Trudeau talks about how our population has “grown really fast,” while not taking any responsibility for that incredibly rapid growth. Pictured: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Photo Credit: Justin Trudeau/X.  The Trudeau government appears to have an odd new communications strategy that involves them pretending they haven’t been in power for the last nine plus years […]

The Ford government has done little to improve things from the previous Liberal record. Pictured: Premier Doug Ford. Photo Credit: Doug Ford/X.  The Ford government in Ontario has been bragging about various aspects of the provincial economy recently, claiming their so-called “open for business” policies have fostered employment growth and attracted new businesses to the […]

Average Canadians find it increasingly difficult to just to put food on the table. Pictured: Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland. Photo Credit: Chrystia Freeland/X.  In recent months there have been many questions raised by average Canadians on social media, in the mainstream media and elsewhere asking if Canada is irreparably lost. People are understandably dismayed […]

Trump swept all the key battleground states. Pictured: U.S. President-Elect Donald Trump. Photo Credit: Donald Trump/X.  The post-mortems on the U.S. election and exactly what happened to throw off all the pollsters, pundits, Hollywood glitterati and others will undoubtedly go on for some time. This election was, after all, pegged before the fact as the […]

Two conservative premiers have secured their positions in the past week. Pictured: Alberta Premier Danielle Smith. Photo Credit: Danielle Smith/X.  A couple of recent electoral developments in Canada give comfort that in this age of woke extremism, some sanity is still present. Two notable examples are last week’s election in Saskatchewan and this past weekend’s […]

There are several reasons why Ford would favour an early election. Pictured: Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy. Photo Credit: Doug Ford/X.  In this week’s Economic Update, Ontario Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy stated that higher tax revenues and reduced costs of borrowing as interest rates are declining left the province in a […]

How do we put a stop to the ridiculous indoctrination of our children? Fire someone! Photo Credit: Adobe Stock Images.  The hits just keep on coming. Every time we see some outrageous event taking place in our public school system, and the overwhelmingly negative reaction to it, the vast majority of regular citizens must think […]

The New Brunswick election shows that there are still Canadians that get bedazzled by big spending promises. Pictured: New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs. Photo Credit: Blaine Higgs/X.  Earlier this week, the New Brunswick Conservative government of Blaine Higgs was defeated after having been in power since 2018. The opposition Liberals led by Susan Holt won […]

However this most recent drama plays out, supply management should be eliminated by the next federal government. Photo Credit: Shutterstock.  Once again, the ridiculous policy of supply management is garnering headlines because the Bloc Quebecois leader in the House of Commons, Yves-Francois Blanchet, is demanding that the Liberals enshrine this destructive policy by supporting a […]

Smith’s positions are hardly extreme at all but represent the common sense we need to see more of in all of our governments. Pictured: Alberta Premier Danielle Smith. Photo Credit: Danielle Smith/X.  Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has recently made some bold moves that further solidify positions she has taken earlier in several areas but have […]

The bribing of our mainstream media with our tax dollars under the Trudeau regime has had the expected and intended effect. Pictured: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Photo Credit: Justin Trudeau/X. A very interesting analysis was done recently by the Fraser Institute on the media’s treatment of a number of new federal policy initiatives. This study […]

It’s time to fight back against a trend that will sound the death knell for women’s sports. Photo Credit: iStock.  In recent years, we have all been subjected to the spectacle of biological males competing with biological females in various sports competitions – right up to the Olympics – with the predictable outcome that the […]

When people work with Trudeau, he has a tendency to ruin reputations. Pictured: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Photo Credit: Justin Trudeau/X.  This author’s departed father had a saying about people having what he called the “reverse Midas touch.” Instead of turning things into gold, folks with this quality “turned everything into garbage.” He used a […]

The hostages remain Israel’s number one priority, as they must. Photo Credit: Adobe Stock Images.  Next week we mark the one-year anniversary of the horrific October 7 unprovoked attack by the terrorist group Hamas on innocent civilians in Israel. Sadly, over the last year there have been no signs favouring resolution of the conflict in […]

It is difficult to recall a time when so many of our politicians don’t give a damn about Canada and Canadians but only stay in office to inflict more pain on the electorate. Pictured: Bloc Quebecois Leader Yves-Francois Blanchet. Photo Credit: Yves-Francois Blanchet/X.  As a result of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s determination to remain in […]

It seems the Trudeau Liberals are now looking to see how they can raid the Canada Pension Plan. Pictured: Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland. Photo Credit: Chrystia Freeland/X.  This Liberal federal government reminds this author of the rich kid who gobbles down all of his Halloween candy, wasting half of it, then […]

These federal Liberals have never been friends of SMEs. Photo Credit: iStock.  Small- and medium-sized Canadian businesses (SMEs) have been having a pretty rough time of it lately, and we should all be concerned about that. The pandemic was hard on everyone and a full recovery from that terrible time has not yet taken place, […]

We may still see some more policy flip-flops and revisions from Eby. Pictured: British Columbia Premier David Eby. Photo Credit: David Eby/X.  It’s amazing how an impending election loss can focus the mind – and often change the mind too! Rather dramatically, in the case of British Columbia’s current Premier, David Eby. Eby has changed […]

We should be even more upset than we polite and tolerant Canadians are at present. Pictured: Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland. Photo Credit: Chrystia Freeland/X.  Canadians can be forgiven for having exhausted their patience with virtually all of our major institutions in this country. Indeed, a cursory review of the news – […]

Given the abysmal state of the Liberals’ popularity in Canada right now, it’s hard to see why Carney would want this hair shirt of an appointment. Pictured: Mark Carney. Photo Credit: Mark Carney/X.  News media has been full of discussion about Justin Trudeau’s appointment of Mark Carney, former Bank of Canada and Bank of England […]

Politicians promoting fairy tales should be ashamed of themselves. Pictured: Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault. Photo Credit: Steven Guilbeault/X. We are constantly barraged with messages from governments, corporations, third-party groups and others about how we are in the process of a massive transformation away from fossil fuels to sources of energy that are supposedly more climate-friendly. […]

Current public opinion polls put the NDP and Conservatives neck and neck, so the stakes are high. Pictured: BC Conservative leader John Rustad flanked by three other MLAs. Photo Credit: John Rustad/X. There’s an old joke that claims politics has a very different character depending upon where you are in Canada. In the Atlantic region, […]

We continue to tolerate groups that work to restrict our freedoms, large corporations that kowtow to this absurdity, and fund unions that support organizations that most Canadians would vigorously oppose. Pictured: CUPE’s Fred Hahn. Photo Credit: Fred Hahn/X.  This Labour Day weekend is a good time to contemplate the immense shifts we have seen in […]

Photo Credit: Catherine Swift Now for something completely different.  This column is being written as I ride on the Rocky Mountaineer, a train that runs many different routes throughout Canada and the US, notably through the beautiful Rocky Mountains at various locations. This had been a bucket list type of trip for me for some […]

Decisive action by Trudeau could have prevented this whole destructive situation. Photo Credit: iStock. The rail strike currently plaguing Canada should never have happened. For starters, how did it occur that both major rail lines, Canadian National and Canadian Pacific Kansas City, could go on strike at the same time? This is a first for […]

