Yesterday Licia Corbella reported that she had found two people on the 4,000 plus list of folks wanting to present orally to the Northern Gateway pipeline hearings who, when contacted, claimed to have never heard of the project. She used this fact to cast doubt on the whole hearing process: Clearly, the National Energy
Continue readingCanadian Dimension Feed: Dinner for two’ for first journalist who dares to explain Conservative ideology
Journalists in the mainstream Canadian media are being intimidated from fully describing the soulless ideology practised by the Harper Conservative government — at least this has been my impression for some time now. Wanting to find out what journalists are really writing about the Tories and neoliberalism, I spent some
Continue readingQueer-liberal: POOF! Your rights are gone: Harper’s new stealth attack on LGBT rights in Canada
Very disturbing, but not surprising. Stephen Harper and his over-bloated PMO control every aspect of federal government policy. So Harper expects us to believe he doesn’t know anything about this case or the revised government position that same sex couples from most foreign countries can’t get married in Canada? I
Continue readingThe Sixth Estate: Would-Be Foreign Influencer in the National Post: Our Incomes Can be Infinite!
I have very little to do with the Cato Institute, preferring to spend my time jousting with their intellectually subordinate Canadian cousins, the Fraser Institute. But I couldn’t help notice the following manic rant about the importance of economic inequality in the National Post by Cato “scholar” Michael Tanner, not
Continue readingPeace, order and good government, eh?: Dear Colin Carrie
I’m in receipt of your latest mailing to your constituents. I wish I could say I was surprised at the way you continue to use taxpayer-funded mailings to direct people to your party’s website but it’s actually what I’ve come to expect. (Though I must say the incorporation of the
Continue reading350 or bust: Canadians Ignore the Warning Lesson of Haiti’s Environmental Destruction At Our Peril
Today marks two years since the catastrophic earthquake in Haiti where more than 200,000 died and an estimated 1 million were left homeless. We are used to hearing that Haiti is a very poor country, yet rarely do we hear that at one point in its history, Haiti was the
Continue readingMorton's Musings: Stay for delay
R. v. Tran, 2012 ONCA 18 is a useful source for the current law on stay for delay under s. 11(b) of the Charter: a) Analytical Framework [20] The framework for analyzing an application for a stay under s. 11(b) of the Charter is well-established. The court must consider: i) the overall length
Continue readingTHE FIFTH COLUMN: We Must Stop Stephen Harper and the 20% from Destroying Canada
There has been lots of discussion about how Stephen Harper’s majority only represents 40% of voters because of the way our electoral system works. But, in reality, his agenda has much fewer supporters. We must remember that the Conservative Party is a coalition. It is not a coalition in the
Continue readingThe Equivocator: Introducing the Liberal Queer Caucus
The Liberal Party has a lot of work to do this weekend as Liberals from across the country schlep to Ottawa for our biennial convention. This morning we are all reminded of what exactly is at stake as it appears that Stephen Harper is engaging dog-whistle politics over marriage-equality. A
Continue readingBloggers at LibCon 2012
Just a note: those who want to follow the political rainbow of iPolitics blogging commentary during the course of the Liberal Convention may do so here. Just to be absolutely clear, my own writing in that forum reflects only my personal opinions, which may or may not coincide with the
Continue readingThings Are Good: How do We Define Life?
Most of the news that gets covered here is related to new discoveries and good events happening around the world, but sometimes we need to take a step back from those discoveries and think deeper about what it all means. Recently NASA launched its most ambitious mission to Mars and
Continue readingTrashy's World: Oh goody…
I want my beach back!!!! Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa……….. Trashy, Ottawa, Ontario
Continue readingA BCer in Toronto: Kyle Harrietha’s eight-page plan for Liberal membership
Before Christmas, when I wrote about why I was supporting Kyle Harrietha for Liberal membership secretary I spoke about his dedication to the Liberal cause, working for the party on the ground in Atlantic Canada and in Toronto, helping to rebuild a Liberal riding association in Northern Alberta, and working
Continue readingThe Disaffected Lib: And, Speaking of Afghanistan
The War Without End drags on laboriously. The past few months saw a curious optimism about a political settlement between Kabul and the Taliban. That might have been premature. A new American intelligence (I know, I know) assessment concludes the Taliban still pursue their goal of reclaiming power and restoring
Continue readingAt last. Libs to invest big time in ads. Then blow it.
“Hey kids, look at this new ad from the Liberals! No, really.” Why do these ads have to be promoted in such a reactionary manner? The Libs sound defensive even when they are making the ‘bold’ move of investing in advertising. Making this about “defending” Liberal policy and its leader from the
Continue readingThe Disaffected Lib: The Middle East, 2012 – All Embers and Kindling
The Middle East is a smouldering mess that could erupt into a regional conflagration this year among Sunni and Shiite Muslims as well as Israelis. That’s the assessment of the UN Office for Humanitarian Affairs. The UN warns that 2012 could see an escalation of conflicts in Syria and Iraq
Continue readingCalgaryGrit: Primary Debates (2)
Myself and Jeff Jedras follow up our online debate, with a video chat over beers on the primary resolution which will be up for vote at this weekend’s convention. After the video ended, the rest of the bar patrons joined in on the argument and it ended in a brawl.
Continue readingHarper: "Scientists? We don’t need no stinking scientists!"
Especially the environmental kind. But Corbett said the department is under “strict orders” not to reveal precisely what work these surplus scientists are doing. They broadly include engineers, scientists, biologists, climatologists, and chemical analysts from across the country, including 18 or so in the national capital region. They work in areas such
Continue readingRecreating Eden: Hommage to a Woman Whose Research and Advocacy Has Saved Immense Numbers of Premature Babies: Mary Ellen Avery
Everyone whose life has been touched over the last 40 years by a premature baby who survived owes a debt to a woman whose death was reported this morning in The New York Times, Mary Ellen Avery. Dr. Avery, who was for a time at McGill University and Montreal Children’s
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