NATIONAL NEWS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY / SOMMAIRE DES NOUVELLES NATIONALES
ADM(PA) / SMA(AP)
December 23 2011 / le 23 decembre 2011
MINISTER / LE MINISTRE
Afghan Detainee Issue
The Military Police Complaints Commission says it has handed its preliminary assessment of Canada’s
handling of Afghan prisoners to DND for review by Defence Minister Peter MacKay. It will be some
months before a final report is issued. As part of its release, the commission also issued notice that is
expecting a response to its recommendations and that “reasons must be provided for not acting on any of
the findings and recommendations in the report.” Amnesty International lawyer Paul Champ said he
would expect to see the final version by spring and if it takes any longer “the government would obviously
be ragging the puck and waiting for a convenient time to release it” (Staff: HCH B5, RDA A5).
Minister’s Use of SAR Helicopter: Comment
Columnist Tim Harper suggested some Christmas presents for various politicians. For Mr. MacKay he
suggested a holiday at a fishing hole that has better access to roads. For Associate Defence Minister
Julian Fantino: A backup pair of reading glasses. If you ever lost the pair you own, you'd have to resign,
unable to read your prepared answers in the House. (TStar A8).
Des utilisations controversées
L’éditorialiste François Gravel indique que le premier ministre, David Alward, et ses collègues du Conseil
des ministres ont terminé la session parlementaire d'automne entachée par une controverse qui se
résume à une question: David Alward a-t-il utilisé l'avion du gouvernement à des fins personnelles et
politiques plutôt que gouvernementales? L'affaire a éclaté après que l'opposition libérale a découvert que
le premier ministre s'est rendu à Saint-Léonard et à Montréal à bord de l'avion. Selon les libéraux, David
Alward a utilisé l'avion pour des escapades partisanes, soit un souper à 500 $ le couvert visant à recueillir
des fonds pour le Parti progressiste-conservateur, ainsi qu'une partie de hockey du Canadien de
Montréal. Il precise que les Néo-Brunswickois ne sont pas les seuls au pays à débattre du sujet. Tout
récemment, le ministre de la Défense nationale, Peter MacKay, déjà dans l'eau chaude en raison de
l'utilisation qu'il a faite d'un hélicoptère de l'armée, a voyagé à bord d'un avion fédéral pour se rendre
dans le sud de l'Ontario (AN 12).
ASSOCIATE MINISTER / MINISTRE ASSOCIÉ
No related coverage. / Aucune couverture pertinente.
CDS / CEM
No related coverage. / Aucune couverture pertinente.
CANADA IN AFGHANISTAN / LE CANADA EN AFGHANISTAN
Sad Year and CF Missions: Comment
In a column that described 2011 as a sad year, columnist Susan Riley noted the death of MCpl Byron
Greff, the last Canadian killed in Afghanistan. She noted that we can be grateful there were not Canadian
casualties in the Libya mission (Ctz A11).
PROCUREMENT / APPROVISIONNEMENT
No related coverage. / Aucune couverture pertinente.
OTHERS / AUTRES
Mental Health among Veterans During the Holidays
For many war veterans fighting to restore their mental health, the season of tears begins in November
and doesn't end until the last New Year's party favour has gone out with the trash. The annual eight
weeks of torment begin with the ceremonial cannon shots of Remembrance Day. Coverage profiled the
experience of Afghan veteran Kevin Berry, as one among the 13 percent of soldiers who served in
Afghanistan diagnosed with a mental illness (L. Perreaux: G&M A4).
Russian Bid for U.N. Investigation of NATO in Libya Fails
Russia failed to persuade the U.N. Security Council to demand an investigation into reports that dozens
of civilians may have been killed by NATO air strikes during Libya's civil war. U.S. Ambassador Susan
Rice dismissed Churkin's request, saying a new investigation was unnecessary given that there were two
independent inquiries underway in Libya -one set up by the U.N. Human Rights Council and the other by
the International Criminal Court. Libyan U.N. envoy Ibrahim Dabbashi said he saw no need for a NATO
investigation. He said that more than 40,000 Libyans died in the civil war and that a few civilian casualties
due to the NATO attacks, however unfortunate, were inevitable (L. Charbonneau: KWS 33).
Agent Orange Compensation
Veterans ombudsman Guy Parent stood up for the caregivers of those affected by Agent Orange who are
being excluded from government payments. He said in a statement that VAC is denying claims from
caregivers based on “very narrow” interpretations (N. Stechyson: EJ A15, FDG A2, NBTJ A1, MTT C3; M.
Brewster: HCH B3, HS A10).
HMCS Vancouver
Coverage profiled the HMCS Vancouver, it’s role in Libya and its Christmas traditions (K. Spencer: VProv
A49).
Highway of Heroes Suggested for New Brunswick
Could a Highway of Heroes be a reality for New Brunswick in 2012? Kent Carswell a member of the
Canadian Army Veterans (CAV) motorcycle unit, is pushing the idea. Mr. Carswell said the CAV's goal is
to have a yet-to-be-defined portion of the Trans-Canada Highway designated by early summer (Staff:
NBTJ A3).
CF Assistance with Flooding
Coverage of the top 10 weather stories of 2011 noted the assistance of CF personnel in Richelieu,
Quebec after flooding in the region. Additional coverage noted the assistance of the CF with flooding in
Manitoba (Staff: CSun 26, ESun 42, KWS 30, WSun 4, TSun 34; L. Nguyen: CH A17, VProv A44).
Section: Canada
Outlet: The Chronicle-Herald
Headline: Report on prisoners kept secret; Public will have to wait for details of Afghans'
treatment
Page: B5
Date: Friday 23 December 2011
Source: The Canadian Press
OTTAWA - The military watchdog investigating Canada's handling of Afghan prisoners has
penned an interim report, but the public won't get to see it.
