Search

Examines Alberta's shiny new paper mills which are expected to cash in when prices for pulp and paper rebound next year. Shipments of pulp and paper component down; Alberta Newsprint Co. of Whitecourt breaking even by deferring depreciation costs; Campaign of then-Premier Donald Getty to lure international investors to Alberta's largely unallocated forests; Cost to taxpayers; The long-term.

Looks at the deal between paper companies Grande Alberta Paper Ltd. (GAP) and Manning Diversified Forest Products Ltd. (MDFP), over a supply of timber from northern Alberta. Each company's concern of bankruptcy, if it did not get the lumber; The compromise, which was supported by the government.

Informs that paper company Millar Western is buying back the 60 percent of its paper mill in Whitecourt, Canada that the Canadian government owns. The sale being for much less than the government spent for the mill; The number of jobs created by the mill; Details of the government's relationship with the mill; Other government-industry partnerships in Canada. INSET: Who's next?..

Comments on a report released in October 1995 by green-leaning scientists that warned that Alberta (Canada) is running out of trees and no new forestry projects should be launched. Recommendations in the report; Grande Alberta Paper Ltd.'s proposed project; The views of Environmental Protection Minister Ty Lund; Comment by Liberal forestry critic Nick Taylor. INSET: Log-nappers beware (illegal logging and smuggling), by G.K..

Discusses how Canada's Alberta pulp mills want to streamline the enviro-reporting system. Proposal to merge data collection for Environment Canada and Alberta Environment; Each has different reporting forms and different data; New Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act doesn't address duplication problem.

Reports on the upcoming opening of the Dead Sea Scrolls Institute at Trinity Western University in British Columbia. Programs that the institute will offer; Comment on the Bible as history; The graduate program in biblical studies; Description of the scrolls; The Great Isaiah Scroll; The `Jesus Seminar'; More. INSET: High-tech tools of the trade, by J.W..

Discusses the current status of the Grande Alberta Paper (GAP) mill. Actions of former premier Don Getty; Moves by Finance Minister Paul Martin; Cost considerations related to the GAP; Role of the Alberta Forests Products Association.

Mentions Canmore, Albertan Cyndi Foster's use of animal dung in her handmade papers. Colors and textures of Poop Paper; Her comments about using herbivore dung; Public reaction to the paper.

Focuses on the corruption and lack of accountability of officers in the Canada's officer corps. Efforts of Dave Krayden, former public affairs officer at a British Columbia military base, to get the military reformed; Scandals within the Department of National Defence at National Defence Headquarters; The issues of political correctness and quotas for women in the military; Allegation of cover-ups in the Somalia and Croatia inquiries.

States that Toronto, Ontario-based newspapers are descending into British-style sex and sleaze. The need for increased circulation and subscription; The hostile takeover bid of Torstar Corp. for the Sun Media Corp.; View of Chris Dornan, director of the School of Journalism and Communication at Carleton University in Ottawa, on the viability of the Canadian Press wire service; Suggestion that Southam Inc.'s `National Post' is doing well on the newsstand; Mention of Conrad Black, majority owner of Southam Inc.

Reports on the litigation of Esther Neuman for violations of the Alberta Animal Pedigree Act. Alleged failure to provide customers with pedigree papers of poodles; Fines to be charged upon conviction; History of Neuman's breeding operation.

Probes allegations that documents exist authorizing the Canadian National Archives to buy former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney's letters, memos and notes for $1.3 million. Frenzied hunt for the alleged documents; Denial from government officials of an agreement to buy the Mulroney papers; Report by Arthur Drache, publisher of `Canadian Taxpayer'; His comments on the story.

Looks at the assertion by University of Ottawa criminologist Julian Roberts that hate crime is rampant in Canada. Roberts' figure of 60,000 hate crimes per year, of which two-thirds go unreported to police; Other work on hate crimes that Roberts has undertaken for federal Justice Minister Allan Rock; Criticism of Roberts' statistical methods.

Surveys the Alberta Stock Exchange, which has doubled in activity over the past year, trading now exceeding $50 million a week. Hottest story in surging junior oil and gas sector; Activity not going unnoticed in Montreal and Toronto; Province's juniors' need for capital.

Mentions Albertans Adam McKay, Abraham David, and Jason Ewert. How they helped the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology School of Business win a first-place spot in the Green line Investment Challenge, a Canadian competition for finance students; Comment of instructor Pat Latham.

