Prime Minister Harper and the Panda Bears

[IMHO]

Mr.Harper goes to China. The big news out of this visit is that he has "borrowed" 2 panda bears for 2 Canadian zoos for the next 10 years. China is charging 1 million dollars a year for the "rental" of these cute bears(10 million in total) . It will cost about 200 thousand dollars per year to provide the bamboo necessary for these cute bears to eat.
We are told our economy is not in the best shape. We have many people unemployed and hungry and cold. We have hospitals that could use more doctors and nurses. We have a terrible situation in ATAWAPISKAT.
As cute as these bears may ...it seems to me that priorities are a bit mixed up here.

[Super Gram]

Wont the zoos pay for them? I didn't read the article, but will tomorrow.

[Roll The Bones]

Mr.Harper goes to China. The big news out of this visit is that he has "borrowed" 2 panda bears for 2 Canadian zoos for the next 10 years. China is charging 1 million dollars a year for the "rental" of these cute bears(10 million in total) . It will cost about 200 thousand dollars per year to provide the bamboo necessary for these cute bears to eat.
We are told our economy is not in the best shape. We have many people unemployed and hungry and cold. We have hospitals that could use more doctors and nurses. We have a terrible situation in ATAWAPISKAT.
As cute as these bears may ...it seems to me that priorities are a bit mixed up here.

i agree that the pandas should not have been central to the visit, and they weren't, but it seems that borrowing these has taken the focus off the real purpose of the visit - and that was to secure investment agreements with China.

i don't have much good to say about the PM, especially since as you said earlier that there's so many other important issues to be dealt with at home, but at the very least he's trying to drum up some business for our country with what is arguably the world's fastest emerging economy, and for that i applaud him

[hobo]

When you go to someone's house it's nice to accept a gift offered even if there are some strings attached. I suppose Harper, as a representative of Canada, could have refused the gift - hmm - wonder what kind of a stir that would have caused. PetroChina's investments in Canada will probably outweigh the costs of looking after a few cute bears - maybe Canada could develop a tradition of giving away some black bears which would solve some of our internal disputes.
The small news in Harpers visit to China was the schooling Harper was going to get on the treatment of First Nations people. At least that is what a group of First Nations Chiefs in BC hoped for when they sent several letters to China's president asking him to bring up Canada's Aboriginals human rights concerns

[The Handyman]

When you go to someone's house it's nice to accept a gift offered even if there are some strings attached. I suppose Harper, as a representative of Canada, could have refused the gift - hmm - wonder what kind of a stir that would have caused. PetroChina's investments in Canada will probably outweigh the costs of looking after a few cute bears - maybe Canada could develop a tradition of giving away some black bears which would solve some of our internal disputes.
The small news in Harpers visit to China was the schooling Harper was going to get on the treatment of First Nations people. At least that is what a group of First Nations Chiefs in BC hoped for when they sent several letters to China's president asking him to bring up Canada's Aboriginals human rights concerns

Your brain is a clean as they come, .....

[stupefied]

Reading this you would think the pandas were a last minute surprise and Harper accepted without the zoos even having a say.

[IMHO]

Maybe we could give them some of those pesty black squirrels lol

when you go to someone's house it's nice to accept a gift offered even if there are some strings attached. I suppose harper, as a representative of canada, could have refused the gift - hmm - wonder what kind of a stir that would have caused. Petrochina's investments in canada will probably outweigh the costs of looking after a few cute bears - maybe canada could develop a tradition of giving away some black bears which would solve some of our internal disputes.
The small news in harpers visit to china was the schooling harper was going to get on the treatment of first nations people. At least that is what a group of first nations chiefs in bc hoped for when they sent several letters to china's president asking him to bring up canada's aboriginals human rights concerns

[Huggy85]

Wont the zoos pay for them?

I believe that is the case. Why the fuss?

[IMHO]

Well...if the zoos pick up the tab rather than the taxpayer...that is fine with me.

[Jack Butler]

Joe Torzsok, chair of the Toronto Zoo Board, said the maintenance cost of Ji Li and Er Shun will be offset by additional revenues from an anticipated boost in admission, a special surcharge for the panda exhibit and corporate sponsorships.

“It is going to cost taxpayers nothing,” Torzsok maintained. “It is a tremendous opportunity for us to inspire and educate more people in Greater Toronto. This is another piece of evidence that shows we are world leaders in conservation education and research.”

http://www.thestar.com/news/article/...nt-pandas?bn=1

[gouligann]

Well I just hope they have a huge, as close to natural enclosure to wander around in. I SO dislike wild animals kept in captivity. Seaworld is my number 1 "pet" peeve (pardon the pun) i went there as a teenager way back when, and I'll never go back. They keep polar bears, penguins and other cold climate/water animals in 100 degree heat in Florida, just so people can go gawk at them through the glass. Totally inhumane IMO. The marine mammals being kept in glorified swimming pools, performing for food. How sweet! not! Circuses are another inhumane exploitation of animals.

I understand China has done a tremendous job in bringing back the panda population, but I'm sure it's people (poaching and taking away their land) that caused the declining numbers in the first place.