Politics and its Discontents: UPDATE: A Shameful Minister With No Shame
I can think of not one positive thing to say about Julian Fantino. Apparently, Toronto Star readers can’t either: Fantino ‘absolutely regrets’ clash with veterans, Jan. 30 There is no possible excuse...
View ArticlePolitics and its Discontents: Economic Fact Check
Contrary to what our self-described economist Prime Minister would have us believe, the jobs that are being created in Canada today are but a pale echo of what once existed. Responding to a January...
View ArticlePolitics and its Discontents: Heather Mallick And The Climate Of Fear
Toronto Star columnist Heather Mallick has a lacerating assessment this morning of the political landscape we now inhabit, thanks to the machinations of the Harper cabal. Owen, over at Norther...
View ArticlePolitics and its Discontents: Andrea Horwath: Labour’s Fair-Weather Friend?
In light of her refusal to say much about anything, a political disease she may have caught from her federal cousins, Ontario NDP leader Andrea Horwath is being viewed increasingly as little more than...
View ArticlePolitics and its Discontents: This Just In!
And it is very encouraging, in that it appears Canadians are beginning to wake up to the true nature of the Harper regime: Nearly two-thirds of Canadians believe that the ruling Conservatives are...
View ArticlePolitics and its Discontents: Another Informed Star Reader
Christine Penner Polle of Red Lake offers some observations that I suspect few but the most ardent ideologues would dispute: Re: Ottawa plans cuts to climate programs, March 12 Have we Canadians...
View ArticlePolitics and its Discontents: C’Mon, We’ve All Been Thinking It
And now, thanks to Michael de Adder, we’ve got a picture to go along with those thoughts: Recommend this Post
View ArticlePolitics and its Discontents: The Toronto Police Are At It Again
This is what happens when you have a ‘blue wall’ culture, facilitated by a police chief who often seems more politician than top cop. Sure, it is unfair and inaccurate to portray all police as abusers...
View ArticlePolitics and its Discontents: Sometimes, Clicking Your Heels Does Not Send...
This thoughtful letter explains why: Re: Tory MP takes aim at elections watchdog, April 9 When it comes to fairness and objectivity, I have more faith in the former auditor general of Canada, Sheila...
View ArticlePolitics and its Discontents: Two Sentiments That Will Resonate With Many
Today’s Star brings two letters, one on despotic rule and the other on electoral reform, that many would find hard to argue against: Harper’s on a lonely road to political isolation, April 15...
View ArticlePolitics and its Discontents: A Reading Recommendation.
I have a deep respect for Alex Himelfarb, the director of the Glendon School of International and Public Affairs and tireless proponent of responsible, progressive taxation. The latter, as one can...
View ArticlePolitics and its Discontents: Thomas Walkom Misses The Mark
One of the reasons I subscribe to The Toronto Star is the quality of its columnists. Tim Harper, Martin Regg Cohn, Thomas Walkom, Heather Mallick, etc. rarely disappoint. However, no one is perfect,...
View ArticlePolitics and its Discontents: The Sad Record Of Our Last Parliamentary Session
Star reader David Buckna, of Kelowna, B.C., offers a searing and accurate assessment of our latest session of Parliament: Federal MPs are back in their ridings for the summer, and will be out hitting...
View ArticlePolitics and its Discontents: Well Said!
The other day I wrote a post critical of the ‘blame game’ being played by the NDP’s Andrea Horwath to excuse her lack of progress during the recent Ontario provincial election. In a similar vein, Star...
View ArticlePolitics and its Discontents: Harper’s Reign Of Terror: Targeted Charities...
It was with a certain pleasure that I read in Monday’s Star that some international aid charities are banding together to challenge the Harper-directed CRA witch hunt into charities that promote views...
View ArticlePolitics and its Discontents: Explaining Justin Trudeau
No matter what the Liberal leader says or does, his popularity ranks at a consistently high level. While part of the explanation for his standings in the polls surely lies in the Canadian people’s...
View ArticlePolitics and its Discontents: Word On The Street – Chantal Hebert and Tim Harper
Although it started out quite ominously with heavy downpours, yesterday turned out to be a good day. As the clouds cleared, we hopped on the GO bus to attend Toronto’s Word on the Street, an annual...
View ArticlePolitics and its Discontents: It’s Why I Subscribe
To borrow a line from one of my favourite Shakespearean plays, Macbeth, “So fair and foul a day I have not seen.” It is fair because the newspaper I subscribe to and heartily endorse, The Toronto...
View ArticlePolitics and its Discontents: Real Journalism: Holding Harper To Account
Unlike the kind of faux journalism that the CBC’s most reverent chief correspondent, Peter Mansbridge, has perfected, real journalism requires critical thinking and hard-hitting questions. In that,...
View ArticlePolitics and its Discontents: Health Canada Fails Us Yet Again
On this blog I have frequently extolled the fine investigative journalism practised by The Toronto Star. Whether on issues of municipal, provincial, or federal significance, The Star, as it frequently...
View ArticlePolitics and its Discontents: What, Me Worry?
H/t The Toronto Star According to Star readers, there is plenty that could go wrong. Here is but a sampling of their concerns: In his anti-terrorism speech, Stephen Harper said: “Over the last few...
View ArticlePolitics and its Discontents: Philip Junop Has An Important Message
If we truly love our country, it is one we all should heed: Life in Canada has been good to me as I approach my 60th birthday. A loving and carefree childhood in scenic, small town Ontario, a good...
View ArticlePolitics and its Discontents: About The "Harper Gestapo Act" And Other Prime...
I would feel much more hopeful about October’s election if I believed this kind of critical thinking were common among our fellow citizens: Re: Tory rhetoric defies belief, Editorial March 12Re:...
View ArticlePolitics and its Discontents: Setting The Record Straight
Every so often I receive forwarded emails apparently designed to expose some unpalatable truths about how Canadians are being treated inequitably by their government vis-à-vis the financial support it...
View ArticlePolitics and its Discontents: Outsourcing Has Its Costs
The Toronto Star used to have its own production facilities, but as a cost-cutting measure, last year it outsourced that responsibility. Since then there have been numerous problems with the paper,...
View Article