The Military Police Complaints Commission says it has handed its preliminary assessment to the
Defence Department for review by Defence Minister Peter MacKay and the head of the military.
It will be some months before a final report is issued.
The agency held a series of on-again, off-again public hearings into the question of what military
police knew - or should have known - about alleged torture in Afghan prisons.
As part of its release, the commission also issued notice that is expecting a response to its
recommendations and that "reasons must be provided for not acting on any of the findings and
recommendations in the report."
That is significant, according to the human-rights lawyer who launched the case.
"It suggests - strongly - to me that the complaint has been upheld to some extent," said Paul
Champ, "but we'll see. We obviously look forward to seeing the full report."
Amnesty International and the B.C. Civil Liberties Association filed the complaint in June 2008
and fought a protracted legal battle to prevent Canadian troops from handing over suspected
Taliban fighters to local authorities in Kandahar.
The Harper government challenged the commission's authority to hold hearings and stood behind
its transfer policy until a few weeks ago, when Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird announced
that future prisoners would be handed to a U.S.-run detention centre.
The commission says its interim report must be kept confidential. Champ said he would expect
to see the final version by spring and if it takes any longer "the government would obviously be
ragging the puck and waiting for a convenient time to release it."
The commission is likely releasing notice of the interim report without saying what is in it in
order to put pressure on the Harper government and the Defence Department to release its final
determinations quickly, he added.
Back to Top
Section: News
Headline: Enough sniping, time for gift-giving
Page: A8
Byline: Tim Harper Toronto Star
Outlet: Toronto Star
Illustrations:
 To Julian Fantino: Some extra glasses.
Date: Friday 23 December 2011
It's time for all to down the partisan weapons and take a break from media sniping for the
holidays.
And in the spirit of the season, here are some gifts that ministers, MPs - and the media - should
find under the tree Sunday to make 2012 a better year for all concerned.
So Merry Christmas and start unwrapping.
To Defence Minister Peter MacKay: A holiday at a fishing hole that has better access to roads.
To Conservative MP Jim Hillyer: Your very own toy gun, so you won't have to make juvenile
little pretend finger gun motions when the gun registry vote passes in the House. But watch it,
you'll put your eye out with that thing.
To Treasury Board President Tony Clement: Your very own backyard gazebo. But one you paid
for, not us.
To Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird: Something nice from Clement for all the days you
shielded him in question period. But what to get the man who has everything, including goldembossed business cards?
To the jaded watchers of woeful question period: More debate between New Democratic
environment critic Megan Leslie and Conservative MP Michelle Rempel, the parliamentary
secretary to Environment Minister Peter Kent. No talking point droning from two smart women
here.
To Prime Minister Stephen Harper: A longer leash for your cabinet ministers and their
communications staff. Remember that "strong, stable, Conservative majority?" Election's over.
You won. Take your foot off the partisan gas.
To New Democrats: A leadership race that sparks debate and interest. And quickly, because the
Jack Layton legacy is being squandered.
To the Liberals: Less dreaming about Mark Carney as leader and more of the spade work needed
right now to grow the party.
To Conservative MP Rob Anders and NDP MP Bruce Hyer: Stronger coffee, so you won't be
caught sleeping again during question period or an NDP debate. Alternatively, better question
periods and NDP debates.
To Associate Defence Minister Julian Fantino: A backup pair of reading glasses. If you ever lost
the pair you own, you'd have to resign, unable to read your prepared answers in the House.
To organized labour: Flak jackets and helmets. The Conservatives are coming after you with job
cuts in the public service and attacks to raise money and paint New Democrats as beholden to
"big union bosses."
To Parliament's new poet laureate Fred Wah: A word that rhymes with "time allocation."
To Government House leader Peter Van Loan: An understanding that not all opposition
amendments to legislation are evil plots to undermine your majority.
To Chiquita Bananas and Ethical Oil: An end to silly boycotts and counter-boycotts. A banana
boycott is just tough to take seriously, even if Chiquita's past record with political activism
should be enough to keep its mouth shut.
To Aboriginal Affairs Minister John Duncan: A plane ticket that will take you further north than
Thunder Bay. And to the people of Attawapiskat, warmth and peace of mind.
To NDP MP Pat Martin: A Twitter filter.
To Liberal MP Justin Trudeau: More artful jibes at ministers, something beyond Grade 6 level.
To Environment Minister Peter Kent: Less hypocritical answers to questions, so we don't have to
hear Trudeau's sandbox shouts.
To newspaper and online editors, lineup editors and columnists (including this one):
Consistency. If we continually lament the lack of decorum in the House of Commons, let's stop
playing profane tweets or obscene shouts in the Commons on Page 1 or at the top of newscasts.
Or if we continue to do so, let's admit we are at least enablers, complicit in the lack of decorum.
To voters across the country: More trips to the ballot box in the years to come. We may not lead
world news with the quality of our politics, but we don't have to take to the streets for our right to
vote. So use the right and be thankful.
Tim Harper is a
national affairs writer. His column appears Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
Back to Top
Section: Éditorial
Byline: François Gravel
Outlet: L'Acadie Nouvelle
Headline: Vendez l'avion; Notre conseil au gouvernement: vendez l'avion, quitte à en affréter un en cas
d'absolue nécessité.
Page: 12
Date: Friday 23 December 2011
Le premier ministre, David Alward, et ses collègues du Conseil des ministres souhaitaient sûrement
terminer la session parlementaire d'automne sur une meilleure note.
