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A writer in Vancouver takes on current affairs, politics and life on Canada’s west coast
Recent Posts Tagged With 'canadian politics'
The Biggest Canadian Story of 2009 That Never Was
Perhaps the Canadian opposition parties ought to be thanking PM Stephen Harper for putting a temporary kibosh on any Afghan detainee investigation, which was most likely going to reveal… nothing at all. Canadian reporter Matthew Fisher on the d...
There Will Be Justice
Canadian journalist Michelle Lang and the Canadian Forces soldiers who died this week in an explosion will be remembered for their courage and dedication to their necessary work in Afghanistan. Justice will be served some day. Perhaps those Taliban f...
This Protest March Brought to You by Mr. Fuck Canada Day
The upcoming Vancouver version of the Gaza Freedom March (which for some reason is not marching for freedom for Palestinians from Hamas thugs) appears to be organized and promoted with the help of UBC SPHR President Omar Amroosh Chaaban, formerly Oma...
When a Dictator Isn’t a Dictator
Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper is accused of acting like a dictator. The real issue is why an experienced editorialist can’t act like a professional. It is a well-understood principle in most editorial and blogging circles that when you...
Keeping Distance at Copenhagen
Canada continued to get thrashed at the Copenhagen environment summit this week. Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s not-so-green reputation preceded him and his political opposition have been quick to capitalize on the bad press. But VancouverR...
Is Copenhagen Anti-Democratic?
I’ll state for the record that I consider myself to be a “green”. I’m utterly convinced that human beings have thoroughly mismanaged their environment, much to the chagrin of every other species we’ve managed to wipe out...
The Front Moves Forward by Inches
In contrast to the “All-Detainees, All the Time” coverage in Canada’s mainstream media, here’s some good news from the front, via the Torch: The Afghan army assumed more responsibility for security in Kandahar City and surroun...
Where’s the Outcry Over Human Rights?
A 16-cannon broadside against those who would use cultural relativism to undermine support for international efforts to defend human rights, in the Mark. In matters of social justice – climate change, health-care reform, child protection – we usu...
Mission (Going to Be) Accomplished
Terry Glavin on Rex Murphy: What Afghans need to hear from us is “we will not abandon you”. In other news, thank you, Mr President. Looks like 2010 will be the year this mission starts making progress in a big way. It’s about time. ...
Mission (Going to Be) Accomplished
Terry Glavin to Rex Murphy: What Afghans need to hear from us is “we will not abandon you”. In other news, thank you, Mr President. Looks like 2010 will be the year this mission starts making progress in a big way. It’s about time. ...
The Liberal Version of Going Rogue
Stephane Dion’s wife vents her spleen. The Liberal Party is falling apart, and will not recover. Like all liberal parties in Europe, it will become a weakling at the mercy of ephemeral coalitions. By refusing the historic coalition that would h...
Why is the Political Opposition So Eager to Believe Our Enemies?
Canada is at war. It may seem hard to believe at times, given our remoteness from the conflict and the distinct lack of impact on most Canadians’ daily lives. But when our soldiers in Afghanistan are not helping provide schools, health clinics ...
You Know You’ve Got an Improved Canadian Citizenship Guide When
… the sovereigntists are going to hate it. “There’s probably some political risks here,” Mr. Griffiths said. “The Bloq Quebecois and sovereigntists aren’t going to like the focus on military history or Canada’...
Until Victory
Sometimes, you just have to choose sides and bloody well get on with it, and the civilized world has chosen sides. It’s all true. The tough slog just got tougher. But it was always going to be a hard fight. Let’s get on with it. ...
Let in the Real Refugees
Were the fellows caught off the waters of Vancouver Island trying to sneak into Canada really refugees? It’s not looking that way so far. If they’re not, they ought to be sent back, and fast — or we’re going to be promoting ev...
Which Canadian Political Party Has the Hidden Agenda?
