Electoral reform: We know it’s needed, but what should it look like?
Electoral reform would leave a defining mark on the country’s political history, as the changes made will not be revisited for decades.
Peace to prosperity: President Trump’s plan for peace in the Middle East
President Trump calls his ‘Peace to Prosperity’ plan a “win-win opportunity for both sides.” This claim is hotly contested, with many observers seeing it as unequivocally favouring Israel.
The gatekeepers of democracy: Lessons from the acquittal of President Trump
Prior to his electoral victory, Donald Trump notably declared: “I could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody, and I wouldn’t lose any voters.” Four years and one impeachment later, this statement has never seemed more true.
Barricade on the railways: Understanding the Wet'suwet'en crisis
For weeks now, footage has circulated from the snowy evergreen forests of Wet'suwet'en territory, where land defenders of the Indigenous Wet'suwet'en nation have held their ground against the RCMP in opposition to a proposed pipeline.
Drone striking major general Soleimani: Illegal?
Following the drone strike, the American government has made several legal arguments to justify its decision to strike Soleimani.
Helping LGBTQI refugees find a safer home: Spectrum hosts Rainbow Railroad
Devon, Manager of Program Development at Rainbow Railroad, discussed the challenges facing LGBTQI refugees, and her organization’s efforts to help them, in a lecture hosted by Spectrum at the University of Toronto on January 14th.
Trump 2020: new year, same president
Donald Trump recently became the 3rd President in American history to be impeached – but he won’t be the first removed from office.
Tragic massacre escalates U.S.-Mexico border tensions, calling for an end to Mexico’s cyclical violence
Three mothers and their fourteen children were travelling along a remote road between the northern Mexican states of Sonora and Chihuahua, when they were suddenly ambushed by gunfire on the morning of November 4th 2019.
The consequences of a lack of U.S. climate change policy
It is in the national and economic interest of the U.S. to impose practical, attainable, and measurable environmental policies.
The consequences of careless rhetoric: President Trump’s announcement of the death of Baghdadi
The death of Baghdadi holds great political significance: the ultimate distraction from President Trump’s domestic and foreign policy woes and the destabilization of IS at the highest level.
The Tucker Carlson consensus: What the right-wing rabble-rouser can teach us about the future of American politics
“Prepare yourself,” popular Fox News host Tucker Carlson warned his audience on a recent episode of his program, “because wherever there is Elizabeth Warren, there is falseness… Fake is who Warren is!”
What El Chapo’s conviction means for the drug trade in Mexico
El Chapo’s downfall has been hailed as a massive victory for the war on drugs, but it does not signal the end of Sinaloa.
Move fast & break things: Leveraging blockchain to modernize Canadian bureaucratic databases
There are growing calls for governments to modernize and streamline their information systems.
Is the United States prepared to put an end to gun violence?
On Wednesday November 7, 2018, a gunman opened fire on a group of unsuspecting people at the Borderline Bar and Grill in Thousand Oakes, California. This attack killed 12 people and injured at least 16 others.
North Korea wins gold in new Olympic category: Charm
An impending meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and the North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un shouldn’t obscure the major challenges ahead to resolving the crisis on the Korean peninsula. It’s called a “charm offensive.”
Canada’s deepening wound: The Aboriginal health crisis and a call for culturally sensitive healthcare
Overdose is now among the primary causes of death in Canada.
It was fun while it lasted, America: Pulling the plug on U.S. trade dependency
Should we continue this relationship with the U.S.?
Is the United States capable of being more than a two-party system?
Despite the number of “third parties” that dominate local political circles, the U.S. polity has been anything but kind to non-Democrats and non-Republicans.
Weinstein Effect: Can we separate the art from the artist?
Since The New York Times first revealed Harvey Weinstein’s alleged sexual misconduct, the floodgates have opened to similar claims against other famous, powerful men.
The Paradise Papers: Why are offshore tax havens legal?
This is not a scandal in which corporations and the elite are avoiding taxes illegally; rather, they are doing so legally.