In the wake of the recent uproar over a doctor in Calgary refusing to prescribe hormonal birth control, and the SCotUS decision in Burwell v Hobby Lobby, it seems that there is more than a little bit of a misunderstanding about the distinction between a religious belief and ethical conduct.
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The Cracked Crystal Ball II: How Harper Wastes Your Tax Dollars
Harper likes to style his government as a “firm, steady hand on the tiller”, especially on matters of the economy. But the man is so blinded by his hatred for our country’s laws and the foundational principles of the Canadian Constitution and The Charter of Rights And Freedoms that he
Continue readingThe Cracked Crystal Ball II: The Real Error The Hobby Lobby Decision Exposes
I’ve been spending a bit of time going through the Burwell v Hobby Lobby decision lately. I’m no expert on US Constitutional law, but it seems to me that the fundamental principle underlying the ruling is the somewhat dubious notion in US law that extends the rights guaranteed to citizens
Continue readingThe Cracked Crystal Ball II: Bishop Henry … It’s Been A While
For those who don’t live in Calgary in the fair province of Alberta, you may not have heard the uproar over a doctor refusing to prescribe birth control pills to patients. Unsurprisingly, a lot of people are upset by this. Equally unsurprising is Bishop Fred Henry’s contribution to the
Continue readingThe Cracked Crystal Ball II: Emotionally Loaded
Okay, Paul Bernardo is a sociopath. This should not come as a big surprise to anyone who followed the investigation and trial that eventually put him in prison. That he has managed to convince a woman that he is a “good man” comes as little or no surprise. Sociopaths are
Continue readingThe Cracked Crystal Ball II: Dear SCotUS: You Blew It
When you ruled that Hobby Lobby could implement its ownership’s personal religious beliefs as policy imposed upon the company’s employees, you really opened up the door to a world of abuse. Hobby Lobby is a privately held corporation. As are the majority of companies in both Canada and the United States.
Continue readingThe Cracked Crystal Ball II: Harper’s War On The Middle Class
Continues apace. A shortage of skilled workers is the biggest challenge many Canadian businesses face today, Employment Minister Jason Kenney told a skills summit Wednesday, warning it could also jeopardize Canada’s economic development in the future. The problem would continue to grow as the population ages, Kenney told the one-day
Continue readingThe Cracked Crystal Ball II: Oh The Dumbf …
Over at “Crosswalk.com” (no, it’s not a site about crossing roads), we find a Dr. White going off on gender identity in the wake of Time’s June 9 article “America’s Transition” (hiding behind a paywall, a copy has appeared on Scribd here). It’s a somewhat appalling excuse for writing, especially considering
Continue readingThe Cracked Crystal Ball II: Too Little, Too Late
So, Jason Kenney has applied some bandages to the hemorrhaging Temporary Foreign Workers program. The changes prevent employers in places with high unemployment rates from applying for temporary foreign workers in the lowest wage and skill groups in the accommodation, food service and retail sectors. A cap is also
Continue readingThe Cracked Crystal Ball II: Cue The Persecution Complex 3…2…1…
… here we go. Concerned Christians Canada was one of Craig Chandler’s creations … until he sold it to its current owner when the political heat got a little to much. To nobody’s surprise, according to CCC’s Jim Blake, Ric McIver has been done a grave injustice by the National
Continue readingThe Cracked Crystal Ball II: Sincerity Is Hard In Politics
Apparently, PC Leadership Candidate Ric McIver hasn’t learned that lesson. After getting caught in a firestorm over ribbon cutting the “March For Jesus” event the same weekend that others were at the Edmonton Mayor’s Pride Brunch, he issues the following rather flaccid retraction: He says he blames himself for not
Continue readingThe Cracked Crystal Ball II: Time To Dissolve The Harper Government
Last week, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that a warrant is required to gather evidence from a suspect’s online activities. Police need a search warrant to get information from Internet service providers about their subscribers’ identities when they are under investigation, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled Friday.
Continue readingThe Cracked Crystal Ball II: That Was Predictable
Way back in 2003 when the United States invaded Iraq (long before the Afghanistan mess had been anything close to resolved), I remember having a conversation in which I said that within 5 years of the US withdrawal from Iraq, that the country would founder in civil war. (I believe
Continue readingThe Cracked Crystal Ball II: Really, Dr. McHugh?
For reasons somewhat beyond my comprehension, the Wall Street Journal has decided to give Dr. Paul McHugh another podium from which to spew his nonsense. "Transgender Surgery Isn't The Solution" is yet another attempt by McHugh to justify his hostility towards providing transsexuals access to gender reassignment surgery. I've
Continue readingThe Cracked Crystal Ball II: An All Out Assault
The last couple of weeks of legislative activity in Ottawa have been distressing to say the least. To call it an all out assault on Canada and Canadians is an understatement. The Harper Government has been ramming through a series of legislation that comprise the single most overt attack on
Continue readingThe Cracked Crystal Ball II: It’s Not Just About Trust
One of my news feeds dropped the following article this morning: “Gender Transition isn’t a Whim, so Why the Mistrust?”. After reading through it, the article is more or less the standard “I know I need this surgery, so why can’t I get it on demand?” argument. To a certain
Continue readingThe Cracked Crystal Ball II: Bill C-36 Analysis In Detail Part 3: Advertising
The government is playing some very subtle games with the language in C-36. In some respects, the language is ridiculously broad (e.g. the undefined nature of “sexual services”), in other areas they are getting remarkably specific. Advertising sexual services286.4 Everyone who knowingly advertises an offer to provide sexual services for consideration
Continue readingThe Cracked Crystal Ball II: Bill C-36 Analysis In Detail Part 2
Bill C-36 casts a much wider net than I had first thought. Traditionally, when a term is being used to define an offence, a definition of that term is inserted in S2 of the Criminal Code which gives a clear, understandable definition. Throughout the text of Bill C-36, the
Continue readingThe Cracked Crystal Ball II: Dear Canadian National Firearms Association
How Dare You? It is clear that Canada’s excessive firearms control system has failed again. The excessive rules in place do not in any way increase pu blic safety, but merely contribute to an expensive and unnecessary regime which harms only those of lawful intent. Resources wasted on this fundamentally
Continue readingThe Cracked Crystal Ball II: How The National Review’s Williamson Gets It Wrong On Laverne Cox
Kevin D. Williamson is suddenly an expert on the topic of transgender and transsexual people it seems. Or at least, he has appointed himself as an expert. Titled “Laverne Cox is not a Woman”, Williamson’s column is a pretty basic attack on transsexual people and the issue of being cross-gender
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