Free Republic

It can be hard living next to history’s greatest cultural, military and economic superpower. But that doesn’t mean the United States is best at everything. As Canada celebrates its 146th birthday we dig into the numbers to find some of the many ways Canada is better off–from sports and sex to politics and entertainment. Life & well-being 1. We live longer: Canadians born today will live an average of three years longer than Americans (81 years in Canada versus 78.7 south of the border). Not only that, the gap between life expectancy in the two countries is widening with each...

CANADA, (The Global Edition) — Governor Romney’s surprising victory in first Presidential debate between President Obama and the Governor has had a surprising effect on the United State’s neighbors to the north, North American media reports. The border police gave out a warning about “a flood of American liberals seen sneaking across the border into Canada“... SNIP...Media outlets report that the possibility of a Romney Presidency has prompted the exodus among left-leaning citizens who fear they’ll soon be required to “hold down a job, hunt, pray, and agree with Bill O’Reilly.” SNIP... According to well-informed sources, “liberals need so much...

Today's "we swear we're not the Onion" story: Dick Cheney has canceled a planned appearance in Toronto ... because he fears it could be too dangerous a trip to take. "He felt that in Canada the risk of violent protest was simply too high," explained the head of the promotions company that had scheduled the April 24 event at the apparently risky Metro Toronto Convention Centre. The National Post reminds us that Cheney reportedly got stuck inside a Vancouver building for seven hours during a September speech after a protest outside indeed turned violent and a security guard was choked.

Canadian astronauts celebrate milestone Published Saturday July 18th, 2009 The Canadian Press LONGUEUIL, Que. - A bear hug in space between two Canadian astronauts marked a history-making moment as Julie Payette floated into the International Space Station and was greeted by fellow Canadian Bob Thirsk. It marked the first time two Canadian astronauts were in space together at the same time. Payette was a member of the seven-member crew of the space shuttle Endeavour who arrived at the space station Friday afternoon after five technical and weather-related delays. Thirsk was so excited about the Canadian rendezvous that he snapped pictures...

They wanted to carry guns, but one in five Canadian border guards have been flunking their shooting lessons. "Eventually, they will be armed. But not everyone is going to qualify," said Marie-Claire Coupal of Windsor, fourth national vice-president of the Customs and Excise Union, adding that the 20-per-cent failure rate applied across the board. Coupal said part of the reason 20 per cent of trainees have been flunking out is the relatively short firearm training period of three weeks, compared with 16 weeks for RCMP officers. Most of the failures were in the 25-metre shooting qualification requirement - a long...

Tim Hortons has launched a double-double of a lawsuit, seeking $105 million in damages from two of Canada's largest media companies and a popular Toronto radio talk-show host. The coffee chain giant filed a defamation suit against Standard Radio and CFRB talk-show host Bill Carroll, along with CanWest, which owns Global TV, alleging they falsely stated that Ottawa footed the bill for a franchise serving Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan. "The false and defamatory statements respecting the establishment of a Tim Hortons franchise injured the plaintiffs' trade name, brand and commercial reputation," according to documents filed with the Superior Court of...

  On this, our nation's 139th birthday, we celebrate our pride of place as a rambunctious fledgling on the world stage, at least by demographic and historical standards. Our vast 10 million square kilometres, girded by three oceans and the most powerful nation on Earth, is populated by a mere 32 million people, most of them border dwellers and many of them newcomers themselves.   Yet, despite our youth, we are universally recognized as a diverse resolute country of admirable character, a land peopled with the descendants of native Indians, stoic pioneers, and new generations of grateful immigrants.   We're...

A newly released survey by MasterCard Canada's 2006 Priceless Index indicates that a majority of Canadians polled have selected beer as their most priceless national beverage and Celine Dion as their most priceless Canadian star. The Canadian flag is considered to be our most priceless symbol while regional divides differ on whether parkas or toques are the most distinctly Canadian clothing. Mastercard's Priceless Index is an annual national survey conducted to determine the symbols that are considered representative of Canadian patriotism. According to this year's survey: --one in three Canadians (33%) say the most priceless way to celebrate Canada Day...

Conference Semifinal Playoff Schedule NEW YORK - The Conference Semifinal round of the 2006 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs opens Friday, May 5, when the Ottawa Senators host the Buffalo Sabres in the Eastern Conference and the Anaheim Mighty Ducks host the Colorado Avalanche in the Western Conference. The Eastern Conference series between the Carolina Hurricanes and New Jersey Devils and the Western Conference match-up between the San Jose Sharks and Edmonton Oilers start on Saturday, May 6 and Sunday, May 7, respectively. National network television coverage of the Conference Semifinals is provided in the United States by NBC and OLN...

ur mission today, should you choose to accept, is to vigorously launch the Free Bob campaign -- to set loose what's left of a moose that is being held in captivity by enforcement officials within the ministry of natural resources. It may seem frivolous, but it is not. Frivolous is to concern ourselves with today's speech from the throne, with Iraq and Afghanistan, with the price of gas at the pumps, and with whether Pamela Anderson's near-baring of her puppies at the Junos will save a single seal. Those scenarios are out of our control. We are here today to...

