Is It 1938 Out There?
Today’s Hamas sympathizers echo the 1930s ‘Bund’ movement in North America. Since the Hamas invasion of Israel to massacre Jews on Oct. 7, 2023, there has been an eruption of public Jew-hatred in Canada. The most recent example occurred this past weekend, at the start of Passover, when “pro-Palestinian” demonstrations took place on Parliament Hill […]
Happy Easter from the Aristotle Foundation
Wishing you a Happy Easter One reason we created the Aristotle Foundation for Public Policy was to renew interest in the art and culture of Western civilization. It’s Easter weekend, and whether one is Christian, another faith, or practices none at all, art can always be appreciated on its own terms. Here are five Easter-themed […]
A primer on why DEI is a mistake
Why is DEI so flawed and illiberal? One reason we set up the Aristotle Foundation for Public Policy is to give Canadians the data, history, and tools to inform themselves and others. Think of us as the “wholesaler.” It’s our goal to provide research you can then “retail” to students, parents, teachers, politicians, the media—anyone […]
Book excerpt: No Avro Arrow conspiracy
Contrary to the myths, Diefenbaker’s decision ultimately came down to dollars and cents The Avro Arrow has taken on myths of epic proportions since the Diefenbaker government scrapped its development in 1959. According to such folklore, the cancellation was the result of a deep conspiracy that scuttled superior Canadian technology at the behest of a […]
Why Canada’s housing crunch isn’t going away
Immigration levels, with the exception of skilled workers and trades, must come down quickly before Canada can meet housing demand In the past year, multiple federal and provincial politicians finally recognized one important reason why Canada’s housing shortage in the last decade became severe, rents soared, and home prices stayed at nosebleed levels: unsustainably high […]
Book excerpt: The populist vs. the banker
The Coyne-Diefenbaker dispute was no mere quibble over economic policy The following excerpt is from Freedom Fighter: John Diefenbaker’s Battle for Canadian Liberties and Independence by Bob Plamondon, published by the Aristotle Foundation for Public Policy. Foreword by Jean Chrétien. John Diefenbaker was a man of modest means with an aversion to debt. As a child, he witnessed […]
BOOK EXCERPT: It’s Complicated: The USA, JFK, and John Diefenbaker
How JFK and John Diefenbaker both interfered in each other’s election The following excerpt is from Freedom Fighter: John Diefenbaker’s Battle for Canadian Liberties and Independence by Bob Plamondon, published by the Aristotle Foundation for Public Policy. Foreword by Jean Chrétien. Senator John F. Kennedy of Massachusetts visited Canada in October 1957, four months after John Diefenbaker had […]
Donald Trump’s continual, fake cries of victimhood
The president’s frequent cries about ‘unfairness’ are anchored in narcissism, irrationality and political scheming It would be remiss to survey grievance narratives without reference to Donald Trump precisely because his grand claims of victimhood are fanciful: a Manhattan developer/self-proclaimed billionaire who made it to the White House (twice) enduring the slings and fibs every candidate […]
Yasser Arafat — The Peter Pan Revolutionary of International Politics
The grievance narrative fed and nourished over the decades by Yasser Arafat has had murderous consequences The following excerpt is from The Victim Cult: How the Grievance Culture is Wrecking Civilization, by Mark Milke, published by the Aristotle Foundation for Public Policy. “He had a permanent chip on his shoulder, an angry undertone that seemed to insist: […]
Chronic Canadian apologies
Canadian politicians agree on virtually nothing except that apologies are owed The culture of political apologies Have we reached the ultimate stage of absurdity where some people are held responsible for things that happened before they were born, while other people are not held responsible for what they themselves are doing today? — Thomas Sowell […]
Gender affirming hormone therapy doesn’t work
Unicorns don’t exist. More accurately, there’s no evidence that they exist, which isn’t quite the same thing. As astronomer Carl Sagan famously articulated, “Absence of evidence isn’t evidence of absence.” Yet Sagan has also popularized the idea that “extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence,” which is also true, and a reprise of a similar axiom articulated […]
Land acknowledgements often ignore history
We should avoid creating mythology and special recognition that may have no basis in fact I remember the first time I heard a statement at a public event along the lines of, “This building is located on traditional unceded Aboriginal land.” It was in Australia, and it struck me as disingenuous, simplistic and patronizing. If […]
Why I’m thankful for pharmaceuticals
Almost 10 years ago, at the tender age of 90, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter was diagnosed with advanced metastatic melanoma, with lesions studding his liver and his brain. Historically, that diagnosis was a death sentence, with scant months between diagnosis and demise. But Carter’s diagnosis came shortly after the dawn of a new approach […]
The DEI nightmare must be dismantled
The full extent of it in Canadian universities is now emerging Shortly after his inauguration, United States President Trump issued an executive order that ordered the dismantling of “radical and wasteful government DEI programs and preferencing.” This order terminated federal diversity, equity and inclusion-related “mandates, policies, programs, preferences and activities.” Within days, a wave, indeed more like […]
Canada must prepare for a future without the United States
