Christopher Majka

Electoral reform reversal shows Justin Trudeau takes Canadians for fools

Christopher_Majka — Sun, 05 Feb 2017 02:36:30 +0000

When the new Minister of Democratic Institutions, Karina Gould (No, this is not fake news -- the Trudeau Liberals still do have a minister tasked with democratic institutions) released her mandate letter from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau it read:

"A clear preference for a new electoral system, let alone a consensus, has not emerged. Furthermore, without a clear preference or a clear question, a referendum would not be in Canada's interest. Changing the electoral system will not be in your mandate."

Nova Scotians grieve the Ste-Foy massacre and reject intolerance

Christopher_Majka — Tue, 31 Jan 2017 02:33:17 +0000

On Monday, January 30, 2017 many Nova Scotians woke up to the shocking news that six Muslim men -- IT worker Mamadou Tanou Barry from Guinea; analyst and programmer Abdelkrim Hassane from Algeria; Laval chemical-engineering professor Khaled Belkacemi originally from Algeria; Aboubaker Thabti, a pharmacy worker; Azzeddine Soufiane a geologist from Morocco who ran a halal grocery store; and Ibrahima Barry from Guinea who worked for the Québec health-insurance bureau -- all were fathers, sons, husbands, and respected community members&nbsp

As corruption hits close to home, we must remember there are alternatives to deregulated corporate capitalism

Christopher_Majka — Tue, 20 Dec 2016 21:55:03 +0000

In Canada we can pride ourselves at having anti-corruption legislation applicable both within Canada and to Canadian companies operating abroad (See the Corruption of Foreign Public Officials Act).

However, when it comes to bribery, graft, corruption and kickbacks there are many dark corners where shady dealing can hide. When it comes to corruption, no legislation has yet been devised that leaves no loopholes, and there are lawyers and accountants able to drive a freight train through the eye of such a needle.

Political fiasco, Nova Scotia style!

Christopher_Majka — Fri, 09 Dec 2016 18:21:45 +0000

One Government Place is where the premier's office is in Halifax.

I happen to have made friends with a fly. It's cold this time of year but it still gets around. It sometimes spends the day at One Government Place. There is a crack by the window in the premier's office where it can get in and the thermostat is turned up so it’s very cozy. The fly has nothing much to do so it hangs around and eavesdrops. When it gets bored it flies off. It has a great memory and can repeat what its heard verbatim.

There's only one problem: the fly doesn't recognize anyone -- it claims all humans look alike. Sheesh! So, although it has a photographic memory for conversations, I've no idea who it who it's been listening to. Oh well, I've got nothing better to do than to listen to a fly.

Red threat: Socialist secrets of 'Mary Poppins'

Christopher_Majka — Tue, 29 Nov 2016 05:36:11 +0000

The Fraser Institute's Jonathan Fortier is up in arms. In an article in The Fraser Forum entitled "Mary Poppins -- song, dance and latent socialism," Fortier maintains himself to have been "struck by the film's latent socialist ideas and its implied attack on bankers and investment." Say what? Mary Poppins?

What could possibly have put Fortier's knickers into such a twist?

Fidelity Fiduciary Bank

Monetary reform and Paul Hellyer's vision for a new social contract

Christopher_Majka — Fri, 30 Sep 2016 20:00:36 +0000

Paul Hellyer is unquestionably a living political legend. In 93 years on the Canadian landscape Hellyer has ricocheted through virtually every party on the Canadian political spectrum (creating one enroute), serving in the cabinets of three Prime Ministers. Under Pierre Trudeau Hellyer was Senior Minister, the current equivalent of Deputy Prime Minister. At an age when most politicians have long departed their soapboxes, Hellyer continues to write books, forge political movements, and stump across the country consumed by a vision of making Canada a more just and equitable society.

Nova Scotia's NDP scores a decisive victory

Christopher_Majka — Wed, 31 Aug 2016 23:53:41 +0000

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A Nova Scotia day dawns like any other...but yet not quite. Today Nova Scotia has a new legislator from the riding of Halifax Needham. On August 30 the New Democratic Party's Lisa Roberts won a resounding victory in a byelection to replace former NDP MLA (and former interim NDP leader) Maureen MacDonald who resigned from politics on April 12 of this year.

Misunderstanding the Leap, critics fall flat

Christopher_Majka — Tue, 26 Apr 2016 17:15:13 +0000

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That things are not well should be evident to anyone of acumen.

Pipelines or pipedreams? The Leap Manifesto and Alberta's dilemma

Christopher_Majka — Fri, 15 Apr 2016 23:29:12 +0000

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Strictly holding governments to election promises not only impractical, but undesirable

Christopher_Majka — Fri, 08 Apr 2016 14:52:08 +0000

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Oh, promises, promises, this is where those promises, promises end.
Oh, promises, their kind of promises, can just destroy a life. – Dionne Warwick

Sexual assault and the search for justice

Christopher_Majka — Tue, 29 Mar 2016 00:40:58 +0000

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Every right-thinking person understands that the balance of equality between genders is still markedly tilted towards men. There have been and continue to be progressive steps, but there is a long way to go. And the more so in many parts of the developing world where women are still dramatically disadvantaged -- to say nothing of places like Saudi Arabia and the Daesh-controlled areas of Iraq and Syria where abject medievalism prevails.

