Canada should repeal ‘archaic’ law permitting corporal punishment
Canada recently celebrated National Child Day, recognizing our commitment to upholding the rights of children. Yet despite this annual celebration, we continue to violate children’s basic rights to protection from violence. Most Canadians would be surprised to know that our law not only excuses but justifies hitting and hurting children in the name of discipline. […]
Canada needs a national database to track COVID-19 vaccination in real time
With Canada in the midst of rolling out the vaccines, the importance of effectively monitoring the immunization campaign is coming to the fore. The federal government has recognized the importance of monitoring data, at least within federal jurisdiction, and the prime minister himself recently emphasized the federal government will “be a partner with the provinces […]
At Canada’s universities, institutional racism more than a case of a few bad apples
The open letter from the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC), dated Dec. 18, 2020, castigating Ontario academic and educational institutions for failing to meet the needs of Black, Indigenous, and racialized students in these challenging times, is certainly bold and timely. The position of public censure OHRC has taken on through this statement speaks to […]
Assange, ‘high-tech terrorist,’ (almost) free at last
LONDON, U.K.—On Monday morning, a British judge finally rejected the U.S. attempt to extradite WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and jail him forever (or at least for 175 years in a high-security “supermax” prison) on the grounds that he is, as Joe Biden once called him, a “high-tech terrorist.” The vindictiveness of the American security establishment […]
How much nature can address climate change depends on us
On Dec. 11, the Government of Canada released its renewed climate plan. As a young person who has been working in national and international climate action and conservation for the past four years, I was excited to see nature—more specifically, “nature-based climate solutions”—recognized as a necessary part of climate action. But the plan has some […]
A year like none other in living memory
The year 2020 did not start off well and then quickly went downhill into an unforgettable quagmire from which we have yet to recover. There was the deliberate shooting down by Iran of a plane carrying many Canadians immediately after takeoff and all lives were lost. This was followed by blockades on Canada’s main rail […]
Defending the indefensible
LONDON, U.K.—The recent war between Armenia and Azerbaijan made sense, in an old-fashioned way. The dispute was about territory—borders that were drawn almost a century ago by a Russian dictator, Joseph Stalin—and Azerbaijan had lost the last war and a lot of land. So the Azerbaijanis spent a lot of money (they have oil), bought […]
Does ‘Canada First’ apply to feeding our cadets?
OTTAWA—Prior to enlisting in the Regular Force in 1961, I attended Army cadet summer training camps in Farnham, Que., for four consecutive summers. Ever since, I have maintained an appreciation and interest in the different aspects of the cadet program. This explains why, in 2013, I was disappointed to learn the results contained in a […]
A COVID story worth remembering
KAMOURASKA, QUE.—This second wave of COVID-19 is infernal. This area of Quebec had been virtually impervious to the virus from the beginning. But now, like everywhere else, we are in lockdown from Christmas to the New Year. As COVID takes its toll, the spectre of death visits us in large numbers. We can see it […]
Protecting Canada’s vaccine supply chain against ransomware
The COVID-19 vaccine holds the promise of a post-pandemic world. Many are looking forward to the end of isolation and re-engaging in good old face-to-face social contact. However, there are many steps that need to be taken first. Canada is expecting to receive millions of doses by 2021, but the path to get here is […]
