2023-08

Tuesday May 9, 2023

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Tuesday May 9, 2023

Ontario’s Greenbelt: A Crown Jewel Under Threat

March 23, 2023

Doug Ford’s ties to Greenbelt developers have been in the spotlight for months, but the actual land that will be lost is often overlooked. About 5,000 acres of prime farmland in Pickering, part of the world’s largest Greenbelt, are expected to be paved over for housing. Victor Doyle, the planner who designed the original Greenbelt map, emphasizes that this area should be preserved, as it not only offers excellent farmland but also supports and protects the adjacent Rouge National Park. Doyle warns that putting housing here will contaminate the watershed that flows into Lake Ontario and harm local wildlife.

February 16, 2023

Premier Doug Ford’s government has claimed that whatever land is taken from the Greenbelt will be added elsewhere, but Green Party leader Mike Schreiner argues that only five percent of Ontario’s land mass is suitable for growing food. The government has set a deadline for developers, with housing approvals required to be in progress by the end of this year and shovels in the ground by 2025, or the land goes back to the province. The province is also planning on building Highway 413, cutting through farmland and conservation land.

November 9, 2022

While Ford has claimed that his government has added to the Greenbelt in a land swap to make up for the planned development, much of it is in already protected river valleys, according to Doyle. This small, finite, and fragile landscape is threatened by urbanization, and Doyle emphasizes the need to think hundreds of years into the future and manage this landscape better. The Greenbelt was created almost 20 years ago to protect the environment from urban sprawl, and it is important to ensure that it is not slowly destroyed by “death by a thousand cuts.” (AI)

 

Saturday May 6, 2023

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Saturday May 6, 2023

King Charles III the Dragon Slayer? 

September 30, 2022

Today’s coronation of King Charles III has led to a debate about the relevance of monarchy in the modern world. While some call for the abolishment of the monarchy, evidence suggests that the institution has adapted well to the 21st century and has contributed to the prosperity, equality, and democracy of many countries. In fact, many monarchies dominate the lists of the best countries to live in. However, to remain relevant, the monarchy must adapt to modern realities. One way to do this is to ensure that newcomers to Canada swear allegiance first and foremost to their adopted country, instead of the monarchy. Another way is to change the $20 bill to not feature King Charles III’s image, but rather a more representative image of Canada. These changes can help the monarchy continue to be a fundamental part of Canada’s system of government and laws, while adapting to the realities of the 21st century.

Opinion: Can a monarchy sit easy in modern Britain? 

September 9, 2022

King Charles III slaying dragons is not entirely appropriate, as the challenges he faces are far more complex than mere dragons. His reign comes at a time of significant global challenges, such as climate change, colonialism, inclusivity, and… to a lesser extent, bad architecture, his well known pet peeve. These are issues that his predecessors, including his mother, mostly stayed clear of due to the times in which they lived. However, if King Charles III is to use his reign to speak on these issues, he must first adapt the monarchy to modern realities.

Many critics of the monarchy argue that it is undemocratic, colonialist, and racist. While there is some truth to these criticisms, they are not the whole story. The fact is that, as a general rule, monarchies in today’s world are more prosperous, more equal, and even more democratic than the alternatives. Countries like Sweden and Denmark are prosperous, stable, and fair not because they are monarchies, but because they have figured out how to combine tradition with change, how to adapt what they have to the demands of modernity. Constitutional monarchy, as Mauro Guillén, a professor at the Wharton School of Business, explains, “works as a mechanism preserving what deserves to remain while incorporating what the circumstances call for.” It is a beautiful solution to a wide array of governance problems.

BBC: Your complete guide to the King’s coronation  

2023 Coronation Design

To ensure that the monarchy continues to be relevant, we must adapt it to modern realities. One way to do this is to ensure that newcomers to Canada swear allegiance first and foremost to their adopted country, instead of the monarchy. Another way is to change the $20 bill to not feature King Charles III’s image, but rather a more representative image of Canada. These changes can help the monarchy continue to be a fundamental part of Canada’s system of government and laws, while adapting to the realities of the 21st century.

King Charles III has a unique opportunity to speak to the pressing issues of our time. However, to do so, he must first adapt the monarchy to modern realities. The monarchy has survived for centuries precisely because it has been adaptable, and if we have learned anything, it is to build on that success rather than breaking the system that allowed it to flourish. (AI)

 

Friday May 5, 2023

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Friday May 5, 2023

Chong’s Family Targeted by Chinese Operative: Trudeau Government Plays Dumb

April 15, 2023

April 15, 2023

In ancient Rome, Nero famously fiddled while the city burned. In modern-day Canada, it seems that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is similarly preoccupied with distractions while a critical issue simmers. Specifically, the issue of foreign interference from China has been bubbling up for months, and yet the Trudeau government has repeatedly failed to act decisively.

The latest scandal involves the targeting of MP Michael Chong’s family by a Chinese operative, allegedly in retaliation for Chong’s vote in support of deeming China’s treatment of its Uyghur minority as a genocide. This behavior is repugnant and underscores the need for Canada to take a strong stand against foreign interference.

News: Joly weighs Chinese retaliation  

February 25, 2023

What is truly shocking, however, is that the Trudeau government failed to pass on this critical information to Chong or even the Prime Minister himself. The fact that the Chinese operative remained accredited in the Toronto consulate for two years after being identified as the source of the threat is downright inexplicable.

Trudeau’s response to the situation has been lackluster, with his statements contradicting those of his chief of staff and failing to take decisive action. It was only after the scandal hit the headlines that the government announced it would summon China’s ambassador to Canada to protest the alleged intimidation of Chong and his family.

