Author Archives: bhaggart

Understanding Facebook activism in two easy steps

Posted on February 18, 2010 by bhaggart

After reading Michael Valpy’s confusing article on the political effectiveness of Facebook in this morning’s Globe and Mail, I have to wonder if reporters will ever get their minds around exactly what Facebook is. Judging from Valpy’s interview with a … Continue reading →

Posted in Facebook activism | Comments Off on Understanding Facebook activism in two easy steps

Buy American: Surprise! No linkage!

Posted on February 5, 2010 by bhaggart

Since I mentioned it before, I thought it worth noting that Canada and the United States have reached a tentative deal on the “Buy American” stimulus package, in which Canadian suppliers are allowed to bid on contracts funded by what … Continue reading →

Posted in government procurement; Buy American; policy linkage | Comments Off on Buy American: Surprise! No linkage!

Parliamentary Committees I: The (mostly) civilized polar opposite of Question Period

Posted on January 31, 2010 by bhaggart

Up front, I have to note that I worked as a committee staff member (specifically, I was an economist with the Parliamentary Research Branch of the Library of Parliament) from 1999 to 2005. In other words, I have no direct … Continue reading →

Posted in dull but earnest post; Parliamentary committees | Comments Off on Parliamentary Committees I: The (mostly) civilized polar opposite of Question Period

The prorogation protests: What’s next?

Posted on January 24, 2010 by bhaggart

Nice to see so many Canadians out on the streets in the depths of January to protest prorogation. With any luck, this strong turnout will finally put to rest the idea that Facebook-based protests are inconsequential “slacktivism.” Facebook is a … Continue reading →

Posted in Proroguing Parliament; Parliamentary committees; Facebook activism | Comments Off on The prorogation protests: What’s next?

Facebook Activism, Redux

Posted on January 7, 2010 by bhaggart

The blogosphere and pundits are all atwitter over the Facebook group, Canadians Against Proroguing Parliament, trying to figure out what it means that over 80,000 people have signed up to this group in only a few days (it had only … Continue reading →

Posted in Facebook activism, Proroguing Parliament; Canadian Copyright | Comments Off on Facebook Activism, Redux