July 2, 2008

Today's guest host was Margaret Evans.


Satire

It's Wednesday, July 2nd.

After delaying the announcement by one day, the Governor General appointed abortion-rights doctor Henry Morgentaler to the Order of Canada yesterday.

Currently, it would have gotten to him sooner, if it weren't for convicted felon Conrad Black refusing to give up the title of 'Most Controversial Order of Canada Appointee.'

This Is The Current.

Bidding for Oil in Iraq

Baghdad Bureau Chief for The Washington Post

The world's third largest reserves of oil lie buried beneath Iraq. Now, some of the world's largest oil companies will be vying to get their hands on it.

This week, the Iraqi government invited 35 foreign companies to bid for access to the country's crude. The competition could lead to the biggest outside stake in Iraq's oil industry since it was nationalized more than 30 years ago. Companies from the United States, Britain, France, Russia, China and Canada are all hoping to secure long-term contracts. They would provide services, equipment, training and advice.

The Iraqi government hopes the foreign expertise will lead to a boost in oil production by 60 per cent, or 1.5 million barrels a day. It says the extra revenue is needed to rebuild Iraq's war-ravaged infrastructure. Yet there's concern, too, that inviting foreign companies into Iraq threatens the country's sovereignty over its most treasured resource. And critics say this is happening too quickly - since laws governing the oil fields have yet to be passed.

Sudarsan Raghavan is the Baghdad Bureau Chief for The Washington Post and he's been following this story. He joined us from Baghdad.

Iraq Oil Bid - Panel

What role foreign investment should play in developing Iraq's oil resources is a question that splits opinions, and Sabah Jawad and Thomas Basile joined Margaret Evans to discuss it.

Sabah Jawad is an Iraqi and is the spokesperson for Naftana. It's a support committee for the Iraqi Federation of Oil Unions. He joined us from London.

Thomas Basile is a communication's consultant and media commentator. He was senior press advisor for Paul Bremmer's Coalition Provisional Authority that governed Iraq after the 2003 invasion. He joined us from New York.

Listen to Part One:

The Future of Air Travel

If your summer holiday plans include travel by plane you won't need a pilot's license to spot the major turbulence facing the airline industry. Ticket prices keep climbing as companies scramble to pay for suddenly expensive fuel. Air Canada is grounding some flights, and cutting 2-thousand jobs. Industry executives are now saying the days of bargain-priced airlines are numbered.

Meanwhile, passengers jumping on board are finding smaller seats, fewer meal services, endless delays and surprise cancellation. Often there is no compensation and little compassion.

The joys of flying indeed.

Mayor of Conception Bay South, Woodrow French

These days, you can't really blame a Canadian passenger for feeling a little disgruntled. Woodrow French is one of them. He's mayor of Conception Bay South, Newfoundland. He is responsible for a motion that unanimously passed in the House of Commons last month. It calls for the creation of an 'airline passenger Bill of Rights,' something Mr. French believes is long overdue in this country. He joined us from Happy Valley Goose Bay, Newfoundland.

Author Anthony Perl

An airline passenger's bill of rights could take away some of the more frustrating parts of present day flying. But it won't help the challenges facing the airline industry. Some think revolutionary changes are needed if airline companies hope to keep profits from tanking in the future.

Anthony Perl co-wrote a book examining the future of airline travel. He's a professor at Simon Fraser University and he joined us from Vancouver.


Listen to Part Two: