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Compared to Canada, Europe has it easy

Wednesday, December 14th, 2011

Dec 14, 2011
As a consequence to its earlier sacrifices, Canada is today part of a dying breed of AAA rated markets… Against the myth that this was easier for Canada to achieve during different times, what’s amazing about the Canadian experience is that it was achieved during at least as trying if not more troublesome times after taking account of the full global and domestic picture at the time. The country therefore offers an important lesson to nations like the United States and large parts of Europe that are delaying fiscal repair, and punting the problem down the road toward a more ruinous crisis later.

Tags: budget, economy, globalization, standard of living, tax
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Remember the Reformers? They’re still here

Wednesday, November 30th, 2011

Nov. 30, 2011
Almost a quarter of a century after its birth, Reform still animates Canadian politics… Reform’s ideas remain alive and kicking inside the Conservative Party – see the Harper government’s use of a majority to push through legislation eliminating the Canadian Wheat Board, toughening the criminal justice system and abolishing the long-gun registry.

Tags: economy, ideology, participation, rights
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Tom Kent: A life of purpose

Saturday, November 19th, 2011

Nov 17 2011
… intellectuals think conceptually, debate vociferously the arcane implications of theory, and are happiest in the library. Activists, on the other hand, while motivated by ideas, battle for their values in the public policy arena, by mobilizing supporters, outmanoeuvring opponents, creating organizations and winning elections. Tom Kent dedicated his life to both strands of activity; he thought superbly and acted vigorously. The result is programs like medicare and the Canada Pension Plan, which help millions of Canadians every day.

Tags: Health, ideology, pensions, rights, standard of living
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The weirdo PM who showed the way

Wednesday, November 9th, 2011

Nov. 08, 2011
His exemplary displays of centrist brokerage politics, his placing of national unity at the forefront and his securing of Quebec were pillars that endured for decades. But the fracturing began under Mr. Trudeau and was accelerated by Mr. Turner, who clashed with both Mr. Trudeau and Jean Chrétien. The party took sides, dividing into long-lasting Trudeau/Chrétien and Turner/Paul Martin blocs.

Tags: ideology
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Modest country, ambitious leader [John A. Macdonald]

Monday, October 31st, 2011

Oct 22 2011
Macdonald didn’t believe in progress — in this sense he wasn’t a Victorian… Whether Conservative or Liberal, no government enacted any social legislation in Ottawa until a half-century later, in 1927. Macdonald believed that human nature did not change; by logical extension, there was therefore no point in trying to make the world a better place.

Tags: economy, ideology, immigration, rights, standard of living
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McGuinty proves father knows best

Tuesday, October 11th, 2011

October 11, 2011
McGuinty stands as the transformative Premier of the last twenty five years… The massive extent of McGuinty’s policy reforms is underestimated like the politician… More importantly, they were quickly adopted as consensus with no opponent running against them in the next election… the HST… the Ontario Health Premium… phasing out coal plants to the Greenbelt… Ontario’s current education system… the Green Energy Act… Given the privilege of a third term, the lesson for the McGuinty Liberals is simple: Do big things.

Tags: economy, globalization, ideology
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Where have all the PCs gone?

Saturday, October 1st, 2011

Sep 29 2011
Never mind whether they should be called “Red Tories.” They sought power in order to do something, not just punish certain demographics by cutting welfare (Harris), building prisons (Harper) or creating chain gangs (Hudak). They didn’t think government was “the problem” like Ronald Reagan, a hero of their right-wing conservative successors, or that society didn’t exist at all, like another such hero, Margaret Thatcher. Labels and ideology mattered little to them… It involved a sense of the usefulness of government and the importance of some kind of social solidarity, expressed largely through public institutions and programs.

Tags: economy, ideology, standard of living
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Supreme piece of judicial statecraft

Wednesday, September 28th, 2011

Sep 27 2011
Thirty years ago, on Sept. 28, 1981, a Supreme Court opinion set out rules for amending the Constitution. This turned out to be the most politically significant opinion the court has delivered in its existence. It led to the nation’s most defining political developments since Confederation. This opinion established that Canada’s constitutional order contained rules that governed how Canada could make constitutional changes.

Tags: ideology, rights
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Long-term decline of a great party

Thursday, August 11th, 2011

Aug 10 2011
… the actual Liberal vote has declined in every election but one since 1993… One oft-repeated attribute of this Liberal “brand” is that the party is centrist, moderate and progressive… To be centrist or moderate, some other party must first define what is left and right. This is hardly the basis for bold, visionary leadership. As far as “progressive” goes, it is one of the most broadly used and ill-defined political terms… To create electoral contrast, this became twisted into thinking that every problem could only be solved by a new government program.

Tags: ideology, participation
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How the NDP can take power

Sunday, August 7th, 2011

Aug 6, 2011
…the NDP should drop the jaded New from its name (and not restrict itself with another adjective such as “Social”); get a serious leader in the event that Jack Layton is not in a position to resume his duties… ; adopt a program that casts a net to the centre; and be prepared to spend at least one more election convincing the Liberals…, to join them in merger, as Stephen Harper enticed the Progressive Conservatives into the Canadian Alliance. At that point, Liberal Democrats would do as a name, and they could win.