honeybadgerpress.ca

Canada Doesn’t Need Saudi Arabia

As published in the Victoria Standard: January 1, 2019.

I last wrote about Saudi Arabia back in August when the Trudeau government demanded the release of human rights organizers held by Saudi authorities. At the recent G20 meetings in Argentina, Foreign Minister Crystia Freeland repeated these demands and also announced sanctions against 17 Saudis suspected of involvement in the 2018 Istanbul murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. The 17 are barred from entering Canada and their Canadian assets have been frozen.

Liberals Impose Conservative Carbon Tax

As published in the Victoria Standard: November 21, 2018.

In spite of provincial resistance, Trudeau’s carbon tax takes effect on January 1, 2019. Finally, Canada’s government has taken a serious step towards someday reversing the negative effects of human-caused climate change. The United Nation’s intergovernmental panel on climate change recently emphasized the need for drastic action to reduce carbon pollution.

Bailing-out Trudeau’s Bail-in Regime

As published by the Victoria Standard: October 24, 2018.

The Liberal government recently announced a “bail-in regime” to protect Canada’s banking system from disasters like the 2008-2010 global financial crisis. Under the new plan, banks will supposedly rescue themselves rather than receive U.S.-style public bail-outs. Canada’s banks did not save themselves in that crisis and are unlikely to do so in the future.

Frum Poor Choice as Bannon Opponent in Munk Debate

As published in the Toronto Star: November 5, 2018.

Expatriate Canadian Conservative commentator David Frum was a poor choice as Steve Bannon’s opponent in the recent Munk Debate. Frum long ago diminished his relevance to Canadians by moving to the United States and advocating for neo-conservative ideology and permanent war.

Helping Ideas Triumph over the Power of Money

As published by the Ottawa Sun and 13th Forward: October 2, 2018.

Whatever your political or ideological beliefs may be, please vote in this October’s municipal election. In fact, I’ll turn a cliché on its head for indifferent voters: I don’t want the government you deserve.

Canada without NAFTA

As published in the Victoria Standard: September 17, 2018.

Canada doesn’t need NAFTA, especially a deal negotiated with a U.S. president who can’t be trusted to act responsibly. The notion that Canada is somehow capable of abusing or taking trade liberties with the United States is beyond ridiculous.

Trump’s Punitive Peace Process - Palestinians Pressured to Accept Israeli Terms
(Palestine Absorbed into Israel “Piece by Piece”)

In an arrogant bid to force the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) to resume peace talks, the Trump government has revoked visas for the Palestinian envoy to the United States, shut the PLO General Delegation Office in Washington and froze all PLO bank accounts. This is a classic example of the ancient maxim, “the powerful do as they please and fairness applies only between those equal in power.”

Harper Defines anti-Semitism by Assumption

As published in the Hill Times: Sept. 12, 2018 & the Ottawa Sun: Sept. 13, 2018.

Canadian Rebuke to Saudi Arabia Long Overdue

As published in the Victoria Standard: August 29, 2018.

After decades of quietly tolerating Saudi Arabia’s ugly human rights record, Canada recently objected by Twitter, sharply annoying both the regime and those who deal profitably with the oil-rich kingdom.

Ford’s Cone of Climate Silence

As published in the Ottawa Citizen: September 1, 2018.

Like Stephen Harper and Donald Trump, Doug Ford has chosen to silence government scientists who might shed light on climate change. Were these researchers to deny the human role in catastrophic weather events; Ford would spare no effort to broadcast their findings. Unfortunately, he and his advisors can depend on the following information.