“As NAFTA negotiations continue, is it a good idea for the federal government to pursue free trade talks with China? Why or why not?”
Cameron Ahmad Liberal strategist “As the prime minister recently said, it’s difficult to talk about international trade and global opportunities without talking about China. Our government firmly believes in diversifying our trade—so that businesses, entrepreneurs, and middle-class Canadians have more opportunities in a greater range of markets around the world. “Our government recently concluded negotiations […]
How to untie the unethical knots revealed by Morneau’s scandal
OTTAWA—In all the spin about Finance Minister Bill Morneau’s conflicts of interest scandal, what are the real problems, and how can the unethical knots that the scandal reveals be untied to ensure ethical government decision-making in the future? Most everyone, including international standard-setters like the UN, the OECD, the Supreme Court of Canada in its […]
Can you say ‘conflict of interest’? Not at the UN
POWELL RIVER, B.C.—When it comes to measures seriously addressing climate change Canadians have pretty low expectations. They know that oil companies have the ear of both Bay Street political parties. Just last week, for example, the auditor general went public exposing the Trudeau government’s refusal to provide the information he needs to determine the level […]
We need a new continuum of care for Canada’s veterans
OTTAWA—There’s a demographic shift underway within the veteran population which Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) serves and it’s opening up a unique window of opportunity for injured and aging veterans and their families. For the first time in recent generations, the Continuum of Care pathway, from homecare to long-term care that many find themselves on, can […]
Bringing Canada’s songs to the world: strengthening the role of Canada’s export-minded music publishers
OTTAWA—When Canadian Heritage Minister Mélanie Joly published her long-awaited Creative Canada policy framework, one part in particular spoke to me and to my fellow music publishers and songwriters: the focus on export. It’s not unusual for me to walk into a night market in Taipei and hear three songs I wrote in English translated into […]
Rehashing old immigration promise can’t disguise serious systemic problems
TORONTO—There are two sets of immigration policies in Canada. The first is the one prepared by politicians to promote during the elections or in preparation of an election. The second is the real one, the one that nobody talks about, and, most likely, nobody cares about. In fact, voters have short memories and are easily […]
Kudos to Liberals, public servants for meeting marine protection target
Okay, here’s some good news. The federal government announced on Oct. 28 that it had reached its target of endowing protected status upon five per cent of Canada’s marine territory by the end of the year, and the public servants and ministers—Fisheries Minister Dominic LeBlanc and Environment Minister Catherine McKenna—responsible for meeting that goal should […]
Three reasons for political, social upheaval across the Americas and Western Europe
TORONTO—Life imitates fiction, sometimes, and not in ways that you’d expect. This week, for example, I published a book called Recipe For Hate. It’s a novel. Without giving away the plot, I can reveal that Recipe For Hate is about fanatics insinuating themselves into positions of power and influence. It’s about zealots, on both the […]
Restoring ‘Navigable Waters’ into Canada’s Navigation Protection Act
The Nahanni River in the Northwest Territories boasts a dramatic landscape of deep canyons and waterfalls, but also a very personal connection to one of Canada’s iconic families. In 2003, Justin Trudeau paddled his father’s famous canoe route down the spectacular Nahanni River. After his wilderness expedition in the 1970s, Pierre Trudeau championed the creation […]
Monday marks 150th anniversary of first meeting of Canadian parliamentarians
OTTAWA—Monday marks the 150th anniversary of the first meeting of Canadian parliamentarians. Celebrations include the usual fanfare, with a declaration in the House of Commons, and a commemorative plaque unveiling. But the real story of these 150 years is best expressed in how we govern ourselves. Americans live by the credo of exceptionalism. They (falsely) […]
