Index to Editorials
Most Recent at Top
(Gaps in Editorials over time indicate I was likely busy writing stories in other sections)
2019
Posts on The 2019 Election
Left or Right: Is there a difference?
The Kings of Conservative Media
The Changing Landscape of Politics in Canada
The past as a guide to the future (Part III): Over the past 60 years, many activities the police once performed as a natural part of their daily duty, eventually became incompatible with achieving their basic goals. What happened? (August 2019)
Comparing Differing Police Cultures (Part II): What causes police departments in a close geographic area, begin to diverge in their culture. (July 2019)
Police Solidarity and the Push for Amalgamation (Part I): The first of a four-part series on policing in the Capital Region of B.C. This part reviews a history of the local forces back to 1964. (July 2019)
Canada, that which makes us one: A Ukrainian dinner, coffee at Tim Horton’s or McDonald’s, and eating a meal at one of the many ethnic restaurants within three blocks of our home. It all adds up to who we are as Canadians.
2018
Our City: The Capital Regional District. Did you know British Columbia is the only Province in Canada where the cities, towns, municipalities, and unorganized territories, underwent amalgamation over 50 years ago? Over five years beginning in 1965, it was the most extensive series of amalgamations in the history of Canada, and it was unique in that constituent members retained the power to oversee a sizeable portion of their internal affairs. It was the best of both worlds and to this day remains a model for managing the affairs of politically and geographically diverse communities across British Columbia.
The Changing Landscape of Politics in Canada It all began in England (as all things do), it arrived in Canada when a young man from Victoria decided to work on an election campaign and it ended with an algorithm of sufficient strength to change the way we think.
Are Insurance Rates Soaring Across BC? If you are a Conservative business person and a government-mandated business holds the reins of the insurance business in BC, you need to find a way to change that. The best way to do that is to try and convince everyone the government-run business (a Crown Corporation) is costing everyone a ton of extra money. It turns out that’s not true, that BC has the best auto insurance rates in Canada.
Church and State How does Canada attempt to keep the Church and State in separate corners? To see how important this is, all we need do is look at countries where the church is in bed with the state. In the United States, it is almost impossible to get elected unless you openly express allegiance to God, even though the Constitution expressly states the two must remain separate.
R. vs Stanley: Saskatchewan Court of the Queens Bench: So, you think justice is blind and that a trial by our peers is not affected by political imperatives? Well, read on.
2017
Intervention, the key to fighting crime: The RCMP have beefed up their efforts to identify and intervene where it is believed a young person is being drawn into a life of crime. An Assistant Commissioner in the RCMP states this is the only way to reduce the risk of young people becoming involved in a life of violent crime. (June 2017)
Creating People Friendly Communities: Is it possible to create people-friendly communities? Of course, it is, but in order to do so there will need to be a move away from cars and our city and town planning departments will need to look more closely at how people-friendly communities are created and maintained.
Illegal Aliens intercepted in Sarnia: It was a busy day for the Police and Security Service personnel as hundreds of illegal aliens from the United States made a dash for Canada.
Keep the peace and be of good behaviour: Why is it our government and security agencies continue to push millions of dollars towards mitigating the minimal danger posed by would-be home-grown terrorists and completely overlook the far greater danger posed by homegrown criminals and gangs.
Brexit: How a minority took over a country: 51% voted to leave the EU, 49% voted to stay, but did those numbers actually reflect what Britain, Scotland, Ireland and Wales really wanted?
2015
Visions of the World This is a follow-up post to the attack in Charleston, South Carolina. Why does the United States and Canada give domestic terrorist organizations that are white based a free pass? An earlier post of this appeared on Facebook in early 2014.
Oversight of Police and Security Services: A look at Bill 51 from the perspective of a Police Sergeant who was present during the FLQ Crisis that gripped Canada in 1970 and how oversight of the RCMP Security Service failed badly. What lessons can be learne?. (October 15, 2015)
Advocating Terror to Become a Crime: While ISIS style terrorism dominates the news, Criminal Gangs and Lone Wolves of the Criminal sort pose a far greater danger to Canadians at home. The Criminal Law as it presently exists provides police and Security Services with plenty of tools to defeat those who would disrupt our society without adding dozens of terror related bills that will make things worse rather than better. (January 20, 2015)
To Live or Die: Some Hard Decisions: Can Assisted Suicide be managed in a way that will protect the vulnerable? This is another of those very difficult decisions that face Canada. The life of a world renewed scientist, Dr. Stephan Hawkings, is used as an example. (February 9, 2015)
Biggest Boondogle in Victoria History: A look at the billion dollar sewage system that came about on the whim of an ex-Premier. (February 6, 2015)
Investigation of the Office of Police Complaints Commissioner: BC hired as the leader of this organization a man who previously served in Los Angeles, Portland and Denver before heading to BC. His office is filled with conflict and staff point to his leadership style as the primary cause. (February 8, 2015)
Thinkin’ Man’s Country Song: Written by an Assistant Professor at the University of Alberta in Edmonton. The song takes a poke at Alberta’s Oil Patch that is filled with pick-up trucks and good old boys. (January 22, 2015)
2014
Local Communities: Keeping the Spirit Alive: Young people who love their communities might wish to read this post. If they are not careful, one day they may wake up and find their community has disappeared and with it their ability to influence political and financial outcomes at the local level. (2014)
Privacy on Facebook: Another look at the Rome Convention as it applies to Social Media Security. (December 2, 2014)
Amalgamation: Searching for the truth: While browsing the web in search of information about amalgamation, I came across a number papers researched and written by Dr. Robert L. Bish, who, at the time was a Professor at University of Victoria School of Public Administration. The papers answer almost every question I had on the topic. (October 27, 2014).
