Socially responsible diamonds

Diamonds without ethical issues sparkle for Canada

TORONTO (Reuters) - In the Arctic, high above the treeline, Canada's third diamond mine is rumbling toward full production, cementing the country's position as a hotspot for diamonds -- without "the issues" and without the blood.

The Jericho mine, operated by Toronto-based Tahera Diamond Corp. (TAH.TO: Quote, Profile, Research), is the first diamond mine in the vast northern territory of Nunavut, created in 1999 to give Canada's Inuit people a bigger political voice.

It shows how global demand for "a girl's best friend" is growing in a country better known for its trees, oil, and nickel.

"Not only is the quality of our diamonds of a high caliber, but the diamonds in Canada are being mined to the highest environmental standard in the world. There are no issues: no child labor, no war, no environmental problems," said Pierre Leblanc, principal with privately owned Canadian Diamond Consultants Inc.

They should call them peace diamonds

Canada still needs American progressives

Canada exit polls point to change

Voting has ended in Canada's general election with exit polls suggesting the opposition Conservatives will be the biggest party.

If the polls are correct, Stephen Harper will lead the first Conservative government in more than 12 years.

However, the polls suggest he is unlikely to gain an outright majority and will require alliances.

only that last bit is any consolation, but this whole election reminds us how important American progressives are to Canada. Its almost impossible to make a difference in the USA, but Canada, already a more progressive country, needs our continued support

Canada needs U.S. progressives

Canada’s Liberals risk losing grip on power

Source ::: Reuters

OTTAWA: With two weeks left in Canada’s election campaign, Prime Minister Paul Martin’s scandal-plagued Liberal Party has fallen behind the opposition Conservatives for the first time in opinion polls.

Since the Christmas break, support for the Liberals, plagued by corruption allegations and hurt by a new federal police investigation into a possible illegal government leak, has dropped four points.

Meanwhile, the Conservatives, led by Stephen Harper, picked up six points, according to a daily SES Research poll for broadcaster CPAC.

The Conservatives now lead with 35 percent support versus the Liberals’ 33 percent and have momentum on their side ahead of the January 23 election.

Canadian conservatives might only have support of a third of the population but the multiparty system exaggerates that. This story is a great example of how U.S. progressives can make a difference in Canada. Instead of struggling under the fist of Republicans and anti-progress Democrats, a real difference can be made in Canada. Canada can be what America refuses to be, but only with our help.

US interferes in Canadian elections

Canada shrugs off U.S. warning to back off

By Randall Palmer and Allan Dowd

OTTAWA/SURREY, British Columbia (Reuters) - The United States made an unprecedented foray into Canada's election campaign on Tuesday, warning politicians not to bash Washington in their bid to win the January 23 election.

But an unapologetic Liberal Prime Minister Paul Martin responded immediately by saying "c'est la vie" -- that's life -- if the United States did not like his remarks, and he would not accept anyone telling him he cannot defend his country.

Canadian progressives should ignore this US imperialism and support a government that is willing to criticize without fear. American progressives would do well to support them and add to their numbers.

Canada helps Palestinians

Canada uses post-Sept. 11 experience to help Palestinians run border point
14:08:16 EST Dec 4, 2005
YEHONATHAN TOMMER

JERUSALEM (CP) - Helping Palestinians face the new challenge of managing their own border, a Canadian expert says it's possible to maintain security and unhindered trade flows if there is the right kind of determination and training.

Denis Lefebvre, a former assistant commissioner of Canada Customs and executive vice-president of the Canadian Border Services Agency, has been in the region since July to help the Palestinian Authority establish an integrated border agency.

Lefebvre brought experience gained from Canada's own model, created in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks, of handling difficult issues along the border with the United States.

Canada has had to put up with alot with the U.S. police state, so they are probably very helpful. It is good to see them taking the lead in the Middle East too.

South Africa joins Canada in allowing marriage for all

South African Court Rules for Same-Sex Marriage

JOHANNESBURG, Dec 1 -- South Africa's top court said on Thursday it was unconstitutional to deny gay people the right to marry, putting it on track to become the first African country to legalise same-sex marriage.

The court said if parliament did not act, the legal definition of marriage would be automatically changed to include same-sex unions. That would put South Africa alongside Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain and Canada in allowing gay marriages.

Elated gay and lesbian couples and supporters hugged each other after the judgement, although some said they were disappointed they had to wait longer to get married.

"We would've liked to get married as soon as we could," said Fikile Vilakazi, wearing a yellow T-shirt with the words "Marriage -- anything less is not equal".

"I'm very happy though that finally our courts have discovered that the common law definition of marriage is unconstitutional ... that the Marriage Act is inconsistent with the constitution."

Post-apartheid South Africa has one of the most progressive constitutions in the world and the only one to enshrine equal rights for gays and lesbians.

The home of apartheid surges ahead of the USA

Canada Helps Its First Peoples

Canada Pledges $4.3B to Indigenous Groups

Canada's government pledged more than $4 billion Friday to bolster the living standards of Canada's Indian and Inuit communities.

Prime Minister Paul Martin and the premiers of Canada's 13 provinces and territories announced the aid package during a summit with representatives of the country's nearly 1 million aboriginal people.

you won't see this happening in the u.s.a.

Increased travel to Canada in September

Travel to Canada up in September: StatsCan

OTTAWA — Travel to Canada rose for the first time in five months in September, particularly from the United States.

Statistics Canada estimates that 2.9 million visitors came in September, up 4.4 per cent from August and the first increase since April.

The agency says the vast majority, or more than 2.5 million, came from south of the border, a 4.9 per cent rebound from August.

Its good to see that people are making it through the U.S. border lockdown, but Canadians aren't going to take it

Travel to the United States edged down, while travel to overseas countries remained virtually unchanged.

Get started early

While Canada is working on its immigration policy there are a few interesting points in an article from Russia:

Canadian Immigration Minister Joe Volpe said the government was set to unveil sweeping changes to Canada's immigration policy Monday, including plans to take in as many as 300,0000 new immigrants annually within the next five years. Canada is on track to accept 245,000 immigrants this year, the high end of last year's target.

Volpe said Ottawa plans to increase temporary workers to tackle the enormous backlog of 700,000 prospective immigrants. He said would-be newcomers currently face waits of as long as four years to have their applications processed in Canadian missions around the world.

People want into Canada so bad that they are willing to wait four years to be processed. Hopefully this can be speeded up, it will help Canada's prosperity too.

Canada to start accepting more immigrants

Canada to start accepting more immigrants

BETH DUFF-BROWN
Associated Press

TORONTO - Canada's government unveiled changes to its immigration policy Monday, including plans to take in up to 300,000 new immigrants annually within the next five years.

Immigration Minister Joe Volpe, in a report on immigration introduced in the lower House of Commons, said Canada accepted nearly 236,000 immigrants last year, facilitated 2,000 international adoptions and reunited 6,000 refugee spouses and children with their families.

He said Canada intends to accept as many as 255,000 new immigrants next year.

"Looking to the future, more successful and well integrated newcomers in all parts of Canada are key to nation building and to our economic prosperity," Volpe said in his annual report on immigration.

The U.S. is headed toward lockdown while Canada is opening its doors to the world.