Radical right-wing extremists are elected under first-past-the-post. Huh. You’ve probably heard this: proportional representation will elect more far-right extremists, white supremacists, sexists and general bad guys. It’s the No-to-pro-rep side’s favourite (only?) argument. They cite recent examples of Poland, Hungary and Austria to prove their claims. Part of this is true. Poland, Hungary and Austria […]
There is one simple way to make politics better: elect more women. Look at these people: To me, with the exception of Christy Clark, B.C.’s former premiers all look the same. None of them look like me — they don’t reflect more than half of B.C.’s population. Not enough has changed since the “founding fathers.” […]
Minister’s favour to family member raises questions about lucrative DFO contract Justin Trudeau’s greatest feat to date may be his rehabilitation of the Liberal Party brand. Gone is the grubby clique of old-money frat boys, robbing the Canadian taxpayer to line the pockets of their friends and political donors. Hello, hope and change. But the […]
Trudeau’s broken promises loom large in federal court decision Last month’s Federal Court of Appeal ruling dealt a crushing blow to the Trans Mountain pipeline and tanker expansion. The decision was a huge victory for the First Nations — in particular, the Tsleil-Waututh, Squamish, Sto:lo (Aitchelitz, Skowkale Shxwa:y Village, Soowahlie, Squiala, Tzeachten, Yakweakwioose, Skwah, Kwaw-Kwaw-Aplit […]
Why lying politicians love first-past-the-post Court rulings have a funny way of cutting through political talking points. Last week the Federal Court of Appeal made it clear: Justin Trudeau was bullshitting all along. His government did not honourably or adequately consult B.C. First Nations, and it approved a major oil tanker project without considering the […]
Thousands cheer online for activists to be murdered. How long before someone takes it literally? “Next time just cut the cables,” wrote 67-year old John Les on Facebook. He was reacting to a CBC News video of police arresting Greenpeace activists dangling from the Ironworkers Memorial Bridge. It’s tempting to dismiss Les as an old […]
Administrators hold a “forest fire” drill. Students say the real threat is giant tanks of crude oil. Officials at Simon Fraser University held a mock forest fire drill on Tuesday, testing the University’s capacity to react to an out-of-control blaze on the forested slopes of Burnaby Mountain. “Everybody knows what this is about,” said SFU […]
A geographic rift is emerging between two competing visions for the future. They can’t both win. The fight between B.C. and Alberta over the Trans Mountain oil tanker project may seem unique to Canada’s confederation. It’s not. Across North America, coastal cities bracing for a century of climate chaos are finding themselves at odds with […]
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