On diversions
It should come as no surprise that the Globe and Mail's ongoing paean to high-end charitable tax breaks is apparently linked to a request from the Harper Cons. But perhaps…
Cons
Monday Morning Links
Miscellaneous material to start your week.- Tim Harper wonders what's next for the Occupy movement, but rightly notes that state crackdowns are completely unwarranted. And Jacqueline Kennelly highlights the value…
Parliament In Review: October 19, 2011
Wednesday, October 19 saw plenty of discussion of the Cons' legislation to undermine the Canadian Wheat Board - both in the second-reading debate on the bill, and assorted procedural moves…
Sunday Afternoon Links
Assorted content to end your weekend.- Of course the ongoing leadership race will do plenty to determine the NDP's future direction. But for those thinking all will be quiet in…
Saturday Afternoon Links
Miscellaneous material for your weekend reading.- Susan Riley comments on Brian Topp's mention of raising taxes as a necessary price of greater equality and better social programs:(H)owever reasonable, limited or…
Wildrose Push Poll?
I got an automated polling call last night and out of curiosity listened to it all the way through. It very quickly became clear I was probably listening to a…
Parliament In Review: October 18, 2011
There hasn't been as much reporting on the Cons' re-introduction of copyright legislation as there was at some other points when previous incarnations were up for discussion. But Tuesday, October…
Thursday Morning Links
This and that for your Thursday reading.- J. David Hulchanski identifies the most important common theme within the Occupy movement:One thing the “Occupy” movement does not lack is a clear…
A need for debate
It's been pointed out elsewhere that the Cons are invoking closure on multiple difference types of legislation in order to ensure that their sweeping changes aren't subject to proper public…
Tuesday Afternoon Links
Assorted content for your afternoon reading.- Lawrence Martin argues that with an NDP Official Opposition at the same time as the effects of inequality and greed continue to send shockwaves…
Tuesday Morning Links
This and that for your Tuesday reading.- Marc Lee charts the share of financial assets held by Canadians of different income levels. And it shouldn't come as much surprise that…
Sunday Afternoon Links
Miscellaneous material to end your weekend.- Doug Cuthand makes the case for First Nations resource ownership as a matter of historical right:When the numbered treaties were negotiated in Saskatchewan in…
Parliament In Review: October 7, 2011
Friday, October 7 was the last day in the House of Commons before the week-long Thanksgiving break. And there was plenty to chew on as MPs left their final mark…
Sunday Morning Links
This and that for your Sunday reading.- Erin compares the numbers behind the NDP and Sask Party platforms, with the one major difference being the windfall potash profits the Wall…
Saturday Morning Links
Assorted content for your weekend reading.- Marc Lee reminds us that income disparities are only a small part of the picture of an increasingly unequal economy - with wealth inequality…
Helpful hint
If the best thing anybody is prepared to say about a policy is to recognize that it contains exceptions which don't go far enough, that's not exactly an endorsement.
Parliament In Review: October 6, 2011
On a personal note, October 6 saw the first question period that I'll be able to blog about after seeing in person - as well as the first time I've…
A sad commentary indeed
Yes, it probably is a victory for the federal opposition parties to win hearings into the effect of cuts to Veterans Affairs as a result of Con members who failed…
New column day
It's bad enough having a federal government whose reaction to social problems is to tell the provinces, "No, you go first in dealing with them. I insist." But it's much…
Fighting back
It's probably been nothing more than a matter of time before a few more of the institutions in crosshairs of the Cons and their allies started fighting back rather than…