Le gouvernement provincial vient de déposer son budget en immobilisations. Il a annoncé la construction
d'écoles francophones, d'une route à quatre voies et d'une voie d'évitement.
Ces nouvelles, qui auraient dû renvoyer tout le monde à la maison sur une note positive, à temps pour le
congé des Fêtes, ont été entachées par une controverse. Une controverse qui se résume à une question:
David Alward a-t-il utilisé l'avion du gouvernement à des fins personnelles et politiques plutôt que
gouvernementales?
L'affaire a éclaté après que l'opposition libérale a découvert que le premier ministre s'est rendu à SaintLéonard et à Montréal à bord de l'avion. Selon les libéraux, David Alward a utilisé l'avion pour des
escapades partisanes, soit un souper à 500 $ le couvert visant à recueillir des fonds pour le Parti
progressiste-conservateur, ainsi qu'une partie de hockey du Canadien de Montréal.
M. Alward ne nie pas ces faits, mais précise que le but premier de ces voyages était plutôt de rencontrer
des leaders de la communauté (à Saint-Léonard et à Grand-Sault), ainsi que des gens d'affaires et le
premier ministre du Québec, Jean Charest (à Montréal).
Ces rencontres n'ont été rendues publiques qu'après que les voyages ont été critiqués. Qui sont ces
leaders? De quoi ont-ils discuté avec le premier ministre? Ces rencontres ont-elles été organisées avant
ou après que M. Alward a choisi de se rendre au souper de financement?
Il est très difficile de répondre à ces questions puisque M. Alward, un homme qui a promis la plus grande
transparence pendant la dernière campagne électorale, est très secret au sujet de ses déplacements.
Rien à voir avec le gouvernement libéral précédent, qui indiquait sur le site web de Communication N.-B.
l'horaire du premier ministre d'alors, Shawn Graham.
La pertinence pour une province comme le Nouveau-Brunswick d'avoir un avion pour son gouvernement
est remise en question depuis longtemps. A la fin des années 1980, le chef de l'opposition, Frank
McKenna, avait fait de l'avion le symbole de l'extravagance du premier ministre Richard Hatfield, qui
l'utilisait pour se rendre régulièrement à New York les week-ends.
Pour bien marquer la rupture avec l'ancien régime, M. McKenna avait vendu l'avion aussitôt arrivé au
pouvoir. Mais un autre gouvernement libéral, celui de M. Graham, a racheté un nouvel appareil au coût
de 4,5 millions $ en 2008. Les libéraux utilisaient d'ailleurs l'avion plus souvent que ne le font
présentement les conservateurs.
Notons que les Néo-Brunswickois ne sont pas les seuls au pays à débattre du sujet. Tout récemment, le
ministre de la Défense nationale, Peter MacKay, déjà dans l'eau chaude en raison de l'utilisation qu'il a
faite d'un hélicoptère de l'armée, a voyagé à bord d'un avion fédéral pour se rendre dans le sud de
l'Ontario. Des observateurs politiques ont noté qu'il aurait été moins dispendieux pour les contribuables si
M. MacKay, un habitué de l'appareil fédéral, avait acheté tous les billets d'un vol commercial d'Air
Canada...
Toujours est-il que les avions gouvernementaux sont utiles, lorsque bien utilisés, mais qu'il s'agit d'un
luxe. Un luxe qu'outre le Nouveau-Brunswick, seuls l'Ontario, le Québec, la Saskatchewan et le
gouvernement fédéral ont choisi de se payer.
En politique, tout est une question de perception et de priorités. Et en ce moment, alors que certains
districts scolaires n'ont pas assez d'argent pour garnir les rayons de leurs bibliothèques, le premier
ministre vole à bord d'Air Nouveau-Brunswick. Pas le bon message à envoyer à la population.
Notre conseil au gouvernement Alward: vendez l'avion, quitte à en affréter un en cas d'absolue nécessité.
En cette période d'austérité, les fonds publics seront mieux investis ailleurs.
Back to Top
Section: Arguments
Byline: Susan Riley
Outlet: Ottawa Citizen
Headline: A sad year happily over
Page: A11
Date: Friday 23 December 2011
Source: Ottawa Citizen
I am, by nature, an optimist but it is hard to ignore the undercurrent of sadness that marks the
political year just ending - starting with Jack Layton's premature death, of course, but reinforced
by many smaller losses.
On a human level, Layton's death was devastating because the NDP leader was about to reap the
rewards of a lifetime of work, because he was so robust, so popular, when he was ambushed by
an unforgiving cancer. What compounds the loss is how fleeting his impact, and his example,
appear to have been.
"My friends, love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair,"
he famously wrote. It was a plea for a more humane politics, for more kindness and less
recrimination. It spoke strongly to Canadians of all persuasions. It could have been a turning
point.
In a generous gesture, Prime Minister Stephen Harper offered a state funeral and was rewarded perhaps inevitably, but unfortunately - with an ill-disguised rebuke from eulogist Stephen Lewis.
As we now know, the kindness lasted a nano-second into the first question period after Layton's
funeral. Within days it became obvious that Harper's new majority government would adopt the
tactics his minorities had: fear, anger and despair were back on the agenda.
There was fear of a non-existent crime wave, of Iran, of rampaging refugees, of unruly
protesters; anger at an urban elite bound to deprive duck hunters or wheat farmers of their
freedoms; despair that provincial premiers would ever act in the national interest without a
federal foot on their collective throat when it comes to reforming health care - or anything else.
Over time, the losses mounted: the gun registry; the wheat board; public financing for political
parties; and, recently, news that Canada is abandoning the Kyoto Protocol. Even the holiday
season - certainly in the national capital, but also elsewhere - was overshadowed by the prospect
of cuts of at least 10,000 public service jobs in the coming months, part of Harper's austerity
drive.
