Well Done Vancouver! Congrats Canada!!

It is the last day of the 2010 Winter Olympics just half an hour before the closing ceremonies. As I look back on the last 17 days, all I can say is WOW! Vanoc you have done a wonderful job. Vancouver you were fantastic and Canada you were extraordinary. Though the games started tragically, they went on to be an extraordinary example of Canadian resilience and spirit. Even Jacques Rogge, head of the IOC has said that he has never seen such a spirit in an Olympic City.

What a way to finish the games than to win the Gold medal at Hockey....in overtime with a goal by Sidney Crosby. Parties have broken out all over the country...they are partying and playing street hockey on Yonge Street in Toronto.

From Alexandre Bilodeau winning Canada's first Gold medal on home soil to Joannie Rochette's extraordinary bronze medal performance in figure skating, the whole Canadian team did Canada proud.

I hope that the spirit that was evident throughout these last 17 days and in the torch run that preceded the games will last for a long time in Canada and are a harbinger for a new attitude in this great country.

If Air Travel Worked Like Health Care

I recently received a link to a great video that is based on an article written by Jonathan Roach of the National Journal magazine in the US entitled If Air Travel Worked Like Health Care. The article is based on the US Health Care system and its fragmented nature. It is very funny but so true! Some of the issues that the protagonist goes through in the US applies to Canada also.




Hope you enjoy!

Fiscal Review of US States

A recent report by the National Governors Association and the National Association of State Budget Officers lays out the precarious state of the finances in US State governments.

The report makes the case that US states are currently facing one of the worst, if not the worst, fiscal periods since the Great Depression. During 2009 their respective fiscal conditions significantly deteriorated and the trend is expected to continue into the next three fiscal years. Tax revenues from every source are down and demands on state programs is significantly increased as a result of the recession. Unlike Canadian provinces, US States are not allowed to run a budgetary deficit. They must enact either spending cuts or increase tax and must balance every year.

The increase in expenditure pressures for mandated programs such as Medicare and Medicaid as well as the increased demand for social services as a result of the significant increase in unemployment will mean that US States will continue to struggle to balance their budgets. Obviously each individual state has its own particular struggles, with California the one getting the most press given the fiscal mess that they are in. Can you imagine a Canadian province issuing "IOU's"?

Between the fiscal mess at the US Federal Government level and the struggles at the State level, it seems that only a miracle will resolve the fiscal issues facing the US. Let's hope for one, because the alternative for the world economy and in particular the Canadian economy are too gruesome to contemplate. (Sorry to be gloomy, I guess the February blahs have kicked in!)

Tom Brokaw on Canada

Came across a video that was done by Tom Brokaw on Canada for the Vancouver Olympics. It's a pretty good video explaining to our American cousins the relationship between our two countries. Enjoy......

150!Canada Conference - more

Shout out to Andrew Steele for his wonderful Blog today on the Globe and Mail website.

Andrew writes about what the 150th anniversary of Confederation could mean for Canada and highlights the role that IPAC is spearheading in organizing the first conference on March 11 and 12 in Ottawa.

As I mentioned in my last post, we have an incredible line up of speakers...so register today...what are you waiting for?

Thanks ANDREW!!

150!Canada Conference

Have you registered yet for our upcoming 150!Canada conference that is taking place at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa on March 11 and 12, 2010. If you haven't, here is a list of the speakers that you will miss (and probably kick yourself later):

Rt. Hon. Beverley McLachlin on Citizenship
Helen Davies on the Politics of Participation
Peter Aykroyd on the Anniversary Compulsion
Bruce Kidd on Arts and Athleticism
Rita Cox on New Canadian Stories
Roch Carrier on our Past and Likely Future
Jeanette Hanna on Symbolizing the State
Mary Simon on Looking North
Daniel Caron on the Future of National Memory
Justin Brown on Australia at 100
Francisco Barrio on Mexico at 200
Luci Tremblay on Quebec City at 400
Barbara Stymiest on Nation-building
Tom Jenkins on Innovation and Competitiveness
Jeff Melanson on Energizing the Arts
Sujit Choudhry on Demographics and Democracy
Nicole Sanscartier on a New Generation
Keith Neuman on Why Canadians Want to Celebrate
Danny Graham on Citizen Leadership
Monica Patten on Connecting Communities
Marlo Raynolds on Canada’s Ecological Future

Plus a few others to be announced shortly. And if that isn't enough, we also have a wonderful concert on March 11th - 6717: An Arts Celebration with:

Jully Black
Radio Radio
David Virelles
Bear Witness
Rise Ashen
Sampradaya Dance Creations

So what are you waiting for...Register today!!!

And if that isn't enough for you...read the wonderful letter from Wayne Wouters, the Federal Clerk of the Privy Council and Secretary of the Cabinet, commending IPAC for taking this initiative and commenting on the importance of Canada's upcoming sesquicentennial (the letter is on our conference website). Thanks Wayne for such a positive message.

See you in Ottawa!

The High Road

I wrote a few times about a wonderful book written by Terry Fallis called "The Best Laid Plans" that I enjoyed immensely. When Terry wrote his book, he could not find a publisher, so he started by doing a pod cast and then he self-published the book. He was then nominated for the LEACOCK Memorial Medal for Humour and then went on to win the medal. As a result of all this, Terry got a publisher and has been speaking about the book in numerous venues.

Well....Terry has now written a sequel entitled "The High Road" that is due to be published in September 2010. I can't wait to get my hands on this book. If you are interested in Canadian politics and also want an entertaining and funny book, I highly recommend "The Best Laid Plans" and I am sure that the sequel will be just as entertaining.

The Video below is a synopsis of the book saga by Terry....