  The province intends to virtually double the potential energy from wind from its current level, adding 5,000 megawatts of power, largely from additional wind turbines. Pictured: Premier Doug Ford. Photo Credit: Doug Ford/X.  Since their election in 2018, the Ford government has switched up its policy on energy several times. Prior to being elected, […]

A so-called conservative government like that of Premier Doug Ford should not hesitate to follow the lead of other provinces in permitting charter schools. Pictured: Premier Doug Ford. Photo Credit: Doug Ford/X.  Talk is cheap. The Ontario Progressive Conservative government has talked a good game for years about getting the “woke” agenda out of our […]

Data released on two key indicators, labour force data and bankruptcy statistics, continued to reinforce the gloomy outlook for Canada’s economy. Pictured: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Photo Credit: Justin Trudeau/X.  It would be a nice change to be able to report some positive economic developments in Canada. But that would be lying. While federal Liberal […]

For the sake of Alberta and Canada overall, let’s hope Danielle Smith remains as UCP leader and Alberta Premier. Pictured: Premier Danielle Smith. Photo Credit: Danielle Smith/X. On November 1 and 2, the United Conservative Party (UCP) of Alberta will be having its 2024 Annual General Meeting in Red Deer. This meeting will include a […]

  The major overall impact of this UBI pilot was that recipients worked less and replaced time working with leisure, not upgrading skills or looking for a better job. Photo Credit: Depositphotos.  The Universal Basic Income (UBI) debate has raged for decades, with proponents arguing that it would be a boon to an economy by […]

As of 2023, the average Canadian family spends 43 per cent of its income on taxes, as compared to 35.6 per cent on food, shelter and clothing combined. Pictured: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Photo Credit: Justin Trudeau/X.  The amount of attention being paid to the latest report on taxation in Canada from the Fraser Institute […]

The Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) adopted a motion last month supporting the so-called BDS (boycott, divestment and sanctions) efforts in an attempt to harm Israel. Pictured: OPSEU President JP Hornick. Photo Credit: OPSEU.  What will it take for Canada to crack down on its appalling public sector unions? It was just discovered that […]

  A Conservative government will be much more likely to heed provincial calls for a sensible change or even elimination of the equalization program. Pictured: Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Andrew Furey with Quebec Premier Francois Legault. Photo Credit: Andrew Furey/X.  Canada’s Equalization Program has been around since 1957 and was initially put in place to […]

It should be a no-brainer to ensure that our domestic businesses are given a fair chance to bid on government projects. Pictured: Ontario Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy. Photo Credit: Peter Bethlenfalvy/X.  The Ford government recently received many kudos from the news media about its decision to devote one-quarter of its advertising dollars toward news publishers […]

Despite the current legal limbo regarding plastics bans, British Columbia has nevertheless announced it is going ahead with a provincial ban. Pictured: British Columbia Premier David Eby. Photo Credit: David Eby/X.  Last November, the Federal court overturned Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault’s ban on plastics. The ban attempted to classify plastics as toxic under the Canadian […]

  Populations around the world are currently in a state of anger about many aspects of their lives. Photo Credit: Adobe Stock Images.  In the wake of the attempted assassination of former US President Donald Trump and very disruptive recent elections in the UK and France, it seems appropriate to discuss the growing amount of […]

The Federal Court decided in Saskatchewan’s favour on the carbon tax, blocking the federal government from garnishing provincial funds, while awaiting a full hearing by the Federal Court. Pictured: Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe. Photo Credit: Scott Moe/X.  In the latest chapter of the ongoing war between the federal Liberals and the Saskatchewan government, the province […]

Many observers believe the LCBO workers going on strike at all is just going to put another nail in the coffin of this outdated organization. Photo Credit: Adobe Stock Images.  The LCBO strike currently underway is the first time the union representing LCBO employees actually proceeded with a strike since the organization came into existence […]

Policies that encourage a healthier economy overall are essential to ensure our younger workforce gets the opportunities they need and deserve. Photo Credit: iStock.  There has been a fair bit of discussion lately about the lack of summer or part-time jobs for youth in Canada. There are a number of factors causing this situation that […]

Despite the gloomy mood of many Canadians at present, things can change for the better with a new government. Pictured: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Photo Credit: Justin Trudeau/X.  This Canada Day, it seems a majority of Canadians have the blues. A number of different public opinion polls have been conducted to coincide with Canada Day, […]

The solution is not more surtaxes or tariffs but working toward a more competitive Canadian economy overall with less government tinkering and intervention. Pictured: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland with two cabinet colleagues. Photo Credit: Chrystia Freeland/X.  It was surprising, and long overdue, to hear that Deputy Prime Minister and Finance […]

In Trudeau’s Canada, heaven forbid we should be proud of an industry that contributes immensely to our economy and is also a very responsible corporate citizen. Pictured: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Photo Credit: Justin Trudeau/X.  Despite all the serious problems plaguing Canada and reducing the standard of living of Canadians, the federal Liberals are determined […]

Our public school system loves to pretend it opposes bullying, yet has been totally AWOL when bullying of Jewish students occurs. Photo Credit: Shutterstock. In recent weeks we have seen a number of disgraceful anti-Semitic incidents in our public school system. The sentiments behind these abhorrent views had been simmering for years, but perversely the […]

  Moe and Higgs have shown steadfast courage in opposing many of the federal Liberal government’s bad policies that are hurting Canadians and our national economy and have achieved success in doing so. Pictured: (left to right) Mark Borkowski, Premier Blaine Highs, Christine Van Geyn, Premier Scott Moe, Catherine Swift & Jocelyn Bamford. Photo Supplied […]

Unions and their supporters like to believe in the fantasy that all businesses have giant pots of money they are hoarding and dipping into them will not affect anything else. Pictured: California Governor Gavin Newsom. Photo Credit: CAgovernor/X.  A new development in the long-simmering debate over the impacts of minimum wage took place recently south […]

Many of the arguments put forward against more private provision of health services have no factual base and are promoted by those who personally gain from the current system. Pictured: Premier Doug Ford. Photo Credit: Doug Ford/X.  This week the Ford government announced that they would be seeking applications from private providers to expand the […]

This decision cannot possibly stand as is. Photo Credit: iStock.  A court case that has been hanging around for about eight years finally saw a decision by Federal Court Judge Yvan Roy earlier this week. The case had been brought by Blacklock’s Reporter, an independent news service that refuses to take government money and has […]

The Trudeau government has paid over $800,000 to create a number of new logos for Canada Day. Photo Credit: Blacklock’s Reporter. We discovered this week that, as reported by Blacklock’s Reporter news service, the Trudeau government has paid over $800,000 to create a number of new logos for Canada Day. This preposterous project was undertaken […]

Whatever the reason, it is about time Ontario loosened up the ridiculously Victorian rules around alcohol that have prevailed in this province for far too long. Pictured: Ontario Premier Doug Ford. Photo Credit: Doug Ford/X.  With last week’s announcement of a further loosening of the rules around selling alcoholic beverages in Ontario, the province has […]

In addition to providing competition to the public system, the presence of a network of independent schools also produced tax savings for government. Photo Credit: iStock.  More and more evidence points to the many advantages of parents having viable choices in educating their children. Two different studies came out this week that pertained to Canadians’ […]

