May 2011

Political parties must be forced to compete for voters

May 31, 2011 Politics

Canada has taken on the dubious distinction of being a nation of apathetic voters. Voter turnouts at municipal, provincial and federal elections have been declining steadily over the years. Various explanations for this have been served up, but the main factor appears to be the way political parties take their voters for granted.

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The Blackberry Playbook – a preliminary review

May 30, 2011 Science & Technology

This is a preliminary review of the Blackberry Playbook, because in its current form it’s really just a prototype. The Playbook will drastically improve, if we are to believe the information that came out of the recent RIM conference in Florida, when the tablet receives its own email application and the Android Player with the [...]

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Genderless baby – unfit parents

May 26, 2011 Politics

Meet Kathy Witterick and David Stocker, parents to the “genderless baby” Storm. No, Storm is not some alien that they found in a cornfield, but just a normal child – for now.

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Huffington Post arrives in Canada

May 26, 2011 Media

This is a day to be celebrated. Canada’s media and journalism scene just got richer … and moved into the 21st century: the Huffington Post is now available as a separate Canadian edition complete with Canadian voices.

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Layton wastes chance to showcase his commitment to fiscal prudence

May 26, 2011 Politics

Prime Minister Stephen Harper recently presented his new cabinet – at 39 members, it is one of the biggest in Canadian history. But it’s true to form, as Mr. Harper is not the fiscal conservative he always claimed he’d be, and Canadians know that by now.

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Calgary’s Black Box system creates extra waste

May 26, 2011 Politics

Last Friday, our part of Calgary’s northwest saw the first garbage collection using the new Black Box. The new bin for any waste that doesn’t go into the recycling Blue Box is currently being rolled out across the city.

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When public schools cease to be public

May 25, 2011 Politics

The United States is in a bad way. Several analysts and commentators have said that Americans shouldn’t kid themselves: their country is in the throes of a depression. Obviously, there will have to be spending cuts but also tax increases. Without these two measures, America, as we know it, won’t survive.

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Oil sands – time for Alberta to make lemonade from lemons

May 25, 2011 Politics

Albertans have always been fairly independent in how they see their role within Canada’s confederation. Anti-federal sentiments rose to an all-time high in the 1980s when the then-Liberal government in Ottawa nationalized Alberta’s oils resources. Many Albertans lost their jobs and homes, and some were faced with such personal catastrophe that they saw no other [...]

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Voices: More tenacious journalism is needed

May 24, 2011 Media

Prime Minister Stephen Harper was often criticized during his two minority governments for being too secretive and too autocratic. Now that he has a majority, this particular condition could get worse.

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Chapters/Indigo launches new e-reader

May 24, 2011 Business

People were becoming concerned. Every time they went to the website for Chapters/Indigo’s Kobo e-reader, for example, to purchase a second device or accessories, they found that all the items were shown as being “Out of stock”.

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