Leafless

Then why do they call OPEC the Reference Basket (ORB) which is used as an IMPORTANT benchmark for crude oil prices? And they are quite successful doing just that. Influence is the wrong word. Manipulate is the right word and would be closely related to establishing or setting the price for crude. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OPEC_Reference_Basket

Then why are Arab oil producers awash in wealth? http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=25838

Its not over yet. http://www.cwnews.com/news/viewstory.cfm?recnum=58472 Try this in democratic Canada.

In Quebec a municipality must have 50% Anglophone population to qualify for the right to put up a bilingual sign (French language must be twice as large as the English wording). up until a Supreme Court challenge, English was prohibited on all signage. Outside of Quebec, municipalities require only a 5% francophone population to qualify for minority language rights; these rights include schools, churches, hospitals and document translation to be provided in the French language. And guess what, anyone can put up a sign in any language. This of course does should not apply to french minorities who think they can dictate Quebec style language laws, force a language on a sign, like in, Rockland and Russell Ontario. Considering all; these minority rights sounds totally unreasonable to me and why majority English speaking provinces require English language laws for the protection of its majority English speaking residents.

You simply do not understand the totally undemocratic nature of implementing rights into the constitution that speaks for all provinces, without the consent of individual Canadian citizens via a national referendum or a similar process that EXCLUDES unilateral federal and provincial legislative authority. What a totally condescending ridiculous statement, when official bilingualism was the brain child of Trudeau a french Quebec prime minister. Why would Trudeau not initially promote and implement official bilingualism in Quebec where it was initially invented by him? Another condescending senseless statement. And why should the level of federal services be any different in Quebec. But this is not important as Quebec of course does what it pleases and overides Charter rights and freedoms. And WITHOUT anywhere near the same level of participation of English speaking public service employees in Quebec. That one way street is alive and well in Quebec. What do you care when we already know Quebec is the only western government since Nazi Germany to place restrictions on the use of individual language on commercial and private property and written and oral communication between employees and management of private business. And to think similar discriminatory language laws are applicable in our own federal government. And you worry about English language legislation in majority English speaking provinces. LOL!

This is absolutely untrue, unless you happen to be communist. Which they had no business doing. Forcing the residents of Ottawa to pay the huge cost for francophone bilingual fantasies is totally undemocratic and is representative of state social control. City of Ottawa residents have to wonder no more why their taxes are so high and why there is no money for city services like proper road maintenance, infrastructure, snow and garbage removal and a host of other basic services the city should be concentrating its efforts on.

Strange fact though, to date no majority English speaking province has declared itself 'officially English'. And one would have to ask why. In Ontario's case premier Mc.Guinty who is a federal Liberal supporter, supports bilingualism and for this reason would never declare Ontario 'officially English speaking'. But Mc.Guinty is smart enough not to declare Ontario 'officially bilingual, as it would mean an end to his political career. I believe federal interference is working behind the scenes preventing other provinces from declaring themselves 'officially English' as this would destroy the federal governments undemocratic drive to make the country bilingual. Canada is not officially bilingual, so get over it. So much for the federal government protecting the Charter rights of Canadians which shows how dysfunctional the federal government is with Quebec in confederation and how discriminatory they are, promoting bilingualism in English Canada and totally ignoring Quebec from establishing official bilingual policies.

The only thing I would like you to explain is this how you get off, by belittling? GFY Dancer.

Arab oil producing countries set prices but are further manipulated by the SO-CALLED free market: Well, there is large scale nuclear energy but this could place the country at risk by potential terrorist activities as well as accidental mishaps. I say in lieu of everything we should switch back to coal for heating incorporating air scrubbers to somewhat lessen pollution and nationalize our oil industry, using refined gas and diesel fuel for transportation purposes. Realistically there is no cheaper alternative energy technology available. We currently need ANY alternative energy plan, NOW.

Poor unintelligent Dancer capable of producing only lowly personal attacks.

Don't preach here, go to Quebec city and convince them. GOOD LUCK!!!!! LOL No, it was Ottawa city council and Liberal supportive Ottawa ex-mayor BOB CHIRALLI that UNDEMOCRATICALLY IMPOSED ON THE RESIDENTS OF OTTAWA WITH THE BLESSING OF BILINGUALLY RAISED ONTARIO PREMIER DALTON MC.GUINTY THIS DISCRIMINATORY BILINGUALISM POLICY, WITHOUT THE INPUT OF THE ENGLISH SPEAKING MAJORITY TAX PAYING RESIDENTS OF OTTAWA. Francophones are already OVERLY represented by the federal component of Ottawa as capital of Canada. The rest of Ottawa is like any other municipality in Canada that should not have to support francophone bilingual fantasies but have been undemocratically manipulated into doing just that. Gatineau is not home to federal departments as parliament is in the Capital of Canada, Ottawa. Ottawa the Capital of Canada, has no federal capital district. The only reason Quebec houses any federal departments is because of an obsolete Pierre Trudeau invention to diversify Ottawa's power and give Quebec 25% of federal representation as well as a much lesser amount to other provinces in Canada depending on population. This is another horrible, undemocratic Liberal maneuver to steal power from Ottawa the Capital of Canada, the federal governments rightful place as dictated by Queen Victoria, whose birthday incidentally will be celebrated this month on May 24, Victoria Day.

