News and Politics with a Local Voice
In an unusual 9-0 decision, especially considering the contentious social issue at stake, the Supreme Court of Canada opened the doors to doctor assisted death today. Canadians, according to the court, have the right to seek out a doctor’s help to let them die when facing clearly defined criteria, and they’ve given a year to the federal and provincial governments to sort out the legal implications. Continue reading “SCOC Unanimously Endorses Doctor Assisted Death”
This is from Thursdays Guelph Tribune:
What do you think, spot on or maybe Canadians should be more afraid?
It’s been a tough year for both Member of Parliament Rob Anders and the Wildrose Party of Alberta. Both suffered setbacks in 2014, bright political futures ruined by the slings and arrows of fate and fortune. You may say that given the circumstances, Anders and Wildrose were made for each other, but just as Anders announced that he was mulling a bid for the leadership of Wildrose, a party official has told the press that, sadly, the timing doesn’t work. Continue reading “Rob Anders Shut Out Again”
In the wake of last week’s attack on Charlie Hebdo, many have had their faith in a free press renewed, once again seeing and understanding its value. The media gets beat up a lot, and sometimes it’s justifiable, but the existence of a free press is essential to democracy. As Thomas Jefferson once said, in one of his many Bartlett’s contributions to the topic of press freedom, “Our liberty depends on the freedom of the press, and that cannot be limited without being lost.”
Prime Minister Stephen Harper wasn’t quite that florid last week when he spoke about the Charlie Hebdo attack at a media event in Vancouver, but clearly in the wake of the tragedy, he and Jefferson were of one mind. “When a trio of hooded men struck at some of our most cherished democratic principles, freedom of expression, freedom of the press, they assaulted democracy everywhere,” Harper said.
I agree with Mr. Harper, which is a rarity. But here’s the thing: Harper doesn’t agree with Harper. Does a man who tightly controls the message of his government to the point of stopping scientists from talking about science without written permission sound like a man who cherishes freedom of expression? Is a prime minister whose cabinet is full of people who actively avoid reporters and debates on the campaign trail a person that believes in freedom of the press? Continue reading “EDITORIAL – Harper Should Take Own Advice About the Press”
In a surprise New Year’s announcement, embattled Veterans Affairs Minister Julian Fantino found himself demoted to associate minister for National Defence while Durham MP Erin O’Toole will try to salvage Fantino’s old post as the Federal government aims to get itself on its best footing for an election year. A quick ceremony at Rideau Hall this morning installed O’Toole as Fantino’s successor, while the much embattled MP of Vaughan returns to a post he held shortly after his first election in 2010, as Prime Minister Stephen Harper tries to correct mistakes made with the Veterans Affairs portfolio last year. Continue reading “Fantino Out, O’Toole In, As Harper Shuffles Cabinet Pre-Election”
Open Sources Guelph 