My article in the Globe and Mail: My one conversation with Margaret Thatcher about the Liberal Party of Canada began with a chill in the air, and ended with our host mopping his brow. We were all polite, but there were daggers behind the smiles and venom coiled around the
Continue readingTag: public policy
The HB-Log : NDP Policy Issues Run Deeper than their Constitution
This editorial effectively communicates the opinion within the New Democratic Party that the Constitution should not be changed to eliminate hardcore socialism Now, I am quite indifferent to this question, and even if I were a card-carrying member of the NDP I can’t imagine I would feel differently. I argued in my last post that while I think the concept of socialism (at
Continue readingAkaash Maharaj - Practical Idealism: Akaash Maharaj – Advisory: New Leadership for the GOPAC Global Secretariat
I am enormously grateful to the Board of the Global Organization of Parliamentarians Against Corruption for their confidence in naming me their Executive Director, and I will work tirelessly to justify their faith. I feel deeply privileged to have a chance to work with GOPAC’s global alliance of democratically elected
Continue readingAkaash Maharaj - Practical Idealism: Akaash Maharaj – Advisory: New Leadership for the GOPAC Global Secretariat
I am enormously grateful to the Board of the Global Organization of Parliamentarians Against Corruption for their confidence in naming me their Executive Director, and I will work tirelessly to justify their faith. I feel deeply privileged to have a chance to work with GOPAC’s global alliance of democratically elected
Continue readingeaves.ca: Toronto Star Op-Ed: Muzzled Scientists, Open Government and the Limits of Rules
I’ve a piece in today’s Toronto Star ”Rules are no substitute for cultivating a culture of open government“ about the Information Commissioners decision to investigate the muzzling of Canadian scientists. Some choice paragraphs: The actions of the information commissioner are to be applauded; what is less encouraging are the limits of her
Continue readingeaves.ca: Open Data Day: Lessons for Hacktivists
This piece is cross-posted on TechPresident where I post articles on the intersection of politics, technology and transparency and serve as an editor. Three years ago, after a chance encounter with Daniela Silva and Pedro Markun of Sao Paulo and a meeting with Edward Ocampo-Gooding and Mary Beth Baker in Ottawa,
Continue readingeaves.ca: How Hackers Will Blow Up The World: China, Cyber-Warfare and the Cuban Missile Crisis
I have a piece on TechPresident I really enjoyed writing about how certain technologies – as they become weaponized – can in turn become highly destabilizing to global stability. The current rash of Cyber-Warfare, or Cyber-Spying or Cyber-crime (depending on the seriousness and intent with which you rate it) could
Continue readingAlberta Diary: Minuscule Canadian Taxpayers Federation in running for ‘Turfy Award’
Former Canadian Taxpayers Federation Alberta Director Scott Hennig, now the group’s Communications VP, in a nice AstroTurf-coloured sweater at last weekend’s Ottawa conference of the Manning Centre for Undermining Democracy. Below: CTF President Troy Lanigan; CTF member … rrrrrrr … supporter, Riley Climenhaga; CTF Operations VP Shannon Morrison. When it
Continue readingAlberta Diary: Is the right-wing Manning Centre plotting ‘Manchurian Municipal Candidates’?
Former Texas Congressman and presidential candidate Ron Paul, the crazy uncle of American politics, with some of his young acolytes at this weekend’s Manning Centre “Big Ideas” conference. Below: anti-medicare crusader Dr. Brian Day, a sign directing conferees to advice on how to sell their kidneys, and Mr. Manning himself.
Continue readingeaves.ca: Three Ways Anyone Can Contribute to Open Data Day
With well over 90 cities now scheduled to partake in Open Data Day and with several events expecting 50+ and even 100+ participants I wanted to outline some thoughts to help people who are thinking about participating but not sure what to expect or if they have anything helpful to
Continue readingeaves.ca: CivicOpen: New Name, Old Idea
The other day Zac Townsend published a piece, “Introducing the idea of an open-source suite for municipal governments,” laying out the case for why cities should collaboratively create open source software that can be shared among them. I think it is a great idea. And I’m thrilled to hear that
Continue readingeaves.ca: #Idlenomore as an existential threat
Almost three years ago (although I only worked up the nerve to post it two years ago, so sensitive is the topic) I wrote a blog post about First Nations youth, and how I suspected they were going to radically alter Canada’s relationship with First Nations, and likely change the
Continue readingAlberta Diary: The 10% Delusion: Fraser Institute gins up fake facts about Alberta public sector pay
Women clerical workers, as the Fraser Institute would like to see them. The Fraser Institute didn’t write the book “How to Lie With Statistics,” a guy named Darrell Huff did, but they might as well have! You’ve got to have a little respect for the tireless political lobbyists at the
Continue readingThe HB-Log : High Speed Rail is NOT a Luxury Good
Last year I attended the Liberal Policy convention in Ottawa as a delegate. One of the policies up for debate was a resolution supporting the implementation of High Speed rail in the Quebec-Windsor Corridor. (stops in London, Toronto Ottawa and Montreal) I was trying to convince my friends to support the policy, because I think the
Continue readingThe HB-Log : A Minimum Income Could Boost Free Trade
I will not go on about the possible benefits of implementing a negative income tax, or a guaranteed minimum income program (GMI) in Canada. If you want to read an excellent case for it’s implementation this article is a great introduction. All these folks may not stop, but some would with a GMI in place. In
Continue readingeaves.ca: The Northern Gateway Brief: Unhappy Political Options & Geo-Political Assessment
I spent much of last week in Alberta which, as anyone who has traveled across Canada knows, is a very different place from BC. While there, it became increasingly clear that talking about the oil sands in general, and the northern gateway pipeline in particular, was verboten. I spent my
Continue readingThe HB-Log : Idle No More Seems United in Little Besides Principle
Wab Kinew and Llyod Axworthy have an interesting editorial in the globe today. They argue First Nations issues are too often seen as a zero sum game, when really the alleviation of poverty for First Nations people represents an economic opportunity. I wholeheartedly agree, and support additional public investment toward this end. But
Continue readingeaves.ca: Launching the Canadian OGP Civil Society Discussion Group
Dear colleagues, We are Canadians who have been actively involved with the Open Government Partnership (OGP) process, including by participating in the OGP meeting in Brasilia in April 2012. The OGP is a joint government – civil society initiative to promote greater openness, participation and accountability in countries which have
Continue readingeaves.ca: The Journal News Gun Map: Open vs. Personal Data
As many readers are likely aware two weeks ago The Journal News, a newspaper just outside of New York city, published a map showing the addresses and names of handgun owners in Westchester and Rockland counties. The map, which was part of a story responding to the tragic shooting in Newtown, Connecticut,
Continue readingThe HB-Log : Book Review: The Inconvenient Indian by Thomas King
I enjoyed reading Thomas King’s new book “The Inconvenient Indian: A Curious Account of Native People in North America.” I’ll stop short of saying “it’s something everyone should read,” but if you regularly comment on native issues, and have a weak grasp of the history, this is a great way to familiarize yourself. This is why
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