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thebacklistborrower's Reviews (570)
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
I'm working on a Public Administration certificate at Camosun, and for a class I had to write an essay about a leader in government. I knew I wanted to pick a woman, and JWR jumped into my head.
In this book, she talks about how her Indigenous heritage and her experience in Indigenous politics influenced her governance style in settler politics, both as a Member of Parliament and as the first Indigenous Minister of Justice and Attorney General (MOJAG). JWR paints an inspiring picture of a better way to do politics, and how broken the current system is. It also doesn't paint former PM Trudeau in the best light, painting a leadership style focused on control, micromanagement, and manipulation.
It shouldn't surprise me that given the last five years I'd mostly forgetten the details of the SNC-Lavalin affair, but I had! This book, while centred around it as the turning point in her (settler) political career, speaks about so much more: how she and Jane Philpot (also kicked out of caucus) legalized medical assistance in dying and marijuana, how she relied on consensus building, and never stopped fighting for Indigenous peoples, even when she was told it was no longer politically valuable to take such action.
JWR is such a strong woman, and while I knew that through the news cycle associated with the SNC affair, this just showed the true prices she paid, and the strength she needed to stand up to the political pressures she was under. We just saw the tip of that iceberg. Anybody looking for a read about a story of strength, who needs inspiration to keep going towards a new way of politics, pick up this book!
In this book, she talks about how her Indigenous heritage and her experience in Indigenous politics influenced her governance style in settler politics, both as a Member of Parliament and as the first Indigenous Minister of Justice and Attorney General (MOJAG). JWR paints an inspiring picture of a better way to do politics, and how broken the current system is. It also doesn't paint former PM Trudeau in the best light, painting a leadership style focused on control, micromanagement, and manipulation.
It shouldn't surprise me that given the last five years I'd mostly forgetten the details of the SNC-Lavalin affair, but I had! This book, while centred around it as the turning point in her (settler) political career, speaks about so much more: how she and Jane Philpot (also kicked out of caucus) legalized medical assistance in dying and marijuana, how she relied on consensus building, and never stopped fighting for Indigenous peoples, even when she was told it was no longer politically valuable to take such action.
JWR is such a strong woman, and while I knew that through the news cycle associated with the SNC affair, this just showed the true prices she paid, and the strength she needed to stand up to the political pressures she was under. We just saw the tip of that iceberg. Anybody looking for a read about a story of strength, who needs inspiration to keep going towards a new way of politics, pick up this book!
Rogue Stimulus: The Stephen Harper Holiday Anthology for a Prorogued Parliament
Stuart Ross, Stephen Brockwell
funny
informative
lighthearted
There was a time I liked politics, when I felt like it was an oceanside cove I could dip in an out of, where I could test the waters and feel safe and in control (my privilege fully a part of that). Then it all changed, and I feel like if I jump in, I won't be able to tell which way is up, which way is safe, and end up dashed upon the rocks. For my own mental health, and out of a will to try to make the future not as dark as I see it becoming, I'm trying to find political waterwings.
Forums or spaces that I can feel safe and in control, and actions that I feel comfortable doing. This book is part of that, playing in the tide of comic poetry aimed at former prime minister Harper.
I snagged this out of a library book sale, and knew when Trudeau prorogued parliament it was time to pull it off the shelf. I'm glad I did! It's serious at times, but also funny and irreverent, with each poem collected, edited, and the book published all before the end of the *second* 2009 prorogation of the House of Commons. A lot of the poems are still applicable, like "how ridings swing" (one of my favourites), and others painting a view on when politics were different. Still challenging, to be sure, but less chaotic.
Forums or spaces that I can feel safe and in control, and actions that I feel comfortable doing. This book is part of that, playing in the tide of comic poetry aimed at former prime minister Harper.
I snagged this out of a library book sale, and knew when Trudeau prorogued parliament it was time to pull it off the shelf. I'm glad I did! It's serious at times, but also funny and irreverent, with each poem collected, edited, and the book published all before the end of the *second* 2009 prorogation of the House of Commons. A lot of the poems are still applicable, like "how ridings swing" (one of my favourites), and others painting a view on when politics were different. Still challenging, to be sure, but less chaotic.
