If you have something to say...
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If you have something to say...
Say it on the Huffington Post
The Blog
We recently marked World Press Freedom Day. Iran not surprisingly has been described by Reporters Without Borders as the "world's biggest prison for journalists," listed by the Committee to Protect Journalist's as the fourth worst country when it comes to censorship.
Bill C-309 states that anyone who commits an illegal act while wearing a mask at a protest can face 10 years in prison. While we are grateful for such a bill, it isn't good enough. If someone carries a loaded gun while committing a crime, it can be assumed he is willing to use it; I'd argue that any person wearing a mask or disguise at any controversial protest is up to no good, and can be assumed to be contemplating illegal behaviour.
What was once a simple sewer, water and garbage disposal utility has become a bureaucratic, democratically-unaccountable spending machine. It's time to move the Metro Vancouver Regional District back to basics.
Conventional wisdom is that this is the market at work. This is not the market at work. This is manipulation of a government system of open-ended mortgage insurance that is poorly supervised. What is going on here is a deluge of hot money from abroad that is creating an artificial, and potentially dangerous real estate bubble.
There are officially eight teams playing for the Stanley Cup in round two -- but with the exception of the Philadelphia Flyers I'm not sure what game they're playing. I just know that if Alexander Ovechkin isn't allowed on the ice, it can't possibly be hockey.
Over the years pot vendors selling joints, bags of pot, pot cookies, pot brownies, and various cannabis consumables became a prominent aspect of the festivities. Never in the history of the 4/20 celebration have police interfered with selling or consumption of cannabis.
A recent Angus Reid poll indicated that only 35 per cent of Canadians said they'd root for the Vancouver Canucks. Count me among the 65 per cent of Canadians who have made the right call. Just because the Canucks are geographically situated in Canada, this doesn't mean they are -- or ever will be -- "Canada's Team."
Yes, this was a strange season to be a Canucks fan -- and I think it's going to be the best post-season ever. The Canucks kept racking up wins, but they weren't flashy, fun, wins. They were ugly, nail-biting, old-time New Jersey Devils one goal, frequently in extra time with a "lucky bounce" wins.
Thousands of cities, big and small, around the world have embraced the green movement over the last few years, with many more following their lead. From innovative recycling programs to adding more green space, it actually is becoming easy to be green around the world.
The Toronto Maple Leafs have fallen out of the NHL playoff race now for six years straight. So why do Canadians still love to hate a team that doesn't matter? Because even when they're not a factor in the playoff race, the damn media won't stop talking about... oops.
In the NHL apparently All-Star jerseys come with signs that read: "cheap shot me please."
Walk around Vancouver, and it won't take you long to find somebody with a connection to Winnipeg. The link between the two cities -- and NHL teams -- is there. It was there on Thursday night, if you couldn't tell on television, when the Vancouver Canucks and the Winnipeg Jets faced off for the first time since 1996.
I remember reading, years ago, a rumour in the now defunct Frank Magazine claiming that one of the Canucks' top defense-men was traded because he was caught "banging the twine" with the goalie's wife. I have no idea if the rumour was true, but it made more sense than the official story in the papers.
Prior to this trip we hadn't really considered Seattle as a departure option for our travels, but as a result of this experience we'll definitely take advantage of future seat sales south of the border with no worries, an increasing trend for Canadians.
Gay pride celebrations have long been synonymous with summer time fun and half naked bodies on floats. But WinterPRIDE, Whistler, B.C.'s week long Pride event held in the chilly climes of winter has turned that stereotype on its ear.
I am a born and raised Vancouverite, but I have absolutely no emotional connection to it at all. So at every opportunity to leave Vancouver, I am a willing (and usually a leading) participant in the plans.
