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Good news report from Canada

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12 November 2008

5 November was the 5th day of the fifth month of the 3rd year of Canadian national consciousness rising to invincibility, as indicated by the following press reports:

5 November 2008

CTV News - Harper hopes to strengthen 'special bond' with US (5 November 2008) Prime Minister Harper issued a statement congratulating Barack Obama on his victory and saying he hopes to 'strengthen the special bond that exists between Canada and the United States'. Harper said he looks forward to meeting Obama and developing the relationship with Canada's closest ally and largest trading partner. 'Ministers in our government look forward to building a strong working relationship with their counterparts in a new Obama cabinet,' Harper said. Ottawa has opened up about its plans to seek a joint climate-change plan with president-elect Obama. Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon said Canadian officials hope to begin working with their US counterparts within weeks to design an integrated carbon market. Cannon said this will be a top priority. 'We will be able to tackle this file on the North American level—on a continental level,' Cannon told The Canadian Press. 'Over the coming weeks, I know my colleague Jim Prentice, Minister of the Environment, will be active on that file. I see that in a positive light.' Such a continent-wide plan to deal with climate change by controlling greenhouse gas emissions would provide uniformity. 'There are a lot of similarities between the positions put forward [by the US] and our position,' Cannon said. 'This augurs well for a North American approach on environmental issues—specifically on climate change.'

From a Financial Post report on this: Former ambassador to the US Derek Burney pointed out it may be easier for the Harper government to get close to an American administration led by a man who is so popular with Canadians.

From a CBC News report on this: Most polls show close to 80 per cent of Canadians say they would have voted for Obama if they could. From a Toronto Star report on this: Many argue it's now time to place a new emphasis on the Canada-US relationship, and to move quickly. 'I don't think the opportunity that we see coming now is the kind of opportunity that is there every year,' says Derek Burney, a former ambassador to the US. He said a new administration is going to be 'bristling with enthusiasm, and wanting to get some things done'. Harper spokesperson Kory Teneycke said 'there's lots of reason to feel optimistic about our relationship with the US and so we're moving forward'.

The Canadian Press - Climate change climbing corporate priority list, report says (5 November 2008) Canada's biggest companies are making climate change a higher priority, according to a report from the Carbon Disclosure Project, released by the Conference Board of Canada, that surveyed the 200 biggest Canadian companies on the Toronto Stock Exchange. Companies were asked to disclose how they are dealing with the risks and opportunities associated with carbon emissions and energy use. Fifty-five per cent of the companies provided a response, up from 45 per cent last year (representing 77 per cent of the total market value of the 200 largest companies on the TSX). And companies disclosed more information about the costs and savings from reducing emissions, the report says. The increased willingness by companies to disclose their carbon emissions reflects the changing political, social, and regulatory landscape, said Len Coad of the Conference Board, an independent think-tank. The report found 49 per cent of companies surveyed have plans to manage emissions and some companies are now going ahead with their own plans to lower emissions. Moreover, corporate boards of directors are increasingly assuming the role of stewards of their companies' carbon emissions. 'That provides again a greater assurance that long-term strategies are being put in place, and the matter of reducing carbon emissions is receiving priority attention within the companies,' Coad said.

Canwest News Service - Climate change creates opportunities, Canada's corporations say (4 November 2008) The Carbon Disclosure Project, an annual survey of the largest corporations in the world by a coalition of institutional investors, found an overwhelming majority of Canada's biggest corporations see opportunities as they address the impacts of new caps on their levels of greenhouse gas pollution. 'Companies that take into account and give priority to the environment in their manufacturing processes and product positioning will have opportunities to differentiate themselves from their competitors and enhance reputation,' says the Canadian section of the report. 'Climate change regulations would stimulate investment in technological innovations—specifically those aimed at reducing energy consumption and GHG [greenhouse gas] emissions—and create business opportunities.' Overall, 88 per cent of the Canadian respondents identified opportunities associated with reductions in their greenhouse gas emissions.

