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Why I’ve Continued to Support Manitoba’s Health Minister

How the urge to blame leads to poor conclusions

4,308 Words Posted on by Brent Toderash

Abstract

Manitoba Health Minister Cameron Friesen has come under some fire recently, and I've taken a few personal hits for defending him in conversation or social media posts. In this essay I posit that most of the criticism is not well-considered, overlooking the attendant facts or possible alternative actions. Some of the criticisms, where well-founded, are misdirected, while others call for unwarranted retributive action. I find many of these to be based in anger and frustration. As such, the bulk of these criticisms are unhelpful in the current situation of the global pandemic, as they undermine confidence and spread the same anger and frustration without a firm basis for either.

Does Canada Face the Threat of Western Separation?

Pundits are calling Canada a divided nation following the result of the 2019 Federal Election

3,589 Words Posted on by Brent Toderash

Abstract

Following the 2019 Federal Election in Canada, I had a few thoughts nagging at me. I jotted down most of them here in the week following the election, just to clear them from my mental register. Eventually, I came back and added some sources and notes, finishing up the idea so it would at least become publishable. The main idea here is that Alberta and Saskatchewan can't separate, that they're the only two Western Provinces talking about it, and that their leaders actually know they can't separate. Talking about separating and raising anti-Ottawa sentiment in their provinces, however, builds populist political capital for them, so don't look for them to admit that separation is highly impractical for them despite the perceived unfairness that they tout.

How Much of an Emergency Can the Climate Actually Be?

Some say the level of concern is way overblown. Is it?

3,650 Words Posted on by Brent Toderash

Abstract

There are different levels of climate change denial, ranging from denying its existence outright to denying that we should combat it in any fashion. These denials are often based upon some erroneous objection or objections, which are themselves often predicated upon deeply-held presuppositions which present a perceived personal risk to acceptance of climate science or the resulting recommendations.

The Debate at Portage & Main

Why I decided to support opening Portage & Main to pedestrians

13,914 Words Posted on by Brent Toderash

Abstract

A considered approach to the question of Portage & Main, I summarize the current situation and how we arrived here, and the costs of the proposal as far as they are known. I then consider the various arguments against and for the opening up of Portage & Main to pedestrian traffic, weighing the merit of each and considering what facts are available to back the position. A consideration of the profile of downtown Winnipeg and its direction from an urban planning standpoint is considered as a transition between considering the "no" and the "yes" arguments. Finally, after rendering what I feel is the clear verdict between the two, various opinion polls are considered, along with their interpretation – and why they are at odds with my conclusion. Any ranting has for the most part been saved for the end after a conclusion has been reached.