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 [...]
This is the longest 22 minutes ever
January 9, 2012 | 5 Comments
At the risk of wasting everyone’s time, I’d like to draw your attention to the most recent development in what was, likely, the dumbest political story of 2011: Rob Ford’s boorish reaction to the boorish gotcha comendy of This Hour has 22 Minutes. In case you don’t recall, THh22M has a character named Marge Who-cares-what-her-name-is who pretends [...]
Attawapiskat: Hardly A Day of Reckoning
December 6, 2011 | No Comments
Shawn Atleo, Grand Chief of the Assembly of First Nations, said the Attawapiskat crisis marks a “moment of reckoning” in Canada’s policies regarding First Nations. I would like to believe him. But, recent history suggests otherwise. After all, the E. coli crisis in the northern Kashechewan reserve in 2005 was large enough to warrant a [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
PR Lessons from Ottawa’s Transit Workers Union
November 7, 2011 | 1 Comment
Ottawa is buzzing with a recent scandal on one of our beloved OC Transpo buses. A driver went on an obscenity-laced tirade, threatening a rider with a mild form of autism (according to the rider). Here’s the video: This is, without a doubt, pretty damning. We don’t see the whole thing, so we don’t know [...]
Freedom of Expression and Sun TV
November 7, 2011 | No Comments
There’s some chatter in the blogosphere about author Mark Bourrie’s cancelled appearance on Michael Coren’s show, The Arena, on Sun TV. Apparently, weeks after the appearance was booked, it was cancelled without an explanation (though it did follow Mr. Bourrie berating Sun TV on Twitter). Dr. Dawg notes the absence of uproar by “The Speech Warriors”. [...]