Sandro Contenta writes a weekly column on Canada for GlobalPost. Contenta has been a staff reporter with the Toronto Star, Canada’s biggest circulation daily since 1981. In 1998, he was appointed its Middle East bureau chief, covered the second Palestinian intifada and reported regularly from Iran, Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon and Iraq. In 2002, Contenta was appointed the paper’s London-based, European bureau chief and wrote extensively about the challenges the continent faces integrating its largely marginalized Muslim population. He has covered wars in Kosovo, Iraq and Lebanon, conflicts in Yemen, and bloodless revolutions in Ukraine and Georgia. As the Star’s Montreal correspondent throughout the 1990s, he covered Quebec’s separatist movement and the 1995 referendum that almost triggered the breakup of Canada. A former education beat reporter, Contenta is the author of the book, "Rituals of Failure: What Schools Really Teach."
Rob Ford is the larger-than-life boss of Canada’s biggest city. Here’s how a string of follies and a minor offense tumbled him.
As half-naked students protest in chilly Montreal, displeasure at the prime minister’s conservative politics is reviving Quebecois separatists. (PHOTOS)
A major study finds that Indian immigrants could be taking steps to avoid birthing girls.
Toronto's 330-pound, Tea Party-style mayor launches ‘cut the waist challenge’ — but his losing fight to shed pounds reflects an oversize nationwide struggle.
Environmental group seeks justice in court for millions of birds slamming into mirrored towers.
The F-35, America's disastrous and expensive fighter jet, may lose yet another customer.
Opposition accuses PM Harper's party of vote tampering to win its first majority, prompting an official investigation.
Canada's economy is going strong. So why did Harper bring up pension cuts?
Prime Minister Stephen Harper wants US out of oil-sands pipeline debate.
An Afghan immigrant allegedly murdered his three daughters because they wore short skirts and flirted with boys. "They betrayed everything," he said.
An emotional plea from a disabled woman reignites the debate.