Expelling a diplomat is not a decision to be taken lightly, but the Trudeau government’s ongoing failure to address the issue of foreign interference suggests that stronger action is needed. The fact that the two Michaels were being held as political prisoners in Beijing when this scandal came to light underscores the severity of the issue.

March 9, 2023

MP Chong has every right to be upset and is calling for the operative to be declared persona non grata immediately. It is time for the Trudeau government to stop deflecting, downplaying, and obfuscating and take a strong stand against foreign interference.

David Johnston’s upcoming report on the need for a public inquiry into foreign interference is a step in the right direction, but it is increasingly clear that action needs to be taken now. Nero fiddled while Rome burned, but Canada cannot afford to do the same. It’s time for the Trudeau government to wake up and take action to protect our democracy. (AI)

 

Thursday May 4, 2023

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday May 4, 2023

Why Flying the Pride Flag Matters

January 17, 2012

Recently, a disturbing incident occurred outside a meeting of the York Catholic District School Board. Adults who claimed to be protecting Ontario’s children were actually endangering their well-being. Many of these adults, likely parents of school-aged children, showed up to the meeting to vehemently oppose the possibility of the board flying the rainbow flag in support of LGBTQ students in June. They even hurled insults at those who were in favour of flying the flag. 

News: Advocates, protestors clash at York Catholic school board meeting over flying Pride flag  

Although some of these adults claim that their objection was not specifically to the Pride flag but to what they believe it represents – the alleged corruption of children who are supposedly too young to learn about gender and sexuality – this notion is misguided. Everyone is capable of learning about gay, transgender, and non-binary people, just as they can learn about cisgender and heterosexual people. Queer people are not sexually explicit by their mere existence.

The belief that exposing children to queer people is harmful is nonsensical and is based on hateful, age-old myths about queer people as a corrupting influence on children. This belief is also derived from a particular brand of anti-LGBTQ politics typically associated with the United States. However, the events at the Catholic school board in York Region demonstrate that Canada is not immune to public displays of hateful rhetoric.

Pride celebrations are essential in schools to support marginalized kids who need it. Flying the Pride flag is not merely an act of virtue signalling; it is an official declaration of support for these kids. According to a recent survey conducted by the LGBTQ advocacy group EGALE, anti-queer discrimination is still prevalent in Canadian schools. For instance, 64% of all participants reported hearing homophobic comments daily or weekly at school. Moreover, 79% of transgender students who experienced physical harassment reported that teachers and staff were ineffective in addressing transphobic harassment. Lastly, over 30% of respondents who attend Catholic schools reported experiencing harassment based on their perceived sexual orientation.

October 30, 2018

We have made significant progress as a society regarding inclusion, but there is still much work to be done. It is critical that schools fly the Pride flag to signal to kids that even if their peers or parents reject them because of their identity, the school itself – and those at its helm – do not. Education Minister Stephen Lecce made it clear that he supports LGBTQ students, and we hope that York Region’s Catholic school board will follow suit. (AI)

 

Wednesday May 3, 2023

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday May 3, 2023

Gordon Lightfoot (November 17, 1938 – May 1, 2023)

Gordon Lightfoot was more than just a singer-songwriter; he was a cultural icon whose music helped shape Canadian identity and inspired audiences worldwide. His unique blend of folk, country, and pop music, combined with his gift for storytelling, captured the hearts of millions and cemented his place in music history. Lightfoot’s impact on Canadian culture is undeniable.

News: Canadian folk music icon Gordon Lightfoot dead at 84  

August 24, 2013

Through his music, he celebrated the natural beauty of Canada, weaving stories of the land, its people, and its history. Songs like “Canadian Railroad Trilogy” and “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” became anthems of Canadian identity and pride, reflecting the spirit and resilience of the country and its people. Beyond Canadian borders, Lightfoot’s music resonated with audiences worldwide. His songs spoke to universal themes of love, loss, and the human experience, making him one of the most respected and admired singer-songwriters of his time.

However, Lightfoot was not immune to criticism. Some felt that his work could be repetitive, maudlin, sentimental, and nostalgic, and did not appeal to younger, more diverse audiences. Critics often pointed out that Lightfoot’s music seemed to rely on similar themes and motifs, and his ballads could come across as sentimental and overly nostalgic. Some argued that he struggled to adapt to changing musical tastes and remained firmly rooted in the folk and country traditions of the past. Additionally, Lightfoot’s music was often associated with an older, more conservative demographic, and it did not always resonate with younger, more diverse audiences.

Despite these criticisms, Lightfoot remained a beloved and influential figure in Canadian music. His impact on Canadian culture cannot be overstated, and his ability to capture the essence of the Canadian landscape and spirit continues to inspire generations of musicians and fans. He was a symbol of Canadian culture and a role model for aspiring musicians, inspiring generations of Canadian artists who followed in his footsteps and contributed to the country’s rich musical heritage.

News: Anne Murray, Jim Cuddy and Prime Minister Trudeau remember a quintessential Canadian, Gordon Lightfoot  

March 8, 2013

In a time when Canadian culture was often overshadowed by its larger neighbor to the south, Lightfoot’s music helped put Canada on the map. He showed the world that Canada was more than just a cold and distant land, but a place of beauty, creativity, and resilience. Ultimately, while Lightfoot’s music may not have been to everyone’s taste, it remains a testament to his enduring talent and the power of music to unite and inspire. His passing is a great loss to the music world, but his music will continue to be celebrated and enjoyed for years to come. (AI)