Category Archives: Freedom

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire -06/11/12)- Monday, June 11 is Tax Freedom Day, the day Canadians have finally earned enough money to pay all the taxes they owe to all levels of government for the year, according to the Fraser Institute's annual calculations.

Tax Freedom Day arrives one day later than in 2011, when it fell on June 10.

"This underscores a worrying trend across the country of governments increasing taxes," said Charles Lammam, Fraser Institute associate director of tax and budget policy and co-author of Canadians Celebrate Tax Freedom Day on June 11, 2012.

Despite tax increases, the report notes that Tax Freedom Day would have come 12 days later this year if, instead of running deficits, governments covered their current spending with even greater tax increases.

"We need to remember that the budget deficits incurred by Ottawa and the provinces must one day be paid for by taxes and could mean a later Tax Freedom Day in the future."

Tax Freedom Day is an easy-to-understand measure of the total tax burden imposed on Canadian families by federal, provincial, and local governments. If Canadians were required to pay all taxes up front, they would have to give governments each and every dollar they earned prior to Tax Freedom Day.

To celebrate Tax Freedom Day and bring attention to the array of taxes Canadians pay, the Fraser Institute produced a satirical R&B song and music video (watch it on YouTube or at http://www.fraserinstitute.org). Canadians can also calculate their personal Tax Freedom Day using the Fraser Institute's Personal Tax Freedom Day Calculator.

A later Tax Freedom Day

The federal government and several provinces increased taxes in 2012, which contributed to the later Tax Freedom Day. For example, the federal government increased Employment Insurance (EI) premiums; Quebec increased its provincial sales tax, health tax, and gas and mining taxes; British Columbia raised its health tax; New Brunswick increased its financial corporation capital tax and property transfer tax; Manitoba raised tobacco taxes, gas taxes, and its financial corporate capital tax, in addition to expanding the list of items covered by its provincial sales tax; and Ontario introduced a new tax bracket for high-income earners and canceled a scheduled decrease in the general corporate tax rate.

Tax Freedom Day also arrives later in 2012 because Canada's economy is improving. When the economy recovers from a recession and incomes increase, a family's tax burden also tends to increase because of Canada's progressive tax system, which imposes higher taxes as Canadians earn more money. Household consumption also rises, which results in an increase in the amount of sales and other consumption taxes families pay.

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The Fraser Institute: Tax Freedom Day is June 11, One Day Later Than Last Year as Canadians Work Longer to Pay Taxes

MONTREAL, QUEBEC--(Marketwire - June 11, 2012) - Tax Freedom Day falls on Sunday, June 17 in Quebec, four days later than in 2011, according to the Fraser Institute's annual Tax Freedom Day calculations.

"The provincial government's decision to hike the QST to 9.5 per cent from 8.5 per cent is one of the main reasons for the later arrival of Tax Freedom Day this year," said Filip Palda, Fraser Institute senior fellow and professor at the Ecole nationale d'administration publique.

"As a result of the tax hike, the average Quebec family will pay $491 more in sales taxes in 2012. Had the government not raised the QST, Tax Freedom Day would have fallen two days earlier, on June 15 rather than June 17."

Quebec celebrates the second latest Tax Freedom Day among all Canadian provinces, ahead of only Newfoundland and Labrador. The complete report is available at http://www.fraserinstitute.org.

On Tax Freedom Day, the average Quebec family has earned enough money to pay the taxes imposed on it by all levels of government over the course of the year. If Quebecers were required to pay all of their taxes up front, they would have to pay governments each and every dollar they earned prior to Tax Freedom Day.

"Quebec families face among the greatest tax burdens nationwide. For perspective, families in Ontario celebrate Tax Freedom Day on June 10, a full week earlier than those in Quebec," Palda said.

When calculations of tax rates are averaged across Canada, Tax Freedom Day falls nationally on June 11.

Tax Freedom Day varies from province to province, depending on the taxation levels of provincial and local governments. Alberta continues to enjoy the earliest Tax Freedom Day on May 22, followed by Prince Edward Island on June 2 and New Brunswick on June 6. Manitoba's Tax Freedom Day falls on June 7 followed by British Columbia (June 8), Ontario (June 10), Saskatchewan and Nova Scotia (June 12), and Quebec on June 17. Newfoundland and Labrador has the latest Tax Freedom Day, June 21.

While all but three Canadian provinces (Newfoundland and Labrador, BC, and Alberta) experience a later Tax Freedom Day in 2012 than in 2011, Quebec experiences the largest delay in its 2012 Tax Freedom Day, coming four days later than in 2011.

