If you want to know what the next federal election will look like, take a look at Question Period in the House of Commons. Susan Delacourt writes: The Conservative leader acknowledged his lack of vocal prowess in the Commons this week after attempting to sing a few bars of “New
Continue readingAuthor: Owen Gray
Northern Reflections: It May Make The Difference
Danielle Smith has received Stephen Harper’s imprimatur — backhanded though it may be. Michael Harris writes: First it was Jason Kenney, then Pierre Poilievre, and now Danielle Smith. Former prime minister Stephen Harper has once again elbowed his way back into active politics in Canada, this time with an “endorsement”
Continue readingNorthern Reflections: Not The Man For The Job
Pierre Poilievre has taken on journalism. History suggests that’s not a wise strategy. Robin Sears writes: The first conservative to destroy his party through a hatred of journalists was, of course, Richard Nixon. The next was Donald Trump, who has delivered three defeats since his razor thin single victory, all
Continue readingNorthern Reflections: Carlson’s Exit
A couple of days I wrote that Tucker Carlson planned to air a program in which he advocated the invasion of Canada by the United States. Carlson’s last program was on Friday. So we will not — it appears — be seeing that program. That’s good news. Michelle Goldberg writes:
Continue readingNorthern Reflections: One Of The Reasons
Pierre Poilievre is fluently bilingual and has a French last name. But that doesn’t mean he impresses Quebecers. Chantal Hebert writes: More than six months after his election as Conservative leader, Pierre Poilievre has yet to meet Quebec Premier François Legault one on one. That stands in stark contrast with
Continue readingNorthern Reflections: The Latest On Carbon Change
On April 14th, we got some accounting on climate change. Aaron Wherry reports: The annual account of Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions was released on April 14, just as most of Ottawa was fixated on the uneventful testimony Justin Trudeau’s chief of staff was giving to a parliamentary hearing on foreign
Continue readingNorthern Reflections: American Fascism
Fascism has come to the United States. It wears Donald Trump’s face. Robert Kagan writes: The entire Trump phenomenon has nothing to do with policy or ideology. It has nothing to do with the Republican Party, either, except in its historic role as incubator of this singular threat to our
Continue readingNorthern Reflections: War Mongering
Trucker Carlson is a white weasel who is in the business of peddling hate. Stephen Maher writes: Canadians should expect a restless night on May 1, because that’s when Fox News superstar Tucker Carlson releases his latest project: a special film called “O, Canada.” The program argues that the US
Continue readingNorthern Reflections: Plutocratic Power
Paul Krugman argues that suspicion of plutocratic power is an American tradition: People on the right often insist that expressing any concern about highly concentrated wealth is “un-American.” The truth, however, is that worrying about the dangers great wealth poses for democracy is very much part of the American tradition.
Continue readingNorthern Reflections: Economic And Political Perceptions
Canadians are worried about the economy. Glen Pearson writes that Canadians have reason to be: We’re right to fret, especially after the International Monetary Fund (IMF) released its grim financial forecast a week ago. Its conclusion was that the next five years will be the weakest for the global economy
Continue readingNorthern Reflections: The First Casualty
From the beginning of his tenure, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has gone to war with the media. He took his cue from his predecessor, Andrew Scheer. Max Fawcett writes: Former Conservative Party of Canada leader Andrew Scheer hinted at this in his 2020 resignation speech. “Challenge the mainstream media,” he
Continue readingNorthern Reflections: Trump In The Great White North
When Trump flags showed up as part of the Truckers’ Convoy in Ottawa, it was clear that the American Disease had drifted across our border. Michael Harris writes that Donald Trump has become part of our political conversation: Not that the political arena was ever a monastery. There have always
Continue readingNorthern Reflections: Affordable Housing
Affordable housing is a problem right across the country. In Toronto, one of the candidates for mayor has suggested a solution. Edward Keenan writes: When mayoral candidate Josh Matlow unveiled his “Public Build Toronto” proposal Wednesday — part of a larger affordable housing and rental program he’s been releasing in
Continue readingNorthern Reflections: Just Another Lie
The United States is ruled by a crumbling gerontocracy. Maureen Dowd writes: Carl Hulse and Annie Karni wrote in The New York Times about Washington’s actual gerontocracy and the challenges of governing with “an old and frail group of lawmakers.” The advanced age of many senators — with their ailments
Continue readingNorthern Reflections: Time To Go?
Lawrence Martin thinks that it’s time for Justin Trudeau to plan his exit: It’s getting near crunch time. If Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is to leave an opportunity for a successor to prepare for their fight in an election, he should announce he is departing by the fall and call
Continue readingNorthern Reflections: Megaphones and Intelligence
Elon Musk and Pierre Poilievre have labelled the CBC the enemy. Bruce Arthur writes: In a reasonable world, the CBC makes for an odd enemy. You can argue about how it is run, sure: ask the opinion of just about any employee of the CBC, then sit back and crack
Continue readingNorthern Reflections: Justin Pearson And The Future
In the United States, Justin Pearson has become a national figure. He writes in this morning’s New York Times: Last week, the people of Tennessee and the nation witnessed an assault against democracy when my colleague Justin Jones and I, both young Black Democratic men, were expelled from office for
Continue readingNorthern Reflections: The Same Polluted Source
Once again, the debate over gun violence is roiling in the United States. The latest example has consumed the state legislature in Tennessee. Gary Wills writes: We are the disgrace of nations because we can’t stop killing our children—along, of course, with their teachers, relatives, and innocent bystanders. We don’t
Continue readingNorthern Reflections: Like A Pitbull With Rabies
Donald Trump has been indicted. But, Michael Harris writes, one indictment isn’t enough to stop him: Simply because Donald Trump never submits to any authority or set of rules that get in the way of his impulsive ego-liberation and terminal narcissism. Instead, he attacks his accusers and opponents like a
Continue readingNorthern Reflections: The Better Analog
On this Good Friday, some are comparing Donald Trump to Jesus Christ. Pontius Pilate — a man who believed that cruelty was the point — is a better analog. I’ll be back on Monday. Image: The Sacred In The Secular
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