18 Comments
Apr 7Liked by Paul Wells

Huge fan of "Quarterly Essay" and delighted to see it be emulated!

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It's not an issue I feel very even-handed about. I'll be glad to read it for a sense of whether I'm right that anybody attempting to be conciliatory would immediately have lost the moral-suasion power to speak for the Convoy. When Jason Kenney tried to be conciliatory, cancelling most restrictions, journalists couldn't find anybody at Coutts to speak for the blockade, but random participants questioned, indicated that the gesture was like nothing to them - that anything short of total compliance wouldn't move them. Kenney was as good a friend in power as they had, and he went under the truck the moment he was not fully-compliant. The elevation of Danielle Smith also suggests a total lack of conciliation.

But! Most journalists try to find the most-inflammatory people to quote, throw the biggest scare into their readers that they can. Many thanks for taking the opposite approach.

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founding

Great stuff Paul. Just read the excerpt. Written in the same style as the in-depth pieces you used to do on campaigns and elections. Great pace, great insight, and the famous, sizzling "Wells wit". Love it!

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The Story of the Convoy Commission

An Emergency in Ottawa - 👈 came in today’s mail 👍

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I really enjoyed the book on the Queen’s funeral and have subscribed to receive yours and others. I’m looking forward to reading yours as I honestly tuned out of the Convoy nonsense early on, and did not bother to follow the Justice Rouleau Inquiry, even though I am interested in finding out just what the hell happened. Sounds like it was a colossal failure on the part of our “trusted” institutions and the people leading them, including the PM and PMO. Keep them coming Paul. 💜

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Read it one sitting last night. Thanks for writing it!

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Ships within 1 to 3 weeks from Indigo, or you can pick it up in-store as early as May 3. Price $15 plus shipping unless you buy another $30 of stuff.

Arrives tomorrow, April 12, from Amazon.ca. No discount, so $19.95, but I have Amazon Prime, so free shipping.

I think I'll go with Amazon. That's a compliment to you.

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author

Thank you. And we are indeed spending part of the day reminding Indigo that if they have books in hand, one option is to sell them. Meanwhile, alternatives are available!

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Apr 12, 2023Liked by Paul Wells

Ahem, Sutherland Quarterly subscribers already have the epub version......

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I also subscribed to Sutherland’s service. At Paul’s suggestion, book came in today 👍

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Hurry up and narrate it for audible already. Please and thank you.

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Have you been invited to the Vancouver Writer's Fest? I have written suggesting an invitation but I understand that choices are made from books suggested by publishers.

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author

Thanks for suggesting it! I haven't been invited, and don't much mind them sticking with authors who have bigger books to sell. But as a general principle, all pretexts for visiting Vancouver sound good to me...

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I got mine today in the mail too!! 🎉

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As a retired librarian, I put the book on the To be Ordered list, and I know the library will get it, as did the first one by John Fraser.

We also have in St. Catharines a wonderful new Indie Book Store I recommend to add to your list, Someday Books on King St. St.C

Gail B, St. C.

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Waiting for my pre-ordered book to arrive at Indigo in Toronto.

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Suggest you add Munro's Books in Victoria to your list of great independents.

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Munro's is wonderful. Other Victoria stalwarts you may consider if you don't have them are Bolen Books

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