In Tuesday’s Sun: on speech and hate
Free speech is terrific, of course, as long as it’s being exercised in the abstract, or it doesn’t adversely affect you and yours. That’s why – if you were gay,…
2013
One unsavoury witness can confirm the testimony of another
R. v. Brown, 2013 ONCA 128 holds that one unsavoury witness can confirm the testimony of another. Put otherwise, two Vetrovec witnesses can confirm each other: We disagree. As expressed…
Too Old Or Too Rigid?
The Pope’s retirement led Gautam Makunda to write that it’s dangerous to allow the old too close to power: Power itself has profound, and usually toxic, effects on those who…
Time robots!
Time Robot would be a great name for a band. It would also be a horribly misleading title for a French film based on this premise. (Though it would be…
Reaching Across The Climate Divide: Transforming The Way We Engage
It’s TED Talk Tuesday on 350orbust. Simran Sethi talks about engaging with people who seem to be our polar opposites.
Kathleen Wynne’s Done Good
Full disclosure. It’s A Forum Research poll. That said, I can’t but like the underlying message: …the Liberals would again win 53 seats in the 107-member house with the Tories…
How to Critique Wealth Inequality without Caring about Poor People
This video on wealth inequality in the United States is currently making the rounds on social media – in my universe anyway – and it got me thinking. It has…
Post-debate video, numbers, etc. #lpcldr
Joyce Murray on Sun News once again. A little additional reading: “Why Supporting Joyce Murray Is the Best Way to Defeat Stephen Harper.” Oh, and apparently there could be 300,000…
Just when we needed new ideas… #nlpoli
There’s no small laugh to be had listening to Wade Locke, the government’s favourite economist. He was all over the media on Monday talking about fiscal responsibility, cutting revenues and…
An Historical Turning Point…?
Talked to my dad the other night. He told me that he could see himself voting for Justin Trudeau. This from a life-long NDPer, an old coal miner who can…
The Cons and the Shaming of the Poor
Every time Diane Finley tries to defend why she is waging war on the poor, she claims that it's just a question of saving money.Just like she did today when…
Right Wing Introduces New Concepts in Parliamentary Tradition: “The Buck Stops… Over There”
Regular readers of this blog will know that I maintain a sort of quixotic respect for our late lamented friend, the principle of ministerial responsibility. You’ll find it in the…
Two polls show how, and maybe why, Alberta’s Tory coalition is crumbling
Weakened but still standing: The mighty Tory edifice. Don’t panic. This is a metaphor! Below: Alberta Premier Alison Redford. It’s interesting to juxtapose the results of two new polls on…
The Unraveling
I’ve been talking a lot about how Canada’s own economic crisis isn’t going to be sudden but rather a gradual decline, each year getting worse from now on. The reason…
Prince Edward Island, 2nd time around
Just sharing some pictures of the random trip to PEI. Was invited to have lunch with the parents of my hosts and we played cards after. I can't remember what…
Prince Edward Island, 2nd time around
Just sharing some pictures of the random trip to PEI. Was invited to have lunch with the parents of my hosts and we played cards after. I can’t remember what…
Prince Edward Island, 2nd time around
Just sharing some pictures of the random trip to PEI. Was invited to have lunch with the parents of my hosts and we played cards after. I can't remember what…
What to expect in the spring sitting? Dirt, mud, and more dirt.
TweetAfter a three-month break, Members of Alberta’s Legislative Assembly will gather today in Edmonton to start the spring sitting. The commencement of this year’s first sitting will be unusual in…
Thinking Is Not Hard
Thinking is not hard to do, but some people treat it like others should do it for them. Clicking that link may be painful, as it has details of a…
5692…It’s In The Bag For JT
This is what everyone is saying. I know it is a modern world but I kinda miss the suspense of old fashioned conventions like the one the Ontario Liberals had…