Columns
Is this the best use of car sales levy?
We are a highly regulated world and things are not getting any better.
I recently had a conversation with a sales manager in a local automotive dealership about an organization known as AMVIC (Alberta Motor Vehicle Industry Council). READ
Severe fines and penalties are more of a 'big city' thing
In many small Alberta towns, there is virtually no serious effort put into bylaw enforcement. READ
Voters have veto on pension policy
Stephen Harper has either become an exceptionally fearless politician or else he has already put an expiry date on his leadership that does not extend beyond the current mandate. READ
We should be proud of Ronald McDonald House
Once again Central Alberta, you’ve set the bar high. You’ve dazzled, amazed, astonished, scintillated. READ
Syrian tragedy
“The Security Council cannot go about imposing solutions in crisis situations in various countries of the world,” said Vitaly Churkin, Russia’s ambassador to the United Nations, as the UN began discussing what to do about the Syrian crisis a week ago. READ
There’s just no reasoning with a leftist
I hate duking it out with left-wing warriors pushing a cause, but sometimes you just have to take on some of these crusaders. READ
Can capitalism be responsible?
Inequality and fairness, it seems, will be a major theme in the U.S. presidential election campaign this year. READ
The loveliest spot on Earth
While the Great Lakes of Canada span the entire nation, Britain’s Lake District is contained in the most idyllic 2,292 square km in the country. READ
What’s in a (nick)name?
How would you like to go through life being called Spud? Or Toad? I suppose it could be worse. It could be Mitt. Or even Newt. Nah, that’s just too crazy. READ
Why are we afraid of science?
Kids ask questions. Sometimes adults feel inadequate if they don’t have ready answers. But when I became a teacher, I learned quickly that there’s nothing wrong with saying, “I don’t know.” Teaching children how to learn is more useful than feeding them facts. READ
Scale back taxes, pay bureaucrats, politicians far less
As Vesna Higham so elegantly pointed out last week, we should be deeply concerned with the fact that Premier Alison Redford has surrounded herself with a coterie of “advisors” who earn roughly triple the average Alberta family income. READ
More ideological than actuarial
Not too long ago, a once-powerful Republican in the U.S. Congress summed up foreign aid spending this way: “Foreign aid means putting Ghana over grandma.’’ READ
Toxic ecstasy is killing street drug users
It’s like something out of a drug movie, only it’s not. It’s real life, dirty and ugly. READ
Economic model shows cracks
It was Quebec Premier Jean Charest who recently highlighted the big change taking place in our economy. “There are two realities in Canada,” he said. “There are the economies of oil, gas and potash — and others.” READ
Kodak Moments are fading fast
If it’s not a sign of the times, it certainly is a snapshot of it. As Bob Dylan prophetically proclaimed, “the times they are a changing’.” And he said that in 1964! READ
Sucking up to Armenians
I go to France quite often, but after this article is published, I may be liable to arrest if I set foot in the country. READ
Why should tax dollars support the arts?
As recent budget discussions have illustrated, governments fall into routine traps that they seem loathe to pry themselves from, in spite of the fact that simple logic should facilitate easy extrication. READ
Time for fat-cat boot camp in civil service
Oh, what heady times for local columnists. With the many swirling issues presently vying for collective discourse, one scarcely knows where to begin! READ
Nature under glass: is it still natural?
Ah, Canada’s national parks — majestic mountains, brilliant wildflowers, vast tracks of untouched wilderness, and wildlife everywhere — what Canada is known for around the world. READ
On the left, Redford; on the right, Smith
A recent poll suggested that the Progressive Conservatives (unchanged at 38 per cent) will form a solid but slimmer majority government with 57 seats (down from 72 seats) after the spring election. READ
