Get used to it, Monsieur Legault: English is the international language
KAMOURASKA, QUE.—April 23 came and went without much fanfare this year, as it always does. If you had forgotten, it was St. George’s Day. It is odd no one notices, the given the chauvinism for other patron saints. On St. Patrick’s Day (March 17) everyone is Irish. St. Andrew’s Day (Nov. 30) is an opportunity […]
Let’s make sure we get Canada’s critical minerals strategy right
Given the context of this year’s federal budget—surging energy prices, post-COVID economic stabilization, and a war in Europe—the Government of Canada was understandably more focused than perhaps in any of the Trudeau government’s previous budgets. It was not Christmas morning with a bauble for everyone. It was a disciplined and focused approach to the challenges […]
‘Inuit culture and traditions are not for sale’: why the government should not approve Baffinland expansion
POND INLET, NUNAVUT—I’m a hunter from Pond Inlet, Nunavut. My father is also a hunter and I grew up helping him, harvesting subsistence food. The hunters in our community are providers—they share their catch by going through radio or Facebook, asking if people want country food. Called the “Jewel of the North,” our Baffin Island […]
Guy Lafleur’s death has united Quebecers in grief
KAMOURASKA, QUE.—Steve Shutt summed up his teammate Guy Lafleur in an interview with Stu Cowan of the Montreal Gazette: “He didn’t put himself above everybody else. He was just one of the guys.” That certainly was my impression, having followed Lafleur’s career. I had been at the Forum in the fall of 1971 when “Flower” […]
Northerners think feds are ‘out of touch’ with the North, data suggests
Northerners say the federal government is “out of touch” with the North, does not meet their needs, and does not fairly represent them, according to a convenience sample study conducted by the Angus Reid Forum. The data, while anecdotal in nature, offers a glimpse into the frustrations and issues facing those living in Canada’s territories, […]
The advent of Fordism
OAKVILLE, ONT.—Thomas Huxley once said, “The results of political changes are hardly ever those which their friends hope or their foes fear.” Those words, I think, aptly describe the political changes which have taken place in Ontario since Premier Doug Ford ascended to power four years ago. Basically, Ford hasn’t been the premier many of […]
Spotty internet access puts North at serious disadvantage
You’re reading this article right now, and you probably didn’t have to wait more than a second for the page to load. You might be cheekily scanning it while stuck on a boring Zoom call, and, if you’re like me, with a dozen other tabs open in your browser. It’s a nice privilege to have […]
Regardless of Kenney’s fate, 2023 will be a decisive election for Alberta
After her 2019 election defeat, many Albertans wrote NDP Leader Rachel Notley off for good. Her 2015 victory was a fluke, they said. Alberta is as true blue as they come, they cried. Had conservative forces not been split, she’d never have gotten into office. And nor would she again: not after Jason Kenney triumphantly […]
Indigenous languages on federal ballots could help boost turnout, PROC hears
Directly or indirectly, including Indigenous languages on federal ballots could help to boost Indigenous voter turnout, argue witnesses appearing as part of the House Affairs Committee’s ongoing study into the prospect. But some suggest resources would be better allocated elsewhere. “Having the Inuit language on ballots would help in increasing the voter turnout,” Nunavut Languages […]
Ford gambling on Ontarians’ health in pre-election dice roll
OTTAWA—Whatever you can say about Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s handling of the pandemic, it clearly didn’t have anything to do with equal treatment of his province’s population. It emerged last year that private schools had been huge beneficiaries when the Ford government began handing out rapid tests (paid for by federal taxpayers) as Ontarians struggled with […]
