Canada
Sarah Palin’s Canadian Health Care Link Has Critics Sick by Vancouver Sun
A weekend admission by former Alaskan governor and U.S. vice-presidential hopeful Sarah Palin over her family’s use of the Canadian health care system while growing up in Alaska has critics of the outspoken hockey mom crying foul online.
Olympics can't mask country's human rights record on indigenous peoples by Martin Lukacs
The opening ceremonies at the Vancouver Winter Olympiad were flush with aboriginal motifs: hundreds of costumed indigenous dancers, giant illuminated Salish house poles, and the broad smiles of representatives from the "Four Host First Nations."
Canadian media sits on juicy murder story by Dave Markland
Here's a rather revealing item which got almost no mention in the Canadian press. A cousin of Hamid Karzai kills another cousin of Hamid Karzai in an honour killing. It appears that the killer, Hashmat Karzai, had the support of Hamid and his brothers, one of whom, Ahmed Wali Karzai, is the recognized head of the Karzai clan and the de facto governor of Kandahar -- and drug kingpin and CIA informant. Police investigation seems to be blocked, likely due to Wali's influence.
Protecting Canada's democracy by Alice Klein
It always made me yawn when Olympics boosters claimed the Winter Games would be a defining moment for Canada. How foolish of me. They were so right.
Stephen Harper's cynical decision to use this stunning international showcase to impose an entirely alien despotism on Canada's long tradition of democracy is truly a potential turning point.
Canada’s Rogue Conservatives Prorogue Parliament by Michael Werbowski
This is the second time the ruling party wants to shut down democracy
Stephen Harper and the Conservatives: A year in review
It's been an interesting year for Harper and co. ever since he weaseled his way out of falling to a coalition government.
Canada's TV Hypocrites and Cable Oligopolists, The Sequel by Blake Lambert
Back in October, I wrote about the disgusting advertising campaign dominating commercial television in Canada. Television stations beseeched viewers to save their channels from the rapacious cable companies. The cable companies blamed the greedy television stations for desiring a bailout tax, threatening to inflate the monthly bill of consumers.
Canada's lost decade by James Laxer
Canadians headed confidently into the new millennium, but they are limping out of its first decade uncertain about the future and what their country stands for.
Canada's image problem by Murray Dobson
It was really just a matter of time. The deep well of affection and respect around the world that Canada has drawn on for decades has been slowly poisoned by the Harper government (and the Liberals immediately before it) and the world is now taking serious notice. In the words of the famous Yes Men (who pulled off the brilliant hoax in Copenhagen): "We've always kind of grown up looking up to Canada...
How religion influences Canadian politics
Although he doesn't say it as frequently as he once did, when speechifying for something he deems profoundly patriotic, Stephen Harper concludes his speeches with "God bless Canada".
That phrase seems oddly out of place and anachronistic in Canadian politics, even though there is no formal separation between church and state. Indeed, we think that publicly declaring one's religious affiliation is the kiss of death when running for elected office.
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