Mulcair, Manning and the Unrealized Common Ground
April 29, 2013 | No Comments
I recently published an op-ed in my local newspaper discussing energy politics and environmentalism, and how Canadians share much more common ground on these issues than most people realize, citing the examples of federal NDP leader Thomas Mulcair and former Reform Party leader Preston Manning. Comments and feedback are of course welcome. As a sidenote, [...]
Political Stereotypes and Trade Tribunals
April 18, 2013 | No Comments
Last month, I published a couple of new articles on Vive Le Canada: The first is a commentary criticizing the ridiculous political stereotypes that are so prevalent in some political circles, and how they’re often pure bull. The second is a commentary that examined the issue of “judicial activism” so frequently decried by conservative commentators, [...]
The Rights-And Responsibilities-Of Free Speech
March 15, 2013 | 2 Comments
By now, everyone’s probably heard about the sickening comments conservative academic Tom Flanagan made about child pornography. The backlash was swift and immediate-the provincial Wildrose Alliance party of Alberta fired Flanagan, the CBC dropped him from its Power And Politics political news show, the Manning Centre for Building Democracy dropped Flanagan from its list of [...]
The Trudeau Paradox And Canadian Unity: Nationalism and Reconciliation
January 16, 2013 | 6 Comments
Last year’s Quebec election, when the Parti Quebecois returned to power, only reinforced the perception of many Canadians outside Quebec that the province was spoiled and bigoted, only staying in Canada for the financial gains, discriminating against its minorities and threatening to separate if it didn’t get its way. After four decades of Quebecers in [...]
David McGuinty And The Roots Of Alberta Alienation
November 21, 2012 | 3 Comments
By now, everyone’s probably heard about Ontario Liberal MP David McGuinty’s claims that Stephen Harper and other Alberta Conservative MPs are “shills” for the oil industry and that they should just go back to Alberta. Needless to say, Albertans are outraged, and with very good reason. Interim Liberal leader Bob Rae has publicly apologized for [...]
A Tale Of Two Constitutions: The Easy Way, And The Hard Way
September 4, 2012 | 4 Comments
All this talk about the Quebec election reminded me of something else I’ve observed in relation to the Constitutions of Canada and the United States. In particular, it has to do with the ways both countries have modified their constitutions over the years. In Canada, the recent debate over Senate reform has led to the [...]
Reflections After Canada Day: Thoughts on Canada’s 145th Year
July 13, 2012 | 4 Comments
I recently wrote an article discussing the supposed collapse of what John Ibbitson calls the “Laurentian Consensus” and the subsequent shifting of political and economic power towards Western Canada. In my mind, with Western alienation having been such a major political issue for such a long time, we have to be careful not to simply [...]
A Question On The Abortion Debate
May 17, 2012 | 2 Comments
The abortion debate has reappeared in Canada, and is causing quite a stir on Parliament Hill. In the United States, the issue is extremely high-profile, with anti-abortion activists frequently opposing it for religious reasons. The curious thing is that I can’t recall finding anything specifically related to birth control in my readings of the New [...]
A New Progressive Narrative: What Could Be A Part Of It, And What Should Not
May 17, 2012 | No Comments
I’ve posted a new article at Vive Le Canada on what could be part of a new progressive narrative that better reflects today’s political reality, and what should not be a part of it. Questions and comments are of course welcome.
Language and Immigration: From Quebec to English Canada
March 22, 2012 | 5 Comments
I’m currently reading Claude Ryan’s book Regards sur le fédéralisme canadien (A look at Canadian federalism), which describes Ryan’s perspectives on Canadian federalism and Québec’s place in it. Ryan was the leader of the Liberal Party of Quebec from 1978 to 1982, and was one of the provincial leaders of the NO forces in the [...]