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| New MLI Study...From Rehabilitation to Recruitment |
On October 18th, the Macdonald-Laurier Institute released its third True North publication, since opening its doors just last March.
From Rehabilitation to Recruitment, is an in-depth look at the problem of prison radicalization - the recruitment and indoctrination of future terrorists within prison populations by fellow inmates.  Authored by MLI Fellow Alex Wilner, From Rehabilitation to Recruitment is a timely look at how Canada can prepare to fight a problem that is already on the public policy agenda for our allies in the United States, Europe and beyond. As Wilner writes, "This paper does not take an alarmist view of the situation within Canada. But it does sound an alarm."There has been great coverage of the study, as serious minds look for real solutions to this potential problem. Alex landed an Op Ed in the Globe and Mail. There was an article that ran in the National Post, Windsor Star, Calgary Herald and Montreal Gazette, to name a few. And the Washington-based Center for Islamic Pluralism writes that it "is pleased to note that The Macdonald Laurier Institute, a Canadian think-tank, has published a major article on prison Islamist radicalization...". Alex rounded out a highly successful publication and busy week with interviews from his base in Zurich with media across the country including Radio-Canada, Roy Green and Dan Ahlstrand in New Brunswick. To top it all off... MLI has just released an interview with Alex that you can view here.
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MLI's Sandberg in Nat Post Op Ed
| MLI aboriginal affairs contributor Don Sandberg recently had an Op Ed in the National Post, Wanted: Productive Native Reserves, that posed a fundamental question: Why are some native communities in Canada prospering while most languish in poverty?
Sandberg, a member of the Norway House Cree Nation in northern Manitoba, spelled out what he thinks it will take for prosperity to become the rule, rather than the exception, on native reserves. He also warned that the recently announced "consultation" by the federal Department of Indian and Northern Affairs, "better not look in the wrong places or it'll come up with the same old wrong answers", as it tries to answer the same question.
In Don's analysis, it comes down to reserve location, native leadership and governance shackles of the Indian Act and bureaucracy. He wrote:
"Too many First Nations leaders are too comfortable with the existing situation. They're afraid of risk. And even those who want to take an entrepreneurial chance are prevented from doing so: Sections 29, 87, 89 and 90 of the Indian Act effectively forbid commercial credit on reserves, making it impossible for outside courts to enforce contracts. Although the Indian Act was not designed to keep us isolated and in perpetual poverty, that's what it is doing."
Read the entire Op Ed here... |
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MLI's Canadian Century hits Washington
| MLi Managing Director, Brian Lee Crowley, was in the US capital in early October for a series of meetings and public appearances centred around MLI's best-selling first book, The Canadian Century: Moving out of America's Shadow.
One stop was at the prestigious Canadian Studies Program at the School for Advanced International Studies (SAIS) at Johns Hopkins University. Crowley and Jason Clemens, two of the co-authors ofCanadian Century, addressed students, faculty and Canada-watchers in the US capital on the content of MLI's first book. You can f ind a link to the an SAIS video here.
Dr. Crowley argued that sound fiscal policy and economic reforms have put Canada on a path to unprecedented prosperity that will enable the country to excel in the 21st century. At the same time, Early Fry of Brigham Young University, presented the themes of his new book, Lament for America: Decline of the Superpower, Plan for Renewal, which outlines key reasons why the world's lone superpower is in decline.
You can watch a video of the contrasting views here... |
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Canada's Ageing Population: MLI Commentary leads thinking
| Canada's population is ageing. The demographic deficit is a train heading down the tracks at governments and citizens, alike. Some people are starting to suggest solutions. People like MLI's Brian Lee Crowley...and Canada's Minister of State for Seniors Diane Ablonczy, who touched on the issue in a debate in the House of Commons on October 4th. She said:
"Canada's prosperity now and in the future depends on a strong labour force. Our labour force is immeasurably strengthened by the contributions of older workers. Canada's older workers have accumulated the kind of wisdom and experience that we cannot afford to throw away.
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These older Canadians are an increasingly important segment of our labour force. They have already contributed so much to our economy and possess valuable skills, knowledge and experience. They are also a source of enormous potential and are invaluable mentors to younger generations."
On July 6th, in Fredericton, Brian Crowley delivered a speech to Federal, Provincial and Territorial Ministers Responsible for Seniors, titled Seniors, population ageing and the future of Canada.
He said:
"Canada's future well-being depends on all of us succeeding in undoing the shift in retirement expectations that occurred over the past 35 years or so. If we do, we will make the largest single contribution possible to reducing the economic impact of population ageing, we will reduce the cost of public retirement programmes and health care (because older people who work enjoy better health), increase tax revenues, increase incomes for older people when they do retire (because they will have to fund fewer years in (retirement), lessen the very real possibility of intergenerational conflict and, perhaps most importantly, increase the happiness of older people who will feel themselves more useful, more involved, and more satisfied. Surely that's an outcome all Canadians could get behind if it were explained clearly, properly, and compassionately, and if we made it clear that provision for those unable to work would remain generous and accessible."
You can read the MLI Commentary on Ageing here...
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MLI in the News and on the Go!
| In case you missed it...
MLI's Managing Editor, John Robson, was in Washington at the same time as Brian Crowley. They had some overlap in activities, but, John also found time to check out some of the other parts of the US capital. His verdict? "Washington is a city that works."
John wrote about his experiences in his weekly column for the Ottawa Citizen. In case you missed it you can read it here.
MLI Fellow Alex Wilner landed marvellously in the Globe and Mail with an Op-Ed, Getting ahead of prison radicalization, on the very day that MLI released its latest study, From Rehabilitation to Recruitment.
On the Road with MLI
It's been another busy month for MLI Managing Director Brian Lee Crowley...
He was in Brussels discussing the future of trans-Atlantic relations at a meeting of the international minds organised by the Centre for European Studies (CES) and the International Republican Institute (IRI). We'll have more on this in an upcoming Newsletter and MLI will shortly release Brian's Commentary on the session.
Brian is in Toronto and Calgary this week and we'll be reporting on these trips in the near future too.
If you are in Ottawa on Tuesday, November 2nd, you should consider dropping by a book launch that MLI is hosting Calvin Helin, as the MLI Advisory Council Member launches his latest book, The Dependency Trap. Find out more details HERE on our MLI web site.
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