IRB appointments: Kenney's view

This morning,   a Liberal blogger (Jeff Jedras) suggested that Canada's refugee backlog might be improved if the Conservative government filled more vacancies on the Immigration and Refugee Board.
He got an answer from the minister himself, Jason Kenney, who had this to say, on Twitter:
 
 Fair point. I've made 33 appointments & 10 re-appointments to the IRB. Its now @ nearly 85% occupancy, and will soon be @ 95% But even if the IRB was operating @ full occupancy for the past 3 years, there would still be a huge backlog.

Facebook replies....

Here's the statement that Facebook Inc. has put out in reply to the Privacy Commissioner's findings today.

STATEMENT

Facebook is pleased that the Canadian Federal Privacy Commissioner has dismissed the most of the inaccurate claims brought by CIPPIC, and that we were able to collaboratively resolve other issues raised in the complaint.

The Commissioner also recognized, as we do, that privacy and user control on the social web is a new area, which requires websites, users and data protection authorities to work together.  Without question, Facebook and the Canadian Privacy Commissioner’s Office share the common goal of making the Internet more privacy friendly for Canadians and users across the world.

We are also pleased that the Commission has recognized the fact that Facebook provides significantly greater protection of users’ interests than most websites and commended Facebook for providing its users with extensive privacy settings.  Facebook has made privacy a core part of its business, and is the industry leader in developing and deploying privacy tools and advocating their use.  We believe that the very reason Facebook is popular in Canada is because the site offers people a way to share information, enables them to choose what information they share with whom, and is very easy to use.

As part of our continued leadership in developing privacy tools that advance user control over their information, Facebook will soon be introducing a number of new additional privacy features to its service  that we believe will keep the site at the forefront of user privacy and address any remaining concerns the Commission may have.  In the meantime, we will also continue our efforts to work with the Canadian Federal Privacy Commissioner to address the outstanding areas highlighted in the report and will continue our efforts to raise awareness of the privacy controls on Facebook.

Facebook's flaws

I'll be heading over to the briefing this morning by the federal Privacy Commissioner, but in the meantime, here is the link to her report on Facebook's privacy flaws. My immediate journalistic question revolves around how you approach Facebook for comment. Do you poke them? Friend them?

Political checkup

So, another recap is in order, if only to make a really lame pun.

These cheques? Fine, no problem.

This cheque? Bad.

Not checking the source of an email? Also bad.

These Czechs? Too bad.

Karl Rove's chilly followers

Via Twitter (and h/t to James Bradshaw on there),  Karl Rove (yes the real one) tells us that everyone in his office is wearing Snuggies today.  The blankets with sleeves. 

And that is as good an excuse as any to revive this 22 Minutes video, I figure.

Elizabeth May: "I think we have a problem here."

Green Party leader Elizabeth May is also training to be an Anglican minister. In a new blog post today, she writes about the holy-wafer incident and connects it (citing this blog) to Harper's royal salute on Canada Day. 

Her conclusion? "I think we have a problem here."

And on a (somewhat) related tangent, here's David Brooks in the NYT, writing eloquently about dignity in public life. (h/t Greg MacEachern at the Summa blog.) It's a timely message here in Canada too.

Harper's headed North

John Ivison tells us about the PM's travel plans next month. I guess we know what's on the menu while he's there?

Ignatieff back on the Hill

Apparently the Liberal leader is back in Ottawa and holding a meeting with Parliament Hill staff in about a half hour. No word yet on what the meeting's about but we'll keep you posted here.

Update: Apparently the meeting isn't about anything in particular -- just a session to stay in touch with folks, according to Ignatieff's office.

When Conservative MPs speak

I am starting to understand why Prime Minister Stephen Harper keeps his MPs muzzled. First Trost last week, now this: 

Tories charged with rape are actually Liberals: Barrie MP

POLITICS

Posted By RAYMOND BOWE, SUN MEDIA

Posted 3 hours ago

Conservative Barrie MP Patrick Brown says a sex scandal that has rocked the Barrie PC provincial riding association is also tainting Aileen Carroll's Liberals.

"This episode will hurt the Liberals more than any other party," said Brown, who called Sun Media yesterday about what he termed unfair media reports.

"This is a Liberal takeover that has left a blemish on the PC name," he added. "They've been beat up badly -- it's not fair, it's not just and it's not an accurate reflection of the situation."

Where Diane Ablonczy won't be tomorrow

Media Advisory: Government of Canada to Make Tourism Funding Announcement in Surrey, British Columbia

 

SURREY, BRITISH COLUMBIA--( July 13, 2009) - Russ Hiebert, Member of Parliament for South Surrey-White Rock-Cloverdale, on behalf of the Honourable Tony Clement, Minister of Industry, will be making a funding announcement as part of the Marquee Tourism Events Program.

Date:     Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Time:     10:30 a.m.

Location: Cloverdale Rodeo and Exhibition Fairgrounds
          6050A 176th Street
          Surrey, British Columbia