For devout Conservatives, of course, the year wasn't sad at all: their team won a decisive victory.
They got rid of useless programs, irritating laws and saved taxpayers some money. Yet there
seemed as much spite, and retribution, in these victories as joy. There certainly has been no
attempt to soften the blows for the 60 per cent (the real majority) who didn't vote Conservative,
or to entice those who didn't vote at all.
The Harper Conservatives didn't only end the requirement that owners of shotguns and rifles
register their weapons; they vow to burn the whole registry, ensuring no province gets to
(affordably) establish its own. They didn't even wait for a court appeal in their rush to kill the
wheat board. They rejected clarifying amendments to anti-terrorist provisions in their crime bill
because they came from a Liberal, MP Irwin Cotler. Later, they decide to add similar
amendments themselves.
And while Conservative ministers congratulate themselves endlessly on Canada's relative good
fortune economically, they seem blind, or indifferent, to those who are not thriving - notably
young Canadians facing 14 per cent unemployment rates, seniors doomed to dreadful nursing
homes or prolonged hospitalization, the unemployed still waiting for overdue cheques thanks to
staff cuts at Service Canada.
The Libyan mission ended with no loss of Canadian life and minimum civilian casualties: for
this small mercy, we can be grateful.
But Master Corporal Byron Greff, the last Canadian killed in Afghanistan, wasn't so lucky. His
widow's wrenching cry broke the solemn silence at Trenton airbase on a grey November day, a
poignant reminder that lives are still being lost in a war we have all but forgotten.
But it is, perhaps, this and previous governments' negligence on the environment that is most
dispiriting.
Kyoto was far from perfect, but it kept pressure on governments to, at least, explain their
failures. There appears to be no urgency to replace it with a more comprehensive agreement and
not enough grassroots agitation for change. (As if the unseasonable drizzle and prospect of a
green Christmas isn't a disquieting harbinger.)
My apologies. This is all very glum. And it could get worse. The loss of well-paying government
jobs won't help the recovery, or improve service to the public. A sharpening of differences could
poison the sofar civil NDP leadership race. And signs point to a new enemy and a new campaign
for Conservative fundraisers: union bosses. Sigh.
But optimism is a stubborn flower. The new year may bring new faces, new ideas. Sidney
Crosby might score again. Canada is a blessed country; it will survive this time and this
government. And Jack's words may still resonate beyond the sterile world of mainstream politics.
Let's hope.
Susan Riley writes on national politics. Email: sriley.work@gmail.com
Back to Top
Section: National News
Outlet: The Globe And Mail
Byline: LES PERREAUX
Headline: Holiday season adds stress for ailing vets
Page: A4
Date: Friday 23 December 2011
For many war veterans fighting to restore their mental health, the season of tears begins in
November and doesn't end until the last New Year's party favour has gone out with the trash.
The annual eight weeks of torment begin with the ceremonial cannon shots of Remembrance
Day, which brings with them flashbacks to violent encounters and dead friends. That often is just
the start of a long grind of holiday stress that is especially difficult for those suffering from
depression, anxiety or other mental-health disorders - a season with high expectations of joy and
togetherness that instead can turn to sorrow, isolation and crisis, including a spike in suicides.
``The nightmares the last couple weeks have been brutal. This time of year doesn't help,
Remembrance Day doesn't help. Remembrance Day is a tough day, and it goes on for weeks,''
said Kevin Berry, a veteran of the Afghanistan war who was diagnosed with post-traumatic
stress disorder last year.
Mr. Berry is part of a growing brigade of Canadian veterans diagnosed with PTSD, some of
whom may spend years avoiding a head-on confrontation with mental illness. According to a
study by the Canadian Forces completed in the fall, at least 5,773 soldiers who served between
2001 and 2008 were diagnosed with mental illness, about half of them PTSD. About 4,000 of the
overall cases, like that of Mr. Berry, could be attributed to service in Afghanistan.
In fact, the study found 13 per cent of the soldiers who served in Afghanistan have been
diagnosed with mental illness. While military officials say the rate of new cases of mental illness
should level off with the end of Canada's combat mission, the total numbers will continue to
grow for years.
And the numbers remain an underestimate of actual cases because soldiers are still reluctant to
come forward and risk ending their careers, according to Walter Callaghan, a retired officer with
the Canadian Forces medical service who is now a graduate student at the University of Toronto.
``I think the next thing we need to come to terms with is the whole notion many of these
conditions can be cured,'' said Mr. Callaghan, who studies the social effects of operational stress
injuries on soldiers. ``There might be a plateau in new acute cases of PTSD, the ones that show
up within six months of the trauma, but new cases will be coming in for years and maybe
decades. Ten years, minimum.''
Nearly six years passed between the end of Mr. Berry's mission patrolling Kabul with the
Canadian infantry and his PTSD diagnosis, in the spring of 2010.
He served early in the Afghanistan war, in 2003-04. Three comrades died on his tour in Kabul.
He went on more than 100 patrols, spending hours each day in fear a bomber was just around the
corner of every mud wall.
One early traumatic experience came the day he beat and nearly killed a young Afghan boy he
took for a suicide bomber. (The excited boy was merely trying to turn in a mortar round to
Canadian soldiers.) ``The only reason I didn't shoot him is I didn't think I could hit him without
hitting the bomb,'' Mr. Berry recalled.
He hurt his knees falling off a vehicle, and became partially deaf from constant exposure to
noise. Mr. Berry, then 20, started drinking heavily shortly after his return. As early as 2005, he
awoke from a dream where he was in hand-to-hand combat with two Taliban only to discover he
was in his own bed, choking his girlfriend. Fit, 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds at the time, he still
shudders at the memory.
