Posts Tagged ‘ Canadian politics ’

Happy 140th North West Mounted Police .. when dropping “Royal” from Canadian names may return

May 23rd, 2013 | By | Category: In Brief

Kudos to Google Canada for including a “Mountie in the iconic bright red uniform and broad-brimmed hat … in front of mountains, forest and water” on its home page today, in commemoration of the “140th anniversary of the North West Mounted Police.” In case you have forgotten, the North West Mounted Police were established by […]



Money in politics is “a big problem” and “ Lawrence Lessig is right”?

Apr 26th, 2013 | By | Category: Key Current Issues

One thing about life in the global village nowadays is that the subtleties of political debate keep getting lost in the demands of 140-characters-or-less, and similar rules elsewhere. (And if you think things were always that way, try reading a 19th century newspaper.) A case in point glows brightly in this past Wednesday’s Washington Post […]



Margaret Thatcher is “the mother of Canadian conservatism” ??????

Apr 17th, 2013 | By | Category: In Brief

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17, 2013. GANATSEKWYAGON, ONTARIO, CANADA. Today marks the funeral of the fabled Iron Lady back in the old imperial metropolis across the sea. And according to Matthew Coutts at the Daily Brew :”Canadian Conservative leaders including Prime Minister Stephen Harper will be in attendance when Margaret Thatcher, the woman some consider the mother […]



Is Jean Chretien right – “today marks the beginning of the end of this Conservative government”?

Apr 15th, 2013 | By | Category: In Brief

[UPDATED APRIL 16]. MONDAY, APRIL 15, 2013. MOON RIVER.  Hélène Buzzetti at Le Devoir has probably said it best, in the official language of the first people who called themselves Canadians: “C’était écrit dans le ciel et le ciel aura vu juste. Justin Trudeau, le député de Papineau, la rock star de la politique fédérale […]



Justin Trudeau – what is he?

Mar 25th, 2013 | By | Category: In Brief

With some three weeks to go before the Liberal Party of Canada chooses its next leader, there seems little doubt that Justin Trudeau will be the man (or woman, of course, as the case may in theory be : “Joyce Murray and Martha Hall Findlay are fighting over who’ll finish second.”). Even those who are […]



Who or what would reformed Senate of Canada represent is crucial question for Senate reformers now!

Mar 17th, 2013 | By | Category: In Brief

Sometimes, when not much seems to be happening on the current political scene, you can catch glimpses of a more fascinating long-term future in the minor events of the day. The headline on Andy Radia’s recent interview with the now retired Stockwell Day, in the wilds of BC, may qualify under this heading, despite all […]



Will Harper “step down this summer”?

Mar 10th, 2013 | By | Category: Ottawa Scene

This past Thursday Steve Paikin wrote a short “Inside Agenda Blog” on the TV Ontario website called “Why Stephen Harper May Step Down This Summer.”Â  The Huffington Post repeated the item in its Politics Canada section. On Friday Andy Radia on the Yahoo Canada site wrote that “Steve Paiken – a journalist for TV Ontario […]



Remembering Stompin’ Tom, Anne Murray, Gordon Lightfoot, and David Crombie at the Juno Awards in 1973

Mar 7th, 2013 | By | Category: Entertainment

Like many others in the true north, strong and free, I was saddened to hear that Stompin’ Tom Connors passed away, at the age of 77, on Wednesday, March 6,  2013. I can’t pretend to be any great fan of Stompin’ Tom’s, or any kind of expert on his life and times. All I can […]



Justin Trudeau is making a mistake on Senate reform ..??

Feb 13th, 2013 | By | Category: In Brief

[UPDATED FEBRUARY 14, 16]. According to a Canadian Press report by the estimable Joan Bryden yesterday, Justin Trudeau has now come out as an opponent of any major democratic reform of the unreformed Senate of Canada. (The CP report appeared in at least two places on the net : ”Forget Senate reform and just appoint […]



Who cares about Senator Brazeau in all this snow, snow, snow, snow, snow?

Feb 8th, 2013 | By | Category: In Brief

GANATSEKWYAGON, ON. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY8, 2013. 3 PM ET. I have now shovelled twice, and it’s still coming down. I hope the forecast that it will end early this evening is right. But even if it is, I’m guessing I‘ll be out shovelling probably two more times, at least. I can in any case appreciate the […]