Empathy: Path to trust

Empathy: Path to trust

What do “Foreign Interference” and “Freedom Convoy” have in common – other than becoming unusual coffee table words in Canada? They both reflect the growing loss of trust in the way we make decisions on how to live together in Canada, which is to say, the very foundations of democracy and politics. Could they, through…

The office of citizen
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The office of citizen

When I was growing up in suburban Chicago, my siblings and I attended a public elementary school. The school day opened with a series of rituals intended to instill in us a sense of solidarity with our political community. Before beginning our lessons, we would stand with our hand over our hearts and recite the…

People-first Federalism
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People-first Federalism

When I moved from Edmonton to Ottawa in 1993 I made a promise that, whatever else I would do in Ottawa, I would try to help “Easterners” better understand the real Alberta – the one beyond the stereotypes of cowboys, large pick-ups and anti-Ottawa slogans. I promoted the can-do, community spirit of Edmonton, the rich…

‘A united Canada’
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‘A united Canada’

Federal-provincial relations are testy even in the best of times, but these are not the best of times. Pandemic, war, inflation and global supply-chain disruptions have affected us all, and it is scarcely surprising that they would also affect Canada’s federal system, as a new threat to national unity has recently demonstrated. In early 1830s…

A Red Card for Pay Gaps
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A Red Card for Pay Gaps

On November 23, Canada’s men will kick off against Belgium in our first World Cup appearance since 1986. “I think their chances are pretty good,” predicts Redeemer University soccer coach Meaghan Rudd. “They have good leadership, so it’ll be interesting to see what they can do with that.” Rudd is being kind. The men’s chances…

The shadow of death
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The shadow of death

In May, an expert panel formed by Health Canada in 2021, in collaboration with researchers, stakeholders and clinicians, released a final report to the federal government recommending safeguards, protocols and guidance for providing MAiD (Medical Assistance in Dying) to persons with mental illnesses. This is in preparation for March 17, 2023, when the exclusion of…

Deregulation of GMOs causes concern for Council of Churches
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Deregulation of GMOs causes concern for Council of Churches

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For three months last year, Health Canada invited feedback on new rules for “Novel Food Regulations” with a specific focus on plant breeding. Since 2006, the insertion of foreign DNA has triggered a Health Canada safety assessment of genetically modified plants and foods. As new genetic engineering techniques like CRISPR have been developed, plant breeders…

An arduous journey and the long road ahead
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An arduous journey and the long road ahead

It was a bus filled with hurt and hope. Sponsored by the Archdiocese of Saint Boniface, it carried 41 residential school survivors from the First Nations communities of Poplar River, Berens River, Bloodvein, Little Grand Rapids/Pauingassi, Hollow Water, Manigotogan and Sagkeeng to Alberta to hear the Pope’s apology. The hurt came from experiences at residential…

The measure of humanity
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The measure of humanity

Can you live on $1169 a month? Ontario’s Disability Support Program (ODSP) is designed to support disabled persons above 18 years of age. Qualifying for the program depends on medical and financial circumstances, and what is offered (max of $1169 a month) hardly meets basic living needs for most disabled persons. In the past year,…

Sir John & King Jeroboam in an Age of Decolonization
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Sir John & King Jeroboam in an Age of Decolonization

The Pope is coming to Canada next week, with stops planned for Edmonton, Quebec and Iqaluit. He will visit Indigenous, Inuit and Métis communities to speak with and listen to elders, church leaders and survivors of residential schools. This comes on the heels of the Pope’s meeting with Indigenous and Métis leaders in the Vatican,…

From Aging to Aged
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From Aging to Aged

When the results of Census 2021 were released, headlines labelled Canada an aged society. The previous census described Canada as an aging society. Is the shift from aging to aged significant? Census 2021 highlighted a dramatic growth in the population over 85 years (a 12 percent growth since 2016) as well as the reality that…

Canada’s place in a global hunger crisis
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Canada’s place in a global hunger crisis

Food prices reached their highest level ever this spring, adding to growing concerns about a global hunger crisis and hindering the work of humanitarian organizations. The food price spike was triggered by the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, both major players in worldwide food production. Between them, Russia and Ukraine account for about 30 percent…