Ezra Levant

Ezra Levant contributes a breath of fresh air to the debate surrounding the subject of Alberta's oil sands which its opponents have polluted with misinformation and deceptive public relations campaigns. On either an environmental, economic, or moral standard, Levant argues that the maligned oil sands product should be preferred to the oil we import from despotic regimes in other parts of the world. Rather than filling the coffers of notorious human rights abusers such as Hugo Chavez, Saudi royal fat cats, and others, energy consumers ought to look to Alberta where oil sands revenues actually benefit the citizens, and where the environmental impact is closely monitored and regulated. Levant's blunt and witty commentary, for which he is well known, make reading Ethical Oil entertaining as well as informative and convincing. If I have one reservation, it stems from the strange inattenion paid to the brutal oppression of Christians in most of the oil states which Levant criticizes for persecuting others including women and gays. Odd. Despite that, Levant's case is iron clad and well stated; it is a must-read for anyone seeking the truth regarding this issue of critical importance on so many fronts.… (lisätietoja)

If we just take the book as detailing the misuses of the quasi-judicial human rights commissions then this book would be an engaging, eye-opening read. Instead, rather than simply present a case for dismantling/updating/reorganising these commissions, Levant pads this book with a bunch of his neo-liberal, right-wing propaganda that is completely unnecessary for making his case. For no reason whatsoever, there are jabs at Palestinians, liberals, Torontonians, etc., that in no way serve to strengthen his point. Threaded through the piece is also the notion that Canadian society has rid itself of all bigotted behaviour. Coming from a rich, white, straight, man statements like that smack of privilege and having worked with people below the poverty line, I can assure you that bigotry and racism do still exist in Canada. Unfortunately.

Hopefully someone in the future can expand these issues with the human rights commissions and write a more balanced, less vitriolic, perspective.… (lisätietoja)