Nova Scotia New Democrats elect Gary Burrill as new leader

Christopher_Majka — Sun, 28 Feb 2016 01:10:59 +0000

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Nova Scotia New Democrats have taken a decisive turn to the progressive left with the election of Gary Burrill as the new leader of the NDP.

Exclusive: Elizabeth May on climate change, electoral, political, and monetary reform, sexual assault and much more

Christopher_Majka — Sat, 27 Feb 2016 17:47:25 +0000

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Elizabeth May is once again alone. For a period of almost two years she was joined on the Green Party parliamentary benches in Ottawa by former New Democrat and former independent MP Bruce Hyer. However, Hyer lost his seat in the 2015 election leaving the MP for Saanich-Gulf Islands as once again the sole Green Party representative in the House of Commons.

Pam Palmater: Honour the treaties, keep the promises

Christopher_Majka — Fri, 12 Feb 2016 06:06:00 +0000

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From pulpit to soapbox: Gary Burrill vies for the Nova Scotia NDP leadership

Christopher_Majka — Sat, 16 Jan 2016 22:03:42 +0000

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Actor and MLA Lenore Zann vies for Nova Scotia NDP leadership

Christopher_Majka — Mon, 11 Jan 2016 19:59:36 +0000

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On October 8, 2013 the provincial government of Nova Scotia went down to defeat. Led by Premier Darrell Dexter, it was the first New Democratic government in the province's history, and the first majority government to ever go down after its first mandate.

Rafal Rohozinski: Cyberspace, the final frontier

Christopher_Majka — Wed, 06 Jan 2016 14:56:52 +0000

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Ponomarev on Putin: Understanding the Russian bear

Christopher_Majka — Tue, 29 Dec 2015 20:10:23 +0000

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Reading Anne Applebaum's superb historical analysis of the Soviet prison system, Gulag: A History, one of her observations struck a particularly resonant chord:

Vladimir Milov: Mind of the crocodile -- inside Putin's empire

Christopher_Majka — Tue, 15 Dec 2015 05:40:13 +0000

"Russia," Winston Churchill famously observed, "Is a riddle, wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma." This concatenated conundrum is apparent in many aspects of Russia, not least in its president, Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin -- the descendent of a family that appears to have come into existence with his grandfather, Spiridon Ivanovich Putin, a onetime cook for Vladimir Lenin, his wife Nadezhda Krupskaya, and Joseph Stalin. Look further back and the Putin family simply doesn't exist.

Ilya Ponomarev: Opposing Putin's empire of swindlers and thieves

Christopher_Majka — Mon, 07 Dec 2015 05:53:28 +0000

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The Voice of Libyan Women: Alaa Murabit reclaiming identity, country and faith

Christopher_Majka — Sat, 28 Nov 2015 17:40:35 +0000

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Paris, November 13, 2015: Imagine all the people, living life in peace

Christopher_Majka — Sun, 15 Nov 2015 19:57:45 +0000

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"Those who can make you believe absurdities, can make you commit atrocities." -- Voltaire

Election 2015: The triumph of voter engagement

Christopher_Majka — Fri, 30 Oct 2015 20:09:46 +0000

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What if they gave an election and nobody came?

Election 2015: What happened in Atlantic Canada?

Christopher_Majka — Mon, 26 Oct 2015 15:57:32 +0000

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The NDP: Minting a new political currency

Christopher_Majka — Thu, 22 Oct 2015 19:05:58 +0000

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Break out the Wizard of Oz soundtrack: yes, the witch is dead.

Election Results 2015: A political crystal ball

Christopher_Majka — Sun, 18 Oct 2015 20:00:11 +0000

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My crystal ball is very hazy, but peering through the glass darkly I see the following prognosticatory ruminations.

Exclusive: Elizabeth May on political reform, climate change and democracy

Christopher_Majka — Fri, 16 Oct 2015 16:48:06 +0000

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Exclusive: The NDP's Megan Leslie on climate change and social justice

Christopher_Majka — Tue, 13 Oct 2015 22:00:16 +0000

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Interest in electoral reform spikes dramatically

Christopher_Majka — Fri, 09 Oct 2015 14:22:31 +0000

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In an article in The Globe and Mail entitled Majority governments may soon be a thing of the past, columnist Jeffrey Simpson examines the potential change of the electoral system in Canada from the first-past-the post (FPTP) approach currently in use to a system of proportional representation (PR).

The art and science of strategic voting

Christopher_Majka — Sun, 04 Oct 2015 20:22:44 +0000

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Two weeks left. Two weeks to E-day. Two weeks to D-day -- decision day.