On oilsands wealth and possible long-term consequences of the Canada Post "resolution"

Attempt at a conversation with Minister Raitt

Mrs. Raitt,
As you've started your tenure as a Labour Minister with a major breakthrough in taking labour rights in Canada into the 19th century, here is some advice for the future (as the tough-on-workers approach will surely provoke more strikes, not fewer):

• Fastest way to decrease unemployment: stop recognizing those unemployed as workers at all. Just start treating them like a nuisance that can be easily disregarded. Pat on the shoulder from neanderthal colleagues guaranteed.
• Easiest way to push through back-to-work legislation: quickly claim that anyone opposing the legislation is unpatriotic and wants to kill the economy. Get a few sunny-news papers and TV channels to spread the word. Everyone goes back to work while you can go back to sleep.

Something to think about.

On shut-up-and-get-back-to-work legislation and other things

On value of unions, on spending cuts, on PTSD, and on asbestos: "News & Views" for week of June 12th

Budget advice for Flaherty, thoughts on the postal strike and other events

Harper's "Mission Completed" moment et al. ("News & Views" with Artem Medvedev for this week)