Ontario Art Gallery workers on strike “Show me the Monet,” was one of the many witty slogans of the striking workers of the Art Gallery of Ontario. The gallery in Toronto, is one of the largest art museums in North America, attracting approximately one million visitors annually. It boasts a collection of more than 120,000 […]
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Ed Broadbent, leader of the federal NDP from 1975 to 1989, is often described as the “best prime minister Canada never had.” Maybe that’s an example of being damned with faint praise. It is certainly not aiming at a high bar, given many of the country’s Prime Ministers. Despite that, Broadbent undoubtedly made a strong […]
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They say that money makes the world go round. But does it? Surely, it’s workers who keep the lights on, the trains running and the factories producing. However, few will deny that money is important for greasing the wheels. Both corporate and government money, to varying degrees, are involved in the lubrication process. Concerning climate […]
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Tim Heffernan is retired Ontario Teacher and OSSTF activist. The leadership of the union representing 60,000 high school teachers and educators in Ontario (OSSTF) is taking its membership into uncharted and dangerous waters as it bargains with the Ontario government. The union has accepted a government proposal to agree to binding arbitration. Contract talks will […]
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Under immense pressure, Doug Ford has backed down on his proposal to take land out of the Greenbelt. While this is a victory for Ontarians, the long saga has put Ford’s government in jeopardy. Three Down, Ford Should be Next The Greenbelt scandal has claimed four high profile members of Ford’s government, including two cabinet […]
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Tim Heffernan and Bill Hopwood, from Socialist Alternative Issue #26 The rising cost of living, boosted by high interest rates, continue to hit workers hard. In Canada and around the world there has been an upturn in strikes. As Mick Lynch, a British union leader, stated, “The working class is back, and we refuse to […]
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A joint investigative report in July from the Toronto Star and The Narwhal concluded that “Ontario developers have spent nearly $173 million scooping up hundreds of acres in the former Greenbelt this summer, months after the Ford government reneged on its promise to protect the environmentally sensitive land.” Why is the Greenbelt so important? The […]
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“We can’t even shop at our own grocery store. We can’t afford to.” The above comment in a news article came from Eman Chaudhry, a part-time cashier at a Toronto Metro store, explaining why they are striking. The article that included her quote stated that “she and her family struggle to make ends meet to […]
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Oliver Twist, desperately hungry in the workhouse, famously asked for “some more” thin gruel. Mr. Bumble is outraged and berates Oliver for his impertinence. Fast forward to 2023 Ontario, land of the business fat cats, auto makers Volkswagen (VW) and Stellantis, who do not request “more,” they demand billions in subsidies, or else. Not a […]
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In the media industry, there’s an old saying: “if it bleeds, it leads.” Sometimes the blood is real and gory, sometimes it’s a metaphor where the story in question involves drama, suspense, conflict or death, and, of course, “human interest.” The story gets top billing — the lead news story. And often it will displace […]
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