He worked as a doorman in Vancouver nightclubs, where he was attacked with beer bottles and
had guns and knives pulled on him. Odd behaviour would come and go, Mr. Berry said, until it
all started to get worse again by 2009. He would drive around the streets of Vancouver, eying an
abandoned suitcase or errant soccer ball as if they might be roadside bombs. A stack of bricks
looked like a minefield marker.
And the drinking: He would down more than two dozen beers a day just to get to sleep. ``My life
was unravelling,'' he said. Finally, in May, 2010, he had a breakdown in the office of the bar he
managed. Three times prior he had attempted to reach out for help to Veterans Affairs Canada.
But this time, as he bawled into the phone, he was taken seriously, he said.
Nothing about his treatment has been easy, including the labyrinth of bureaucracy he's had to
negotiate through Veterans Affairs to go on short-term disability and collect the lump sum of
$27,000 he is entitled to so far because of PTSD.
His case also highlights some of the inequities introduced by recent new veterans legislation. He
receives $619 a month, for life, for the knee injuries and deafness he had treated before the new
legislation came into force in 2006. He gets a one-time payment for PTSD because it was
diagnosed afterward. If he lives to be 78, he'll receive at least 10 times more for his rickety knees
and half-deaf ears than he will for mental illness. Had the knee and ear injuries been diagnosed a
couple years later, he would have received a fraction of the $370,000 (before inflation
adjustments) he will get over a typical lifetime.
``Almost any soldiers who has been through it will recognize this story,'' said Mr. Callaghan,
who himself was awarded $70,000 for the type 2 bipolar disorder he developed while serving 10
years in the military. ``For mental illness, the criteria are arbitrary, the funds insufficient. There's
no rhyme or reason. And the difference between the old and new payment system is completely
unfair.''
Mr. Berry is now sober, in psychiatric care. He has dropped most of the 100 pounds he put on
since coming home, and he's in a solid relationship with a woman. But he worries about the
holiday season.
Mr. Callaghan acts as an advocate, buddy and peer to other ill vets. The phone rings much more
frequently at this time of year.
It can be tough to get in to see professionals from either the civilian- or military-care systems
around Christmas, Mr. Callaghan said. Reservists, like he was, can have a hard time connecting
with comrades. Reserve-forces parade halls are often padlocked for a couple of weeks at this
time of year.
And those aren't the only challenges, Mr. Berry says. The mental-health minefields are
everywhere. Just the other day, he took a pre-Christmas trip to the mall to have his photograph
taken. His heart raced with an anxiety attack. ``Malls are tough,'' he said. ``Especially at this time
of year.''
Back to Top
Section: News
Lead: UNITED NATIONS -- Russia failed to persuade the U.N. Security Council on Thursday
to demand an investigation into reports that dozens of civilians may have been killed by NATO
air strikes during Libya's civil war, U.N. envoys said.
Headline: Bid for Libya probe fails at UN
Page: 33
Byline: LOUIS CHARBONNEAU, REUTERS
Outlet: The Kingston Whig-Standard
Date: Friday 23 December 2011
UNITED NATIONS -- Russia failed to persuade the U.N. Security Council on Thursday to
demand an investigation into reports that dozens of civilians may have been killed by NATO air
strikes during Libya's civil war, U.N. envoys said.
Russian UN Ambassador Vitaly Churkin told reporters after a closed-door meeting of the 15nation Security Council that there was no consensus on his request.
Reuters reported last week that Human Rights Watch and another group estimated that over 50
civilians may have been killed by NATO air strikes during the alliance's eight-month military
operation, according to their investigations.
The New York Times published a similar estimate on Sunday.
U.S. Ambassador Susan Rice dismissed Churkin's request, saying a new investigation was
unnecessary given that there were two independent inquiries underway in Libya -one set up by
the U.N. Human Rights Council and the other by the International Criminal Court.
The ICC has said it was investigating whether forces loyal to former Libyan leader Muammar
Gaddafiand the rebel fighters who toppled and killed him, or NATO, committed war crimes. The
court indicted Gaddafi, his son Saif al-Islam and Libya's former intelligence chief for war crimes.
"Neither the Libyan government nor a majority of the members of the Security Council
expressed any interest in any additional investigations," Rice told reporters.
"It's not an exaggeration to say that this is something of a cheap stunt to divert attention from
other issues and to obscure the success of NATO and its partners -and indeed the Security
Council -in protecting the people of Libya," she added.
'A PLOY'?
French Ambassador Gerard Araud echoed Rice's comments, suggesting that Churkin was trying
to divert attention from Syria, where hundreds of demonstrators have been killed in recent days.
"There are two on-going investigations (in Libya), so why ask for a third one (when) we don't
have any investigation committee in Syria," Araud said. "In the last three, four days more than
250 people have been killed. This is a bit strange, so we can say that we have seen today one
more ploy."
Russia and China vetoed a European-drafted resolution in October that would have condemned
Syria and threatened it with possible sanctions over its crackdown on pro-democracy protesters
that the U.N. says has killed more than 5,000 civilians.
Churkin recently circulated Russia's own resolution on Syria but has so far balked at U.S. and
European demands to toughen it up and put it to a vote.
Churkin has said repeatedly that the NATO alliance has failed to provide the Security Council
with details about civilian casualties.
The Russian envoy has also criticized U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for suggesting last
week that NATO had fully complied with its Security Council mandate to protect civilians in
Libya.
After abstaining from a March 17 vote on Security Council resolution 1973, which authorized
U.N. member states to enforce a no-fly zone and use "all necessary measures" to protect Libyan
civilians, Russia and China repeatedly accused NATO of overstepping its mandate by seeking to
oust Gaddafi.
