Doug Ford is in the cat bird’s seat. Linda McQuaig writes: With our health-care system reeling, Ford is charging ahead with plans for further privatization — Ontario health care is already 40 per cent private — and selling this as a way to save the system through “innovation.” This is
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Northern Reflections: He’s Heading For Lots of Pain
It’s been a tough couple of weeks for Donald Trump. After the FBI retrieved government documents from his home, things got steadily worse for Trump. The New York Times reports that Trump was keeping over 300 documents in his basement. Jennifer Rubin writes: The sheer number of documents previously recovered and
Continue readingNorthern Reflections: Not A Recipe For Success
When it comes to climate change, the Conservatives just don’t get it. Chantal Hebert writes: There’s no lack of significant policy differences between the two leading contenders for the leadership of the federal Conservative party. But on the need for a radical shift in Canada’s climate change policy, they are
Continue readingNorthern Reflections: A Clear And Present Danger
No less than The Globe And Mail has warned us. Michael Harris writes: In this country, The Globe and Mail did not refer to Poilievre by name in a long piece by its editorial board, but it warned that a “highly contagious” political virus is flooding over the border from
Continue readingNorthern Reflections: Taking A Break
In the past, I’ve had problems with my back. They’ve returned, so I’ll be taking a break from blogging. But I hope to be back soon.
Continue readingNorthern Reflections: Make Lying Expensive
Alex Jones has built a career on lying. This week, in a courtroom in Texas, he has met with a reckoning. Eugene Robinson writes: The far-right radio host’s trial in an Austin courtroom has been almost enough to restore my faith in truth, justice and the American way. Jurors have
Continue readingNorthern Reflections: Wisdom And Common Sense
Jean Charest tried to make the case last night that he is the best person to lead the Conservative Party. Althia Raj writes: The former Quebec premier and current Conservative leadership candidate hoped Wednesday’s third official debate would introduce him to more members and boost his chances of winning the
Continue readingNorthern Reflections: The Last Debate
The format for tonight’s Conservative leadership debate is somewhat novel. Stephanie Taylor reports that: No audience, no podiums and appearances from only three out of the five candidates running to lead the federal Conservatives. These are the circumstances under which the party’s last official debate of the race will take
Continue readingNorthern Reflections: The Endgame
It’s time, climate scientists warn, to consider the endgame — human extinction. Damien Carrington writes: The risk of global societal collapse or human extinction has been “dangerously underexplored”, climate scientists have warned in an analysis. They call such a catastrophe the “climate endgame”. Though it had a small chance of
Continue readingNorthern Reflections: Is This It?
Donald Trump has almost always escaped the consequences of what he has said and done. Michael Harris writes: Donald Trump has always been too rich, too powerful, and too lawyered up to ever get the comeuppance he richly deserves for a lifetime of lying and cheating. The most recent example
Continue readingNorthern Reflections: National Insanity
If you want to understand how insane things have become in the United States, consider this report from this morning’s New York Times: RITTMAN, Ohio — Mandi, a kindergarten teacher in Ohio, had already done what she could to secure her classroom against a gunman. She positioned a bookcase by
Continue readingNorthern Reflections: They’re Nuts
It appears, Tom Walkom writes, that the Conservative Party has lost its mind: Conservatives, it seems, are no longer content with those who promise them good and limited government — they want more. That more can take many forms. It can be a fascination with conspiracy theories. It can be
Continue readingNorthern Reflections: Living Next To An Elephant
In a surprising turn of events this week, West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin reached a deal with Chuck Schumer to support most of Joe Biden’s agenda — particularly his proposals on climate change. And there was a surprise within the surprise. When it comes to electric vehicles, Biden’s focus has
Continue readingNorthern Reflections: Institutionalize Him
Yesterday, I stumbled across an article in The Atlantic titled “What Donald Trump Got Out Of His Divorce From Ivana.” The New York City tabloids were full of salacious details. If there’s one thing Trump produces, it’s salacious details. Molly Jong-Fast writes: Donald gave away a lot in the divorce—precipitated,
Continue readingNorthern Reflections: They Now Own The Conservative Party
Stephen Harper says he’s putting his money on Pierre Poilievre. Andrew Coyne is not impressed: After all, who knows more about winning elections than Stephen Harper: the leader who took a certain Conservative victory in 2004 – the year of the sponsorship scandal – and turned it into a Liberal
Continue readingNorthern Reflections: A Failed Democracy?
Max Boot writes that he used to be optimistic about his country’s future. No more: As the ads for mutual funds say, past performance is no guarantee of future results. We need to take seriously the possibility that the United States could become a failed democracy, if only to avert
Continue readingNorthern Reflections: Burning Up
On Saturday, we lost power here for nine hours. There was an explosion and fire at an Ontario Hydro station up the road on a very hot day. There will be more such incidents in our future. Michael Harris writes: While politicians obsess about inflation and the next electoral cycle,
Continue readingNorthern Reflections: Progressive Conservatism 2.0?
Konrad Kakabuski speculates that we may soon see a rebooted Progressive-Conservative Party of Canada: The party looks set to embrace the grievance politics of U.S. Republicans and the European far right, just as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his fellow Liberals always hoped it would. They know that, faced with
Continue readingNorthern Reflections: Narcissocracy
If you think it was bad, it was worse than you think. That’s the chief takeaway from last night’s hearing in Washington. Eugene Robinson writes: However outrageous or irresponsible or treasonous you thought President Donald Trump’s behavior might have been on Jan. 6, 2021, it was actually worse. Much worse.
Continue readingNorthern Reflections: American Taliban
The fallout from the American Supreme Court decision continues across the country. Jennnifer Rubin writes: The horror stories from state abortion bans are piling up: Women facing dangerous delays in care for miscarriages. Doctors violating their training and waiting until their patient is at death’s door before performing an abortion.
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