Greenland takes front seat on Arctic Council on behalf of the Kingdom of Denmark
At a historic meeting on June 10, followed by a press conference between the Prime Minister of Denmark, Mette Frederiksen, and the leaders of the two other parts of the Kingdom of Denmark, Greenland and the Faroe Islands, the Danish PM came with a very clear message. For the first time, a Danish prime minister […]
Quebec’s anglophones have been cast adrift by the Trudeau government
KAMOURASKA, QUE.—It is tough being abandoned. On June 16, virtually the entire House of Commons dropped any historical commitment to the anglophone minority in Quebec, as it supported a Bloc Québécois motion recognizing Quebec’s “right” to unilaterally amend its provincial Constitution. This was effectively an endorsement of Quebec’s plans to enshrine French as its official […]
Ford takes the easy way out
OAKVILLE, ONT.—Maybe the official motto for Canada’s conservative political parties should be, “We Like to Take the Easy Way Out.” After all, it seems to me conservative politicians in this country prefer to avoid tough battles. Consider, for instance, how federal Conservative Party Leader Erin O’Toole recently performed an “if you can’t beat them join […]
NDP’s Qaqqaq says nearly two years as MP an ‘isolating’ experience, did not ‘belong’
When NDP MP Mumilaaq Qaqqaq delivered her farewell speech remotely to the House of Commons on June 15, she called out Canada for its treatment of Indigenous communities, saying the country’s history “is stained with blood” and urged immediate action. “It is the blood of children, youth, adults, and elders. It is time to face […]
Community-centred, Indigenous approach needed for mental health in the North, say territory denizens
Although the recent federal budget included some new provisions for mental health in Canada, it fell short in addressing the pressing needs in the North, says Nunavut’s representative in the House of Commons. NDP MP Mumilaaq Qaqqaq (Nunavut) said she less pleased with broader efforts outside of the “bare minimum” of government apologies. “They keep […]
The notwithstanding clause has long passed its best-before date
KAMOURASKA, QUE.—“An abject failure.” These were the words Pierre Elliott Trudeau used to describe the new Constitution and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, when asked for an assessment by reporters in November of 1982. He did not elaborate, but many experts speculate it was the inclusion of Section 33, the notwithstanding clause, which offended […]
Ford’s move to limit third-party advertising by invoking Constitution’s notwithstanding clause not surprising, but could backfire
OTTAWA—Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s decision to limit third-party political advertising by invoking the Constitution’s notwithstanding clause is not surprising. The Ontario legislature was recalled last week, less than a week after it rose for the summer, for a vote to overturn a court decision on the controversial use of third-party advertising dollars before elections. An […]
Co-operation, pragmatic engagement the path forward for Canada’s Arctic foreign policy
A rapidly evolving Arctic environment has turned the North into a new frontier of international economic, political, and environmental importance, intensifying geopolitical rivalries in a region that is in many regards a microcosm of the increasingly multipolar international system. This complicates Canada’s foreign policy in the North, particularly toward Russia, as many Canadian policymakers continue […]
Keeping the bailiff from repossessing your car: the case for a basic income
A basic income for all Canadians, an unconditional, guaranteed income floor below which no one’s income can fall, is an idea that has been growing in refinement and acceptance since the early 1900s. It has some enthusiastic opponents, but unlike other policy ideas, the enemies of basic income come from both the right and the […]
Quebec premier changing Constitution unilaterally starts ‘slippery slope,’ say some Liberal MPs
Quebec Liberal MPs representing anglophone ridings are staying mum on the Quebec government’s controversial attempt to unilaterally change the Constitution, but some Liberal MPs from other regions of the country are warning that the move sets Canada down a “slippery slope” with unintended consequences that will set a precedent for other provinces to do the […]
