Nation Maker
Richard Gwyn talks about his new book Nation Maker, the second volume about the life and times of Sir. John A. Macdonald covering the period from Confederation until his death…
November 2011
wildrose behind mysterious ‘push poll’ attacking alison redford.
Politics in Alberta got a little meaner this week when word of a new ‘push poll’ attacking Premier Alison Redford began to circulate among political circles. In typical push poll…
Worth reading. Worth correcting.
This morning, the Toronto Star published an interesting article on the impacts of the Tory war on vulnerable Canadians long gun registry repeal bill.I won't repeat the core of the…
The new normal
It wasn't long ago that I considered it remarkable for a government to make any claim to concern about privacy which was so implausible as to demand refutation by the…
Quebec v. Harper: It’s Only The Beginning
Forget the unilingual nominee for Auditor General. Forget the restoration of "Royal" titles to the Canadian navy and air force. And while you're at it, forget the buying spree on…
Three Thoughts on the Greek Debt Crisis
1. Just wondering. If the Greek people are being asked to make extraordinary sacrifices to resolve a crisis largely not of their own making (see here, for example, on the…
BBC: Markets dive in reaction to unfortunate outbreak of democracy in Greece
US and European markets have fallen following Monday's announcement of a Greek referendum on the latest aid package to solve its debt crisis. Eurozone leaders agreed a 50% debt write-off…
Paul Dewar ALSO in Vancouver Thursday
For those who can’t get enough of NDP leadership candidates, Thursday looks like a good day to live in Vancouver. I just found the Facebook event for Paul Dewar’s planned…
Mostly competent government
Public Safety Minister Vic Toews has changed his tune. He had previously indicated that the reason for zapping all the gun registry data was to help make it more difficult…
Movember…Saving Face without Risking My Butt
Ok. That's the corney slogan of the day....but, I am registered for Movember. Over 4,000 Canadians a year meet their maker because of this disease. Give early. Give often. Please.
More Campbell associates break lobbying rules
In March 2008, Gordon Campbell intimate Ken Dobell plead guilty to violating British Columbia's lobbying legislation. Dobell had retired as deputy minister to the premier in 2005 and then busied…
A Tax on Financial Transactions
The Globe and Mail has an online story reporting Ontario Finance Minister Dwight Duncan's adamant opposition to any consideration of a tax on financial transactions at the G20. Although the…
Rick Parry is not as think as you stoned he is!
Here are the "high"lights of soon-to-be-former-presidential candidate Texas Gov. Rick Perry's recent speech in New Hampshire. If you want to sit through the entire addled trainwreck you can watch it…
Whither Greece?
Anyone who has been a close observer of democracy knows that Western countries have only ever been committed to democratic principles to the degree to which they support and strengthen…
QP: Cue the scripted outrage
The Toronto Star can reasonably claim the title of newspaper of record for the day, as their story on what kinds of guns will no longer be registered – included…
New Lake Michigan Coal Ash Spill Raises Old Concerns
coal ash spill.jpg On Monday, a bluff surrounding a Milwaukee, Wisconsin-based power plant collapsed, sending a cascade of debris and coal ash waste from the power plant into Lake Michigan.…
Meet Newt Gingrich – Republican nominee for president in 2012
The Republican field is thinning as contenders shoot themselves in the foot and limp offstage. Bachmann self destructed. Front runner Herman Cain is fumbling badly, changing his stories about what…
Medicare’s Orphans: The Fight for Healthcare for Children with Autism Disorders
The film Medicare's Orphans – A film about the fight to get healthcare for children with autism in Canada is now available online. I encourage everyone with an interest in…
Government Appoints Anti-Government Economist to Government Research Council
Some while ago, I documented the Harper regime’s attempt to privatize the leading research granting institutions in Canada to private-sector control: namely, the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, the…
A Tale of Two BC Mining Fiascos
There are two mining stories out of last week in Lotusland.For openers, let’s deal with “Prosperity” lake which, before the corporate flacks got involved, was called Fish Lake. The short…