Martin uses Osgoode to talk reform

Paul Martin, former finance minister and touted successor of Prime Minister Jean Chrétien, outlined a platform of reforms during a speech to students at Osgoode Hall Law School Oct. 21. It made front page news in major newspapers across Canada. The Globe and Mail led with Martin’s plan gives back bench more clout, The Toronto Star, with Martin plan targets political cynicism; Reforms aimed at top-down style of government; the National Post, with Martin vows to make PM less mighty. The story ran prominently in the Ottawa Sun, London Free Press, Ottawa Citizen, Edmonton Journal (Southam News), and CP Wire.

Not quite to so wild anymore

“Compared with the United States, we’re still a relatively resource-based economy,” says Bernie Wolf, professor of economics and international business at the Schulich School of Business, in a National Post story Oct. 22 on perceptions about the Canadian economy. “But that’s been changing over the years and we’ve become less dependent on resources. This is not something static, but something dynamic. Something that evolves. And clearly, as the population grows, you would expect that we’re going to continue to move in the direction of knowledge-based goods.”

Justice system creates vicious trap

In a letter to The Toronto Star about the series on race and crime, Gail Kellough, social science professor and criminologist mentioned in the article, underlined the systemic nature of the problem: “The fact that bail and plea-bargaining decisions lead to an over-criminalization of blacks creates what can be termed an ‘ideological circle.’ The greater representation of blacks in the official statistics both provides police officers with a ‘legitimate’ justification for targeting the black community and gives the arresting officer more information to support a negative character assessment in the confidential report to the bail court.”

The world is your oyster

Last July, Canada shipped 85.1 % of exported goods to the United States, begins an article on how small business should cast their nets further in the National Post Oct. 22. Dezsö HorvBth, dean at the Schulich School of Business, says, “If your firm has a very high concentration of sales to one single customer, I would be very worried, because you obviously, to a very large extent, are relying on that customer.”

Infomercial comes of age

“The infomercial has grown up,” says Alan Middleton, marketing professor at York, in a story carried by Canada News-Wire about the recent release of a KitchenAid 30-minute production showcasing the new Artisan(TM) Series Stand Mixer on Direct Response TV. “They are now a legitimate mainstream medium.”

York gets $537,000 for facilities

York’s share of $40 million from the Ernie Eves government to modernize and upgrade facilities will be $537,610, reports a Canada News-Wire story Oct. 21 about more funding for colleges and universities struggling to accommodate the double cohort.

On the air

Saeed Rahnema, political scientist at York, was interviewed Oct. 21 on CBC Radio’s “Ontario Morning” about a United Nations consensus to avoid war with Iraq. … Joel Lexchin, health policy professor, talked Oct. 21 on Montreal’s CBMT-TV’s “Canada Now” about drug marketing to doctors. … Paul Martin’s speech at Osgoode Hall Law School Oct. 21 was featured on CP’s Broadcast News, CBC Radio’s “Metro Morning” and “Here and Now” in Toronto, CBC’s “Newsworld Today,” CFRB’s “John Oakley Show,” “The World Today” and “News” in Toronto, CBC’s “Radio Active” in Edmonton, “Telejornal” (Portuguese), “Studio Aperto” (Italian) and “Newsline” (Chinese) on CFMT-TV in Toronto, “5 PM News” on CHEK6-TV in Victoria, CBC’s “Mainstreet” in Sydney, “Citypulse” on City-TV in Toronto, “VR Land News” on CKVR-TV in Barrie, “CHNews” and “Final Edition” on CHCH-TV in Hamilton, “Ce Soir” on CBLFT-TV in Toronto, “Global National” on Global TV in Toronto, “21:00 News” on CTV-N1 in Toronto.