Reasons for a later Tax Freedom Day

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The Fraser Institute: Quebecers Celebrate Tax Freedom Day on June 17, Four Days Later Than 2011

IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Freedom Communications Holdings, Inc. announced today that it has agreed to be acquired by 2100 Trust, LLC in a merger with a subsidiary of 2100 Trust.

At the time the transaction closes, Freedoms businesses will consist of its flagship Orange County Register, the Barstow, CA Desert Dispatch, The Gazette in Colorado Springs, CO, the Marysville, CA Appeal-Democrat, The Porterville Record in Porterville, CA, the Victorville, CA Daily Press and The Sun in Yuma, AZ and their associated non-daily publications along with specialty publications and digital properties. The Company had previously announced sales of its other newspaper assets and broadcast properties, which sales have closed or are expected to close within the next few weeks.

It is expected that the transaction, the value of which was not disclosed, will be completed in about 30 days. All current Freedom employees at the operating locations will transition to the new ownership, said Mitchell Stern, Freedoms Chief Executive officer.

While providing the value that our shareholders have sought, this transaction also ensures Freedoms communities that our newspapers serve will continue to receive the outstanding service that has been our hallmark, Stern said. Our employees will be able to continue the community journalism at which they so excel.

The new owners have a long-standing interest in community journalism and understand the critical role that newspapers, despite all the changes of recent years, continue to play in providing the information that people need and cant find anywhere else, said Mark McEachen, Freedoms Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer.

R. C. Hoiles founded Freedom after acquiring what was then the Santa Ana Register in 1935. The company eventually grew to be one of the largest media companies in the country with 100 daily and weekly newspapers, numerous news websites and specialty publications and eight broadcast stations.

"We couldn't be more pleased with the opportunity to lead the hard-working and talented employees of Freedom Communications in serving these communities. We believe that newspapers are essential to the fabric of our lives and are excited to own and grow these unique institutions," said Aaron Kushner, 2100 Trust's Chief Executive Officer.

About Freedom Communications

Freedom Communications Holdings, Inc., headquartered in Irvine, CA, is a national privately owned information and entertainment company of print publications and interactive businesses. The Companys print portfolio includes approximately 100 publications, including 20 daily newspapers, weekly newspapers, plus ancillary magazines and other specialty publications. The Companys news, information and entertainment websites and mobile applications complement its print properties. For more information, visit http://www.freedom.com.

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Freedom Communications to be Acquired By 2100 Trust, LLC

CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) - Summer has arrived for thousands of local students. While your children may be glad to be out of school, its not always the best for their mind.

Summer learning loss is often the biggest reason behind the achievement gap between low and high income children.

However, Charlotte is lucky enough to have a literacy program that aims to shrink that gap.

"They're going to get off the bus really tired, but really excited about the difference they can make in young peoples' lives", said Mary Nell McPherson with Freedom School.

200 College students returned to Charlotte Sunday after spending a week in Tennessee, learning how to motivate younger students this summer at Freedom School.

McPherson says "Freedom School makes such a difference because children re-enter the classroom in the fall excited about reading, better readers, and having not spent the summer with their brains turned to mashed potatoes while they're hanging out in the neighborhood or on the sofa for the summer."

This year, Freedom School will serve 1600 Charlotte-Mecklenburg students at 25 sites, helping with reading skills and a lot more.

Kofi Stitt is a college student who volunteersto help withFreedomSchool."They see college age kids that look like them, that sound like them doing something with their lives and making something better for themselves, and they believe that they can do it also."

Collins Cornwell is also a college student in the program."It's very important, especially for the black males, because a lot of young black males don't have positive black male role models, and Freedom School has so many intelligent, educated black males who want to give back to the kids."

Freedom School beginsMonday, June 18that all 25 Charlotte-Mecklenburg sites.

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Freedom School volunteers prepare for summer program

The Freedom Hall Civic Center auditorium was a full house Saturday as thousands of Jehovahs Witnesses from Western North Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, parts of Kentucky and West Virginia piled inside for their annual convention.

This years convention started Friday afternoon, kicking off the events theme of Safeguard Your Heart!

Zack Self, program overseer for the convention, said the talks focused on the figurative heart.

It has a lot more to do with your emotions, the actions, the things that make you do what you do, Self said. The idea is that you identify the influences, the risks, the threats, the opportunities and then see if you cant help to be more successful in your spiritual life, as well as your other life.

The audience was attentive as speakers took the podium to discuss topics of the heart and then assimilating those topics to scripture. While participants moved freely throughout the auditorium, many sat and listened with their Bibles and notepads in their laps.

