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 [...]
How to make housing affordable
January 10, 2012 | 4 Comments
Give people money. The provincial and federal governments are giving the City of Ottawa (among other municipalities, I would imagine) millions of dollars to fund housing for the poor. City staff are suggesting, typically, that the best way to help the poor is by funneling such funds to corporations – either by aquiring or building [...]
The 1% are going after our beer
November 25, 2011 | No Comments
When I wrote about the Occupy movement in The Mark a few weeks ago, I made reference to a number of ways that the government gets into bed with big business, thus creating Occupy’s “corporatocracy” (their word, not mine). I suggested that all of us, whether we considered ourselves represented by the 99% or not, should [...]
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 [...]
I didn’t even know “Talking Eskimo” was a thing
October 26, 2011 | No Comments
But apparently it is, at least to some: A Conservative MP who posted an animated video on his website that uses the controversial phrase “talking Eskimo” has taken it down. Saskatchewan MP David Anderson, parliamentary secretary for the Canadian Wheat Board, posted the video on his website to explain some farmers’ opposition to the board. [...]
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 [...]
Ontario Liberal government reneges on funding kindergarten
September 28, 2011 | 2 Comments
In the grand tradition of expensive government programs being expensive, the Ottawa Carleton District School Board was greeted with a $1.3M shortfall trying to live up to the promises of full-time kindergarten made by the provincial government. It seems that by offering what is, in effect, a few free hours of daycare a day, a [...]
Tim Hudak thinks we’re dumber than electricity meters
September 22, 2011 | 17 Comments
Okay, not quite. But c’mon: Smart meters are too smart for the average consumer and they’re taking advantage of ratepayers, Progressive Conservative Leader Tim Hudak said Monday. “There’s the only thing that’s smart about these smart meters — no matter how you change your behaviour, they outsmart you and you end up with just another [...]
Everyone agrees with me
September 9, 2011 | 2 Comments
Well, maybe not everyone, but a few people. The Tories and the NDP are tripping over themselves trying to make energy cheaper, thus hurting us economically and environmentally. I’ve already touched on this a couple of times, but it’s worth getting some other voices in on the fun. First, in The Ottawa Citizen, Kate Heartfield [...]