Last Monday, on a beautiful summer evening my partner Penny and I had the great honour of hosting Cuban Embassy officials David Aldama Pando, Third Secretary, and Areadna Quitana Castañeda, Press Attaché, as guests in our home. It was two hours of informative, intellectually stimulating discussion about a wide range of topics. The main topic…
Category: COVID-19
More cracks in the NPA Titanic
If previous revelations of infiltration by the alt-right into the NPA board of directors weren’t enough to sink the ship, this week two more icebergs closed in on it — one small, the other larger and much more destructive. COVID-19 has been a public health crisis for over a year. Now, unfortunately, things are taking…
Pinpointing what’s possible when it comes to vaccines
On the COVID-19 front, I’m delighted to share some great personal news! Out of the blue the other day, I got a call from Pacific Spirit Community Health Centre, which is part of Vancouver Coastal Health. Would I like a nurse to come to my home the next day to give me the vaccine? Of…
Reading the tea leaves of Joe Biden’s presidency
With excitement and a fair bit of relief, much of the world watched an inauguration day like no other unfold safely — even with celebration — as Joe Biden and Kamala Harris were sworn into office Wednesday. At long last, we’re finally able to say good riddance to the most dangerous president the US has…
$30 million for housing is welcome. But how far will it go?
Recently, Mayor Kennedy Stewart proposed that the city spend $30 million addressing the homelessness emergency crisis arising from the pandemic. The funds are for buying or leasing hotels, apartment buildings and single-room occupancy hotels to provide housing for those on the streets or squeezed out of shelters with COVID-19 distancing requirements. I’m so pleased to…
When you’re up against the odds: How Cuba’s July 26 celebration can inspire us all today
A few days ago, I, along with supporters of Cuba around the world and Cubans themselves celebrated July 26. What’s so special about July 26? Let me tell you. I think you’ll enjoy the story, mainly because it’s so relevant today, when a lot of us, especially young people, are determined to make what seems…
Let’s take a page from Joe’s bold, green, economic plan to recover post-pandemic
Centuries ago, I sat on the board of Vancouver City Savings Credit Union. Toward the end of my tenure, in the mid-1990s, we provided a significant amount of seed money to help get a brand-new, left-wing version of the Fraser Institute off and running. It’s called the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives — an independent,…