June 30th, 2010 | Published in Blog, Canada150, On Canada
Canada is commemorating its 143rd birthday this July 1st. This is an important milestone that is worthy of celebration, not just because we are about to enjoy a long weekend, but also as an opportunity to reflect and contemplate.
As someone who was born outside of Canada, I have a unique appreciation for what it offers [...]
May 18th, 2010 | Published in Blog, On Canada, On Economy
Last year, when the economic recovery was at its earlier uncertain stages, I was discussing economic policies with a friend of mine. During the conversation, we discussed whether economic indicators are the most important measures to evaluate the progress of any country. He reminded me that “quality of life” indicators are more important than just [...]
Click here to read more.January 11th, 2010 | Published in Blog, Canada150, Mississauga, On Canada, On Politics
While some politicians may think shutting down Parliament is the most convenient way to deal with the challenges and opportunities facing our country by evading them, others are standing up for democracy and choosing to have an unfiltered and unscripted conversation with Canadians (particularly youth) about their ideas.
Michael Ignatieff is touring the country visiting different [...]
January 5th, 2010 | Published in Blog, On Canada, On Politics
Below is the full text of Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff opinion piece, running in Canadian papers .
The first duty of leaders in a democratic society like ours is to respect the institutions that put constraints on their power.
Messy. Inconvenient. Frustrating. Democracy is all those things. But as Churchill said, it is better than the [...]
January 3rd, 2010 | Published in Blog, On Canada, On Politics
Most of us have heard by now that Stephen Harper has suspended (prorogued) Parliament until March. Most Canadians have reacted negatively to this cynical and undemocratic move.
This gives us an opportunity to reflect on the role of Parliament in our democracy. Some may think that Parliament is a theatre of political posturing and does little [...]
November 16th, 2009 | Published in Blog, On Canada, On Immigration
The government released a new citizenship guide for new Canadians. The booklet is meant to offer new citizens an introduction to Canada’s history and identity.
Unmistakably, this guide is a political attempt at capturing the definition of the Canadian identity. It dedicates a lot of space to promote certain values and chooses to conspicuously omit others.
There [...]
