Downtown Toronto skyline with the CN Tower in the center, surrounded by modern high-rise buildings and railway tracks curving through green trees—an inspiring scene when considering three ways that Toronto could become more autonomous from Ontario.

How conservative are Canadians?

Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his team have expressed the desire to move Canada in an incrementally more conservative direction through successive Conservative governments.

The Canadian flag, featuring a red maple leaf on white with red bars, waves proudly on a flagpole against a clear blue sky—a fitting symbol for the nation known for its politeness, as Canada is sorry – a lot.

The Canadian conversation

Were you, like me, watching Quebec's election results pouring in last night, remembering Jacques Parizeau's denunciation of "the ethnic vote" in 1995 and anticipating that one of the defeated candidates might blame his ill-deserved fate on veiled Muslim voters - all 67 of them?

The flag of Quebec, featuring a white cross and four white fleurs-de-lis on blue, flies on a flagpole against a clear sky—a proud symbol of Canadian sovereignty in Quebec identity, culture, and language.

Quebec’s “winning conditions”

The members of the Parti Québécois have spoken, electing as their new leader a young, handsome, gay, and postcocaine André Boisclair, who has assured supporters a vote for him is a vote for a referendum " immédiatement" upon his moving across the aisle in the National Assembly.

A group of students sitting at desks in a classroom, focused on writing or taking a test. As they work individually on their assignments, let’s not dismiss the painful pattern of microaggressions that can shape their experiences.

Mr. Harper’s child-proof political strategy

Okay, Canada, Mother's Day Pop Quiz. Question: What policy idea is capable of uniting: (a) social conservatives, (b) advocates of smaller government, and (c) Quebec, the most socially progressive region in North America?

A smiling family of four, including two adults and two children, sit together at a table in a library, reading books and writing—perhaps even exploring topics like why politicians fixate on the ethnic vote—with shelves of books in the background.

New Canadians, old values?

Who would have thought? The community responsible for Toronto's gay pride parade, reliably the opposite of dull, finds itself at the centre of a legislative debate that has become boring.

Sex and fire: Religion, homosexuality, and authority in Canada and the United States

Canada’s Supreme Court recently declared that, should the federal govern-ment wish to proceed with same-sex marriage legislation, it should be encumbered only by its own fear of controversy–not by any constitutional constraints.

A man sits at a desk indoors, holding and examining a sheet of paper with a focused expression—perhaps pondering whether having an election that changes nothing is not such a bad outcome after all. Large windows and office furniture are visible in the background.

Shooting the pollsters

It was bound to happen sooner or later. As Americans and their leaders prepare for the most important and divisive presidential election in decades, pollsters, who like to think of themselves as scientists outside the arena of political contention, have become targets of partisan venom from both the Kerry and Bush camps.

A close-up of the United States flag, showing white stars on a blue field and red and white stripes. The fabric appears slightly wrinkled, suggesting movement—much like Canadian public opinion on free trade.

Why Bush will win

As Canadians lick their wounds over our national election result – a minority that carries with it the likelihood of another round soon – we should be thankful for our limited campaigns compared to the endless electioneering in the United States.

Two people, slightly blurred from motion, walk inside a modern building with large glass windows and a yellow grid ceiling. The floor is shiny, reflecting their figures—showing how coronavirus will not dent the trust Canadians have in each other.

A morning-after shocker

Alliance Party leader Stephen Harper and Progressive Conservative Party leader Peter MacKay have finally reached an agreement to merge their parties in an effort to unite the right.

Environics Institute for Survey Research

701-33 Bloor Street East
Toronto, ON M4W 3H1

info@environicsinstitute.org

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