Time to Put the Pieces of the Puzzle in Place

If all the key pieces of Canada’s energy future – the climate crisis, a prosperous economy, labour issues, east-west connectivity, energy efficiency, technological innovation, federal-provincial relations – were jigsaw pieces on our collective family table, it would be worthwhile to find the picture on the box the pieces came in. The cover of the box, ...

10 Reasons Why Harper Isn’t Really Canadian

In a Global interview with Laura Stone, I am quoted as saying that Stephen Harper is “not Canadian.” Having lunch with a reporter on virtually no sleep is a high risk proposition, but I didn’t say anything I didn’t mean. I did make it clear that I was not saying Mr. Harper is “not Canadian.” ...

Oceans at risk like never before

Acidification is the equally evil twin’ of the climate crisis. Today, June 5, is World Environment Day, and June 8 is World Oceans Day, with the full week marked in Canada by legislation as Environment Week. Under other prime ministers, Environment Week was a big deal. When I worked for Tom McMillan, environment minister under ...

U.S. says climate change high risk’ to federal assets, Canada has no infrastructure adaptation plan

One of my favourite political satirical works is Terry Fallis’s The High Road. It should be assigned reading for policy studies on infrastructure. It does a brilliant job of explaining the perils of transferring a fiscal deficit over to an infrastructure deficit. In Fallis’s fictional Ottawa, the Alexandra Bridge collapses, and our hero, MP Angus ...

What is the meaning of ‘defence’ in the 21st Century?

We continue to discuss defence without first posing some essential questions: will we be at war? With whom? And what are the real security threats to Canada? It should be clear that, since the Second World War, we have seen millions of lives lost in the Cold War through the proxy conflicts of the large ...

Being old is not what it used to be

The CPP is sustainable and reliable, but it is time to review whether RRSP is working as a vehicle. “Old age is not for sissies,” said Bette Davis. Indeed, it is not, but the images from our childhood of what it meant to be “old” have changed dramatically. Of course, as I enter my 60th ...

Elizabeth May reflects on their childhood and share their story of belonging

When I was little, I was not one of the “popular” kids. I was generally the one person in the class who would not be invited to the cool kids’ parties. My little brother would get beaten up nearly every day at school, and then the teachers would accuse him of starting fights! He used ...

Canadian Officials Should Be Ashamed For Attacking Scientists

Earlier this week, our Minister for Natural Resources, the Hon. Joe Oliver, went to Washington on what the Canadian media mistakenly insists on calling a “charm offensive.” It really cannot be described as having anything to do with “charm” when the minister, fresh from having told La Presse that scientists are less worried about global ...

Climate crisis threatens Canadian agriculture, we need an agricultural adaptation plan, now

All around the world, governments are mobilizing resources to both reduce greenhouse gas emissions while adapting to the climate crisis. Everywhere around the world that is except Canada. Canada’s agricultural production is under threat as never before, but the Harper government is deaf, dumb, and blind to the threat. The threat is the climate crisis. ...

Reality check on Transport Canada’s claims for tanker safety

Harper’s public relations and spin team hit Vancouver in March claiming to have substantially revamped environmental protections for pipelines and tankers.   Minister of Natural Resources Joe Oliver and Minister of Transport Denis Lebel described their new regime for oil spill safety against the backdrop of the Port of Vancouver.  Minster Joe Oliver trotted out a ...