What is the Institute for Liberal Studies?

Peter Jaworski, Executive Director of the Institute for Liberal Studies, sits down with Windsor blogger Paul Synott to explain what the Institute is all about.

The U of T Laissez-Faire Club, founded by 2006 Windsor Liberty Seminar participant Seyitbek Usmanov, will be hosting a talk by Tom Palmer of the Cato Institute this coming Monday. Cato is a public policy think tank based in Washington, DC with a reputation for producing some great work.

I hope you can attend, but even if you can't please help Seyitbek out by spreading word about this excellent event by email, blog or any other means.

Details as follows:

Dr. Tom Palmer, Senior Fellow of the Cato Institute
"The Morality of Globalization: the Faster the Better"
Monday, April 2nd at 4:00pm
University of Toronto, Mississauga, North Building 134

(x-posted to the Institute for Liberal Studies)

What's a libertarian to drink?

I'd suggest one of these tasty beverages.

Sadly, if you live in Ontario you'll still have to purchase them from the Statist Liquor Depot (Limiting Consumer Beverage Options since 1927).

Windsor Liberty Seminar

Thanks again to all those who came out to yesterday's Windsor Liberty Seminar. It was a great success because of you. Thanks also go out to speakers Brett Skinner (pictured), Malkin Dare, Jim Watkin and Fred Miller as well as discussion leaders Peter Jaworski and Jamie Tronnes and co-host (and videographer) Janet Neilson.

For those of you who missed it the event (shame!) we had about 40 people from all areas of the province (Ottawa, Sudbury, Toronto, Waterloo and more) and some friends from north of the border courtesy of the Mackinac Institute.

I know first-hand that all of the speakers were great and, although I was't able to see much of the discussion groups, from what I'm told the level of conversation in the breakout groups was excellent.

As for the after party, huge thanks to Lindy (awesome as always) and to Phog Lounge who hosted an incredible evening and poured some delicious beer.

(x-posted to The Institute for Liberal Studies)

Mixed Messaging

From the Conservative Party ads featuring Stephane Dion"

"That is not fair!"

From an anonymous comment responding to Andrew Coyne's blog criticizing the budget:

"I don't think it's that fair criticizing a minority government's budget."

Memo to Conservative party supporters, bloggers and spinners when the party spends millions of dollars to brand the leader of the opposition in a certain way, don't try to claim that land for the party.

A Good Day for Liberty

And boy did we ever need it. But if you want details you'll have to head on over to the new Institute for Liberal Studies blog.

Don't be afraid, we're liberals of the classical variety.

Time to Cut the GST Again

In honour of tomorrow's budget speech I broke out one of my most-prized political possessions today. A sign from last year's election complete with the autograph of Prime Minister Stephen Harper. A feature that I like to think makes this sign a legally binding contract.

While the GST cut has been widely panned as inefficient, it's also the only tax cut so far that reaches all Canadians (and also the only one to benefit me!).

Here's hoping that Stephen and Jim pull a surprise out tomorrow and chop another point off the GST.

Killing the Capitol

Much to the dismay of many locals Windsor's Capitol Theatre looks to be heading into bankruptcy. It took a mere 9 months for the Smoke Free Ontario Act to kill this local landmark that many have struggled to resurrect. What makes this even more disappointing is that many seem to think the only way to save it is by using taxes to force people to support the Capitol.

Offering a product that meets market demands? Turning the 75+ protestors into a lean, mean ticket selling machine? Initiatives like these are oddly absent from the debate. In fact, one employee used the forum offered by state television to describe the disdain with which she greats first time visitors ("...and how long have you lived here?"). A tactic that may explain the lack of return visitors.

Peter Jaworski Blogs on the Windsor Liberty Seminar

Institute for Liberal Studies Executive Director Peter Jaworski joins a growing crowd with this entry. So if a Canadian liberty guru like Peter will be there, shouldn't you? blog on the Windsor Liberty Seminar.

What do you call a French libertarian?

If I ever meet one, I'll ask! Hi-yo!

But seriously, despite their 20th century socialist ways the French have a gread tradition of liberty including their eponymous revolution and economist Frederic Bastiat. So it's encouraging to read news of a libertarian(ish) candidate moving up in the French Presidential Election polls.

Now I doubt that M. Bayrou is what anyone would call a hardcore libertarian, but anyone standing for public office whose "policies are fiscally conservative but socially liberal" my kind of person.

Best of luck to the sexy centrists.

Ian Scott Blogs on the Windsor Liberty Seminar

Ian gives the seminar a plug and reassures anyone with concerns over what exactly the Institute for Liberal Studies is all about.

Thanks Ian! See you on the 24th.

Janet Neilson Blogs the Windsor Liberty Seminar

Fellow Institute for Liberal Studies Director (and hot libertarian woman!) Janet blogs with enthusiasm on the upcoming Windsor Liberty Seminar and gets the chance to break the news that our unofficially official after party at Phog Lounge will feature libertarian folk-rocker Lindy.

I'm even told that there's a seminar-based Facebook group for those of you young enough to be into that sort of thing (whippersnappers!).

Keep those registrations coming!