As awful as it has been for those whose lives have been turned upside down, the worst outcome of the deplorable, authoritarian policing at last year’s G20 summit in Toronto was not the targeting of a few dozen militants plus some random people for (oft…
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A Canadian Lefty in Occupied Land: Petition: Feminist Demand Let Justice Be Done
Just received word of this international petition that was written “to unite people in support of the alleged rape victim of Dominique Strauss-Kahn, former director of the International Monetary Fund.” Please read it and sign it:Feminists Demand Freedo…
Continue readingCanadian Political Viewpoints: Austerity Hypocrisy
Source: CTV News: Cabinet Costs Soar, New Salaries and Perks Total $9MWith the economy still being touted as one of the major issues that emerged from the election, the Conservatives have made some interesting announcements in the weeks building up to …
Continue readingCanadian Political Viewpoints: Even Losers are Winners
Source: CTV News: Harper Appoints 3 Defeated Candidates to SenateOn a day when a new cabinet was selected, which should have been the major political issue of the day, Stephen Harper has sparked off a different conversation by appointing three ‘new’ Se…
Continue readingA Canadian Lefty in Occupied Land: Review: <I>Yes Means Yes!</I>
[Jaclyn Friedman and Jessica Valenti, editors. Yes Means Yes! Visions of Female Sexual Power and a World Without Rape. Berkeley, CA: Seal Press, 2008.]The very simple way of reconceptualizing sexual consent at the heart of this book provides a useful t…
Continue readingCanadian Political Viewpoints: Overdue Post
My apologize for the lateness of this post…As previously mentioned, I was going to be indisposed for sometime after the election (light surgery, and I’m fine in case anyone is worried) and this is the first chance I’ve had to really sit down and get …
Continue readingCanadian Political Viewpoints: Election Night Thoughts
Well, as it stands now most of the polls are counted and candidates are elected nation wide. As a blogger, and a responsible one at that, there comes a time when I have to take responsibility for the things I’ve said on this blog in the pre-election pe…
Continue readingCanadian Political Viewpoints: Once More Unto the Breach
This will be the last post before election results begin to bombard us, so let’s take some time to reflect and look back.Tomorrow, Canadians will get to cast their ballots and make a choice over what party they trust to lead Canada for the next few yea…
Continue readingA Canadian Lefty in Occupied Land: Review: <I>Imperialist Canada</I>
[Todd Gordon. Imperialist Canada. Winnipeg: Arbeiter Ring Publishing, 2010.]Few features of the political culture in this country are more likely to set my teeth on edge than the devotion not only of the right and centre but of much of the left as well…
Continue readingCanadian Political Viewpoints: Those Will Be The Days…
As I’m writing this, a funny thing is happening across our nation. When this election campaign started, the Conservatives held an insurmountable lead in public opinion and flirted with majority territory for a period of time. Harper even courted the ma…
Continue readingCanadian Political Viewpoints: Come On Up For the Rising
Source: EKOS Politics: Seat Projection April 25th, 2011Source: Bruce Springsteen – The RisingFor a bit the media has drawn a comparison to Ignatieff’s call on Canadians to rise up as being likened to Bruce Springsteen’s song the Rising. I’ve included i…
Continue readingCanadian Political Viewpoints: The Purpose of Planned Parenthood
Source: CBC News: Tories Defunding Planned Parenthood, MP saysI realize the blog has gone a bit dark as of late, in terms of posting not in terms of content, and I apologize for that. With finals over, I will have a bit more time to throw up posts on t…
Continue readingCanadian Political Viewpoints: Conspiracy Theories…
Now, I’m not usually the type of dwell on these types of thoughts and speculations; mainly because there’s no strong proof one way or the other that will substantiate the debate. But, it’s something that has been on my mind, and was recently discussed …
Continue readingCanadian Political Viewpoints: Another Day, Another Scandal; & Debate Night Thoughts
Source: CTV News: Draft Report Questions Conservative G8 SpendingSource: CBC News: Conservatives Apologize in Letter to FraserSource: CBC News: Debate a Snooze, Students SaySource: CBC News: Conservatives Fattened Salaries of Aides: ReportSource: CBC N…
Continue readingCanadian Political Viewpoints: A Cut and a Shave…
Source: CBC News: Harper vows ‘Modest’ cuts but Offers few DetailsSource: CTV News: Harper say Tories can cut Costs, Keep ServicesAs the election continues, it seems that all the party leaders are talking about cuts to the civil service in one way or a…
Continue readingA Canadian Lefty in Occupied Land: Resisting Austerity: Don’t (Just) Show Me the Money
We hear a lot these days about the need for cuts to public spending, for saving money. The use of this rhetoric to cover massive changes in how our lives and societies are organized has a long history, but in the current “age of austerity” — ushered i…
Continue readingCanadian Political Viewpoints: Contrasting Opinions
Source: CTV News: Harper Plan Would Eliminate Deficit by 2014″Parliament hasn’t voted on it, the government fell on a procedural matter.”- Jim Flaherty, Finance Minister on CTV’s Power Play.When Parliament was dissolved, Stephen Harper walked outside o…
Continue readingCanadian Political Viewpoints: ‘Charter’ a Refresher Course…
Source: CTV News: Harper Criticized for ‘Unfriending’ Teen from RallySource: Department of Justice Canada: Canadian Charter of Rights and FreedomsIn keeping with our discussion of Harper’s culture of control in Ottawa, news has come out that a number o…
Continue readingCanadian Political Viewpoints: Culture of Control
Source: CBC News: Ignatieff Slams Harper over ex-aide’s ConvictionsSource: CTV News: PM Wouldn’t have Hired Carson if he Knew his PastSource: CTV News: Harper Says he won’t Revisit Abortion, Gay MarriageI’d like to take a moment today to talk about Ste…
Continue readingCanadian Political Viewpoints: Don’t Stop Thinking About Tomorrow…
I had a flash of naming this post ‘Tomorrow, Tomorrow, Harper Will Love Us Tomorrow…” but that seemed a little too corny, even by my standards.On a day when the Liberals have released a full party platform, at least for two years of what they would d…
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