These days, people who use the media as a tool, be it a politician, celebrity or anyone in general, can easily provide fodder that is offensive to individuals or groups in society. Therefore, it was no surprise when ads on subways and train stations around the world by agnostic and atheist societies began to evoke huge reactions of overblown outrage.

One of the more popular slogans (sic) is “There is probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life.” The statement did not actually argue that there is no God but rather pushes the remoteness or the limited possibility that there is a God. Most religious-practicing people probably read “There is NO God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life.”
(more…)

Without disputing its cause or causes, impact or impacts, solution or solutions, most governments around the world have got climate change popping on their agenda all the time. Our energy has been invested in diverse ways to find possibilities of reducing carbon dioxide emissions. We’ve explored measures ranging from simple, “easy-to-do” home based stuffs like: “turn off”; to large scale, complex scientific experiments such as adding iron to the ocean, in what is known as: “ocean fertilization”.
(more…)

In a stunning move this week, Jack Layton, slammed the government over a leaked memo that revealed the government’s interest in cutting the number of environmental impact reviews it conducts. The leader of the New Democrat Party, “Uncle” Jack Layton, said it spoke of the government sacrificing the environment for the economy. Perhaps even more stunning was Layton’s suggestion that the opposite of a green economic recovery was a “brown” one.

Until now, political leaders in Canada have traditionally abstained from weighing in on opposite-colour contraversies. The last time it had happened was in 1967 when Lester B Pearson suggested the opposite of burgundy was magenta; a move which grew widespread protest from members of the PWFCIM (People Who’s Favourite Colour Is Magenta) who claimed Pearson’s assertion was reckless and inaccurate. That was a different time however, and Layton’s modern-day assertion is drawing its share of supporters, as well as speculation that “brown” may actually enter the books as the colour of anything un-eco friendly. This comes much to the dismay of the PWFCIB (People Who’s Favourite Colour Is Brown), who lament that the colour brown has been through enough denigration already, having previously been stigmatized as the colour of ‘poop’.
(more…)

As a teenager, I took a trip with my family to England to visit my relatives there. One day my Dad and I were out for a walk when we came across a large building with and intriguing sign on the front and so we went it. Once inside, we discovered a large complex devoted to sports and recreation. This building consisted of soccer fields, tennis courts, a baseball cage, a recreational area and much more. While there, we joined in a game of soccer with some local kids. When we finished I felt tired, but exhilarated. It was so refreshing to be able to participate in an impromptu game of soccer without the need to sign any registration forms, buy equipment or play in a street somewhere. That experience became a highlight of my trip and is an issue that I have come to think about many times.

Some may ask themselves whether concentrating on such a minute matter, such as child activity, is really necessary given the bigger and more influential problems we face today. However, I would argue that devoting more time and attention to our local communities is as important as it has ever been. Any measure that can be seen to strengthen our communities will have positive repercussions in a number of ways and what better place to start then the new generation of future leaders, our children.
(more…)

Part 1: Pure Laine & King Danny: first impressions of an Albertan CFA in Newfoundland and Labrador.


Newfoundlanders call newcomers to the province Come From Aways (or CFAs). I’ve been a CFA now for about six months since arriving here for Grad school from Alberta. Before getting here I’d heard in the news of premier Danny Williams’ various attacks on the Harper government for this affront or that, and I’d seen enough CBC television to have a picture of St. John’s and its colourful row houses (painted for years with lead paint which is now wrecking havoc with local soil quality) perched on jagged rocks. It wasn’t much of an impression sure, but about as good of one as one might hope spending the past 25 years between Alberta, Quebec and abroad–all places where Newfoundland and Labrador is the last thing on anyone’s mind (with the exception of importing Newfoundlanders for work in the Alberta Oil Patch, but that awareness doesn’t stem from any sensitivity to Newfoundland and Labrador, it is merely a resource worth exploiting).
(more…)

Every democratic nation has its own version of the story: a competent, admired citizen decides to run for high public office, originally with much excitement about their candidacy, only to fail to live up to the billing. Canada has had a few. Names like Robert Stanfield, Joe Clark and John Turner come to mind. However, we now have the absolute perfect example. For some reason I don’t fully understand, expectations were immensely high for John Tory, and he did not come within a mile of meeting them.

While having immense success in the private sector (bringing about the Rogers monopoly of communications), nearly everything he touched in the public sphere withered and died. After spending much of the 1980’s working in the offices of Ontario Premier Bill Davis and Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, Tory had gained credence in the old Progressive Conservative Party. He was given the task of directing the 1993 reelection campaign for Prime Minister Kim Campbell. Now, granted, I doubt anyone could have saved the PC’s that year. But Tory ruined any slim chance they may have had. Tory was the one who approved the much-criticized ad making fun of Jean Chretien’s facial impairment. With his first crack at taking a lead in politics, John Tory achieved a world record: he was the campaign head for the largest electoral earthquake in democratic history. No incumbent government in any democratic nation has been crushed as much as the ’93 PCs. That was strike one. With that notorious mark on his record, Tory returned to the private sector for a decade, serving as CEO of Rogers and the Commissioner of the Canadian Football League.
(more…)

Back in junior high school, I had a math tutor that would spend our sessions asking me the hardest questions he had in his textbook, but would never do any math himself. Eventually, I asked him flat-out to solve one of the many near impossible questions he had given me and he quickly changed the subject. For the remaining time he was my tutor, I spent my time thinking that he couldn’t answer the questions he was being paid to answer.

That’s how I felt about Gary Goodyear this past week.
(more…)

I was reading the newspaper the other day when I saw the comments made by some thoughtless Americans on the fox program Red Eye regarding the Canadian armed forces. Like most of you, I was outraged and completely appalled by the lack of respect shown by our American neighbours. So many questions went through my mind I couldn’t keep track of my thoughts. (And to be fair, it is FOX news, so let’s all keep this in perspective).

Are the Americans jealous? With all the corruption and financial failure in America today, who wouldn’t be envious of Canadians- we have universal health care, lower crime rates, a steadier banking system. Those could all be reasons for jealousy. Or maybe he truly is ignorant to the sacrifices Canadians have been making oversees. I mean, do you really expect American journalists to report on anything that doesn’t affect Americans? Please. Besides, Americans haven’t had any bit of real journalism in so long their opinions are baseless and without merit.
(more…)

When do we get our stimulus, Mr. Harper? I believe the answer is: April 1
with portions being small and not too filling.

As Stephen Harper continues his good time feel good campaign of showing up at barely functional industrial plants to inform the Canadian public that it’s not as bad as it looks. The rest of us…. and I mean the rest of the Canadian public is wondering:so where is our great initiative?

Mr. Harper’s rosy outlook, odd in comparison to the south of the border Obama : “hold on to the wife and kids… it’s gonna get very bad approach”, begs the question: what’s our elected bodies doing?
(more…)

The Ottawa City Council has approved the Freethought Association of Canada’s Atheist Bus Campaign, which will see city buses advertise the following message: “There is probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life.”

Freedom of speech is considered a cornerstone of Canadian liberty. Free speech concerns one’s ability to have their opinions voiced in a public space. Advertisements in whatever medium, is probably the most effective way of injecting opinion into the public forum. The fact that this approval has caused controversy is, in itself, surprising, given the fact that one has the right to voice their opinion in a public forum. It is also surprising to see the way in which this right to free speech and availability of advertising has reduced a complex issue to simplified and dismissive slogans.
(more…)