Time for another prediction.

A weekend newspaper article leads me to this latest set of predictions.

Prediction One is that MDA and RADARSAT2 will not be sold to an American firm - at least not yet. And Prediction Two is that the Chuck Cadman bribery allegations will die out soon.

These two prediction have one thing in common. What is that, you may ask? The answer is Art Hanger, the lovable muppet-like MP from Alberta.

Art is the chairman of the justice committee that wants to study the Cadman misunderstanding. The Cons did nothing wrong and the PM of Canada's Greatest Government (TM), often referred to as CGG, is so lilly white that its crap don't stink, so every time the opposition on the justice committee even mentions Cadman under their breath, Art runs from the committee meeting like his hair is on fire, thus thwarting the actions of the committee. This tactic is on page 17 of the PM's booklet on ways to screw up parliamentary committees.

But what does Art have to do with the sale of MDA and RADARSAT2? On Friday, Art let loose with an opinion that CGG is making a mistake to sell MDA. Since we know that Cons in parliament are not allowed to utter a word unless the PMO vets it, then Art must to doing the bidding of the PM.

So if Art leads the charge to cancel or postpone the sale of MDA, then the pressure will come off him with the justice committee.

Smart guy this Art Hanger?

Bye, buy, MDA

The 2008 principles of the Conservative party, Canada's Greatest Government(TM), the party of Sir John Eh?, the party of openness and accountability (even though the PM is the only one who is allowed to be open and accountability amounts to blaming everything on past governments), are up on their web site. (see http://www.conservative.ca/EN/2692/41593). It is a long document and mostly fatuous, but I direct you to one section in particular.

Section V (that's "5" for those who missed the lectures on Roman Numerals) concerns:

NATIONAL DEFENCE AND SECURITY

Subsection 109 concerns Canada First Defence Policy

Item viii) (8) states that "The Conservative Party believes that a viable Canadian Defence Industry contributes to our national security and our industrial productivity, through such sectors as shipbuilding, aerospace, electronics, and land systems among others. Defence procurement will, subject to availability, quality and cost, support Canadian industry that can meet military requirements."

Now let's try to square this statement of principles with the government's resounding endorsement of the sell off of MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates (MDA) to an American firm. MDA has benefited from millions, if not billions, of Canadian taxpayers dollars in the development of such assets as Canadarm, Canadarm2 and RADARSAT-2. These Canadian innovations are state-of-the-art, cream-of-the-crop, and numero uno in the aerospace industry. They were paid for by Canadians and will now belong to Americans.

According to MDA web site for RADARSAT2: "RADARSAT-2 is the product of a unique partnership between the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) and MacDonald Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. (MDA)."

I think that the key word is "partnership" with Canadian Space Agency. What is the nature of that "partnership"? Does the CSA have any ownership rights to RADARSAT-2? If so, what do they get from the sell off? If nothing, why not?

And what of our arm-out-the-window into space. Every (OK, most) Canadian knows about the Canadarm that is an integral part of the Space Shuttle. We see our name and flag enblazened on the arm. Now that Canadarm is American, I guess the flag will be removed and the arm will be referred to as the remote manipulator device. What the heck, the Americans call it that now, anyway.

And what of Canadarm2, a truly amazing device that was just launched to the International Space Station (ISS). Remote Manipulator Device 2, I guess.

And what of Canada's involvement with the ISS? Are we left to supplying experiments to see if rats can copulate in space or the effects of weightlessness on spider webs?

And what of the federally-owned David Florida Laboratory in Ottawa? The Canadarm and RADARSAT were developed there. The Florida Lab has had a tenuous future ever since the CSA was moved to Montreal a bunch of years ago. Are we seeing the end of the Florida Lab? (Can you say AVRO Arrow?)

If I were a Conservative MP or a potential Con election candidate, I would be asking PM Harper for some talking points on this topic. A warning to them, though; don't make up comments of your own. Leave the content of your comments to the open PMO and make sure that you make past governments accountable for whatever happens.