Columns & Essays
Time for the right to really unite
Of all the silly ideas to have emerged from the wreckage that has been Canada’s conservative movement for the last 50 years, none has been more damaging for the prospects of conservatism, or more vacuous, than the idea of bifurcation, a notion that has now also taken root in American politics, manifesting itself in the conflict between conservative Republicans and their "Tea Party" allies on the one hand, and so-called moderate Republicans on the other.
Balancing workers’ rights and union privileges
Canadian law with regard to unions and workers’ rights is sharply different from that of other western nations. Forcing workers to join a union as a condition of their employment is prohibited by law in most, and those individuals who exercise their right not to join a union are either exempted from paying dues altogether, or they - along with all members of the union - are entitled to a reduction in their dues if the money is spent on activities from which they derive no work-related benefit, or on causes with which they disagree.
A whiff of totalitarianism
It's painful to witness the travails of a son trying desperately to measure up to the reputation of a famous father, especially when the son's effort misses the mark so badly, which is what happened recently when Justin Trudeau suggested that he might support Quebec independence if Canada were ever to succumb to Stephen Harper's "hidden agenda" to do away with same-sex marriage and abortion.
Freedom of religion starts at home
The announcement that, if re-elected, a Harper-led Conservative Government will create an office dedicated to the monitoring and promotion of religious freedom around the world has been applauded by people of faith in Canada – particularly Christians – who have seen, not just the rights, but the very lives of their co-religionists come under increasing threat in recent years. It’s a welcome initiative, but it also begs the question: what about defending religious freedom right here at home?
Want to cut federal spending in Canada? Follow the Constitution
The Conservative government of Stephen Harper is committed to cutting federal spending in an effort to balance the budget, and it has announced that it will be conducting a comprehensive, government-wide program review to determine where those cuts can or should be made. This is a welcome initiative that's long overdue. Unfortunately, this review threatens to ignore one of the greatest sources of waste and inefficiency: duplication between federal and provincial departments and programs.
More stupid thinking on human rights in Canada
The passage by Canada’s House of Common of C-389, a bill to extend special criminal code and human rights protections to people with “gender issues”, i.e. men who think they are really women trapped men’s bodies and vice-versa, demonstrates how incredibly stupid the thinking in Canada on human rights has become. I’m sorry if some people find that offensive, but I just cannot think of a more accurate way to put it.
Vancouver's 'safe' injection site - A sad and shameful anniversary
This week saw the fifth anniversary of the opening of INSITE, North American’s first and only so-called safe injection site for intravenous drug users, located in downtown Vancouver. It’s nothing short of scandalous that the doors of this shameful monument to the triumph of ideology over common-sense and compassion remain open.
Don't borrow more - Cut spending!
Recently, two very different approaches to public finances were highlighted in statements made by representatives of two provincial governments in Canada, ironically both liberals. In Ontario, Dalton McGuinty’s finance minister Dwight Duncan announced that the Liberal government would post a budget deficit of at least $500 million in 2009 despite the fact that he is dipping into the province’s reserve funds to the tune of another $550 million.
Better to remain silent and let people think you’re a fool
On January 12 The Guelph Mercury published a column by Geoffrey Stevens on the subject of abortion and the ongoing debate among members of the federal Conservative Party and its parliamentary caucus over what position the party should take on this issue. It’s hard to imagine a more inane analysis of the topic making its way into print in a mainstream newspaper, even a relatively small-town paper like the Mercury.
No Virginia, we’re not all Keynesians now
With the showdown over who will ultimately hold the reins of power in Ottawa in at least temporary abeyance, people are now focusing their attention on what if any action the government should be taking in response to still developing global financial crisis. Almost everyone seems to agree that Canada needs an “economic stimulus package”. What should such a “package” consist of though, and how big should it be?