Over 150 years of economic integration may soon be coming to an end There is an old saying in American politics: “If you want a friend in Washington, get yourself a dog.” Canada’s problem with U.S. President Donald Trump is clear: there isn’t a Canadian breed that would stay with him. No one knows at […]
Taking stock of discriminatory hiring practices at Canadian universities
DEI isn’t just widespread, it’s practically ubiquitous, encompassing 98% of all academic job postings. Since the first European university was founded in Bologna, Italy, in 1088, the goal of higher education was supposed to be a search for truth. Alas, too many modern ivory towers in the West, including those in Canada in recent decades, […]
A mind that matters: Why everyone should know Thomas Sowell
Thomas Sowell’s searing critique of bureaucracy—“It’s hard to imagine a more stupid or dangerous way of making decisions than by putting those decisions in the hands of people who pay no price for being wrong”—is more relevant today than ever. This legendary economist, born to North Carolina sharecroppers in 1930, overcame adversity to become one […]
We’ve known it for years: Diversity, equity, and inclusion programs don’t work
Corporate America needn’t have waited for Trump or the Supreme Court: The business case for ditching DEI has been sitting in plain sight for years. In January, the world’s second-largest restaurant chain, McDonald’s, and Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, both joined the long list of multinational corporations that have announced they are discontinuing their […]
As DEI dies, companies would be wise to abandon it sooner rather than later
Last week, the world’s largest restaurant chain, McDonald’s, followed by Meta—the technology conglomerate that runs Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp—dumped DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion). In doing so, they join Toyota, Tractor Supply, Lowe’s, Ford, Boeing, Harley-Davidson, John Deere, and Molson Coors in discontinuing or reducing DEI efforts. Even Walmart, previously one of the greatest corporate […]
Canada’s progressive antisemitism problem
A review of Selena Robinson’s Truth Be Told 278 pages, $30.00 CAD According to former British Columbia cabinet minister Selina Robinson, Canada’s Left has an antisemitism problem. Robinson should know. Until 2023, she was the only Jewish member of the leftist BC government’s provincial cabinet. That ended abruptly when she was fired on trumped-up allegations […]
New ‘Calgary Plan’ puts ideology above the needs of residents
The City of Calgary’s recently released Calgary Plan is meant to detail the next three decades of municipal development. Instead, the 156-page document devotes a lot of attention to the idea that Calgary is a systemically racist city. To wit, the word “equity” appears in the plan more than 50 times, while “affordability” surfaces a mere four […]
RFK Jr.’s false ideas about vaccines pose huge risk to public health
The incoming health secretary wants to ‘Make America Healthy Again,’ but without vaccines, his slogan might as well be, ‘Make America Infected Again’ Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s nomination as America’s new secretary of health and human services has left much of the medical community muttering: “What the heck?” Kennedy’s stated mission is to “Make America […]
Education, not racism, drives the difference in earnings between races
New study fails to prove differences in earnings are due to systemic racism Significant federal program spending is premised on the idea that visible minorities in Canada are systemically disadvantaged. Take the latest: Earlier this fall, the federal government released a 45-page anti-racism strategy for 2024-2028, which “aims to tackle systemic racism and make our communities more inclusive and […]
Toronto should celebrate Henry Dundas as an abolitionist, not continue to cancel him
Unless one has been absent from Canada for years, it’s no secret that many academics and politicians appear to be in a race to cancel historical figures. Toronto has been ground zero for this behaviour which could be taken directly from George Orwell’s famous dystopian novel 1984. That book describes a future in which the […]
On gender, Alberta is following the science
Despite falling into disrepute in recent years, “follow the science” remains our best shot at getting at the truth of the physical sciences. But science, if we are to place our trust in it, must be properly defined and understood; it is at its essence an ever-changing process, a relentless pursuit of truth that is […]
Holding up the torch: An appreciation of those who served all Canadians
Our forebears were people who understood that the benefits granted by citizenship compelled one to return service to the nation. They signed up in droves to fight in 1914, and again in 1939; following the defeat of Hitler, Canada boasted a million men and women in uniform and the world’s fourth-largest navy. The stories of […]
Why ‘proportionality’ claims are flawed
One of the favourite words used by critics of Israel in its current wars against Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon is “proportionality.’’ What is meant by this word is that there is no comparison between the civilian casualties in Gaza and Lebanon and those suffered by Israel on Oct. 7, 2023 (and after), […]
TMU medical school’s race-based admissions policy is doomed to failure
Treating people differently based on race doesn’t improve social harmony — or any other outcomes Affirmative action discrimination and other forms of racial preference are pervasive in Canada’s public institutions. See, for example, Toronto Metropolitan University’s (TMU) new medical school admissions policy, which reserves 75 per cent of its seats for Indigenous, Black and other “equity-deserving” groups, […]
The illiberal outcomes of anti-racism: Review of the latest hit from Daily Wire Studios, ‘Am I racist?’
