James Moore: A summer reading list to replenish the mind
James Moore is a former federal cabinet minister under prime minister Stephen Harper, and a columnist for CTVNews.ca.
The summer break from the federal Parliament — and from our provincial legislatures — offers our political leaders an opportunity to refuel.
Federally, this has been a long year. The resignation of a prime minister, a leadership race for the governing party, the installation of a new prime minister, the tense federal election campaign, the throne speech by King Charles III, the G7 in Alberta, the first ministers' meeting in Saskatoon, promises to 'build baby build' and generationally unprecedented nation-binding infrastructure.
It's been a very busy legislative agenda, and all of this while the president of the United States persists in his trade war and tariff agenda and has the world on edge with his approach to foreign policy.
So, yes, a breather is needed. A break, a mental reset and some distance from the tumult of the first half of 2025 to gain some perspective and grounding is in order.
What is also in order, and ought to be a passion of those aspiring to meaningful contributions while in office, is some intellectual restocking.
Most people arrive in office with a head full of ideas and a motor to grind through the travel, meetings, expectations and muck to try to see their ideas come to life. But the mind, body and spirit can wane over time, particularly when you've had a half-year like we've experience so far in 2025.
Just as the body needs to rest and our relationships and community bonds need to be reestablished in the summer months, so, too must the intellectual capital be replenished by our leaders if they are to be of full value to Canadians in the balance of 2025 and beyond.
With that in mind, I humbly offer a suggested summer reading list for those looking to take a few weeks and slow down, nourish the mind, and return in the fall with some needed intellectual replenishment.
'The Morning After: The 1995 Québec Referendum and the Day that Almost Was,' by Chantal Hébert and the late Jean Lapierre. Published in 2014 about the referendum of secession in Québec in 1995, this book is a documented warning about the dangers of setting in motion a political event that stirs all the divisions and passions that exist in our country, and not having a clue as to what comes next should your argument succeed. It is an incredible snapshot of a hinge moment in Canadian political history and full of lessons to be learned – something that will be useful as we approach the Québec election in 2026 and the anti-Canada referendum agenda of some in Alberta.
The Morning After The 1995 Quebec Referendum and the Day that Almost Was
(Penguin Random House Canada)
'Nation Maker: Sir John A. Macdonald: His Life, Our Times,' by Richard Gwyn, published in 2012 is simply essential reading for anyone wanting to understand Canada's founding and our first and most important prime minister. This is the second volume of Gwyn's biography of Macdonald, and it is his best. It eviscerates any argument that Canadian history is in any way dull, or that the creation and enduring existence of Canada was in any way a guarantee. Creating Canada was complex, at times tragic, at times inspirational, strategic, responsible and forever a fight against incredible odds. Without Sir John A. Macdonald, there is no Canada. A must read.
Nation Maker: Sir John A. Macdonald: His Life, Our Times,'
(Random House Canada)
'At the Centre of Government: The Prime Minister and the Limits on Political Power,' published in 2018 and authored by Ian Brodie, offers real world insight into the workings of the office of the prime minister of Canada. A political scientist who also served as chief of staff to Prime Minister Harper, Ian is one of the most respected voices in Canada at explaining where political science and theory, practical governing and real-world politics collide and how one can find success in navigating these conflicting storms.
Chip War: The Quest to Dominate the World's Most Critical Technology
(McGill-Queen's University Press)
'Chip War: The Quest to Dominate the World's Most Critical Technology,' by Chris Miller, is a primer on the intersection of economics, technology and geopolitics. Semiconductor dominance is a linchpin for 21st century power and the tiny chips inside all our devices – and who controls them – will shape global politics, great power competition and, possibly, future military conflict. While the world is rightfully focused on the wars in Ukraine, Gaza and Iran, tensions between China and Taiwan and the United States and its allies and China hinge on the fight of the fight for control over this technology. It is fundamental that our decision makers grasp the issues at hand and inform themselves of the dynamics at play.