Different generations throughout history have always liked to insult each other and blame others for their problems. Photo Credit: iStock.  Listening to talk radio the other day, there was a stream of younger callers who were criticizing the baby boom generation for ruining everything. That generation was blamed for the high cost of housing, massive […]

Rex Murphy and Catherine Swift. Photo Supplied    There have been a lot of tributes to the incomparable Rex Murphy over the last few days since his passing was made public, but I can’t resist one of my own. I was privileged to know Rex for quite a few years, starting with a number of […]

 It’s time Canada took stock of the very negative impact the so-called climate policies have imposed on our economy and Canadians. Pictured: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Photo Credit: Justin Trudeau/X.    Some time ago, this author wrote about the efforts of various international regulatory bodies to promote a regime to harmonize global reporting standards for […]

The major element that changed regarded restoring powers to the police to restrict drug use in public. Pictured: B.C. Premier David Eby. Photo Credit: David Eby/X.  It’s amazing how a pending election focusses the mind. Last week, British Columbia’s NDP Premier, David Eby, reversed some of the most contentious elements of the province’s highly controversial […]

Canada’s housing crisis is truly a home-grown problem to which all governments have contributed. Photo Credit: iStock.  It’s no secret that Canada is in dire need of housing – both for purchase and for rental. There are a number of reasons why we got here. For starters, an immense amount of red tape and added […]

All of the serious problems facing the Canadian economy will be worsened by this change in capital gains taxes. Pictured: Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland. Photo Credit: Chrystia Freeland/X. Last week’s federal budget contained many elements that were negative for Canada – a massive deficit, growing national debt, debt service costs that are exceeding health-care expenses […]

The bottom line is that plastics are irreplaceable in so many essential applications. Photo Credit: Coalition of Concerned Manufacturers and Businesses of Canada In the next few days, thousands of UN bureaucrats are descending on our nation’s capital to participate in what is called INC-4 UNEP. Translated, this means the fourth meeting of the United […]

The Alberta Recovery Model is based on the belief that recovery from addiction is possible, and everyone should be supported and face as few barriers as possible when they pursue recovery. Pictured: Alberta Premier Danielle Smith. Photo Credit: Danielle Smith/X.  One of the issues that was discussed at last week’s annual conference of the Canada […]

Canada’s Conservatives are looking more and more as a competent, well-informed and prepared government-in-waiting. Pictured: Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre. Photo Credit: Pierre Poilievre/X.  Over the last few days, this writer has spent the last few days at the Canada Strong and Free Network’s (CSFN) annual conference. The CSFN is the successor to the Manning Centre […]

The leftist perspective on many issues is often one of fear and paranoia. Today it often seems like everyone needs to be protected from everything. Pictured: Niagara Region Chair Jim Bradley. Photo Credit: Niagara Region. Many centuries ago, people were afraid of solar eclipses because they didn’t understand their origins and feared that the sun […]

One of Canada’s perennial problems is jurisdictional creep and the fact that all levels of government are tempted to invade another’s turf. Pictured: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Photo Credit: Justin Trudeau/X. It seems it would be a good thing to give all of our Canadian politicians a refresher course on the Canadian Constitution as so […]

  Either the federal government and all provinces must begin cutting back the public sector and spending, or we will face another crisis like we did in 1995. Pictured: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Photo Credit: Justin Trudeau/X.   It was very clear that government size and spending increased substantially during the pandemic. After all, it […]

It seems the Ontario Conservatives have gotten used to big spending, and they like it. Pictured are Ontario Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy and MPPs Stephen Crawford and Rick Byers. Photo Credit: Peter Bethlenfalvy/X. This week the Ontario Conservative government delivered its budget, which was notable only for the fact that it contained no new measures […]

Public opinion polls over the last couple of months have demonstrated growing support for the reinvigorated BC Conservatives under leader John Rustad. Pictured: BC Conservative leader John Rustad speaking with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith. Photo Credit: John Rustad/X. Something interesting and unexpected is happening in the political climate in British Columbia. An election is pending […]

The promotion of EVs by governments should become a case study in how not to promote a given product to citizens. Photo Credit: Pexels For the last decade or so, Canadians have been inundated by the message from governments and industry representatives that we must all eventually be drivers of Electric Vehicles (EVs). These wondrous […]

Del Duca’s approach will surely rile up the marchers to some extent, but if it succeeds in reducing the impact and incidence of these events it may well be taken up by other municipalities and be a positive first step in stopping these most un-Canadian of “protests.” Pictured: Vaughan Mayor Steven Del Duca. Photo Credit: […]

It would be better if CEOs took aim at all of the bad Trudeau government policies that are damaging the investment climate rather than trying to jerry-rig pension investment rules which will not fix the fundamental problems. Pictured: Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland. Photo Credit: Canadian Press/Adrian Wyld.  Last week just under 100 CEOs of major […]

Higgs has demonstrated some important leadership in recent years on some difficult issues, especially for a relatively small province. By all indications, he deserves to be re-elected to continue his successful track record. Pictured: New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs. Photo Credit: The Canadian Press/Stephen MacGillivray.  Most of the news media’s attention tends to focus on […]

The bottom line is our economy is in significant trouble, largely as a result of bad government policy at the federal level. Photo Credit: Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press.  As much as it may seem otherwise, economists don’t really take any pleasure in delivering bad economic news. That being said, individuals, families and businesses need to […]

Without trying to be overly dramatic, what is happening right now is a clash of civilizations, values, systems of government and freedoms. It’s vitally important to us all that we come out of this with these essential elements of our society intact. Pictured: Raheel Raza, Founder of the Council of Muslims Against Antisemitism. Photo Credit: […]

Alberta and Saskatchewan have courageously taken a leadership role within Canada on these issues for some time, and the rest of the country owes them a debt of gratitude. Pictured: Saskatchewan Minister of Crown Investments Corporation. Photo Credit: Regina Leader-Post/Troy Fleece. This week has been very eventful in terms of Alberta and Saskatchewan pushing back […]

Everyone believes teachers should be properly paid – and they are. Endless demands from unions are a fact of life but often not justified. The more information everyone has about teachers’ and other public sector workers’ compensation and benefits, the better the support will be for governments which are fighting back against endlessly demanding unions […]

Perhaps this is taking place because the public opinion polls that show Trudeau losing the next election are finally causing much of the media that is being currently subsidized to consider how they will survive in a post-Trudeau world. Photo Credit: The Hill Times.    Ever since the Trudeau government started spending hundreds of millions […]

All governments promise more than they ultimately deliver, but with the Trudeau gang we can safely say Canadians were really sold an enormous lie. Photo Credit: PMO/Adam Scotti.   It’s no surprise to anyone but the most deluded Liberal partisans that the policies of the Trudeau government have been a disaster for Canada’s economy. But […]

The current course of ever-expanding governments costing the productive private sector more and more is not sustainable. Courts that always decide against the majority of citizens are a big part of the problem. The only answer is for we the majority to demand smaller, more efficient governments and tax reductions that will boost economic growth […]

As an unelected premier, Eby should be treading much more carefully. For a change as monumental as this, he is having a short consultation period which has been announced very quietly. It seems he would like to sneak this by BC citizens without giving them a fair chance to understand the issue and participate in […]

