Category Archives: Non-partisanship
I Love Politics
I know, this is a bit of a surprise coming from me. Often on record for registering my disillusionment from what has happened to the political order in general, and the House of Commons specifically, I nevertheless possess a deep … Continue reading
Identity – Beyond Politics
It was one of the most profound moments of my political life. Two days following my election loss I took my son Ater for lunch. When we entered the crowded food court at one of the local malls some people … Continue reading
Identity – Out-of-Place
“To be honest, I’ve just given up. It seems likely everything good-hearted people attempt in politics has to be wrapped up in some kind of coloured package, and the moment you select one such colour, the others are automatically against … Continue reading
A Sad Passing
I want to tell you a story – a personal one, filled with anguish, recovery and hope. Ultimately it’s the story of one Member of Parliament and the remarkable difference she made in what, for a time, was a devastating … Continue reading
The Necessity of Politics
I returned from south Sudan to some 4,000 emails. One was from a good friend welcoming me home. He said he has come to the conclusion that while he loves Canada with a passion, he absolutely “hates” politics. It wasn’t … Continue reading
A Place For Us
How do you write a book about the city in which you live? Seriously. There are so many takes on London from people with countless points of view. In the last year and a half I have had a wealth … Continue reading
Inside/Outside, Offside/Onside
Last week Andrew Coyne, a writer I have much respect for, posted a comment on Twitter that, despite its cogency, stayed with me like few other things he has written. It said simply: “The real political divide is not between … Continue reading
The Biggest Obstacle In Running For Politics
You want to run politically – locally, provincially, or federally. You might think that your greatest challenge will be the uber partisanship that has destroyed so much of the political legacy of compromise in Canada, and you’d have a point. … Continue reading
The Networked Ideal
We have spoken enough in these blog posts about the need to be better connected as communities that maybe we should examine just how that would look. Any community, regardless of size, would ensure that each of its citizens had … Continue reading
How Politics Changes Us (3)
It set us back for a minute. The email message had come in from someone in the riding that I used to represent as an MP and who was a member of another political party. The words were harsh, claiming … Continue reading