COVID-19 and aviation: survival, recovery, and innovation
The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged Canadians to adapt their way of life. Aviation professionals are playing a vital role in preserving societal functioning, with airlines volunteering to repatriate Canadians abroad, crew members risking exposure to reunite travellers with their families, and cargo operations playing a vital role in the supply chain—distributing essential medical supplies. These […]
The challenge of COVID-19 to aviation security
OTTAWA—Viruses fly all the time, but rarely have they been as deadly as COVID-19, which will change aviation security as much as 9/11. The novel coronavirus is changing our appreciation of risk; it has flipped the question of the global aviation sector from surge capacity to viability; and it demonstrates the levels of cultural shift […]
de Adder’s Take: 04-06-2020
The Conservative Party’s competence problem
OAKVILLE, ONT.—Instead of focusing on the depressing crisis known as COVID-19, I thought I’d focus instead on the depressing crisis known as the Conservative Party of Canada. Okay, maybe “crisis” is too strong a word, but clearly the last six months have been a pretty rough stretch of road for the federal Conservatives. It all […]
Hadju made a courageous and dangerous statement last week
OTTAWA—Health Minister Patty Hadju made a courageous and dangerous statement last week. Courageous, when she told the country that successive governments had neglected their responsibilities by not investing in pandemic preparation. Dangerous, because at the end of the day, Canadians will blame current governments when things go wrong. The general strategy in politics is never […]
Canada needs a multi-phase national COVID-19 strategy, says Vancouver reader
In a letter published in The Hill Times on March 30, I advocated for the federal and provincial governments to begin developing and communicating strategies for the next phases of the COVID-19 response, including a gradual return to normal social and economic activity. This follow-up letter offers some details on what a multi-phase, COVID-19 strategy […]
Peace in Afghanistan? Not likely in our time
OTTAWA—I am sure that you have all heard the Pottery Barn rule, right? It says, “if you break it you buy it.” In other words, if you are responsible for damage it is incumbent on you to take ownership of the damaged goods. Wars, or, more narrowly, occupations, are a good example of this rule. […]
For MPs, focus now becomes how to help your constituents through this crisis, and Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs is suddenly relevant
OTTAWA—Even in a steady state, there is very little useful literature around about how to be an effective Member of Parliament. While your working life in Ottawa is governed by House rules, or the Standing Orders, meeting schedules, precedents and party practices, test your constituency work has always been some combination of how your predecessors […]
An opportunity or a need to reset commercial aviation?
MONTREAL—In this midst of turbulent and uncertain times, aviation is reeling from the impact of government action to curtail movement and humanity’s apprehension about transmitting and acquiring the COVID-19 virus. Most in the aviation community are looking to cash conservation techniques to be able to bridge the gap to renewed air services, only to face […]
Warring parties must lay down weapons to fight bigger battle against COVID-19
EDMONTON—“The fury of the virus illustrates the folly of war.” In one short sentence, UN Secretary-General António Guterres opened the door to a new understanding of what constitutes human security. Will governments seize the opportunity provided by the immense crisis of COVID-19 to finally adopt a global agenda for peace? In an extraordinary move on March […]
