While the Trudeau government engages in public double-think exercises (expansion of pipelines AND climate-change mitigation!), those hoping for climate salvation from the Conservatives under Andrew Scheer would be well-advised to watch the following. It is part of an ongoing Global News series evaluating the plans of our federal parties as
Continue readingTag: Canadian federal politics
Politics and its Discontents: The Salamander Has Some Questions
The Salamander has been doing a lot of thinking, and has some questions. Read his post, and feel free to weigh in: .. the other day, I was thinking about ‘the Base’ ..that unusual group of committed voters for Stephen Harper..plus truly fervent media.. Lilley, Levant et alwondering what caused
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: An Explanation For Baird’s Departure?
Ed Tanas has perhaps hit upon the reason for the pitbull’s pending egress from federal politics: John Baird resigning due to PTED (Post Traumatic Egging Disorder)? Recommend this Post
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Coalition Redux
Never ones to shy away from expressing strong opinions, Toronto Star readers weigh in again on the best way to try to defeat Mr. Harper in the next election: Re: Pondering a union of moderates, Letters Jan. 10 Federal NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair and Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau must get
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Star Readers Respond To Eric Balkind
Earlier in the week, I reproduced a Star letter-to-the-editor written by Eric Balkind, who urged the other federal political leaders to amalgamate their parties as the best way to stop Stephen Harper in the next election. That letter has provoked a number of equally well-considered letters, all worth reading, published
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: An Appeal For A United Front
I have often extolled the quality of letters written by Toronto Star readers. Today, a particularly cogent missive from Eric Balkind, who lives in Guelph, Ontario, argues that the only sure way of defeating Harper in this year’s election is for the other parties to unite. Unfortunately, his appeal is
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Word On The Street – Chantal Hebert and Tim Harper
Although it started out quite ominously with heavy downpours, yesterday turned out to be a good day. As the clouds cleared, we hopped on the GO bus to attend Toronto’s Word on the Street, an annual celebration of literacy. I always take heart when I see a strong cross-generational presence
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Your Monday Morning Smile
An editorial cartoonist captures a Heritage Moment nicely: Recommend this Post
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: A New Motto For The Liberals and The NDP?
Many political observers and bloggers, including me, have lamented the fact that outside of style, little separates the policies of either the NDP or the Liberals from those of the Harper regime. Given their timidity when it comes to policy proclamations, the biggest clue to their abandonment of a progressive
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Happy New Year
With the dawning of 2014, may the new year see increasing numbers of Canadians who: REJECT the Conservative Party of Canada and its efforts to excise the heart and soul of our country; RENEW their faith in a fair, just and compassionate Canada REENGAGE in the democratic and political process
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: The Responsibility We All Must Assume
In a column entitled A disheartening year in Canadian politics published on Dec. 20, The Globe’s Jeffrey Simpson recounts the corruption, buffoonery and scandals that permeate our municipal, provincial and federal political governments. Whether we look at the antics of Toronto’s Rob Ford, the widespread venality, graft and ties to
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Somedays
… I think of Canada’s citizenry, in its willingness to take whatever the Harper regime dishes out in the way of mean-spirited, regressive and repressive legislation, as a beaten-down dog. Recommend this Post
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Back To Earth
I had planned this to be my first piece post-holiday, but Nelson Mandela’s passing yesterday prompted my post about that giant who walked among us. I purposely kept it brief, since thousands upon thousands of words will be written about him in the days to come, a testament not only
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: He Has A Nice Smile
That’s the highest praise I can think to extend to young Justin Trudeau, who many see as the best hope of unseating Mr. Harper in 2015. For those who enthusiastically back the young Liberal leader, I can only wonder, to what end? Do they want someone more polite and amiable
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Another Guest Commentary From The Salamander
In response to a post I wrote yesterday, The Salamander left one of his trenchant and masterful commentaries on the myriad deficiencies of the Harper regime. So that it has a wider readership than a comment would usually garner, I am featuring it as a guest post. I hope you
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Scrutinizing the NDP
I am well past the age where I expect very much from our politicians, especially given the current level of disengagement among the Canadian electorate; because of that disengagement, the notion of electoral accountability has become merely a quaint and rather remote ideal. While I hate to admit it, for
Continue readingEnormous Thriving Plants: ‘Assholery for me…
…but not for thee’!For the record, I’m not a big fan of disrupting parliament with protest signs. In the long run, I think antics like that are counterproductive. That said, it’s a long way from malicious defamation. Long live the conservative aptitu…
Continue readingEnormous Thriving Plants: ‘Assholery for me…
…but not for thee’! For the record, I’m not a big fan of disrupting parliament with protest signs. In the long run, I think antics like that are counterproductive. That said, it’s a long way from malicious defamation. Long live the conservative aptitude for self-awareness & shamelessness!
Continue readingEnormous Thriving Plants: ‘Assholery for me…
…but not for thee’! For the record, I’m not a big fan of disrupting parliament with protest signs. In the long run, I think antics like that are counterproductive. That said, it’s a long way from malicious defamation. Long live the conservative aptitude for self-awareness & shamelessness!
Continue readingEnormous Thriving Plants: Election thoughts.
I haven’t yet seen the popular vote counts, but my initial impressions from last night are: -It is possible to attract progressive voters to the polls. -It is possible to find success running as the anti-Harper. -Ignatieff wasn’t able to shepherd the left’s “herd of cats”. Layton now has 4
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