Chip War: The Quest to Dominate the World's Most Critical Technology
(Scribner)
'The Second Mountain: The Quest for a Moral Life,' by David Brooks. This book hit me hard in all the right ways. It is about taking stock of one's life and understanding that professional accomplishment, resume building and career goals are an important mountain to climb in life – for a sense of purpose, contribution, financial stability and fulfillment. But, once scaled, there awaits a 'second mountain.' As Bono once said: 'the summit of aspirations can be a lonely place' and leave you feeling less satisfied than you imagined you'd be. The finding a different mountain to climb based on what Brooks calls 'eulogy virtues' – the things about your character and commitments that people will say about you once you've passed from this world – is something that will confront us in time, if we're fortunate. Finding that second mountain of a life well lived and learning the virtues of living a life through service to others, caring for your family, volunteerism, community building, these are the things that lead to a truly more meaningful life.
The Second Mountain: The Quest for a Moral Life
(Random House Trade Paperbacks)
More from James Moore:
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CTV News
27 minutes ago
- CTV News
North Bay mayor says he won't resign over expenses controversy
North Bay Mayor Peter Chirico held a last-minute news conference Thursday afternoon to call for an investigation into his expenses by the city's integrity commissioner. (File) North Bay Mayor Peter Chirico held a last-minute news conference Thursday afternoon to call for an investigation into his expenses by the city's integrity commissioner. Chirico said he has no intention of resigning and said he has done nothing wrong, according to city spokesperson Gord Young. The mayor has been under fire in recent weeks after the city's standard financial oversight processes flagged his use of a corporate credit card for a number of personal expenses. Charges from 2023-2024 According to reports, about $16,000 in personal expenses were charged to his corporate card. In a statement to CTV News on June 13, Chirico said that in 2023 and 2024, a number of expenses charged to his corporate credit card were flagged and reviewed and that all expenses were submitted through 'appropriate channels.' Chirico said expenses that were deemed personal, including some that fell into a 'grey area,' were fully repaid. On Thursday, he called for a full investigation into the matter by North Bay's integrity commissioner Guy Giorno to clear the air. Chirico declined requests for an interview Thursday from CTV News Northern Ontario, but said he would be available to talk next week.
CBC
an hour ago
- CBC
Nova Scotia Progressive Conservatives received highest donations last year
Nova Scotia's governing Progressive Conservatives outpaced their rivals in fundraising last year, though the NDP had more individual donors. Elections Nova Scotia says the Tories raised $1,157,677, the Opposition NDP collected $839,465, and the Liberal Party received $633,163. The annual report lists the name and community of each person who contributed $200 or more, and the amount donated to each political party, riding association and registered candidate. Donors are limited to giving a maximum of $5,000 to an individual party, its riding associations and candidates — but can donate to multiple parties. The Tories had the highest average donation at about $1,105 per donor, while the average for the Liberals was $826, and for the NDP, it was $689 per donor. However, the New Democrats had the highest number of individual donors who gave them $200 or more, with 1,218 people listed in that category, ahead of 1,048 for the Progressive Conservatives and 766 for the Liberals.