Some of the topics discussed Saturday ranged from showing generosity, forgiving one another freely and listening to those who love you from the heart.

Jehovahs Witnesses make trips annually to big conventions like this one and they view it to be a peaceful place to gather with people who share their faith.

We see each other maybe once a year at these conventions and its like a big reunion, he said. If you appreciate spiritual things, this is a gift. Its peaceful, its relaxing, its comforting, its reassuring because you have other folks who care like you do. Families feel comfortable, children feel comfortable together, so its a spiritual haven.

Self said by Saturday the convention had brought in around 3,500 people and they anticipate to have had around 3,800 when it closes this afternoon.

Late Saturday morning, people made their way to the Freedom Hall pool to observe the baptism and ordination of seven members. Jehovahs Witnesses believe baptism not only confirms spiritual beliefs, but also ordains believers as ministers who will help spread the word of Jehovah and his son, Jesus Christ.

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Witnesses at Freedom Hall for convention

Ian Hemphill gets a congratulatory hug from school board member Buddy Armour on Friday night at Freedom High Schools graduations.

MORGANTON Donning white caps and gowns, a sea of young adults marched into Patriot Nation as seniors and out as graduates on Friday night as Freedom High School handed out 236 diplomas.

It was an evening filled with emotions, from proud parents cheering and snapping photos, to happy graduates taking center stage, to snickers as Principal Ken Prichard read Dr. Seuss Oh The Places Youll Go, to tears remembering two classmates who died too soon.

It also was a night of encouragement from members of student government, the salutatorian and valedictorian and Prichard.

In his speech, Marcus Kincaid, SGA president, talked about what makes Freedom unique and encouraged fellow graduates to take life by storm.

Patriots do it differently, and we do it better, he said. We never wasted any time trying to become something we arent.

Salutatorian Stephanie Norman, who finished her high school career with a 4.71 GPA, charged her classmates to make the world a better place.

Our lives are full of endless possibilities, she said, encouraging fellow graduates not to look back in 20 years and have regrets and not be afraid of failure.

Valedictorian Melissa Pressley, who finished with a 5.0 GPA, urged classmates to find that unique dream and pursue it whole heartedly no matter what others may say.

After recognizing Anah Phillips for perfect school attendance from kindergarten through 12th grade, Prichard asked senior Ben Lee to accept Alex Burlesons diploma on behalf of Burlesons parents. Burleson was killed in an off-road truck incident during spring break.

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Freedom grads ready for their futures

Attorney General Eric Holder's announcement that two U.S. attorneys have been assigned to lead a criminal investigation into possible, unauthorized leaks of classified information is being met with skepticism by GOP lawmakers questioning whether the attorneys will be able to act independently of the Obama administration.

"I have no doubt that these U.S. attorneys are excellent prosecutors," GOP Sen. Saxby Chambliss, vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said. "However, they would still be operating under the Obama administration's Department of Justice. The better solution is to appoint an outside counsel to impartially investigate what will likely lead to a White House inquiry."

Holder said late Friday he had assigned the investigation to Ronald C. Machen Jr., a U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, and Rod J. Rosenstein, a U.S. attorney for Maryland.

"These two highly-respected and experienced prosecutors will be directing separate investigations currently being conducted by the FBI," Holder said. "I have every confidence in their abilities to doggedly follow the facts and the evidence in the pursuit of justice wherever it leads."

The announcement follows a bipartisan call from Capitol Hill for an investigation and a special prosecutor to look into suspect national security leaks -- which congressional lawmakers say is needed because the disclosures have put Americans world-wide at risk and perhaps came from the administration.

Holder said Machen and Rosenstein are "fully authorized" to prosecute criminal violations and talk with U.S. intelligence officials and that their investigations can reach into Congress and the administration.

Still, congressional Republicans expressed uncertainty.

"The Attorney General is so politicized in his office," Texas GOP Rep. Lamar Smith, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, told Fox News on Saturday. "I just hope these U.S. attorneys will be totally independent and go where the trail leads them."

The CIA and the Justice Department's national security division said before Holder's announcement that they will not participate in investigations.

President Obama said Friday that the leaks did not come from the White House.

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GOP Questions Attorneys' Freedom in Leaks Probe

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One of the many controversial cartoons drawn by Aseem Trivedi. Photo: Aseem Trivedi

"65 years since your independence," a new battle for freedom is under way in India according to a YouTube video uploaded by an Indian member of Anonymous, the global "hacktivist" movement.

With popular websites like Vimeo.com blocked across India by court order, the video calls for action: "Fight for your rights. Fight for India." Over the past several weeks, the group has launched distributed denial-of-service attacks against websites belonging to internet service providers, government departments, India's Supreme Court, and two political parties.

