To round out the year that was 2006, we here at rabble.ca decided to acknowledge the great scandals, broken promises and kerfuffles from Ottawa, to Washington and everywhere in between that kept this site running.

Best ice-breaker in journalism schools

  • The Danish cartoons
    From Rick Salutin’s Muslims ‘r’ us, not them, February 10. Freedom of speech versus tastefulness, discuss.
  • Jan Wong’s implication of racism in Quebec
    From Jan Wong’s Get under the desk, The Globe and Mail, September 16. Three days after the Dawson College shooting in Montreal, Wong wrote a lengthy article saying that Kimveer Gill went on the rampage because he was alienated from a province concerned with “pure laine” (racial purity). Angry letters, editorials and even an unflattering cartoon of Wong ensued.
  • Corporate interests in the Victoria Times-Colonist
    From Rob Wipond’s Advertisers make CanWest Global news go silent, September 14. Controversy erupted when senior reporter Vivian Smith was fired from the Victoria Times-Colonist shortly after writing a column about how expensive Victoria’s major tourist spots cost. Rumours started to spread that Smith’s termination was due to complaints from the tourism industry that advertises in the paper but no one would confirm or deny these allegations. Who would have thought journalists would ever say, “No comment”?

Winner: Jan Wong
Journalists do make the occasional mistake and unfortunately, it’s there for the whole world to see. It’s just a reminder to readers (and aspiring journalists) that behind the supposed cold, hard facts on the newsprint there’s a writer with a particular angle and theme.

Best ball-dropper:

  • Ryerson University during the Somerville fiasco
    From The Globe and Mail‘s How Ryerson failed Margaret Somerville, June 17. The university was the subject of controversy when it decided to give an honourary degree to Montreal ethicist Margaret Somerville because her opponents say that she opposes same-sex marriage. But instead of backing its decision to award Somerville, Ryerson released a statement saying that it was basically stuck with giving Somerville the degree. See? Ryerson doesn’t discriminate, it screws everyone over.
  • Harper’s Cyprus photo-op
    From Derrick O’Keefe’s Stephen Harper: A photo-op too far, July 21. Harper accompanied a planeload of Canadian evacuees to Ottawa from Cyprus a week after the Prime Minister approved Israel’s bombing of Lebanon. The Prime Minister of Lebanon said that the international community values the lives of their citizens more than those in Lebanon, hinting at Canada and the United States who have been evacuating their citizens.
  • The global north
    From Murray Dobbin’s How the West destroyed Afghanistan, October 4. It’s another case of Western ideologies and corporate interests repeating itself in the Middle East. Politicians negating to mention the context of previous occupations in the region is not new but for using the same tactics that have failed earlier and making the public angrier, you get a nomination.

Winner: the global north
Harper may be the Prime Minister and Ryerson may be a university but nothing can beat a group of developed nations which are widening the gap between the rich and the poor across the globe. Global institutions such as the World Bank and International Monetary Fund encourage neo-liberalism with structural adjustment programs and a one-size-fits-all approach to help developing countries. How’s that to ruin your holiday shopping?

Best non-issue to be made into an issue:

  • Gay Marriage
    From Ethan Ribalkin’s America votes more gay, December 12. Why move back to the Leave it to Beaver family-era when domestic abuse ran rampant and depression was common among couples? If two men want to go through the nightmare that is planning for a wedding, go nuts. Mr. Harper, you do remember that there is a war going on right?
  • The Pope’s verbal diarrhea
    From the Associated Press’ West Bank churches struck after Pope remarks, September 16. While quoting a very long medieval text, Pope Benedict XIV made a reference about Muslims being evil and inhuman, causing a huge ruckus in September. Now, he just finished a trip from Turkey to fix the damage and seems to be doing a good job. Yes, the Pope has major influence on Christians but keep in mind, this is the guy who wore red Prada shoes.
  • Journalists are curious
    From Ira Basen’s Stephen Harper’s press gallery take down, November 9. It’s one thing for politicians to only choose to speak with bigger publications at press conferences because understandably, they have a busy schedule and they want to speak with the media outlets that will have the largest audiences. But only talking to outlets that support your agendas in press conferences would only anger “left-wing publications” and make the problem worse.

Winner: gay marriage
A poll conducted by Environics Research on behalf of Canadians for Equal Marriage earlier in the summer found that 60 per cent of Canadians thought that the issue had already been settled and donâe(TM)t think it should be reopened. The clash between church and state will go on forever but the country took a stance in 2003 and legalized it so itâe(TM)s time to move on to more important things.

