For some months, I have been weighing the idea of developing an e-book. The genesis of the idea came with the realization that there are now 360 OttawaWatch columns. The first was written in November, 2004, just a few weeks short of eight years ago. The columns have appeared weekly, with one short hiatus in […]
Those other robocalls
Perhaps the most important part of today’s OttawaWatch appears in the latter part of the column. I would encourage readers – even more than usual – to read all the way through. The “robobcalls” subject has been of considerable interest around the Press Gallery in recent months. It has mostly related to queries regarding whether […]
Mark Carney and David Black
Much has been made, in recent days, of the Canadian Auto Workers’ (CAW) invitation to Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney, to address the influential union’s annual gathering. Not the least of the exclamations of surprise was the report that Carney had received a standing ovation from the gathered unionists, following his address. On reflection, […]
Church on a Hill
There were few signs of religious demagoguery, when close to 200 United Church youth commissioners and Youth Forum members and some of their “elders” appeared on Parliament Hill Wednesday (August 16). The young people took a break from the General Council meetings, the church’s once-every-three-years’ legislative gathering. The Carleton University meeting site in Ottawa afforded […]
To torque the story
It was fascinating to watch the little dustup between Nazanin Afshin-Jam MacKay and Charlotte Guardian reporter Jim Day last week, over what is sometimes called, in the journalistic trade, “the torque of the story.” Simply put, to torque is to twist the story from what subject initially intended to what the reporter wanted it to […]
Reflections on Jack Layton
It was a year ago (July 25), that Jack Layton’s cancer battle caused him to step aside from politics. Less than a month later, he was dead. Prime Minister Stephen Harper offered Layton’s family a state funeral, which was accepted. There were a number of unusual factors connected with Layton’s death that are worth noting, […]
OttawaWatch: Considering the CAUT context
Bear with me for a few minutes and we will take a “circle drive” that includes some pondering on: Carleton University. Canadian Association of University Teachers. (CAUT) Two Ontario universities. Trinity Western University. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Islamic University in Gaza (IUG). Preston Manning. The story begins with Carleton University’s admission, […]
OttawaWatch: Sitting down over some drinks
John McKay, the Liberal MP for Scarborough-Guildwood, in the near-eastern suburbs of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) is an effective centrist critic of things conservative. As it happens, his faith persuasion is evangelical Christian and he is not hesitant to say, when it is appropriate, that he wishes a few more sensible Christian values would […]
OttawaWatch: Besetting addictions
The departure of Bev Oda from the federal cabinet lineup calls for a few comments about addictions. Firstly, a few words to the good about Oda. Once she put her resignation on the dotted line, commendations, both tentative and effusive, have been coming forward. By several accounts, many close to her ministry spoke well of […]
OttawaWatch: St. Andrew’s sidelight
Two weeks ago, I wrote about the church we attend in Ottawa – St. Andrew’s, the closest to Parliament Hill – The church had held a weekday noon hour service for public servants whose jobs were in question because of possible cutbacks. I received a response from Diane Scharf, long active as a Hill support […]
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