Nation Maker—Sir John A. Macdonald: His Life, Our Times by Richard Gwyn. (Random House, 2011) Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: Nation Maker

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver at TheCommentary.ca.

In 2007, Richard Gwyn published the first volume of his biography of Sir John A. Macdonald—John A. The Man Who Made Us. He was on this program in the fall of that year to discuss the book, as he is now to discuss the second volume, Nation Maker—Sir John A. Macdonald: His Life, Our Times. It was published this past fall to great acclaim and many plaudits. The years covered in this book are 1867, the year of our Confederation, to 1891, the year of his death. The gift Mr. Gwyn has is he tells people stories well. He makes Macdonald’s life come alive on the page. The events of history are illustrated vividly and made understandable and accessible. The issues surrounding our founding, the scandals and controversies are parsed and analysed with the hindsight of time and the context of contemporary references. It is a wonderful read, and an absolutely important book. Richard Gwyn is an award winning author and political columnist. He wrote widely praised biographies of Pierre Trudeau and Joey Smallwood. And his book Nationalism Without Walls, one of my favourite books ever, was selected by the Literary Review of Canada as one of the 100 most important books about the country. www.richardjgwyn.ca is the website for more. Nation Maker is published by Random House. I’m very pleased to welcome back to the Planta: On the Line program, Richard Gwyn; Good morning, Mr. Gwyn.

Oliver’s Twist: The Life and Times of An Unapologetic Newshound by Craig Oliver. (Viking, 2011) Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: Oliver’s Twist

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver at TheCommentary.ca.

This has been a heavy season for political books, what with the major biographies on Macdonald, King, John Turner, Thomas D’Arcy McGee, among four major releases this fall. There are also popular political books, like Peter Newman’s on the Liberal Party, as well as memoirs; the one from Allan Fotheringham was a notable read. The one that I found a great read, not just because it had analysis of politics and media over the last couple of decades, but also because it has gossip is Craig Oliver’s book. In Oliver’s Twist: The Life and Times of An Unapologetic Newshound you get funny, candid, and fascinating stories, but you also get the deeply personal story of the famed television journalist. You read the heartrending story of Mr. Oliver’s childhood in Prince Rupert, BC, about his bootlegger father and his alcoholic mother. You read about being abandoned as a child, his beginnings in broadcasting, right up to today where he’s one of the most recognised, respected, and beloved journalists in Canada. He lived this remarkable life having to deal with failing eyesight. In those passages about finding out about losing his eyesight, you glean courage, but also lessons in not feeling self pity. It’s a great book, and published by Viking. Craig Oliver is the chief parliamentary correspondent for CTV News, and the co-host of Question Period. He’s won a multitude of awards. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program in Ottawa this day, Craig Oliver; Good morning, Mr. Oliver.

Stories About the Storytellers: Publishing Alice Munro, Robertson Davies, Alistair MacLeod, Pierre Trudeau and Others by Douglas Gibson. (ECW Press, 2011) Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: Stories About the Storytellers

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver at TheCommentary.ca.

One of the more delightful books of this fall season is the eagerly anticipated Stories About Storytellers from Douglas Gibson. In this country he’s described as a ‘living legend,’ and a ‘publishing icon.’ For over forty years, he has edited and published thousands of Canada’s best books. He joined Macmillan of Canada in 1974 as editorial director, and then became its publisher in 1979. In 1986, he joined McClelland & Stewart as editor and the publisher of books under his own imprint, Douglas Gibson Books. In 1988, he became the Publisher at McClelland & Stewart. In 2004, he went back to concentrate on his imprint, and though he ‘retired’ in 2008 at the age of 65, he publishes under his imprint at M&S still. This book has some incredibly fascinating stories, as well provides a wonderful insight into the book trade. Stories About the Storytellers: Publishing Alice Munro, Robertson Davies, Alistair MacLeod, Pierre Trudeau and Others is published by ECW Press. And this fall, he’s embarking on a book tour across the country to promote this book and share some of the countless stories from his years of publishing. Mr. Gibson will be in Vancouver in October. Tuesday, 18 October 2011 he’ll be headlining an event at the Vancouver International Writers Festival; the next night he’ll be at Bolen Books in Victoria. Check out the website at www.douglasgibsonbooks.com for details on the book and this tour that that takes him across the country. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, in Toronto this day, Douglas Gibson; Good morning, Mr. Gibson.

Mighty Judgement: How the Supreme Court Runs Your Life by Philip Slayton. (Allen Lane, 2011) Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: Mighty Judgement

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver at TheCommentary.ca.

An interesting and important book was published a month ago, in the midst of the federal election campaign. The author made a plea that in the campaign, it was necessary to think about the Supreme Court of Canada, as the next prime minister would have to appoint at least four judges to it, thus shaping or reshaping Canada in the process, years down the line, long after the prime minister was gone from office. See, the Supreme Court of Canada, other than being an arbiter of cases that make its way to the highest court of the land, the court in recent years, since the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, has decided many laws in the absence of our politicians. References to the Supreme Court often decide the limits of policy and law. And since the election, two Supreme Court justices have announced their retirement, bringing the number of judges who could be appointed by Stephen Harper to at least five. The author of Mighty Judgement: How the Supreme Court Runs Your Life joins me now. Philip Slayton is the bestselling author of Lawyers Gone Bad, and writes for Canadian Lawyer magazine. He is a Rhodes Scholar and was a law clerk on the Supreme Court. He retired in 2000 as a senior partner at the firm, Blake, Cassels and Graydon. His website is at www.philipslayton.com. The book is published by Allen Lane, which is an imprint of Penguin. I’ve also become a fast fan of the GabnDad movie reviews he does on You Tube. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, in Vancouver this day, Philip Slayton; Good morning, Mr. Slayton.

