Who Benefits From Income Splitting?
Rich folk. From this guy. No wonder Finance Minister Jim Flaherty is having doubts. I can’t see this as being good politics, and it wouldn’t surprise me if his negative…
February 2014
Feb. 12: legal abuse of children in the US, destruction of democracy in Canada, abandonment of Native Peoples….
These are three, major stories that cry out for editorial comment – or some sort of comment. I’ve been waiting. But only one story has appeared at all in the…
Karen Stintz, defender of all things Conservative
Check this out: I find that fascinating. What interests me most is Stintz’s decision to (a) attack someone who clearly has her worried (b) her bizarro swing at the NDP…
Canada Risking Environment By Playing Along With Trans Pacific Partnership
The recent leak of the environmental chapter of the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) — a massive free trade deal being negotiated by 14 countries, including Canada — only serves to…
About that "Hiatus" in Surface Warming
Climate change denialists have latched fiercely on research showing an apparent hiatus in global surface temperature warming. They spin it to claim that global warming is over or never was…
Dangerous and erratic weather in U.S
Signs of more dangerous storms to come as the effects of climate change become more intense. What will the deniers say now? Global climate change – from human activities –…
America’s Rex Murphy
Not that I would wish someone like Rex Murphy on any country, even America. That said, there are eerie parallels to be drawn between our man’s slide into neo-conservatism and…
Heather Mallick And The Climate Of Fear
Toronto Star columnist Heather Mallick has a lacerating assessment this morning of the political landscape we now inhabit, thanks to the machinations of the Harper cabal. Owen, over at Norther…
2015 – Will Britain Have to Endure a Year Without War?
There’s a real prospect that next year could break a streak of more than 100-consecutive years in which Britain’s military has engaged in some form of armed conflict. Today’s lead…
Making Sense of Philip Seymour Hoffman’s Death
The death of Philip Seymour Hoffman elicited a range of powerful emotions. Some expressed empathy and sorrow. Others were incredibly dismissive and hostile. It made me realize how removed most…
That Routinue Mammogram Could Be Not What the Doctor Needed to Order
Eight years ago, just about now, I got a call telling me that a routinue mammorgram had showed suspicious tissue, and it looked like I had ductal carcinoma in situ…
Wednesday Morning Links
This and that for your mid-week reading. – Erin Weir posts the statement of a 70-strong (and growing) list of Canadian economists opposed to austerity. Heather Mallick frames the latest…
LHIN Review: Unifying a system, dividing a community
You have to feel a little bit for the MPPs that are sitting on the all-party Standing Committee on Social Policy. Somehow in the sweet victory of election night it…
Could We, You and Me, Become Democratically Damaged Goods?
We Canadians live in a significantly authoritarian state. Ours is becoming something of a Surveillance State. We have secret police agencies that include the state security apparatus and that liase…
140 Law – Legal Headlines for Wednesday, February 12, 2014
Here are the leading legal headlines from Wise Law on Twitter for Wednesday, February 12, 2014: New Ontario Superior Court Judges appointed B.C. liquor officials probe claims Rob Ford was…
A mean and meaningless federal budget.
The arrogance of the Harper Conservatives knows no bounds. Federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty delivered a budget with such a thin veneer of civility yesterday that he could do nothing…
A Scientific Approach to Better Urban Design
Urban design is not an easy activity because of the multitude of variables that impact the overall urban experience. There are buildings, traffic (foot and vehicular), landmarks, natural occurrences like…
An Initial Reaction To The Budget
To paraphrase the Soup Nazi, young people, “No job for you!” This message brought to you by the Harper government, not hard at work for you. H/t PressProgress Recommend this…
Crusty Clark’s Throne Speech – Barf
We’ve got nobody to blame for it but ourselves. Well, ourselves and that dork who led the NDP in the last provincial election. “It” was Crusty Clark’s throne speech delivered…