Oh God! That bread should be so dear, And flesh and blood so cheap! --Thomas Hood, “The Song of the Shirt. In my recent post on world happiness, I cited a couple of polls that ranked Canada well below other countries in assessing their population’s level of happiness. We managed to come seventh in the … Continue reading With more than a million Canadian kids living in poverty, giving them food and toys at Christmas is not enough
Happiest countries in the world are not necessarily the richest, but those with truly democratic governments
Those who want much are always much in need. Happy are those who simply want sufficient for their needs. --Horace Is human happiness a feeling that can be measured and quantified? Nobody, of course, is perpetually happy, but, for most people in some nations, happiness is more the norm than the exception. That assessment, however, … Continue reading Happiest countries in the world are not necessarily the richest, but those with truly democratic governments
Secreting wealth in tax havens deprives Canadian governments of massive amounts of tax revenue every year
During the 20 years I was editor of the CCPA Monitor, monthly journal of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, we published a dozen or more articles about offshore tax havens. Until the leak of the Panama Papers a few years ago, however, the identity of most of the individuals, corporations and organizations that secreted … Continue reading Secreting wealth in tax havens deprives Canadian governments of massive amounts of tax revenue every year
The flexibility of English makes it a treasure chest full of all kinds of wit, wisdom, and whimsy
“Wit consists in knowing the resemblance of things which differ, and the difference of things which are alike.” – Mme. De Stael Anyone who makes a living from writing English will come to enjoy the many ways our language can be transformed into clever, ingenious, witty, and pleasurable forms of wordplay. One of the oldest … Continue reading The flexibility of English makes it a treasure chest full of all kinds of wit, wisdom, and whimsy
Ontario’s extended prescription drug coverage likely to spread nationwide, thanks to Wynne
Just as Tommy Douglas is renowned as the “Father of Medicare” in Canada, Kathleen Wynne may soon – in another few years -- be revered as the country’s “Mother of Pharmacare.” This prospect may seem highly improbable, given the Ontario premier’s prevailing unpopularity. Doctors, nurses, patients, pundits, and both opposition parties have all protested the … Continue reading Ontario’s extended prescription drug coverage likely to spread nationwide, thanks to Wynne
A renegotiated NAFTA that satisfies Trump would benefit the U.S. But only its abrogation would benefit most Canadians
If U.S. President Donald Trump doesn’t get a renegotiated NAFTA that makes it an even more “America First” trade deal, he threatens to scrap it. It’s apparently a threat that deeply troubles Chrystia Freeland and her Canadian negotiating team, as well as most business leaders, politicians, and media pundits. They portray the dismantlement of NAFTA … Continue reading A renegotiated NAFTA that satisfies Trump would benefit the U.S. But only its abrogation would benefit most Canadians
Many of the rights you have today are thanks to union organizing
With celebrations approaching for the annual observance of Labour Day, most Canadians still don’t know why workers deserve to have their own special holiday. Apart from the union members who participate in marches and picnics that day, the substantial benefits all Canadians have derived from organized labour go largely unacknowledged. This lack of esteem is … Continue reading Many of the rights you have today are thanks to union organizing
The Nonagenarian's Notebook 