Should CCT's Replace Welfare?

Recently I stumbled upon a BBC series look at the validity of the CCT(Conditional Cash Transfers). The host Mishal Hussein was taking a look at the positives and possible negatives of the program. So far the program has been instituted in countries like Chile, Columbia, Mexico, Jamaica and recently a pilot project has been set up in New York City. I intentionally left out Brazil because I have a short personal story to share.

Now the first four countries on the list are not the most richest nor the most unlikely that their Governments would resort to corruption, so the host Ms Hussein posed the question is this blackmail on the part of Governments to win elections and get voters on their side? Well first before I answer that I would like to explain what CCT's are.

Conditional Cash Transfers or CCT's are a system which the Government hands out money to the poorest and the most destitute of society and unlike welfare sends Government workers to do inspections to see if the person or the family is spending the money on things like baby formula, diapers, medicine and other essentials that the money should be used for. The system also helps those receiving the money to find a job and allows the period of CCT's to be extended for that to occur. This also puts the responsibility on the Government to create sustainable jobs that pay enough that the person on CCT's doesn't have to rely on it forever and thus frees the Government to allow someone else struggling to get back on their feet and provide for their family.

I believe these measures must be taken to ensure that during these economic hardships every dollar must be looked after. If we allow the current welfare system to continue the Provinces and even the Nation itself will go bankrupt. Those who abuse the system must be weeded out and those who honestly need help be put at the front of the line. About six years ago my sister married a man named Ronaldo from Brazil, in Brazil it's Bossa Familia ( their version of the CCT program). Bossa Familia is one of the reasons why Brazil went from one of the poorest nations to one of the richest economic powers of the Western world. The nations ability to track where the money was going and thus weeding out the corrupt elements within the previous Government allowed for more investment in housing and programs that even further benefits average Brazillians today.

My brother in law speaks highly of the program and believes a program like Bossa Familia would work wonders in Canada. The poor who want help would not oppose this, only those who look to defraud the system would oppose something this beneficial. Back to the question would this system blackmail poor or working poor to voting for them? Well if the Liberal or Conservative Parties in Canada or in my Province of Ontario instituted this system to replace welfare and thus saving taxpayers money I would definetly at least consider lending my vote to say thank you for finally caring about the poor, working poor and the taxpayer at the same time. As for it actually happening via those two Parties, well that's another story altogether, for another blog I guess. Later folks.

My Support for Arctic Sovereignty

In the most recent Federal NDP convention in the great city of Halifax my party discussed and voted on a motion opposing the "militarization" of the arctic. The motion instead supported the developement of the north into a vibrant part of Canada. I did not support the motion for one reason, it was a motion that doesn't take into account the constant threats that have been made against Canadian territory by the Russian Federation, the United States, Norway as well as Denmark. I want to address the funding and developement first before I get to the military part.
As an NDP supporter I believe in keeping people off the streets and put them into affordable housing and what we are seeing in Iqaluit is really quite sad. The people's of the north must be helped and yes funding for housing and local funding for communities is essential. It is all part of the funding package I would like to see the Federal Government provide along with the military aid. Having a minister from the north in the current Governing party should have initiated action earlier from the Prime Minister and his Conservative Party on the plight of the people of the north, not only as a mere publicity stunt. To say "I feel your pain" means nothing if there is no action behind the words.

Getting back to the NDP motion. First to call it militarization is quite empty. How can you militarize something that doesn't have a foundation from the begining. Before the Russians planted their flag at the bottom of the Arctic floor and the Danes threatened Hans island and the Norweigen fishing vessels came out to the east coast and even before the United States began sniffing for oil when they heard the ice caps were melting Canada's Government and the other parties didn't even discuss this outrageous lack of detterant forces in the north. I opposed the motion because even though it supported the poor neglected peoples of the north, I do believe it went too far in condeming at least a small detachment to serve as a deterrant to those external forces that want to annex parts of Canadian soil for their selfish purposes.

My alternative would be to purchase the much needed icebreakers but also to hire people from the north and pay them to protect their land. The peoples of the north are as patriotic as the next canuck, so lets give them the tools to protect and cultivate their lands. That means give them the resources and get out of the way. I do believe the Federal Government has a role to play in the north, but not to intrude when it is politically viable like the Conservatives are doing.

Finally I think my party dropped the ball on this one and I hope our future isn't affected by this decision. My belief as a Canadian Nationalist is that Canada should feed, clothe and protect its own people from all dangers, both internal and especially externally. Although terrorism is a big threat, the threat posed by established nations is greater to Canadian territorial Sovereignty than any bomb strapped terrorist will ever be.

Canadian Space Agency A Waste of Money?

In recent days two Canadians were in the news because space shuttle Columbia had one of its last flights. On board was Canadian Julie Payette, and on the International Space Station was Bob Thirsk. Now the rant I am about to throw is aimed at neither Mrs Payette nor Mr Thirsk, nor at any other Canadian Astronaut there has ever been, except Marc Garneau who is in Ottawa perpetuating the myth that Canada can be a leader in the "space adventure" I call a big waste. No my rant is at the Canadian Government and the CSA, no not the Canadian Soccer Association but the Canadian Space Agency, who's biggest achievement thus far since 1990 is to design the Canadarm a piece of equipment that is so out of date it's going to be retired when the International Space Station is retired in 2016.

Untill then the Government of Canada is going to be dolling out 110 million dollars a year on this worthless agency that doesn't have its astronauts take off from Canada, no they take off on American ships and on American territory. Imagine that 110 million dollars of Canadians tax money(according to government of Canada 2009 budget figures) going out to an agency who's purpose is what exactly? can someone please explain what is the purpose of the CSA? what possible benefit do the Canadian people have in dolling out 110 million dollars of their hard earned tax money for this worthless crap? could it be because we are looking for life outside of earth? Well according to many Western governments there has never been any indication of any non plant activity on planets we can get to and those are few in number.

Even if we could get to those planets we probably wouldn't find anything remote to what as children we thought was possible. I don't know about you but when I was young going to the Ontario Science Centre and speaking to astronauts live from space was a cool thing because we as kids dreamed of one day going to other planets and not only living there but also meeting other life forms. Instead as I got older and my brain developed to that of an adult I began to wonder what is the use.

What is the use of paying for outdated equipment being fixed, missions paid for by tax payers while the common man and woman during this reccession tortured themselves to put food on their table not for themselves but for their children at least, only to see their money pissed away because of some archaic ideal. During the Cold War this was a way to fight with innovation instead of weapons, the US against the USSR in a perverbial Space dual. Well my friends time has passed into the 21st century and today we have the climate war we must fight and we also have the Green movement and the innovation should flow through that not this outdated dinosaur.

My proposal is simple, end the CSA's existence or privitize it. If you get rid of it then re-train the workers to work on new Green technologies so that our world will be better through innovation just like the original intent of the Space war ideal was. If you privatize it Canadian tax payers must never again be forced to pay for such a useless venture ever again.