Here, on how “we must increase stock prices!” – or worse yet, “we must increase company X’s stock prices!” – makes for a thoroughly regressive public policy goal. For further reading…– The examples referenced in the column include Carol Goar’s column threatening a revolt over telecom share prices, and Andrew
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Accidental Deliberations: New column day
Here, on the dangers of accepting advice from self-interested advisers – and the obvious conflict of interest of the consultants hired to push a wastewater P3 on Regina’s citizens. For further reading…– The Museum of Hoaxes offers some background on the now-notorious movie reviews of Dave Manning. – Matt Taibbi
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Here, on how the two Con appointees at the centre of Stephen Harper’s Senate are exactly the two who should have known better than to abuse the public trust. For further reading…– Brian Bergman and Dale Eisler offer the background on the Saskatchewan PCs’ scheme here, while CBC updated the
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Here, on the tendency of both political decision-makers and the general public to give too much credence to secret information – and the need for citizens to scrutinize leaders all the more closely if they rely on bare declarations that we’d agree with their actions if only we knew what
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Here, on how the City of Regina’s wastewater treatment referendum campaign is based on either a major omission as to the costs of privatizing services, or a dangerous assumption that the City doesn’t need to have any idea how its own treatment plant works. For further reading…– I take my
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Here, on the questions raised by a sudden drop in potash prices – and why we should reconsider our economic and social priorities so that a minor fluctuation in a still-ample level of wealth isn’t seen as reason to push the panic button. For further reading…– My discussion of Robert
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Here, on Regina’s wastewater referendum as just the first step in encouraging regular citizen engagement in the decisions that affect us all. For further reading…– Again, Hugh Mackenzie’s analysis of the cost of private financing is here (PDF). And Barrie McKenna’s take on the hidden price of P3s is here.
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Here, on what the Cons’ response to the Lac-Mégantic rail explosion says about their wider concern (or lack thereof) for the safety of Canadians. For further reading…– My earlier posts addressing Con-style arguments from Andrew Coyne are here and here.– Andrew Griffith’s book excerpt on the difference between political and
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Here, marking yet another year of broken Conservative promises when it comes to climate change. For further reading…– CBC reports on the the continued lack of regulations for the oil and gas sector, while offering the questionable theories about the Cons’ lack of interest in actually getting work done.– Linda
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Here, on some of the next steps Saskatchewan should consider along the path toward the preservation of human rights – including adding “social condition” as a prohibited ground of discrimination, and making private-sector actors accountable for breaches of fundamental freedoms. For further reading…– Leading cases on the “social condition” ground
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Here, on the CCPA’s recent report (PDF) on child poverty in Canada – and the affordable options which could eradicate that poverty based on a few simple choices. For further reading…– Campaign 2000’s report card showed where Canada stood in 2009 when it came to its commitment to ending child
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Here, on how Canada’s federal privacy law actually prohibits our own federal government from conducting secret surveillance (so long as it’s actually followed) – as well as how little that law means if countries don’t recognize that privacy applies beyond their borders. For further reading…– Michelle Shepard reported here on
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Here, on how the recent Munk Debate has helped to highlight Canadians’ preference for a fairer, more progressive tax system – and on a couple of the most important steps we can take toward that end goal. For further reading…– Ipsos Reid’s polling on public views toward taxing the rich
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Here, on how Tom Mulcair’s effective cross-examination of Stephen Harper serves as only one step toward the government we should want – i.e., one thoughtful and responsible enough to actually withstand answering real questions. For further reading… – Plenty of other commentators are rightly pointing out Harper’s predictable retreat into
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Here, featuring my suggestion to minimize the damage done by the Senate even if constitutional change isn’t on the table. The column was intended largely to respond to the camp whose every reaction to Senate issues is to declare there’s nothing we can do but put up with the status
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Here, on how a narrow focus on pursuing a seemingly safe path to a bare majority government may have contributed to the B.C. NDP’s stunning election defeat this week. Needless to say, there’s no lack of other commentary on the election, with Alice Funke, Sixth Estate, Michael Stewart, Paul Ramsey
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Here, on how all of Canada could lose out if Christy Clark’s B.C. Liberals are able to follow through on their plans to eliminate the Therapeutics Initiative which has provided needed information about the effectiveness of prescription drugs. For further reading…– More background about the current status of the Therapeutics
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Here, on how increasing inequality at the top of the income spectrum is creating a real disparity in opportunity affecting both middle-class and lower-income children. For further reading, see Sean Reardon’s column (or better yet, his study) discussing the U.S.’ experience in detail.
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Here, on how the one point of agreement about the environmental impact of the tar sands is that we still don’t have enough information to so much as evaluate the effects of the industry at the core of the Harper Cons’ economic strategy. For further reading…– The Canada-Alberta Oil Sands
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Here, building off of my previous analysis on the current positioning of Canada’s federal parties. For further reading, see:– Bob Hepburn and Carol Goar on the purpose and effect of attack ads in general; and– Andrew Coyne on the Cons’ particular brand of personal attack, featuring some suggestions to reduce
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