Over the past several years, I have become a bit of an aficionado of bourbon. Given that most of my life I have never cared for the taste of straight liquor, how I came to fancy it is something of a mystery, but it is now my hobby that whenever I see a…
Continue readingTag: Kathleen Wynne
Mind Bending Politics: Ontario’s New Autism Policy Not Going Over Well With Parents
(Ontario’s new autism policy lipstick on a pig, rather than implementing needed changes) With the Ontario Government announcing major funding initiatives over the past few months, it looks like autism services are not high on its priority list. Back in March, the Ontario government announced that it was going to do away with much needed […]
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Thursday Morning Links
This and that for your Thursday reading.- Reuters reports on Tidjane Thiam’s recognition that inequality and underfunded education likely played roles in the Brexit vote’s outcome. And David Blanchflower rightly argues that the UK will need economic st…
Continue readingMontreal Simon: Jason Kenney’s Desperate Plan to Defeat Justin Trudeau
As you know I am delighted that today is the day Jason Kenney is going to announce that he is leaving Ottawa to ride back back to Alberta.After twenty miserable years of spewing manure in every direction.And I had thought that from now on that grote…
Continue readingAlberta Politics: When Tories, the Fraser Institute and media team up to attack plans to improve the CPP, you have to know it needs fixing!
ILLUSTRATIONS: A luxurious retirement? Do you get the feeling that ship may have sailed? Well, rich conservatives and their flunkies want you to think that a better Canada Pension Plan is a bad idea anyway. Below: Conservative Party of Canada Finance C…
Continue readingAlberta Politics: Alberta Opposition Leader Brian Jean now officially ‘embattled’ as Wildrose insurrection appears to spread
PHOTOS: Is Wildrose Party Leader Brian Jean contemplating being given the boot by his party’s radicals … or giving it to them? (Wildrose.ca photo.) Below: Lac La Biche-St. Paul-Two Hills MLA David Hanson (photo also from Wildrose.ca), Twitter infor…
Continue readingdaveberta.ca – Alberta Politics: A Timeline of Derek Fildebrandt’s “suspension” from Wildrose
The Wildrose Party was not one big happy family this week. Albertans might be confused about what exactly happened between Wildrose Party leader Brian Jean and Finance critic Derek Fildebrandt. It might be one of the most bizarre political stories o…
Continue readingMind Bending Politics: Ontario To Axe CCAC In $50 Billion Health Care Overhaul
(Nothing to see here: Ontario Health Minister Eric Hoskins Announces The Closure of Community Care Access Centres) The horror stories continue for the people of Ontario. Ontario Health Minister Eric Hoskins announced today that the government will be closing all Community Care Access Centres (CCAC) in favor of cost cutting measures, and moving the home […]
Continue readingMind Bending Politics: Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne on Autism, Teachers Unions, and More
(Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne Still Talking Down To Parents Not At Parents) Yesterday Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne appeared as a co-host on CFRB 1010’s drive time talk show, where she discussed a wide range of topics including the autism protests, ABA and IBI therapy and the fact that she has been listening to parents. […]
Continue readingAlberta Politics: Suspension of maverick MLA didn’t amount to much, even before Wildrose leader’s apparent flip-flop
PHOTOS: Wildrose MLA Derek Fildebrandt appears to be ahead in the race with his party leader, Brian Jean, this past weekend at least. (Photo grabbed from Mr. Jean’s Facebook page.) Below: Blogger Dave Cournoyer and a smiling Mr. Fildebrandt. That was…
Continue readingdaveberta.ca – Alberta Politics: For Wildrose, “Mr. Wynne” Facebook comment was last straw for Derek Fildebrandt
A statement released late on Friday night announced that Wildrose Party leader Brian Jean had suspended Strathmore-Brooks MLA Derek Fildebrandt from the Official Opposition Caucus. As AlbertaPolitics.ca author David Climenhaga wrote on Friday night:
Continue readingAlberta Politics: Wildrose Party’s half-hearted apology to Ontario premier doesn’t mean much
PHOTOS: Wildrose Party Finance Critic and chief Legislative greeter Derek Fildebrandt, demonstrating a typical attitude. Below: Shocked and appalled critics Naheed Nenshi, mayor of Calgary, David Swann, Alberta Liberal leader, Greg Clark, Alberta Party…
Continue readingAlberta Politics: Watching the Wildrose in the Legislature: Beverly Hillbillies … or Deliverance?
PHOTOS: The Beverly Hillbillies in campaign mode. Actual members of the Alberta Wildrose caucus may not appear exactly as illustrated. Below: Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne, left, and Alberta Premier Rachel Notley, right, answer reporters’ questions …
Continue readingMind Bending Politics: Ontario’s Education System in Crisis: Proactive Change Needed in Youth and Education Services
As a parent with a non-verbal autistic kid, one of my worst nightmares is to have to deal with a teacher that isn’t qualified to ensure the care of my child. We’ve been pretty lucky. The teachers and staff taking care of my son in the school system are extremely caring, professional and have been […]
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Monday Morning Links
Miscellaneous material to start your week.- Carolyn Ferns writes that a long-awaited child care program would represent the best possible Mother’s Day gift for Canadian families.- Danyaal Raza and Ritika Goel remind us how housing affects a wide range …
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: When A Government Overstays Its Welcome
I am convinced that all institutions have a ‘best-before date,’ after which it is time for massive renewal. Comfort with the status quo, a sense of entitlement, a growing separateness from those they serve are all compelling reasons for ‘creative destr…
Continue readingBigCityLib Strikes Back: Federal NDPer Defects To OLP
Good luck to her. And it shows that Wynne’s OLP is still attracting talent, so good news for them too whether she wins that nomination or not.
And, yes, she is still hot.
Continue readingBigCityLib Strikes Back: Federal NDPer Defects To OLP
OTTAWA — One of the federal NDP’s former rising stars has decided she wants to run for the provincial Liberals in Ontario.Good luck to her. And it shows that Wynne’s OLP is still attracting talent, so good news for them too whether she wins t…
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: New column day
Here, on how political fund-raising scandals in Ontario and British Columbia only highlight the complete lack of rules governing donations in Saskatchewan.For further reading…- SCOTUS’ Citizens United decision is here (PDF). And Michael Hiltzik discu…
Continue readingMind Bending Politics: Behaviour Experts Call Wynne’s Autism Policy Destructive
Toronto, April 20, 2016 – The Ministry of Children and Youth Services has declared that as of May 1, Ontario will no longer provide Intensive Behavioural Intervention (IBI) to children of five years and older. A group of nine Board Certified Behavior Analysts™ (BCBAs), who are practitioners and advocates for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder […]
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