Canada has always prided itself on being one of the most open and least racist countries in the world. This view may not have always been true, particularly with regard to our past immigration policies, which only became colour neutral in the 1960s. But since then,...
Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, many countries have imposed various restrictions. The rest of the world has imported the lockdown strategy, first used in China, restricting businesses that are classified as non-essential. Vaccination has been presented as a way to...
Canada’s Indigenous policy has officially been one of “reconciliation” between Indigenous Canadians and non-Indigenous Canadians since the Liberals came to power in 2015. Too many Indigenous remain on the margins and billions have been spent to remove obstacles to...
Principals and teachers should not be in the same union. That was a key recommendation of the K-12 Education Review Commission report. Clearly, the Manitoba government has taken this recommendation to heart. Bill 64, the Education Modernization Act, proposes to...
It’s easy to forget that at the beginning of the year, Canada was right in the middle of another crisis triggered by a series of protests over a natural gas pipeline being built through northern B.C. The issue of Indigenous reconciliation was front and centre in our...
The current Prime Minister recently publicly contradicted RCMP Commissioner, Brenda Lucki, for saying there is no systemic racism within the RCMP. Actually, Lucki said she didn’t know what “systemic racism” is. In her words, “I have to admit, I really struggle with...
In the midst of a multi-year drought, California could use a few feet and more of that high drift of snow that now blocks your view as you approach an intersection. With a population of 38 million and a huge agricultural industry requiring massive amounts of water...
Offshore oil exploration has been banned in British Columbia since the early 1970s. To this day, despite talk of making Canada an “energy superpower”, the federal government and provincial government have failed to lift the moratorium, treating the issue as a...
Jim Flaherty’s 10th federal budget represents the dominance of expediency and opportunism over ideas and values in modern politics. The 2014 federal budget increases spending on infrastructure and dishes out a few small goodies to interest groups but holds the line on...
Perhaps, and hopefully, the Selinger government and its captive utility, Manitoba Hydro, will listen to the latest voice in a growing chorus calling for a pause and a rethink of what Hydro euphemistically calls its "preferred" development plan. La Capra Associates, an...
A recent announcement on First Nations education proves what can be achieved by First Nations when they work together with government. This past Friday, Prime Minister Stephen Harper made a historic education announcement, alongside National Chief Shawn Atleo of the...
Souris Mayor Dave MacDonald recently told the Premiers’ Council on EI that recent changes to the federal EI program are killing his town. Unfortunately, Mr. MacDonald did not note that Islanders receive three times as much as they contribute to the EI program. This...
For decades it was a criminal offence to charge more than 60 per cent annual interest on a loan. It still is, unless it is a "payday loan." Following pressure by provincial governments and the NDP, payday loans were made legal in Canada. Payday loans can't exceed...
Someone needs to save the Obama Administration from itself when it comes to foreign policy. Since taking office in 2008, Obama has had very few foreign policy successes to brag about, beyond the killing of Osama Bin Laden. Promises have not been kept, red lines have...
Few urban experiences are less pleasant than waiting for a taxi in the middle of a Canadian winter. When temperatures dip, demand soars. Ordinary citizens begin to hijack other peoples’ taxis to avoid intolerable waits. It’s every man, woman, and child for him, her,...