts and telling international audiences that Canada is “broken”?

Joe Rogan’s show is one of the biggest podcasts in the world, based in the United States. Bartlett’s podcast is a global business show recorded in the United Kingdom. Neither platform is focused on Canadian voters or Canadian policy debate.

Yet in both appearances, Poilievre pushed the same message: Canada’s economy is failing, housing is broken, and immigration is out of control.

These are serious issues that deserve real debate.

But instead of making that case to Canadians, he’s selling the narrative abroad.

At this point it’s not a one off.

Pierre Poilievre doesn’t just campaign anymore.

He podcasts about how broken Canada is… to the rest of the world.

==================================
​
Thing is, people watching those shows are already his base so he's not accomplishing anything (except making himself feel good?)​

1775222615902.png

1775222630939.png
 

MAGA DOUBLE TALK (What!.. again?)
😛


A new U.S. report is criticizing Canada’s “Buy Canadian” policies — claiming they make it harder for American companies to compete here.
But let’s be real.
The U.S. has enforced its own “Buy America” rules for decades — prioritizing American companies in government contracts, infrastructure projects, and supply chains. From steel to transit to public works, U.S. policy has long been about keeping jobs and investment at home.
Now suddenly, when Canada takes similar steps to support local businesses and workers, it’s being labeled a “trade barrier.”
The same report points to Canada’s dairy protections and provincial alcohol rules — but ignores how heavily the U.S. subsidizes its own industries and restricts access in key sectors.
So the question isn’t whether Canada is being “unfair.”
It’s this:
Why is it acceptable for the U.S. to protect its economy — but not Canada?
Protecting local jobs and industries shouldn’t be controversial. It should be expected.
What do you think — double standard, or fair criticism?

SOURCE
 
Shiftless2 said:
As for the Maple MAGA ....

View attachment 4537

Even Conservatives should be upset about this.

Pierre Poilievre is leaning hard into the podcast circuit. After appearing on The Joe Rogan Experience in the United States, he followed it up on April 2 with another major appearance on The Diary of a CEO in London with Steven Bartlett.

Bartlett is a business entrepreneur and podcast host. He’s not a political journalist and has no background in Canadian public policy.

So why is the leader of Canada’s opposition going on foreign podcasts and telling international audiences that Canada is “broken”?

Joe Rogan’s show is one of the biggest podcasts in the world, based in the United States. Bartlett’s podcast is a global business show recorded in the United Kingdom. Neither platform is focused on Canadian voters or Canadian policy debate.

Yet in both appearances, Poilievre pushed the same message: Canada’s economy is failing, housing is broken, and immigration is out of control.

These are serious issues that deserve real debate.

But instead of making that case to Canadians, he’s selling the narrative abroad.

At this point it’s not a one off.

Pierre Poilievre doesn’t just campaign anymore.

He podcasts about how broken Canada is… to the rest of the world.

==================================
​
Thing is, people watching those shows are already his base so he's not accomplishing anything (except making himself feel good?)​

View attachment 4539

View attachment 4540
Click to expand...

{...
"Skippy" is the nickname for Pierre Poilievre, the leader of Canada’s Conservative Party known for his combative style and sharp political tactics.
Pierre Poilievre, often called "Skippy" by peers and opponents, is a prominent Canadian politician and the current leader of the Conservative Party of Canada. Born in Alberta and adopted by schoolteachers, Poilievre became involved in politics as a teenager, canvassing for local conservatives and joining the Reform Party, which later evolved into the modern Conservative Party. He was first elected to Parliament in 2004 at age 25, making him one of the youngest MPs at the time.
...}
Even when I lived in Wisconsin, Michigan, or Minnesota, I never paid much attention to Canada.
I probably should have.
 

Millions of Americans are now eligible for Canadian citizenship and many are applying ‘just in case’​

By Vivian Song

When Donald Trump was first elected in 2016, New York State resident Ellen Robillard briefly looked into getting Canadian citizenship. Her mother, after all, was born in Nova Scotia.

As a Democrat, Robillard was despondent at the election results, but she abandoned the idea after realizing that her young son wouldn’t be eligible for citizenship under a law that barred Canadians born abroad from passing their citizenship to children if they were also born outside Canada.

In 2023, however, the Canadian courts ruled that law unconstitutional and the changes to eligibility came into effect in December, suddenly opening up a pathway to Canadian citizenship for many Americans at a time of political upheaval, violence and uncertainty in the US.

Robillard, 52, is applying for citizenship with her son now that the first-generation rule has been scrapped.

Since criteria for citizenship expanded with the passage of Bill C-3 of Canada’s Citizenship Act, millions of Americans have become eligible to claim Canadian citizenship. The amendment reverses a “first-generation” limit imposed by .......

CONTINUED
 
Scanning the comments it appears that many (most?) readers either didn't read the post, didn't understand it, or chose to ignore it.

1775405004615.png

People heard Mark Carney say that affordability is the best it’s been in a decade, and a lot of folks immediately thought he meant life in Canada is suddenly cheap again. That’s not what he was talking about.

Prices are still high. Groceries are expensive. Rent and housing are still a serious challenge in many places. Everyone knows that.

What Carney was referring to is how economists measure affordability. They look at the relationship between income, inflation, and borrowing costs, not just the price tag on a loaf of bread.

Over the past couple of years, inflation has cooled compared to the spike we saw earlier in the decade. At the same time, wages have been rising faster than inflation for many workers. Interest rates have also started easing after the aggressive hikes used to fight inflation.

When economists combine those factors, the income versus cost ratio has improved compared with the worst inflation period. That’s what leads to statements like “affordability is the best in a decade.”

But that doesn’t mean people suddenly feel comfortable again. Many households are still catching up after several years of price shocks.

So the statement isn’t saying life is cheap.

It’s saying the economic pressure is finally starting to ease.

SOURCE including comments
 
Rigby5 said:
"With climate change the way it is, I probably should learn more about Canada?" R5 #458
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To learn what life is like for the survivors? Because you'll want a palm tree in your yard?

No half-stepping here R5.
If the problem is climate change, pitching a beach umbrella at the North pole isn't going to stop climate.

Those that are serious about eliminating the inconvenience of anthropogenic global warming should book passage on Artemis 3. They'll find climate on the moon is a non-issue. There is no climate on the moon. BUT !
Bring your own toilet.

In other words:
Trump is rendering the U.S. (& the world) a shambles. He's just getting started.
"Oh woe is everything!" Grace06
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