The human cost of manufacturing our iPhones
January 26, 2012 | 9 Comments
Canada has fared relatively well during the current economic crisis. There are many reasons why, as many as why the U.S. has suffered so much. One factor shielding Canada is also something that people lament: a lack of a substantial manufacturing base. This extends to an innovation or productivity gap. So while Canada has definitely [...]
So is dual citizenship really dangerous?
January 19, 2012 | 5 Comments
The more I think about it, the more the issue of citizenship seems to beg greater discussion than the rhetoric thrown around when political parties want to attack their competitors. (Thanks to everyone for their thoughtful comments on the previous post.) And the debate is unavoidable, since globalization continues to advance it. So Andrew Coyne [...]
More than one nationality is dangerous
January 17, 2012 | 5 Comments
The question of citizenship in political office has re-emerged. NDP MP Thomas Mulcair also holds French citizenship, which he secured through his wife, who was born in France. Perhaps this is just the Sun newspaper chain agitating the issue in a slow news period, as protest is minimal. Nevertheless, the question of dual citizenship pops [...]
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 [...]
Traffic anarchy
November 1, 2011 | 2 Comments
Today I drove from the south end of Ottawa to the north end. It took longer than it should have- traffic and such. But I experienced no collisions, no near misses, no mishaps. This is because I- and the vast majority of other drivers- abided by the rule of law governing the roads. We stopped [...]
Conflict emerges at Occupy Ottawa site
October 30, 2011 | 6 Comments
Uh oh. Things aren’t going so well at the Occupy Ottawa site downtown. This is not especially shocking; regardless of how human beings organize themselves politically, conflict is timeless and ubiquitous. But the conflict is escalating such that safety concerns are now arising after a blanket soaked with bodily fluids was thrown about in the [...]
Maybe I was wearing too many symbols of corporate greed?
October 16, 2011 | 5 Comments
It is cool and blustery here in Ottawa. A perfect day for a runner, not so much for the Occupiers. So, with my reporters’ curiosity getting the best of me, I decided a run down to the Occupy Ottawa protest was in order. On the second day of the demonstration, I headed towards Confederation Park in downtown [...]
“What if no one votes?”
October 11, 2011 | No Comments
Last week, I was a poll clerk in Ottawa South for the provincial election. I thought I would write about this experience and people would be riveted. But then I thought a little more and realized that if nobody is voting, then no one would really care to read about the actual process. However, a [...]
If you’re in Ontario, there’s only one thing to do today
October 6, 2011 | 1 Comment
Canadians might feel lately as though they are stuck in an politics-themed Groundhog Day. With four federal elections in the past five years and several provincial elections this year, we cannot escape. Everyone is promising us something and warning us that the other guy will ban chocolate, kittens and holidays. So the fatigue we feel is [...]
Ballot declined
September 29, 2011 | 1 Comment
On Oct. 6, Ontario residents will go to the polls. Actually, only about half of us will, based on past turnout rates. Would more people show up if they knew that they had the option of declining their ballot? Democracy Watch is currently investigating the possibility of a court challenge to the “continuing negligence in failing to correct [...]