Canadian Liberals have been harping on a Tory “hidden agenda” for as many years as they’ve been out of power. It doesn’t seem to be doing them much good. For instance, Loyal Grit pundit Warren Kinsella says the Defence Ministe...
On Afghanistan, It’s As True Now As It Was Then
If the Afghan government falls to the Taliban or allows Al Queda to go unchallenged, that country will again be a base for terrorists who want to kill as many of our people as they possibly can. As President, my greatest responsibility is to protect ...
Speech Warriors
Step aside, Batman and Robin. Ezra Levant and Mark Steyn are the real dynamic duo. Their defense of freedom of speech at Parliament’s Justice and Human Rights Committee, in support of their investigations into the Canadian Human Rights Commissi...
How the Conservatives Became the Natural Governing Party of Canada
A visual demonstration below, courtesy of Purple and Brown (in this case, Purple represents the Liberals and the little blue ball, the Tories, with Brown as the NDP, blabbering witlessly to the side). If that doesn’t work for you, a more liter...
Better Translation of Taliban Propaganda Requested
It seems as though Pashto-English translation at the Associated Press of Taliban bigwig Mullah Omar’s latest propaganda blast about Afghanistan leaves much to be desired. Here’s what’s showing up on the news sites: Today we have st...
What Afghanistan Isn’t
God damn you Walter! You fuckin’ asshole! Everything’s a fuckin’ travesty with you, man! And what was all that shit about Vietnam? What the FUCK, has anything got to do with Vietnam? What the fuck are you talking about? - The Dude i...
The Conservative Hidden Agenda
A Canadian political party wants to win a majority of seats in parliament. Call the cops! Hidden agenda? Huh? Kelly McParland has more comprehensive analysis of this latest case of mass hysteria here. At least the opposition isn’t still suggest...
Santa Claus Left Homeless By Climate Change
For shame. Effects of Arctic warming seen as widespread CRYING KIDS Why didn’t Santa come this year? GLUM DAD Sorry, children. Rather than following the intuitively reasonable precautionary principle, us grown-ups decided to wait for definitiv...
More Than Enough Stomach for the Fight
Caught our recently-returned Canadian diplomat Robert Fowler’s take the other day on Afghanistan: West lacks stomach to deal with Afghanistan: Fowler Notwithstanding that the headline ascribes a view to Fowler that he doesn’t appear to ho...
No Backdoor Shenanigans
Meanwhile, in a dingy meeting room at Parliament Hill in Ottawa: JACK LAYTON We don’t have to be adversaries, Stephen. We both want to avoid an election. STEPHEN HARPER (thinking) Why is Mr. Layton being so nice to me? JACK LAYTON And if you sc...
Links to Great Stuff I’m Reading This Week
A motley mix of current events in Vancouver and around the world, partisan mischief and insightful political punditry, in no particular order. On Afghanistan: Stop Wasting Time, Stop Whining Russian professor says U.S. to collapse soon; Canada gets M...
Lament of an Iggy Fanboy to the Tune of Welcome Back Khadr
I have to confess, I’m a bit of a Michael Ignatieff fanboy. The man has intellectual credentials up the yin-yang and writes books that make me look smart when I’m reading them. He has successfully transitioned from private life and academ...
I Smell A Rat
Found this under the hood of my car. Oh, wait. It’s just Saad Khalid, one of the Toronto 18 terrorism conspirators. His line reported in the Globe and Mail this week was outstanding: “I am not a lunatic who is hell bent on destruction of...
Mohamud Meets Kafka
Before the airport passengers’ lounge stands a Kenyan immigration official. To this official there comes a woman from Canada and prays for admittance to the lounge. But the official says that he cannot grant admittance at the moment, particular...
Heroes and Traitors
Afghanistan gets out the vote today despite threats (and actual violence) by the Taliban. Thank you for this, Terry. This is good news. As for this traitor, there is no hope for redemption. In his own words: To put it another way, if we, as avowed an...
