Is Canada’s Net Neutrality in Danger?

 Late last year, regulations protecting net neutrality in the U.S. were eliminated, causing a controversy to erupted in that country over the matter. Many large tech companies such as Google and Facebook joined a segment of the population in voicing their opposition to the policy’s repeal. The scale of the

Are Canadian taxpayers getting value for money from their Members of Parliament?

 In this day and age, where we seem to measure, count and emphasize the all mighty dollar, it seems to me that Canadians should ask themselves if they are getting value for money from their members of parliament.  When you consider the fact that a member of parliament receives an

Why We Need Infrastructure Spending Now 

 In April of this year the Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, announced new investments in infrastructure totalling over $120-billion over the next ten years, including $60-billion in new money slated for public transit, green and social infrastructure. This is following up on a Liberal promise to dedicate

Why Private Health Insurance Coverage in Canada Needs a Review

 Last week, the media carried a story about a nine-year-old boy in New Brunswick who was denied private health coverage because of his weight (at 5 foot 2 inches and 135 pounds).  His family were shocked – as were many reading the story – that a child could be denied

One Nation Under Gord

 Photos by Andre Gagne. “Thanks for listening in the back. Thanks for listening, period. Have a nice life.” -Gord Downie There are moments in time that unify a people, memories that become the history we look back on remembering where we were, what we were doing, who we were with.

Sleeman #RailsideReps are Living the Dream

 Many Canadians dream about going on a cross-country tour by rail. Leaning back against a comfy seat and watching lakes, rivers and, eventually, mountains pass by while the nostalgic clank of the rails rattles beneath you sounds like a great way to see the country. But even in their wildest

The Last Chapter: Death on Your Own Terms

 A Supreme Court judgment now permits some Canadians to approach death on their own terms. Who should those Canadians be? An essay by Catherine Frazee For some of us, the book of life will close abruptly. A sudden pop or crunch or snap, and we’ll be gone. Perhaps some body

Four Amazing Canadians that Make us Proud

 Not all symbols of national greatness come in the form of the tallest skyscraper, a country's economic standing or its position in global rankings. Sometimes national greatness is achieved by something as small as one individual. Canada has many reasons to be proud of its celebrities, and here are just a few

Becoming an Aging Society: Opportunities and Challenges

 Saint Paul University is interested in issues and conditions that affect the way humans live, relate and make meaning. As a centre of higher learning, it promotes excellence in teaching, research, and professional formation as part of the local, national and international academic community. It also collaborates with diverse faith

Canadian Commissionaires Go Beyond Security

 You probably see a Commissionaire or two every day. You may even spot one when you’re travelling through an airport. They stand out with their white or blue crisp button down-shirts, sweaters and epaulettes, and you may notice that some are wearing military medals too. That’s because Commissionaires are primarily

Rising Rates of Kidney Failure Signal Need for Public Health Strategy

 As many as 40 thousand people in Canada are affected by kidney failure – a problem that is increasing across the country, with significant consequences for our health system.   A report released this month from the Manitoba Centre for Health Policy projects an increase of 68 per cent in

Five Things We Know about Economic Inequality – and Why We Need to Act

 Certain segments of society encounter persistent disadvantages and lack of opportunity across the country.  This can affect everything from health outcomes of individuals and entire communities to social cohesion. It can also impact the economic growth of the country and the social mobility of Canadians. However, the extent of inequality

Three Things the Federal Government Can Do to Improve the Registered Disability Savings Plan

 Many of us in the disability community were pleasantly surprised when the Liberal party promised to create a National Disabilities Act that would safeguard disability rights, reduce systemic barriers and establish a foundation of opportunity for those affected by disability.  Canada is an outlier among developed nations for not having

Shaw Creating Turbulence in Canadian Telecom by Acquiring Wind Mobile Corp.

 What Happened? Shaw Communications Inc. announces a $1.6 billion (Enterprise Value) acquisition of Wind Mobile Corp., a privately held wireless carrier with subscribers and infrastructure in Ontario, Alberta & British Columbia. Wind has earned expected revenue of $485 million in 2015, implying Shaw is paying a multiple of 3.3x estimated revenue. With this

The Seventy-Fifth Anniversary of Facing the “Flying Peril”

 In 1934, two decades after the outbreak of the First World War and five years before the onset of the Second, a prescient former British soldier and politician named Winston Churchill spoke about the threat posed to England by air warfare. Churchill remarked that, “The flying peril is not a

Change

 Photo courtesy of Jean-Marc Carisse. Voters Decided It Was Sunny Ways Rather Than Rainbows and Unicorns Ten years is a long time for any government to be in power. Stephen Harper led Canada through some tumultuous times. He deserves a great deal of credit for guiding Canada through the 2008

Are you Getting Enough Vitamin D?

 As our Canadian cold weather trickles in and the days become shorter, getting your daily dose of sunlight can become a challenge. While curling up at home with your favourite blanket all winter might sound like a great idea, it can also hurt your vitamin D intake. Many Canadians are

Citizenship Week Event Engages Youth

 Photo courtesy of Ryan Parent How much do you know about Canada? Historica Canada has celebrated Citizenship Week by engaging youth from across Canada. The event assembled 82 students and encouraged them to reflect on Canada’s history and identity. Guest speaker Charlotte Gray. Image courtesy of Ryan Parent. Taking place

Acupuncture to Enhance Anti-depressant Medication: Feel Better Faster

 Depression and chronic low mood are very prevalent conditions affecting Canadians. Those diagnosed with mild to moderate forms of depression can have success with natural interventions if they are started early with good adherence to treatment. But not all cases are the same, and those diagnosed with more serious and chronic

Are we finally in a health election campaign?

 Why more affordable medications for Canadians should be an all-party priority in this federal election. It's become almost a matter of faith: health and health care are perennially among the top priorities for Canadians, but are nearly invisible in election platforms and debates. This observation has led health care providers, health care

The Politics of Love Thy Neighbour

 When did Christianity in Canada become so linked to political and social conservatism? When did so many Christians, especially the loudest and most organized, embrace censorship, resistance to gay equality, denial of climate change, opposition to vaccinations and an angry obsession with abortion? There are, of course, myriad believers in Christ who do not think and act thus but ask

OPSEU Unites for Equity

 OPSEU unit steward Rhonda Ferguson. The role and responsibility of OPSEU’s Provincial Women’s Committee is to advocate for women within the union, supporting their workplace needs and rights. The committee members often take on roles as mediators, advisors and investigators under OPSEU’s Harassment and Discrimination Prevention policy. They can also help with equity language

Honouring Our Veterans

 While members of the Métis Nation fought alongside other Canadians in wars and peacekeeping initiatives, their contribution has rarely been recognized. That is starting to change. In  the  past,  Métis  veterans,  like Métis fought in both World Wars, the Korean War and other conflicts such as Afghanistan, and have also served

Remembering the Past to Look to the Future

 This year  holds  special  significance for the world, as it marks the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II and the creation of the United Nations as well as the 70th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression. In May, a special plenary

Portable grills for BIG outdoor fun!

 If you are looking for the perfect on-the-go grill for camping, tailgating or taking to the beach or on a picnic, then look no further! The 2015 Weber Canadian GrillWatch Survey reveals that Canadians are heavy outdoor grillers with over 40% grilling away from home. With that in mind, Weber-Stephen,