Those of you who are tired of my rants about the demise of our once great health system will be pleased to know that this is my last editorial. I am retiring from the BCMJ Editorial Board; currently, I am the longest-serving member (more than 20 years). I have been a...
Commentary
Most Canadians Don’t Think Canada Is a ‘Post-National State’
When newly elected Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told a bewildered Canada in 2015 that Canada was a “post-national state” not many of us knew what he was talking about. Doesn’t “post-national” mean that Canada was once a nation, but no longer is one? Was he really...
A Female Athlete’s Plea Against Transgenders in Sports
Since the beginning of human existence, the biological difference between males and females has been undebated. Just like every other living organism, we have different functions and different characteristics. We have different roles in society, and in our very human...
ESG: A Formula for Slower Growth, Lower Living Standards and Smaller Pensions
A recently formed group called the ‘Coalition for a Better Future’ has outlined a plan to re-order and re-orient Canada’s economy from its current largely-free-market basis to one that is a more guided, government-directed venture. Its focus expands beyond such...
Featured News
Borders, Boundaries and Walls, Part 1 of 2
While boundaries have traditionally, at least within the context of geographic statehood, represented physical demarcations, they have a much broader significance. Borders are essential declarations of sovereignty, but boundaries are equally social, political, and...
Time to Get Out of Our Echo Chambers
Everyone likes positive affirmation. It’s nice knowing that while the rest of the world has gone crazy, your friends have your back. It feels even better when you have thousands of friends agreeing with everything you say. Frankly, that is the power of social media,...
A Cure Worse than the Disease
Despite the relentless media drum-banging around the alarmist Covid narrative, this particular virus is not the Black Death. Official numbers have the Canadian death count so far just below 11,000, bad for sure, but not hugely off the yearly flu toll in Canada which...
Memorizing Facts has Great Value for Students
Canadians were saddened when they learned that long-time “Jeopardy!” host Alex Trebek passed away earlier this week from pancreatic cancer. For more than 35 years, Trebek was a familiar face in our homes. There was no better way of testing your general knowledge than...
The Pandemic is a Perfect Excuse to Impose Green Agenda
Rather than focusing on the COVID-19 spread or opening the economy, the Canadian Prime Minister is using his pandemic recovery plan as a smokescreen for his environmentalist agenda. Contrary to feel-good platitudes, a quick transformation to a carbon-neutral economy...
The Grave Danger of Race-Based Law Enforcement in Canada
Canadians are angry at the passivity of our governments and police forces in the face of Indigenous lawbreaking, such as the illegal land occupations, road and railway blockades, and breaches of conservation laws. Increasingly Canadians realize that there is “One law...
Lies at the Heart of Identity Politics
Identity politics demands the reduction of individual identity to collective census category identities. You are no longer an individual person with hopes and fears, talents and abilities, and motivations and opinions. The most important thing about you is your sex,...
From Bendy Bananas to Bad Canada Trade Policy, the EU has a Regulation Problem
The United Kingdom is inching closer to the end of its transition period between leaving the European Union and officially dropping its existing trading relationship with the remaining 27 member states. As of January 1, the UK will make its way in the world on its...
Focused Protection Yes; Lockdown No
In a crushing blow to small business and morale, Manitoba’s Premier has ordered a return to the very lockdown model that the World Health Organization (WHO) warned leaders to avoid. Premiers are being pressured by a Prime Minister who threatens to withhold money...
The Time is Now for Competitive Health Care: Entrepreneurship can Save Lives
Once again, the US presidential election has elevated Canadian health care—colloquially known as Medicare—as a role model. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed its many shortfalls and triggered a public debate over allowing private alternatives. A chief...
Obsession With Identity
On my desk is a commemorative plate honouring the 1966 Grey Cup champions, the Saskatchewan Roughriders. On it are the pictures of football legend Ronnie Lancaster and his teammates. A quick scan of these portraits reveals something odd: just three of the players’...