President Donald Trump has been a strong supporter of the U.S. military since taking office. Yet there’s now some suggestion his public positions about the brave men and women in uniform are strikingly different than his private views. This controversy arose from The Atlantic’s editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg’s piece about the president’s planned visit to France’s Aisne-Marne…
Since the brutal killing of George Floyd in May, left-wing radicals have been vandalizing and destroying historical buildings, landmarks and statues around the world. U.S. presidents (George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson and Ulysses S. Grant), and Confederate soldiers and leaders (Robert E. Lee, Jefferson Davis, Charles Linn and J.E.B. Stuart) were targeted. Statues of…
O'Toole crafted a message that resonated with his audience. MacKay didn’t
The federal Conservatives have a new leader. Erin O’Toole is the right choice. A former Veteran Affairs minister, O’Toole defeated another former Tory cabinet minister, Peter MacKay, on the third ballot by 57.02 per cent to 42.98 per cent. It was an impressive win by O’Toole. The hard-working members of his team – including campaign…
The fine art of cooking and barbecuing has served as a distraction during COVID-19, and witnessed a surge of interest
When COVID-19 finally reaches a conclusion, it will be remembered for many things. It was a global pandemic that turned into a collective experience. Concepts such as the free market and capitalism struggled at times for survival, whereas left-wing theories like socialism and Marxism briefly captured the imagination of the young and disenchanted. Online shopping…
There’s no historical precedent for removing a governor general and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s hands are tied
In the midst of the WE Charity scandal, the news cycle is now dealing with what I like to call the “ME Charity case.” This refers to the growing controversy surrounding Julie Payette, the 29th governor general of Canada since Confederation. I, and a few other columnists and political commentators, thought she was a questionable…
And hiring a director of ethics won't do much to curb his natural tendencies
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will soon visit Canada’s ethics commissioner for the third time in five years. His ethical standards and lack of a moral code have been in question as the result of two previous controversies – visiting the Aga Khan’s private island and the SNC-Lavalin boondoggle. This new political controversy could be the…
“Lord, what fools these mortals be!” the mischievous Puck tells Oberon, king of the fairies, in William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. It’s one of the Bard’s most popular lines and can still be frequently used in modern society. Far too frequently, in fact. Here’s a prime example in the Great White North. A house…
He’s become the Rodney Dangerfield of Canadian politics: no respect at all
Picture this imaginary scene. In a dark corner of dank Rideau Cottage sits Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. He’s resting comfortably in an old armchair, thinking about his future – and what he might wear to his next costume party, one assumes. His political honeymoon ended what seems like several lifetimes ago. His role as a…
It really comes down to your comfort level, belief system and what you want to do until instructed otherwise
Toronto Mayor John Tory announced on June 30 that face masks would become mandatory inside enclosed public spaces in the city. This would include grocery stores, shops, malls and on public transit. Children under the age of two and people with medical conditions that make it difficult to wear a mask would be the only…
His plan is the most intelligent, detailed and realistic approach to beating the Liberals in the next federal election
The Conservative Party of Canada will choose a new leader next month. It’s been a difficult leadership campaign. A slew of potential candidates, including Rona Ambrose, Jean Charest and Pierre Poilievre, declined to run. Meanwhile, COVID-19 temporarily suspended campaigning and fundraising – and led to the cancellation of the June 27 party convention. Delegates will…
You’ll forgive me if we take a slight detour from politics this week. An important event in sports just occurred that requires some personal attention. On June 25, Liverpool Football Club broke a 30-year drought and clinched the English Premier League title. Yes, this winless streak pales in comparison to the Chicago Cubs (108-year drought)…
Police must thoroughly investigate the allegations now rocking the Conservative Party of Canada leadership race
In 1985, the late soul singer Aretha Franklin released her 13th studio album, Who’s Zoomin’ Who? The album did well on the charts (the title track went to number seven on the Billboard Hot 100), with significant crossover appeal due to collaborations with Annie Stewart (Eurythmics) and Peter Wolf (J. Giles Band). It became the…
Racism isn’t easy to discuss, but we shouldn’t shy away from it or we’ll never stop wounds from being inflicted
Is our society afraid to discuss the issue of racism? I don’t think it’s unreasonable to suggest most people would rather not broach this subject. It doesn’t constitute a pleasant conversation at the dinner table or coffee shop, and it can lead to tense moments with family members, friends and loved ones. But while racism…
Something is terribly wrong when Canada’s political parties start applying for a federal wage subsidy
Canada, like many other countries, has introduced emergency relief services to help individuals and businesses facing financial hardship during COVID-19. The overall cost will be enormous once everything is said and done. An interesting recent twist with the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy, however, is making some people wonder if our nation’s generosity is getting out…
Donald Trump wants to designate Antifa as a terrorist organization. But how will he do it and will it have any impact?
“The United States of America will be designating ANTIFA as a Terrorist Organization.” – @realDonaldTrump, May 31, 2020 With that tweet, U.S. President Donald Trump has started the process of changing the narrative about radical left-wing individuals, parties and groups in his country – and around the world. How he’s going to actually do it…