2007 is rife with stories of Canadian politicos caught and/or brought up on charges of the shady small “c” corruption kind.

Shortly after an Ontario Ombudsman report found that the suspiciously frequent number of winning tickets claimed by lottery retailers and other insiders was a clear case of fraud as opposed to good fortune, other Provinces announce they are initiating similar investigations

They continue to trumpet the strength of the rising Canadian Loonie as being the product of our burgeoning Canadian commodities and economy – with nary a word to the effect that it might be in a large part the result of the tanking US dollar and economy.

In related stories:  In February of this year, a US congressional committee blows the latest whistle on the Bush Administration’s frugal money management skills during their investigation of the biggest transfer of cash in the history of the Federal Reserve.   Approximately 363 tons of shrink-wrapped $100 bills (or, for those of us who consider money to be something more than fodder or freight, $12 billion) were flown into Iraq in 2004 for disbursement to Iraqi ministries and US contractors. An obscure consulting firm called North Star Consultants Inc. was hired to oversee the expenditures. The firm was so small that it reportedly operates out of a private home in San Diego.  Later in the year, and a little closer to home, the bottom falls out of the American sub-prime mortgage market. Losses to date are estimated at $148billion and counting.

In a show of compassion that might be classed as something akin to classless, the Canadian Government charges a 1500% markup on medical marijuana for ailing Canadians.  Meanwhile it argues that any attempt to legalize Marijuana would be a “terrible affront to this nation’s morality.”

Runner Up:  The Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Truth is stranger than fiction in the upper echelons of the RCMP.  No-one is sure who the good guys are anymore.  While the troops were out there trying to get their man, their “man(agement)” was apparently at home robbing their pension funds.

On learning that the man who had vowed to put an end to the free ride (and riots) won the election, those same minority sharia holders torch some rides and riot in the streets.

Runner Up:  The United States Government’s foreign policy.

For all their posturing in relation to the evils of Hugo Chavez and Venezuela, we learn that despite his popularity (a.k.a. the ability to win a fair election), a referendum tells him that “Hugo” only as far as the current Venezuelan constitution allows and no further – i.e. two terms to 2012.  Meanwhile it’s apparently okay for the not so democratic American darlings in Pakistan and Burma to arrest lawyers and “disappear” monks in pursuit of political perpetuity.

While lamenting the funds poor investment returns due to a strong Canadian Dollar, it lets slip the fact that twice as much of our Canada Pension fund is invested in foreign stocks than is invested in Canadian Companies.  The article did not express any concern that fewer Canadian companies could mean fewer jobs for the fewer Canadians who will be called upon to shore up the Baby Boom retirement bash.  Forget about strength, it just sounds a little “loonie” to underwrite the offshore interests that will be competing globally with what few companies are left in Canada to underwrite our own well-being in retirement.  Apparently our children’s well-being is not the only segment of society at the mercy of offshore business practice.  On the other hand, if our suspenders go bust, we can always fall back on cheap (albeit potentially toxic) dog food to get by.

Hard to tell which way the tsunami is flowing though as western big business continues to pour wave upon wave of new investments and job relocation into the country despite a deluge of scandals and recalls (including, but not limited to, tainted pet food, toxic toys and toothpaste) flowing right back at them.

In a related story:  Beijing announces that it will attempt to reduce the pollution levels in preparation for the 2008 summer Olympics by regulating the amount of cars allowed in the city.  Chinese authorities will only allow plates ending in odd numbers to drive on given days while those ending in even numbers will be allowed on alternate days. There are 3,000,000 cars in Beijing with an additional 1000 added every day.

They are forced to admit that their Aquafina bottled water originates from public water supplies (a.k.a. tap water). It sparks similar admissions from other bottled water suppliers.

They believe bogus U.S. ads claiming that they can purchase a special travel junket that includes transportation and the costs of purchasing Canadian Citizenship;  and (Dumber) a Canadian Immigration system that claims it will need 16 months to properly investigate their claims for Refugee Status prior to deporting them.