NATO spokeswoman Oana Lungescu said last week that the alliance had no figures for civilian
casualties its bombing campaign may have caused but took "every possible precaution to
minimize the possibility of civilian casualties."
She said it was impossible to entirely remove the risk to civilians but the alliance "deeply regrets
any loss of civilian life and if there is credible evidence it is for the Libyan authorities to take the
lead in dealing with any such claim."
Libyan U.N. envoy Ibrahim Dabbashi told Reuters last week he saw no need for a NATO
investigation. He said that more than 40,000 Libyans died in the civil war and that a few civilian
casualties due to the NATO attacks, however unfortunate, were inevitable.
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Section: News
Byline: Natalie Stechyson
Outlet: Edmonton Journal
Headline: Agent Orange claims handling 'scandalous'
Page: A15
Date: Friday 23 December 2011
Dateline: OTTAWA
Source: Postmedia News
Canada's veterans ombudsman stood up Thursday for the caregivers of those affected by Agent
Orange who are being excluded from government payments.
Veterans Affairs Canada is denying claims from caregivers based on "very narrow"
interpretations, Guy Parent said in a statement released Thursday. "The definitions used by
Veterans Affairs Canada would not withstand public or legal scrutiny. This is nothing short of
scandalous," Parent said.
"One wonders how many other individuals have been denied the ex gratia (as a favour) payment
un-fairly."
The Agent Orange payment pro-gram is meant to compensate those who were exposed to the
defoliant chemical and are suffering from related medical conditions.
The spray program took place at Canadian Forces Base Gagetown in 1966 and 1967. The
program allows primary caregivers to apply on behalf of an individual who would have been
eligible but died.
The office of the ombudsman has received a number of requests for help by people whose
applications have been denied, Parent said. In one instance, the widow of a former soldier was
denied payment because her husband of 50 years was living in a care facility when he died. One
criteria is that the primary caregiver must have been living in the same home as the deceased for
at least one year prior to that person's death.
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Section: Canada
Byline: Murray Brewster
Outlet: The Chronicle-Herald
Headline: Veterans' ombudsman chides feds for 'scandalous' treatment
Page: B3
Date: Friday 23 December 2011
Source: The Canadian Press
OTTAWA - The country's veterans ombudsman went to bat Thursday for the families of exsoldiers affected by the spraying of Agent Orange and those excluded from a separate $250,000
death benefit.
Guy Parent described as "scandalous" the treatment of those eligible to receive payments under
the federal program, which is meant to compensate soldiers exposed to the defoliant in the
1960s.
Federal bureaucrats have denied claims of spouses using what the ombudsman described as a
very narrow interpretation of cabinet regulations in order to justify their decisions.
Since early last month, the ombudsman's office has been flooded with complaints, notably from
widows who were shut out of ex-gratia payments, even though some of them spent a lifetime
caring for a sick loved one.
In one instance, a widow was denied payment because her husband died in a nursing home and
the couple of 50 years was technically not living together.
"The definitions used by Veterans Affairs Canada would not withstand public - or legal scrutiny.
This is nothing short of scandalous," the ombudsman said Thursday in a toughly-worded
statement.
The department has stamped a number of applications ineligible because they were received late
- something Parent said was unfair and he urged officials to cut families some slack.
The federal government originally set aside $96 million to compensate victims of the spray
program, which took place on a military base in New Brunswick in 1966 and 1967.
Parent also took issue, in a year-end interview with The Canadian Press, about the federal
government's restriction of a $250,000 death benefit to the families of married soldiers only.
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Section: News
Byline: Kent Spencer
Outlet: The Province
Illustrations:
 /
 Submitted / Christmas will be spent with private moments and camaraderie around mealtime and a theatrical comedy.
Headline: Christmas on the high seas; navy: The Vancouver's crew celebrate on anti-terrorism
duty
Page: A49
Date: Friday 23 December 2011
Source: The Province
The crew aboard HMCS Vancouver will never forget the night Libyan dictator Moam-mar
Gadhafi was ringed by gunfire in his hometown of Sirte.
The crew watched artillery flashes from a point off the North African shore shortly before he was
gunned down on Oct. 20.
They could see buildings breaking apart and they knew people were being killed.
For many of the 250 men and women on board, it was the first time they had seen shots fired in
anger in their careers with the Royal Canadian Navy.
"We saw the shore lights all of a sudden go dark and the explosions," said Sub-Lt. Jeriel
Nanthakumar, 26, on Thursday.
Lt. Tony Wright said the artillery looked like "sparkling light, kind of ominous."
"You would get a [concussion-based] thud in the chest," said Wright, 39, a communications
specialist whose wife and two-year-old daughter live in North Vancouver.
"We knew what was going on. People were dying," he said.
Petty Officer Rene Godin said "reality kicked in."
"We're always practising. When you actually see it for real and know it's happening live, you
don't anticipate that," he said.
The Vancouver, a 5,000-tonne Halifax frigate based in Esquimalt, patrolled the Libyan coast for
almost 10 weeks.
It enforced United Nations' resolutions calling for a no-fly zone and arms embargo to the
embattled country, where rebels were trying to break the dictator's 42-year-old grip on power.
Suspicious vessels were boarded and searched for arms, while food-carrying ships were escorted
safely into port.
The Vancouver helped air forces in the NATO command identify and destroy a site launching
Scud missiles at civilians.
Vancouver Cmdr. Bradley Peats believes that lives were saved because of the ship's efforts.
"Getting the food in was gut-wrenching in a satisfying kind of way. It made a difference," said
Peats, 40, whose love of the navy was spawned during his youth spent on Ontario lakes.
