And Now, A Word From PropCan
About two weeks ago, the Toronto Star carried a story about the Harper regime’s engagement of the serves of a publicity agency called News Canada Ltd.. The organization provides copyright-free…
Letters to the Editor
2015: Day Two
H/t The Toronto Star Well, it is good to know that Star letter-writers have lost none of their edge over the holiday season. Responding to the paper’s recent editorial lacerating…
Remembrances Of Things Past
It was with some surprise that Canadians finally saw something positive emerge from the always suspicious and hateful Harper regime: its facilitation of talks between the U.S. and Cuba to…
Recognizing Harper For what He Is
Last evening I watched a PBS special on the folk trio Peter, Paul and Mary. Archival footage spanning over 50 years of the group and their times reminded me of…
Chris Alexander’s Faustian Pact
By all accounts, before he entered politics, Immigration Minister Chris Alexander was a competent and respected member of Canada’s foreign service; his resume includes the fact that he was Canada’s…
For The Record
About the undercarriage of that busy Tory bus, Star readers have much to say: Ex-Tory staffer jailed nine months for robocalls, Nov. 20 My sympathies go out to Michael Sona…
Just a Little Reminder
While the right enthuses about Dear Leader’s performance on the G20 world stage, here’s something to bring everyone back down to earth: And letter writers also have some thoughts to…
Anyone Up For A Citizen’s Arrest?
That is the question Toronto lawyer Paul Cavalluzzo essentially asks, given the egregious contempt for law that the Harper government in general, and Immigration Minister Chris Alexander in particular, is…
A Sobering Remembrance Day Reminder
I have to confess that all of the extra ‘enthusiasm’ for this year’s Remberance Day makes me uneasy. Poppy sales are at an all time high. Special and protracted ceremonies…
Tragedy Must Bring Out The Best In All Of Us
That is the sentiment expressed by Craig Wellington of Brampton in this fine lead letter from this morning’s Star: Let’s tone down the hate rhetoric. A tragedy occurred Wednesday and…
We Could All Be Joseph K.
“Someone must have been telling lies about Joseph K., for without having done anything wrong he was arrested one fine morning.” – The opening sentence of Franz Kafka’s The Trial…
Reactions To Michael Harris’ Book On Harper
Star readers weigh in with their usual perspicacity as they reflect on the message of Michael Harris’ new book, Party of One: Stephen Harper and Canada’s Radical Makeover, discussed previously…
On Encouraging Political Participation
The other day I wrote a post on John Cruickshank’s TED Talk about the low level of political participation among young citizens. His thesis was that as a society, we…
Some Critical Thinking About The War Against ISIS
Contrary to what governments want their citizens to do, that is precisely what the following Star letter-writers are engaging in as they ask the right questions and point out what…
The Harper Regime: 90 Pound Weaklings When It Comes To Heavy Lifting
As I indicated in yesterday’s post, the Harper Conservatives seem very selective in ‘standing up for the vulnerable’; they just don’t seem to have what it takes to do the…
About That Fifth Columnist In Ottawa….
Star readers have much to say: Harper downplays concerns about trade deal, Sept. 27 It’s a dangerous world but Big Oil, multinationals, banks, the wealthy and his party’s masters can…
About That War Thing
I am dismayed over the general collective amnesia that has once more taken hold of political leaders and the public over the latest so-called world threat. In the solution being…
This Is Not The Time For Absolutism
In the absolutist world of Stephen Harper, there are those who wear white hats and those who wear black. No berets (especially berets!) of middling colours are recognized. So when…
Star Readers Respond To Health Canada’s Fecklessness
While “Let them swallow tainted pharmaceuticals” seems to be the motto of both Health Minister Rona Ambrose and Health Canada, always-vigilant Star readers take issue with such deference to the…
Star Readers And Mandatory Voting
In response to a recent column by Susan Delacourt discussing mandatory voting, Star readers weigh in with their usual perspicacious observations, the majority in favour of a less radical solution…