The World Cup starts today and for the first time in over 30 years it is being held in North America. Not only is this exciting news for football fans, it should also be of interest to free trade enthusiasts, as the last time it was held there the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) […]
The King and Queen of Canada have made it home to open the 45th Session of Parliament. While King Charles III is the Canadian head of state through the development of unique constitutional doctrines, he, of course, remains the British monarch. Their Majesties’ presence in Canada raises the question of where the long-standing relationship between […]
An earlier version of this essay was published in Discourse Magazine. The once-warm relationship between the United States and Canada has cooled in the past decade. But despite harsh rhetoric on both sides of the border these days, things are well positioned for a major reset. Indeed, the rightward shift in Washington and the coming move […]
It was meant to be a last resort – an act of ‘compassion’ to ease the suffering of the terminally ill. Instead, ‘medical assistance in dying’ (MAID) in Canada has exploded. Even worse, it’s being suggested to vulnerable disabled and mentally ill patients – many of whom could be treated with other therapies or medications.To […]
While the Tories brace for a Labour landslide at the next general election, the Conservative Party of Canada is soaring ahead in the polls. Nearly 40% of voters in Canada now back the Conservatives. If party leader Pierre Poilievre can sustain this momentum until the next federal election (which could yet be two years away) […]
Denied an electoral bellwether for over a year because of the pandemic, politicians and commentators have unleashed their pent-up desire for analysis on this year’s local, regional, by- and London elections. We’ve had the likes of Ian Birrell in Unherd wondering whether, following defeat in Hartlepool, Labour would soon leave the ranks of the walking wounded […]
The ‘continuity’ trade deal agreed in principle today with Canada will mean that at the end of the Brexit transition on December 31 there will be no additional barriers to trade with one of Britain’s closest partners. The agreement is the second high-profile one secured by the British government with a major economy since the […]
Driven to Netflix by mandatory quarantine, I recently discovered Dirty Money, an entire documentary TV series devoted to short, deep dives into “stories of corporate corruption, securities fraud and creative accounting”. Most episodes are on topics you’ll probably be acquainted with, from Donald Trump’s dealings to the Volkswagen emissions scandal. But one fascinating episode exposes […]
Modern conservatism springs not from a central idea or policy, but from an emotional disposition. Conservatives are first and foremost grateful for what we as a society have. This gratitude arises from an awareness of where we have come from. Poverty, disease, ignorance and intolerance are humanity’s default condition. Only a handful of societies have, slowly and […]
Last October Canada legalised the recreational use of cannabis after having first permitted its use for medical purposes in 2001. The new rules mean, with slight provincial variations, that an individual is allowed to possess up to 30 grams, own up to four cannabis plants for recreational purposes and buy cannabis from a licensed retailer. […]
Happy Canada Day to the nearly 100,000 Canadians living in the UK, the 600,000 Brits living in Canada, and to the 37 million people that call Canada home! Today commemorates when the three colonies of the Province of Canada, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick federated into a single dominion in 1867 and eventually became one […]
The economic, political, and social disruption in the ten years since the global recession has policymakers struggling to respond. The political landscape is in flux. The policy agenda has been scrambled. It’s a moment of great tumult and uncertainty. Many have zeroed in on income inequality as the chief problem and higher taxes on high-income […]
Cities around North America are waiting with bated breath as Amazon decides where to place its second headquarters. “HQ2” will be a $5 billion facility, generating 50,000 high-paying jobs. On the shortlist of 20 locations there’s just one non-US city: Toronto, Canada. The tech scene north of the border is quietly booming. In 2016, the […]
Visiting London one is struck by the city’s renewed dynamism. The streets are bustling with activity. Stores are overflowing with customers. Financial markets exhibit real optimism. The British economy is now the fastest growing in the developed world and may eventually surpass Germany as Europe’s largest. Old London has re-established itself as the economic, social, […]
A new and rather surprising turn in the Brexit debate is the idea that the Canada-EU Free Trade Agreement (CETA) would be the right substitute for full EU membership if the UK votes to leave. It raises several questions, and the most obvious one is why the UK should aim for a trade arrangement that […]
The recent budget controversy in the United Kingdom has placed a sharp focus on the ongoing debate about austerity and spending. It’s no surprise that the government’s opponents have criticized George Osborne’s efforts to eliminate the budgetary deficit. It’s more surprising that criticism has also come from within the Cabinet. There’s no such internal dissent […]
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