Although The Vancouver is still on anti-terrorism duty in the Eastern Mediterranean, the crew
will be rewarded during the holidays with Christmas at sea.
For many sailors the special day will begin with some private moments spent alone in their fully
enclosed bunks, which are their only place of refuge aboard ship.
Godin said he will be thinking about his faraway family and long-ago Christmas memories of
fun times spent as a child in his native New Brunswick.
Once, at the age of seven, he was so excited he couldn't sleep.
Creeping downstairs to the Christmas tree, he spied a brand new hockey net.
"It's something every boy dreamt about," he said.
Racing upstairs, he woke up his sister and parents in the middle of the night. Christmas began
early that year.
Now, Godin has a wife and four children under the age of seven at home in Victoria.
"More than anything, I would want to be at home. I'd want to see the sparkle in the kids' eyes,"
said Godin, 38, a marine engineer who works on the ship's gas-turbine engines.
Group festivities will include the usual Christmas trees, gift exchanges and traditional turkey
dinner with all the trimmings.
"People standing watches might have Santa Claus hats on," said Wright.
Peats wanted The Vancouver to be at sea on Dec. 25 because it's a time when emotions are
keenly felt.
"Christmas is a hard time of year for a lot of our younger folks. I wanted to make sure the ship's
crew was together as a family," he said.
The crew will be undertaking some unusual rituals and entertainment not to be found in your
average Canadian household.
The navy has a long tradition where the captain and other senior officers exchange ranks with the
lowliest-ranking seamen on Christmas Day.
That means the commander's three gold stripes are exchanged for the plain epaulettes worn by
ordinary seamen.
It means the commander could find himself on menial duties while the seamen enjoy the upscale
comforts of the commander's quarters.
"Hopefully I won't get tagged with swabbing decks. I'll try to fill in what-ever duties I'm
responsible for," said Peats.
An amateur theatrical company on board hopes to have a little fun with a Christmas story loosely
based on the nativity play.
They plan to take a few liberties to give it a decidedly nautical flair.
"There will be a little bit of come-dy. It should hold true to the actual play," said Nanthakumar, a
bridge watchkeeper who gives orders to the helmsman.
Weather reports predict minus-two temperatures, cloud and 15-knot winds from the southwest on
Sunday.
"It should be a pretty nice day," said Nanthakumar.
kspencer@theprovince.com
twitter.com/kentspencer2
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Section: Main
Headline: Highway of Heroes idea pitched
Page: A3
Outlet: New Brunswick Telegraph-Journal
Byline: tELEGRAPH-jOURNAL
Date: Friday 23 December 2011
NEW MARYLAND - Could a Highway of Heroes be a reality for New Brunswick in 2012? If
New Maryland's Kent Carswell has his way, it will happen.
Carswell, a member of the Canadian Army Veterans (CAV) motorcycle unit, is pushing the idea.
It's based on the Ontario model that pays homage to fallen Canadian soldiers.
Throughout the Afghanistan conflict, the bodies of fallen soldiers travelled a stretch of roadway
between Trenton and Toronto. Thousands of Canadians have braved all sorts of weather to pay
their respects to the soldiers who have made that journey on Highway 401, one of the busiest
motorways in North America.
The CAV's goal is to have a yet-to-be-defined portion of the Trans-Canada Highway designated
by early summer, Carswell said.
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Section: News
Lead: From the death and destruction of Japan's earthquake/tsunami to extreme weather in the
U.S. that killed more than 1,000 people throughout of the year, Mother Nature seemed to be on
the warpath in 2011. Canadians had plenty to "weather," experiencing our second-most
expensive year for weather losses. The following are the top 10 weather stories of 2011,
according to Environment Canada.
Headline: Weather woes
Page: 26
Byline: ENVIRONMENT CANADA
Outlet: The Calgary Sun
Illustrations:
 SUSAN BATSFORD, GRAPHICS EDITOR, TWITTER @SBATS1
 INFOGRAPHIC BY LINDSAY OUELLETTE/ QMI AGENCY
Date: Friday 23 December 2011
From the death and destruction of Japan's earthquake/tsunami to extreme weather in the U.S. that
killed more than 1,000 people throughout of the year, Mother Nature seemed to be on the
warpath in 2011. Canadians had plenty to "weather," experiencing our second-most expensive
year for weather losses. The following are the top 10 weather stories of 2011, according to
Environment Canada.
1. Historic flooding in the West
The highest water levels and flows in modern history were recorded across parts of Manitoba
and Saskatchewan. Flooding swamped three million hectares of farmland, displacing more than
10,000 in the two provinces. States of emergency were declared in 70 communities.
2. Slave Lake burning
In May, fires raced through Slave Lake at 70 metres per minute. One-third of the homes and
businesses (about 400 structures) were incinerated in the 1,000 C heat, reduced to burnt concrete,
twisted steel and blackened rubble. People were left with nothing. The Insurance Bureau of
Canada said it was second costliest natural disaster in Canadian history, at more than $700
million.
3. Richelieu flooding
A combination of excessive snowfall and rapid snow-melt, exacerbated by intense spring rains,
caused some of the worst flooding in Quebec's history. Hundreds of roads and bridges were
heavily damaged, parts of the shoreline were swept away and thousands of hectares of farmland
were submerged. About 800 Canadian Forces personnel were mobilized to help. Losses were in
excess of $78 million.
4. Down on the farm
The Canadian Wheat Board estimated that 2.75 million hectares of farmland went unseeded in
the west due to excessively wet weather -- mostly in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. In Ontario and
Quebec, less than 5% of the corn crop was sown by the end of April, compared to 90% in 2010,
not helped by sunshine totals that averaged 2,5 hours less per day in May.
