The truth is that blogs get as much attention as just another mosquito in the wildness of Ontario. No matter what the readership numbers, you never seem to reach the readers who can do something. They are too busy to read blogs. And after all, it is just one person’s
Continue readingTag: Federal Politics
Babel-on-the-Bay: When every vote counts.
There are Canadians I know in the Jewish community who tend to come down hard on me if I criticize Israel. It just cannot be helped though when that country’s government, the Knesset, is such an interesting example of proportional voting. It looks now as though Mr. Netanyahu and his
Continue readingBabel-on-the-Bay: A snapshot in time.
Nothing is more foolish than to read the opinion polls of today and apply them to a general election somewhere down the distant road. The polls are nothing more than a snapshot in time that will change and wander until the voters have a chance to have their say. Nobody
Continue readingBabel-on-the-Bay: Bitumen is not oil.
If pipeline companies were honest about what they are transmitting around North America, there would be fewer problems with environmentalists. It would also help if reporters were more accurate and editors more diligent There are differences between refined oil products such as the different grades of gasoline and crude oil.
Continue readingBabel-on-the-Bay: Green with Envy?
Why cannot Canada’s green party get its act together? There has got to be something more important for that party to do than argue about who is being nice to whom? Elizabeth May is entitled to her retirement—such as it is! She is a tough act for anyone to follow.
Continue readingBabel-on-the-Bay: Determining Democracy.
Measuring democracy in any country is like measuring the depth of a fast-moving stream with a wood ruler. In a country where few know democracy, is there a measure? In Canada, we think we know democracy and we seldom measure it. It is time we started questioning our democracy. Ask
Continue readingBabel-on-the-Bay: Ridiculing Freeland’s Luxury Tax.
My old Lamborghini is just fine, thank you. It was amusing to read a conservative’s apology the other day for people who buy luxury cars. After duly noting the foolishness of finance minister Chrystia Freeland’s luxury tax on the toys of the very rich, I had gone on to more
Continue readingBabel-on-the-Bay: The Vulnerable Sex Workers.
If we are going to consider the most vulnerable in our society for vaccination, we should start with the sex worker. They are doing something most people enjoy. It is even worse when people do not talk openly about the good, the bad and the art of it. And it
Continue readingBabel-on-the-Bay: Religion, Politics and Leadership.
The admonition to never bring religion and politics into a conversation is a lot of B.S. They are two very interesting subjects and they are ever present in our daily lives—not only in Canada but around the world. In some countries, the subjects of religion and politics are the same
Continue readingBabel-on-the-Bay: ‘I’ve heard that song before.’
It was a confused kindergarten teacher who once asked me why my daughter would tell her and the class that her mother went to hotels at night with men. She was quite relieved when I explained that my wife sang with a 21-piece swing orchestra and they performed frequently at
Continue readingBabel-on-the-Bay: Leave ‘em Laughing.
In writing about the leadership skills of our political leaders, we have borrowed the title of a 1927 Laurel and Hardy two-reel movie to explain federal conservative leader Erin O’Toole. You can just visualize Stan Laurel saying to Erin O’Toole or Oliver Hardy “Here’s another fine mess you’ve gotten me
Continue readingBabel-on-the-Bay: The Actor Within.
We were puzzling the other day as to what training our current leaders had that prepared them for their political roles. If all you have to base your conclusion on is their set-piece biography, the answers are not all that easy to deduce. It is therefore best to do some
Continue readingBabel-on-the-Bay: Chaos: The Canadian Model.
“Throw the scoundrels out” might be the rallying call for elections in Canada but there are too many times when we are not at all sure who the scoundrels might be. Obviously, the scoundrels in the coming federal election are supposed to be Justin Trudeau and the liberals. The only
Continue readingBabel-on-the-Bay: How does Jeff Lehman MP sound?
It is finally likely that Barrie mayor Jeff Lehman will make the move. After being elected to three four-year terms as mayor, he is checking out the federal waters. The first hint of this was a while ago when Jeff’s old campaign manager, Quito Maggi of Mainstreet Research did a
Continue readingBabel-on-the-Bay: A potpourri of liberal promises.
Reading the list of 26 resolutions passed at the liberal non-gathering last weekend is frustrating. There are duplications of themes, confusion in intent and cost considerations. And there are a few where you had to be there to know what they were discussing. It is hard to imagine anything more
Continue readingBabel-on-the-Bay: A liberal performance.
According to Susan Delacourt of the Toronto Star, Justin Trudeau was invoking the ghosts of liberal past at the weekend policy conference. While I rarely disagree with Ms. Delacourt, those were not spirits to whom Justin was appealing. He needs the living, breathing liberals of past years to come back
Continue readingBabel-on-the-Bay: Is it news or gossip?
It is a puzzle sometimes. You look to the news media to keep you abreast of politics across Canada. The question you need to ask about the so-called political news is it news or just gossip? It is discouraging to think of some of our favourite pundits of the press
Continue readingBabel-on-the-Bay: Carney: A politician in the making?
So far, the speculation about Canadian Mark Carney’s future has been left to the news media. After all, what is left to do when you have been Governor of both the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England? The news media are picking politics for Carney. Judging by the
Continue readingBabel-on-the-Bay: Trudeau building bridges in Quebec.
It is rare that prime minister Justin Trudeau would be considered best friends with Quebec premier François Legault. It is just that timing is everything in politics. If Trudeau’s liberals want to take back a majority in an election later this year, they have to maximize their seats in Quebec.
Continue readingBabel-on-the-Bay: The boy from Flemingdon Park.
Flemington Park in Toronto is not a prestige address. I watched the area grow over the years. It was never much in the way of architectural creativity. It was rabbits’ warrens of apartment buildings, second rate office buildings and a small strip plaza. It is in the area just north
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