Six In The Morning

1 INAC PLAYS HARDBALL WITH FNUC Indian and Northern Affairs Canada is holding back $2 million in funding until the First Nations University of Canada restructures its board. (Leader-Post).

2 SASK PARTY GOING AFTER UNIONS AGAIN? The province's construction workers and the NDP Opposition are unhappy with Bill 80, which changes the way constuction workers are unionized and opens the door for controversial unions like the Christian Labour Association of Canada (StarPhoenix). L-P political writer Murray Mandryck is on their side. Michael Fougere, Regina City Councillor (ward 4) and president of the Saskatchewan Construction Association likes the legislation and tells a reporter "We endorse the changes because we believe that providing choice for workers on which union represents them is inherently fair."

3 WHY DOES ANYBODY LISTEN TO ANYTHING ALBERTA'S DUMBASS CONSERVATIVES SAY? Alberta's finance minister, Iris Evans, tells a room full of millionaires that one parent should always stay home to raise the kids (Globe And Mail). No word on how this genius advice applies to single parents, lower-income families and anyone else with actual, normal lives who can't find a way to raise their kids in line with Grand Duchess Evan's high standards (Edmonton Sun). In fairness (i.e., to not be a total Tory-bashing snot about this), I have to say her comments about a supplemental national pension plan seem...reasonable?

4 NO SUMMER ELECTION AFTER FEDS SQUANDER SESSION I don't usually link to Globe And Mail editorials but the headline on this one was too funny not to.

5 IRAN Day six of mass demonstrations (Guardian). Hey, remember when there was all that talk coming out of the States about how Iran was part of the Axis of Evil? Good thing Western nations didn't bomb the crap out of all these democracy-loving people like Cheney and co were pushing for, eh? Jesus H. Christ.

6 PILOT DIES, PLANE LIVES Here's your weekly mid-air tragedy report. (AP/Toronto Star)