Opinion. Investigates the failure of daily newspapers in Canada to take the forefront in news gathering and agenda setting. Possible causes for the poor performance of newspapers, including the rise of the electronic media and the focus on journalistic objectivity; Reference to a story related in the book `Alberta Was My Beat: Memoirs of a Western Newspaperman,' by Fred Kennedy.

Reports on the decision by Alberta's Environmental Protection Minister Ty Lund to allow competitive bidding in the province's forest products industry. Conditions set for Alberta Newsprint Co.'s operations before the company can avail of cheap access to timber reserves; Mistakes detected in the province's support of the company; Options left for the company to expand its operations.

Addresses the problem of too many developmental activities and not enough focus on the basic skills and learning in Canadian public schools. Examples of time-wasting activities; Main causes of classroom busy-work; Inadequate teacher training; Changes in classroom curriculum; Comments by British government's chief inspector of schools, Chris Woodhead.

Provides information on former Alberta Premier Ernest Charles Manning, who led the province more by example than by decree for 25 years. Papers released from Alberta provincial archives; Manning papers an open challenge to common fallacy that religious politicians are intrusive busybodies; Manning's Christianity smoothed the rough edges of ruling Social Credit party; His concern with the Quiet Revolution in Quebec; Economy of leadership. INSET: Small was beautiful, by C.S..

Examines the debate in Canada in late 1997 over the status of Indians. How the rejection of the 1969 White Paper on Indian Policy has impacted the lives of Indians; The role of the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development; Social conditions which Indians live under; Allegations against Indian leaders of corruption from their people; Challenges to the race-based ghettoization. INSET: Privatization and the American experience..

Looks at an upcoming general election in Alberta and discusses the views of analysts and political operatives. Ralph Klein's Progressive Conservatives; Laurence Decore's Liberals; The issue of the province's $20 billion debt; Descriptions of both campaign styles; Insinuations included in a position paper titled `Education for All'; Talk about raising Alberta's corporate and personal income taxes; More. INSETS: Down and out in Redmonton, by L.G.;The old style lingers on, by L.G..

Focuses on logging trucks in Alberta. Concern for overloaded logging trucks, according to Alvin Moroz, an engineer with Alberta Transportation and Utilities; The cooperation of truck manufacturers to explain their individual rating capacities; The distance that a truck needs to stop safely; Brief statistics on accidents involving logging trucks; Daishowa-Marubeni International Ltd., owner of peace River Pulp, starting its own safety program.

Discusses how Canadians view peacekeeping as a necessity. Comments from Lieutenant-Colonel Sean Henry (ret.) that the benefits are exaggerated; Henry's paper in January issue of `Forum'; Canadian peacekeeping origin as a way of brokering between Russia and United States; How war-fighting capabilities of Canada's army could be destroyed; Reduction in military spending; Questions Canadian interest in peacekeeping missions; No way peacekeepers can prevent another war.

Reports news briefs relating to Canada for November 16, 1998. The effect of Hurricane Mitch on the peregrine falcon being tracked with a satellite transceiver on its leg by the Canadian Wildlife Service; The report released by provincial Energy Minister Steve West on the cause of the electric power outages experienced by Calgary; Reporters and newsroom employees of Southam Inc.'s `Calgary Herald' voting to join the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union; More.

Reports on the closing in 1997 of five Alberta community newspapers in the Red Deer area owned by Record Publishing. Names of the papers; What the closings are attributed to; Papers which will attempt to fill the gap left by the defunct papers; Comments from editor Rob Gilgan about the importance of local businesses to the success of a community newspaper; How the newspaper industry has responded.

Relates that the Canada West Foundation has released four papers with solutions to some of the conundrums posed by Quebec's potential secession. Ideas in the four `Reconfederation Papers' including provincial vetoes, sovereignty negotiation and partition; Foundation President David Elton's comments on why a reconfederation council is needed.

Reports that officials of the Quebec government visited the offices of the `Ottawa Sun' newspaper regarding the paper's role in the October 1995 referendum campaign. The government's suspicions that the paper had illegally aided the No side; The Elections Quebec investigators, who identified themselves as former Surete du Quebec police officers.

Reports that the health policy development branch of Alberta Health floated a paper entitled `Decisions about Tomorrow: Directives for Your Health Care.' How the paper solicited public input for a law regulating so-called `advance directives'; How concerned observers are afraid the provincial government may use the initiative to move closer to legalized euthanasia.

