This is a selection of recent popular blog articles from VancouverIAM where you will find the best blogs from Vancouver, BC as well as video uploads, social networking, rumors, and blog authoring

Liberal Mailing Called “Fear Mongering” by Conservatives

A recent post on Bill Tieleman’s blog calls attention to the Liberal Party’s November mailing to thousands of households in East Vancouver accusing the Conservative federal government on its waffling commitment to the controversial InSite safe drug injection site. The Conservatives called the pamphlet “fear mongering” while the while the New Democratic Party [called] it a “waste.” The mailing from leader Stephane Dion says the Conservative federal government is “dithering” and states that “harm reduction saves lives.”

According to the post, NDP Member of Parliament Libby Davies responded by saying, “I wish they'd done a lot more on harm reduction when they were in government but they don't talk about that.”  Conservative Party spokesperson Ryan Sparrow said the strategy was simply “confusing” and that the Conservatives have “long been the party that delivers initiatives rather than fear mongering.” The Liberal Party disagrees with the Conservative and NDP dismissal. Liberal Party Communications Director Elizabeth Whiting maintains that “InSite is a ‘major issue’ worthy of mailing on.” InSite’s recent extension keeps it in operation until June 2008.

Luongo’s Streak Ends

“All good things must come to an end” concludes our blogger at Canuck’s Hockey Blog, referring to Roberto Luongo’s shutout streak “and the Canucks previously-unbeaten in regulation time record against the Northwest Division (9-1-2).” He called the Canuck’s playing “flat” last night against the Wild, taking too many penalties. The Canucks “were shorthanded seven times, including four times in the first period that set the tone for the game.”

In the post, our blogger expresses his hope that Vancouver find a player with some good offense. “While I've always appreciated the work of Brendan Morrison's line… imagine what it would be like if Mo had someone with some finish to pass the puck to.” On the plus side, he praises Markus Naslund’s recent work. “On the offensive end, Nazzy had three shots on goal - the classic Naslund kind, not the wimpy 2006-2007 ones - and defensively, backchecked and probably broke up just as many Minnesota plays.” This has been a month-long streak for Naslund, he observes. Wednesday night the Canucks take on the Chicago Blackhawks.

Local Murder Case Gains Federal Interest

A recent post on Chinese in Vancouver gives us an update in the Amanda Zhao murder case. According to the post, “PM Stephen Harper's right hand man, secretary of state for multiculturalism Jason Kenney, was moved by Amanda Zhao's story and promised he would discuss the issue with the minister of justice.” Kenney had been only “vaguely aware” of the case, but grew interested after hearing a report on the story about how Amanda’s mother wanted to come to Canada for justice.

In the post, our bloggers explains that “Kenney was especially sympathetic when he heard that the health of Yang [Amanda’s mother] and her husband is failing” and that they are concerned they will never see justice while “they're still alive.” Kenney is not responsible for the case, but is known to be “influential in the government’s decision making.” He will relay a “message to the minister of justice Rob Nicholson.”

“Hollywood North” Shows Affects of Strike

A recent post by Jeffrey Simpson at Metroblogging Vancouver ponders how the current WGA strike in Hollywood has affected the local film industry. “Already hard hit by the rising Canadian dollar, which makes filming in Vancouver less appealing than it used to be, now productions are shutting down as they run out of scripts to film.” Shows that have already closed down include Bionic Woman and Battlestar Galactica. Smallville will shutdown at the end of January.

According to the post, thousands of Vancouverites work on these shows or some production capacity around the shows, “so there's a lot of people who are going to be out of work for the next few months.” If the expected actors’ strike follows, it could be even longer. And if this situation goes on too long, jokes our blogger, we’ll all “spend the next year watching America's Next Top Dancing Celebrity Fourth Grader.”

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