“Am I Racist?” the latest from Daily Wire studios, hit theatres this past month, cracking the box office top five and grossing more than $4 million. But the movie warrants attention for more than just its box office success; its creators have also managed to kickstart an international conversation about Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI.) Am I Racist? is […]
At TMU medical school, some students are more equal than others
Remember that the next time you’re waiting to see your newly minted doctor Canada’s newest medical school will select students not for their ability, but their identity. Great, as if Canada’s healthcare system wasn’t bad enough already. The school, which opens next fall at Toronto Metropolitan University, will reserve 75 per cent of its seats for Indigenous, […]
The lessons we should have learned from October 7
Canada has not taken the threat of Islamic terrorism seriously enough On the first anniversary of the October 7 terrorist attack on Israel, it’s worth looking back at the lessons we learned, or should have learned, over the past year. First, it’s always appropriate to remember what happened a year ago. In a surprise attack, […]
An attack on all of us: Why the Aristotle Foundation will not be silent on antisemitism
***A personal letter from Mark Milke about the Aristotle Foundation’s work on antisemitism and Israel*** When the board, staff, and I set up the Aristotle Foundation to champion reason, democracy, and civilization, we never thought we’d have to address antisemitic mob behaviour on Canadian streets and campuses. Regrettably, since the massacre of over 1,200 Jews […]
Criminalizing residential school ‘denialism’ would silence indigenous voices, too
Many First Nations people have provided important nuance to the debate. Their views should not be made illegal The effort by MP Leah Gazan to criminalize residential school views she labels “denialist” is a mistake. Gazan’s Bill C-413, if passed, would criminalize any statement that might be interpreted as “condoning, denying, downplaying or justifying the […]
Canada’s immigration system and Islamist terror threats
Arrests linked to terrorism reveal concerns over both imported and homegrown radicalization Recently, Canada’s immigration system has come under scrutiny due to a series of arrests of individuals alleged to be planning terrorist attacks. The first arrests came in July when a father and son, Ahmed Fouad Mostafa Eldidi and Mostafa Eldidi, were charged with […]
Why Calgary’s Mayor Gondek is unpopular — even when right
Mark Milke, Calgary Herald, September 12, 2024 It’s not the fault of Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek that a 50-year-old water main broke in June. Nor is it her fault that proactive repairs to pipes that deliver water to 1.5 million Calgarians are now underway, again necessitating water conservation measures. That’s critical to ensure remaining water […]
Disruptive smartphones have no place in school
Cellphones are the ultimate gateway drug for children and should be banned from classrooms Danny Randell, National Post, August 27, 2024 As students prepare to head back to school, it’s high time parents and policymakers take stock of how smartphones are negatively impacting Canadian kids. Self-control is harder for children than it is for adults. […]
The Toronto Star’s multiple errors on Sir John A Macdonald
The Star prefers mythology over facts John Robson, Western Standard, August 26, 2024 Given how dismal most of world history is, many people understandably romanticize their ancestors while governments peddle insolent propaganda. But why would Canada, so blessed by history and geography, have grafted onto a past as discouraging, as it is false? Consider an […]
When did Canada end systemic racism?
