The Decline of Tolerance Under Justin Trudeau

 Justin Trudeau, when he is speaking emotionally about acts of racism, misogyny or recently antisemitism, is given to using the following formulation: “We’re seeing right now a rise in antisemitism that is terrifying. Molotov cocktails thrown at Synagogues. This is not who we are as Canadians. This is something that

We should all be concerned about the level of federal debt and continued spending in Canada

 While many Canadians are enjoying the generous help from the federal government to cope with the tough consequences of this deadly pandemic, some are also increasingly concerned about the ability of our country to deal with the post-pandemic financial needs to re-build our economy. It is a difficult task to

Canadian policy on Nagorno Karabakh is Confusing and Dangerous

 In discussing and resolving modern conflict things are seldom black and white, and as in most things, there are many shades of grey. Facts, nuance and history matter. There is no better example of this 'grey zone' surrounding "who are the good guys’ than the renewed conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

135 Liberal MPs refuse to endorse Finance Minister Bill Morneau

 As part of a survey conducted between Thursday, July 23 and Friday, July 27, 2020, Ottawa Life Magazine (OLM) contacted the offices of every Liberal Member of Parliament. The Members of Parliament were asked: "Do you support the statement made by Finance Minister Bill Morneau to the House of Commons Finance

The UN Security Council — What were the Liberals thinking

 It was not surprising that the Trudeau government did not win its coveted United Nations (UN) Security Council seat. Canada's role, presence and effectiveness on the world stage in the last five years has been so diminished by the Liberal government that there was never a chance for Canada to have the votes

Charisma has failed us — and winter is coming

 “The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money.” ―  Margaret Thatcher The next prime minister of Canada will be the most hated person in the country for years to come. Whether Liberal,Conservative on NDP, he or she will have to deal with the financial mess

The Unavoidable Sense in the Kinder-Morgan Purchase

 Three months have passed since I became a ‘New Canadian’; the decision to settle in Ottawa had been one that rested on my mind for almost a year before I could finally get on that plane, leaving Glasgow behind. Three months in which I have found a new home, began

Why Is Kathleen Wynne Unpopular?

 Photo credit:  Creative Commons, sourced from Jason Hargrove/Flickr Becoming the leader of a political party is a one way ticket to absolute scrutiny—as the face of a political group, the leader takes all the heat. The former leader of the Ontario Liberal Party had become so unpopular among Canadians by

A diploma won’t cut it: Why the government needs to support global education for Canada’s future

 Today’s university graduates have a tough job ahead of them. As the future leaders of Canada, students will need to utilize the skills they’ve acquired during their years at university to overcome the many significant and complex challenges Canada will face in the years to come. Luckily, Canada houses some

What Minister Lebouthillier Doesn’t Know About Diabetes.

 When my son was 14 he was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. It came out of nowhere. It was the long weekend before Labour Day; he was about to start grade 10. That summer he had an adolescent growth spurt. When a colleague met him that summer he jokingly asked

Trudeau’s Pipeline Blockage Continues

 Justin Trudeau made a lot of promises to Canadians while campaigning — 226 to be precise, according to TrudeauMeter, a non-partisan website tracking his political performance.  So far only 55 of them have been achieved. While the Liberal government’s abandoning of its electoral reform promise came as a blow to

Prime Minister Trudeau… So Far, So Good… But Soon, The Rubber Hits Road.

 By all counts things are going well for Canada’s new Liberal government. Aside from Prime Minister Trudeau’s brief off-side when he unintentionally elbowed NDP MP Ruth Ellen Brosseau in Parliament, leading to a possible Oscar or “Golden Raspberry” for her and Thomas Mulcair for best performance for feigned outrage. It

The Planet is Dying of Consumption and Only Citizens can Halt the Process

 At the 2015 Paris Climate Conference, COP21, the focus has been on promises countries make to reduce their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. These macro level commitments are always made with varying degrees of sincerity because few political leaders will be willing to cause real or even perceived damage to their

New Government Should Start by Making the RCMP More Accountable

 Photo by Flickr user Jamie McCaffrey. CC. Now that there’s a new Liberal government in power in Ottawa, one can only hope that a new public safety minister will make it a priority to address the myriad problems created by the Harper government in the criminal justice system over the past 10

Compulsory insurance does not create affordable access to prescription drugs

 By Steve Morgan New Brunswick has opportunity to reduce pharmaceutical drug prices dramatically with a single payer system. The Liberal government of New Brunswick appears to be stepping back from the brink of mandatory prescription drug insurance. And so they should. The Conservatives had pitched the drug plan as a

Part Three: Horse Sense & Government Nonsense

 Public-Private Partnerships Are Not Subsidies The Ontario government’s decision to end the Slots at Racetracks Program has a detrimental effect for Ontario’s vibrant horseracing and equine industries. The McGuinty government’s decision to end the Slots at Racetracks Program has become a political football which has been kicked back and forth between the OLG, the

Part Two: Horse Sense & Government Nonsense

 Public-Private Partnerships Are Not Subsidies The Ontario government’s decision to end the Slots at Racetracks Program has a detrimental effect for Ontario’s vibrant horseracing and equine industries. This is a serious problem with major ramifications. Dennis Mills, the former Liberal MP whose web site Racing Future builds awareness of Ontario’s horseracing and equine industries,

The Soaring Loonie

 The rise and fall and rise again of the Canadian loonie can be confusing in its implications. When the loonie achieved parity with the American dollar early in 2008 there was a sense of euphoria among some commentators, as though Canada had finally matured as a country. Since then the