Some Canadians want to change some words of O Canada. “Our home and native land” would become “Our home on native land” The Prime Minister says it will be up to Canadians to decide. Well I vote “NO” to that change of wording. Why?  There are a few reasons: Canadians are renowned, it is said, […]

GG Goes GaGa: A Constitutional No No The British Monarch is Canada’s Head of State.  The Governor General (GG) of Canada is the representative of the British Head of State in Canada.  As such, the GG shares the same constitutional responsibilities as the British Monarch. The GG performs: However, the most important function of a […]

What’s going on with right wing conservatives is not pretty.  It’s downright ugly.  It’s bad for political discourse and it is of no help to governance. What leads a political movement to promote conspiracy theories, engage in uncivil disobedience, and offer simplistic populist solutions to complex problems? I invite you to assess the following. Let’s […]

Several jurisdictions in the United States are proposing to limit or are actually limiting the rights of people who self-identify as transsexual.  Explicit displays of trans identity (such as readings by drag queens) are the subject of criticism, protest and sometimes legislation.  Anti-trans feelings are present in Canada as well but the only legislation passed […]

I’m not religious, but I believe that people should be allowed to believe and practise their religion so long as it doesn’t interfere with the rights of peace and quiet enjoyment of the lives of others who believe differently.  I am disturbed by the rise of religious discrimination, if not bigotry, in the Province of […]

If you wish to enjoy reading this, you probably need to accept the following propositions: For political leaders, the fate of 24 Sussex is the political equivalent of a dumpster fire or a septic tank eruption.  Political leaders fear the negative reaction of the public to creating a residence for themselves.  I would have hoped […]

Incremental Deconstruction of the Monarchy “Do nothing by halves Which can be done by quarters.“ FR. Scott: WLMK Many countries have removed their monarch in the last century or so: China, Egypt, Germany, Greece, Iran, Italy, and Russia – to name a few.  Most replacements have been non-violent, breaking with the tradition of the century […]

One might note that Canada’s new Special Representative on Combatting Islamophobia, Amira Elghawaby, appears to stew in some of her own phobias. Here I am describing phobias as more than irrational, uncontrollable and persistent fears about some object or group.  I am thinking more broadly of interpretations of history designed to denigrate the legitimacy of […]

Two criminal cases prompt this article, one in the United States, the other in Canada. Both cases have elements in common, including criminal aspects. But here I ask you consider the challenges by the respective lawyers that a fair trial cannot take place in the city where the crime took place.  Press reporting does not […]

This was originally handwritten 51 years ago, as a Christmas offering to a friend who wanted a gift ‘made’, not bought.  The original typed copy is too faded to reproduce, so it is retyped here preserving as much of the formatting as could be transferred from Smith Corona to Calibri.