Posts Tagged ‘ British monarchy in Canada ’

What we should celebrate in 2012 is 60th anniversary of first Canadian citizen as Governor General of Canada

Dec 14th, 2011 | By | Category: In Brief

So … we have just learned that “Charles, the Prince of Wales, and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall will be touring Canada as part of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations marking her 60 years on the British throne,” this coming May 2012. For many Canadians (and we confess we are among them), this is just yet […]



Our seven-year itch .. Aboriginals, Europe, Harper style, MLSE, Monarchy, United left, Voter turnout

Dec 11th, 2011 | By | Category: In Brief

Strictly speaking, counterweights turned seven years old this past summer. Our very first full-length article, “John Ibbitson’s next Canada” (by Randall White) appeared on August 19, 2004. We very quietly marked our seventh birthday, as it were, with “Just what was PM Harper thinking .. how about ‘Canadian Navy, Air Force Name Change Divides NDP […]



Veena Malik “not some girl-next-door” .. but would John Baird and Jason Kenney want to keep her out of Canada anyway?

Dec 5th, 2011 | By | Category: In Brief

So … this just in from the Canadian Press: “Pakistani actress Veena Malik is suing a popular Indian men’s magazine for millions of dollars, accusing it of publishing photos she says were doctored to make her appear nude, her lawyer said Monday.” We here are interested, because we used two of these photos this past […]



More cheers for Nathan Cullen’s NDP leadership bid .. the new republic in Canada may be closer than we think?

Dec 1st, 2011 | By | Category: In Brief

No one expects Nathan Cullen to win.  As a recent Barbara Yaffe column in the Vancouver Sun notes, he has been labelled “a long shot and an underdog in the [federal] NDP leadership race.”Â  And: “With nine candidates – nearly 10 per cent of the caucus” – vying “to replace Jack Layton, the Skeena-Bulkley Valley […]



How to elect Governor General in Canada .. study poet Michael Higgins’ victory as new Irish President!

Oct 29th, 2011 | By | Category: In Brief

BBC News Europe is reporting that: “The Labour Party’s Michael D Higgins has been officially confirmed as the ninth Irish president after one of the most remarkable comebacks in the state’s history … The poet and campaigner received 701,101 first-preference votes – almost 40% of the total … His victory over one-time favourite Sean Gallagher […]



Change in Commonwealth realms and Irish presidential election .. two straws in the wind for the Canadian future

Oct 27th, 2011 | By | Category: Canadian Republic

[UPDATED OCTOBER 29]. TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2011. 3PM ET. Two different events far away today (allowing that this is a slippery word in the contemporary global village) have somewhat ironically juxtaposed implications for the long-term Canadian future. Even if the Canadian mainstream media is paying remarkably little attention! “Today” viewed as Friday, […]



Three cheers for Young Liberals of Canada and Resolution 114: “Canadian Identity in the 21st Century”!

Oct 22nd, 2011 | By | Category: Canadian Republic

If we’re going to start cheering out loud on this site, I’m giving a full three cheers for Resolution 114 at the upcoming Liberal Biennial Convention, to be held in Ottawa, January 13—15, 2012. It’s called “Canadian Identity in the 21st Century,” and has been proposed by the Young Liberals of Canada. After eight “Whereas” […]



Innovation is key to Canadian economic development .. and reviving colonized mind of British monarchy won’t help!

Sep 8th, 2011 | By | Category: Canadian Republic

Sometimes two headlines in the same newspaper on the same day can seem to explain each other. I had that feeling about two headlines in yesterday’s Toronto Star: “Lack of innovation holding Canada back: report” and “Tories order diplomats to hang portraits of the Queen by week’s end.” The first article explained how: “Canada has […]



Just what was PM Harper thinking .. how about “Canadian Navy, Air Force Name Change Divides NDP Caucus”?

Aug 21st, 2011 | By | Category: Canadian Republic

I agree that over the mid to long term future, Stephen Harper’s “abject colonial” restoration of the “‘royal’ designation to Canada’s air force and navy” last week is almost certainly going to work to the advantage of those of us who see a Canadian republic as our ultimate rational democratic destiny in the true north, […]



Guy Lombardo and the Royal Canadians are back (or will be soon?)

Aug 17th, 2011 | By | Category: In Brief

Now that the new Harper Conservative majority government (still elected by less than 40% of the Canadian people) has restored the pre-1968 “abject colonial” names of “Royal Canadian Navy” and “Royal Canadian Air Farce,” related new rumours are heating up in Ottawa (aka “the last lumber village before the North Pole”). Sooner than anyone may […]