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, [...]
I Need A Drink
April 15, 2013 | 2 Comments
Maybe it would be for the best if LCBO employees carried through on their recent strike vote and walked out. Maybe that would bring some sanity to Ontario’s liquor laws, and a bit more balance to its labour laws. I would imagine any strike would put a lot of pressure on the provincial government to allow [...]
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 [...]
Monday Quick Hits
May 28, 2012 | 3 Comments
Here are a few stray thoughts on some of the big issues of the day: 1. Thomas Mulcair’s mortgages: I don’t particularly care that the Leader of the Opposition has re-mortgaged his house 11 times, and I don’t think it casts any light on his political abilities, either good or bad. People will, no doubt, [...]
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 [...]