Trudeau spoke to parents concerned with their right to decide what their children are taught in schools. The group of Muslim parents were very worried about the “gender ideology” being forced on their children. The reporter called his answer evasive. Listen for yourself; here’s what he said in full, “I’ve heard
Continue readingTag: Charter of Rights and Freedoms
Views from the Beltline: Affirmative action—race or socioeconomics?
The US Supreme Court recently struck down race-based affirmative action as a basis for college admissions. Americans are now busy entertaining new ideas about how to account for historical disadvantage suffered by ethnic groups. And well they should. Blacks, the group affirmative action was aimed at, suffered centuries of slavery
Continue readingDead Wild Roses: Limits in Society
Having established norms and boundaries in society is a good thing. Is the balance between personal freedom and what is good for society perfect? Of course not. But the current system which is always under small scale revision, is a reasonable way forward. The basis of this incremental move toward
Continue readingViews from the Beltline: Notwithstanding politicians, the Charter prevails
“The government blinked,” read the CBC headline. The Ontario Minister of Education Stephen Lecce confirmed that his government will repeal Bill 28 “in its entirety.” He was referring of course to the infamous legislation that imposed a contract on 55,000 CUPE education workers while banning strikes and invoking the Charter’s
Continue readingAlberta Politics: What’s with all this chatter about the Canadian Bill of Rights? The latest far-right talking point explained
There’s been a lot of chatter lately about the Diefenbaker-era Canadian Bill of Rights, especially on social media. While it doesn’t seem to have hit mainstream commentary in a big way yet, social media is full of references, usually by commenters in the darker corners of the right-wing Internet, about
Continue readingSusan on the Soapbox: Kenny: Rights and Responsibilities During a Pandemic
Last week when Alberta’s covid infection rate spiked to record highs, the positive-test rate climbed to 10.5%, and doctors across the province begged for more restrictive public health measures to avoid the refrigerator trucks, Mr Kenney appeared on Facebook to answer questions about the restrictions he had imposed on Nov
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: On preemptive action
Others have rightly pointed out Norlaine Thomas’ thread about the threat Stephen Harper and his acolytes pose to the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. But I’ll take the opportunity to expand on the prospect of stopping that crusade in its tracks in Saskatchewan’s provincial election (which, to be clear,
Continue readingSusan on the Soapbox: The Ignominy of Kenney’s Bill 1
As Albertans flooded into the streets to join the hundreds of thousands of people around the world protesting systemic racism and police brutality, some of us worried about the UCP government’s move to limit our right to engage in peaceful protests by enacting Bill 1, the Critical Infrastructure Defence Act.
Continue readingPolitical Potshots: Shawcross, And The Difficult Questions
It’s an unpopular opinion, but until I see any actual evidence or statements that show PMO interference in the SNC-Lavalin case, I feel it is much ado about nothing. Today, Judy Wilson-Raybould resigned from cabinet today.. She is still a member of the Liberal caucus. I have a few questions.
Continue readingPolitical Potshots: Rempelsputin: An Experiment In Political Thinskinnedness
Ra ra RempelsputinLover of the Twitter BlockThere was a cat with really thin skin… When I was relatively new to Twitter there was a urban legend that I heard about on Canadian political Twitter about a politician who would block anyone for any reason. Michelle Rempel, a newish Calgary MP,
Continue readingSusan on the Soapbox: The Notwithstanding Clause: A Gift from Doug Ford to Jason Kenney
Sometimes silence speaks louder than words. Last week Doug Ford went straight to the nuclear option when a judge told him no Doug, you can’t downsize Toronto city council in the middle of a municipal election just because you feel like it. Mr Ford says he’s going to invoke the
Continue readingAlberta Politics: Thank you, Doug Ford, for making it clear our Constitution isn’t worth the paper it’s written on!
By making use of the Canadian Constitution’s Notwithstanding Clause to wreak petty vengeance on his old adversaries at Toronto City Hall, Ontario Premier Doug Ford has actually done Canadians a favour. After 36 years of delusional complacency, we have now had confirmed what anyone who was really paying attention knew
Continue readingMind Bending Politics: Exclusive: Monia Mazigh Responds To Omar Khadr Settlement
(Monia Mazigh Human Rights Advocate and Author Best Known For Her Advocacy of Her Husband Maher Arar Responds to Omar Khadr Settlement) Mind Bending Politics sat down with Monia Mazigh this week to discuss the Omar Khadr settlement and her thoughts on the future of human rights in Canada. Before
Continue readingScott's DiaTribes: The Khadr file – justice finally served
As a long time follower of this case and someone who decried a couple of different Canadian governments refusing to speak up about the farce taking place at Guanatanamo Bay masquerading as actual legal proceedings, and ignoring both the Charte and international treaties with regards to child soldiers, I’m pleased
Continue readingMind Bending Politics: The Conservatives Have No Right To Argue Against The Due Process Rights of Canadians
Due process is a right that ensures every Canadian citizen is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law, and the ability to properly defend and question evidence before an independent court. It is a constitutional right. There’s been a lot of anger regarding the Omar Khadr
Continue readingSusan on the Soapbox: Viola Desmond: The Perfect Choice
Viola Desmond is the first Canadian woman to be featured on our bank notes. We know the outline of her story—Ms Desmond was arrested, jailed and convicted for refusing to leave the whites-only section of a movie theatre. Her story speaks to the pernicious nature of racism in Canada and
Continue readingExcluded by God and Queen
It seems some new Canadians are having crises of conscience with the Canadian Citizenship Oath. The oath reads, "I swear (or affirm) that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of Canada, Her Heirs and Successors, and that I will faithfully observe the laws of Canada and fulfil my duties as a Canadian citizen."
The problem lies with the Queen bit.
Continue readingExcluded by God and Queen
It seems some new Canadians are having crises of conscience with the Canadian Citizenship Oath. The oath reads, "I swear (or affirm) that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of Canada, Her Heirs and Successors, and that I will faithfully observe the laws of Canada and fulfil my duties as a Canadian citizen."
The problem lies with the Queen bit.
Continue readingExcluded by God and Queen
It seems some new Canadians are having crises of conscience with the Canadian Citizenship Oath. The oath reads, “I swear (or affirm) that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of Canada, Her Heirs and Successors, and that I will faithfully observe
Continue readingAlberta Politics: Throne Speech suggests Alberta NDP won’t let oil price crisis go completely to waste
PHOTOS: Status of Women Minister Stephanie McLean with her new son, Patrick, in the rotunda of the Alberta Legislature Building after yesterday’s Throne Speech. Below: Royal Canadian Artillery Band conductor Capt. Patrice Arsenault starts the proceed…
Continue reading