Saturday Photo: Chartres, Light at the End of the Tunnel
This is about the time of year when we might start talking about what to do and where to go this summer. Probably won’t be doing that this year, again.…
March 2021
Racist Politics At Its Worst
For decades, Republicans talked in code. They claimed they wanted to ensure “voter security.” Now they’ve dropped the code. They’re saying the ugly stuff out loud. Exhibit A, Ruth Marcus…
Do we really understand China?
They are known to most Canadians as ‘the Two Michaels.’ They have been in prison in China since before the pandemic. Michael Kovrig, a former diplomat, and Michael Spavor, a…
UCP gobsmacked by widely anticipated Supreme Court ruling – Jason Kenney: No Plan, No Way!
According to Alberta Premier Jason Kenney, he was so sure his government would win its challenge of the federal government’s carbon-mitigation law that he never gave it a second thought,…
We get letters: hey, it’s the new GG!
And he’s my pen pal!
Joshua Whitehead’s Jonny Appleseed tops Alberta independent bookshops’ fiction bestseller list for week ended March 21
Here are the lists of the top 10 fiction and non-fiction titles sold by independent booksellers in Alberta during the week ended Sunday, March 21, 2021. The lists are compiled…
Musical interlude
Danko Jones – I Want Out
Lichens of South Georgian Bay
In recent months, I have developed an interest in lichens: wondering what species live in our area, how and where they grow, which plants are their competitors or companions, why…
Justin Trudeau’s Amazing Carbon Tax Victory
Just over two years ago the Con fluffer Paul Wells promoted this ghastly gang of Con carbon tax deniers, calling them The Resistance. And claiming they were "Justin Trudeau's worst…
Obeisance to privilege
Instead of $60 million, Teck Resources should be paying a fine closer to $1 billion. What Teck has been penalized won’t make a dent in their cash resources. Nor does…
When Science Needs Time to Grieve
One of the back stories to the climate crisis is the rate of burnout experienced by climate scientists. Some have migrated into other fields. Some have found teaching jobs in…
On fossilized assumptions
The comparative cost of different power options in the real world: The world’s best solar power schemes now offer the “cheapest…electricity in history” with the technology cheaper than coal and…
Land grabs for rare earth metals continue outside the South American Lithium Triangle
Mongolia has long been one of Canada’s closest partners in Asia as a source of strategic metals and minerals, while occupying a fulcrum point between Southeast Asia, Russia and the…
Friday Morning Links
Assorted content to end your week. – John Smith discusses the importance of recognizing and repairing the weaknesses in our social fabric which have been laid bare by the coronavirus…
A Pox On All Their Houses
In the life of any Parliament, there are high points and low points of varying degrees. There are times when a party will take one position and then when they…
A Fluid Situation
In what can only be described initially as a fluid situation, assuming he wandered in from a nearby water body, a beaver, proceeded to a Toronto subway station, presumably to…
Council Just Waves Its Hands
Council waving its hands. Making ineffective flapping gestures. It sounds like it should be some sort of metaphorical phrase. Something from the Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra episode of Star…
The Carbon Tax
The Supreme court has ruled on the carbon tax. Dianne Saxe writes that yesterday was a good day: When pollution is “free” we get more of it; when polluters pay…
Billions to nowhere.
It seems strange to have a provincial budget that spends close to $200 billion in the coming year and ignores the most vulnerable among us. It is a budget that…
Supreme Court settles the carbon pricing matter in Ottawa’s favour – and maybe a lot more than that
Canadians worried about the survival of the country had cause for relief yesterday morning with news the Supreme Court of Canada had ruled 6-3 the federal government is entitled to…