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

We Need a Radical New Approach for Kids in Care

 Families seeking support services should not have to worry their children will be taken away from them Six advocates for First Nations children have gone on a symbolic hunger strike at the Manitoba Legislature to try to raise awareness across the country about Manitoba’s broken child welfare system. Why? Well, here’s one

Canada’s Euthanasia Legislation: From the Perspective of Canadians with Disabilities

 By Peter McGrath. On Feb. 6, 2015, the Supreme Court of Canada struck down Canada’s assisted suicide law, opening the door to physician-assisted suicide. This is an incredibly complex topic, one fraught with moral and ethical issues. Peter McGrath, a Counsel in the Department of Justice, gives his opinion from

Breaks That Saved Northern Dreams and Healed Pains: One of the Oldest Hip-hop Dance Crews in Canada Celebrates its 30th Anniversary

 Images courtesy of www.canadianbreaking.com By Damira Davletyarova Spectators pressed in, trying to see the dancers on the floor. Hip-hop stars circled. Cameras blinked. One dancer spun, dropping the body on the floor; he extended his legs. Half-lifting his body, he paused in mid-air. At the Saint Brigid’s Centre for the Arts,

Man’s Best Friend and Life Saver: Relieving the Symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder with Service Dogs

 PHOTO CREDIT: Sylvain Chartrand The bridge was high enough with sharp rocks beneath that ensured death would be imminent.  He carefully tucked his suicide note between the lamp and photo frame next to his friend’s favourite TV chair and headed out into the bitter night towards the bridge that he envisioned would

Distant Stars – John Banville – Ancient Light

 John Banville - Ancient Light Vintage Canada 2012 Reviewed by Don MacLean Readers familiar with the great Irish writer John Banville will also be familiar with the characters Alexander (Alex) Cleave, his wife Lydia and their troubled daughter Catherine (Cass), all of whom feature prominently in some of his previous

First Nations Come Last

 On May 27, her last day after a decade as Canada's official watchdog, Auditor General Sheila Fraser gave this dire warning.: “If the First Nations and the Federal Government don't find ways of working together, the living conditions in reserves will remain worse off than everywhere else in Canada, and

Are we taking too many pills?

 By Jennifer Paterson More Canadians are taking prescription medicine than ever before. Many busy people believe in the don't-think-twice, pop-it-in-your-mouth, "magic bullet" cure for all illness and disease. Total drug expenditures per Canadian were tallied at $681 in 2004 — up almost 8 per cent from 2003, according to a