No, not in your back yard
April 14, 2012 | 3 Comments
In my recent post arguing, in part, that Ottawa might benefit from a safe injection site, Peter responded, NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard). This is an understandable, if somewhat predictable, response. Generally speaking, people won’t want to live beside a haven for drug use (the same sentiment is usually aroused when discussing group homes, landfills [...]
Blogging Dimebag
April 12, 2012 | 4 Comments
Here are ten random thoughts I don’t feel like developing into full blog posts: 1. The Penny: Good riddance. It’s a waste of money and a waste of time. I’m surprised that the Tories actually brought in such a sound and reasonable policy. And if we’re worried that it will just result in stores rounding [...]
Do they really want him working that two extra years?
April 5, 2012 | 1 Comment
Recently, the federal government decided to make (eminently sensible) changes to Canada’s retirement age, raising it from 65 to 67. Apparently, though, that (eminently sensible) change isn’t going to affect the Prime Minister: All Canadian prime ministers who served at least four years in office are given a $100,000/year allowance beginning at the age of [...]
Well, this isn’t good
March 30, 2012 | 10 Comments
It seems a Tory MP got into a little (alleged) hot water after a recent visit to an Ottawa high school: Garry Breitkreuz, the Tory MP best known for his campaign to repeal the long-gun registry, denies an Ottawa woman’s claim that he was “promoting gun violence” during a recent speech to her daughter’s high [...]
Quebec, language and oppression
March 29, 2012 | 2 Comments
I’ve been negligent in responding to Jared’s thorough post on Quebec’s language laws. He makes some solid points, but I still think the overall jist of the post is off-base. It really deserves a thorough discussion, but I’m not sure I’m up to that right now, so - as one who is disgusted by Quebec’s language [...]
You can’t legislate docility
March 23, 2012 | 1 Comment
The Tories struck a blow for vacationing upper middle class families when they decided to step in and take some fundamental rights away from the workers at Air Canada. The assumption was, I guess, that if they bullied the unions quickly and swiftly, the unions would just roll over and take it. But, that’s not [...]
Vigilantes – all of them – are a threat [Updated]
March 23, 2012 | 5 Comments
This is why I think the Conservative government’s fetish for protecting vigilantes* the fetish for protecting vigilantes by all federal parties is more than just foolish, it’s deadly: What we have in Florida–and doubtlessly in other parts of the country–is the state relinquishing a crucial aspect of meting out justice. The logic here militates toward [...]
Let Air Canada rot
March 9, 2012 | No Comments
So the federal government has decided to step into the current Air Canada labour disputes, stripping workers (read: citizens) of their leverage in their contract negotiations. The government will make claims of saving the national economy or helping ‘average’ Canadians, but it’s all rhetoric. This isn’t about economics, it’s about control and it’s about politics. [...]
Do it for Kate
February 23, 2012 | No Comments
Our beloved Kate Chappell is set to embark on another adventure. Through CUSO International, she will soon be heading to Kingston, Jamaica to work with YOU Jamaica, a non-profiit organization that does mentoring and career counselling with the country’s youth. CUSO will be partially funding this endeavour, but Kate also needs to raise some funds, [...]
Abortion and the right way to kill our daughters
February 22, 2012 | 8 Comments
Recently, the Canadian Medical Association Journal made some waves with an editorial arguing in favour of regulations that would effectively ban sex-selective abortion. The desire to fight the misogyny associated with female feticide was quickly embraced by the population, as opinion polls showed that a clear majority of Canadians would support laws criminalizing sex-selective abortion. In [...]