The politicians and party supporters were in high spirits, as any government would be if they were about midway through a second mandate in which they won an even bigger majority than in the first. That is not a common occurrence in politics, and the PCs are rightly proud of their record. Photo Credit: Twitter/Doug […]

The big news in social policy this week was the announcement in Alberta of a plan to manage the very touchy issue of gender rights, transgenderism and related identity issues as they pertain to children. This is truly a third rail political issue which most politicians are studiously ignoring despite its importance. Pictured is Alberta […]

Will this unfair and unsustainable overcompensation of government employees ever end? It only will when Canadians decide they are sufficiently fed up to insist that governments deal with it and introduce a more reasonable pay scheme in which private and public sector are roughly equivalent and things like very generous pensions are factored into overall […]

Despite its own lack of knowledge about the operation of the Canadian economy and its various business sectors, this Liberal government does not undertake meaningful consultations with manufacturers and other businesses. Instead, it pursues foolish and unachievable ideological goals that have proven to be devastating for the economy and average Canadians. Pictured: Chrystia Freeland. Photo […]

  The last couple of years have seen growing opposition to “wokeness” as more and more people realize how ridiculous it is and that they have no interest in this affecting our freedoms and our lives. Photo Credit: National Post/Jordan Peterson.    Jordan Peterson’s current travails with the College of Psychologists of Ontario have hit […]

Small business owners are a resilient bunch and will ideally cope with the less-than-stellar economic conditions anticipated for the next year or two. If nothing else, this experience will inform businesses further about the dangers of believing government is trying to help. Photo Credit: The Canadian Press/Nathan Denette.    This week was the deadline for […]

 As it seems we will have this clandestine Liberal government in Ottawa for at least some time to come, the best we can do is to publicize their plans and raise the alarm as to what this will mean for Canadian taxpayers and how, as usual, no cost-benefit analyses have been done. Unfortunately, the news […]

This recent decision to overturn an unrealistic OEB decision demonstrates a practicality that is sorely needed in many of our energy policy discussions today. Hopefully, that practical approach will prevail in future energy policy decisions in Ontario and the rest of Canada. Pictured is Minister of Energy Todd Smith. Photo Credit: X/Todd Smith.   As […]

Here are five fearless forecasts for 2024, which will be revisited at the end of this year to see how right or wrong they turned out to be. Photo Credit: Getty Images.    As 2024 begins, it’s worth taking a shot at making predictions for the coming year and looking at some of the major […]

Examining hits and misses for 2023 encompassing economic, immigration, healthcare, political, and global aspects, offering insights into future trends. Photo credit: Unsplash As I have done in previous years, I am once again looking back at what I expected to happen in 2023 to see how right or off-base I was.  I have always had […]

Reflecting on Canada’s strengths amid ongoing challenges, highlighting national resilience and urging increased citizen engagement in shaping a brighter future. Photo credit: Pexels   Given that it is the holiday season, I wanted to put together a positive column about all the things we Canadians have to be grateful for instead of just criticizing this […]

Government introduces the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP), a $13 billion initiative with complex eligibility rules and phased implementation. Questions arise over administrative hurdles, income-linked co-payments, and its potential impact on healthcare costs. Photo Credit: Pexels The federal government just released the details around their much-heralded dental plan, and is it ever a complicated mess. […]

Canada’s support for the UN ceasefire motion in the Israel-Hamas conflict draws criticism, sparking debate over policy shifts and principles amidst global perspectives. Photo Credit: Eduardo Muñoz/Reuters   Weak men make for hard times. Trudeau and his Liberal government are largely composed of weak men and women, incapable of doing the right thing if the […]

Trudeau government faces criticism over disjointed climate policies, with multiple layers of taxes and regulations raising confusion and difficulties for compliance in the energy sector. Photo credit: Cenovus Energy   The long-awaited “emissions cap” that had been foreshadowed for months by Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault was finally announced at the COP28 meeting in Dubai this […]

Recent survey results indicate a shift in Canadian perceptions of diversity and immigration, fueling discussions on societal values and integration. Photo Credit: Pexels Canada has long been known as a multicultural nation which has always welcomed immigration. Indeed, we are literally a country of immigrants, except for our First Nations citizens. Throughout our history, we […]

Photo: Facebook/Mayor Olivia Chow Although there had been some hints of this possibility before, it was mostly a surprise that in a joint press conference this week Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow announced some major changes in provincial and municipal jurisdiction. The essence of the deal is that Ontario will take […]

The Canada Pension Plan (CPP) undergoes a significant evolution, shifting from a traditional approach to investment towards a more politically aligned strategy, sparking concerns among investors about its impact on financial returns. Photo: The Canadian Press/Adrian Wyld   It seems that it’s not your father’s CPP anymore. For the first few decades of its existence, […]

Photo: Pexels Who would ever have thought that the massive subsidies that the federal and some provincial governments are providing with our tax dollars to giant Electric Vehicle (EV) battery plants would become so controversial, so soon? According to some recent news revelations, it seems like pretty much everyone with a brain.  So far, the […]

Photo Credit: Pexels   The Federal Court delivered a big win to the plastics industry this week – and a big loss for Environment and Climate Change Canada Minister Steven Guilbeault.  For several years, the federal government has waged a virtue-signalling war on plastics, banning a number of plastic products such as plastic cutlery, checkout […]

COP28 Climate Summit in Dubai braces for a showdown over unmet COP21 goals and industry defiance. Photo credit: The Canadian Press/Sean Kilpatrick Oh joy, oh bliss. Another climate change conference will soon be upon us, this time held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates – that bastion of human rights & women’s rights – from November […]

Photo Credit: Fraser Institute   It’s been hard to miss all of the negative news on the Canadian economy lately. As such, it probably won’t come as a surprise to many Canadians that this year’s survey results on Economic Freedom that were made public this week find an ongoing deterioration in virtually all Canadian provinces […]

Photo Credit: Pexels   When the Ford Conservatives first won government in Ontario in 2018, the mood in the business community was buoyant. After almost 15 years of anti-business Liberal government under Dalton McGuinty and Kathleen Wynne, change was desperately needed. Detrimental Liberal policies, including extreme “green energy” laws that greatly increased energy costs, intrusive […]

Canadian unions under fire for supporting Hamas: calls for reform in financial transparency and member choice. Photo: Flicker Labour unions have had a very comfortable time in Canada for decades, but recent events have confirmed that it is past time to rein in their extracurricular activities. Most Canadians have been appalled by the pro-Hamas stance […]

Gudie Hutchings, Liberal Minister for Rural Economic Development, comments surrounding Trudeau’s carbon tax reversal sparks controversy and questions about priorities. Photo Credit: Twitter/ctvqp Just in case anyone thought the Liberals were really concerned about climate change and in full support of all their many absurdly punitive so-called climate policies which ensure low- and middle-income Canadians […]

The debate over Universal Basic Income (UBI) reignites in Canada as Senate and House Bills Emerg. Photo credit: Senate of Canada.   The seemingly endless debate about Universal Basic Income (UBI) has become current once again in Canada as the Senate’s Finance Committee has undertaken to study a Bill intended to create a national framework […]

