National Newswatch

Canadians Can No Longer Trust the Canadian Human Rights Commission to Address Complaints of Racial Discrimination

Mar 25 2023 — David McNairn — When the very body responsible for adjudicating human rights complaints actively discriminates against their own Black and racialized staff members, the impact goes far beyond individual employees and becomes a matter of national importance. Regrettably, the muted response to date from the Minister of Justice and other governmental officials suggests an intention to underplay the […]

Today in Canada’s Political History: Kim Campbell formally enters the PC leadership race called to replace Brian Mulroney

Mar 25 2023 — Arthur Milnes — It was exactly 30-years-ago today that British Columbia’s Kim Campbell announced her candidacy for the PC party’s leadership on this date in 1993. She quickly became the front-runner and was easily elected leader, also becoming Prime Minister, in June 1993. With her victory she became Canada’s first (and so far, only) female Prime Minister. Arthur […]

Working group to study farm fertilizer emission reduction ideas

Mar 24 2023 — Alex Binkley — Government must work with farmers on emissions reduction. Ottawa—A working group of government and agriculture representatives will be formed to look for ways to reduce farm fertilizer emissions without harming productivity, Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau says. The group will consider more than 2,000 submissions received through online consultations, technical workshops and town hall meetings held […]

Today in Canada’s Political History: Ernie Eves elected Ontario PC leader, replacing Mike Harris

Mar 23 2023 — Arthur Milnes — Veteran Ontario MPP Ernie Eves was elected his province’s Tory leader on this date in 2002. He was replacing Mike Harris who had stepped down after receiving back-to-back majority mandates from voters in Canada’s largest province. Under Harris, Eves had served as both Deputy Premier and Minister of Finance. Eves officially became Premier of Ontario […]

They’re Just Not That Into China

Mar 23 2023 — Glen Pearson — The reasons why we stop paying attention to media and political narratives are many, and occasionally, they bring about a growing disconnect between Canadians in general and those who are supposed to be taking care of their public affairs and reporting on them.  We appear to be undergoing such a distancing at present. There are […]

Like Biden, Trudeau Should Put Good Union Jobs on the Agenda

Mar 22 2023 — Bea Bruske — Behind the smiles and handshakes when a U.S. president visits Canada are long hours of painstaking negotiations. Officials plan the trip to the minute and fight it out over every item on the agenda. An agenda that will no doubt include U.S. protectionism and ‘Buy American’ policies, North American supply chain disruptions, and more. But […]

Today in Canada’s Political History: President Richard Nixon and Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau speak on the telephone

Mar 22 2023 — Arthur Milnes — Canada’s Prime Minister, Pierre Trudeau, and U.S. President Richard Nixon spoke on the telephone on this date in 1973. Nixon initiated the call as he and his Administration hoped Canada would remain part of the International Commission for Control and Supervision for Vietnam. Trudeau was under great domestic pressure to order Canada’s withdrawal from the largely […]

Agriculture sustainability cannot be a top down driven exercise

Mar 21 2023 — Alex Binkley — Governments need to focus on a well-designed strategy. Ottawa—Sustainable agriculture will only happen if farmers can see how it can be made to work with their operations over the long term and that will depend on the kind of regulatory environment governments set up, says Scott Ross, Executive Director of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture. […]

Canada’s agrifood sector needs to prepare for a changing world

Mar 20 2023 — Alex Binkley — The WTO is becoming powerless to enforce trade rules. Ottawa—The sorry state of world affairs must not distract Canada from continuing to work at producing more food, says Janice Gross Stein, the Belzberg Professor of Conflict Management in the Department of Political Science at the University of Toronto. Agriculture will be more important than ever […]

Today in Canada’s Political History: Stephen Harper elected leader of the new Conservative Party of Canada

Mar 20 2023 — Arthur Milnes — Canada’s new Conservative Party had a new leader on this date in 2004 with the selection of Stephen J. Harper as their standard bearer. He received almost 70 per cent of the vote, easily defeating Tony Clement and Belinda Stronach. Two-years later Harper would be elected Prime Minister and the newly merged Conservative Party, a […]

Today in Canada’s Political History: U.S.-led invasion of Iraq begins

Mar 19 2023 — Arthur Milnes — United States’ forces, joined by the British, Australian and Polish contingents, began the invasion of Saddam Hussein’s Iraq on this date in 2003. Approximately 160,000 armed forces personnel would be involved in this part of the military campaign. By March 1 President George W. Bush had announced “mission accomplished” and the end of hostilities. Canada, […]