The Globe and Mail - A sector that holds more than its own (4 November 2008) Industrial real estate, especially space used for warehousing and logistics, continues as one of the hottest sectors in the commercial real estate market, the experts say. Despite a dip in the economy of Eastern Canada, demand continues strong. In the West, it generally is blazing hot. Jason Barr, managing director for Alberta North and British Columbia at Roynat Capital in Edmonton, says 2007 was a record year for his merchant bank, a unit of Bank of Nova Scotia, when it came to financing industrial and warehouse construction. 'Business has been absolutely booming,' he says. Canada's national average vacancy rate for industrial space is 5.1 per cent, a figure that makes industrial a solidly landlord's market, says Mark Stainer, a senior managing director at Cushman & Wakefield LePage in Toronto. 'The west end of the Greater Toronto Area has been especially strong,' Mr Stainer says. 'There [were] six million square feet [about 557,000 square metres] under way at the end of July and two million square feet have already been snapped up so far this year. Next year, even Milton, about a 40-minute drive west of Toronto, will see 1.6 million square feet built.'

The Canadian Economic Press on Montreal existing home prices continue to rise (5 November 2008) The average price of a single-family home in Montreal was C$273,872 in the third quarter, up 6% from a year ago, the Greater Montreal Real Estate Board (GMREB) reported. Overall home prices rose 5% in the quarter compared to a year ago, following a 4% increase in the second quarter. 'Despite the rise in listings observed over the last two quarters, the high demand is such that the resale market still remains favourable to sellers, for all three property types,' Michel Beauéjour, chief executive officer of the Greater Montreal Real Estate Board, said. Condominium sales remained strong, with sales up 8% compared to the third quarter of 2007.

The Toronto Star - Report calls for more energy 'champions' (5 November 2008) Ontario cities are appointing leaders to work at conserving electricity, but now it's time for corporations, hospitals, and schools to appoint their own energy conservation 'champions', says Peter Love, the province's chief energy conservation officer, in his annual report. Some corporations, hospitals, and schools are already doing conservation work, but he said their efforts would have greater impact if he were able to co-ordinate their work through leaders and help them focus on innovative ideas and programmes. The report notes that Ontario had achieved its first peak-energy reduction target of 5 per cent, or 1,350 megawatts, at the end of 2007. The next goal is a further 1,350 megawatt reduction by the end of 2010. The long-range goal is to reduce peak consumption by 6,350 megawatts by 2025.

CBC News - N.B. government boosts energy efficiency funds (5 November 2008) The New Brunswick government is injecting C$6.3 million into energy efficiency programmes that could help reduce energy bills by an average of 30 per cent. Energy Minister Jack Keir said the programmes are designed to help people defray upfront costs, helping them in the long term. Efficiency NB, the Crown corporation designed to curb energy use, and the Department of Social Development will spend a combined C$9.7 million, an increase of C$2.5 million, to invest in energy efficiency retrofit projects for low-income earners. Efficiency NB is also spending an additional C$1 million to create a C$500 grant to spur homeowners to change to an energy efficient heating system.

The Canadian Press - Small Sask. town up for award as world's most livable community (4 November 2008) A community in southern Saskatchewan is being recognized as one of the most livable places in the world. Ogema has made the shortlist for the 2008 International Awards for Livable Communities. Other countries with communities on the shortlist include Ireland, China, Belgium, Scotland, and Australia. The contest is open to communities with populations under 20,000. Ogema's population jumped to 320 from 280 two years ago. Ogema is Cree for 'big chief.'

These are a few of the news reports reflecting Canada's rising invincibility from the growing Yogic Flying groups across Canada and the Invincible America Assembly at Maharishi University of Management and Maharishi Vedic City, USA.

For further information on creating invincibility for your nation, please visit: www.globalgoodnews.com/invincibility.

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For information about Maharishi's seven-point programme to create a healthy, happy, prosperous society, and a peaceful world, please visit: Global Financial Capital of New York.

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