Let’s modernize our public accounts, and use our financial strength and institutions to advance the public interest and eliminate the debt
Would a cash-strapped government of Alberta sell its own bank? According to reports, Scotiabank has made an offer to purchase ATB Financial. And, given the perilous fiscal conditions in the province, it's possible the government will sell. That would be huge mistake. By doing so, any government would have to betray rural Alberta and then…
In this new religion, heroes speak the truth and model the behaviours, values and norms of an increasingly diverse society
The movie Captain Marvel is a stunning box office success. Finally, it seems, an historic wrong has been arrested. Females have broken the male hegemony on physical violence and taken their rightful place in the annals of warrior gods. Females aren’t the only new members of this celebrated superhero club. There’s Black Panther, Moon Girl,…
Canada’s entrepreneurs cannot compete against global competition with one hand tied behind their backs
Some of my biggest battles in business have been with accountants. They seem to take great pleasure in playing Dr. No. No you can’t capitalize intangible assets, no you can’t use enterprise valuations, no you can’t, no you can’t, no you can’t! Until I met Joseph Batty, I had no idea that accountants were like…
The former prime minister's "vision" of Canada created the culture of entitlement and corruption in Quebec that has led to the SNC-Lavalin scandal
The SNC-Lavalin affair has become a nightmare for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. But more importantly, it signals the beginning of the end for a Canada designed and built by his father, former prime minister Pierre Trudeau. It seems Justin Trudeau attempted to bully his minister of Justice into helping SNC-Lavalin avoid criminal prosecution. By doing…
Technology entrepreneurs are locked behind bars of asset ignorance
Everybody has a story or two about an exciting new technology that was going to change the world; but was never heard from again. What happens to these great ideas? It’s all very puzzling. But, it does raise a serious question: what’s wrong with Canada’s tech sector? Is there a structural flaw? The short answer…
They could start by formalizing the treatment of intangibles so (some of them) can be collateralized for banking purposes
A survey of SMEs (Small to Medium sized Enterprises) I once read laid bare the hard facts about running a technology-related business in Canada. On the upside, the ingredients for growth for SMEs were easily identified; they include better access to management, planning, marketing, manpower and product development. What was surprising, perhaps, was the realization…
No other global civilization has been as deliberate and inclusive about progress as modern western civilization
Progressive liberals of a certain frame of mind suggest that white people are guilty. They’re the systemic oppressors of indigenous cultures, minorities and people of colour. Modern western society also stands accused of abusing the environment and of being unrelentingly sexist, racist and elitist. Or is western civilization the crucible of progress, the liberator of…
Now that the energy industry is no longer the engine of growth it once was, Albertans are finally waking up to a cruel reality; we’ve put all our economic eggs in one (carbon-emitting) basket. Albertans' new urgency to diversify their economy will require changing the way we do things. At a minimum, we will need…
They need to reinvent the capitalist system to fully unleash that creativity and establish an economy that’s more just and balanced
If you dare to ask, young people today will tell you their generation is screwed. Why? Because they were told, “Be creative, get an education and you can be whatever you want to be.” Oops, wrong! Struggle through a creative career and it's almost impossible to buy a home or escape from student-loan hell. In…
We’ve allowed market forces to replace a host of political-economic goals and considerations, and we’re far worse for it
Pax Americana, the long-standing U.S.-inspired post-war world order, is unravelling like a cheap carpet. Apart from catastrophes like Venezuela, Britain's chaotic retreat from the European Union, or the threat from President Donald Trump to pull the United States out of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, there’s the shocking rise of anti-western authoritarian regimes in Iran,…
Would a cash-strapped government of Alberta sell its own bank? According to reports, Scotiabank has made an offer to purchase ATB Financial. And, given the perilous fiscal conditions in the province, it's possible the government will sell. That would be huge mistake. By doing so, any government would have to betray rural Alberta and then…