Amalgamation: Questions and Answers: Frustrated with the only the pro-amalgamation being given all the press time, I pulled together a number of statements from various amalgamation supporter web sites and FB pages and created a Questions and Answers post.
Canada: What are we doing with our resource wealth? Comparing Canada’s use of natural resources to other countries who are far less gifted, yet produce a lot more wealth for the population of their countries (e.g. Norway).
Part IV: The Secret World of the Canadian Border Services: Would you believe the CBSA arrested over 10,000 people last year and 20,000 in the last three. Many remain is secret jails across Canada. Hard to believe? Take a few minutes to read this background material.
Link Here to Part III: Mental Illness: A Rising Crisis on the Street The message from Vancouver Police Chief and the Mayors in the Lower Mainland about this growing crisis. Vancouver is expected to arrest 3000 people this year under the Mental Health Act.
Living int the Shadow of Mental Illness Part II: Mental illness is largely treated with distain. Is it little wonder some resort to violence? (August, 2014)
Abducted, the First Twelve Hours Part I: The challenges faced by people living on the street (June, 2014)
2013
Terrorism: Another Perspective: This post takes a close look at the Boston Bombing and the VIA Rail arrests in Canada. Was it just coincidence the arrests came in Canada about the same time a new Terror Bill was being introduced in Parliament? (May 8, 2013)
NRA: position on the Second Amendment Can this position be justified? (January, 2013)
Why Were BC Election Results so Wrong Looking at how the Pollsters conduct Polls.
NRA Attack Ads Attack Ads, they really do work? Discussion of there use in political campaigns. (January, 2013)
2012
Smart Meters: A New Environmental Battleground: A satirical look at the issue.
Freedom of Speech in Denmark: Another perspective on the Jyllands-Posten newspaper. (November, 2012)
Remembrance Day 2012: A bit of history of the world and of our family. (November 2012)
Twenty-First Chromosome Leads to Enlightenment: A discussion of intolerance. (November, 2012)
Quebec Election Results: Another take on the election of a PQ government. (December, 2012)
I am a Liberal A few thoughts on the state of the Liberal Party of Canada. (August, 2012)
Quebec Student Protests: A few perspectives on the conflict. (March, 2012)
His Holiness, the Dali Lama: An Open Letter. On why the Dali Lama should return to Tibet. (May, 2012)
Rogers Communications: Deceptive Business Practice. Some background on how the company manipulates contract dates. (March 2012)
Rareified Beef and Sushi: A discussion on the overcooking of hamburger (March 2012)
BCTF Strike: Commentary of on the situation (March, 2012)
Who’s Accountable to Whom: A spoof on the sudden prorogration of Parliament. (February 2012)
Terrorists or Warriors: What is the Difference. Some of the little discussed background to “Canada’s Terror Trial” and why the public is mislead. (February, 2012)
Caledonia: Dark Days for Canadian Law Enforcement: Summary of events in Caledonia, Ontario, where the rule of law was suppended. (February, 2012)
2011
Ben Stein: My Confessions for the Holidays: How the internet is used to deliberately deceive people and how incorrect information can gain a life all its own. (December 2011)
Winnigpeg vs Edmonton: How murder-capitals seem to rotate around the country on a regular basis. (November 2011)
Politics of Fear: How political parties use fear to manipulate the population (November 2011)
Amalgamation in Greater Victoria: Discussion of the issues from a different perspective (October 2011)
RCMP Threaten Strike: Commentary about the RCMP threat to pull the force from BC if the new contract is not signed (go for it guys) (September 2011)
Crime and Punishment: Ideology trumps reason. Comments about the Federal Governments War on Crime. (September 2011)
Remembrance Day: Why the Viet Nam War (the forgotten war) should be remembered. (September 2011).
Border Security Gone Crazy: Why have we continued along the path of continually increasing boarder security between Canada and the United. Perhaps we cannot trust those Americans. (August, 2011)
Preserving our Civil Liberties: Why it is important that we should all care. (July 2011)
PAX Canadiana: Why Canada will soon rule the economic and military world. (April 2011)
Best Laid Plans: Political commentary on NDP and prediction for the outcome on the last Federal Election. Also reference at a book by the same name, written by Terry Fallis provides additional background. (April 2011)
New RIM Blackberry for Seniors: The author makes a purchase (April 2011)
State of the Union: Comment on US President’s State of the Union Address to the Nation (January 2011)
2010
In All Thy Son’s Comment: A commentary of changing the Canadian National Anthem (March 2010).
A Predictable Accident; The sinking of the BC Ferry, Queen of the North, along the BC Coast (Posted March 2010).
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