Archive for the ‘Governance Debates’ Category
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Ontario shouldn’t turn back the clock on naming judges
Wednesday, November 20th, 2019
The effect of that would be to give the attorney general more leeway to use his own discretion in naming judges and JPs. It risks turning back the clock and re-politicizing a system that has been virtually free of partisan considerations for some time. It would be, in other words, a step backwards toward the bad old days when political connections mattered as much (or more) than legal excellence.
Tags: ideology, jurisdiction
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Trudeau has chance now to be unusually bold
Monday, November 18th, 2019
Trudeau may not be able to get all provinces to agree to, say, a universal pharmacare program. But that doesn’t preclude him from establishing the legislative framework for one… voters didn’t elect Liberals just so they could sit on their hands and apologize for not being from Alberta. They elected them to do something.
Tags: Health, jurisdiction, pharmaceutical
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In new minority reality, unprecedented opportunities await Canada’s Senate
Friday, November 15th, 2019
In the past, tough topics around health care, mental-health challenges, legalization of cannabis, rural and urban poverty, constitutional reform, official-languages policy and the structure of foreign aid have been thoroughly, openly and constructively addressed by Senate committees… Every region of Canada is represented in the Senate, and its demographic and skills mix is representative of Canada as a whole.
Tags: ideology, jurisdiction, participation, Senate
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Right Now: Conservatism in Canada is on the edge. We need bold new ideas
Friday, November 8th, 2019
Contrary to popular belief, conservatism is not a political ideology. Russell Kirk, the great American conservative writer, described it as “a state of mind, a type of character, a way of looking at the civil social order.” To make conservatism a winning political force again, we must apply our way of looking at the civil social order in a way that fits with the reality of life in 2019.
Tags: economy, ideology, tax
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Six reasons to just say ‘No’ to electoral reform
Thursday, October 31st, 2019
As tempting as it might seem to some to “reform” our system, the reality is that Canadians in every province that has held a referendum on electoral reform have voted against the idea. To keep pushing this bad idea makes little sense, especially when the reasons for rejecting are so powerful… Firstly, … there is no evidence that other nations with such voting systems, such as Germany or Sweden, are any better governed than is Canada.
Tags: ideology, jurisdiction, participation
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Why I resigned from the Senate
Thursday, October 31st, 2019
Having always, as a journalist, put reason, objectivity and moderation at the top of my professional values, I found it very difficult to work in an environment where partisan interests appeared to be foremost in so many minds… The chamber should also be more effective; there is simply too much time wasted on partisan and procedural bickering.
Tags: ideology, jurisdiction, participation, Senate
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Some good news for the west — you have more friends out east than you realize
Friday, October 25th, 2019
In Ontario, though the Liberals won more votes — just over 41% of the total — the Conservatives still had 2.25 million people vote for them… there are more Conservative voters in Ontario than Alberta and Saskatchewan combined… Atlantic Canada, Quebec and Ontario combined totalled 3,652,000 Tory voters. That’s more than double the rounded-up total for Alberta and Saskatchewan.
Tags: economy, ideology, jurisdiction, participation
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A last-minute guide to what the federal parties are pitching
Monday, October 21st, 2019
Over the course of the election, federal parties have been making their pitch to Canadians on their plans for the environment, health care, affordability, the economy and plenty more…here’s what the parties are pitching:
Tags: budget, child care, crime prevention, economy, featured, Health, housing, ideology, immigration, Indigenous, jurisdiction, participation, standard of living, tax
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Scheer, Ford and the lessons of Ontario
Saturday, October 19th, 2019
Ontario voters gave Ford their support when he warned of troubled government finances that needed a conservative touch to right the ship. They trusted him when he promised to put more money in their pockets and to cut government spending in ways they wouldn’t notice. We know how poorly that’s turned out, but Scheer is still hoping voters will buy those lines once again.
Tags: budget, economy, ideology, jurisdiction, participation, standard of living
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Women cannot afford another conservative government
Thursday, October 17th, 2019
Saving money does not lead to increased safety for vulnerable populations; it leads to increased violence and the increased costs associated with that. Any cost savings are short-term… Women in Ontario are seeing firsthand what happens when politicians don’t include gender-based violence and women’s equality on their list of platform priorities.
Tags: budget, crime prevention, ideology, mental Health, participation, standard of living, women
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