Chief Judge Called It Anarchy

Any Freedom Convoy appeal to the Supreme Court will be heard by a Chief Justice who publicly called protestors anarchists and hostage takers. Chief Justice Richard Wagner's remarks were "highly inappropriate," said one legal group: 'Conflicts of interest may arise from the judge having expressed views evidencing bias.' READ MORE

$742M Gun Buyback’s A Go

Thousands of hunters, sports shooters and collectors face a 70-day deadline to surrender “assault style” firearms under a program federal researchers caution may be a costly failure. Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangree today launched the national gun buyback, a $742 million campaign already twice over budget: "The program faces a risk of non-compliance." READ MORE

China Wins Big Market Share

Chinese automakers have gained access to about half the battery electric car market in Canada, federal data show. Concessions by Prime Minister Mark Carney followed Department of Finance complaints of predatory practices by Chinese industry: 'The government is allowing vehicles from a country that won’t allow our vehicles to go there, so they could displace vehicles that are built here.' READ MORE

Fault CBC For Story On Jews

The CBC Ombudsman has faulted the network’s Parliament Hill bureau for identifying MPs as Jews in news copy. A 2023 story by reporter John Tasker breached the CBC Journalistic Standards And Practices Guide, the Ombudsman said. READ MORE

Housing Pace Modest: CMHC

Housing starts despite modest gains last year remain below half the rate needed to restore affordability, CMHC figures show. The latest data follow Prime Minister Mark Carney’s pledge to “build bigger and faster.” READ MORE

Ottawa Lost — Sifton’s Place

“Canada: The Last Best West!” was his slogan. Clifford Sifton, an interior minister, crafted immigration policies with far-reaching effects that are still with us. The Ottawa house he lived in for 25 years is not. READ MORE

Review — No Police To Call

Copyright law has been around for 300 years and follows the Ten Commandments, yet many including government agencies barely comprehend intellectual property rights. There are no copyright police or courts, and even public agencies steal others’ work. It is no exaggeration that copyright owners enjoy less protection from theft than the night manager eyeing shoplifters at a Quickie Mart. “Studying copyright, especially if you’re not a lawyer, is akin to stepping into a madhouse where things barely adhere to any internal logic,” writes Professor Blayne Haggart in Copyfight. READ MORE

Guest Commentary

Gagan Sikand

The Happy Land

My parents are Sikh, from the Punjab. Life here was difficult at first. My father had a master’s degree in economics but worked in a factory for the first time in his life. Amid success and setbacks, I never heard my parents say a disparaging word about our country, not once. Mom defined Canada in her own terms: the people are polite, she said. My brother and I grew up in Mississauga, enjoying a wonderful suburban childhood. We cruised the streets on our bicycles, played road hockey and went to Temple. It was quiet and peaceful, the Canadian dream.