Canadian Shame-Based Heritage Moment

By Stacey Lolacher

In an end to my homage of the political comedy stylings of Rick Mercer, I give you a moment in our shame-based heritage. Enjoy… we invented it!

Political Mudslinging Demeans Us All

By Stacey Lolacher

Why political mudslinging lowers us all while damaging our democratic system.

Do you know how our government works?

By Stacey Lolacher

The debate regarding how well our Canadian Parliamentary Democracy works, and how well for whom, aside, Rick Mercer reminds us why it is so damn important for Canadians to know how our government works, and why it’s so scary that the majority of us don’t.

Students! Get out there and vote!

By Stacey Lolacher

Just in case you’re a student and you needed a good reason to get angry, or at least spiteful – Rick Mercer gives you a few reasons to get out there and cast your ballot!

Is this News? Refugee Claim in Review

By Stacey Lolacher

There’s this news story I have been following with great interest, and the deeper I research it, the more complex it becomes. A white man from South Africa by the name of Huntley has applied for refugee status in Canada on the basis of his experience of violent racial discrimination he claims is being perpetrated by the South African government.

What made this particular refugee claim newsworthy? Thousands of refugee claims are processed in Canada every year that are the result of violent racial discrimination and oppression. Why was Huntley’s case singled out as newsworthy… was it because he is caucasian? Is it SO rare that a white person from another country applies for refugee status as to make it newsworthy? Is it really that rare; are white people universally privileged and immune from racial oppression? Oh, but wait… this story gets better! Read more »

Election time in Regina, and maybe Canada!

By Stacey Lolacher

I just love election time. I could go on and on about how I would love nothing more than a switch to proportional representation, and how voting directly supports an electoral system that I think is antiquated and detrimental to democracy in Canada. I could talk about how my vote doesn’t count federally because I happen to live in Saskatchewan. But I won’t! Instead I will confess that I always embarrass myself slightly when I go to vote in an election because I’m one of few people that has a *huge* grin on their face at the prospect of participating in direct democracy… in theory!

I will also confess having a great deal of interest in the various elections that are right around the corner. The Douglas-Park by-election in Regina is this month, and it’s a hot race. Even further, there’s been some *hot* talk coming out of Ottawa as of late. Our Prime Minister has said openly that what Canada needs is stability; not another election. (CBC, 08/31/09) Ignatieff stated in an address today that the Conservative Party of Canada could not be supported. Now, here’s the question of the hour… Read more »