Canada’s morale deficit
November 30, 2011 | 2 Comments
The other day, a run with a friend took me by the Lester B. Pearson building, a bunker-like structure that houses hundreds of Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade staff. The building overlooks the Ottawa River, the Parliament Buildings, the National Gallery. It was late afternoon, so the sunset had coloured the entire sky pink [...]
The Occupy Movement And The Tea Party: Different Narratives, Common Dangers
November 29, 2011 | No Comments
I’ve posted an article at the political site Vive Le Canada discussing the Occupy movement, the Tea Party, and the common danger some of their members pose to the democratic discourse in Canada: http://www.vivelecanada.ca/article/235931034-the-occupy-movement-and-the-tea-party-different-narratives-common-dangers Questions and comments are welcome.
Dalton McGuinty is on Crack
November 29, 2011 | 1 Comment
…Liberal MPP Grant Crack, that is. In a wonderful display of sanity, the Ontario Liberal government seems ready to examine our antiquated and oppressive liquor laws. Now, after a governmental body shut down a beer delivery service launched as a fundraiser for Operation Come Home, local MPP Grant Crack is leading the charge in re-evaluating [...]
5 Questions
November 29, 2011 | 2 Comments
One of our regulars sent me an email the other day (well, the other week – I’ve been a bit busy, sorry) asking me a few follow up questions about some of my recent (well, not-so-recent now) posts. Not to assume that everyone would be interested in my opinions (though you are reading this blog), [...]
It’s my wife, I can do what I want*
November 29, 2011 | 5 Comments
In the comments of my previous post on polygamy, valued reader (and guest contributor) Alex argues (responding to my comment that marriage does not rely on the state): Marriage entirely relies on the state. The concept of marriage has very little to do with the two individuals in question, but more to do with the [...]
Polygamy is still illegal… sort of
November 28, 2011 | 8 Comments
Scott Stinson is right; the most recent judicial ruling on polygamy is vexing. In case you hadn’t heard, the British Columbia Supreme Court ruled last week that Canada’s prohibition of polygamy is constitutional. Still, the ruling was quite limited, and detailed just how people could live in polygamous relationships legally (hint: don’t hold a religious [...]
Happy New Year
November 28, 2011 | 1 Comment
Fittingly, no time of year brings me more hope, joy or love than Christmastime, so as this past Sunday marks the beginning Advent, I thought I’d wish y’all a happy new year. Sadly, Christmas doesn’t always bring us as much peace as it should. Far too many bathe it in politics, and many more miss out [...]
Won’t someone please think of that woman’s child?
November 25, 2011 | No Comments
Thanks to The Volunteer‘s Hugh MacIntyre, I read an unsurprisingly weak column* by The Citizen‘s Kelly Egan. It appears that one son of one mother became addicted to marijuana, and, thus “ordinary” Canadians don’t want it to be legalized. Usually, a writer might have more shame than to end a story about the experience of [...]
The 1% are going after our beer
November 25, 2011 | No Comments
When I wrote about the Occupy movement in The Mark a few weeks ago, I made reference to a number of ways that the government gets into bed with big business, thus creating Occupy’s “corporatocracy” (their word, not mine). I suggested that all of us, whether we considered ourselves represented by the 99% or not, should [...]
The Canadian Bear Growls
November 25, 2011 | 4 Comments
If you were in downtown Ottawa yesterday, you had the pleasure of another freudian political display of military might, as the federal government decided that it was necessary and appropriate to have multiple bombers, jets and helicopters fly over the capital in commemoration of our armed insurgence into Libya - the roars of these beasts trumpeting the [...]