Globe and Mail
an hour ago
- Globe and Mail
CSIS flags extremist Khalistani activists as national security threat
Canada's spy agency is warning that a small but militant group of Sikhs are using the country as a base for promoting, fundraising and planning violence in India in support of an independent homeland in Punjab, a caution some see as a sign of shifting policies toward New Delhi. In its annual report to Parliament in June, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service said these homegrown extremists represent only a small group among Sikhs who are otherwise pursuing non-violent advocacy for a state they call Khalistan. The spy agency says the presence of Sikh extremists in Canada 'continues to pose a national security threat to Canada and Canadian interests,' without pointing to any specific examples. It's the first time CSIS has highlighted Khalistani extremists in its annual report since 2018. Canada is attempting to rebuild relations with India, which suffered a major rupture in September, 2023, when then-prime-minister Justin Trudeau accused New Delhi of a role in the killing of Canadian Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a prominent advocate for Khalistan. India has denied the allegation. A year after Hardeep Singh Nijjar's death, mysteries remain about how he really lived The rift escalated further last fall when Canada dismissed top Indian diplomats over allegations that government agents had been linked to a targeted campaign against Canadian citizens. India expelled Canadian diplomats in response. The CSIS report says India remains one of the country's most persistent foreign interference threats. It adds that India's 'real and perceived' concerns about Khalistani extremism is driving New Delhi's foreign interference activities in Canada. Balpreet Singh, legal counsel for the World Sikh Organization of Canada, which advocates on behalf of this country's nearly one million Sikhs, says his group has reached out to CSIS over concerns about the language in the report. He says despite alarms raised by India, there's no evidence Khalistani extremists pose a threat to Canada, and the report acknowledges there were no attacks in Canada related to Sikh extremism in 2024. 'Are there actors that engage in some sort of extremist activity in Canada? CSIS would indicate that there is a 'small number.' I haven't seen them. I don't know anything about them,' Mr. Singh said. 'The problem is India tries very hard to malign anything related to Khalistan as, by default, terrorism.' Opinion: Canada is letting the memory of the deadliest terrorist attack in our history slip away Andrew Kirsch, a security consultant and former intelligence officer with CSIS, said the spy agency is signalling that the threat from Khalistan extremists is real and should be taken seriously. 'If they're highlighting it, it means it's become a priority item, that the threat is serious and they want to raise awareness about it. Clearly, this stuff is going on, and they want the public to know about it,' he said. These annual reports are important because they offer insight into how the spy agency is spending time and resources, he said. He is skeptical of the suggestion CSIS could be influenced by Indian disinformation. These kinds of threat assessments are based on a wide range of sources, as well as electronic surveillance, such as intercepts and wiretaps, all of which goes through a heavy vetting process internally, he said. 'Unfortunately, we can't tell people what information that threat is based on. But our intelligence service is trained to wade through disinformation. I have a high degree of confidence in their analysis,' Mr. Kirsch said. The CSIS report says politically motivated violent extremism has been an element of the Khalistani movement in Canada since the 1980s. Sikh activists, however, argue India has used these perceived threats to target peaceful advocacy for Khalistan. 'The problem is India sees any activism for Khalistan as extremist, and it has targeted that,' Mr. Singh said. Mr. Nijjar, designated a terrorist by India, was gunned down in the parking lot of a gurdwara in Surrey, B.C., in June, 2023. Four Indian nationals are facing charges in connection with the killing. Mr. Trudeau said Canada had credible allegations the murder was carried out by agents of India. New Delhi has refused to acknowledge any role in foreign interference or transnational oppression of Sikhs in Canada. Mr. Singh says the CSIS report may signal a shift in policy from Ottawa. He suggested it may be designed to appease New Delhi as Canada seeks to repair relations – something Gurpreet Sahota, editor-in-chief at Channel Punjabi in Surrey, called a 'betrayal.' Multiple Sikh organizations protested Prime Minister Mark Carney's decision to invite Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the G7 summit in Alberta earlier this month. Campbell Clark: Carney should know it's way too soon to invite Modi to Canada 'We believe that India pressures Canada to do these sort of things … Did it happen here? I hope not,' Mr. Singh said. CSIS spokesperson Magali Hébert told The Globe and Mail that the spy agency has used the term 'Canada-based Khalistani extremism' for some time, and pointed out the Public Inquiry into Foreign Interference referenced its findings on Sikh extremism in its final report earlier this year. Ms. Hébert, who added that the 'vast majority' of Khalistan supporters are peaceful, did not directly address a question about whether its reports are politically influenced. The Indian High Commission did not respond to a request for comment. But in social-media posts, it said the bombing of Air India Flight 182, 40 years ago this month by Canada-based Khalistani terrorists, is a reminder the world must show 'zero tolerance' toward extremism.
