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Canadian Columnists, Opinion, Politics
A weak argument against first-past-the-post voting
By Arthur Weinreb
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Writing in the National Post yesterday, Andrew Coyne made the case against the first-past-the-post (FPP) electoral system that we currently have in Canada. When Ontarians go to the polls on October 10, they will be asked whether or not they prefer a mixed-member-proportional (MMP) system that would see 90 MPPs elected as they are now while an additional 29 members would be appointed by the various parties in proportion to the percentage of votes that that party receives during future elections.
John Tory's finally gotten my attention
By Klaus Rohrich
Thursday, September 27, 2007
So far the Ontario election campaign has been fairly blasé. The platforms of the two major parties running have not differed to any large degree, save and except for the Liberal/Conservative clash over public funding for parochial schools (excuse me I'm trying to stay awake, here). Then there's the usual blather about how much money each party leader is prepared to pony up to buy the voters' favor.
Caledonia -- we don't need any more laws
By Arthur Weinreb
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Ontario PC leader John Tory recently went to the besieged southern Ontario town of Caledonia that has been subject to a native occupation for the past year and a half and announced that if his party forms the next government he will strengthen the province's trespass laws. Tory vowed to increase the fines under Ontario's Trespass to Property Act to $2,000 for individuals and $25,000 for groups. The Act would cover not only those who trespass on someone else's property but would include those persons who organize or finance such occupations. This was in keeping with Tory's previous statements that civil remedies for those who are adversely affected by illegal occupations need to be used. This is bound to scare the occupiers; they'll have to go to Ottawa to get more money to pay their fines.
I'm a white supremacist
By Klaus Rohrich
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
I used to consider myself a fairly tolerant, forward thinking individual, but according the Sunday's Toronto Sun I'm a racist white supremacist. In an article written by Sun Media's Laura Czekaj entitled "The new face of hate" it would appear that racist white supremacists are to be found in abundant numbers all over Canada. And several experts quoted in the article attest to this fact.
Why McGuinty is soft on crime
By Arthur Weinreb
Monday, September 24, 2007
Crime, as it usually is, is an issue in the upcoming October 10 Ontario provincial election. Its importance doesn't compare to what seems to be the burning issue of the day -- the segregationist policy of the Tories to fund all faith-based schools instead of just the Catholic system that spawned, among others, current Liberal Premier Dalton McGuinty. But the issue of violent crime, especially in large cities, gets the occasional mention on the campaign trail.
Block Child Pornography
By Dr. Charles McVety
Monday, September 24, 2007
Under section 161 of the Criminal Code of Canada, it is a crime to distribute child pornography. "Any person who imports, distributes, sells or possesses, for the purpose of distribution or sale, any child pornography is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding ten years". This is the law of the land. However, internet service providers such as Rogers, Bell Canada, Telus, Shaw and others distribute tens of thousands of pages of child pornography every day. The Canadian Government has decided that these corporations are above the law, and have given them complete immunity from prosecution. The result is the abuse of hundreds of thousands of children and this must stop.
Should "older people" have young children?
By Klaus Rohrich
Saturday, September 22, 2007
There appears to be a trend among a sizable number of individuals in their 50s 60s and even 70s to marry a younger spouse and have children either naturally or through in vitro fertilization. More and more one reads reports in the media of women in their 60s giving birth to children or older men marrying a young woman and starting a family anew.
A real argument against funding faith-based schools
By Arthur Weinreb
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Despite Premier Dalton McGuinty's protestations to the contrary, the issue of funding all faith-based schools in Ontario is shaping up to become the defining issue of the current election campaign. Although the issue was never seen as being particularly important by most Ontarians, short of administering lie detector tests to the party leaders, it is about the only way to distinguish Dalton McGuinty and the Liberals from John Tory and the Conservatives.
The fine art of character assassination
By Klaus Rohrich
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
A column by Susan Kastner in last Saturday's Toronto Star reads like a primer in character assassination. Under the heading of "Ah yes, one remembers it well" Kastner proceeds to savage Barbara Amiel Black and digs up all the slights (imagined or otherwise) that Kastner feels she has suffered at Lady Black's hand (no pun intended) since their University of Toronto days.
Veils, votes & values
By Beryl Wajsman
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
It is ironic that the latest Canadian controversy over Islamic law and tradition conflicting with western values occured in the same week as we commemorated the sixth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. The attack was not just a physical one, but a challenge to western values. That is why the controversy over veiled voting matters. Western liberal values matter.
