This and that for your Sunday reading. – Andrew Jackson calls out the Cons for their platform of taking from the many to further enrich the most privileged few. David Macdonald studies what the unspecified cuts promised by the Cons could mean in terms of losses to public services. And
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Warren Kinsella: My latest: why isn’t Andrew Scheer way ahead?
So, Andrew. You don’t mind if I call you Andrew, do you? It’s better than what I sometimes used to call you, which was Blandy Andy. I stopped calling you that because you figured out a way to make the bland thing work, like Brampton Bill Davis did. You embraced
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Thursday Morning Links
This and that for your Thursday reading. – Tom Rand and Mike Andrade point out that the Alberta tar sands wouldn’t be sustainable economically even if people ignored their environmental effects. Bruce Livesey offers a reminder that Andrew Scheer’s plans are built entirely around favouring dirty oil at the expense
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: New column day
Here (via PressReader), on how the Parliamentary Budget Officer has confirmed that Canadian voters can choose substantial social and environmental progress that’s well within our means – even if the two main parties are determined to offer far less. For further reading…– Jeffrey Brooke wrote here about the origins of
Continue readingDefend Public Healthcare: PC Government Plans Many More Health Care Cuts
The Financial Accountability Office (FAO) Budget and Economic review has identified planned government spending savings that come via [1] announced program changes (program cuts like the government’s cut to OHIP+), [2] announced efficiency targets (identified areas where the government hopes it will find savings without program cuts), and [3] cuts
Continue readingDefend Public Healthcare: Ford Plans to Cut Health Care Worker Benefits by $250 million
Attack on health care worker benefits: The Ontario Ford government has specifically targeted in the Budget reducing premium payments (e.g. shift payments), overtime, and sick leave for health care workers. The plan is to cut $250 million annually through such changes by 2020-21 (i.e. next year). As managers don’t get overtime
Continue readingDefend Public Healthcare: Health Care Funding Means Cuts are Coming (and its Armageddon for other programs)
Hospital operating funding is budgeted to increase $384 million this fiscal year – close to a 2% increase compared to the interim estimated provincial funding for last year. This is about the same as the increases during the years of Liberal austerity and falls about 3% below cost pressures. Even if hospitals
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Wednesday Morning Links
Miscellaneous material for your mid-week reading. – George Monbiot contrasts the message of neoliberalism as freedom against the reality that it imposes severe corporate control on anybody short of the billionaire class: (N)eoliberal theology, as well as seeking to roll back the state, insists that collective bargaining and other forms
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: New column day
Here, on how the federal Liberals and provincial Saskatchewan Party are both unduly concerned with optics around “balance” rather than budgeting for the good of their constituents. For further reading…– Pamela Palmater writes that the Libs’ budget continues to neglect Indigenous women and children. Katherine Scott points out the absence
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Wednesday Evening Links
Miscellaneous material for your mid-week reading. – Mark Olalde writes about the public subsidies being handed to U.S. resource companies who polluted water with toxic waste without having any plan or resources to clean up their messes. And Michael Mann and Bob Ward note that Donald Trump is using Stalinist
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Progress delayed
It was roughly two years ago – in the 2017 budget – when the federal government announced changes to the parental leave available through Employment Insurance. Instead of being limited to 12 months of benefits, parents could elect to receive the same total benefit amount over a period of 18
Continue readingPolitical Potshots: I Just Read The Entire 2019 Budget So You Don’t Have To
Holy hell, my eyeballs are burning, and my brain feels overextended – and not in the smart way, but in a leaky way. Let me get this out of the way first. If you are looking for a non-partisan analysis of the 2019 Budget, this isn’t the place to be
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Tuesday Morning Links
This and that for your Tuesday reading. – Ahmed Sati offers some important – if belated – recognition of the need to fight against exclusionary bigotry. Jessica Davis focuses on the particular urgency in addressing right-wing terrorism. Thomas Woodley comments on the importance of having our political leaders do their
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Thursday Morning Links
This and that for your Thursday reading. – Eugene Lang takes note of the connection between rising populist anger and stagnant or falling wages for far too many people. And Chloe Rockarts writes about Jason Kenney’s plans to make matters even worse in Alberta by declaring war on workers. –
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Tuesday Morning Links
This and that for your Tuesday reading. – Keith Stewart writes about the determination of the oil industry to push people to vote for environmental destruction. But as an alternative, Ann Pettifor highlights the important economic and environmental progress on offer through the Green New Deal: The Green New Deal
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Thursday Morning Links
This and that for your Thursday reading. – Kathleen Harris reports on a federal budget update designed to have Canada borrow to shovel money into the pockets of big business. And PressProgress points out the absurdity of that plan when the corporate sector already has far too many loopholes and
Continue readingThings Are Good: Investing in Walkable Communities Saves Cities Money
Having multiple forms of transportation improves how people navigate the world. When people are provided with mobility options they will more likely leave behind a car. It turns out that not only is that good for people it’s also good for the finances of cities. If you’re sick of high
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Friday Morning Links
Assorted content to end your week. – Matt Bruenig discusses how UK Labour’s plans to ensure workers have an ownership stake in major corporations fits into the wider principle of common wealth: The Labour Party’s John McDonnell recently unveiled a policy that would require large corporations with more than 250
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Saturday Morning Links
Assorted content for your weekend reading. – Melissa Benn discusses how private schools entrench a class divide within a generation – and argues that they should be eliminated in favour of an inclusive education system: (W)e urgently need to renew the conversation about the private-public divide, and move beyond the
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Wednesday Morning Links
Miscellaneous material for your mid-week reading. – Oliver Moore reports on Greyhound’s elimination of most of its Western Canadian bus service. Emily Riddle offers a reminder that the lack of transportation puts Indigenous women and other marginalized people at risk. And Simon Enoch highlights the obvious need for Saskatchewan to
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