Vocabulary of Difference
Peter Stockland
May 29, 2013
A witty fellow sent me an e-mail at the start of this week's Bridging the Secular Divide conference pointing out the paradox of it being held in Montreal ...
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Bright Days Ahead for Faith-Based Universities?
Ray Pennings
May 28, 2013
Acknowledging that "secular education is not value-free; it often can be anti-religious," she urged the leaders of the faith-based university sector to assert their rightful place in the Canadian post-secondary landscape Szathmáry, President Emeritus of the University of Manitoba, yesterday suggeste...
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"Secure Your Own Mask First"
James K.A. Smith
May 24, 2013
In the event of an emergency, if I am going to be able to help my neighbours, I first need to put on my own oxygen mask If I'm going to be able to help the child beside me secure her oxygen mask, I need to first secure my own ...
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More is Not Enough
Brian Dijkema
May 23, 2013
This is both a true description of the way markets work, and why those who are concerned about morality in economic behaviour and structures might want to go beyond "more" as a basis for supporting free markets ...
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When Democracy Loses its Moral Authority
Ray Pennings
May 22, 2013
There is no system of regulation which can manage to keep government on the ethical high road and few and far between are the leaders that are able to rise above the ethical landmines that tempt them Although the natures of these purported scandals are quite different from each other, the bottom lin...
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The Question Asked Too Late
Peter Stockland
May 21, 2013
Indeed, having known Fife for so long, I am willing to bet some portion of $90,000 that this is exactly the question he asked and began doggedly pursuing the moment he first heard that the senator had repaid in full all misallocated funds owing: "Where in the (ahem) world does (ahem) Mike (ahem) Duf...
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Reconsidering Limitations on Free Speech in Canada
Ray Sawatsky
May 20, 2013
If we asked any high school social studies or civics class to identify the most important rights in a democratic society, it's a fair bet freedom of speech and freedom of belief would top the list The Whatcott decision raises three essential questions that must become part of the debate on free spee...
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The Perfected Downtown
Kathryn de Ruijter
May 17, 2013
The centre, the downtown of Gruen's perfected community was complete, but rather than building the other necessary pieces of his vision—the homes, schools, and offices—the developer turned the land surrounding the mall into an ocean of parking It would allow its inhabitants to live independently of ...
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Le Parti Moustique
Brian Dijkema
May 16, 2013
The government's Minister of Democratic Institutions (yes, you read that right), Bernard Drainville wants to revoke the understanding between orthodox Jews and the city of Montreal which "allows orthodox Jews who do not drive on holidays, and who often live close to their synagogues, to avoid ticket...
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Greatly Troubled
Ray Pennings
May 15, 2013
Away from the graveside, there was a place to explain to Martha the gospel of the resurrection, which in Lazarus' case would be demonstrated in an immediate and miraculous manner, but at most times of tragedy is represented only in consolation ...
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Conrad Black and Crossing Toward Truth
Peter Stockland
May 14, 2013
At our Cardus Convivium dinner last week in Calgary, where Black was the marquee attraction, he asserted, responding to a question, his innocence in the criminal case brought against him by the U.S At our Cardus Convivium event in Toronto on May 3 when we hosted Governor Mark Carney, I had the good ...
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Contemplating "Realness"
Julia Nethersole
May 10, 2013
The freedom to live life on her own schedule, to walk without assistance, to make her own tea and toast ...
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A Goose on a Roof
Peter Stockland
May 9, 2013
On a particular occasion in Calgary, we were running through the neighborhood of Elbow Park and I was cajoling her to try to keep an even pace when I realized she had stopped in her tracks at a street corner half a block behind me ...
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Can Ethics be Taught?
Ray Pennings
May 8, 2013
But if trust in our economic system cannot be created by legislation and regulation, then how is it created? As the conversation continued, the role of other institutions came into focus ...
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Bad Medicine For Trade Unions
Brian Dijkema
May 6, 2013
In Communist Poland, it was a trade union that stuck out its tongue at the apparatchiks who thought that the state knew what was in workers' interests In fact, it is workers' organizations (formal or informal) that spring up in places where the state and the market step out of line ...