Best issue that’s swept under the rug:

  • Aboriginal Rights
    From Judy Rebick and Velcrow Ripper’s A tale of two social forums, February 1. Quebec wants to separate from Canada but what about the original residents? With the highest suicide and poverty rates, Aboriginals are swept to the outer skirts of cities where they can fend for themselves or make the decision to leave the reserve (and roots of their culture) in order to receive better welfare in the cities.
  • Immigration
    From Hillary Bain Lindsay’s Challenging immigration control in Canada, March 16. You’ve landed in Canada, now what? It takes about 10 years to catch up to everyone else in terms of job status, income and overall standard of living. What is the government doing to help immigrants make the transition to a new country easier besides making them prove that they have enough money or skills to benefit the economy?
  • Homelessness/affordable housing
    From Alyssa Noel’s The poor must be made a priority, November 27. Though the Conservatives think they’re solving this problem by having more police officers patrol “high risk” areas, it’s not going to keep thousands of people across the country warm this holiday season.

Winner: homelessness/affordable housing
Though the generosity of people across the country is evident every holiday season with toy drives, free turkey dinners and maybe even an extra bed or two in the shelters, whatâe(TM)s going to happen after December? For starters, we must demand an increase in social spending and the minimum wage so that the homeless wonâe(TM)t be thrown out along with old Christmas trees.

Best issue that’s making everyone (and I mean everyone) jump on the bandwagon:

  • Climate Change
    From Karen Pinchin’s Canada’s changing political climate, November 16. It’s this season’s equivalent to the LIVESTRONG bracelet and even made a movie star out of Al Gore. Most importantly, it brought the Conservatives to a full 180 degrees when Harper’s five-point plan didn’t even mention the environment. But now Rona Ambrose is hailing the Clean Air Act that has a set goal 40 years from now when most people will probably be swimming to work with the way temperatures are rising nowadays.
  • AIDS
    From Ralph Surette’s Our squeamishness over world’s greatest plague, August 25. Has there ever been a more fashionable (and profitable) disease? Though the intentions to find a cure to fight this global epidemic are good, the commercialization of AIDS is disgusting. Most recently the (Red) campaign where retailers like Apple and the Gap are selling (PRODUCT)RED items and donating a fraction (and I do mean a fraction) of proceeds to charities. Being charitable doesn’t mean giving money to transnational corporations that exploit cheap labour in foreign countries so that you can literally wear it on your sleeve.
  • Organic Food Industry
    From Hillary Lindsay’s Does corporate organic change organic landscape?, January 30. Big box chains like Wal-Mart and Loblaws introduced their own line of organic foods that on one hand is great since fewer pesticides are being used but on the other, the corporate organic culture has become the industry it tried to fight in the first place. Monoculture, increased importing and lack of support for local farmers have become a common practice in the industry. So how’s them apples for you?

Winner: climate change
Warm temperatures and the lack of snow in Ontario this year have sparked talks even among people who have never thought about the issue beforehand. Households are even making the switch to fluorescent light bulbs and leaving the car at home in light of the situation. Global warming: it’s hotter than the PS3.

Best subject for a made-for-TV movie (since they already did Conrad Black)

  • Wayne Gretzky
    From Chris Newmarker’s Wayne Gretzky’s wife named in sports gambling case, The Star (Toronto), February 7. Even though nothing really came out of this scandal, it’ll be interesting to make an “inspired by real-life events” movie. Think Sopranos on Ice, football gambling rings with hockey skates and a swift puck to the face for anyone who plays “foul.”
  • Belinda Stronach
    From Belinda Stronach reportedly the other woman in Tie Domi’s marriage” CityNews, September 23. It’s a classic formula for a soap opera: money, power, celebrity, love and (alleged) adultery. It is frustrating that people are more consumed with her personal rather than political life, which illustrates the double standard women in power face. But hey, you would watch it right?
  • Stephen Harper
    From Murray Dobbin’s Harper keeps carving away at Canada’s soul, December 5. Harper will probably be better as a game show host entitled, “Cut it out!” in which contestants will spin a wheel with various social programs on it and whatever the wheel lands on, Harper will eliminate the program off the face of the Earth. Then contestants will have to find a way to survive without that program and by doing so they will win a $100 tax credit each month.

Winner: Stephen Harper
Sorry Belinda, but the audience has spoken and you are not Canada’s Next Top TV Subject. Even Time magazine named Harper as the 2006 Canadian Newsmaker of the Year. If this were a TV movie, Harper’s minority win and downward spiral toward public dissatisfaction would make an interesting climax. But audiences will have to wait until next year to see if he can emerge victorious. And who will have the honour of playing the Prime Minister? Russell Crowe (with a prosthetic chin).

