Nazis in Parliament — A Lesson for Educators About the Importance of Teaching Canadian History

 Photo: Liberal House Leader Hon. Karina Gould and former Speaker of the House Anthony Rota pose for a photo with  98-year-old Yaroslav Hunka prior to Hunka receiving a standing ovation  in the House of Commons. Rota introduced Hunka as a World War 2 war hero who fought for the First Ukrainian

Top things to do in Ottawa this winter

 If you’re planning a visit to one of Canada’s biggest cities this winter, you will not be disappointed. The capital is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River and, apart from the river-specific activities, it offers plenty of museums, national parks, zoos, and important buildings to visit. Here

Trudeau standing strong as he hits back at Trump for “Totally unacceptable tariffs” and his unnecessary commentary

 Canada is standing strong against U.S. President Trump’s attack on Canadian PM Trudeau’s leadership skills and tariffs. NDP party member Tracey Ramsey emphasised the united front that is being put up by all parties in Canadian Parliament. Today I introduced a Motion in the House of Commons calling for all

Legislating Protection for Faith Spaces

 By Andrew Bennett, CARDUS Law program director Sometimes Parliament works just the way the textbooks say it’s supposed to work. One recent example is in the way the House of Commons justice committee dealt with Bill C-51, which aims to erase “outdated” parts of the Criminal Code. The committee held

Senate Delays – Just another urban myth

 By Elaine McCoy Everyone knows that the Senate delays government legislation. Don’t we? Well, no we don’t.   In fact, the House of Commons tends to take almost three times as long to deal with government legislation as the Senate does. This uncontestable fact is based on an actual count of

Labourers’ International Union of North AmericaSeries Part 1 – LiUNA’s pushback and Bill C-377

 Many unions operating in Canada were disturbed by the previous federal government’s Bill C-377, a contentious bill demanding unions disclose all financial transactions over $5,000, including the names of the individual persons or companies paid by a union. The Labourers' International Union of North America (LiUNA) has about half a

Rare insights into campaign war rooms – an Ottawa must read

 There are more civil servants than politicians and journalists in Ottawa, but increasingly, and of necessity, allegedly neutral government employees are political players, their lives often turned around by the incoming government’s new policies and priorities. They will find veteran campaign manager John Laschinger’s new book, Campaign Confessions, Tales from the

The Last Chapter: Death on Your Own Terms

 A Supreme Court judgment now permits some Canadians to approach death on their own terms. Who should those Canadians be? An essay by Catherine Frazee For some of us, the book of life will close abruptly. A sudden pop or crunch or snap, and we’ll be gone. Perhaps some body

Turkish Canadian Community Raises Money for CHEO

 On Saturday April 23, distinguished guests gathered to celebrate Turkish National Sovereignty and International Children’s Day at a fundraising gala organized by the Turkish Cultural Canadian Association (TCCA), the proceeds of which will be donated to the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO). This yearly event, organized by the Turkish

OLM Argued the Case Against Mike Duffy was Groundless Back in May

 Update: Today all 31 charges were dismissed against Sen. Mike Duffy. Below you can find an article Ottawa Life Magazine publisher Dan Donovan wrote last May, arguing that Duffy was being unfairly targeted by the media. Today, the judge confirmed this suspicion. 21st Century Lynching and Shakespearean Tragedy Take Centre Stage

Assisted Suicide for Those With Mental Illness is a Risky Proposition

 Who but those who have experienced it can appreciate the soul crushing anguish of mental illness? Afflictions of the mind can be paralyzing and fundamentally change the way we perceive ourselves (I am worthless), anticipate the future (my prospects are hopeless), and experience the world (life is unfair and unforgiving).

Blue Rodeo Slams Harper In New Protest Song

 It’s been merely a month, but yet another anti-conservative diddy has gone viral. Following the controversial suspension of federal government scientist Tony Turner, Superstar country-rock group Blue Rodeo are the newest band of Canadians protesting the Conservative party with their new hit, “Stealin’ All My Dreams.” In a recent trend,

The 2015 Federal Election is a chance to put the disastrous Harper era behind us

 ABOVE: The Conservative Party led by Stephen Harper won a majority in the 2011 federal election. (PHOTO: CBC) By Paul R. Meinema After nine years of scandals and cynical policies from Stephen Harper's Conservative government, it is clear that Canadian voters have grown weary of the Conservatives' ideological, secretive, and

A Piece of Renovated Paradise

 Dreaming about your feet sinking into warm sand, instead of numbing snow? Meliã Nassau Beach is the vacation location for you. Meliã Hotels International, one of the largest resort hotel companies in the world, has just updated its Meliã Nassau Beach resort in the Bahamas, making an already luxurious experience

Diary of a Jazz Fest Goer

 When I lived with my parents, Saturday afternoons meant it was jazz time. Actually, any time was really jazz time, but Saturday afternoons especially. Latin Jazz would heat up my living room as Café Latino host Laura Fernandez shared her favourites. Whether my family was busy or not, we would

Fair Elections start with an independent Commissioner

 Elections law enforcement starts with a strong Commissioner, who has the independent authority to investigate offences. The Fair Elections Act empowers law enforcement by giving him sharper teeth, a longer reach and a freer hand. Sharper teeth means tougher penalties for existing offences which has received broad support from parliamentarians,

Citizens and Parliament Must be Consulted on Election Rules

 The Harper Government’s Bill C-23, Fair Elections Act is currently before the House of Commons, and it should come as no surprise that the Conservatives are using the bill to manipulate the rules that govern how Canadians vote. After all, the Harper Government has been at odds with Elections Canada

Baird, Poilievre, Trudeau – Ottawa’s cold winter parliament warms up for Ukraine

 It’s been a busy season for politics during the deep freeze of winter. Ottawa West- Nepean MP and Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird has been busy on the home front addressing the needs of his constituents while ensuring he represents Canada with a strong voice internationally. He leveled a stern

Governments have a responsibility to get the big things right

 By David McGuinty. Governments have a responsibility to get the big things right. Transportation safety is certainly one of them. Commercial vehicle driver fatigue is a serious issue that deserves our attention. However, there is often confusion about jurisdictional responsibilities for transportation regulations. According to Transport Canada, “Provincial and territorial

A Leader in Her Own Right

 For many, our parents serve as mentors and are a source of inspiration and motivation. But imagine if one of your parents was a mentor to not only you but an entire nation. This was the reality that Catherine Clark grew up with. Her father is former Canadian Prime Minister

Giving Up On Government As An Agent For The Public Good…Is Not A Good Idea

 When I first got into the commercial polling business, about 70% of Canadians held a somewhat favourable impression of politicians. Today, more believe in the devil or that Elvis is alive than hold this particular point of view. Now, I know all of us smirk knowingly, from time to time,

In opposition against “a Phantom Prime Minister”: An interview with Stephen Harper

 By: Peter Gill Ottawa Life Magazine: If you were Prime Minister, how would you deal with Canada's declining military? How much money do you think needs to be invested in it? Stephen Harper: A lot. Numbers have been thrown around by various groups. The consensus seems to be you need

The master plan for the growth — A Plan for the Capital

 By Katharine Fletcher Capital cities are fortunate entities. Their unique role is to symbolize a people's concept of nationhood. As such, they present particular challenges to planners. Ottawa is no exception. Does Ottawa and the National Capital Region (NCR) embody a sense of Canadian-ness? Marcel Beaudry, chairman of the National