Baksheesh, bustarella, schmiergeld, kuroi kiri
What’s in a name? That which we call a rose, by any other name would smell as sweet. – William Shakespeare Organizations that aim to safeguard assets create effective operational…
ethics
"I’ve got more than enough to eat at home," Ford says
You couldn’t get the best scriptwriters in Hollywood or Broadway to come up with this line. Rob Ford, responding this morning to numerous allegations that he hired a call girl…
Take a time out already, Rob!
So Rob Ford has actually admitted it. He’s bought illegal drugs during the last two years. Notwithstanding that concession, 30 of 44 councillors on Toronto City Council voted to ask…
No more excuses
There is no question: this generation will be held responsible for our actions, and even more, for our inaction. Apathy, complacency and denial are morally unacceptable. In fact, at this…
As always, it’s the coverup (if that’s what it is)
At this point, I really don’t give a damn if Toronto Mayor Rob Ford did drugs. If he did it certainly hasn’t impaired his performance as a politician. What I…
Harper picks CETA over H of C
I couldn’t believe it when I heard it on the radio this morning. On the first day of the debate regarding the Reply to the Speech from the Throne, Stephen…
My thoughts on "death with dignity"
The recent passing of Dr. Donald Low, who guided Toronto through the SARS crisis in 2003, unexpectedly sparked a revival of the difficult issue of assisted suicide when his widow,…
Broken trust
After shifting his focus in recent months, Alex Tsakumis is blogging again and getting ready to launch yourshow.ca as a 3-hour a day webcast on politics, media and other current…
In the dining room, an OOPs moment
Link to copy of original job offer
A Case Against Invading Syria
With the UK and the United States arguing that it’s time to take action against Syria, it seems a good time to consider the consequences of such involvement from the…
That was then; this is now
Much of my youth was spent in the coastal mill town of Powell River. Paying excellent wages, the pulp, paper and lumber company directly employed almost 2,500 workers. It hired…
In Canada, hungry aboriginal kids, adults used as nutritional experiment subjects
In Canada, hungry aboriginal kids and adults were used as unwitting subjects of nutritional experiments by Canadian government bureaucrats during and after World War II, The Canadian Press reported Tuesday.…
Get Help Choosing an Ethical Career
80,000 Hours is a student run organization at Oxford University that helps people find a job or career in something that makes the world better. This is great for so…
Rathgeber leaves Cons — others should follow
Brent Rathgeber resigned from the Conservative caucus last night, after his proposed private member’s bill was basically emaciated by his fellow backbenchers. His proposed bill, C-461, has one very simple…
Friday Morning Links
Assorted content to end your week. – A new Ipsos-Reid poll shows that nearly 90% of Canadians support higher taxes on the rich generally, and million-dollar incomes in particular. And…
Isn’t it time Parliament was like this EVERY day?
How refreshing it was to see a real Question Period in the House of Commons yesterday. No histrionics. No shouting. No talking points that totally ducked the issue asked about.…
“I didn’t know!” – the death throes of a desperate squirmer
The Conservatives are losing their favourite, time-tested tactic to reset public opinion: just say the word “sponsorship.” For seven long years, anytime they could be criticised for ethical lapses, for…
Connections between wealth and power flourish in secret
An article I published almost three years ago is timely on this election day. Voters have an opportunity to change direction. If we do not, the plundering of British Columbia…
Labrador Byelection: May says Harper violated Conflict Of Interest Act
By: Obert Madondo | The Canadian Progressive: Green Party Leader Elizabeth May suggests that PM Stephen Harper’s handling of the Panashue affair violated the Conflict of Interest Act. The Saanich-Gulf…
NOT for the people
In an 1830 speech, Massachusetts Senator Daniel Webster said that government should be “Made for the people, made by the people, and answerable to the people.” British Columbia’s present ruling…