5. Goderich Tornado
On August 21, an F3 tornado, with winds between 250 and 320 km/h, ripped through Goderich,
Ont,, killing one person and injuring 40 others. Officials placed the town under a state of
emergency. The Insurance Bureau of Canada's estimate for insured damage exceeded $100
million.
6. Blowin' in the wind
True to the predictions of experts, 2011 saw an active Atlantic hurricane season: Irene, Katia,
Maria and Ophelia all left destruction and devastation in their wake. The year's 19 tropical
storms went well above the long-term average of 11.
7. Summer bummer
The heat was, at times, unrelenting when a continental-sized dome of high pressure covered 40
states and four provinces in July. Across central Canada, health officials issued dozens of heat
alerts. Humidex values peaked in the upper 40s across Ont. and Que., and new sweltering
temperature records were set in Montreal, Sherbrooke and l'Assomption.
8. Arctic sea ice melting
According to Environment Canada and the National Snow and Ice Data Centre in Colorado, sea
ice covering the Arctic Ocean declined to its second--lowest extent on record in September 2011.
Arctic sea ice is now estimated to be 40-50% thinner than it used to be.
9. Groundhog Day blizzard
What became known as the Groundhog Day Storm shut down two countries with high winds,
dangerous wind-chill, ice, blizzards and flash freezes. The powerful and historic winter storm
with lifethreatening weather led to thousands of cancelled flights across North America and
countless school closings.
10. Wicked winds from the west
During the last week of November, southern Alberta -one of the windiest regions in Canada recorded some of its most powerful winds ever, inflicting many millions of dollars in property
damage. Surface-based wind gusts measured between 117 km/h and a whopping 204 km/h, in
Pincher Creek.
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Section: News
Byline: Linda Nguyen
Outlet: Calgary Herald
Illustrations:
 Postmedia News Archive / Rose and Lloyd Virhe need hip waders to leave their water-filled
home on Mission Lake near Lebret, Sask., in the Qu'Appelle Valley in April.
 Postmedia News Archive / An entire neighbourhood is reduced to ashes in Slave Lake,
northern Alberta. A wildfire swept through the town on May 15, destroying a thirdof the
buildings.
Headline: Historic Prairie flooding is top weather story of 2011; 'This could've been the flood of
the millennium'
Page: A17
Date: Friday 23 December 2011
Dateline: TORONTO
Source: Postmedia News
Alberta made it onto the list of Top 10 weather incidents this year with the Slave Lake fire and
the vicious November wind storm, but it was the massive flooding in the eastern Prairies that
was named biggest weather story of the year.
The floods in Saskatchewan, Manitoba and parts of northern Ontario caused $1 billion in
damage.
"It was by all accounts, the big story of the year," said senior climatologist David Phillips, who
on Thursday unveiled Environment Canada's 16th annual Top 10 Weather List. "We use that
expression, the flood of the century but hey this could've been the flood of the millennium. The
flood of all times for sure."
The widespread flooding in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and parts of northern Ontario began after a
"weather bomb" in the winter and resulted in surging waters on six large rivers well into July, he
said.
According to the weather agency, the floods were the second costliest weather event in Canadian
history, following the 1998 ice storm, which toppled trees and caused major outages throughout
Eastern Canada.
As a result, both Lake Manitoba and the Assiniboine River reported water levels not seen in
hundreds of years. The Canadian Armed Forces, and even penitentiary inmates, were relied on
throughout this period to help lay down sandbags along the riverbanks.
The weather list is determined by a number of factors including the impact, economic fallout, the
area covered and the longevity of the weather event.
It was derived from a list of 138 events this year, including the current balmy wintry conditions
many Canadians are facing.
The remaining 2011 weather events that made Environment Canada's Top 10 are:
2. Slave Lake burning
Although now it's suspected arson started the blaze, the fire in Slave Lake would not have been
as tragic if the weather conditions had not been perfect. Strong winds of up to 100 km/h helped
the flames rip through the town, destroying one-third of homes and businesses.
3. Richelieu flooding
In late May, southern Quebec experienced the worst overland flooding in more than a hundred
years resulting in hundreds of roads being damaged and thousands of hectares of farmland
destroyed.
4. Down on the farm: doom to boom
Farmers across the Prairies were faced with a season of prolonged flooding, which then turned
into one of the greatest farming conditions in years.
5. Goderich tornado . . . a wild week of weather
Last August, an F3 tornado ripped through Goderich, Ont., causing millions of dollars in damage
and killing one person. The tornado was just a precursor of what was to come in the next few
days when three other tornadoes blew through Ontario.
6. Good night, Irene . . . and Katia, Maria and Ophelia
This year 19 tropical storms formed in the Atlantic Ocean, above the average of 11.
7. Summer: hummer or bummer?
In parts of the country this year, such as Quebec and Saskatchewan, temperatures soared with
heat and humidity. Those on the West Coast saw summer with "endless rain and overcast or
foggy skies." Even Toronto didn't see its average number of sticky smog days.
8. Arctic sea ice near record low
It was on the list last year and makes an appearance again this year. Environment Canada says
the sea ice covering the Arctic Ocean plummeted to its second-lowest level on record in
September.
9. Groundhog Day storm: Snowmaggeddon or Snowbigdeal?
In late January, meteorologists predicted a severe winter storm would wallop up to 100 million
people from New Mexico to Newfoundland. When it finally arrived, most parts of the country
only saw 10 cm of snow. The major part of the system struck the U.S.
10. Wicked winds from the West
Records winds, some as strong as 150 km/h, ripped through southern Alberta in November. The
property damage was estimated at $200 million.
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