Canada Archives - Queen's Journal

Canada should sever ties with the British royals—now, rather than later

Written on March 12, 2021. Posted in Editorials.

Barbados’ recent split from the royal family has renewed calls for Canada to do the same. It should. It’s been a long time since the Queen held any sway over Canada’s politics—pre-1987 to be exact. Now she exists as no more than a symbol, yet it costs us millions of dollars a year to support her and...

Soccer’s changing place in Canada and at Queen’s

Written on March 5, 2021. Posted in Sports.

Soccer is the world’s game, but historically, it’s struggled to find its footing in the harsh Canadian climate. The path to popularity has not—and will not—be straightforward. Sports like hockey have long dominated the Canadian sports consciousness even in the warmer months, which is something that...

Democracy is never ‘first past the post’

Written on February 9, 2021. Posted in Editorials.

We supposedly live in a representative democracy. Yet in 2011, a party that only 39.6 per cent of the electorate voted for took majority control of Parliament. The reason for this is our current voting system: first past the post (FPTP). Under this system, the candidate who receives the most votes...

Abortion access is an integral part of healthcare

Written on February 9, 2021. Posted in Editorials.

For over 30 years, Canada has been the only nation in the world to have no legal abortion restrictions at a federal level. However, abortions are still far more politicized than other medical procedures, meaning your ability to access the procedure in Canada depends on how your provincial government,...

O Canada: The reality of anti-Indigenous discrimination

Written on November 13, 2020. Posted in Lifestyle.

In the weeks leading up to the US election, die-hard Trump supporters took to social media to announce they’d be moving to Canada if the incumbent president wasn’t re-elected. Canadians took offence. We pointed out that Americans whose beliefs aligned with Trump’s wouldn’t find Canada’s strict gun...

Canadians cannot ignore our country’s social issues

Written on October 16, 2020. Posted in Opinions.

The murder of George Floyd sparked a pandemic-fatigued, Trump-weary United States into a summer of protest against police violence and the enduring legacy of slavery and segregation within the United States. Ultimately, it forced every facet of American institutional society to enter a reckoning on...

As the second wave hits, end of CERB sends wrong message

Written on September 29, 2020. Posted in Editorials.

With CERB payments set to end this upcoming Sunday, people in need of financial assistance as a result of the ongoing pandemic are feeling rightfully anxious. Most who collected these payments will be rolled into EI, but some will inevitably fall through the cracks—a reality the government must address. Public...

Canada’s child support system is broken. Women suffer for it.

Written on September 25, 2020. Posted in Editorials.

The Supreme Court ruled last Friday that retroactive child support payments can’t be cancelled once that child reaches adulthood. This ruling is a positive step forward but doesn’t change the fact that Canada’s child support system is broken. Statistically, women tend to be the primary caregivers...

Scapegoating other countries allows us to ignore Canada's issues

Written on January 14, 2020. Posted in Editorials.

As North Americans, we love to blame China for our problems. From propaganda to Chinese companies’ “alarming” presences in major North American industries, we seem to be scared of a nation that’s no different in their economic and political objectives than any European country, or our own government. But...

Canada doesn’t need royal ‘razzle’ or ‘dazzle,’ thank you very much

Written on January 14, 2020. Posted in Editorials.

Regardless of whether or not the Duke and Duchess of Sussex elect to make Canada their part-time home, our country is doing just fine with its “razzle dazzle” factor, despite what The New York Times might say to the contrary. The article (and corresponding tweet) in question explore the implications...

New minority government sitting in the hot seat

Written on November 29, 2019. Posted in Columns.

Last month, almost 18 million Canadians exercised their democratic right and voted in the federal election. After a hard-fought campaign by all parties, the Liberals, led by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, successfully formed government. Their diverse platform of policies surrounding gun control, pharma...

Canadian female politicians deserve better recognition and support

Written on October 29, 2019. Posted in Editorials.

Based on the rate at which women are being elected to Canadian Parliament, it’ll be another 83 years before the House of Commons achieves gender parity. This is because, despite marginal increases in representation, women still aren’t given the voices they deserve in Canadian politics—which hurts...

Confronting our own racial bias fosters true multiculturalism

Written on October 18, 2019. Posted in Editorials.

Canada is multicultural: it’s written into our laws, it’s touted worldwide as our strength, and it’s a way of life Canadians have embraced since it became official policy in 1988. It should come naturally to us. The country was founded on a divided playing field, split between English Canadians,...

Society needs oil and gas, and Canada needs to provide it

Written on September 27, 2019. Posted in Opinions.

Our society urgently needs to address the climate crisis, and a big part of that solution involves using Canada’s abundance of oil and gas. Most people see “oil and gas” as dirty words, whether at Queen’s or on campuses across the continent. But in my view, that stigma warrants a closer look. First,...

Canada’s university admissions process fails to make the grade

Written on March 22, 2019. Posted in Editorials.

Though Canada doesn’t currently face the same bribery challenges levied against U.S. colleges, our own host of inequities are inherent in our university application system. In the recent U.S. college admissions bribery scandal, a number of wealthy parents paid to doctor their children’s standardized...

