Author: Maurice Tougas

First things first, let me be perfectly clear: I am a devout anti-monarchist. Everything about it is impossibly stupid, and diametrically opposite of everything democracy is supposed to be. Even when I was a kid, on the rare occasions when we had to sing “God Save the Queen” (that actually

Dear America: Hello, neighbour. Canada here. You can tell it’s us by the fact that I added that superfluous ‘u’ in neighbour.  Sorry for the levity. But in such grim times, a little gentle humour (notice another superfluous ‘u’) can’t hurt.  I’m writing today because we here in Canada are

Happy Victoria Day weekend, dear readers. In honour of this great public holiday, I propose that we make it the last Victoria Day ever. Now, don’t panic. I am not proposing that we give up one of our precious long weekends. But in recognition of the inclusive, diverse and equitable

Before the advent of cellphones and their cameras, taking pictures was an entirely different experience. Today, everyone over the age of eight has a professional quality camera (disguised as a cellphone) in their pocket. But there was a time when there would often be just one person with a camera

It’s safe to say that these are not the best of times. For two years, we have been stalked by an invisible, shape-shifting enemy who has sickened and killed millions, bringing everyday life to a standstill. In Europe, a peaceful, fragile democracy has come under attack by a nuclear superpower

When I was just a wee lad, I remember my dad occasionally buying a ticket for something called the Irish Sweepstakes. The ‘Sweeps’, as it was popularly called, was a fundraising effort for Irish hospitals, first established in the 1930s. The top prize was an otherworldly (for the time) $140,000.

While leafing through a Costco flyer recently, I spotted a great deal on t-shirts: four Bench men’s v-necks for $15.99. Such a deal! Can’t have too many shirts, right? Not my closet, but you get the idea. Turns out, maybe you can. When not reading the Costco flyer (which is

If I may borrow from an oft-repeated phrase from TV news, I’m going to begin this column with this: WARNING: some content may be disturbing. OK, here goes … I’m feeling kind of sorry for Jason Kenney.  If you’re shocked by that sentence, you may want to avert your gaze.

So, did you hear about the Oscars this year? Yep, absolutely unbelievable  … Mac Ruth won the Oscar for best sound! About time, right? But Mac Ruth’s golden moment has been entirely upstaged – along with the best picture winner (CODA, which I highly recommend) and the first deaf man

Not too many years ago, a great swath of North America would have been tuned in to the Academy Awards. But not last year. And certainly not this year. The 2021 Academy Awards telecast was the lowest-rated in history, attracting just 10 million U.S. viewers, down 20 percent from the

Despite many half-hearted attempts to diversify the economy, we in Alberta just keep falling back into the brawny, oily arms of Big Oil.  We owe much of our wealth to the great good fortune of being located on a bed of liquid money. Without oil, we’re just Saskatchewan with mountains.

The world’s most popular flag So, all you Freedom Convoy supporters, how do you feel now? Seeing an independent, democratic country under savage attack by a monstrous enemy intent on destroying its independence should make your complaints about the ‘tyranny’ of mask mandates seem kind of pathetic now, right? I

Canada has always survived in the shadow of the Formerly-United States of America. When I was younger, we tried in any way possible to distinguish ourselves from Americans. But it seems that we have pretty much given up the fight. We have been utterly Americanized. If anything, we’ve outdone the

Everybody is afraid of cancer. I am, too. It’s not called ‘the emperor of all maladies’ for nothing. But there is a worse malady that terrifies me. It’s incurable, utterly life-changing, unjust, and with no possible good outcome.  It’s dementia, and I have seen firsthand what it can do. This

As we continue to fight this invisible enemy in Year 2 of World War C, perhaps we should take inspiration from France. No, not France of 2022. France of 1940.  Back in the early days of the Second World War, France was facing an invading force from Germany. It was

The year 2021 is one most of us would just as soon forget. That benighted year couldn’t even let Betty White celebrate her 100th. That was cruel.  Personally, I found some comfort while stuck inside with my old pal, books. I’m a reader, always have been, always will be. I