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver at TheCommentary.ca.

From Oakville, Ontario, ‘One of Canada’s Top Five Political Minds,’ Gerry Nicholls joins me again. He was on with me just before the election was called, and now just after vote, we’ll check in. He was one of the few pundits who thought a Conservative majority was possible for Stephen Harper. He joins me now for a bit of a victory lap around the results. We’ll talk about Jack Layton and the NDP’s official opposition status, their success in Quebec, the decline of the Bloc and the Liberal Party of Canada. It’s a party in disarray. The website for more is at www.gerrynicholls.com. He is a communications consultant, commentator, the author of Loyal to the Core, and a fan of The Office. That’s important. Oh and he’s a former vice president of the National Citizens Coalition. Please welcome back to the Planta: On the Line program, Gerry Nicholls; Good morning, Mr. Nicholls.

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver at TheCommentary.ca.

We continue looking at the results from Monday’s federal election. When the campaign began, it was dubbed the Seinfeld election, in that it was about nothing. Sure there were questions of ethics surrounding Stephen Harper and his government, and a budget he was trying to pass. It turned out to be a remarkable election. Today, I’m joined by the Victoria Times-Colonist’s Paul Willcocks. We’ll ask Mr. Willcocks if it is indeed historic, and what we can expect in the 41st Parliament in Ottawa. It’ll be a parliament where the Conservatives have a majority, Jack Layton is the leader of the official opposition, and the NDP has a caucus where a majority of its members come from Quebec. The Liberal Party of Canada is now the third party in the House. It’s a parliament too that will have Elizabeth May of the Green Party as a member. There’s much to talk about. The website for more is at www.willcocks.blogspot.com. Please welcome back to the Planta: On the Line program, Paul Willcocks; Good morning, Mr. Willcocks.

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver at TheCommentary.ca.

Adam Daifallah joins me again. The public affairs consultant, lawyer, academic, and journalist joins me from Montreal, Quebec, a province painted orange in last night’s federal election. We’ll ask Mr. Daifallah, what happened? What accounts for Jack Layton and the NDP’s success? What happened to the Liberal Party of Canada across the country? And how Stephen Harper got his majority? Six years ago, Adam Daifallah was on this program to talk about a book he co-authored with Tasha Kheiriddin, Rescuing Canada’s Right: Blueprint for a Conservative Revolution. It’s apt to talk to him now, and see what’s happened since. Mr. Daifallah is a senior partner at MRCNR Strategy Advisors, a Montreal firm. He lectures at McGill, and appears on occasion in the National Post, where he was once a member of their editorial board. The websites for more are: www.daifallah.com and www.mrcnr.net. Please welcome back to the Planta: On the Line program, Adam Daifallah; Good morning, Mr. Daifallah.

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver at TheCommentary.ca.

Over the last several days we’ve been talking to the candidates running for office in the federal election, specifically in the riding I live in, Vancouver Kingsway. The person running for re-election, the incumbent Don Davies joins me now. He is the New Democratic Party candidate.

Prior to winning the 2008 election, Don Davies, a lawyer, was the director of legal resources for Teamsters Canada (local 31). He has the distinction of being one of the top 5 members of Parliament who have spoken the most words in the House, and who’ve introduced the most private members bills. He is his party’s critic for Public Safety and National Security, Multiculturalism, and Western Economic Diversification. The website for more is at http://www.dondavies.ndp.ca. Please welcome back to the Planta: On the Line program, Don Davies; Good morning, Mr. Davies.

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver at TheCommentary.ca.

May 2nd is Election Day, and we continue meeting the candidates running in Vancouver Kingsway. Between now and Monday, I hope to talk to all of the candidates. Only the Liberal Party, and Marxist-Leninist candidates have yet to confirm appearances on the program.

I’m joined now by Trang Nguyen, the Conservative Party candidate. She is an accredited court interpreter, Bowen therapist, and small business owner. She has broadcasting experience, having worked at Channel M and Fairchild Radio. She immigrated to Canada from Vietnam as a child. The website for more is at www.trangnguyen.ca. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Trang Nguyen; Good morning, Ms. Nguyen.

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver at TheCommentary.ca.

Election Day is one week from today, and now, the second in a series of interviews with the candidates in the riding of Vancouver Kingsway. As of late last night, five of the seven candidates have been booked for appearances. Only the Liberal Party, and the Marxist-Leninist candidates have yet to confirm appearances on the program.

Joining me now is Kimball Cariou, the Communist Party of Canada candidate. A former labourer and political organiser, Mr. Cariou is the editor of People’s Voice, a bi-monthly newspaper. He’s been involved in the peace movement going back to during the Vietnam War, and he’s a founding member of StopWar, an anti-war coalition here in Vancouver. You occasionally see him in the pages of the Georgia Straight writing about the so-called war on terror and other national issues. The website for more is at www.votecommunist.ca. This is Mr. Cariou’s third campaign in this riding for his party. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Kimball Cariou; Good morning, Mr. Cariou.