Category: Ethics & Integrity
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What We Stop Caring About
We tend to believe that ethical failures are caused by bad people making bad choices. But what if the real issue is simpler—and more uncomfortable? This reflection explores how good people can make questionable decisions when one priority takes over and others quietly fade from view.
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Hiring a Tax Professional Doesn’t Transfer Responsibility
Hiring a tax professional is wise. Assuming it transfers responsibility is not. A Notice of Assessment is not approval—and your return is still yours.
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When Resilience Turns Adversarial
We often admire toughness in the face of setbacks. But when resilience hardens into anger or resistance, it can quietly turn adversarial. This piece explores how easily disappointment is misread as hostility — and what real resilience asks of us instead.
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When Rights Aren’t the Answer
I was talking about ethics at The Foundation for Critical Thinking Conference and I made this statement: “Despite a valiant attempt, sociologists have been unable to identify something that is considered universally wrong.” I think it is interesting that the closest the researchers came was that you shouldn’t take something that doesn’t belong to you.…
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Why Good People Stay Silent in Groups
Most ethical failures don’t start with bad people.They start with pressure. A deadline.A budget.A deal that has to close.A meeting where “this isn’t the time” quietly means don’t be the problem. Silence rarely feels unethical in the moment. It feels practical. Sensible. Even responsible. And that’s why good people—competent, conscientious people—stay quiet in groups even…
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Trust Is Earned. Respect Is Borrowed. Know the Difference.
Leadership isn’t about getting people to snap to attention. It’s about being someone they can rely on — especially when it’s inconvenient for you. Respect may come with the title. Trust never does.
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The Problem Isn’t the Politics — It’s the Performance
We blame the media for the noise, but the real issue is the performance we demand.
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Fear, Faith, and the AI Box We Can’t See Into
Inspired by Tim Higgins’ October 18, 2025 WSJ article👉 The Fight Over Whose AI Monster Is Scariest – WSJ I’ll be the first to admit: I am not an AI expert.I use it. I’m curious about how it will evolve.But I couldn’t look into the box and explain how it works—and that doesn’t worry me…
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The Role of a Constructive Critic in Governance
I had the pleasure, some years ago, of attending a social gathering at Queen’s Park in Toronto. At some point I was introduced to someone and in a whispered aside was told – he is the (portfolio) critic. I shook his hand and said, “that’s the job I want.” He didn’t think it was funny…
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Silencing The Contrary Voice
I am very concerned about our collective inability to hear a contrary voice. I have long advocated for people to speak up; to make their voice heard. And now, apparently, a voice raised is an invitation to shut it down; to shout it out. A Students’ Union recently decided to dis-invite controversial speaker Frances Widdowson…
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