Gord Brown’s passing underscored personal sacrifice paid by our elected representatives
In his nearly 15 years on the federal scene, Gord Brown gave his colleagues on both sides of the House a daily glimpse into the valuable, positive role that can be gained from a committed, even-handed approach to politics based on a perception of what is best, overall, for Canadians. Straightforward, kind, and engaged, the […]
Bill C-45: a characteristically Canadian model of cannabis reform
PARLIAMENT HILL—Canada is on track to legalize and strictly regulate cannabis some time in the next few months. This is not without controversy, but we are not going to see the sort of Wild West model that unfolded rapidly in Colorado and other U.S. states. The Canadian model of cannabis reform is focused on improving […]
Senate committee split on amendment to delay cannabis bill
Senators on the committee studying the government’s controversial cannabis legalization bill are divided so far on whether to recommend that legalization be delayed by a year, and on how many amendments to the bill should be sent back to the House of Commons. The Senate Social Affairs Committee received reports from three other committees studying […]
Robotics, 3D printing, and artificial intelligence will improve lives of people with disabilities
Robotics, 3D printing, and artificial intelligence will both revolutionize several sector of activities and improve considerably the lives of Canadians, especially people with disabilities. In a report released in October 2017, the Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology highlighted the potential benefits, and also challenges, of integrating these technologies into the health-care system. […]
I called him Gordie, my friend for more than 40 years
TORONTO—Gordie. That’s what we called him—or I did, at least. When someone has been one of your closest friends for almost four decades, calling him anything else didn’t seem right. It’s not that he didn’t have a lot of titles that could have been appended to his name, however. He was the chair of the House Heritage […]
Is there really an economic case for Kinder Morgan?
CHELSEA, QUE.—The environmental dangers involved in the controversial twinning of the Kinder Morgan pipeline through British Columbia are easy to see, if not to quantify. The first is increased odds of a calamitous spill in the face of a sevenfold increase in oil tanker traffic in Vancouver Harbour. The second is that, by extending the […]
AFN’s role, relationship with feds expected to be deciding factors in upcoming national chief race
The Assembly of First Nations will vote to decide on its national chief for the next three years in July, and with four names currently in the ring, debate over the AFN’s raison d’être and its relationship with the federal government are expected to once again help shape the race. “Two of [the candidates] are primarily […]
Liberals’ major new elections bill to undercut Conservatives’ spending advantage during campaigns
The government’s major new elections bill will scrap the rising cap on spending by political parties during long election campaigns, a move that could limit how the opposition Conservatives can capitalize on their long-held fundraising advantage in the 2019 election. Bill C-76, the Elections Modernization Act, will also establish a spending limit for at least […]
Research, innovation sparking health-care revolution
Canada spends about $228-billion each year on health care, but the system still can’t keep up with demand. Despite the undeniable dedication, skill and hard work that physicians, surgeons, nurses and administrators put in, the fact remains that demand for health care is gradually exceeding supply. It’s time for a technological revolution—and we have the […]
Other Quebec voices fill Bloc’s void
In a book timed to cause a stir in Quebec’s overheated pre-election season, Radio-Canada journalist Michel C. Auger tackles what he identifies as 25 myths that feed the province’s political conversation. Among others, his contention that Quebec is winning the battle to ensure it remains a French-language society and his take on the need to […]
