Canada’s shameful vote against Palestinian statehood
Yesterday marked a shameful moment in the history of this country’s foreign policy. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas asked the UN General Assembly to recognize Palestine as an observer state ……
Canada
Fossils In Harper Government Recognized In Doha
Yes, it’s the annual UN Climate negotiations, which means that it’s time for Canada to start receiving its Fossil awards. This comes as no surprise to any Canadians who pay…
And Today Conservatives Respect Police Chiefs
Conservatives only respect police when police agree with Conservatives. In 2010 Conservative MP Candice Bergen, then Candice Hoeppner, dismissed the opinion of the Canadian Association of Police Chiefs (CAPC) when…
When I Look At the World I Always See Canada
These days most of my political views of Canada are informed by what I learn about events and conditions outside Canada. And, as I learn more of those events and…
There’s Only One Position and It’s Filled
Call him what you like, Beelzebub, the Prince of Darkness, the Baron of Bland, today's Corporate Canada has its administrator in chief and we call him Stephen J. Harper.Here's a…
Liar, Liar, Head’s On Fire
There’s an excellent animation of this sad situation regarding toxic fire retardants, in the video called “Story of Stuff”, which also explores the messed-up nature of our whole global economic…
POSITION ANALYSIS: A Scathing Indictment of Neoliberalism And The Privatized Delivery of Social Services in Canada
The increasingly privatized delivery of social services under neoliberal governments is arguably doing real damage to the Canadian welfare state. Discussions about neoliberalism, which as the Oxford Concise Dictionary of…
Petty partisan politics…
…trumps good legislation most of the time in Harper’s government. And that is really too bad, especially in this case because this was a good Private Members Bill that should…
Honesty In Politics: Punished, With Good Reason?
If politicians don’t start being a little more brutally honest about some well established facts, and how they endanger life, then expect them to support laws that endanger us all.…
Green byelection blues
Alas, the Green Party didn’t pick any seats up in the Nov 26 Canadian federal by-elections. While their strong showings probably count as a real moral victory, I imagine at…
Why Being Conservative With Business Is Bad Business
Turns out Conservatives can't grow businesses liberally. Go figure. Since Stephen Harper became Prime Minister the World Bank reports that Canada has fallen from the 4th most business friendly nation…
Canadian democracy—always good for a laugh
Headline: Conservative Joan Crockatt wins Calgary Centre by-election with 37 per cent of the vote. So … I will now have an MP most of my fellow constituents don’t want…
Back when Conservatives…
… were “Progressive” (and even palatable), there was this guy. Former PM Joe Clark was interviewed for this insightful piece in the Citizen, which you should all read. He is…
America’s Broken Senate
There might not be a more persuasive argument against an elected senate than the American example. From filibustering to partisan deadlock to disproportionate representation, this broken institution south of our…
By-election Monday; Plan to Fix Democracy
Well, the polls are closed in Victoria, Calgary, and Durham, ON so it’s time for some results. Since the voters of Durham were foolish enough to stick with Oda after…
Why The Rob Ford Verdict Is Good For Canada
That Justice Charles Hackland found Mayor Rob Ford in violation of the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act and ordered him removed from office bodes well for a more progressive Canada.…
Here’s a headline I’d rather not see
Checking The Guardian on my morning round of news websites, I encountered the following headline: “Canada, the surprise “pariah” of the Kyoto protocol.” The subhead went on to add, “Some…
Justin Bieber and Chris Brown
Justin Bieber at the Grey Cup wasn’t the only ‘interesting’ pop music story of yesterday. I’m not a Bieber expert (Belieber), but I did watch his biopic a few months…
The last traces of the…
… hated-by-the-west National Energy Program (NEP) were gone by the end of 1986 under PM Brian Mulroney (who is, incidentally the last true Conservative PM… unless you count Liberal PM…
#YYCCentre By-election Pie Debate
The latest candidate debate in Calgary Centre riding had a twist, it was also a meat-pie contest. The winning pie, provided by the NDP candidate, was bison-tourtiere. The silliness didn’t…