Photo by G20 Argentina Many Canadians are familiar with the Monroe Doctrine. First issued by the United States in 1823, it warned European powers against renewed colonization of the Western Hemisphere. Presented as anti-imperialist, the Monroe Doctrine was later used to justify US interference in regional affairs. We may be
Continue readingAuthor: Yves Engler
Canadian Dimension: Canada’s Ugly Role in the US-led Coup in Venezuela
Photo by Socialist Appeal Most Canadians think of their country as a force for good in the world, but recent efforts by Justin Trudeau’s government to overthrow Venezuela’s elected government have once again revealed the ugly truth about the Great White North. We are an important partner in imperialism, willing
Continue readingCanadian Dimension: Canada brings Venezuela to International Criminal Court
Requesting the International Criminal Court to investigate Venezuela’s government is a significant escalation in Ottawa’s campaign of interference in the domestic affairs of another country. Supported by five like-minded South American nations, it’s the first time a member state has been brought before the ICC’s chief prosecutor by other members.
Continue readingCanadian Dimension: Trump Threatens Canada: “Defence” Community Remains Silent
Photo from Public Domain A volatile leader in charge of a military behemoth prone to aggression has repeatedly attacked Canada and its prime minister in recent weeks. But, this country’s “defence” community, which often hypes Russian, Jihadist and other threats, has barely made a peep. Citing a concern for its
Continue readingCanadian Dimension: New Democratic Party MPs Should Withdraw from Canada-Israel Interparliamentary Group
Photo by RJA1988 Is it appropriate for NDP Members of Parliament to be working for “greater friendship” with a country that is killing and maiming thousands of non-violent protestors? Would it have been appropriate for any elected member of the party to be a “friend” with South Africa’s government during
Continue readingCanadian Dimension: New bill will give ultra-secret spy agency extensive powers
Photo by Sean Kilpatrick/CP The Trudeau government is seeking to empower an influential, if little-known, arm of Canadian imperialism. Bill C-59 would authorize the Communications Security Establishment to carry out offensive operations “to degrade, disrupt, influence, respond to or interfere with the capabilities, intentions or activities” of foreign actors. In
Continue readingCanadian Dimension: NDP insiders suppressing Palestine resolution
Photo from NDP They came, mostly young people, to fight for justice. They came to support the rule of international law, to help solve a longstanding injustice through non-violent means; they came to tell an oppressed people you have not been forgotten; they came to do what is right for
Continue readingCanadian Dimension: Has it become NDP policy to support US-backed coups in Latin America?
NDP Foreign Affairs Critic Hélène Laverdière The Canadian social democratic party’s foreign critic Hélène Laverdière has certainly remained silent regarding US leaders musing about a military coup or invasion of Venezuela and has openly supported asphyxiating the left-wing government through other means. At the start of the month US Secretary
Continue readingCanadian Dimension: African aid can’t keep up with stolen wealth
Photo by hdptcar The question gets asked often: How can Africa be so poor when it receives so much aid? The answer is simple. The world economic system sucks more out of the continent than it puts in. And tax evasion by Canadian firms plays a significant role in this
Continue readingCanadian Dimension: McGill University and the Jewish National Fund
Photo by Independent Jewish Voices Canada While accusations of student anti-Semitism at McGill draw international headlines, the university administration’s open association with a Jewish supremacist organization has been ignored. In the latest iteration of a multi-year smear campaign against Palestine solidarity activists at the university, Canadian Jewish Political Affairs Committee
Continue readingCanadian Dimension: The “Ugly Canadian” is on the March: Trudeau is its New Face
Photo by DoD News The “Ugly Canadian” is on the march but now with a much prettier face at the helm. Across the planet Canadian mining companies are in conflict with local communities and usually have the Trudeau government’s support. A slew of disputes have arisen at Canadian run mines
Continue readingCanadian Dimension: NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh embraces Imperialist Policies of Helene Laverdiere
Photo taken from Jagmeet Singh’s Twitter page Shouldn’t leaders who claim to support the interests of the poor and working class inside Canada also take left wing positions internationally? Yet when a leadership candidate for a left wing party embraces a politician who has repeatedly taken pro-imperialist international stances it
Continue readingCanadian Dimension: B’nai B’rith’s Shameful Attack on Niki Ashton
Photo by Liam Richards B’nai B’rith are a cynical bunch, claiming to speak for Jews in general, but in reality defending Israel no matter what that country does. The group’s recent attack against NDP leadership candidate Niki Ashton was a brazen attempt to use the decimation of European Jewry to
Continue readingCanadian Dimension: Canada’s NDP backs American Empire
Hélène Laverdière, MP Laurier—Sainte-Marie (NDP) • Photo by Alain Décarie Does the NDP consistently support a foreign policy that benefits ordinary people around the world? Or does the social democratic party often simply fall in line with whatever the American Empire demands? Hélène Laverdière certainly seems to support the US-led
Continue readingCanadian Dimension: NDP Leadership Candidate Niki Ashton Supports Palestinian Rights
Photo by Matt Jiggins Sometimes silence in politics speaks louder than words. Israel lobby groups’ response (or lack thereof) to NDP leadership candidate Niki Ashton’s recent support of Palestinian rights suggests they believe previous criticisms backfired. Two months ago B’nai B’rith attacked Ashton for attending a rally in support of
Continue readingCanadian Dimension: Where One Canadian Mining Company Goes, Violence Follows
Banro Corporation’s gold mine in Twangiza, Democratic Republic of the Congo • Photo by SKY News Where one Canadian mining company goes in the Congo violence seems to follow. Last week a police officer and soldier were killed at a Banro Corporation run mine in the east of the country.
Continue readingCanadian Dimension: Corrupt Canadian Banking Practices
Photo from Public Domain A recent photo in French daily Liberation hints at the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce’s role in facilitating tax avoidance, which is partly an outgrowth of Canadian banking prowess in the Caribbean and Ottawa’s role in shaping the region’s unsavoury financial sector. Just before the second
Continue readingCanadian Dimension: Why Aren’t Corporations Required to be Socially Responsible?
Photo by Mendoza Post Imagine if a corporation had to justify its existence beyond making money for capitalists. What would happen if a social balance sheet, as well as financial one, had to be filed every year and companies continually in a deficit position would eventually disappear? Consider Barrick Gold.
Continue readingCanadian Dimension: Canada’s Effort to suppress “Popular Protests” against Israeli Occupation
Photo by Chris Wattie/Reuters The Canadian media has mostly ignored recent Palestinian efforts to non-violently disrupt a half-century old occupation. They’ve barely reported on a prisoners’ hunger strike and associated solidarity protests, let alone Canada’s effort to suppress “popular protests” in the West Bank. Around 1,000 Palestinians held in Israeli
Continue readingCanadian Dimension: Canada and the pirates of the Caribbean
1830 watercolour from Barbados Perhaps a new rule is in order: Everyone must take a history lesson before seeking some fun in the sun. Recently, NDP Member of Parliament Erin Weir asked if Canada should try to expand into the former British slave colonies. “The slush we’re getting in Regina
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