Municipal politics are an interesting political arena. You have much more of a political ideological mix here, which you don’t necessarily have for the federal or provincial arenas. So it is for the Toronto Mayor race. All the political candidates lean right-of-centre, with the exception of one candidate; that would
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Alberta Diary: Vladimir Putin’s strategic crisis in 2014 sure looks a lot like John F. Kennedy’s in 1962
President John F. Kennedy signs the proclamation of the “Interdiction of the Delivery of Offensive Weapons to Cuba” on Oct. 23, 1962. The order imposed the U.S. naval blockade on Cuba that Mr. Kennedy had announced during his televised address the night before. Below: Soviet Premier Nikita S. Khrushchev, Russian
Continue readingScott's DiaTribes: Disappointment with the Ontario Liberal Party lack of social media communication
The OLP has a convention next week, if you weren’t aware. It’s their annual general meeting – the one that was originally going to be held in London, but got moved to Toronto due to speculated Spring Election concerns. Several bloggers (myself included) of the Liberal persuasion (Ontario or Federal)
Continue readingThe Ranting Canadian: March 12, 2014 was the day that the Canadian government…
March 12, 2014 was the day that the Canadian government officially ended its 12-year occupation of Afghanistan. What a pointless waste of lives, money and resources for a so-called “mission” that was never clearly defined and kept changing whenever the previous excuses stopped fooling the public. Hopefully the Canadian military
Continue readingDented Blue Mercedes: The Department of Justice Public Consultation on sex work ends Monday March 17th.
The Department of Justice Public Consultation on sex work closes March 17, 2014. Although the questions appear to be stacked, it’s important that people who support decriminalization participate. There’s certainly no shortage of people filling out the forms and calling for new criminalization. The questionnaire is here, and Maggie’s Toronto provides
Continue readingDented Blue Mercedes: The Department of Justice Public Consultation on sex work ends Monday March 17th.
The Department of Justice Public Consultation on sex work closes March 17, 2014. Although the questions appear to be stacked, it’s important that people who support decriminalization participate. There’s certainly no shortage of people filling out the forms and calling for new criminalization. The questionnaire is here, and Maggie’s Toronto provides
Continue readingScott's DiaTribes: Grasping for straws – Pauline Marois
I’m glad this fear – if there ever was anyone in Quebec fearing it- was cleared up by her: An independent Quebec would open its arms to tourists from Canada. That’s the message from Parti Quebecois Leader Pauline Marois as sovereignty continues to be a prominent issue in the Quebec
Continue readingAlberta Diary: PKP to run for PQ: Why PKP, with SNN and CPC PMO spell SOS for Canada, which could be FUBAR
Impressionable English Canadian youngsters tune in to SNN for sinister ideological conditioning by RWN (right-wing nuts) on the staff of the PMO-favoured network. Below: PKP and his now-ex wife (NXW), grabbed from the Internet; SNN broadcaster Ezra Levant. Oh, H-E-double-hockey-sticks, PKP wants another D-I-V-O-R-C-E! This time, having just given his
Continue readingdaveberta.ca - Alberta politics: Laurie Hawn to retire, blowing Edmonton-Centre race wide open
TweetEdmonton-Centre Conservative Member of Parliament Laurie Hawn has decided to retire when the next election is called, according to the latest column by the Edmonton Sun’s Lorne Gunter. The retired Air Force lieutenant-colonel first entered politics in 2004, running unsuccessfully against Liberal MP and Deputy Prime Minister Anne McLellan. Mr. Hawn defeated Ms. McLellan in
Continue readingDented Blue Mercedes: “Protective” Custody
The way that trans people are housed in detention and correctional settings has come to attention recently, after British comedian Avery Edison was detained by the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) for having previously overstayed her visa — and then she was initially sent to a mens’ prison while the
Continue readingDented Blue Mercedes: “Protective” Custody
The way that trans people are housed in detention and correctional settings has come to attention recently, after British comedian Avery Edison was detained by the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) for having previously overstayed her visa — and then she was initially sent to a mens’ prison while the
Continue readingProgressive Proselytizing: PM Plays Pot Politics Perfectly
Whatever else one might be tempted to say about Harper, nobody is going to claim he is not politically savvy. His latest move – considering changing marijuana laws to include a ticketing system – is tactically brilliant. Consider the context: Justin Trudeau has adopted the brave stance to support marijuana
Continue readingProgressive Proselytizing: Vic Toews’ horrible and hypocritical judicial appointment
When the Conservatives where in opposition they raised – as they often did – a legitimate point about the patronage within the then Liberal government. At the front of the pack was Justice Critic Vic Toews, who – quite rightly – decried the partisan appointments themselves and the process by
Continue readingProgressive Proselytizing: The "Fair" Elections Act isn’t just bad, its being implemented in a bad way
Changes to our electoral system – changes, that is, to the very core of our democracy – are not to be taken lightly. Regardless of where you lie on the political spectrum, we should be able agree on process. We should be able to agree that such changes must be
Continue readingDented Blue Mercedes: On the Detention of Trans People
“… in a way that is not inconsistent with one’s gender identity.” Remember that phrase. It’s going to simplify something that might otherwise seem like a complicated issue. So this British comedian walks into Toronto’s Pearson International Airport. Some of you have heard this one before… The treatment of trans
Continue readingDented Blue Mercedes: On the Detention of Trans People
“… in a way that is not inconsistent with one’s gender identity.” Remember that phrase. It’s going to simplify something that might otherwise seem like a complicated issue. So this British comedian walks into Toronto’s Pearson International Airport. Some of you have heard this one before… The treatment of trans
Continue readingScott's DiaTribes: Amazing coincidences and occurrences
Amazing coincidence – Peter Mackay muses that liberalization of pot/marijana laws/legislation easing criminal charges are now a real possibility, and like magic, the anti-Justin Trudeau ads running on Toronto area AM radio that claim his stance on legalizing marijuana would ‘make it easier for kids to smoke pot” and “he
Continue readingDented Blue Mercedes: Across the left divide over sex work.
I’m putting on my op-ed hat for this. The following draws from my own history, but I think it helps provide some insight into the left-wing divide over sex work. I’m skipping over this very quickly, and I’m sure I’ll probably forget some important distinctions and nuances, so bear with
Continue readingDented Blue Mercedes: Across the left divide over sex work.
I’m putting on my op-ed hat for this. The following draws from my own history, but I think it helps provide some insight into the left-wing divide over sex work. I’m skipping over this very quickly, and I’m sure I’ll probably forget some important distinctions and nuances, so bear with
Continue readingeaves.ca: Canada’s Opaque Transparency – An Open Data Failure
Yesterday, at the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada’s (PDAC) Canada Minister of Natural Resource, Joe Oliver, announced with great fanfare a new initiative to compel mining companies to disclose payments of over $100,000′s to foreign and domestic governments. On the surface this looks like a win for transparency, particularly for
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