At least, that’s what one advocacy organization in Ontario is seemingly trying to prove. Photo credit: Pexels/Vanessa Garcia   Yes, you read that right. This is just the latest incidence of lunacy in our public education system, and foolishly our so-called “justice” system played along. This all began when the Ontario government decided in 2018 […]

A look at the facts suggests that mucking around with the existing Canadian pharmacare system is a bad idea. Photo credit: People Images/Getty Images   Among all the other hot topics in our world today, the issue of pharmacare will likely be a key part of discussions in Ottawa at least until the end of […]

Last week, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that the federal Liberals’ Bill C-69 – the so-called ‘no more pipelines’ bill – was unconstitutional. The decision means a big change in federal-provincial relations, with the federal government much less able to inflict its extreme and economically harmful views, notably on environmental issues, on the provinces. […]

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith. The Alberta government’s “Tell the Feds” advertising campaign is attempting to offset a lack of information from the federal government about its electrification agenda. Photo credit: Facebook/Danielle Smith   If you’ve been listening to the radio in Ontario recently, it would be hard to miss an advertising campaign from the Government […]

While most Canadians reacted with justified horror to Hamas’ sadistic assault on Israel, there were many others in Canada who inexplicably supported the Palestinians’ actions. Academics, other leftists and some unions went public with messages of support for Hamas’ attacks. Photo credit: AP/Tsafrir Abayov   After this weekend’s horrific events in Israel, I find it […]

NDP secure majority. Wab Kinew (pictured) becomes Canada’s first-ever First Nations provincial premier. Photo credit: Facebook/Wab Kinew   This week’s provincial election in Manitoba has brought about a number of big changes. The major one is that the NDP won a majority government for the first time since 2016, when Conservative Brian Pallister took over […]

Premier Scott Moe (pictured) said he was “extremely dismayed” by the court’s recent decision to grant an injunction halting the government’s “Parental Inclusion and Consent Policy” from moving forward. Photo credit: Twitter/Scott Moe   Once again, the threat of a provincial government other than Quebec to use the Notwithstanding Clause in the Canadian Constitution has […]

Growing tensions between India and Canada have the potential to significantly diminish trade exports and damage the Canadian economy, with Saskatchewan likely to take the biggest hit. Photo credit: The Canadian Press/Sean Kilpatrick   In the last 10 days or so, the focus has been on the harm to Canada’s international reputation as a result […]

Photo credit: Pexels/Pixabay   It didn’t get a lot of attention, but New Zealand recently won a trade dispute with Canada over market access for dairy products under the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) trade agreement. The dispute centered around Canada blocking market access to the New Zealand dairy industry. The New […]

The government wants to prevent the use of replacement workers in federally-regulated workplaces in the event of a strike. Labour Minister Seamus O’Regan (pictured) called the proposed legislation “one of the most monumental changes to collective bargaining in Canadian labour history.” Photo credit: The Canadian Press/Adrian Wyld   Now that the federal House of Commons […]

Cross-country protest, counter-protest regarding teaching of gender ideology in schools planned for this week. Photo credit: Getty Images   This is going to be one interesting week. Across Canada, opponents of radical gender ideology in our public school systems have organized a so-called “1 Million March for Children”. The key person behind this march is […]

The average life expectancy of a First Nations man in Alberta has dropped to 60 years old. Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons   It was truly shocking to recently discover that in the period from 2015 to 2021, the average lifespan of First Nations’ people in Alberta decreased by seven years. In 2015, the life expectancy […]

The Conservatives held their first in-person convention in five years this past weekend. On effectively every front, it was a smashing success. Photo credit: Twitter/Pierre Poilievre   The Conservative Party of Canada (CPC) policy convention in Quebec City wound up Saturday night after a very successful two and a half days of policy discussions, voting […]

Anti-woke retired Lt.-Gen Michel Maisonneuve delivers keynote address at the Conservative Party’s policy convention on Sept. 7, 2023. Photo credit: YouTube/CPAC   The Conservative Party of Canada is having its policy convention over the next few days, and it got off to a lively start Thursday evening with keynote speaker Michel Maisonneuve, retired Lt.-Gen and […]

Photo credit: Getty Images   I’m starting to feel guilty. It’s not fun to continue to report bad news on the economy, but unfortunately there’s not much else out there right now. All economies run in cycles, and it certainly appears we are entering into a declining phase of that cycle at present. The unusual […]

Another September, another threat of strike. Photo credit: The Washington Post/Maddie McGarvey   If it’s September, we must be talking about a teachers’ strike in Ontario. Like clockwork, the teachers’ unions are rattling the sabres yet again as contracts expire and the school year is about to begin. The current demands are especially outrageous as […]

Most Canadians don’t realize that it is the municipal level of government that has been most active in embedding the foundation for the “woke” agenda we are seeing influencing government policies and corporate initiatives around the world. Pictured: Big City Mayors Caucus meets in Toronto, May 25, 2023. Photo credit: Twitter/FCM   Local politics typically […]

In the ongoing battle to bring common sense back into Canadian classrooms, Saskatchewan and New Brunswick are leading the charge. Pictured is New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs at a meeting of the Council of Atlantic Premiers in March 2022. Photo credit: Communications Nova Scotia   Earlier this week, Saskatchewan joined New Brunswick in defending parental […]

Politicization of the issue from both sides doesn’t help the problem. Pictured is the ongoing wildfire in Kelowna, BC. Photo credit: AFP/Darren Hull via Getty Images   Once again, the politicization of an issue deters the achievement of workable solutions. The latest example is Canada’s profusion of wildfires this summer in many parts of Canada. […]

From private companies to public pension funds, countless entities have adopted a woke, ideologically-driven agenda in recent years– with some starting to pay the price. Photo credit: Getty Images/Justin Sullivan   The slogan “Go Woke, Go Broke” has achieved popularity recently as it seems that so many of the companies which have opted to follow […]

Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault is dead-set on imposing rigid, unrealistic climate objectives on the provinces. Photo credit: Twitter/Steven Guilbeault   If we ever wondered what it would be like to put a narrow-minded idealogue into a position of authority, we need wonder no more. Prior to Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault’s announcement last Thursday of the […]

This latest issue regarding the Greenbelt is unlikely to go away, and the Ford government is going to have to do something more substantive than keep insisting its approach is the right one. Pictured are Premier Doug Ford and Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Steve Clark, Sept. 10, 2018. Photo credit: Canadian Press/Christopher Katsarov […]

By imposing a six-month moratorium on large-scale wind and solar projects in the province, Alberta is trying to avoid what Ontario – and many places around the world – found out the hard way. Photo credit: University of Minnesota   Late last week, Alberta’s United Conservative Party government announced that it is imposing a six-month […]

We consistently hear about how the so-called rich don’t pay enough tax. But is that really true in Canada? And in any instance, does punishing the most productive people in a society really help the overall economy? Photo credit: Getty Images/Gerardo Mora   We’ve been hearing a lot about the mythical “fair share” lately, notably […]

The Liberals are now banning compostable plastic bags. Pictured (left) is Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault. Photo credit: Twitter/Steven Guilbeault    So many of the measures that have been forced upon Canadians by the Liberal government in the name of the climate are pointless and more about virtue signaling and pretending to do something than actually […]