What I denounce as racially discriminatory is Quebec's provincial language legislation that removes rights guaranteed by Canada's current Charter of Rights and Freedoms. To declare a province 'officially English' is not discriminatory and it is any provinces perfectly legal right to do so. In the case of Quebec doing this though is actually comical in the sense a minority language that incorporates a useless obsolete french language as being provincially 'official' displays the arrogance and spitefulness of Quebec, in knowing full well the country is majority residential and commercial de-facto English speaking as well as Canada's coast to coast largest trading partner, the U.S.

Ontario does not have the racist laws you describe that exist in Quebec. An owner of a store in Ontario can post commercial signs in any language of his or her choice. If you feel comfortable boycotting businesses because you feel your minority language should be included, go for it. What else can be said. These are Quebec style laws. BTW- The closeby town of Rockland Ontario has similar discriminating sign laws and not a single English speaking resident has complained. I understand the underlying factor for this is 'FEAR' of violence from the existing francophone community. Quebec linguistic type discrimination and aggressive behavior has spread to Ontario and our Ontario premier Dalton Mc.Guinty stands by and does nothing to alleviate this horrible type of linguistic discrimination in a province that is not 'officially bilingual and is majority de-facto English speaking. But this kind of leadership can be expected from gutless Dalton Mc.Guinty as one need to look further than Caledonia. http://caledoniawakeupcall.wordpress.com/2...awless-ontario/

With a screen name like 'CANADIEN', you seem to know all about what constitutes a CANADIAN in your own mind. Your screen name makes it very clear how bigoted you are. BTW- My initial statement relating to 'true Canadian' was unprejudiced against no one, and merely a response to eliminate divisive Quebec linguistic discrimination that would establish a single loyal Canadian identity. Obviously the federal government of this land has no objections to this type of Quebec language policy, so why not employ it across Canada. You only imagine, you have points when in reality you are demonstrating supreme arrogance and further creating animosity.

Now I know that with yet another personal attack, that you are clueless what this thread is all about and fail to realize how bigoted you really are. What racist in Quebec? They are bigots, like you. Personal attacks are repetitious with you, a sure sign of lack of intelligence to properly debate issues. This is not the first time the word 'hate' has been used by francophone posters in a desperate attempt to censure and silence deserved criticism relating to Quebec linguistic hate policies. Come on summer.

The reality is what I stated including 'Official Languages' a product similar to that of a BANANA REPUBLIC. The same way Quebec protected their imaginary threat to the French language. Declare ALL English majority speaking provinces OFFICIALLY ENGLISH speaking, complete with an English Charter to protect its residents against the infiltration of any type of official bilingualism, like Quebec has done.

My reply was relating to MENA competition and OPEC. Capitalism is alive and well or are you denying that? China is filling a capitalist void whereas previously, investors financial expectations could not be satisfied. But China and other major third world countries, in turn is proving to be a major energy gluten seriously affecting other countries economies, mainly Western, in different ways while becoming extremely successful at what they do. How do you suppose Canadian society will function when oil hits $150-200- barrel in a economically depleted worn out country?

Oh, you must mean CULTURAL incompatibility. Yes, this is VERY volatile and another reason why Canada should work very hard and develop single cultural leanings, that are common to the majority culture which would ensure a single Canadian identity. Man, you sure are heavy on that 'R' word. It seems to dominate your life.

Who needs comedy when we got YOU.

This has nothing to do being a francophobe, this is an opinion or friendly advice. You can float down a river on a raft singing your favourite french songs, I could not care less. Besides you are dissecting part of a response that has nothing to with what you are claiming it to be.

Oh, okay, according to you 'officially unilingual French Quebec' does not discriminate. Quebec's French Charter does not exist and Quebec does not discriminate against minorites. You must be blind as well as dumb.

Then what possible initiative would compel you to use French an obsolete and useless language in a majority English province and a majority English speaking Canada and North America excluding Mexico which has no linguistic influence in Canada?

Then what do you call IMPOSED UNDEMOCRATIC 'Official Multiculturalism', IMPOSED, UNDEMOCRATIC 'Official Bilingualism' relating to the federal government and IMPOSED, UNDEMOCRATIC, 'Charter of LESS Rights and Freedoms' for the majority of Canadians. Rest assured, the feeling is mutual!

Those days are gone forever. OPEC is currently the strong man in the oil game supplying 40-45% of world's oil and holds the most in reserves. Supply and demand controls the so called free market and in turn is controlled mostly by the movements of the New York Mercantile Exchange, the International Petroleum Exchange in London and the International Monetary Exchange. Supply shortages is caused mostly by energy demands by China and in the West buying power is reduced by a weak U.S. dollar. I think relating to Canada we should nationalize Canada's oil industry as Canada's energy requirements in this cold country are high and there seems to be no other alternative but to do just that or face the destruction of Canadian society.

It goes to show you the tricks an old dog can pick up off a young pup like Obama.