The way that the B.C. political scene has reacted to the collapse of public confidence in the provincial Liberal government has posed a painful dilemma for Premier Clark.

Here’s the problem: Clark’s Liberals are really a coalition of Liberals and Conservatives, aimed at keeping the New Democratic Party out of power. Coalition members retain their distinct (and generally hostile) federal partisan affiliations. Clark’s own Liberal party is really an arrangement of convenience, a kind of truce between Liberals and Conservatives on the provincial front.

Analysis from my colleague Sylvain Schetagne:

A decreasing unemployment rate is not always a sign of a strong labour market.

The decrease in the unemployment rate from 7.4% to 7.2% observed between June and July 2011 is mainly due to Canadians leaving the labour market, not to their finding jobs.

In July, the number of unemployed Canadians decreased by 35,700 simply because 28,600 people left the labour market at a time when only 7,100 jobs were created. In fact, if those workers had not left the labour market, the unemployment rate would have stayed the same.

The Vegan Challenge (or vegan pledge) is a good way for "veg-curious" people to try a vegan diet for a short time in a fun environment under the guidance of a vegan who already knows the ropes. One of the barriers to exploring vegan food in our society is the myth that vegan food is weird. A Vegan Challenge is also a great opportunity to dispel that myth.

I've only been at my current job at York Region Rapid Transit for 9 months, but have been a dedicated vegan for 14-plus years (and a vegetarian since birth). Plant-based eating is my passion. While I actively volunteer for the Toronto Vegetarian Association in the hopes of directly influencing people, in other areas of my life, subtlety, tact and sometimes even downplaying my beliefs is in order. Workplace being a case for the latter.