Canada

The G8 Summit was oddly clarifying: With Europe riven with divisions over the euro and the sclerosis of welfare states in aging societies, the United States wrapped up in increasingly parochial domestic politics, Japan adrift and Russia backsliding into authoritarianism, Canada stood alone as a country with healthy economic prospects and a stable government.

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.

Today, graduates of journalism school see the profession as just that: a job. A paycheque. A security. They do what they're told to do. They're not journalists; they're employees. They don't buck the corporate system. They're part of it. Newsrooms are turning into mere offices.

Passport Canada is looking into policy changes to the gender requirement on passport, and introducing a "genderless" passport for transgendered peoples. But the question isn't whether we should introduce a third "gender" to passport policies, but rather, should there be gender at all on passports?

At first glance, the Canadian Pacific Railway contract fiasco of the early 1870s is the granddaddy of all Canadian scandals. But only the tip of the iceberg has been recounted ad nauseam by historians. The real story is far more gripping, and is actually one of the more fascinating events in Canadian business and political history.

Ethiopian-born model Gelila Bekele wants to help change that reality in her native country. While she sees modelling as a wonderful profession, she wants to use her powerful voice to advocate the right for clean drinking water for her fellow Ethiopians.

Until midday yesterday, the economy was the topic of discussion vis-a-vis the U.S. election. But as we all now know, the conversation has shifted over to an issue far more volatile and incendiary -- that of gay marriage. Think the outcome of the election was a sure thing? You're dead wrong.

If Bill C-31, "Protecting Canada's Immigration System Act," passes in parliament, Canada will lose its reputation for fairness and human rights and, more importantly, hundreds if not thousands of people's lives will be adversely affected. Refugees would be ineligible to sponsor any immediate family members and these refugees would be second-class people in Canada.

Is Stephen Harper quietly working to "re-brand" Canada? Is his government emphasizing the military, the monarchy and select episodes of Canadian history in order to create a competing brand of right-wing Canadian nationalism and divert attention from the great symbols of Liberal patriotism, like medicare and Lester Pearson? The pundit class thinks so.

Today, Canadian Ukrainians should be thinking about the leader of the Orange Revolution, Yulia Tymoshenko, the braided once-prime minister of the Ukraine, who is currently on a hunger strike, and being beaten in her prison cell.

China and Russia are seen as the worst offenders when it comes to cyber attacks, but Iran is close behind. How is it that a country such as Iran has a cyber-warfare unit with a staff of 2,400 and a budget of $76 million, and Ottawa has only allocated $95 million for our country's defence against this new form of attack?

Nearly half of Bill C-38 is directed at rewriting Canada's foundational environmental laws. Putting all this in a fast-track budget bill, with time allocation on debate, and heading to the Finance Committee, is a direct assault on the principles of parliamentary democracy.

The actions of the current Cameron government in the UK such cutting welfare payments, and neglecting job creation are making for an increasingly worse situation for both the poor, and those nearing it. But are things over here in Canada really that much different?