Rewriting history to undermine transatlantic ties
Re: “NATO film rewrites history to demonize Russians,” (The Hill Times, Sept. 13, p. 10). I was surprised to find in The Hill Times this opinion piece. Everybody, of course, has a right to express their own opinion, but why must this opinion come directly from Moscow? Even the simplest facts, available on Wikipedia, have […]
Remembering Allan J. MacEachen: Parliament’s unmatched Celtic sphinx
Justin Trudeau called him a “peerless” Parliamentarian. Allan J. MacEachen was certainly that. MacEachen venerated Parliament as an MP and then a Senator; he mastered its procedures with effect. He used his skills to help shepherd through a remarkable package of social reforms including medicare, a labour code for Canadians, and insurance for Canadians out […]
Dear Donald: stop ruining my Sundays
OTTAWA—Donald Trump, keep your hands off my football. Go find Billy Bush and wreak havoc elsewhere. The only decent thing you ever really did for the sport was invest in the old United States Football League. That failed, and hopefully, eventually, you will, too. Is there no part of society you won’t mess around in […]
Most Canadian farmers thrive without supply management; what’s so special about dairy?
CALGARY—With negotiators butting heads on most major elements of NAFTA, the second round of talks wound down with no real breakthroughs, and we’ve yet to see the results of the ongoing third round. One major sticking point for the Americans remains largely unresolved: Canada’s supply management system. While the Americans have called for action on […]
Unwinding decades of global trade liberalization a recipe for economic turmoil
OTTAWA—More than a year after Britain voted to leave the European Union, the ruling Conservatives have made almost no progress when it comes to defining a practical, realistic post-Brexit relationship with EU countries. In a speech intended to unlock stalled Brexit negotiations, Prime Minister Theresa May admitted in Florence last week that the United Kingdom […]
Canada needs to either pick a side or get itself out of Iraq
OTTAWA—Last week there was a brief news release from National Defence entitled “Canadian Armed Forces now Advising, Assisting Iraqis near Hawija.” It garnered little media attention, as it seemed like a simple relocation of Canadian troops following the U.S.-led alliance’s successful capture of the city of Mosul earlier this summer. Canadian soldiers are still battling […]
Trudeau’s domestic focus at UN smart politics
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau went to the UN last week to speak to the world. His speech, though, was not focused on North Korea, Myanmar, Syria, climate change, or the host of other global problems. He talked mainly about domestic issues, and specifically Canada’s Indigenous peoples. He linked the needs of Indigenous peoples in Canada […]
Who’s re-treading the Cold War? Not Russia
Re: “Scott Taylor, not NATO, rewrote Latvian history,” (The Hill Times, Sept. 20, p. 8). In his response to Scott Taylor’s excellent article “NATO film rewrites history to demonize Russians,” (The Hill Times, Sept. 13, p. 10) Latvian Ambassador Karlis Eihenbaums states that Russia’s Zapad military exercises are an inheritance of the Cold War and […]
What does the world need from Canada?
OTTAWA—Last week Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was in New York for the United Nations General Assembly and spoke about what makes Canada stand out as a world leader. He also drew attention to Canada’s own failings, particularly with regards to our historic treatment of the Indigenous peoples of this country. This willingness to acknowledge our […]
Heretic thoughts on 0.7, the foreign aid Holy Grail
Point seven per cent. It is perhaps the most bandied about and least understood phrase in the global development “catechism.” The figure refers to the objective of offering seven-tenths of one per cent of gross national income (GNI) to official development assistance (ODA) budgets. It has ostensibly been the objective of the Canadian government since […]