Trust us -- we're politicians
By Arthur Weinreb
Monday, September 17, 2007
On October 10, election day in the province of Ontario, Ontarians will be asked whether or not they wish to change our electoral system from a first past the post (FPP) system to one of a mixed membership proportional (MMP) system.
Canada to erect monument to 9/11 victims -- maybe, kinda, some time
By Arthur Weinreb
Thursday, September 13, 2007
The various newspaper headlines said it all:
Considering? May be memorialized? Looking into? When it comes to paying tribute to the 24 Canadians who lost their lives in the United States during the attacks of September 11, 2001, Canada's rapidly ageing New Government is only marginally better than the previous Liberal government was.
"Bull" McGuinty -- Ontario's great segregationist
By Arthur Weinreb
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
The most contentious issue in the upcoming Ontario provincial election is the Progressive Conservative promise that if the party forms the next government they will provide funding for all faith-based schools in the province. Presently, only Roman Catholic schools are fully funded by the taxpayers. This proposal and the fact that John Tory will undoubtedly keep this promise if elected is about all that separates the Liberals from the Tories.
Hands off free speech
By Gerry Nicholls
Sunday, September 9, 2007
With a provincial election just weeks away, a union-funded organization is paying lots of money to air anti-Conservative TV ads.
This, unsurprisingly, has the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party fighting mad. But unfortunately, the Tories are fighting the wrong battle for the wrong reasons.
Liberalism: a toxic philosophy
By Klaus Rohrich
Saturday, September 8, 2007
It may surprise individuals who consider themselves to be conservatives, that under the classical definition of a liberal, they would fit that mold. That's because liberalism has morphed from its classic definition of favoring personal liberty and small government into a philosophy where government becomes the omnipotent force in everyone's life. The current flavor of liberalism favors a plethora of personal liberties that classical liberals may find unimportant, as they are superficial in nature.
The fascinating story of Nicole Kish
By Arthur Weinreb
Thursday, September 6, 2007
Thirty-two-year-old Ross Hammond, of St. Catharines, was walking along Queen Street West in Toronto with a friend in the early hours of August 9 when he was accosted by a panhandler. An altercation developed and when it was all over, Hammond had been stabbed and four "street people" were charged with aggravated assault. When Hammond later succumbed to his injuries, the charge against 21-year-old Nicole Kish was upgraded to second degree murder.
A Hill Worth Dying On
By Paul Albers
Thursday, September 6, 2007
Afghanistan.
What image comes to your mind when you read that word? Flag draped coffins being solemnly loaded or unloaded from military cargo aircraft? Armoured vehicles transformed into twisted piles of scrap by another improvised explosive device? Frightened civilians caught in the crossfire?
Sept. 15 March on Washington:
Only one slogan matters
By Judi McLeod
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
This September differs from most others.
The leaves begin to turn, youngsters are back in school.
But as the national and international media momentarily abandon Paris Hilton to focus on General David Petraeus' report to Congress on September 15, two forces as different as the proverbial night and day, will descend upon Washington, D.C.
NDP leader could learn from the current darling of socialism
By Gerry Nicholls
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
NDP leader Jack Layton must be a little envious of Venezuela's socialist boss Hugo Chavez.
Chavez, after all, is currently the hip and happening star of the world's radical, chic left-wing crowd.
Truscott should be compensated
By Arthur Weinreb
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
Almost immediately after five justices of the Ontario Court of Appeal unanimously quashed the 1959 conviction of Steven Truscott for the murder of 12-year-old Lynne Harper, Ontario Attorney General Michael Bryant announced the appointment of retired justice Sydney Robins to examine the issue of compensation.
Do we really need expensive byelections?
By Arthur Weinreb
Monday, September 3, 2007
The resignation of Idaho Senator Larry Craig over the weekend points out that there are other ways to replace legislators who quit, die or otherwise leave their offices vacant during their term than to hold byelections. Craig, whose Senate career stalled after his trip to a stall announced on Saturday that he would leave office at the end of September; fifteen months before the expiration of his six year term.
Revoke citizenship from convicted terrorists
By Klaus Rohrich
Monday, September 3, 2007
Jamal Akkal, a naturalized Canadian citizen of Palestinian origin has been released from an Israeli prison, where he served a four-year sentence after pleading guilty to charges of terrorism. This in itself isn't particularly noteworthy. What is noteworthy though is that Akkal has now returned to Windsor where he plans to take up residence.
If it's a bad idea, the government just has to ban it
By Arthur Weinreb
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
A U.S. company, MJ Safety Solutions is manufacturing a bulletproof backpack that will protect students from a hail of bullets should that situation ever arise. Students can hold the backpack in front of them to protect themselves from gunfire should shooting, random or otherwise ever breakout at their school.
