THE TROUBLE WITH TILMA
Gordon Campbell is probably scratching his head. The Trade, Investment and Labour Mobility Agreement (TILMA) he signed with Ralph Klein in April 2006 was supposed to be a hit. It didn’t matter that neither premier consulted with their electorates or even their respective legislatures before inking the deal, which drastically changes the economic landscape in British Columbia and Alberta by significantly reducing the scope of democratic governance and significantly increasing the power of corporations.

Working together to promote local food
FOOD AND FARMING in Nova Scotia have been making headlines lately. The provincial government is promoting local food with the Select Nova Scotia campaign. In Kings County, council voted to reject a condominium proposal in favour of conserving farmland.

Rebooting Canada's Approach to E-waste
A bright idea to shrink the digital divide, and Third World landfills.
David Repa and Ifny Lachance, along with the rest of the folks at Free Geek Vancouver, want to give you a free computer. All it will cost to participate in their "adoption program" is 24 volunteer hours. During that time you will help to refurbish six computers, five of which they'll give away to low-income people.

Report could determine fate of Maritime beef plant
The future of beef farming in the Maritimes may hinge on a consultant's report now being prepared for the governments of the three Maritime provinces. 'We want to be confident that the plant has a sustainable and profitable future.'— N.S. Agriculture Minister Brooke Taylor. There is only one major beef processing plant in the Maritimes, in Albany, P.E.I., near the Confederation Bridge.

African, Asian Leaders Seek New Solutions to Old Problem of Poverty, Unemployment
African, Asian and Caribbean leaders pledged Tuesday to provide millions of people with wider access to education, land and loans in some of the world's poorest nations.

Community Economic Development: Moving out of the margins
hen compared with other countries, Canada regularly fares very well.

IDRC and SSHRC to support joint work by Canadian and developing country researchers
Social science and humanities expertise to be harnessed for international impact
Canada’s International Development Research Centre and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council signed an agreement today to invest up to $6.27 million over the next six years to support international research alliances.

Radical Finns Persevere off B.C. Coast
Few British Columbians know about Malcolm Island. It sits off northern Vancouver Island, a 20-minute ferry ride from Port McNeill. The population of the island is currently between 750 and 800, and has rarely been over 1000. It has always attracted minorities: left-wing Finns, American draft dodgers, even Vietnamese salal harvesters. The island has few resources. Logging and fishing bring in far less money than they used to. Young families can't find work.

Mandela unveils 'council of elders'
Nelson Mandela has marked his 89th birthday by forming a "council of elders" dedicated to finding new ways to resolve some of the world's longest-running crises. The former South African president launched his fellow elder statesmen on a new venture to foster peace, reduce conflict and despair during a birthday celebration on Wednesday. Among them are Kofi Annan, the former UN secretary-general, Jimmy Carter, the former US president and Desmond Tutu, the retired South African archbishop.

Kayaks in Kugaaruk
Efforts are being made to bring tourists to Kugaaruk, according to Loy Lacson, community economic development officer. The community's economic development office is preparing to hold a kayak building, traditional sewing, and carving workshop this August, she said. Elders will teach community members how to build a kayak out of seal skin and sew it traditionally using a thread made from caribou, said Lacson.