Making molehills out of mountains
Pity the poor pundits this ridiculously long election season. The election-industrial complex has never revved this hot for so long, and some of its practitioners are starting to show the...
Time to move beyond "tough on crime" rhetoric
Not since Governor Michael Dukakis’ 1988 presidential bid was derailed by attack ads about the dangerous inmate Willie Horton being released into the community has any well-briefed politician dared not...
The fight for universal child care
My grandmother used to tell me that "nothing worth doing ever comes easy." Well, a national, quality, affordable child care program is unquestionably worth doing. And come easy it won't....
Labour market policy is about more than unemployment
When we talk about jobs during the current election campaign, we should be concerned about both the short term and the next few years. We badly need to create jobs...
Two takes on Stephen Harper
Globe and Mail journalist John Ibbitson's new book, Stephen Harper, is well-written and certainly worth reading in the run-up to the federal election. While there are no major new revelations (most...
Stephen Harper's abhorrent record on refugees and immigration
Stephen Harper’s Conservatives took power in 2006. For some 30 years prior, Canada’s immigration system was consistently viewed as of the most welcoming and generous in the world. Although not...
On inequality, wages and bargaining power matter
The current federal election is being fought against a backdrop of deepening inequality and the social problems that accompany it. Promises to “make things better” will no doubt be uttered throughout...
The great shrinkage: Fiscal capacity under Stephen Harper
Prime Minister Stephen Harper's economic record since taking office in 2006 is at the centre of debate in the current federal election campaign. Arguably his signature achievement is to have...
The unsung merits of supply management
You’d think that milk in Canada was coloured red considering the debate about our dairy industry. The way we manage our milk supply is being scrutinized by our trading partners...
Building a national child care program
It is pretty clear that in the often fractious environment of Canadian federalism, Canadians do better when multi-levels of government and political parties work together to put people’s well-being first....