Speculates on the contention of Sunera Thobani, Nancy Riche and Robert Evans that release of Canadian Prime Minister Kim Campbell's government discussion paper, `Enabling Society,' will imperil the Tories' chances of re-election. Social policy consultants in Ottawa who have seen the paper will not reveal its contents for fear of reprisals; Indications of what is in store from former federal Health and Welfare Minister Benoit Bouchard.

Focuses on the efforts of the group Campaign 2000 to convince Canada's politicians to create a huge new income-redistribution program. The efforts coming in the wake of the decision among Canada's premiers, to unify child benefits offered by the federal and provincial governments; Provisions contained in a Campaign 2000 discussion paper on child poverty; Economist Christopher Sarlo's evidence that child poverty in Canada is declining.

Reports on the Albertan proposal to further privatize its provincial parks. The irrational fear by some Albertans of the idea of provincial parks being run by private companies under government inspection; Comments of Bruce Russell who operates campgrounds at Thunder Lake and Carson Pegasus provincial parks; The leaked information from an Alberta Environment discussion paper examining which of the provincial parks can best be managed by the private sector.

Reports on the Northern River Basins Study indicating that pollution levels in Alberta's northern river systems are dropping. Funding of the study; Comments of James Hole of Grand Alberta Paper Ltd.

Relates that the Reform Party of Canada (RPC) is beginning to assemble its contingency plan in case Quebec should decide to separate. The draft paper entitled `20 Positives, 20 Negatives,' which reflects what RPC leader Preston Manning calls the party's `two-track' approach to the Quebec issue; The high price for separation that the RPC is proposing.

Reports on Jean Charest of the Progressive Conservatives in Parliament, in Canada's release of a discussion paper intended to revive the party. Prior internal restructuring of the party; Speculation on how the party would position itself ideologically.

Announces that in Canada, while some used commodities, mainly paper, are becoming more valuable, economists say the recycling industry has a long way to go before it can support itself. How much Alberta's Tire Recycling Management Board announced it would spend on recycling; Why the future for recycling seems dim.

Announces that in Canada, Justice Minister Allan Rock questions whether criminal conduct should be excused if the criminal acted in accordance with his customs or beliefs. `Cultural defense'; How a 31-page `consultation paper' raises 14 possible amendments to the 102-year-old Criminal Code.

States that in Canada, the Teledemocracy computer system Nova Scotia-based Maritime Telephone and Telegraph (MT&T) used to resister and count ballots was so infested with glitches, it made party organizers long for old-fashioned paper ballots. Problems before the election; What the system was supposed to do.

Examines the differences in tax burdens between the provinces of Alberta and Ontario. Alberta Premier Ralph Klein's five speeches on Alberta's tax advantages over Ontario; Headlines in Toronto papers and praise from Ontario executives and think tanks; Central Canada as a taxpayer's nightmare; Klein's meeting with Hugh Bolton, Coopers & Lybrand; Corporations which have opened head offices or corporate divisions in Alberta; Bill 79, Ontario's employment equity legislation.

Cites a background paper issued by the federal government on the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (awaiting royal assent) which found the act significantly broadens Ottawa's power to block projects deemed ecologically unsound. The act also appears to enhance the federal government's ability to scrutinize projects related to the development of natural resources. Examples of Ottawa's over-reaching its constitutional powers; Details.

Cites figures from the Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics which found that between 1986 and 1991 charges against youths for violent crimes jumped from 9,200 to 19,000. Leaked information from a federal Justice Department discussion paper on young offenders found, however, that the murder rate among youths stayed the same between 1986 and 1991. Public pressure may have triggered more charges against youths; Belief young people go unpunished; Details.

Cites the working paper from the `Expert Committee on AIDS and Prisons' commissioned by the Correctional Service of Canada which recommends homosexuality among prisoners should be condoned and condoms made freely available to limit the spread of the AIDS virus. Other recommendations regarding sterilization of contraband needles; AIDS a serious problem in federal prisons; Thoughts on whether or not sexual behavior alters sexual orientation.

Reports on two dogs being beaten to death with an aluminum bat in Edmonton, Alberta. Daniel Herman Kohut and Michael Paul Melmoth charged with killing a domestic animal without a lawful purpose; Why they were not convicted; Justice Canada circulating a discussion paper among humane societies for revamping laws on animal abuse.

Discusses the supposed antagonism that the `Edmonton Journal' feels toward the Reform Party in Alberta, Canada and how that was shown in the October 1998 Senate election. The paper's series of articles encouraging voters to spoil the Senate portion of their ballots; When the `Journal' started their campaign to discredit the Reform party; The effect of the articles that promoted the spoiling of ballots.

