H/t Graeme MacKay Yesterday’s post highlighted the rush to judgement many people embraced when Ulmar Zameer was charged with murdering a police officer. People like Doug Ford, John Tory and Patrick Brown condemned the fact that he was granted bail. A publication ban prevented the reasons for the bail from
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Politics and its Discontents: More About Doug The Slug
In my previous post, I wrote rather scathingly of Doug Ford and his refusal to put back into the building code a requirement for new home builds to have a plug built in to facilitate EV chargers. To clarify any confusion left by that post, the extra $500 charge to
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: The High Price Of Populism
In this age of economic deprivation for so many, it is understandable that people seek relief wherever they can find it. Some do without, some shop at discount stores, some take second jobs. Unfortunately, some embrace whomever seems to be offering a helping hand. Here in Ontario, that ‘helping’ hand
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: For A Few Dollars More
That’s all it will take (actually, $12 million more) according to Police Chief Myron Demkiw to keep chaos and blood from running in the streets of Toronto. Reeling from the effort of city council to trim $12 million from what some might say is an already bloated ask of $25
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: There Are Solutions
In my previous post, I mused about how much better society could be if we had fair and progressive taxation, taxation that forced those who make a lot to pay a little more. It almost seems as if such talk today is heretical, given the anti-tax mania that is cultivated
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: A Monday Thought Experiment
As a matter of course, I allow myself one hour of television per evening, 30 minutes local and 30 minutes of either American or Canadian national news. It is a practice I highly recommend, not simply as a means of keeping up with events in this tortured world, but also
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Forgive And Forget? Never
There is a saying that, in many cases is a mere platitude: “Time heals all wounds.” Often said to the bereaved, it is meant to impart that there are better days ahead; things will get better. Unfortunately, that is not always the case. Take, for example the destruction wrought
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: No Friend To The Environment
Readers will know that Ontario premier Ford cares little for environmental matters. One remembers his rash act upon assuming power of enthusiastically tearing up 750 green energy contracts, costing Ontario taxpayers over $230 million. “I’m so proud of that,” Ford said of his decision. “I’m proud that we actually
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Never Letting Go
The uproar over the Greenbelt theft has died down to a seething anger, despite Doug Ford’s promise to restore it. There is ongoing anger over the fact that he lied to us, anger over his apology for having made “a mistake,” anger that he was willing to overlook the environmental
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Not In A Forgiving Mood
As I wrote in my previous post, I am not in a forgiving mood, now that Doug Ford, in order to desperately try to salvage his and his government’s reputation, has promised to restore and never again touch the Greenbelt. Judging by a flurry of letters appearing in the
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Clearing The Air
H/t Moudakis Here in Ontario, there are two reasons our air quality is compromised: this summer’s ongoing forest fires and the stench of corruption whose source is Queen’s Park. Of the two challenges, the latter is the most foul. The good news, however, is that people are no longer just
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: The "C" Word
No, I’m not referring either to cancer or a crude anatomical term. The “C” word of the day, and of many, many days ahead, I hope, is CORRUPTION, writ large when thinking about and referring to Ontario’s Doug ford’s administration/cabal. Hard driving questions from the media, and a wealth of
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: To Remember Is To Have Real Power
I realize that on the surface, the troubles we face in Ontario are likely of little more than passing interest to those living in other jurisdictions. However, wherever citizens live, any government that chooses to lie to its electorate has a corrosive effect on democracy. Some will ask, “What is
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Meanwhile, In The Land Of Corrupt Backroom Deals
H/t Patrick Corrigan I’m sure that Premier Ford hopes no one is monitoring his ongoing corruption and his destruction of much-needed Greenbelt land. Star readers puncture that illusion. Ford on defensive over probe Doug Ford criticizes auditor general over Greenbelt investigation, July 13 Dear Doug Ford, please don’t mistake the
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Canadian Vulnerability
Were it not for the willfully stupid and ignorant, the unhinged, and the extreme in our midst, I really would be less concerned about the benighted domestic decisions the Americans make. But because of the four aforementioned blights on our Canadian landscape, I do worry that those decisions have an
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: York Board Faces Backlash
The recent refusal of the York Catholic School Board to raise the Pride flag has generated a great deal of controversy. The childish and intolerant behaviour demonstrated by board officials, prelates and parents cries out for redress. Happily, Toronto Star readers are keen to provide some solid suggestions, the
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Getting Things Done
Those who prize quick decisions and action will no doubt applaud the likes of the Doug Ford government. As pointed out in my previous post, the premier and his coterie are not very often burdened
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Angry Talking Heads
When I was a teacher, it used to bother me to no end that it only took one or two ignorant, badly-behaved kids to spoil the atmosphere and discourse in a class. For those who think it should have been a simple matter to silence those voices, well, let’s
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: It’s Not Going Away
In my post about homelessness the other day, I wrote, In Toronto, a motion that would have kept warming centres open from November to April was defeated, despite shelter space being at a premium. Homelessness is not going away, and many citizens are acutely aware of that fact and the immorality of Toronto’s decision.
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: A Time To Reflect
While I doubt the new year will see me lose any of my outrage over the political machinations of our elected ‘representatives’, this is the season for reflection and hope. In that vein, I offer you the following. It reflects my own perspective, one that was not always easily achievable in
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