This week the Prime Minister and several Cabinet members were sued for defamation — a reader asked 'can they avoid being examined because of their position?' The short answer is No. The longer answer is Probably Not. In Canada only the Head of State (the Queen and (maybe) the Governor
Continue readingJust in time for Friday
The one and only Pepper Spray Cop Game. Rainy day, spray away…* *(With apologies to Jimi Hendrix)
Continue readingThe Progressive Economics Forum: Flaherty’s Christmas List – all Mixed Up
Following recent dismal reports on rising unemployment, stagnant GDP growth, and a deteriorating economic outlook, we can only hope federal Finance minister Jim Flaherty will provide some Christmas cheer with changes “to better promote job creation and economic growth” (as he’s asked for advice on through his pre-budget consultations). Unfortunately,
Continue readingMontreal Simon: Chicken Lilley and the Sun News Bigots
If they ever make a Canadian version of the classic movie Chicken Run, they’re definitely going to have to give the lead role to Fox News North’s Brian Lilley. Because not only does he look the part, with an absurd pompadour instead of a cockscomb, but he’s as cowardly as
Continue readingNorthern Insights / Perceptivity: Bad Santa
From Reuters Editor’s Choice
Continue readingMorton's Musings: Cost consequences flowing from offers to settle do not apply on appeals
Smith Estate v. Rotstein, 2011 ONCA 833 deals with costs in the context of estate litigation. As part of the analysis the Court makes clear that the cost consequences flowing from offers to settle do not apply on appeals: [16] We do not accept the respondent's submission concerning the application of Rule 49
Continue readingNorthern Insights / Perceptivity: Wish I could write like that department
Roger Ebert, reviewing The Artist, a film by Michel Hazanavicius: “At a sneak preview screening here, a few audience members actually walked out, saying they didn’t like silent films. I was reminded of the time a reader called me to ask about an Ingmar Bergman film. “I think it’s the
Continue readingJulián Conrado: Soon to be freed?
It’s too early to say yet whether he’ll be freed, but it looks like a certain FARC guerrilla (and folk singer) whose capture sparked a huge outcry will, at least, NOT be sent back to face the draconian justice system of his homeland: The Public Ministry has released, in writing,
Continue readingMy five minutes watching Sun News Network. Plus, what does it take to be an SNN host?
Apparently, this. Jacqui’s television credits include co- hosting “Argos Access” with Michael “Pinball” Clemons, hosting “Dancing at the Palais” on Women’s Television Network, host/reporter on Sportsnet Ontario, co-hosting a late night talk show on Toronto One and until recently she anchored the daily Current Affairs show “Canoe Live” on Sun
Continue readingNorthern Insights / Perceptivity: Few shadows cast in North America
A Moral Giant among Pygmies, By Erich Follath, Spiegel Online International “Since last Sunday, the world has been mourning the death of Vaclav Havel. The Czech leader led a rollercoaster life that saw him go from prison cells to palaces, from poetry to politics. In this personal remembrance from a
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Friday Afternoon Links
Assorted content to end your week. – If there’s a more accurate description of the Cons’ entire political strategy than “taking advantage of the prejudice that’s already there”, I haven’t heard it yet. And Chris Lawson is rightly frustrated that Canadian politics are being dominated by such cynical and destructive
Continue readingEdmonton-Leduc NDP: Happy holidays!
On behalf of the Edmonton-Leduc federal NDP riding association, please allow me to wish you and yours all the best this holiday season. The support of community members as yourself is what keeps our organization going forward, and all of us really appreciate your feedback, advice and help. We look
Continue readingEdmonton-Leduc NDP: Happy holidays!
On behalf of the Edmonton-Leduc federal NDP riding association, please allow me to wish you and yours all the best this holiday season. The support of community members as yourself is what keeps our organization going forward, and all of us really appreciate your feedback, advice and help. We look
Continue readingEdmonton-Leduc NDP: Happy holidays!
On behalf of the Edmonton-Leduc federal NDP riding association, please allow me to wish you and yours all the best this holiday season. The support of community members as yourself is what keeps our organization going forward, and all of us really appr…
Continue readingThe Sir Robert Bond Papers: Muskrat Falls: the PUB review story #nlpoli
The Telegram has the best account of the unsuccessful effort by the public utilities board to get an extension on its review deadline for Muskrat Falls. The whole thing is worth reading, right down to the bit where natural resources minister Jerome Kennedy disputes the role of the consumer advocate
Continue readingAbortion to be recriminalized
Time to wake up and smell the coffee, folks. The countdown towards recriminalization of abortion has already begun. Because the Harper government borrows its moves from US far-right playbooks—voter suppression, assorted other dirty tricks, strategic vocabulary—it’s worthwhile briefly checking out how the latter mainstream their fringe positions. Two words: “salami
Continue readingMark Steyn brings out the best in the wingnut. Brent Bozell: Obama is a “skinny, Ghetto crackhead”.
C'mon Bozey, say something outrageous. This is Fox News! Half-assed Canuck Mark Steyn is a lovely person. He attracts same. While on Fox News, filling in for some host or something, Steyn managed to cajole the following statement from the very religious, very wingnutty head of the Media Research Centre,
Continue readingWill The (not)Premier’s Year-Enders Come Back To Bite Her?
TheThreeFingeredGrift Self-HoistingPetardVille Don’t know about you, but I’m surprised that there has been so little reaction to Christy Clark’s extensive and pretty wide-ranging year-end/round-up interviews that she held with pretty much any and all the media outlets in Lotusland, friendly or not-so. For all kinds of reasons, including the fact
Continue readingA Canadian Lefty in Occupied Land: Review: Disidentifications
[José Esteban Muñoz. Disidentifications: Queers of Color and the Performance of Politics. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 1999.] How do we come to be who we are? How can we relate to what we are told that we are or that we must be … especially when those messages from
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