An Open Letter To Premier Smith
Dear Premier Smith, It wasn't that long ago that you were standing at the podium telling us that Bills 26, 27, and 29 were so well crafted that you were…
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Eating on the road: Lounge and plane food from my summer vacation — part two
After five amazing and relaxing nights in the Maldives, and some great meals I will review separately, it was back into the air for the next leg of my journey…
The Charter Is Far More Complex Than This
So, over at Macleans, we have an opinion writer who thinks the Notwithstanding Clause (S33) is a "Good Thing". The author largely is making the argument that "too much power…
Eating on the road: Lounge and plane food from my summer vacation — part one
As I prepare to venture to Montreal for a mini-vacation and a good steak frites, it occurs to me I have fallen woefully behind in my food blogging. So to…
The Premier Who Would Be Queen
Danielle Smith wants to promote herself to monarch. She's discovered that she can magick your rights away at a whim with The Notwithstanding Clause (S33). Smith has in the last…
Wherein Colin Wright Takes A Victory Lap
Over in The Wall Street Journal, author Colin Wright takes a victory lap declaring that transgender youth are in fact the result of "social contagion". As you might expect, he's…
Reserve Powers, The Notwithstanding Clause, and Unjust Laws
Since the Smith-led UCP government in Alberta saw fit to invoke The Notwithstanding Clause (S33) of The Charter of Rights and Freedoms (The Charter) to order teachers back to work…
Alberta Bill 2 and The Notwithstanding Clause
So, Alberta has used S33 as part of its “Back To Work” legislation for ending the teachers strike. There will be many pixels of virtual ink spilled over this. Much…
Conservatism Is Dead
Conservatism in Canada is no longer a coherent political philosophy. It has become a hybrid of a business that sells access to power, and a collection of people who have…
Parasitic Capitalism (Oilpatch Edition)
I have little love for the oil & gas industry in Alberta. Having grown up here, worked in and adjacent to the industry for years, I have become increasingly disillusioned,…
So Poilievre Doesn’t Like Birthright Citizenship
I see that Poilievre has borrowed another page from GOP politics - this time he’s going after birthright citizenship. Birthright citizenship is really nothing more than “if you are born…
Dear Conservative Premiers: The Charter Isn’t Up For Shredding
So the 5 conservative premiers have sent a letter to Carney demanding that the Attorney General of Canada (AGC) withdraw its filing with the Supreme Court of Canada (SCC) regarding…
Of Parliamentary Sovereignty and Notwithstanding Clauses
Something that has been bugging me ever since various conservatives started yammering about (ab)using the Notwithstanding Clause (S33) in the Charter has been the phrase "Parliamentary Sovereignty". Neither The Constitution…
Of Structure, Hierarchy, and Balance of Power
In the submission of the Attorney General of Alberta (AGA) to the Supreme Court of Canada (SCC) in English Montreal School Board, et al. v. Attorney General of Quebec, et…
Deep Dive: Intervenor Arguments Regarding S33
With some 60 or more intervenors in English Montreal School Board, et al. v. Attorney General of Quebec, et al. before the Supreme Court of Canada (SCC), there is a…
An Argument For Limiting S33 Of The Charter
S33 (The Notwithstanding Clause) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (The Charter) is a "nuclear weapon" that can be used to override the guarantees in the rest of…
10 thoughts on the Ontario Liberal Party AGM this weekend
I’m on the train on my way back to Ottawa for the return of Parliament after spending the weekend in Toronto for the Ontario Liberal Party Annual General Meeting. And…
Dear Skeptic Mag: Kindly Fuck Right Off
So, over at Skeptic, we find an article criticizing "experts" (read academics, researchers, etc) for being "too political". Put kindly, this is complete stupidity - from people who should be…
Dear Skeptic Mag: Kindly Fuck Right Off
So, over at Skeptic, we find an article criticizing "experts" (read academics, researchers, etc) for being "too political". Put kindly, this is complete stupidity - from people who should be…
Premier Smith Blinks On Banning Books
So, late yesterday, Premier Sith Smith blinked on her ban of 2SLGBTQ books from schools. I have opinions. This follows on the heels of the Edmonton Public School Board (EPSB)…