Always a bridesmaid; never the bride
By Klaus Rohrich
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
During the 2003 Toronto mayoral campaign, I worked for a candidate who didn't make the cut, and in the process arrived at the conclusion that John Tory would have made one hell of a good mayor. Of course history has proven me wrong in that Tory didn't get the opportunity to show his stuff as the good voters of Toronto thought David Miller's plan to stop the fixed link to the Toronto Island Airport was more important than any other issue on the table.
Ontario's Attorney General -- he's a bird, he's a plane, he's a rhinoceros
By Arthur Weinreb
Monday, August 27, 2007
f the federal Liberal Party, together with their provincial cousins in Ontario are known for anything (besides corruption and making sure their friends are looked after) it is that they have never really come up with any substantial policy ideas. Most of Canada's major social programs; the ones that separate us from, you know, "those people" south of the border originated with the CCF, the predecessor to the current NDP.
Veteran goes after anti-troop politicians
By Arthur Weinreb
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Calgary Mayor David Bronconnier and 10 city alderman voted not to put yellow "support our troops" decals on city vehicles. The reason why the eleven voted the way they did was for the usual reason -- they didn't want to "offend" any of those workers who are anti-troop (but of course don't have the guts to say that; they are only anti-war). The city opted instead to sell yellow ribbons to those Calgarians who want them with the money supposedly going to the troops that the politicians refuse to honour. Both the province of Alberta and Edmonton allow decals to be displayed on provincial and city vehicles.
What do the Liberals have to do to get voted out of office!?
By Klaus Rohrich
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Just when you think that maybe, just maybe, we'll see Dalton McGuinty's Liberals go down in flames or at the very least wind up in a minority, along comes John Wright and his Ipsos Reid polling organization with news that the Liberals have a good chance of being re-elected.
The Goal is Sole
By Liam Brennan
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Graphic sneaker design has become a hot trend in recent years and a Canadian artist is hoping to meet the staggering demand on his new website.
Canadians -- we really love our taxes
By Arthur Weinreb
Monday, August 20, 2007
A lot of Canadians complain that we are overtaxed, and yet taxes continue to increase while there is hardly a peep from the compliant taxpayers. It must be that we, as Canadians, just love paying taxes. It often seems that we can never get enough of them.
That vast, right wing conspiracy is at it again
By Klaus Rohrich
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
A recent Gallup poll showed that nearly four out of ten American voters have strong negative feelings towards former First Lady and Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Clinton. When asked about her high negative ratings among voters at a recent Iowa Democratic all-candidates' debate, Clinton blithely blamed it on the "Republican attack machine" and dirty tricks by Karl Rove.
No redemption, no refuge
By Beryl Wajsman, Institute for Public Affairs of Montreal
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
I received a letter this week that contained the following thought from Lord Acton: "It is bad to be oppressed by a minority, but it is worse to be oppressed by a majority. For there is a reserve of latent power in the masses which, if it is called into play, the minority can seldom resist. But from the absolute will of an entire people there is no appeal, no redemption, and no refuge."
Killing a red herring in panhandling debate
By Arthur Weinreb
Monday, August 20, 2007
Over a week ago, Ross Hammond, a 32-year-old man from St. Catharines Ontario and a friend were walking on Queen Street West when they were confronted by a beggar. The one turned into four and an argument broke out. When it was over, Hammond had been stabbed at least eight times and the four; two men and two women were arrested and charged with aggravated assault.
The Broken City: Demonization and deflection just won't cut it anymore
By Beryl Wajsman, Institute for Public Affairs of Montreal
Monday, August 20, 2007
I can't imagine why anyone should be surprised by the Johnson Commission report on our failing transport infrastructure. It is just confirmation of more of the same. Particularly for Montrealers.
Liberals' Coulon: Dangerous naïveté...again!
By Beryl Wajsman, Institute for Public Affairs of Montreal
Sunday, August 19, 2007
The Liberal Party of Canada's foreign and defense policies have been driven by political expediency and opportunism since at least the beginning of the Second World War. They have been characterized by a national provincialism devoid of principle or purpose other than a fear of engagement.
Global warming scientists fudge data
By Klaus Rohrich
Thursday, August 16, 2007
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the UN body pushing for laws that would limit man-made carbon emissions through a series of ultra-draconian regulations aimed primarily at developed nations, has a dirty little secret: its scientists have fudged their data to make the global warming picture look worse than it actually is.
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