GENEVA — An unusual number of severe allergic reactions to swine flu vaccinations have been recorded in Canada, where a batch of the vaccine from GlaxoSmithKline has been recalled, the WHO said on Tuesday.

“An unusual number of severe allergies to the vaccine have been detected in Canada,” World Health Organization spokesman Thomas Abraham told AFP.

“We need to understand what happened in Canada,” he added.

Mr. Abraham said, however, that the WHO had not changed its recommendations regarding swine flu vaccines.

Last week, the WHO said checks on many of the 30 deaths recorded following mass pandemic flu vaccinations had so far ruled out a direct link to the vaccines.

The fatalities made up a minute fraction of at least 65 million doses of swine flu vaccines which have been administered, said the WHO, citing data from 16 countries.

For every 10,000 doses of vaccines administered, only one report of adverse effect had been logged.

Of every 100 reports of adverse effects, five are serious cases such as death, according to the WHO.
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India, Canada aim at free trade, to seal nuclear pact soon

New Delhi, Nov 17 (IANS) Hoping to conclude a civil nuclear agreement soon, India and Canada Tuesday decided to expand their counter-terror cooperation by exchanging information about Tahawuur Hussain Rana, a Canadian citizen of Pakistani origin who along with David Headley, a US citizen, was arrested last month for hatching a terror plot against India.

The two sides also sought to add more economic muscle to their ties by agreeing to set up a panel to explore the possibility of a free trade area between them.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh held talks with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper on a range of bilateral issues, including trade and investment, civil nuclear cooperation, as well as the global financial crisis, terrorism and climate change.

Two pacts were signed after wide-ranging talks. The pact on energy is aimed at accelerating cooperation in the areas of renewable energy and energy efficiency, oil and natural gas, power generation, transmission, distribution and end-use, energy research and development.

The other pact mandated the setting up of a joint study group to explore the possibility of a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement between India and Canada. The joint study group will hold the first meeting in the first half of December, with the aim of concluding the study within six months.

The two sides focused on a wide array of steps, including creating a broad institutional framework, aimed at tripling bilateral trade from around $5 billion to $15 billion in the next five years.

“The two governments welcomed ongoing efforts to strengthen the institutional framework for bilateral relations, including working towards concluding negotiations on the Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement, the Social Security Agreement, and the civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement,” a joint statement said.

But a civil nuclear agreement, which was speculated to be the showpiece of Harper’s visit to India, did not materialise as some finer details remained to be sorted out. The deal may now be signed when Manmohan Singh goes to Canada to attend the G20 summit in June next year where he will also hold bilateral talks with the Canadian leader on the sidelines.

The nuclear agreement promised to transform bilateral relations, that turned frosty when Ottawa cut off atomic trade after New Delhi’s 1974 nuclear test.

Addressing a joint press conference, Manmohan Singh said: “Very soon, we will have a nuclear cooperation agreement.”

“India is a stable and reliable partner. We have no hesitation in concluding a civil nuclear cooperation agreement,” Harper assured. Expanding counter-terror cooperation and the situation in Afghanistan figured prominently in the talks.

Manmohan Singh raised the issue of the financial transactions of Rana with Harper. “We had fruitful discussions in expanding cooperation in dealing with terrorism. The matter is under investigation. It will not be proper for me to say more,” Manmohan Singh said. “We discussed the issue and resolved to cooperate in sharing information about this matter,” Harper replied. “We are in touch with our American friends,” he added.

Headley and Rana were arrested in Chicago last month by the FBI for planning terror attacks against India and Denmark. Emails intercepted by the FBI disclosed that the two men were in regular touch with top commanders of the Lashkar-e-Taiba, a Pakistan-based terror group. New investigations have revealed that Headley and Tahawwur Rana were also part of the conspiracy behind the 26/11 Mumbai terrorist attacks.

Harper strongly condemned the terrorist attacks in Mumbai and expressed the hope that those behind the attacks would be swiftly brought to justice. Harper also assured that Canada stood firmly with India in dealing with global terrorism. The two leaders called for an early conclusion of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism within the UN framework, said the joint statement.
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Les masques sont tombés.

Peu après l’annonce de ma candidature le 24 avril dernier, encouragé à ce moment par plusieurs dont Mario Dumont, j’ai senti un certain malaise au sein de l’ancien establishment du parti. Comme parti autonomiste, j’ai cru et je crois toujours qu’aucune influence d’un parti fédéral ne devait et ne doit limiter la marge de manoeuvre de l’ADQ. J’ai déclaré, lors du Conseil général de mai, que les distances devaient être maintenues avec le parti conservateur du Canada et aussi, avec tous les autres partis oeuvrant sur la scène fédérale. Ma déclaration a fait l’objet d’un reportage de Pierre Duchesne, de la Société Radio-Canada. Celui-ci a clairement fait part de ma prise de position. Lors de ce même reportage le journaliste a aussi identifié le sénateur Housakos comme celui qui jusque-là, à titre de président de la Commission du financement de l’ADQ, faisait le pont entre les conservateurs au fédéral et l’ADQ au Québec.

Cette prise de position publique sur la nécessaire autonomie de l’ADQ, vis-à-vis les partis politiques fédéraux, m’a valu plusieurs réprimandes de membres influents du parti. J’ai donc décidé de rencontrer le sénateur Housakos et de lui faire part de vive voix de ma prise de position. Dans les jours suivants, la rencontre a bel et bien eu lieu dans un restaurant d’Ottawa. J’ai alors clairement dis au Sénateur Housakos, que je n’avais rien contre les conservateurs ou lui-même. Mais aussi, que sous mon éventuel leadership, l’ADQ travaillerait aux seuls intérêts du Québec et ce, sans aucune attache à quelque parti fédéral que ce soit. Je lui ai aussi fait part que comme membre de l’ADQ, il était le bienvenu et pouvait contribuer au financement de ma campagne selon les règles établies par le parti.

Je comprends aujourd’hui, avec les sorties publiques des anciens « propriétaires » du parti, Mario Dumont en tête, que mon élection à la tête de l’ADQ signifiait pour ces gens, la fin d’une alliance intouchable. A partir de ce moment, Gilles Taillon ne pouvait plus demeurer à la tête de l’ADQ et ce, malgré le choix démocratique des militants. Le travail de sape a alors commencé et n’a jamais cessé depuis. Je vous laisse le soin de juger les événements des derniers jours et du rôle qu’ont joué Éric Caire et Gérard Deltell.

Je me suis lancé en campagne avec l’intention d’offrir aux Québécois une alternative aux vieux partis. Ma plate-forme était limpide quant aux axes de développement et mon intention de faire le ménage dans les finances publiques pour éviter aux Québécois de passer à la caisse. Avec le gaspillage et les malversations mises à jour par les médias, plus personne ne peut se fermer les yeux. On m’a rapporté des éléments troublants concernant le financement de notre parti dans les années antérieures. Comme chef de ce parti, j’ai donc décidé de prendre mes responsabilités et de demander aux autorités policières de faire la lumière sur la situation.

Avant le caucus de mardi matin, j’ai compris que seul mon départ mettrait fin à la bisbille ‘orchestrée’. Je me devais de partir. Au moment de l’annonce de mon départ, j’étais persuadé que par respect pour les quelque 2000 militants qui ont voté pour moi, qu’on pourrait attendre que le chef élu au suffrage universel soit remplacé lors d’une élection tenue conformément à nos statuts. Je souhaite ardemment qu’il en soit ainsi. Les militants méritent cette marque de respect.

Gilles Taillon

Chef de l’Action démocratique du Québec