Easy pickings for tow-truck operators and politicians alike
Re: “Despite Ontario law, some operators blowing it when towing it,” (The Hill Times, Dec. 6, 2017, p. 11). Sadly, legislation and policies around automobile accidents turn out to be window dressing at election time, with no real benefit to the public at large. The tow-truck legislation is toothless from the start, as tow trucks sit roadside like […]
Despite Ontario law, some operators blowing it when towing it
OTTAWA—No dissection of the latest attacks on Bill Morneau by the opposition, or assessment of the Trudeau trade agenda for me this week—though both are topical and interesting. Instead, it is time to talk tow trucks. And unless you’re in the industry, they are the bane of man’s existence. Where did this sudden interest come […]
Plenty of challenges for Ottawa to sort through with carbon pricing in 2018, say critics and observers
While the Trudeau government is refusing to back down from its plan mandating provinces and territories impose a carbon levy in 2018, it must still contend with competing concerns over regional pushback, rising American competition, and ever-present political optics, say critics and observers. Most notably, the Saskatchewan and Manitoba governments and Alberta’s popular United Conservative […]
Liberals, Conservatives finalize candidates for upcoming byelections
The Liberals and Conservatives are lining up their candidates for a series of federal byelections next month. The two parties have determined who will carry their respective banners in all four ridings up for grabs on Dec. 11, with the Tories tasking a former cabinet minister with keeping a Vancouver-area seat blue in what’s expected […]
Better to be done right than on time: Senate, opposition concerned about marijuana legalization deadline
The Liberals are sticking to their July 2018 marijuana legalization deadline, but the opposition, Senators, and other stakeholders say their push-it-through approach risks setting the policy up to fail. NDP health critic Don Davies (Vancouver Kingsway, B.C.) said he sees the bill as too restrictive when compared to alcohol regulations. “It’s changing a hundred years […]
Debate over Quebec face-covering law displays a gap between polls and votes
Perhaps as early as next week, a Quebec court will be asked to suspend the recent provincial prescription that anyone dispensing or receiving provincial and municipal services do so with one’s face uncovered. Those challenging the newly adopted Quebec law on religious neutrality on behalf of the minority of Muslim women who wear the face-covering […]
Eastern dealmakers watch feds fumble free trade opportunity
Free trade across America’s northern border is at risk of remaining frozen in the 1990’s as the veneer of hopeful rhetoric fades from the NAFTA negotiating table. That’s bad news in New England and Atlantic Canada where time-tested trading partners would have benefited from the fulfillment of a more modern, inclusive reboot of the deal. […]
All politics is local: Ottawa bubble scandals not making a splash amid Newfoundland ferry furor
ST. JOHN’S, N.L.—Yes, yes, you have read and heard about it many times before, but truly all politics is local. After spending the last week at home in Newfoundland and Labrador guest-hosting one of our province’s most-popular radio talk shows, VOCM’s Open Line, that maxim about local issues has been proven true again. National headlines […]
Referendum politics in Canada, Spain: no rules in a knife fight
OTTAWA—The fallout from the Oct. 1 referendum in Catalonia—the Spanish government’s decision to jail members of the Catalan cabinet and seek the arrest of leader Carles Puigdemont—is a vivid reminder that politics can be a blood sport, and that it does not have to be. As Canadians, we watch the turmoil in Spain and convince […]
Time for Ottawa to cry foul over Nova Scotia cap-and-trade proposal
Believe it or not, but the debate on carbon pricing in Canada has seen significant progress over the last two years. Putting a price on carbon pollution is a surefire way to reduce emissions, and also helps to ensure clean economic growth happens here at home. More than ever, it’s not just the usual suspects […]
