More than 70million Americans - or one in five of the population - is on mind-altering drugs, a new study reported by WND.com has found. The shocking survey revealed that prescription drug abuse as well as illegal narcotics use has reached epidemic proportions across the country. Nearly 50 million people are thought to have been given high-strength substances by their doctors - leading to an alarming spike in drug-related deaths. The death of movie star of Philip Seymour Hoffman from an apparent heroin overdose again promoted the spectre of illicit substances in the country's psyche. But new research by the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has suggested the far greater hazard is posed by over the counter prescription drugs, such as anti-depressants, sleeping pills and anxiety relief substances. Experts have warned legal substances caused more overdose deaths than heroine and cocaine combined during the past decade, according to the U.S. report. In 2010 more than 250 million prescriptions for antidepressants were written for Americans. Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2555950/70-MILLION-Americans-mind-altering-drugs-shock-statistic-shows-extent-use-illegal-legal-narcotics.html#ixzz2tpK5MF5K Sell the CBC More Canadians now favour privatizing CBC, Canada Post and Via Rail than favour keeping the Crown corporations in public hands. A poll of 1,996 Canadians by Abacus Data found that 45% of those surveyed support or strongly support selling CBC compared to 34% who opposed the move, while 21% were undecided. Support for selling Canada Post was slightly higher with 47% backing a sale and 38% opposed. Via Rail had the highest level of support for privatization with 53% agreeing that the rail service should be sold off. Conservative voters were most likely to support privatization overall but they were not alone. A majority of Liberal and NDP voters backed privatizing Via Rail, 57% and 51% respectively. When it came to the postal service 58% of Conservatives agreed with privatization, 51% of Liberals and just 42% of New Democrats. Via Rail lost $334,754,000 in 2012 before a government subsidy of $279,133,000 kicked in. Canada Post lost $129 million in the third quarter of 2013 and losses are expected to mount as fewer people send mail the old-fashioned way. A previous Abacus poll on privatizing CBC found just 33% backed selling off the state broadcaster. This latest poll shows a 12% jump in support and it too crosses party lines. Fully 63% of self-identified Conservative voters back privatizing CBC. More Liberals backed privatization than opposed it, 45% versus 39% and New Democrats were split with 44% supporting privatization and 45% opposing. http://www.torontosun.com/2014/01/29/canadians-ready-to-sell-cbc- ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_L4rY4B68Q

A high-profile team of former prime ministers and native leaders has convened and given itself the mandate of fixing relations between First Nations and the feds. Assuring reporters this has nothing to do with politics, former prime ministers Joe Clark and Paul Martin, as well as native leaders including Ovide Mercredi and Mary Simon, signed a formal declaration Thursday and said they will extend the offer to other legislatures, community leaders and anyone else who's interested. "This group is not only a positive step forward, if it had happened years ago we'd be farther ahead today," Martin said, explaining the group's first order of business would be to influence public opinion. "The more Canadians understand the issues, the more they'll demand solutions." http://www.torontosun.com/2014/09/04/joe-clark-paul-martin-join-group-hoping-to-improve-relations-with-first-nations-and-feds Quebec - Ontario Ontario and Quebec are calling on the federal government to increase infrastructure funding because of the slower rate of economic recovery and job creation in Eastern Canada. Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne and Quebec's Philippe Couillard said Thursday they are looking for improved and stable funding that allows provinces to determine their own infrastructure investment priorities. "Infrastructure in Canada has to be modernized from one ocean to another but I would say it's particularly important in Eastern Canada because the economic recovery and job creation is weaker in the East than in the West," Couillard told a news conference after their meeting in Quebec City. "We both agree that the Canadian contribution to infrastructure investments should be increased. "In Quebec, we spend about three per cent of our gross domestic product on infrastructure, which is also the case for the Ontario government. Historically it's around five per cent . . . so there's room for additional investment." The premiers covered a variety of topics during their meeting and acknowledged that bringing Quebec into the Canadian Constitution had briefly come up. http://blackburnnews.com/bri-national/2014/08/21/quebec-and-ontario-want-more-infrastructure-cash/ ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SssqPA2hGxc

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The race to lead the B.C. Conservative Party is expected to begin within days, as candidates seek to revitalize the beleaguered political party after a disappointing election performance. There's at least two "for sure" leadership candidates "and a couple of others hemming and hawing about it," said party president Dan Denis. "I'm looking forward to a lot of commotion, which I think is going to be wonderful," he said of the leadership race. John Cummins resigned as leader in July after the party, beset by infighting and defections, finished fourth in the May 14 provincial election with 4.8 per cent of the popular vote. It was a disastrous result for a Conservative movement that, just months earlier, had been seen as likely to pull voters away from the B.C. Liberal Party. Instead, the Liberals swept back to power with an even larger majority, on a campaign focused on jobs, natural resource development and debt repayment. Those looking to pick up the pieces say there is still hope for the B.C. Conservatives. Rick Peterson, a Vancouver venture capital financier and former B.C. Liberal Party organizer and fundraiser, said he is seriously considering running for leader. "I'm looking at it, and we'll have a decision after the Labour Day weekend," he said. http://www.timescolonist.com/news/local/b-c-conservatives-get-ready-for-leadership-race-1.605167 Idaho Concealed carry Idaho is a "shall issue" state for concealed carry. The local county sheriff shall issue a concealed weapons permit to a qualified applicant within ninety days. Applicants may be required to demonstrate familiarity with a firearm, generally by having taken an approved training course or by having received training in the military. A permit is valid for five years; permits issued before July 1, 2006 are valid for four years. Idaho recognizes valid concealed carry permits from any state. A concealed weapon may not be carried at a school or at a school sponsored activity, in a courthouse, in a prison or detention facility, or in certain other governmentally designated locations. It is unlawful to carry a concealed weapon while intoxicated.[1][2][3][4] Open carry is legal in Idaho. A concealed weapons permit is not required for open carry, nor for long guns (concealed or not). The firearm being openly carried must be clearly visible. A firearm can also be transported in a vehicle, as long as it is in plain view, or is disassembled or unloaded.[2] A concealed weapons permit is not required when you are outside of the confines of a city, and not in a motor vehicle while engaged in other lawful outdoor activities [2] Idaho has state preemption of firearms laws, so local units of government cannot regulate the ownership, possession, or transportation of firearms. The state constitution state ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v35F5ps9-K0