Contacting Aliens

Two scientists at the Department of Defence recently petitioned Ottawa to regulate messages being sent into space. According to physicists, Yvan Dutil and Stephane Dumas, a number of groups will soon try to contact aliens. Dutil says these messages could "put the earth at risk" because they could actually invite the aliens to invade us. It may take the aliens a few thousand years to get here, but nevertheless....

Of course, in order to regulate messages somebody would have to determine what type of communications would be illegal, others would be needed to monitor the airwaves for illegal transmissions and a hi-tech alien police force would be required to track down the source of renegade messages.

Professional rioters paid by taxpayers

In early April, 500 registered Indians and supporters stormed the Manitoba legislature. They were there to confront Premier Gary Filmon. They were angry with the high unemployment on Indian reserves even though that is a federal responsibility.

Things got so testy that police in full riot gear were called in to prevent the protesters from entering the legislature. The police, three deep in front of the Legislature doors, eventually used pepper spray in an effort to clear the crowd. Eleven people were arrested.

The next day allegations surfaced that many of the protesters had actually been paid with taxpayers' money to attend the riot.

In an article in the National Post, the grand chief of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs stated the protesters were paid from bands funds. "You get paid for your honorarium when you travel. You've got to eat."

Another chief added, "I don't think it should make any difference with our people whether they [were paid] or not."

The protesters may have received up to $75 a day to attend the protest, not including placards. Only in Canada, would you have a riot fully subsidized by taxpayers, including paying the participants and the police who were called in to stop it.

Green with Envy

The Canadian Business Development Bank of Canada, a federally owned crown corporation, spent over $220,000 from 1993 to 1998 on golfing fees and memberships for its senior executives.

Those lucky enough to receive this treat included Jean Carle who received nearly $24,000 in memberships. Less than a year ago, Jean Carle was a senior aide to Prime Minister Jean Chretien.

Other recipients include Mr. Beaudoin, the chief executive officer and the one who authorized these expenditures. He received $39,222 in paid-up green fees and memberships over the same period.

In a letter to the National Post, the Crown Corporation refused to say from which courses the fees and memberships were purchased stating the release of such information could "hurt the economic interests of Canada."

The amount the agency pays in green fees and memberships has substantially increased over the years. In 1993, the Crown Corporation paid out $10,668 for golf fees for three executives. By 1998, this had increased to $65,500 for 10 executives.