Best reason to sew that Canadian flag on your backpack

  • Anti-scab legislation
    From Kim Elliott’s Anti-scab victory calls for celebration, October 31. Bill C-257, a bill to forbid replacement workers, passed a second reading in Parliament days after the Canadian Labour Congress celebrated its 50th anniversary. With the bill passing at 167 to 107 it still needs to make it through a Standing Committee review and a vote at a third hearing but it’s still a great triumph for the CLC.
  • Living to work, rather than working to live
    From Jim Stanford’s Would that be work to live, or live to work?, September 13. The French work less than their American counterparts and yet they get more done and have more leisure time. Canadians on the other hand, are right in the middle of the two countries when it comes to working hours and productivity according to a report by Ontario’s Institute for Competitiveness and Prosperity. We may not be making our GDP as high as Americans but at least, like the French, we’re taking time out to smell the coffeeâe¦or rather, Tim Hortons.
  • Come out to Canada!
    From Gilles Marchildon’s Does “coming out” still need its own day?, October. 12. At a quick glance it seems that Canada has more openly gay and lesbian elected officials than the United States per capita. Homosexuality is still a taboo subject in American media with former New Jersey Governor James McGreevey and singer Lance Bass being put into the spotlight because of their sexual preference. When was the last time something like that happened here?

Winner: Come out to Canada!
While not all parts of the country are as open to accepting homosexuals as Toronto is, Canada is the fourth nation in the world to legalize same-sex marriage after the Netherlands, Belgium and Spain. For being a progressive nation and an example to the rest of the world, here’s to Canucks!

Best evil-doer of 2006

  • George Bush
    From Scott Piatkowski’s Why wait until 2008? Impeach Bush now, February 16. Where to start? Al Gore said that the war in Iraq is the worst thing that any president has done in the history of the United States (those who recall slavery may say otherwise) and he’s been critiqued rather than praised for the majority of his work. Hurricane Katrina, Homeland Security, the Middle East âe” a whole book could be written.
  • Stephen Harper
    From Richard Fricker’s An American journalist’s view of Harper, Consortium News, October 17. Though critics of him may call him Bush-lite, Harper’s cuts on the social safety net have earned him a spot in this category. Health care, child care and most recently the environment, it’ll be interesting to see what Dion will be doing come election time.
  • The North American Free Trade Agreement
    From Tor Sandberg’s Naomi Klein: Scrap NAFTA, rejoin the Americas, December 7. It’s easier said than done to scrap neoliberalism from the global north but according to author and anti-globalization activist, Naomi Klein, getting rid of NAFTA is the first step in getting rid of this current system that is responsible for much of the inequality and injustice in the U.S. and Canada such as privatization.

Winner: The North American Free Trade Agreement
With NAFTA, prices may be going down for consumers but they’d probably be turned off from buying that $20 sweater if they found out that it only costs a few dollars to make the garment and the person who made it was only paid a few dollars a day. It’s not just big businesses that are culpable; people who buy the products are just as guilty.

Worst reason to be proud to be Canadian:

  • Iraq
    From Jim Stanford’s George Bush’s defeat is a global one, November 20. The title of the article says it all doesn’t it?
  • Health care
    From Diana Gibson’s Alberta headed for U.S.-style health system, February 2. All right, Canadians aren’t having shouting matches with our HMO providers over the phone, but health care isn’t the best here. With the move towards privatization, it’s coming down to a case where it’s only the wealthy élite who can afford to be healthy.
  • Afghanistan
    From Jack MacAndrew’s Why are we in Afghanistan?, April 3. The issue is still on the radar but instead of accomplishments or further developments being reported, casualties appear on the front pages of newspapers instead. It’s time to take a step back and re-evaluate the situation because nothing’s being done since the Taliban were driven out.

Winner: Afghanistan
A total of 44 Canadian soldiers and one diplomat have been killed in Afghanistan since 2002, 36 of them this year. It’s a strange juxtaposition to have the words “winner” and “Afghanistan” next to each other.

Worst platform to build a re-election on:

  • Cutting Ontario’s GST by one per cent
    From Linda McQuaig’s There is a deadly cost to cutting social programs, January 1. So instead of something that’s $9.99 totalling to $11.49, it now costs $11.39. Mr. Harper, please keep the 10 cents and put it towards a new bed in a hospital.
  • The $100 a month subsidy for babies
    From Catherine Fife’s This country needs a universal child care system, May 11. When critics mean a band-aid solution for universal child care, they mean a band-aid solution considering child care in Ontario costs about $50 a day. No wonder Quebec wants nothing to do with the rest of the country.
  • Canada Employment Credit
    From Duncan Cameron’s Beware of Conservatives bearing gifts, May 3. It sounds as if tax payers will get a $1,000 tax reduction but in reality they’re getting to reduce taxable income by $1,000. So the savings would be 15 per cent of the $1,000 income deduction that works out to about $3 a week. Good PR work but it’ll come back to bite you in the ass once people file their taxes.

Winner: the $100 a month subsidy for babies
Consider it as a lesson for all single moms out there; it’s what you get for not having a breadwinner husband. Then everyone will blame you when you leave your kids at home because you were working at one of your three jobs and couldn’t afford a babysitter.

And that’s it for 2006 — unless something more shocking happens in the next two weeks to throw this whole article out of whack.