A Crisis Of Legitimacy
The United States is a mess. And, Frank Bruni writes, it’s getting worse: Something unsettling is going on in American politics — in America, period — and the chaotic Democratic…
2020
42 Nobel Laureates Urge Trudeau to Act With ‘Moral Clarity’ and Stop Climate-Wrecking Teck Frontier Mine
Alberta’s oilsands north of Fort McMurray. Photo by Louis Bockner/Sierra Club BC. In an open letter to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, 42 Nobel…
Hate speech ≠ free speech.
Hate speech ≠ free speech
Saturday Photo: Concrete Getting Nearer
Next week I should get suggested revisions to my next book Concrete: From Ancient Origins to a Problematic Future. The University of Regina Press has set the publication date for…
Planes, Trains and Ski-Doos.
There is no more of an icon of business to Canadians than Bombardier. The company had its beginnings in 1935, with the snow coach designed by mechanic Joseph-Armand Bombardier. Since…
Wet’suwet’en update
He waited as long as he could, too long in the opinion of many. He was obviously hoping that peaceful negotiation could bring down the rail barricades, in the best…
Ruled by climate change deniers
Both the Horgan and Trudeau governments made symbolic commitments to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). Neither was sincere. Horgan passed UNDRIP into BC law…
The Great Gatsby — yes, that Great Gatsby — was the best-selling work of fiction in Alberta’s independent bookstores last week
Here are the lists of the top 10 fiction and non-fiction titles sold by independent booksellers in Alberta during the week ended Sunday, Feb. 16, 2020. The lists are compiled…
Justin Trudeau and the Day of Decision
He waited as long as he could, too long in the opinion of many.He was obviously hoping that peaceful negotiation could bring down the rail barricades, in the best Canadian…
A Bit about Cancel Culture and Academic Freedom
I’ve written before about how I support free speech but don’t support giving platforms to “White Nationalists” or neo-Nazis or any other racist group who could use the venue to…
The Price Ain’t Right
Back in August of 2018 our federal government bought us a pipeline. Not exactly a bargain, it set us back $4.5-billion. The pipeline, the Trans Mountain, carries oil from Edmonton…
Musical interlude
Tame Impala – Is It True
New column day
Here, on the attempt at a hostile takeover of the U.S.’ political system – and the need for Saskatchewan to update its campaign finance rules to avoid the same fate.…
Trudeau – the Barricades Must Come Down
Prime minister Trudeau has said “the barricades must now come down, the injunctions must be obeyed, and the law must be upheld.” It’s not clear whether Trudeau was referring to…
The Last Frontier – Teck’s Fuzzy Math
Vancouver mining company, Teck Resources, is increasing the pressure on the Trudeau government to approve its Frontier mine proposal for the Athabasca Tar Sands. Teck claims it will face a…
income support for low-income households in Alberta
Next week, Jason Kenney’s UCP government will table its second budget. With that in mind, I’ve written a blog post titled “Ten things to know about income support for low-income…
About that "Buffalo" Business.
Somebody should let Michelle Rempel in on this. This is a buffalo found in Africa, the Cape Buffalo. This is the water buffalo found in Asia. This majestic beast, however,…
Might is Not Right: A Historical Perspective on Coercion as a Colonial Strategy
Full-dress mounted parade by members of the North-West Mounted Police near Calgary, September 1901. I, like many Canadians, watched in horror as the RCMP’s invasion of unceded Wet’suwet’en territory in…
Buffalo Leap
This has been a crazy couple of weeks in our politics and let’s face it, we’re in a very fraught time. There are lots of tensions out there, lots of…