Browse Items (501 total)

Trudeau: In Search of a Hot Issue

Ottawa, Ontario

Desbarats discusses the major campaign topics of the NDP, Liberal and Social Credit parties. In his interactions with citizens across the country, while following the campaign, he believed a liberal majority seemed probable. The…

Sometimes the Naked Animal Escapes

Ottawa, Ontario

The article focuses on a book by Richard Simeon of Queens University, entitled The Making of Recent Policy in Canada. The book argues that much of Canada’s supposed policy making through the last 10 years was really an illusion to…

Unique Canada' PM's Election Theme

Ottawa, Ontario

Discussed Pierre Trudeau’s election campaign, which stressed Canada’s uniqueness and superiority on the world stage. However, Desbarats believed this view may not be agreeable to Quebecers.

Tory Hopes in Quebec Ride on a Leader

Ottawa, Ontario

Focuses on the Conservative Party’s decision over who would lead the upcoming election campaign in Quebec. He notes that all members who were being considered were bilingual and that despite possessing an English surname, candidate…

Newfoundland's Politics Loses Gusto

St. John's, Nfld.

Article written on location from St. John’s, Newfoundland. Desbarats explores the strange, mystified, and almost familial nature of Newfoundland politics at the time. This traditional political style was being weakened by a new,…

In Our Weeks of Anguish: A Journal of October

Desbarats recounts his experience of the October Crisis of 1970. He provides a day-by-day account of his experience from Monday October 5, 1970 through to Monday October 25, 1970. He was creating a documentary on separatism for CBC at the time and…

The War On Sideburns Is Over

Peter Desbarats had sideburns before they became a socially acceptable style of facial hair. He recalls some of the difficult barbers he encountered and the unhappiness expressed by many of his colleagues and CBC viewers.

Pierre Elliott Trudeau: A Man Today

London, Ontario

Desbarats believed Trudeau was too good to be true as a politician and therefore, unfortunately, had a nowhere to go but down. He expounds on Trudeau’s solid education, ethnic background, linguistic ability, appearance, finances,…

Our Doctors Need a Public Watchdog

Ottawa, Ontario

Desbarats discusses the issue of doctors being the ones who investigate other doctors. In the case he describes, a man who was both a member of the public and a doctor himself was leading the inquiry into the case of his son’s…

Manitoba's New Medicare Plan: Doctors on Salary

Winnipeg, Alberta

Discusses the debate over the rising costs of health care and a desire to transition hospitals to community health centres. Pressure was increasing to have a board of governors manage doctors within these organizations and that…