Discusses the wiretaps placed on the phone lines of three Edmonton journalists by police. Leak to the reporters of a paper linking a police commissioner to organized crime; Views of one such reporter, Janice Johnston; Why the reporters were wiretapped; How police obtain permission to wiretap.

Discusses the benefits and drawbacks of the use of hemp. Hemp as used for cloth, paper and oil for thousands of years; Hemp as banned in Canada since 1923; Modern uses for hemp; Comments from Amanda Stewart of the True North Hemp Company, Edmonton; Reasons for decline of hemp industry; Problems with hemp usage.

Examines economic views of church denominations in Canada. Anglican, United and other large Protestant denominations as issuing anti-capitalist manifestos; More conservative churches as proponents of free markets; `Faith and Economics,' a working paper from the Presbyterian Church in Canada (PCC), and its cautions against economics as the answer to life; Comments from Philip Lee, chief author, addressing the societal imbalance of unrestrained greed; The pope's pronouncements on the topic.

Informs that the `Edmonton Sun' newspaper of Edmonton, Alberta bailed out Marilyn Tan, the woman accused of stabbing Edmonton photographer Con Boland, and then was granted an exclusive interview with her. Boland's lashing out at the paper because of this; Response of `Sun' editor Paul Stanway to Boland's remarks.

Discusses a proposal released in a discussion paper in August 1996 that tradesmen in Alberta inspect their own work and insure themselves against liability. Concern by private home inspector Moe Madsen, owner of Madsen Technical Services Inc., of substandard construction should the idea of loosening building inspection become policy; The number of Albertans that oppose the privatization of safety code inspections.

Discusses the gaps in the paper trail from the federal inquiry into the 1992-93 Canadian Airborne expedition to Somalia. Alteration, destruction, and withholding of Somalia related documents; Chief of Defence Staff General Jean Boyle's admission of responsibility; Minister of National Defence David Collenette and retired vice-admiral Dan Mainguy's support of Boyle.

Opinion. Calls for a review of fetal status in Canadian criminal law because of news that Albertan women may be able to receive tax-funded partial-birth abortions. Availability of dilation-extraction (D&X) abortions in the United States and in Alberta; Which Criminal Code provisions render illegal certain abortions; About the Morgentaler decision by the Canadian Supreme Court; About the paper `Crimes Against the Fetus,' by the Law Reform Commission.

Considers ownership changes at several Alberta newspapers. Impending sale of Toronto Sun Publishing Corp., the company that runs the `Calgary' and the `Edmonton Suns'; Other ownership changes in May 1996; The fact that the papers that most Albertans read are owned by a few big chains based outside the province; Opinions about the importance and impact of out-of-province ownership.

Describes Alberta Liberal leader Grant Mitchell's policy paper asserting what public health is really about, including personal hygiene, garbage disposal, proper nutrition, proper housing and adequate income.

Relates that Alberta's `Calgary Herald' and the `Edmonton Journal' newspapers, owned by Toronto-based Southam Inc., are cautiously edging their left-leaning editorial policies toward the right. The `Herald' admitting in September 1995 that many readers feel that the paper's editorial views were out of touch with its home community; Job changes for Southam editor and editorial writer Catherine Ford and Linda Goyette; Satya Das; Other changes.

Comments on the artwork of Shelley Ouelett, from Calgary, Alberta, who created an upside-down sculpture of Mount Rundle renedered in 6.075 toilet-paper tubes. Her job as director of Calgary's Stride Gallery; Display of the sculpture at the Nickle Gallery until April 19, 1995.

Announces that in Canada, Alberta Energy Minister Pat Black demands an end to preferential treatment of a provincial regime and suggests the province end its overarching control of electric rates and let competition push down prices across Alberta. Who the current energy regime is governed by; Who Alberta Power serves; What the discussion paper demands.

States that the long-awaited social policy paper released by the federal Liberals does not suggest privatizing a single federal program and to many in the Alberta government this severely limits Ottawa's options. Social Services' signed contract with Community Care Options (CCO); Why CCO was founded; What CCO provides.

Discusses the July 1994 sending of Southham paper "Life" columnist, Liane Faulder, on a Canadian army sponsored trip to the war-torn former Yugoslavia. Images of conflict; Criticism of editor's judgment; Parity; Editor Murdoch Davis's position; New approach; Toronto columnist and veteran war correspondent Peter Worthington's opinion.

