Impolitical: On academic freedom
Jim Balsillie has an op-ed in the Globe today in the wake of the rejection by York University of a major investment by him of about $30 million that was to be matched by the province: “Academic freedom...
View ArticlePolitics and its Discontents: The Price of Plualism
There is a price for the privilege of living in a pluralistic society, and that cost, which the majority of people willing pay, is tolerance for the views and beliefs of others. Tolerance, while not...
View ArticlePolitics and its Discontents: When Parents Get The Upper Hand in Education
Yesterday I wrote a post about the Hamilton parent suing the school board for its refusal to notify him when a range of topics objectionable to his beliefs was being covered in the classrooom. His...
View ArticleDemocracy Under Fire: Maintaining Trust and Engagement in Canadian Elections
Extracts from a Speech of the Chief Electoral Officer of Canada at the the Economic Club of Canada on September 25, 2012 (my bold) According to any international democracy index you look at, Canada’s...
View ArticleThe Progressive Economics Forum: Globe and Mail on higher education in Canada
The Globe and Mail has just launched an in-depth feature on higher education in Canada, an installment of their Our Time to Lead series. For a couple of weeks, you can expect to see increased coverage...
View ArticleDemocracy Under Fire: Democracy, the Charter and Ontario Teachers
Here in Ontario there is currently a 'dispute' between the teachers and the government as to what the teachers unions want and what the taxpayers can afford, the government has passed legislation...
View ArticleDemocracy Under Fire: Oh Canada!
Many years ago I stood proudly with other newcomers to Canada and became a Canadian Citizen, of late I have not been so proud to be Canadian. The Canada that I became part of was, I thought, an open...
View ArticlePolitics and its Discontents: Noam Chomsky Reflects on Contemporary Education
Despite the fact that it was fraught with a marking load I would not wish on anyone, my career as an English teacher offered many satisfactions, not the least of which was the opportunity to explore...
View ArticleDemocracy Under Fire: Democracy ‘Satisfaction’ dropped 20%
Its been a while since I gave Samara the democracy measurement folks a plug but a recent visit to their web site encouraged me to have another look around and you should too. Their most recent report...
View ArticleAlberta Diary: Alberta Health Services trimmers toss out a couple of...
Alberta Health Services Board Chair Stephen Lockwood demonstrates how to trim a provincial health care budget. Actual AHS board members may not be exactly as illustrated. Below: The real Mr. Lockwood...
View ArticleDead Wild Roses: Anti-Intellectualism in America
Browsing my news feed I found this piece and decided it was scary enough to share with everyone. I think I’d like to read Papantonio’s book and see what she has to say. Here is a radio dealing with...
View ArticleAlberta Diary: Got trouble with ‘overbearing urban planners’? The Manning...
A civic election all-candidates’ meeting in Calgary. “Why don’t we pass the time with a game of solitaire?” Actual Manning Centre supported candidates may not appear exactly as illustrated. Below:...
View ArticleDemocracy Under Fire: Voting for a New Voting System.
Of late there seems to be an increased interest in bringing forward a new way of electing our ‘representatives’ in the House of Commons no doubt brought on by the possibility of the Harper regime...
View ArticleDemocracy Under Fire: Silence of the Labs
Silence of the Labs is the title given to the Fifth Estate presentation coming up on CBC this Friday which anyone concerned with the future of Canadian scientific research, indeed the very future of...
View ArticleDemocracy Under Fire: Ontario Election = Identification & Vouching
With all the publicity around the Federal ‘Fair’ Elections Act and the issue of vouching it is important to know that for the Ontario Provincial Election VOUCHING IS NOT PERMITTED. You must have proper...
View ArticleTHE CANADIAN PROGRESSIVE: Public Education: School to Prison Pipeline (VIDEO)
To end the violence in Baltimore there must be radical reform of public education and the criminal justice system – a panel moderated by radio talk show host Marc Steiner The post Public Education:...
View ArticleDemocracy Under Fire: Electoral Reform – Voting Systems
I have said that simply calling for PR (Proportional Voting) is not sufficient but that we must understand the various systems that are generally promoted as ‘proportional’, and the alternatives. I...
View ArticleDemocracy Under Fire: Canada’s Flag is 50 on Sunday
In 1964, Liberal Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson formed a committee to resolve the issue, sparking a serious debate about a flag change. Out of three choices, the maple leaf design by George...
View ArticlePolitics and its Discontents: A Worrisome Trend
Thursday’s post lamented the fact that opinion and personal beliefs are increasingly being regarded as legitimate challenges to facts. As was noted, accepting the facts of evolution and climate change...
View ArticleDemocracy Under Fire: BGOS Greens AGM
The following is presented as a service to my local Greens The Annual General Meeting of the Bruce-Grey Owen Sound Green Party of Canada Electoral District Association will be held Thursday, May 21,...
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