The proposed COVID Commission should be charged with finding substantive answers to 16 questions
While the following series is fictional, the principle objective is non-fictional – to explore the likelihood that sooner or later, Canadians will demand a full-scale investigation into the management of the COVID crisis by our federal government. At the commencement of the 2022 fall session of parliament, one of the first acts of the new…
“Canada will always be there to defend the right to peaceful protest” – Justin Trudeau, in a reference to protests in India
Asked why he supported some protests but was determined to crush the trucker convoy, Justin Trudeau answered without hesitation: He supported – and even participated in – protests he agreed with, but he did not support – and vowed to crush – those with “unacceptable views,” that is, views he disagrees with. We are now…
Could be another challenging year for our farmers, and consumers
Humanity just got dealt another blow with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Just thinking of the human cost is unbearable. And the agri-food sector has already been impacted by the conflict in more ways than one. Ukraine is Europe’s breadbasket, so this conflict will affect global commodity markets in a meaningful way. Wheat and corn futures…
Zelenskyy’s refusal to give in to Putin’s demands and dreams of rebuilding the Soviet Union is awe-inspiring
During times of war and conflict, many memorable lines have been delivered by political and military leaders. A few notable examples include: Pericles’s appeal for war against Sparta, 432 BC: “We must live up to the standard they set: we must resist our enemies in any and every way, and try to leave to those…
I don’t often write about house-to-house combat, so I’ll seize this opportunity as Russians attempt to seize cities in Ukraine. A primary consideration in war is how to get from one spot to another while supplying your troops. In the U S. Civil War there was a good road from the south winding up to…
Canada lacks a practical ability to channel frustrations from citizens to governments
A vast gulf exists between Canada’s chattering classes – many politicians, some journalists and a plethora of academics – and citizens on multiple issues, including most recently the self-described Freedom Convoy. It has much to do with the lack of the feedback mechanisms found in other countries: direct democracy, otherwise known as referendums, on laws…
We are venturing into a new authoritarian version of what used to be a wonderful country
The discussions held by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the Premiers leading up to the imposition of The Emergencies Act will not be made public, but the results are obvious: All Premiers except one, Ontario Premier Doug Ford, told Trudeau not to do it. I’m sure that they all urged the Prime Minister to take…
The world is watching Canada. Trudeau must separate his blend of public health and authoritarianism
Public health doctors created vaccination mandates and vaccine passports. Doctors tabled the ideas. Politicians docilely followed doctors’ advice and turned it into policy. Ideas shaped the policy and policy formed a protest. Public policy made the truckers’ Freedom Convoy a reality. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s response turned the protest into a global movement. The historic…
In the spring of 2021, the federal government faced considerable backlash for its clumsy attempt at regulating Canadian content on the Internet. Bill C-10 was concerned with “compelling companies like Netflix Inc and TikTok Inc to finance and promote Canadian content.” It was controversial, not least because the law could be read to target content…
An overextension of government powers shot an arrow through the heart of our democracy
The Freedom Convoy has dominated the domestic and international news cycle for nearly three weeks. The protest is in the process of coming to a stunning conclusion, based on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s decision to invoke the Emergencies Act on Monday. Things were gradually winding down in recent days. Protesters were removed from the Ambassador…
While the following series is fictional, the principle objective is non-fictional – to explore the likelihood that sooner or later, Canadians will demand a full-scale investigation into the management of the COVID crisis by our federal government. At the commencement of the 2022 fall session of parliament, one of the first acts of the new…
