Northern Canada facing the climate change challenge in practical, culturally meaningful ways
The threat of climate change to property and infrastructure has become increasingly apparent to Canadians. With increasing intensity and frequency, forest fires and floods are having a devastating impact on all kinds of communities, whether rural or urban. But imagine a world where climate change puts your way of life and cultural identity at risk. […]
Environmental groups urging government to add plastics to toxic substances list
As domestic and international opposition to plastics and plastic pollution increases, some advocates are urging the federal government to take a tougher approach to regulation. While some municipalities and provinces are already pushing forward with initiatives such as banning plastic shopping bags, the Liberals could go even further by naming certain types of single-use plastics […]
Liberals to move ‘quickly’ after Alberta chops carbon pricing, says McKenna
As Alberta’s carbon tax is on the chopping block, Environment and Climate Change Minister Catherine McKenna wouldn’t provide a specific timeline for implementing the federal backstop in Alberta, but said the government will “move as quickly as possible” and that she’ll have “more to say in the coming weeks.” Alberta’s new United Conservative government ended […]
Feds, Irving need to clean up their act and find a better PR move than threatening reporters
OTTAWA—Last week the Globe and Mail broke the story about Irving Shipbuilding being allowed to claim a $40-million industrial benefit for a french fry factory as part of a contract to build navy ships. As odd as this might sound, that was not the bizarre part of this news story. Shortly after the Globe and […]
Kenney’s and Ford’s shameless abuse of power, says reader
Re: “Kenney, Ford to spend $60-million on PR war against Trudeau’s carbon tax, and that ain’t right,” (The Hill Times, by Michael Harris, May 27, p. 4). I just want to say thank you for Michael Harris’ opinion piece about Alberta Premier Jason Kenney’s and Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s shameless abuse of power. Conservatives are […]
For the love of Canada, vote responsibly, urges reader
It has become clear to me that today’s Ontario Progressive Conservative government is an oxymoron. You cannot be progressive and be conservative. Under the leadership of Doug Ford, the only thing progressive about the PC government is that it has become more and more progressively conservative. Not only is today’s PC government not progressive—it’s not […]
‘The model doesn’t make any sense’: Senators, Inuit orgs call for Nutrition North transformation
A federal program that subsidizes the cost of sending perishable food to remote communities has a “model that doesn’t make any sense” for northerners, according to Senators who live in the territories and the organizations that represent their communities. Following a new study that questioned the effectiveness in the program in Nunavut, some hope that […]
Defence update: Arctic offshore and patrol vessels and the Nanisivik Naval Facility
The first major naval vessels built in Canada since the mid-1990s are now beginning to emerge from the Halifax Shipyards. The Arctic and Offshore Patrol Vessels (AOPV), announced by prime minister Stephen Harper in 2007, are versatile ice-strengthened patrol ships that will be used for a variety of missions including coastal surveillance, SAR, drug interdiction, […]
Extremism is not far from home
It has barely been two months since the Christchurch mosque shootings in New Zealand rocked the international community, and we now have local extremist groups who are using Quebec’s new secularism legislation, Bill 21, as an opportunity to further their message of intolerance. Extremism is not too far from home after all. Storm Alliance, a far-right group, appeared to […]
Anger in politics is neither appealing nor productive
KAMOURASKA, QUE.—May 20 marked 39 years since the first Quebec referendum, which resulted in a 60-40 rejection of the Parti Québécois bid for independence. I remember it well, as a member of the “Non” organizing committee. We had spent six weeks of gruelling 18-hour days, culminating in a 5 a.m. start on the day of […]
