Steve, Admit It, You’re Just Not that Into Parliament Anymore

Dear Stephen Harper,

Long time listener; first time caller.

First, let me commend you for nearly 10 years as Prime Minister of Canada. You were right, it’s not an easy job, and while we didn’t always agree, I nevertheless admire someone – anyone – that stands for public office. You become fair game for personal attack no matter what you do, justified and unjustified, and not to put too fine a point on it, there were a lot of people there at the end rooting for you to fail. Still, you persevered. You created the Canada you wanted, got a consensus to follow, and that’s never easy. Ya did good, kid!

Having said that, it’s okay if you don’t want to hang out on Parliament Hill anymore, and honestly, it really seems like you don’t want to. Continue reading “Steve, Admit It, You’re Just Not that Into Parliament Anymore” →

The Complete Text of the Speech from the Throne

At about the length of a high school essay and only 15 minutes long in the reading, the first Speech from the Throne of the government under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was short, sweet, and to the point. Now, if you like, you can read the whole thing for yourself here. Continue reading “The Complete Text of the Speech from the Throne” →

Open Sources Show Notes for Thursday December 3, 2015

In the shadow of several gunmen, and an all-important worldwide conference to take on what maybe the greatest pending disaster in human history, Open Sources Guelph kicks off this week with a talk about medical marijuana. It’s a serious issue, perhaps not as serious as the other two, but important consider that as the Federal government looks to legalize pot, an entire industry now sits in a kind of legal no man’s land: waiting for legalization, but still, for the moment, illegal. A special guest will help us out with these implications, and then we’ll talk about the week’s big issues. Continue reading “Open Sources Show Notes for Thursday December 3, 2015” →

Open Sources Show Notes for Thursday November 26, 2015

Almost two weeks after the attacks in Paris, things seem to be unraveling all the more in terms of the world’s tenuous geopolitical situation. This week on Open Sources Guelph, we’ll do our small part to offer insight and analysis on these perilous circumstances, and the consequences of the ongoing war, like refugees. Meanwhile in Canada, the domestic picture is not so rosy with money issues and the return of a name whom in no small way had a huge impact on the outcome of the election. Continue reading “Open Sources Show Notes for Thursday November 26, 2015” →

Open Sources Show Notes for Thursday November 19, 2015

In a strange turn of fate, the year on Open Sources Guelph began with an attack on Paris, and as the year winds down, Paris has come under attack again. As the news has buckled under the weight of changing developments, we will also take a look at two homegrown developments, whether a serial killer has the right to sell awful conspiracy/spy fiction, and the struggle for the Royal City to balance the books once again. Continue reading “Open Sources Show Notes for Thursday November 19, 2015” →

Trudeau Makes Public Marching Orders to Ministers

As part of the move to openness, transparency, and all that stuff, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau released the mandate letters he gave to each member of his cabinet. What’s the big deal? The letter offers insight into what Trudeau wants and expects his executive to do over the course of this four year mandate, in terms of both the general tone of his government, and in terms of the specific goals for their ministries. So what does PM23 have in mind from now till 2019? Continue reading “Trudeau Makes Public Marching Orders to Ministers” →

Open Sources Show Notes for Thursday November 12, 2015

The honeymoon’s over this week on Open Sources Guelph. A little more than a week into the Trudeau-rific era, and Canada’s getting hosed by the TPP, approving the dumping of sewage into our favourite river, and what’s this we hear about the budget being in deficit before Justin Trudeau puts it into deficit? Yeah, it’s pretty rough out there, but not as rough as some people. Suicide rates are increasing amongst middle-aged white men, while in the United States, a middle-aged black man is killing his chances to become president with some creative re-writting of his biography. Continue reading “Open Sources Show Notes for Thursday November 12, 2015” →