Democracy

What’s the Canada-EU trade deal all about?

Nov 4, 2013
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Chances are, you’ve heard about the Canada-EU trade deal. It’s hard to miss, what with the federal government hard at work staging photo-ops and events across the country, promoting the deal as a major win. The official sales pitch focuses on the trade aspects of the deal – lowering or eliminating tariffs between Canada and… View Article

Silencing the outriders, silencing democracy

Aug 13, 2012
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Since taking power federally in 2006, the Conservative government has undertaken a continuous attack on civil society organizations.  One of the government’s first actions was to cut support for women’s organizations that lobbied or did research on the status of women.  Environmental organizations have been accused of acting in the interest of foreign powers. Revenue… View Article

Whatever happened to gender identity and expression?

Feb 5, 2012
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A year ago this week, Bill C-389, An Act to amend the Canadian Human Rights Act and the Criminal Code (gender identity and gender expression), passed third reading in the House of Commons, receiving support from MPs from all political parties. So whatever happened to it? The private member’s bill, sponsored by former Burnaby-Douglas MP… View Article

What would Stanley say about Brigette Marcelle?

Jun 4, 2011
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For the last 30 years or so when confronted with a thorny issue I have often asked myself this question: what would Stanley say?  This is the lens I would like to apply to Brigette Marcelle’s actions in the Senate last week. Marcelle is the young Senate page who during the Speech from the Throne… View Article

CCPA blogs the federal election

Mar 28, 2011
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Our colleagues at the CCPA’s National Office have launched a great new blog that will offer commentary on the federal election. Check out Making It Count for informative posts on income splitting, taxes, EI and more. Meanwhile, stay tuned to Policy Note for ongoing commentary on the busy BC political scene…. View Article

There is no Goldilocks in democracy

Mar 24, 2011
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Oh boy, we’re in for a lot of democracy here in BC this year.  Federal election in May and probably an HST referendum in June.  My money is on an October provincial election if Christy Clark thinks the numbers are right.  Then a vote for councils and school boards in November. And that is just fine… View Article