For Canada, being the ‘nice guy’ isn’t enough

Written on February 12, 2019. Posted in Editorials.

Sometimes the good guy doesn’t finish last. In the case of The New York Times’ recent opinion piece glorifying Canada as a moral leader of the free world, this certainly rings true. Described as America’s “boring neighbour,” the piece continuously reaffirms how lucky the U.S. is to have us by their...

Canada’s food guide amplifies student health concerns

Written on January 18, 2019. Posted in Editorials.

It’s difficult to prioritize fresh-pressed juice and other healthy alternatives when you’re thinking about where your next meal is coming from. As headlines spread about Health Canada’s proposed changes to the country’s food guide, one critical fact goes largely ignored: a large portion of Canadians...

Queen’s prof breaks down startling IPCC climate change report

Written on October 12, 2018. Posted in News.

On Monday, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) warned the international community about the increasingly severe—and imminent—consequences of global climate change. The report, which has gained significant media attention for its dire predictions, stated the planet will reach an average...

'O Canada' lyric change is necessary for positive progress

Written on February 6, 2018. Posted in Editorials.

It’s essential that, as a country, we’re able to re-evaluate who we are as time goes on. When the national anthem no longer reflects a nation, it makes perfect sense for it to be changed. The House of Commons recently passed a private member’s bill from 2016 that will alter the national anthem. Instead...

Riding with a cause

Written on September 29, 2017. Posted in Sports.

Standing on the podium at the Hilton hotel in Quebec City in November of 2015, Curtis Carmichael seemed to have a pretty keen sense of where his future was headed. About to graduate from Queen’s with a degree in Physical and Health Education and a place on the school’s honour roll, the wide receiver...

Take another look at Canadian film

Written on September 28, 2017. Posted in Arts.

Although you might solely associate Canadian film with the perpetuation of the Canadian stereotype — lumberjack-looking men moping in the woods – there’s so much more to the national industry that’s often overlooked. Sometimes it feels like it’s not worth investing your time in exploring Canadian...

Intolerance of Muslim Canadians isn't new

Written on September 19, 2017. Posted in Editorials.

Discrimination against Muslims within our country is a real problem and Canadians shouldn’t need a survey to believe it. In an attempt to measure the broad acceptance of Muslims in Canada, 1,028 Canadians took part in an online poll commissioned by Think for Actions and Insights Matter. The survey...

Don’t forget about Canadian ‘Dreamers’

Written on September 15, 2017. Posted in Editorials.

Although the proposal by Canadians to help American ‘Dreamers’ is made with good intentions, we need to give our own Dreamers a chance as well. In a Huffington Post article titled “Canada has done less for its dreamers than the U.S.,” writer Vince Wong argues that without a corresponding program in...

Shared Perspectives publication summarizes progress in Canadian students’ mental health

Written on September 8, 2017. Posted in News.

On August 1, the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations released Shared Perspectives, a report that discusses recent advancements in student mental health services across the country. With input and information from student alliances from Alberta, Ontario, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, the joint...

Queen’s alum named Canadian ambassador to climate change

Written on July 31, 2017. Posted in News.

When speaking about her new role as Canadian climate change ambassador, Jennifer MacIntyre focused on potential: “If you ask about the challenges, I think my brain switches immediately to the opportunity.” On June 27th, the seasoned diplomat and Queen’s alumnus MPA ’08, was appointed Canada’s new...

Kingston Canadian Film Festival

Written on March 10, 2017. Posted in Arts.

For the past 16 years, the Kingston Canadian Film Festival (KCFF) has been showcasing a dynamic program of Canadian films. This year was no different as the festival screened a robust lineup of the year’s favourite feature films and shorts, not to mention being hosted by Canadian rockers, Mother Mother. Since...

Etsy’s tight knit community shares its craft with Queen’s

Written on September 27, 2016. Posted in Arts.

On Saturday, Etsy vendors transformed a normally hollow Grant Hall into a cozy, eclectic marketplace. There was no shortage of pastel, wool or wood aesthetic to be found among the artisan products presented by people from all over Kingston. Craft bracelets made from stone, knitted goods, glassware;...

What the Canadian dollar means for university students

Written on March 4, 2016. Posted in Lifestyle.

If you’ve noticed your grocery bill creeping upwards lately, you’re not imagining things. This year, the Canadian dollar has depreciated by nearly 20 per cent, the lowest it’s been since Finding Nemo was still in theatres and Beyoncé’s “Crazy in Love” topped the charts. Interpreting the foreign...

Laurier statues out of place

Written on October 30, 2015. Posted in Editorials.

Larger than life bronze statues of all 22 prime ministers is a bit much for a country accustomed to avoiding national pride like an ex-wife at a dinner party — there’s just too much history there. Wilfrid Laurier University might have to revise its plan to erect statues of the country’s leaders in...

A great Canadian playlist

Written on June 30, 2015. Posted in Lifestyle.

Canada has produced some of the most iconic musicians, including Neil Young, Stan Rogers, the Guess Who and even Drake. With the nation’s 148th birthday tomorrow, there’s no better way to celebrate than by blasting some of the best songs from Canada’s long list of talented musicians. Whether you’re...

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