Street protests are being planned for today in as many as 18 cities to protest laws and other government actions that a growing number of Indian internet users believe have violated their right to free expression and privacy online.

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A lively national internet freedom movement has grown rapidly across India since the beginning of this year.

The most colourful highlight so far was a seven-day Gandhian hunger strike, otherwise known as a "freedom fast," held in early May on a New Delhi pavement by political cartoonist Aseem Trivedi and activist-journalist Alok Dixit. Trivedi's website was shut down this year in response to a police complaint by a Mumbai-based advocate who alleged that some of Trivedi's works "ridicule the Indian Parliament, the national emblem, and the national flag."

Escalating political and legal battles over internet regulation in India are the latest front in a global struggle for online freedom not only in countries like China and Iran where the internet is heavily censored and monitored by autocratic regimes, but also in democracies where the political motivations for control are much more complicated.

Democratically elected governments all over the world are failing to find the right balance between demands from constituents to fight crime, control hate speech, keep children safe, and protect intellectual property, and their duty to ensure and respect all citizens' rights to free expression and privacy. Popular online movements many of them globally interconnected are arising in response to these failures.

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India's struggle for online freedom

FREEDOM MEANS different things to different people. To some, it may mean democracy and free and honest elections. To others, it may mean respect for human rights and the rule of law. And to some others, freedom from hunger and want.

On Tuesday, june 12, we mark the 114th anniversary of the Declaration of Philippine Independence. And still the question haunts us all: what, dear readers, does FREEDOM mean to you?

We ask you now to answer the question Ano ang Kalayaan para sa iyo? with a single photograph you believe captures best the essence of freedom. Even better, you might please send it to us so we can share it online.

Is Freedom the flying of flags and the rituals held every year on June 12 at the Rizal Park in Manila and at the Aguinaldo Shrine in Kawit, Cavite? Or is it, more than the ceremonies of state, some things we have and want to find at school, work, and home, in our daily lives?

Grab your camera or phone and freeze-frame the image of Freedom in your mind! Other than the speeches, the pomp, and the routine, capture the day with a photo that speaks a thousand more thoughts about Freedom!

Your photo need not focus on the parades alone. Neither does it have to be shot in the Philippines only, or on June 12 itself. For all we know, you may be in Afghanistan or Angola or Arroceros in Manila, and thats all right. All we ask is that you take the photo yourself, and express yourself in it.

Heres how you can contribute your photos:

Starting June 11, Monday, you may post Freedom photos on your favorite online image hosting services (Twitpic, Instagram, Flickr, Tumblr, etc.) and share them with us, so we can share them with our fellow readers. You may share them through Twitter.com by using the #anoangkalayaan hashtag and well take it from there.

We ask that you place your watermark, if any, on the lower right corner of your image for uniformitys sake. Also please make sure that the watermark does not in any way diminish the beauty and message of your photo. If possible, ensure that your uploads are at least 900 pixels wide so it can be viewed better in larger screens.

We will upload the most compelling photos on the PCIJ institutional blog, http://www.pcij.or/blog, with full credit to their authors. We will begin sharing your photos on Tuesday, June 12, Independence Day.

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Ano ang Kalayaan para sa iyo? Shoot, post a pic for Freedom!

By Katherine Evangelista INQUIRER.net

Senator Gringo Honasan

MANILA, Philippines Despite the Senates failure to pass the Peoples Ownership of Government Information (POGI) bill (formerly called the Freedom of Information bill) before adjourning for sine die on Wednesday, Senator Gregorio Honasan II remained confident that the bill will be taken up when session resumes in July.

During the Kapihan sa Senado media forum, Honasan, who is the chairman of the committee on public information and mass media, said that he is happy with the pace of the passing of the bill which is in the period of interpellation in the Senate while they await the House version.

I hope when session resumes after SONA (State-of-the-Nation Address) in July, or the last Monday of July, [we will be able to deliberate on it]. Im confident that we will do this as expeditiously as possible, he said.

Honasan said that Senator Allan Peter Cayetano will also deliver his co-sponsorship speech for the POGI bill.

The bill has been pending in the Senate for several months after they had to wait for the Malacaang version of the measure, Honasan said.

The Senator explained that the bill was probably not given enough attention and priority by Malacaang.

In fact this has never been certified as urgent so thats what we are asking for: to identify the national priorities so we would know [what to tackle first], Honasan told reporters.

Nevertheless, Honasan said that they have received the Palace version and has consolidated their amendments with the Senates version.

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Freedom of Information bill to be taken up in July — Honasan