It’s easy to understand why Mitt Romney must be feeling frustrated right now. The four-day Republican National Convention was first hijacked by a hurricane, and then by an old man talking to a chair.  Meanwhile, the majority of the media met the Democratic National Convention with plaudits, and Obama has seen a slight bounce in the polls. The media continues to characterize Romney as a man without any ideas, and at the same time, extreme ideas—a radical Republican, yet also a flip-flopper.

Frustration aside, the Romney campaign’s response to the recent tragedy at the American Embassy in Libya—on September 11th of all days—was out of line, and unbefitting of a candidate for the Presidency. In response to the horrific attack that claimed the lives of Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other embassy workers, Romney released a statement saying:

“It’s disgraceful that the Obama administration’s first response was not to condemn attacks on our diplomatic missions, but to sympathize with those who waged the attacks.” This response referred to a tweet from the Egyptian Embassy stating: “We firmly reject the actions by those who abuse the universal right of free speech to hurt the religious beliefs of others.”

Romney’s response was wrong on many levels. First, he launched his broadside against Obama on September 11th, a day on which campaigning was tacitly paused, instead of waiting until the following day.

Secondly, Romney was referring to a tweet that was not endorsed by the Obama administration, but was tweeted under duress by the American Embassy in Egypt, and later disavowed by the White House. Earlier in the day, a mob stormed the U.S. Embassy in response to an awful movie titled Innocence of Muslims, only to be followed soon after by a similar mob in Libya. It is perfectly understandable that those in danger inside the embassy would seek to defuse tensions by stating they were categorically opposed to the aforementioned movie. Did Romney not think that the public would be able to assess the situation in which this tweet was sent?

[pullquote]Romney’s rush to judgment was an attempt to score political points, instead of waiting to hear about the facts—an undesirable attribute in a President.[/pullquote]

Romney’s rush to judgment was an attempt to score political points, instead of waiting to hear about the facts—an undesirable attribute in a President. Indeed, there have been unconfirmed reports that the Obama administration may have bungled intelligence tips before the attack, and that proper due diligence may have averted the events that followed. It would have been far more prudent for Romney to actually see if there were legitimate grounds on which to criticize Obama. Alternatively, Romney could have criticized the Obama administration’s simplistic thinking about the situation in Libya, best exemplified by Hillary Clinton’s statement that, “we came, we saw, he [Gadhafi] died.”

Finally, as pointed out by The Atlantic, Romney handled himself in a far less dignified manner than previous Republican presidential contenders. When running for president, Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush both rightly stated that the nation had to stand in support of the Carter Administration’s botched hostage rescue in Iran. After the attack in Libya, Romney should have realized the solemnity of the moment, and called on the American people to respect the memory of those who died in the attack. The political games should have been delayed to a later time. The fact that Romney was unable to perform this simple political calculus really raises questions about his future temperedness in office. This is another boon for the re-election campaign of Barack Obama.

I didn’t quite fathom the impact coming back to Montreal would have for my of-late inactive and frail body. Mentally, I was expecting my intellect to sharpen, the range of my thinking capacities to widen, and my perspectives to broaden. This is thanks in part to the research that I am here for,  as well as my epicurean love for English, that has me signing up for challenges like “52 classics in 52 weeks.” What I didn’t expect was the speed, and unchecked chutzpah, with which ‘Run the Montreal Marathon’ joined the list—all it took was one trip up Mount Royal to seal the deal.

[pullquote]Hailing from a seaside city halfway across the world, what was the glam factor that made running, here, in this city of sights, so much more addictive?[/pullquote]

Five runs and 40 kilometres later, I got to thinking about what made the whole idea of putting one foot in front of the other so enticing. Hailing from a seaside city halfway across the world, what was the glam factor that made running, here, in this city of sights, so much more addictive? Quite simply, this city is a beautiful place to run. It boasts the beauty of manicured lawns and opulent homes (if you’re in Westmount), Lachine Canal, the picturesque St. Laurent Trail, and the Atwater market. The right and adequate infrastructure in place ensures that people can be on the road any time of the day. With dedicated running tracks and biking trails, and several comrade-in-arms for inspiration, it would be hard to stay off the road.

