On Canada Day
On this day it is often difficult for us not to feel smug when we look at so much of the world beyond our borders. While such complacence is never…
covid-19
Remember Climate Change?
We have a strong survival instinct that has us focus on immediate dangers at the expense of potential long term dangers. So we’ve been immersed in trying to solve Covid19…
The Ugly American
Probably first coined in a 1958 novel, The Ugly American is a term that, unfortunately, has clear and immediate relevance: The US has bought up virtually all the stocks for…
Are You Ready For A New And Deadly Pandemic?
The other day I took my first ride on the Toronto subway system since the Covid-19 crisis began, and I was both impressed and shocked.Impressed by the cleanliness of the…
The Kenney Government’s recovery plan — in times like these, we’re all Keynesians, up to a point, anyway
It’s not actually true that that everything was just copacetic in Alberta when COVID-19 kicked down the door and started smashing up the dishes. But you’ve got to give Travis…
In Retrospect: School in the Time of Covid
This video about online learning, “numb” by Liv McNeil, is making the rounds: This has been a difficult time, and the video is cathartic for some. But first a bit…
Public service managers’ return-to-workplace guide outlines plan to return public employees to government offices
With talk managers of Alberta’s public service are likely to be back in their offices next Monday preparing for the return of most of the rest of the government’s direct…
Donald Trump’s Most Wonderfully Hellish Week
I feel like I've waited half my life to get a picture of Donald Trump as good as that one, for never have I seen him look so beaten.It sums…
On Policing: On Finding the Line
A mask, six feet, and being outdoors: pick any two at a time, amirite? Plus wash your hands before and after eating or touching your face. Pretty easy. So, ironically,…
Covid-19 And The Dream Of A Better World
It's only been about four months since Covid-19 started sickening and killing people all over Canada and the world. And who knows how many more will die in the weeks…
Theirs Is Not To Reason
Owen’s blog post today discusses how the world sees the United States as a nation to be shunned, one of the reasons being its entirely inept handling of the Covid-19…
British Columbia’s largest raw log exporters (Mosaic Forest Management) make pitch to deregulate
Search A PROGRESSIVE TAKE ON BC ISSUES ABOUT TOPICS AUTHORS ARCHIVE FEATURES Jun 25, 2020 British Columbia’s largest raw log exporters make pitch to deregulate By Ben Parfitt Federal government…
Covid-19 In Perspective: An Open Letter
The following letter I wrote and sent out in response to a virtual town hall meeting this evening with our local MP and a local environmental group. I am sharing…
Just In Case The Blood Of The Lamb Doesn’t Protect You
… these pastors have a backup plan: Dream City Church, the north Phoenix megachurch set to host a Donald Trump rally on June 23, claims it has solved the pandemic…
David Hulchanski class discussion
I recently participated in a panel discussion in David Hulchanski’s graduate-level social housing and homelessness course at the University of Toronto. Points raised in the blog post include the fact…
A Unified Theory Of ….
I’ll leave you to supply the appropriate term to reflect this gentleman’s ‘insights’: These are the type of people who should be pepper sprayed, not peaceful protesters pic.twitter.com/hibwzJfLh1 — Rob…
SAFE HIRING OF HOMECARE DURING COVID
JOIN ME AND CO-PRESENTER MIKE GEORGE FOR A VIRTUAL GROUP SESSION ON SAFELY HIRING HOME CARE DURING COVID! DETAILS AND REGISTRATION HERE – Thursday, June 25th at Noon, eastern time…
As predicted, ‘Fair Deal’ Panel reheats the Firewall Manifesto to manufacture consent for policies Albertans don’t want
Consider the report of Alberta’s “Fair Deal” Panel, released yesterday by Premier Jason Kenney with considerable fanfare. It strongly suggests the Harper-Kenney wing of the Canadian Conservative movement is made…
Alert the media! Fair Deal Panel recommendations to be trotted out today
Today we will see the results of the efforts of Alberta’s Fair Deal Panel throughout the first half of 2020. We know this because the Kenney Government yesterday emailed out…