States former `Edmonton Journal' publisher Donald Babick, Linda Hughes, Tom Barrett and the paper's owner Southam Inc. of Toronto were all found guilty of criminal contempt by Justice Alexander Andrekson of the Court of Queen's Bench. Andrekson ruled that a 1990 front page story graphically describing the heinousness of Albert Stewart's murder of his common law wife interfered with his right to a fair hearing. Courts becoming increasingly severe; Recent bans; Details.

Examines the ways in which the new Canadian federal cabinet are working to establish their green credentials. Prime Minister Jean Chretien would turn B.C.'s Clayoquot Sound into a national park; Environment Minister Sheila Copps announced Ottawa would review the environmental impact of all federal taxes, subsidies and grants; Finance Minister Paul Martin's 1992 paper on redirecting national economies toward environmental sustainability through taxes; Details.

Cites the paper `Federal Government Relations With Interest Groups: A Reconsideration,' that argues the current lack of public input raises questions about whether a funded group is truly representative of Canadian society. Author William Stanbury (University of British Columbia), and three others; Four alternatives by which individual Canadians can take part in the allocation of their money; Opposition to government funding to special interests.

Examines the major restructuring that Human Resources Minister Lloyd Axworthy has offered for the Western Economic Diversification program. While some business leaders accept that restructuring is necessary, others argue Ottawa should get out of the investment business altogether. Companies WED will now target; Ottawa backing out of earlier WED pledge to Consumers' Paper Inc.; Charge the program is loser-driven.

Cites a paper by University of Alberta economist Bev Dahlby (funded by the Association of Alberta Taxpayers) which measured the cost of increased taxation on the Alberta economy specifically. How tax revenues create a disincentive to work; Tax rates (federal and provincial) on Albertans; Overall economic cost of raising additional revenue; Difficulties in justifying public expenditures through a surtax; Sales tax least equitable; How sales taxes distort the economy; Details.

Describes the social studies program at Eckville High School, `Democracy in Action,' which last year successfully campaigned against the school's use of bleached paper. This year, the 10th grade class decided to lobby the school board for a condom machine in the school. Last week the Lacombe County School Board rejected their request. Reasons for the rejection; What the students learned; Criticism of training in special interest group lobbying.

States that another battle is shaping up over trees in a large block south of Grande Prairie. Giant US-based Louisiana Pacific Corporation's plans to build $60-million oriented strand board (OSB) plant; Trees committed to Grand Alberta Paper (GAP) project; Three other companies with tree interests; Companies' plans in jeopardy; Comments from New Democrat forestry critic John McInnis; Province as having poor information on actual tree inventory; More.

Reports that the livestock industry in Alberta, Canada wants a province-wide code for intensive livestock operations. Groups that pushed for the instituting of a code; Discussion paper circulated by the government; Definition of an intensive livestock operation; Bill being worked on by the government.

Looks at the attempted robbery of the Bank of Nova Scotia in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada by two teenagers. The weapon being a box of tissue paper; Description of the teenagers attempting to rob the bank; How they were caught by police; Comments from Kelly Gordon, Edmonton police spokesman.

Provides excerpts from the personal papers of former Alberta premier Peter Lougheed, presenting his version of events in Canadian politics in the 1980s which led to the Constitution Act of 1982. Negotiations between the provinces and prime minister Pierre Trudeau; Premier Rene Levesque and Quebec nationalism; The meeting of premiers in 1981, the so-called Night of the Long Knives, that Levesque missed.

Presents the author's view of Tom Kent's solution for Canada's medicare problem, as put forth in a paper he prepared for the Caledon Institute of Social Policy. Kent's call for the medical care and social needs of children under the age of ten to be handled by the federal government; Kent's career in Canadian journalism; The author's unsuccessful career with Kent at the `Free Press'; Kent's political appointments; Assertions that the federal government would ruin any programs for children.

Forecasts success for stationery stores in Canada in the 1997 Christmas season based on the success the industry saw during the back-to-school season of 1997. Possible double digit increases in sales; How the vibrant economy has impacted sales; The role of government cutbacks in education on sales; The changing buyer preferences.

Discusses the efforts of Willson Stationers Ltd., the last Canadian-owned stationery chain, to compete with foreign-owned businesses like Corporate Express. Comments from Douglas Lawson, president of the company; How Lawson became president; What he plans to offer to customers as an attraction away from stores like Staples and Office Depot; Outlook.