Ephraim Hershkowitz The Canadian Embassy in Tel Aviv has confirmed that a Canadian man is among three Jewish activists being detained by Israeli authorities. The three are suspected of planning attacks to disrupt Israel's withdrawal from the Gaza Strip. Beginning in mid-August, Israel plans to remove more than 9,000 Jews from settlements in the West Bank and Gaza. Ephraim Hershkowitz, 22, who holds both Canadian and Israeli citizenship, was detained on Sunday after attending the funeral of a man described as an Israeli army deserter. The man had been beaten to death by a mob last week after killing four...

  Paul Jackson, Calgary Sun   "I will put competent judges on the bench who will strictly interpret the Constitution and will not legislate or use the bench to write social policy" -- U.S. President George W. Bush There is a huge battle shaping up in Washington that will dominate newspaper headlines and the airwaves and have average Americans following every thrust. It's the fight by U.S. President George W. Bush to get his nominee, John G. Roberts Jr., vetted by Republican and Democratic senators alike and his appointment to the Supreme Court of the U.S. confirmed. I tell my...

Stephen, Listen To Us Granted, we have, in the past, advised Conservative Leader Stephen Harper to stop listening to the media. But based on recent events, we have had a change of heart. Mr. Harper -- LISTEN TO US. Stop trying to be something you're not -- the Mel Lastman of federal politics. Stop dressing up in funny hats and outfits like this -- see photo, below -- and trying to be a gladhander. You've allowed Paul Martin's hatchet men to define you. They put out the word you were an "angry" guy and now you're running around trying to turn on...

Sat, July 9, 2005   Time for Alberta to exit, stage right? LINK BYFIELD A University of Alberta professor I know sent me a lengthy article he's trying to get published, entitled: "Let's get while the getting's good." In it, Leon Craig, professor emeritus of political science, lays out a case for Alberta to declare unilateral independence. And he lays it out well. Craig makes no bones about it.   Alberta, he says, should go it alone. Almost overnight, we would become one of the most prosperous nations in the world. But -- and this is his key point --...

By JOSE RODRIGUEZ   This space is generally reserved for cutting commentary, venomous verbiage and the odd shot of comic relief. Not today. Because even those of us lucky enough to be in the opinion industry (read: professional whiners) know a good thing when we see it.   It's Canada Day and despite the chronic criticisms that clacks from this keyboard all the other days of the year, today is a day to toast the Maple Leaf and raise a beer to Mother Canada. So bottoms up -- we have plenty to celebrate. If it wasn't for Canadians, the world...

Celebrations Felt Fake: Canada Day Looked Like A Liberal Campaign Ad   Mon, July 4, 2005By EZRA LEVANT Canada Day celebrations this year were worse than most years. Even in better times, the staged, paid-for public displays of official patriotism reeked of political correctness -- of government-chosen musical and dance acts, government stage direction, government funding, government bilingualism and larded with far too many government cabinet ministers inserting themselves into programs that are boring enough. In other words, they felt fake -- unlike Remembrance Day, for example, a holiday that retains its original meaning, if only by the continuing vigilance of our veterans. Canada's history is rarely...

Canadians are becoming even more negative about Americans, viewing them as "rude, greedy and violent," suggests a survey released yesterday. And while most Canadians agreed Americans are inventive and hardworking, less than half called them honest, said the Pew Research Center poll, which charted some minor improvements in a major global image problem that spiked after President George W. Bush's invasion of Iraq in 2003. But the survey, conducted among nearly 17,000 people this spring in the U.S. and 15 other countries, suggested America remains "broadly disliked" in 10 of them and regard for Americans is going down, Pew director...

  Cheer up, Stephen Mon, June 20, 2005 Stephen Harper is turning out to be the Rodney Dangerfield of federal politics. No matter how good a job he does, he "can't get no respect." If you believe the news stories, Harper is apparently a cheerless and dour stick-in-the-mud who can't muster the necessary charisma to sell the Conservatives to voters. The Liberals, of course, delight in playing up the point, especially if it causes dissension and stress in the Conservative party, which, admittedly, is easy to do, considering the party was the result of a merger between the formerly...

  Canada: Not as boring as you think - Paul Whitney Mon, June 13, 2005The other day I read another newspaper story about how boring Canadians are - that Canadian society has taken all the rough edges off life and Canadians are dull, boring and unadventurous. As a proud, thrill-seeking Canadian, I immediately protested this accusation in a firm but polite manner and was about to organize an unbiased committee to discuss these claims in a non-confrontational, non-gender-specific and unbiased, manner. In spite of that, here's my opinion. There is plenty of adventure to be found within Canadian borders, as...

May 10, 2005 EDITORIAL: Martin's empty promises Time for a reality check on Prime Minister Paul Martin's magical mystery tour designed to save his hide with our cash. Fact is, Martin can't guarantee any of the multi-billion dollar promises he's made recently in hopes of staving off an election until next winter. That includes his deal with NDP Leader Jack Layton to boost social spending by $4.6 billion over two years and with Premier Dalton McGuinty to hike federal spending in Ontario by $5.7 billion over five. Contrary to the bafflegab of Toronto Mayor David Miller last week, there...