In the mid-80s, Canada was still quite competitive with most developed countries in terms of productivity, but it has been all downhill since then – with productivity declining significantly after 2015. Photo credit: Flickr/Arild   Canada has had challenges keeping up with other countries in terms of its productivity performance for decades, but recent indicators […]

There doesn’t appear to be any one easy solution to the escalating issue. But one thing’s for certain: what we are doing now is clearly not working.    Drugs of one kind or another have been a serious problem in Canada for decades, but in recent years things seems to be getting considerably worse. Part […]

Top-down demands and impositions from the feds, by way of Trudeau’s climate czar Steven Guilbeault (pictured), has several provincial leaders up in arms. Photo credit: The Canadian Press/Justin Tang   Recent weeks have seen a sharp increase in disagreements between some provinces and the federal government over the Liberal push to achieve its net-zero goals […]

More parents and grandparents in provinces across the country are starting to push back against the radical gender ideology being introduced to young children in schools. Photo credit: Getty Images   It took a while, but we are finally seeing groups of parents and grandparents fighting back in Ontario and other provinces against the ridiculous […]

Premier of Alberta Danielle Smith and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau faced off in Calgary last Friday ahead of the city’s famous rodeo festival. Although both behaved themselves at the meeting, it is clear the stage is being set for a major conflict between the federal government and Alberta. Photo credit: The Canadian Press/Jeff McIntosh   […]

To help meet rising electricity demands, earlier this week the Ontario government announced development of a new large-scale nuclear power plant. Pictured is Minister of Energy Todd Smith announcing the project at Bruce Power’s Kincardine facility, July 5, 2023. Photo credit: Twitter/Todd Smith   This week, the Ford government announced that a new large-scale nuclear […]

Both history and our current reality suggest this likely won’t end well. Photo credit: The Canadian Press/Chris Young   Well, this is going to be interesting. Not especially good, but definitely interesting, as a test of a far-left Mayor of Toronto in Olivia Chow. Chow is being thrust into the largest city in Canada which […]

All indicators point to more tough times ahead for the backbone of Canada’s economy. Photo credit: Pexels/Tim Douglas   Some recent data from various sources indicate that Canada’s small business community has yet to recover from the impact of the pandemic. As this sector represents about half of the economy, this is not a trivial […]

Though electronic transactions rule the modern marketplace, a recent survey from the Bank of Canada reveals four-in-five Canadians want to retain hard currency as a means of payment. Photo credit: Shutterstock/Stefan Malloch   In our modern technological world of debit cards, electronic financial transactions, and other means of moving money around the globe in split […]

Granted charitable status and funnelled untold sums from government coffers, not-for-profit organizations promoting social and political causes, particularly the so-called ‘climate crisis’, continue to balloon in size, scope, and number across the country. Photo credit: Pexels/Cottonbro Studio   For some time now, there has been considerable growth in the number of not-for-profit organizations sucking up […]

In a field of over 100 contenders, Olivia Chow (pictured) is the current front-runner, with Mark Saunders, Ana Bailao, Anthony Furey, and Josh Matlow jostling for second and third position. Photo credit: Twitter/Olivia Chow   There’s just a week left before we see who will succeed John Tory following his shocking departure from the Toronto […]

The notion of an east-west utility corridor from Alberta to Hudson Bay has been contemplated for decades. Pictured is Alberta Premier Danielle Smith. Photo credit: Government of Alberta/Chris Schwarz   Earlier this week, the Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba governments signed a memorandum of understanding to pursue the possibility of establishing a deep-water port at Port […]

Canada currently has a serious crime problem resulting in many innocent victims, yet authorities seem determined to focus on the criminals, repeatedly letting them out on bail or reducing their security classification. Pictured is a 2018 photo of Doug and Donna French, parents of Kristen French, one of serial killer Paul Bernardo’s several victims. Photo […]

The unions have completely run amok, and our children and grandchildren suffer increasingly poorer quality, at times harmful instruction. Photo credit: Pexels/Ksenia Chernaya   The horror stories abound. In public schools, themes such as critical race theory, which teaches children that all white persons are oppressors and is terribly divisive of different groups on the […]

Recent report indicates small businesses are borrowing more and more taxpayer-backed loans from the government. Photo credit: Pexels/Andrea Piacquadio   Despite some economic indicators that Canada’s economy is not doing too badly considering a general global slowdown, the state of small business does not seem to be very positive. A recent report from the federal […]

  According to a new study, the province’s historical surplus of hydro power may be coming to an end, with the possibility of shortages occurring as early as 2027. Photo credit: Facebook/Hydro-Quebec   Quebec has long been known as the electricity powerhouse in Canada, generating the most electricity of any province with over 90 per […]

Predicted to end in a nailbiter on election night, on Monday Albertans awarded Danielle Smith’s UCP 49 seats in government, a comfortable 11-seat victory over Rachel Notley’s NDP. The UCP won 52.6 per cent of the popular vote, compared to 44 per cent for the NDP. Photo credit: Twitter/Danielle Smith   It was billed as […]

An assortment of advocacy groups, teachers’ unions, and food banks recently penned a letter to provincial officials asking for the government to fund daily breakfast, lunch for all Ontario students. Photo credit: CBC   One of the best-known sayings of renowned economist and Nobel Prize winner Milton Friedman is “There is no such thing as […]

  Across Canada, how best to approach drug abuse and its societal effects varies from person to person and province to province. But with increased addiction driving an increase in random acts of violence around the country, Canadians on both sides of the violence deserve an approach that works. Photo credit: Sandy Hill Community Health […]

Ford government has tabled legislation that, once passed, will start the process of dissolving Peel Region and splitting its constituent communities into single-tier municipalities. Pictured (left to right) at Queen’s Park on Thursday, May 18 are Caledon Mayor Annette Groves, Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Steve Clark, Mississauga Mayor Bonnie […]

Though the business of electrification appears to be booming across Canada, average taxpayers won’t get to share in the economic benefits – in fact, they’re the ones footing the bill. Pictured is Ontario’s Minister of Energy Todd Smith speaking at Electricity Canada’s recent Regulatory Forum. Photo credit: Twitter/Todd Smith   Recent days have seen announcements […]

Currently one-third of the some 100 wildfires taking place across Wild Rose Country are considered ‘out-of-control’. Complicating the entire situation is the fact that Alberta is in the throes of an ultra-competitive provincial election campaign and mere weeks away from E-Day. Photo credit: The Canadian Press   For several weeks, Alberta has been besieged by […]

A new round of opposition to the Ford government’s ongoing desire to supplement the current health care model with more private alternatives recently kicked up again in earnest. If you listened to the activist groups, you would think that all the current system was in public hands. Yet, about 40 per cent of health care […]

A recent study from the federal government is shedding new light on the decades-long assumption that more education automatically means better job prospects and pay.    For decades, the relationship between a post-secondary degree and ultimate job prospects was very clear. Degree holders were consistently more likely to be employed and earn more than those […]