When the Canadian Human Rights Commission asserts that systemic racism is deeply entrenched in Canadian society, it does so contrary to the facts. Danny Randell and David Hunt, Western Standard, August 17, 2024 In 2020, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated that systemic discrimination is embedded “in all [of Canada’s] institutions,” following two RCMP officers using […]
Why conspiracy theories are more popular than facts
Michel Jacques Gagné, The Epoch Times, August 7, 2024 Last month at a Saturday afternoon open-air rally in rural Pennsylvania, former U.S. President Donald Trump was grazed by an assassin’s bullet, which left three others injured and two dead, including the shooter. The FBI quickly identified the gunman as Thomas Matthew Crooks, an intelligent but […]
Government should support science — not social engineering
Canada and the U.S. are both diverting significant sums away from scientific research to support “social justice” instead Lawrence Krauss, National Post, August 6, 2024 Lawrence M. Krauss, a theoretical physicist, has led research programs at major universities in the U.S. and elsewhere, and is currently the President of the Origins Project Foundation and is […]
See what Elon Musk and Jordan Peterson re-tweeted from the Aristotle Foundation
Elon Musk and Jordan Peterson just shared our summary chart—to over 11 million people Want to know more about our comparison of gender transition policies for teenagers?
Is Canada out of step on gender policy for minors?
We studied a myriad of gender transition policies in Canada and found that we are one of the most permissive, reckless jurisdictions J. Edward Les, Roy Eappen and Ian Kingsbury, National Post, August 1, 2024 Last spring, esteemed pediatrician Dr. Hilary Cass issued her final report of an exhaustive four-year-long inquiry into clinical “gender identity” practices in […]
Race-based anti-poverty programs don’t work
Most poor people aren’t visible minorities and most visible minorities aren’t poor: Federal policy should stop pretending otherwise Matthew Lau and David Hunt, Financial Post, July 26, 2024 You know you’ve hit a political nerve when a federal department feels the need to prepare a memorandum for parliamentarians to explain away its many public policies […]
Canadians need answers on the politicization of human rights commissions
Collin May, Western Standard, July 24, 2024 Judging by recent media coverage, the public would be justified in thinking that the Canadian Human Rights Commission (CHRC) is the most troubled of Canada’s federal bureaucracies. Recently, the CBC followed up on a story it did more than a year ago about allegations by CHRC staff against that organization’s […]
LinkedIn just banned my defense of Anne Frank—already seen by 20,000 people
Anne Frank was the German-born Jewish girl whose family left Germany for the Netherlands in 1934 to escape the Nazis. After Germany invaded Holland, the family went into hiding in Amsterdam, and where Frank kept a diary which documented her life in hiding from 1942 until 1944, at which point the family was discovered, sent […]
The federal government responds to the Aristotle Foundation study on poverty and race—and our response
Blacklock’s Reporter and the Toronto Sun recently reported how the federal government responded to our June study on poverty and race/ethnicity. That study by Matthew Lau and David hunt showed that 2.5 million Canadians in poverty happen to be ‘white’ and happen to be the largest number of any cohort in poverty. In a briefing […]
Barry Cooper on George Grant: Laurentian laments and oddly sympathetic to the Soviets
Barry Cooper, C2C Journal, June 28, 2024 Canadian conservatism boasts few intellectual giants like George Grant. As a philosopher and theologian – a rare combination today – his particular contributions shaped a uniquely Canadian vision of the politically-conservative tradition. Appropriately, a recently published book of essays assesses Grant’s work within today’s context: Reading George Grant […]
Harm-reduction activists defend safer supply with conspiracy theories
Adam Zivo, Western Standard, July 3, 2024 Faced with mounting evidence that “safer supply” programs are harming Canadian youth, some prominent harm-reduction activists are now peddling conspiracy theories and blaming the media for rising opioid addictions. This is absurd. These programs distribute free addictive drugs — predominantly hydromorphone, a heroin-strength opioid — under the assumption […]
What’s a Canadian? One who rejects tribalism
David Hunt, Western Standard, June 30, 2024 My wife and I were out for a long-overdue date night this week, and just before we could sit down, I was confronted with the following comment: “There is considerable nuance that you didn’t address in your new study!” The study in question was a short reality check […]
How the Summit Series shaped Canada: It’s not what you think
Rahim Mohamed, The Epoch Times, June 29, 2024 This Canada Day, reflecting on what it means to be Canadian, I want to take you back to the 1972 Summit Series. But not for Canada’s victory over the Soviets, but its indirect impact on an even more high-stakes drama playing out in… Uganda. In early August, […]
