So, this past week, Canada’s environment minister, Steven Guilbeault unveiled plans that would ban the sale of new ICE vehicles in Canada by 2035. Of course, the usual suspects are whining about how “unrealistic” this is. Here’s the thing, this is a generational shift in technology, and one that has
Continue readingTag: Canada Politics
The Cracked Crystal Ball II: The Spat With India
So, India is expanding its temper tantrum over Canada expressing concerns over the suspected role of the Modi government in the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar. To a certain extent, this is a “meh, so what?” kind of move, but on other fronts its more significant and an indicator of
Continue readingThe Cracked Crystal Ball II: Moving Beyond The Partisan
A couple of years ago, I expressed my disgust with partisan politics and proposed a model that is intended to break the connection between party discipline, insularity, and policy platforms. One of the first things Danielle Smith has proposed in the wake of the UCP being shut out in Edmonton
Continue readingThe Cracked Crystal Ball II: Spring Election?
Are Canada’s conservatives lining up for a federal election this spring? Predicting such things is a bit like scrying, but there are signs that lean that way. First are some questionable polling numbers which show the CPC getting very close to minority government territory, even while their current leader
Continue readingThe Cracked Crystal Ball II: It’s Time To Blow Up The Party System
I have never been a political partisan. That isn't to say I don't have political beliefs, or positions. But I simply don't buy into the broad idea of being a member of a political party. My own politics are fairly complex, and I don't wish to find myself in the
Continue readingThe Cracked Crystal Ball II: The "But Communism Was Bad" Argument
Lately, when debating matters of economics, people that I will broadly call “small government advocates” (usually hardline fiscal hawk conservatives and libertarians) will inevitably start throwing about the argument that “communism is a failed ideology” when they are challenged directly about the specifics of what they would cut from government,
Continue readingBlast Furnace Canada Blog: Should there be a referendum on PR?
The Conservatives are vowing to filibuster attempts by the governing Liberals to reform the way we elect our MPs – be it alternative vote or some kind of proportional representation, unless there is a referendum. Normally, changing the rules for representation only requires a vote of Parliament. But this just
Continue readingBlast Furnace Canada Blog: Should there be a referendum on PR?
The Conservatives are vowing to filibuster attempts by the governing Liberals to reform the way we elect our MPs – be it alternative vote or some kind of proportional representation, unless there is a referendum. Normally, changing the rules for repres…
Continue readingBlast Furnace Canada Blog: Should there be a referendum on PR?
The Conservatives are vowing to filibuster attempts by the governing Liberals to reform the way we elect our MPs – be it alternative vote or some kind of proportional representation, unless there is a referendum. Normally, changing the rules for repres…
Continue readingBlast Furnace Canada Blog: Libs to repeal spanking law
It is decades overdue, but finally in response to a recommendation from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission the Trudeau government will move to repeal §43 of the Criminal Code, which allows for “corrective force” (i.e. spanking). No doubt this will get the socons riled up as yet another example of
Continue readingBlast Furnace Canada Blog: Libs to repeal spanking law
It is decades overdue, but finally in response to a recommendation from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission the Trudeau government will move to repeal §43 of the Criminal Code, which allows for "corrective force" (i.e. spanking).
No doubt this will get the socons riled up as yet another example of social engineering. But there is simply no proof corporal punishment works. If anything, it
Continue readingBlast Furnace Canada Blog: Libs to repeal spanking law
It is decades overdue, but finally in response to a recommendation from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission the Trudeau government will move to repeal §43 of the Criminal Code, which allows for "corrective force" (i.e. spanking).
No doubt this will get the socons riled up as yet another example of social engineering. But there is simply no proof corporal punishment works. If anything, it
Continue readingBlast Furnace Canada Blog: Yeah, like I’d turn over my tax refund to Queen’s Park …
… yet since the Mike Harris days, people in Ontario have actually had the option of donating some or all of their tax refund to help pay down the province’s debt. How much has been raised so far in the last 19 years? $2.8 million. That’s it. What is Ontario’s
Continue readingBlast Furnace Canada Blog: Yeah, like I’d turn over my tax refund to Queen’s Park …
… yet since the Mike Harris days, people in Ontario have actually had the option of donating some or all of their tax refund to help pay down the province’s debt. How much has been raised so far in the last 19 years? $2.8 million. That’s it. What is …
Continue readingBlast Furnace Canada Blog: Yeah, like I’d turn over my tax refund to Queen’s Park …
… yet since the Mike Harris days, people in Ontario have actually had the option of donating some or all of their tax refund to help pay down the province’s debt. How much has been raised so far in the last 19 years? $2.8 million. That’s it. What is …
Continue readingBlast Furnace Canada Blog: Make the ORPP voluntary, or enhance the CPP
Kathleen Wynne seems hell bent to introduce an Ontario Retirement Pension Plan by the year 2017. The idea is if a company doesn’t have a pension plan or deferred profit sharing plan of its own, it will be required to pay a payroll tax of 1.9%, to be matched by
Continue readingBlast Furnace Canada Blog: Make the ORPP voluntary, or enhance the CPP
Kathleen Wynne seems hell bent to introduce an Ontario Retirement Pension Plan by the year 2017. The idea is if a company doesn’t have a pension plan or deferred profit sharing plan of its own, it will be required to pay a payroll tax of 1.9%, to be ma…
Continue readingBlast Furnace Canada Blog: Make the ORPP voluntary, or enhance the CPP
Kathleen Wynne seems hell bent to introduce an Ontario Retirement Pension Plan by the year 2017. The idea is if a company doesn’t have a pension plan or deferred profit sharing plan of its own, it will be required to pay a payroll tax of 1.9%, to be ma…
Continue readingBlast Furnace Canada Blog: Boy did I dial a wrong number!
I’m still surprised by the results: Liberal – 184 Conservatives – 99 NDP – 44 Bloc – 10 Green – 1 Much has to do with some districts where the Lib candidate who was running in third throughout the campaign, triumphed over the other two parties. That certainly was the
Continue readingBlast Furnace Canada Blog: Boy did I dial a wrong number!
I’m still surprised by the results: Liberal – 184 Conservatives – 99 NDP – 44 Bloc – 10 Green – 1 Much has to do with some districts where the Lib candidate who was running in third throughout the campaign, triumphed over the other two parties. That certainly was the
Continue reading