The Canadian Dissident

Hidden in the basement of the Earth Sciences Building at the University of Alberta are an array of dinosaurs: Gorgosaurus, Stegoceras, and Pachycephalosaurus, to name just a few. The University of Alberta's museums are free and open to all, but due to nonexistent advertising and limited hours, they sit empty and silent most days. The Earth Sciences Building is home to two small but impressive museums. The Paleontology Museum showcases a variety of fossils, including dinosaurs, trilobites (cute little sea bugs that went extinct 251 million years ago), and the huge sea monster Dunkleosteus (pictured below).  If you've ever wanted to touch dinosaur bones, this is your chance! There's a table of fossils you can touch, including a dinosaur leg bone. Just down the hall is the Mineralogy and Petrology Museum , home to a large collection of rocks and minerals. Over 1000 specimens are on display, from diamonds to meteorites. The dinosaurs are probably the most popular exhibit at th

Today marks the 1st anniversary of the Canadian Dissident! I wrote 20 articles over the past year on a variety of topics relevant to ongoing events in Canada, from healthcare to warfare. Here's a quick look at some of the most popular articles from this successful first year: Hospital Capacity is Not a New Problem This was the year's most popular article, with over 700 views. I outlined the long-term capacity crisis in Canadian hospitals, especially in Ontario and Manitoba, from 2011 to 2020. We're Not "All in This Together" While Canadians endured lockdowns and restrictions, politicians partied, profited, and played by a different set of rules. Why Canada Needs Decentralization Giving more power to the provinces and municipalities would strengthen Canadian democracy.  Canadian Muslims Under Attack Muslims and mosques have been violently targeted in recent years. Only education can prevent the violence from escalating. Trudeau Campaigning on Authoritarian New Laws

Since Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the possibility of war spreading to other Eastern European countries has become a very real danger. Multiple NATO countries are at risk of Russian invasion, including Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. If any NATO country is attacked, Canada is obligated by Article 5 of NATO's founding treaty to come to their aid. This may include " the use of armed force " if deemed necessary. However, sending troops is not required by the treaty. The reality is Canada has nothing to gain from joining a war in Europe, and everything to lose. Canada is currently burdened by record-high debt, and any military action would be very costly. For example,  the  Afghanistan War  cost Canadians an estimated $18 billion. The human cost was also high. 165 Canadians were killed and over 2000 Canadian soldiers were injured. Thousands more were diagnosed with PTSD after deployment. A war against Russia, which has one of the world's larg

A protest against covid-19 restrictions outside the Alberta Legislature, February 22, 2022. Every province in Canada, except for British Columbia, has announced a plan to drop vaccine passports. As of today, 7 provinces have already ended vaccine passport requirements. Alberta, Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and PEI dropped vaccine passports in February. Today Ontario and Manitoba followed suit. Quebec and Newfoundland both plan to end their vaccine passport programs by March 14. This leaves British Columbia as the last province holding on to vaccine passports. Despite declining covid-19 hospitalizations and a high vaccination rate, the province has yet to announce any end to their vaccine passport program. However, the province's health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry has suggested some restrictions may lift by spring. "Looking ahead, as we expect transmission to continue to decrease and the weather gets warmer… we will likely no longer need those extra layers of protecti