Mar 24 2020 — Yaroslav Baran — Policy Magazine — The world is united in a public health crisis. This is the time to come together and work on solutions. And, given the extraordinary powers we grant our government in times of crisis, this is also not the time to weaken our democratic institutions. Foremost of these is Parliament, and its ability to scrutinize – […]
Mar 23 2020 — Scott Pattison — Policy Magazine — The term “uncharted territory” being uttered by many elected officials about the current health and economic crisis throughout the world seems to be an understatement. In the United States a few short weeks ago, the economy was roaring with a record-setting February 12th Dow Jones stock market index peak of over 29,500 points. Today, the […]
Mar 21 2020 — Karl Moore — Policy Magazine — This is the most troubling time for Canadian airlines in living memory. The previous crises of 9/11, SARS, H1N1, the Icelandic Volcano and the 2008 financial crash were all very challenging times for the industry around the world. Yet within nine months, even in the U.S., the impact of the worst of these, 9/11 was […]
Mar 19 2020 — L. Ian MacDonald — Policy Magazine — As the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic justifiably monopolizes public attention these days, another major story — also with serious economic implications — is playing out in Alberta. When the Alberta government released its budget estimates for the coming fiscal year on February 27, Premier Jason Kenney’s numbers were based on oil priced at US$58 a barrel.
Mar 11 2020 — L. Ian MacDonald — Policy Magazine — The coronavirus already had the world on edge when the stock market crashed on Monday because of a race to the bottom on oil prices between Saudi Arabia and Russia. The Saudis wanted to cut production among Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) to keep prices up in a world economy struck by COVID-19, while […]
Mar 6 2020 — Shachi Kurl — Policy Magazine — It’s as if this country was in the grips of some deep convulsion caused by our utter polarization on energy policy. While the cycle of the erection and dismantling of anti-Coastal GasLink blockades that have clogged our ports, obstructed our rail freight and put the brakes on our passenger trains, the impact on public opinion […]
Mar 5 2020 — Lisa Van Dusen — Policy Magazine — When James Clyburn, the elder statesman of South Carolina Democratic politics and African-American political icon, took the stage Saturday night in Columbia to celebrate Joe Biden’s remarkable win in the state, he didn’t quote Yogi Berra. A student and teacher of history, Clyburn plucked from time the words of America’s most famous tourist. “If Americans […]
Mar 4 2020 — L. Ian MacDonald — Policy Magazine — Never in the history of presidential primaries has there been such a stunning reversal of fortune as the one that, in just seven days, has vaulted Joe Biden from failure to finalist in the race for the Democratic nomination. Only a week ago, Biden’s campaign was deemed doomed to failure unless he could salvage his […]
Feb 21 2020 — L. Ian MacDonald — Policy Magazine — The quote of the week definitely goes to Justin Trudeau, delivered after the railway blockade forced cancellation of his Barbados visit. During special statements by leaders at midday on Tuesday, Trudeau observed that “Patience may be in short supply, and that makes it more valuable than ever.” Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer, calling the protesters “radical […]
Feb 15 2020 — L. Ian MacDonald — Policy Magazine — With John Baird standing down, that makes four first-tier candidates who’ve taken their names out of consideration before even entering the Conservative leadership race. “I’m incredibly grateful for all the support that Conservatives from across this great country have offered in the last few weeks,” Baird began in a three-part Twitter post Thursday evening, going […]
Jan 30 2020 — L. Ian MacDonald — Policy Magazine — It’s a matter of political convention that Canada’s prime minister be able to speak both English and French. Lester B. Pearson was the last unilingual prime minister, and that was two generations ago. It was in 1968 that Pearson handed the reins of office to his successor, the thoroughly bilingual, bicultural Pierre Trudeau. Every one […]
Jan 29 2020 — Lisa Van Dusen — Policy Magazine — In the old days — not the old days in Middle East terms, but the pre-post-truth old days when things were normal…like, 10 years ago — the Israeli-Palestinian stand-off was generally considered by invested observers to be a sort of holy prototype for conflict resolution. Its notorious intractability, epic and fine-print complications and the heartbreaking […]
Jan 22 2020 — Policy Magazine — Jean Charest acknowledged one problem with the prospect of running for leader of the Conservative Party more than two decades after leaving Ottawa to become Liberal leader and three-term premier of Quebec. “It takes time to reintroduce yourself,” Charest said Tuesday after announcing his decision not to run for the Tory leadership, 22 years after […]
Jan 6 2020 — Lisa Van Dusen — Policy Magazine — Of all the sectors, industries and cultural phenomena — from coal to oil to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors — that have benefited from Donald Trump’s unlikely presidency of the world’s flagship democratic superpower, ironic nostalgia may be the most unappreciated. In the same way that Trump’s impeachment has made us pine for the days when […]
Jan 5 2020 — Don Newman — Policy Magazine — Alberta and Ottawa at each other’s throats. Separatists winning votes in Quebec. Britain collapsing over Brexit. And the rolling cataclysm of Donald Trump’s presidency colliding with impeachment proceedings in the United States. The world’s going to hell in a handbasket, right? Don’t worry. We’ve seen it all before. Most of it, 30 or more years […]