Tough acts to follow
This week has marked the untimely departure of two charismatic leaders from the helm of two very different organizations. Canada’s New Democratic Party Jack Layton succumbed to cancer, shortly after…
Canada
One last, brief word about Mr. Layton…
Scores of Canadians are going to speak and write eloquently about Mr. Layton, and what – if any – legacy he will leave, and they will opine on this truly…
2011 Ontario Election: Religion in the Riding of Parkdale Highpark
Religion usually isn't a dominant issue in Canadian politics. While there is certainly a general correlation with higher levels of Christian religiosity among conservatives, prominent debates over religion as the…
Who else has had a State Funeral in Canada?
The Government of Canada has a website for its funerals. Here’s a bit of history trivia for you to catch up on. Many of the names I do not know.…
We’ll Miss You, Jack
Today is the state funeral for the Leader of the New Democratic Party of Canada, and the Leader of the Official Opposition in the Canadian Parliament, Mr. Jack Layton. Like…
Liveblog of Jack Layton’s Funeral
It’s been an astonishing week since Jack Layton’s death and not-so-surprising outpouring of public grief and recognition of what he brought to Canadian politics and public service: optimism and integrity,…
Endorsing Justin Trottier, Green Party of Ontario Candidate, Parkdale-High Park
I am proud to throw my out-of-riding support behind Justin Trottier, Green Party of Ontario, whom is seeking to represent the Parkdale – High Park riding. Justin Trottier is a…
Buskerfest
Where I was Thursday. I’m not very good at writing art review-style critiques using high-flown language, but I can say that I enjoyed Buskerfest a lot. There’s a bit of…
Jack Layton: A Funeral Befitting A Great Canadian
It’s one of those solemn Canadian moments: A casket draped in the flag of Canada. A body lying in state on Parliament Hill. Canadian flag on the Peace Tower and…
Greatly Exaggerated Rumours, Jack Layton Edition
by matttbastard Michael Valpy addresses the current conventional wisdom that without Jack Layton, the NDP — and Canada’s left — is now doomed, doomed, DOOMED! Ahem. Sorry ’bout that. Now,…
Wasn’t This Solved in the ’60s? Re-Branding is Ineffective
The 1960′s saw Canada pick up a new flag. We even gave it a day, February 15th, to be celebrated. Canada’s New(TM) Harper Government(TM) is undertaking a “re-branding” of the…
What I Found in my Garden
A turtle. I remember as a child reading about turtles (or tortoises) in England, where all proper gardens seemed to have one — and being rather charmed by the idea.…
The Power of Provinces and the Importance of the 2011 Ontario Election
When Stephen Harper won a majority in the federal election he did this first and foremost by attracting a large body of voters who had not voted for him in…
Pond scum
Meet your equals. Share and Enjoy: Trashy, Ottawa, Ontario
There is a time and there is a place…
… for cynicism and criticism. There is a time and a place to back off and show some respect. You’d think that less than 24 hours after the death of…
About Jack
Hearing about Jack Layton’s death from cancer driving home a couple of days ago was like a hard punch in the head, and I nearly went off the road. My…
There’s plenty of Muslim discrimination in the U.S. but what about Canada?
Amidst the hectic rustle and bustle of tweets, Facebook conversations, blog posts and cafe debates on all things provincial politics, there is one topic that I almost forgot about. It’s…
RIP, Honorable Jack Layton!
I’m still shocked by the untimely passing this morning of the Federal NDP leader, Jack Layton, at the age of 61. Canada has lost a great champion. Jack will be…
Jack Layton: Canada, and Canadian Families with Autistic Children, Have Lost A Strong, Compassionate Voice
Photograph by Fred Greeslade, Reuters There will be many words spoken to express the great loss that Canadians feel on hearing of the passing of Jack Layton. His positive, feisty,…