The Trudeau Liberals’ highly-controversial, long-scrutinized Internet censorship legislation, Bill C-11, quietly passed the Senate last Thursday on route to officially becoming law. While few seemed to notice, the Bill’s passing is a major legislative development that almost all Canadians should be concerned about. Photo credit: Facebook/Pablo Rodriguez   Justin Trudeau’s censorship legislation, Bill C-11, passed […]

Last week, the Liberal government very quietly indicated its intention to extend the current equalization formula until 2029. The formula, which sees billions of dollars transferred from wealthier provinces to “have nots” each year, largely benefits Quebec and the Atlantic provinces at the expense of Alberta. Pictured is Alberta Premier Danielle Smith alongside Prime Minister […]

A new study from the Fraser Institute outlines some of the issues with the environment, social and governance (ESG) framework many businesses have adopted (or were forced to adopt) in recent years, including challenges related to standardization and reporting. Photo credit: Forbes/Getty Images   Just as the whole ESG (environment, social and governance) regime is […]

The widespread labour unrest is taking different forms around the world, with unions in France, the UK, US, and Canada all flexing their collective muscles at the same time. At home, the current federal government strike is the largest single public sector strike in around two decades. Photo credit: The Canadian Press/Sean Kilpatrick   In […]

Earlier this month, the Supreme Court of Canada dismissed an appeal from Dr. Brian Day of the Cambie Surgery Centre in BC. For years, Dr. Day (pictured) has advocated for Canadians’ right to pay for private medical care. Photo credit: The Canadian Press/Darryl Dyck   Canadians know their health care system is in rough shape. […]

Canada’s federal Minister of Justice and Attorney General David Lametti. Photo credit: The Canadian Press/Adrian Wyld   Did the federal government, in the person of Justice Minister David Lametti, really say earlier this week that he would consider taking over provincial jurisdiction for natural resources in the provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba? Well, yes […]

This federal government’s anti-democratic, self-aggrandizing, increasingly-costly behaviour makes one seriously consider: is this all just a giant practical joke on the Canadian people courtesy of Trudeau and gang?   When you look at the current state of affairs in Canada, it is getting harder and harder to believe that most Canadians are not being punk’d […]

Studies and surveys indicate Generation Z values work-life balance more than any other generation to date. Its members, the oldest of whom are now in their mid-20s, are resistant to working long days, do not want to respond to emails on weekends and evenings, and value mental health and time off more than the daily […]

The provincial government released its 2023 budget last Thursday, while its federal counterpart did the same earlier this week. Though both economic plans contain their fair share of high- and lowlights, the document produced by the feds houses noticeably more of the latter. Pictured is Ontario Minister of Finance Peter Bethlenfalvy. Photo credit: Twitter/Peter Bethlenfalvy […]

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith (pictured) recently sat down with the Coalition of Concerned Manufacturers and Businesses of Canada. Among other topics, she discussed the interdependencies and interconnectedness of Alberta and Ontario, as well as the intrusion of the federal government into provincial jurisdiction. Photo credit: The Canadian Press/Adrian Wyld   Last Friday, we at the […]

In recent years, tens of thousands of migrants have illegally traversed the US-Canada border via Quebec’s Roxham Road. Many of these illegal migrants have since been transferred to border communities around Ontario, including Niagara Falls, Cornwall, and Windsor. Photo credit: The Globe and Mail   The mess that continues to grow from the ridiculous Roxham […]

Despite certain government actors and activist groups trying to paint the material with a broad brush of all-bad-all-the-time, the benefits of plastic abound. Photo credit: AMAC Technologies   The federal government’s foolish and misinformation-driven war on plastics continues. After implementing a ban on the manufacture and importation of a handful of plastic products such as […]

On Monday, the provincial and federal governments announced that Volkswagen picked southwestern Ontario to build its first electric vehicle battery plant in North America. The announcement was met with much fanfare. But is all this money being thrown at EVs a good use of our tax dollars and the focus from governments, or just the […]

The latest report from Ontario’s Financial Accountability Office laid out a number of disturbing findings about the province’s health care situation, including a shortage of 33,000 nurses and PSWs by 2028. Photo credit: Pexels/Rodnae Productions   Ontario’s Financial Accountability Office (FAO) has historically provided solid research and analysis on a range of issues pertaining to […]

Canadians get the worst of both worlds – high taxes and poor public services. Perhaps it’s time for a change. Photo credit: Getty Images via Bloomberg   Get out the torches and pitchforks Canadians. A number of recent polls and studies have found that a strong majority of Canadians believe they are overtaxed and not […]

Premier Danielle Smith and Finance Minister Travis Toews (pictured) struck a reasonable balance between increased spending and posting a surplus. The happy combination was made possible by strong prices in the oil and gas sector boosting government revenues. With Alberta’s next provincial election only three months away, Smith hopes her first budget at the helm […]

For now, the only part of the Liberals’ Sustainable Jobs Plan that could actually be called a plan is the hiring of more government workers. Pictured is Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson. Photo credit: The Canadian Press/Sean Kilpatrick   After three years of jabbering on about the so-called “Just Transition”, the federal Liberals recently came […]

A recent multi-national study commissioned by the Fraser Institute revealed, among other findings, that many people – particularly young people – continue to view socialism as the ideal economic system.    Over the decades, different political directions and trends come and go, depending on the conditions at the time and the appeal of various politicians. […]

In recent years, much has been said about the decline of the family and the resultant social and economic impacts of that phenomenon. But what it often seems to come down to is how the prevailing structure of family is defined and how it has changed. Photo credit: Pexels/Arina Krasnikova   Having just experienced a […]

The corporate heads who don’t speak up against bad government policies might think they are being constructive by going with the flow, but they don’t do anyone any favours in the long run, including themselves.    The first time I saw a bunch of CEOs from large energy companies lined up behind politicians who were […]

 It’s a concept catching fire among (mostly) left-wing, climate-concerned circles. Photo credit: Pexels/Pixabay   You’ve got to hand it to them – the left really do have a way with words.  One of the latest fads that is being bandied about by the woke set is the 15-minute city. It basically entails the concept that […]

The shift away from fossil fuels to renewables is not easy, nor cheap. Natural gas remains critical to the province’s electricity grid and isn’t going away anytime soon, as plans for two new gas turbines in Windsor demonstrate. Pictured is Capital Power’s East Windsor Cogeneration Centre. Photo credit: CHA   Following decades of fantastical assumptions […]

Already better compensated and more secure in their respective positions than their private sector counterparts, public sector employees – at least, the unions that represent them – are coming back to the taxpayer trough for yet more feed. Photo credit: PSAC   Recent weeks have seen a veritable frenzy of public sector unions demanding outrageous […]

The current federal government in particular does not seem overly concerned about defending Canadian businesses, and is too lenient when enforcing the law against foreign companies. Photo credit: Fiat Chrysler Automotives   Amid the massive increases in taxation and regulatory red tape that has been introduced in recent years by the Trudeau government in the […]

Though some unions, certain public officials, and political activists may not like the increase in private sector provision of health care in the province, a greater mix of public and private providers will bring better outcomes for suffering Ontarians. Pictured is Ontario Minister of Health Sylvia Jones. Photo credit: Twitter/Sylvia Jones   That sound you […]