Of course, it’s easy for many Montrealers to take this infastructure for granted, but the emphasis on urban health is a direct indicator of the physical well-being of the residents of a city. Not only is it vital for physical fitness, but a sense of community stems from how thoughtfully our urban spaces are planned. In addition to the running trails, the bike paths of Montreal were among the first in any North American city and span over 400 kilometers today. Montreal also has the largest bike sharing program (BIXI) in North America. A bicycle policy adopted way back in 1995 by the Quebec government has ensured that cycling remains a top option for one’s daily commute, weather permitting.

With the requisite support systems in place, what could have been a choking metropolis on a ventilator is instead breathing lungfuls of unadulterated oxygen. The ‘Canada Running’ series seen in Montreal showcases the entire spectrum of competitive runs. On Sunday, the annual Terry Fox run kicked off from Mount Royal, while April will hold the Montreal Marathon. These regular running events keep the city on its toes.

Renewed emphasis on building sustainable communities and greening existing ones is a growing trend, and Montreal already has quite a head start, despite the vicissitudes of weather. Governmental policies which, through infrastructure, empower the city’s citizens to lead active lifestyles is sure to inspire generations of Montrealers to run. The prospect of a sustainable, healthy community lies within the vicinity of such a development. In the words of Nobel Peace Prize winner Dr. Woodrow W. Clark II, who spoke at McGill last week, “Block by clock, city by city, region by region, communities can change how they live.” Montreal is showing just how: by putting one foot in front of the other.

Last Thursday in Beijing, Alberta Premier Alison Redford and other Canadian leaders met with senior Chinese government and business officials to discuss China’s largest foreign investment to date. The state-owned China National Offshore Oil Company (CNOOC Ltd.) made an offer of $15.1 billion to buy over 60 per cent of Nexen Inc.’s public shares at $27.50 a share. Lysle Brinker of the HIS Herald valued each share at $21.50, stating that China’s offer is, “[a] very high price.”

The choice, or lack thereof, should seem quite obvious. The reality is that Nexen, a Calgary-based oil and gas company, does not have the means to fund its growth plans. Currently shouldering a debt of $4.3 billion, Nexen’s revenues dropped 14 per cent over the past four years, with profits falling 37 per cent over the last year. In light of Nexen’s recent losses, refusing this deal is impractical to say the least. Critics of China’s North American investments are certainly justified in believing that if foreign companies are not allowed to buy and take over Chinese firms, the Chinese should not get this privilege in return. However, to refuse this deal would be a dire miscalculation of what Alberta—and the rest of Canada—could stand to gain.

First, Canada could gain bargaining power. Harper’s warnings to Washington can finally gain some credibility—if the U.S. does not agree to construct the TransCanada Corp’s Keystone XL pipeline, Canada will take its business to Asia. Second, foreign investment funds provide capital for the development of projects that otherwise would not have been funded, thereby creating jobs for many Canadians. Multiple gestures have also been made to ensure a mutually beneficial relationship, and allay concerns the public might have with a state-controlled Chinese enterprise buying an Albertan company. China has agreed to keep Nexen’s current management and employees, to establish CNOOC’s North and Central American Headquarters in Calgary, to implement and enhance an expenditure program in Canada, and to list CNOOC’s shares on the Toronto Stock Exchange. According to the CEO of CNOOC, Li Fanrong, “[CNOOC intends] to be a local company as much as a global one.”

This is not a question of China’s right to our country’s resources, but whether Canada can make the right decisions for the future of the Canadian oil patch. It puts Christian Paradis, the industry minister, in the spotlight, and tests his ability to accurately gauge, prove, and help our population to tangibly see the net benefit of this deal for the nation. It begs the question of whether or not our established institutions can find an appropriate middle ground between economic prudence and ceding sovereign control of our natural resources.

Maude Barlow, the head of Council of Canadians, worriedly said, “Canada is the most open country in the world in terms of ‘come on in and buy anything,’ and we won’t set any rules.” Here lies the chance to encourage foreign investment the right way. This is an opportunity for Canada to enforce its existing environmental, labour, regulatory , and commercial rules for foreign investors. This is also an opportunity to make smart economic decisions, perpetuate a strong self-image, and gain leverage as a force in the industry.