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 readingAuthor: Owen Gray
Northern 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
Continue readingNorthern Reflections: Hot Air Isn’t A Defense
Several commentators have suggested that Alvin Bragg’s case against Donald Trump is weak. Jennifer Rubin isn’t so sure. She writes: Any pundits who speculated ahead that the case was weak, misreported the “intent” requirement under New York law or ignored obvious “tolling” arguments putting the charges in compliance with the
Continue readingNorthern Reflections: Riding With The Truckers
When the Truckers Convoy arrived in Ottawa, the Conservative Party of Canada hopped on its bandwagon. Michael Harris writes: The Conservative party lurched to the populist right in the very first days of dysfunction in Ottawa. It abruptly changed leaders, championed the truckers, and came after Justin Trudeau personally. They
Continue readingNorthern Reflections: The Republican Death Wish
Paul Krugman has been crunching some numbers. And he’s made a grisly discovery. He writes: America’s dismal Covid performance was part of a larger story. I don’t know how many Americans are aware that over the past four decades, our life expectancy has been lagging ever further that of other
Continue readingNorthern Reflections: What Goes Around
Pierre Poilievre practices the politics of personal destruction. Michael Harris writes that practitioners of that dark art have a limited appeal: Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre set the bar low when he effectively called the prime minister a traitor who was covering up alleged Chinese interference in Canadian elections, instead of
Continue readingNorthern Reflections: The Beginning
Some people believe that the Manhattan D.A.’s case against Donald Trump is small potatoes. Michelle Goldberg disagrees: It is a mistake to treat this indictment — which, according to The New York Times, includes more than two dozen counts — as tangential to Trump’s other misdeeds. The conduct at issue
Continue readingNorthern Reflections: Extinct
Erin O’Toole has resigned from Parliament and from the Conservative Party — proof that the party is still Stephen Harper’s party. Harper has been offering advice to the Conservatives. Susan Delacourt writes: Harper, on the other hand, offered this advice when he appeared on stage last week at a big
Continue readingNorthern Reflections: It’s On
Yesterday, a grand jury in Manhattan indicted Donald Trump. Trump called the indictment “unthinkable.” Apparently not. Jennifer Rubin writes: Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg made history on Thursday, indicting a former U.S. president for the first time. The indictment is under seal. From all indications, however, former president Donald Trump
Continue readingNorthern Reflections: The Right To Repair
Susan Delacourt writes that buried in the Trudeau government’s budget is something called “the right to repair.” What does that mean? It is intended to give Canadians another alternative when faced with broken appliances, electronics or machinery. Too often, the government says, people “are pushed to buy new products rather
Continue readingNorthern Reflections: A Vast Empty Space
Marjorie Taylor Greene claims that Canada is helping Mexicans invade the United States. Alex Panetta reports: Here’s an attention-grabbing charge: the idea that Canada might be assisting an invasion of the United States by the other country on the continent. Even more surprising? The comment came from a member of
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