Over a quarter of the governing PC Party caucus is not seeking re-election this October. Opinion polls indicate Manitoba Premier Heather Stefanson (pictured) is one of the least popular provincial leaders in Canada right now. Photo credit: The Canadian Press/David Lipnowski   In recent weeks, a record number of Progressive Conservative Members of the Legislative […]

Earlier this week, yet municipal council on Canada’s east coast passed a resolution calling for a guaranteed basic livable income. Pictured is Saint John, New Brunswick mayor Donna Noade Reardon. Photo credit: Facebook/City of Saint John   It seems that yet another municipal government has not read the literature on UBI (universal basic income). This […]

The Trudeau government’s anticipated new energy strategy will be bad news for Albertans, and the Canadian oil and gas sector as a whole, but good news for Premier Danielle Smith’s election chances. Photo credit: Winnipeg Free Press   After talking about it for almost two years, and distributing a discussion paper in 2021, it seems […]

From the climate change issue to how best to treat drug addiction, censoring opinions and statistics based on political lines has become more commonplace in recent years. Photo credit: Britannica   High profile issues of the day have always been politicized to some extent, but this has been happening to an alarming degree in recent […]

What will next year bring in terms of the economy, Canadian politics, and international affairs? For the fourth straight year, Swift makes her predictions. Photo credit: Getty Images/Cole Burston    For the fourth year running, I am going to once again try my hand at making some predictions about what is to come in 2023 […]

Spot on in some areas, off base in others, but bold in their making, nonetheless. Photo credit: The Canadian Press/Sean Kilpatrick   As promised, I will now revisit the five predictions I made in my Niagara Independent column at the end of 2021 for this past year and see how off base I was. Most […]

It was an interesting year for Canadians filled with both good and bad, kicked off by the truckers’ convoy in January and February. Photo credit: Getty Images/Spencer Platt   To say that 2022 was an eventful year for Canada is an understatement. Slowly emerging from the pandemic early in the year, Canadians were still plagued […]

Characterizing private health clinics as “for-profit”, as if profit in any and every form is inherently a bad thing, is all part of the conditioning Canadians experience on a regular basis. Photo credit: Twitter/OFL   The Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL), a federation comprised of 54 labour unions in the province, released the results of […]

Decarbonizing Ontario’s already clean electricity system would not only be shockingly expensive, but it would also significantly reduce reliability. Photo credit: The Canadian Press/Nathan Denette   Ontario’s Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO), the Crown corporation responsible for operating the electricity market in the province, recently published a study responding to the Energy Minister’s request to […]

Courtesy of your federal Liberal government. Photo credit: Reuters/Blare Gable   As if all the talk about a looming recession wasn’t enough, we also know that Canadians will be facing a number of tax increases in 2023, courtesy of the federal Liberal government. For starters, both Employment Insurance premiums and Canada Pension Plan premiums will […]

Francois Legault (pictured) leads the pack, with nearly six-in-ten Quebecers displaying a favourable view of the Premier. Photo credit: The Canadian Press/Jacques Boissinot   The Angus Reid Institute has come out with its regular survey of approval ratings for Canada’s Premiers and as usual there is good news for some and coal in the stockings […]

Alberta’s recent efforts to better protect itself from federal encroachment on its internal affairs have received a lot of attention lately, but Saskatchewan is making similar moves toward greater provincial autonomy. Pictured is Premier Scott Moe. Photo credit: Twitter/Scott Moe   Alberta may be getting most of the attention with its Alberta Sovereignty Within a […]

High taxes, environmental regulations, and land claim issues, among other concerns, make Canada’s oil producing provinces some of the least attractive jurisdictions in which to do business. Photo credit: Flickr/Jason Hargrove    If there was still any doubt, a recent Fraser Institute study shows how various Canadian federal government policies have damaged the prospects for […]

Ontario Auditor General Bonnie Lysyk (pictured) released her yearly assessment of the province’s financial manaveurs on Wednesday. Photo credit: The Canadian Press/Aaron Vincent Elkaim   The annual Ontario Auditor General’s report was released this week, with its usual litany of financial and policy missteps by the provincial government and its agencies. Not surprisingly, some of […]

Atlantic residents will soon be paying considerably more to heat their homes and fill their tanks, as the federal government is set to impose its carbon tax on Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, and PEI. Pictured is Premier of Nova Scotia Tim Houston. Photo credit: CBC/Rob Short   The latest provinces to be hit by […]

Premier Smith (pictured) is doing precisely what she said she would do, plus more. Photo credit: The Canadian Press/Jason Franson   Newly-minted Alberta Premier Danielle Smith isn’t wasting any time making changes. Less than two months into the job, she has fired the entire Board of the Alberta Health Services (AHS), fulfilling a leadership campaign […]

In losing nearly $100 million to a volatile cryptocurrency investment, and by committing to the ESG narrative, two of Canada’s largest and traditionally most successful public pension funds demonstrated that they’re hardly immune to poor judgement and being swept up by the flavour of the week. Photo credit: The Canadian Press/Cole Burston   The spectacular […]

Despite claims to the contrary, when it comes to public sector labour negotiations in Ontario, it is, has been, and always will be precisely about the money. Pictured is president of CUPE’s Ontario School Board Council of Unions Laura Walton, Nov. 16, 2022. Photo credit: The Canadian Press/Chris Young   In the context of labour […]

As economic slowdown looms, province delivers fairly tame, boring mini-budget – but perhaps that’s a good thing. Pictured is Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy. Photo credit: Twitter/Doug Ford   Ontario Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy presented the Fall Economic Update this week, and not surprisingly the news wasn’t great. In anticipation of a widely expected economic slowdown, […]

The current federal government has had a habit of interfering with areas of provincial jurisdiction, and it is long overdue that certain provinces begin to push back. Pictured is Premier of Saskatchewan Scott Moe. Photo credit: Facebook/Scott Moe   Canada’s Prairie provinces – Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba – have good reason to be perturbed about […]

Canada already has one of the highest levels of per capita health care spending among developed countries in the world, and citizens are hardly getting good bang for their buck. Thus, the country’s Premiers should stop spending time and money asking the federal government for more taxpayer dollars and instead concentrate their efforts on garnering […]

The “day of protest” is ostensibly a response to the Ontario government tabling back-to-work legislation intended to prevent education workers from striking. Pictured is head of the Ontario Federation of Labour Patty Coates during a news conference at Queens Park on Monday alongside OSBCU president Laura Walton (left) and CUPE president Fred Hahn. Photo credit: […]

To date, Ontario’s Premier has resisted all calls to take part in the public hearings currently underway in Ottawa. Photo credit: The Canadian Press/Arlyn McAdorey   It is mystifying why Ontario Premier Doug Ford continues to adamantly resist appearing before the Public Order Emergency Commission (POEC), currently the hottest political ticket in Canada.  Ford has […]

The whole notion of collective bargaining is predicated on there being a reasonable balance between the union and the employer. Prohibiting the employer from bringing in other workers to carry on operating severely upsets this balance, leaving far too much power in union hands. Photo credit: CityNews   The federal Liberals just announced they are […]

Municipal elections historically drive the fewest number of voters to the ballot box. However, of all levels of government, the local level touches most citizens more directly and frequently than its provincial and federal counterparts – and not just in terms of basic services and policing. In recent years, municipal governments have become increasingly more […]