Last week the press was all a twitter — because Stephen Harper was tweeting. It makes you wonder what kind of critical thinking skills our press barons possess. Michael Harris writes that it’s all about replica news: Perhaps the prime minister’s temerity in tweeting his own image is based on
Continue readingAuthor: Owen Gray
Northern Reflections: Regression
The Conference Board keeps churning out reports which should embarrass the Harper government. The Board’s latest report ranks Canada 7th out of 17 developed countries in terms of quality of life. It’s interesting that, in terms of falling crime rates, we are doing very well — although, if you believe
Continue readingNorthern Reflections: The Reckoning
As the present Masters of the Universe survey what they have wrought, they dismiss the young as lazy and pampered. But, Henry Giroux writes that, across that universe, youth are in revolt: As young people make diverse claims on the promise of a radical democracy in the streets, on campuses,
Continue readingNorthern Reflections: They Want In
When Preston Manning’s neo-conservatives rode into Ottawa twenty years ago, their rallying cry was, “The West Wants In.” They claimed that they had been outsiders for too long. And, with the hypocrisy which has characterized them since their arrival, they then proclaimed that there should be “No More Prime Ministers
Continue readingNorthern Reflections: A Time For Sublime Madness
Chris Hedges believes that we face a dark future. What awaits us is an era of upheaval: The planet we have assaulted will convulse with fury. The senseless greed of limitless capitalist expansion will implode the global economy. The decimation of civil liberties, carried out in the name of fighting
Continue readingNorthern Reflections: A Man Of His Word?
After meeting with First Nations chiefs three weeks ago, Stephen Harper vowed that his office would give native issues “enhanced oversight.” Shawn Atleo got the impression that the government was finally taking notice of the First Nations. But when Stephen Harper met with his caucus yesterday — and listed his
Continue readingNorthern Reflections: Going To War — Secretly
The Harper government doesn’t like to release information — on Afghan prisoners, on the cost of fighter jets, on budget cuts. It has now applied the same strategy to Canada’s involvement in Mali. Tom Walkom reports: But then everything about Canada’s role in Mali is treated by Ottawa as a
Continue readingNorthern Reflections: No Discretion, No Valor
There was a time, when all parties welcomed a new party leader with a standing ovation. There was a time when all parties allowed that leader time to adjust to his or her new position. That time has passed. These days there are no honeymoons. On the day after Kathleen
Continue readingNorthern Reflections: A Market Society
Michael Den Tandt writes in this morning’s National Post that Stephen Harper’s Conservatives: view every file, including those traditionally related to social justice, through an economic prism – the thinking being that the surest remedy to poverty and related social problems is a job. Harper believes that the way to
Continue readingNorthern Reflections: Whither Wynne?
Ontario’s Liberals have a new leader. They cannot call her “Premier Dad.” But, even though she can leave the epithet behind, she will not have an easy time. As Thomas Walkom writes in The Toronto Star: Regardless of who leads it, this is a party — and a government —
Continue readingNorthern Reflections: Toronto Has Been Forded
Christie Blatchford is ecstatic that Rob Ford won his appeal and will remain in the mayor’s chair. She has nothing but contempt for Clayton Ruby, who took on the case against Ford pro bono. She has been inspired by: The sight of lawyer Clay Ruby turning his back on a
Continue readingNorthern Reflections: Leading The Lemmings
It’s disappointing to listen to the federal Liberals these days. With the exception of Joyce Murray and Martin Cauchon, they’re all saying the same thing. Their chorus confirms that they have learned nothing over the last decade. They insist on being Harper-lite. Michael Ignatieff tried that and it didn’t work
Continue readingNorthern Reflections: The Blue Eyed Sheiks
For Stephen Harper, Canada’s future is about oil. Everything he has done in his last two omnibus budget bills has been about transforming Canada into an energy superpower. If you want a glimpse into what that future looks like, read a report titled The Petro Path Not Taken, which Bruce
Continue readingNorthern Reflections: Anything To Win
Under Stephen Harper, the Prime Minister’s Office was given a new prime directive: character assassination. So, the office produced animations of puffins pooping on Stephane Dions’s shoulder; it trumpeted the message that Michael Ignatieff entered politics for personal gain, not public service; it accused Theresa Spence of defrauding the Canadian
Continue readingNorthern Reflections: The Last Honourable Man
Parliamentary Budget Officer Kevin Page will soon be out of a job. His term will end in March — and he will not be reappointed. The job he holds was a Conservative idea. But Stephen Harper and Company will be glad to see him go. The reason is simple. Every
Continue readingNorthern Reflections: Giving Credit
Over the last four years, Paul Krugman has been a harsh critic of the Obama administration — not because it has failed to cut the deficit — but because it has not made job creation its prime objective. However, as Obama starts his second term, Krugman praises Obama for his
Continue readingNorthern Reflections: Arab Dominoes?
When the French were defeated at the Battle of Dien Bien Phu, they asked President Dwight Eisenhower to help them re-establish their hold in Vietnam. Eisenhower — who was a dark realist when it came to sizing up battles — refused their invitation. But his successor, John Kennedy — humiliated
Continue readingNorthern Reflections: Pulverizing Spence
Like, Pavlov’s dogs, the corporate media have bought the government’s line that native Canadians are lazy parasites. Michael Harris writes: Reading the media this week has been like having a picnic on the killing floor of an abattoir. By my count, Chief Spence has been fat-shamed, bitch-slapped, traduced and ridiculed.
Continue readingNorthern Reflections: Near The Bottom
The Conference Board of Canada — not a left leaning think tank — has released a report on Canada’s environmental health. The news is not good: The study ranks Canada 15th out of 17 developed nations on environmental performance, ahead of only The United States and last place Australia. The
Continue readingNorthern Reflections: An Angry Spring
The Idle No More protests across the country yesterday were the opening salvo in what is shaping up to be an angry spring. Rest assured that there will be calls to re-establish law and order. But — before you join the crowd of righteous law-abiding citizens — ask yourself, “Are
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