Mike Duffy appeal is a chance to reform the unelected Senate
TORONTO—Canada’s Supreme Court only accepts a fraction of the thousands of applications it’s asked to consider every year. To be heard, the case must be novel and of overriding public interest. Those criteria would seem to apply to Senator Mike Duffy’s argument at the centre of his appeal—that the Charter of Rights and the rule […]
Transition will lead us to a sustainable future, barriers do not lead anywhere: Robinson
The argument about our energy future currently seems to be somewhat circular and yet there are some clear indications of a desire for change—a transition to a low-carbon or no-carbon energy system. In a systems context, we might consider the role of subsidies and how that role could be shifted to facilitate a transition. Loss of employment […]
We need to think about the future of jobs after the pandemic
TORONTO—There are big questions about the future of jobs facing us as we move beyond the pandemic next year, including the number of jobs we’ll need, where they’ll come from, the level of compensation, and the quality of jobs. We know that more jobs today are precarious or gig jobs—they constituted 5.5 per cent of […]
Trump’s Idiocracy is in action
HALIFAX—Fourteen years ago, a science-fiction movie was released called Idiocracy. It was set in a dysfunctional America where survival of the fittest was reversed by reproductive habits and social collapse. Thoughtful Americans stopped having children, and the less reflective multiplied like rabbits. The movie depicted an America stuck with the worst citizens in its history. […]
Sen. Duncan’s right, Senators should be leading by example by wearing masks in Upper Chamber and so should MPs
Once the World Health Organization declared the pandemic was official last March and the world went into lockdown, hundreds of millions of people around the world began working from home, forming social bubbles, social distancing, and only leaving the house to get essentials. They stopped travelling, and started hand-sanitizing and wearing face masks in public […]
Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act, Bill C-12, is lame, writes Montpellier
The Liberal government declared a climate emergency in June of 2019. And now, some 18 months later, it has tabled Bill C-12, the Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act which is moving through the parliamentary review process. How any government could table such a lame piece of legislation as part of its emergency response is beyond comprehension. Rather […]
Whoville and the Grinch: a cautionary tale for opposition politicians
CHELSEA, QUE.—It is time someone who isn’t a Liberal said it: the Trudeau government has done a pretty good job managing the pandemic. Not perfect, never perfect. But hardly the train wreck of corruption and incompetence depicted by opposition critics. Despite recent claims by Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole and his health critic, MP Michelle Rempel […]
Health in the context of COVID-19 and climate change, time to walk the walk: letter writer
Having just listened to the prime minister announce plans for COVID-19 vaccine distribution, I started to think about health in a broader context. Even prior to COVID-19, many countries and organizations were and are dealing with another global health issue: the state of global ecosystems and climate change have and continue to impact the health […]
de Adder’s Take: 12-14-2020
Time to unlock Canada’s energy storage potential
The recently introduced Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act aims to achieve a goal of net-zero emissions by 2050. Achieving this goal will require a modernization of Canada’s electricity system. While the federal government has taken initial steps toward this goal by phasing out coal and encouraging renewables and other zero-emission technologies, it has become clear that energy […]
