The “freedom” convoy has come and gone. It has had a major politicizing impact on Canadian society as well as having repercussions internationally. Unfortunately, it has disoriented some on the left — some have claimed it to be a working-class uprising aimed at the ruling-class elites while others have denounced it as a manifestation of […]
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While the convoy has been cleared from the streets of Ottawa, many questions need to be asked both about the role of former police and military personnel within the convoy, and the response of the police to the convoy and blockades. The police’s general motto is “to protect and to serve.” Ottawa’s police department expanded […]
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Socialist Alternative recently examined the idea that Doug Ford had become the friend of labour after his government increased the minimum wage and proposed that delivery workers should be allowed to use washrooms at locations they deliver to and that workers should have the right to “disconnect from work” (not answer the phone, reply to […]
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Some people have been fooled into thinking that recent policy announcements by the Conservative government of Doug Ford have made him an advocate for working-class interests. Ontarians have seen a slew of announcements this fall about temp workers, gig workers, injured workers, being able to “disconnect from work” and the minimum wage. Ford is obviously […]
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“Keep your friends close, but your enemies even closer” goes the saying. In the case of the telecom giant, Rogers, it would appear that it’s your own family members who need to be the closely watched ones. Rogers ─ which currently has two duelling boards of directors, a stalled multibillion-dollar takeover, a feud among the […]
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In 2016 it was Panama. In 2017 it was Paradise, This year it’s Pandora. It’s appropriately named as, in Greek mythology, curiosity led Pandora to open a container left in care of her husband, which released physical and emotional curses upon humanity. In modern times an idiom has grown from the story meaning any source […]
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Five weeks and $610 million dollars later, we have ended up more or less right back where we started. While some seats may yet flip as mail in ballots are counted, at time of writing no party has gained or lost more than two seats compared to before parliament was dissolved. Canada has another minority […]
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Are you ready to shed a tear? “Champagne problems: Toronto restaurants facing shortage of big-name bubbly” was a headline in a Toronto Star article of September 10. A local restaurateur suggested this reason for the shortage: “people (are) being more celebratory now that things have kind of come back.” A broad range is covered by […]
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The long months of COVID have been brutal for many people in Canada and around the world. COVID has exposed and pressure cooked many of the pre-existing conditions and problems: inequality, run-down public health systems, utterly inadequate care for seniors, opioid pandemic and more. Repeated government failures have made COVID far worse. The delayed response […]
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Getting Off the Treadmill “Working 9 to 5, what a way to make a living Barely getting by, it’s all taking and no giving They just use your mind, and they never give you credit It’s enough to drive you crazy if you let it.” Dolly Parton, “9 to 5,” 1980 It will come as […]
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