Much press has been devoted to the aftermath of the cowardly massacre at Charlie Hebdo; strong displays of solidarity both in defence of freedom of expression and disdain for the jihadists’ efforts to squelch it, have been widespread. But despite these demonstrations, one can legitimately ask if the terrorists have
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The Canadian Progressive: Retrial of Al Jazeera Journalists Must Pave Way to Their Unconditional Freedom
Egypt’s retrial of Canadian-Egyptian Mohamed Fahmy and two other jailed Al Jazeera journalists acknowledges major flaws in their original convictions, says Amnesty International. The post Retrial of Al Jazeera Journalists Must Pave Way to Their Unconditional Freedom appeared first on The Canadian Progressive.
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: Gazonto: Imagining Toronto Being Bombed Like Gaza (Video)
With short film, Gazonto, Canadian filmmaker and activist John Greyson reimagines Toronto as Gaza being bombed by Israel during the ongoing Gaza conflict. The post Gazonto: Imagining Toronto Being Bombed Like Gaza (Video) appeared first on The Canadian Progressive.
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: Energy East pipeline: TransCanada told to “cease and desist”
The Council of Canadians this week told TransCanada to “cease and desist” from the deplorable practice of purchasing the silence of Canadian towns likely to be affected by the Energy East tar sands pipeline. The post Energy East pipeline: TransCanada told to “cease and desist” appeared first on The Canadian
Continue readingAlberta Diary: With free expression under assault in Alberta, where’s ‘free speech advocate’ Ezra Levant?
So-called free-speech advocate and celebrity commentator Ezra Levant. Below: Free-speech opponent Alison Redford, Canada’s answer to Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, shown below her; that Voltaire guy; nearly forgotten Tory political strategist Stephen Carter. Where’s Ezra Levant now that we need him? Mr. Levant, after all, is frequently billed as Canada’s
Continue readingAlberta Diary: Who gets muzzled next by unconstitutional Redford Government laws? Environmentalists?
Deputy Premier Thomas Lukaszuk, in motorcycle sidecar, gives the order to go after a pesky trade unionist’s blog. But look out! Alison Redford’s Alberta Thought Police may already have their eyes on you! Actual Redford cabinet ministers may not appear exactly as illustrated. Then again, new uniforms for cabinet and
Continue readingAlberta Diary: A challenge for the Redford Government: use Section 33 of the Charter to impose your unconstitutional laws
Queen Elizabeth II signs the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms in 1982 as a smiling PM Pierre Trudeau looks on. Now null and void in Alberta? Below: The Charter, premiers Peter Lougheed and Ralph Klein from an old news shot found on the Internet, looking suitably appalled. Here’s a
Continue readingAlberta Diary: Is it time to take our pots and pans into Alberta’s freezing streets?
More than 1,000 union members and their supporters gathered at the Alberta Legislature last night to continue protests against the Redford Government’s Bill 45, which as well as attacking unions assaults Albertans’ Charter-guaranteed right to free speech. Below: Unexpected speaker Joe Anglin; a red square from Quebec. Make it black,
Continue readingkirbycairo: Quebec and Personal Expression. . . .
I have been so offended by the recently proposed legislation in Quebec that I felt compelled, despite a long silence, to speak up, if only for reasons of catharsis. First of all let me say at the outset that I believe that this legislation, supposedly intended to establish so-called Quebec
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: Canadian government enemy lists: Voices-Voix open letter to PM Harper
In this open letter, Voices-Voix, a coalition of more than 200 civil society organizations across Canada, tells Harper that his government’s “enemy lists” violate freedoms guaranteed under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The post Canadian government enemy lists: Voices-Voix open letter to PM Harper appeared first on The Canadian
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: When a satirical $90,000 Sen. Duffy bill enraged the Bank of Canada
By: Obert Madondo Satirical Duffy $90,000 Bill Veteran B.C. newspaper satirist Dan Murphy engaged in a little good old-fashioned Canadian political satire when he created a fake $90,000 bill starring scandal-plagued Sen. Mike Duffy. The Bank of Canada wants us to believe a serious crime has been committed here, according to Times Colonist.
Continue readingAlberta Diary: Wicked Witch war of words: ‘Has Thatcher bashing crossed a line?’ Well, er… no!
The Wicked Witch of the West from the Wizard of Oz. Below, Ezra Levant in an orange wig with a can of Orange Crush mocks Jack Layton’s funeral. RIP or give it a rest? Oh my – quelle horreur! – naughty Britons still appalled by the depredations visited upon their
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Score Another One For Orwell
If you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face — forever. – George Orwell As always, the writer had exceptional clarity about where Western society was headed. H/t Steve Collett Recommend this Post
Continue readingAlberta Diary: It’s time for Ezra Levant to apologize or explain his hateful Roma commentary
Canadians struggle to cope with the offensive noise from the Sun News Network. Typical TV viewers may not appear exactly as illustrated. Below: Commentator Ezra Levant. It’s 2013, and it’s time for Sun News Network commentator Ezra Levant to either apologize for or explain his comments on Sept. 5, 2012,
Continue readingAlberta Diary: Apparently being Ezra Levant means never having to say you’re sorry
Sun News Network commentator Ezra Levant in a typical pose. (So typical, it’s a Sun News photo, as a matter of fact.) As tout le monde tout le monde nervously awaits today’s U.S. election, the story generating buzz on the Canadian Interwebs is a sorry tale of a Manitoba journalist fired for annoying her local …
Continue readingNorthern Insight: Time to reform government advertising
We’re presently bombarded with slick political advertising from two senior levels of government. Add industry advertising promoting natural gas as so marvellous a fuel that we should export it to China instead of using it to fuel combustion engines on our own roads and waterways. Fifteen million taxpayer dollars promotes
Continue readingAlberta Diary: Anonymous comments? Dean Del Mastro’s right: there oughtta be a law!
A young member of the Tory Online Rage Machine (TORM) composes a mean Tweet using talking points from Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s office. TORM operatives may not appear exactly as illustrated. Below: The unfortunate Dean Del Mastro. It’s hard not to feel a pang of sympathy for Dean Del Mastro,
Continue readingNorthern Insight: Not a Monty Python sketch
The editor of a Canadian faith magazine to MP John McKay, “I have just received an official “reminder” from Canada Revenue that our charitable status may be in jeopardy because of too much “political advocacy” on the part of our publication, citing six different editorials and articles as evidence…” McKay
Continue readingNorthern Insight: Harper’s deputy attacks free speech
The following is the official opinion of the Conservative government, as stated by Stephen Harper’s Parliamentary Secretary Dean Del Mastro, who by all indications is a man with a deep and abiding respect for the law: This morning I read comments on a news story posted on an electronic news publication… The common
Continue readingAlberta Diary: Sun News Network apologizes … sort of … while the CRTC runs and the CBSC surrenders
Intrepid CRTC investigator looks into Sun News Network’s on-air obscenities. Agents of the Canadian broadcast regulator may not be exactly as illustrated. Below: Sun News commentator Ezra Levant; Bernie M. Farber. Canada’s broadcast regulator has dropped its investigation of foul-mouthed commentator Ezra Levant’s obscene on-air language last June after Sun
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