Canadian politics

BC Liberals run partisan ads

Feb 142013

Facts fall like dominoes in $15 million government ads.

by Bill Tieleman

"I call it like the domino theory of reality. If you can go one step at a time and it seems to make sense, you can then take your audience into an area that is relatively outlandish."
— Movie director Ivan Reitman

Anyone who lives in British Columbia, except maybe in a cave with no cable, has seen the BC Liberal government's pervasive $15 million ad campaign on television — the one their tax dollars are paying for despite its obviously partisan purposes.

Harper’s foreign strategy revealed

Feb 112013

Canadian politics

CIDA praises Development and Peace, then buries it.

by Dennis Gruending

Rarely does a religiously-based publication break news. Most of them don’t have the staff or resources to do so. A recent exception occurred in The Catholic Register, the official publication of the Archdiocese of Toronto. In January 2013, the Register published an investigative story showing that when the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) drastically reduced its funding to the Catholic organization Development and Peace (D&P) in 2012, it did so despite high praise for the aid organization from within CIDA’s own bureaucracy.

Reflections on Idle No More

Feb 112013

Canadian politics

Chief Theresa Spence, new leaders, raised awareness of unacceptable conditions.

by JF (Jim) Foulds

Polls show a mere 18 percent of Canadians believe Chief Theresa Spence has advanced both her own cause and that of Canada’s Aboriginal citizens. I vote with the 18 percent.

Sleepless in PEI

Feb 102013

Canadian politics

Reporter’s ethics were stronger than Senator’s

by Stephen Kimber

The old Young Mike Duffy would have been all over it.

A Senator playing fast and loose with parliamentary rules of residence, claiming as his full-time home a modest bungalow of a summer cottage that hasn’t seen a snowplow in a year’s worth of winters.

Inequality highest in Alberta

Feb 072013

Canadian politics

And Calgary is Canada's most unequal city.

from the Parkland Institute

EDMONTON – Analysis by the Parkland Institute and the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives of new data on Canada’s richest 1percent shows that Alberta has become the country’s most unequal province and Calgary its most unequal city.

Anti-NDP ads tracked back to former BC Rail directors

Feb 072013

Canadian politics

Skeletons in closet add up for group behind $1 million heavy duty negative TV and radio ad campaign

by Bill Tieleman

"Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth."
– Buddha

An advocacy group — now asking tough questions about BC New Democrat leader Adrian Dix in a $1 million attack ad campaign — is being very shy in providing clear answers about skeletons in its own closet.

And as the election nears, Concerned Citizens for BC (CC4BC) may face increasing questions about the role of its leader, retired corporate executive Jim Shepard, in the controversial $1 billion privatization of BC Rail in 2003.

Oil prices the least of Alberta’s problems

Feb 042013

Canadian politics

Dependence on energy industry makes province's economy unstable and unsustainable.

by Ricardo Acuña

Despite the ongoing problems with Alberta's economy and the series of scandals exposed in the Alberta Legislature in the fall, Alison Redford continues to be seen in Alberta as someone who is smart, thoughtful and articulate. There was a moment during her televised speech to Albertans last week, however, which called all of that into question.

As Redford explained how we will move the province forward in a more economically stable way, she clearly identified the heart of the problem: "A province as prosperous as Alberta should not be as susceptible as we are to swings in the price of oil and gas."

Canada Post honours Oliver Jones, Seraphim “Joe” Forte

Feb 042013

Canadian politics

Two new stamps add to annual Black History Month recognition of outstanding Canadians.

from Canada Post

OTTAWA — Canada Post released new stamps to honour two individuals who have made vast contributions in their respective fields. Oliver Jones, world renowned jazz musician, and Seraphim “Joe” Fortes, dedicated lifeguard on the country’s west coast, will each adorn a stamp to celebrate Black History Month in Canada.

NS fails to honour civil rights pioneer

Feb 042013

Canadian politics

In 1946, Viola Desmond refused to sit in blacks-only section of movie theatre.

by Stephen Kimber

Another February. Another African Heritage Month. Another plaintive plea — from me and a few lonely others — for an official day to honour Viola Desmond’s contribution to the human rights movement in Canada.

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