Some Key Areas Where Neoliberal Policy Undermines both the Industrial Economy and Canadian Democracy Under the Harper Regime, the investor class is constantly being protected at the expense of the real industrial economy, for just about all policy decisions privilege both the financial sector, with its market-driven initiatives and debt-driven
Continue readingTag: Canadian Politics
wmtc: on june 4: black out to speak out
On Monday, June 4, websites representing thousands of Canadian people and organizations will go dark to protest changes introduced in the Harper Government’sTM budget act (Bill C-38). To join this online protest, go to Black Out Speak Out – or Silence, on parle! – and sign up. You’ll receive tools
Continue readingScott's DiaTribes: Friday flipping
-Young Liberal Zach Paiken asserts that Canada is becoming more conservative – therefore, Liberals must follow that trend to get re-elected one day. I don’t see any polls or statistics in that story backing that claim up. Zach, if you’re not aware, has a bit of a reputation amongst some
Continue readingDutch Diseased Labour Markets
If one reads the G&M and NatPo business sections one is treated to a steady stream of largely rosy and pompous pronouncements on the structural shift in the Canadian economy towards resource extraction on the one hand, and on the other hand, to the non- tradeable service sectors. The tell
Continue reading350 or bust: McCarthyism, Canadian Style
In Tuesday’s Huffington Post Cameron Fenton, National Director of the Canadian Youth Climate Coalition, wrote an excellent article about the Harper government’s hounding of environmentalists and First Nations opposed to the Northern Gateway Pipeline. In Harper Government Can’t See the Forest For the Trees, Mr. Fenton starts off by describing
Continue readingProgressive Proselytizing: Solidarity with Quebec Student Protesters
Quebec students, outraged over a 75% tuition increase, have sparked the largest protests in Quebec’s history and have already managed the rare achievement of achieving genuine, if minor, concessions that would have almost certainly not happened were it not for the protests. As is common when protests rise up, there
Continue readingwmtc: july 1 2012: national stop harper day
From National Stop Harper Day: Traditionally, July 1st is a day known as “Canada Day” by Canadians across the country. This year however, that all changes, In most cities across Canada July 1st 2012 will now be known as National Stop Harper Day. One only needs to mention Steven Harper
Continue readingeaves.ca: The Oil Sands in Alberta is like Language Laws in Quebec… It’s a domestic issue
This post isn’t based on a poll I’ve conducted or some rigorous methodology, rather it has evolved out of conversations I’ve had with friends, thought leaders I’ve run into, articles I’ve read and polls I’ve seen in passing. As most people know the development of the oil sands is a
Continue readingThe Return of the Very Cruel Economic System
This chapter is divided into three sections. The first section examines the origins of the neoliberal policy consensus at the OECD. The fist major rupture in the hegemony of the Keynesianism (neoclassical synthesis MKI) at the OECD came with the … Continue reading →
Continue readingThe Equivocator: Joseph Uranowski and Liam Nichols Endorse Parker Mackay for Riding Director of the Ontario Young Liberals
“I’ve had the pleasure of working with Parker on the 2012 provincial election campaign. As founding members of the Whitby-Oshawa Young Liberals, we have worked closely together over the last number of months to build a strong Young Liberal club in Whitby-Oshawa. Parker is a fantastic choice for Riding Director.
Continue readingThe Equivocator: 5 Questions: Omar Alghabra
Omar Alghabra was the Member of Parliament for Mississauga—Erindale from 2006–2008. He ran again in 2011 and parliament is a worse place without him in it. Omar is a strong progressive voice and his positive attitude is infectious. He was nice enough to answers my questions: 1. Why are you
Continue readingSong of the Watermelon: Another National Post Letter
This one is about the Harper government’s crackdown on the charitable sector despite its important contribution to our democracy. Please see today’s National Post for my letter.
Continue readingwmtc: may 15 is the internaional day for conscientious objection: your help is needed
You haven’t heard from the War Resisters Support Campaign for a while, partly because I was unable to attend meetings during the last school term (necessary, but very frustrating for me), and partly because the Campaign has been regrouping. But the US Iraq War resisters are still here – still
Continue readingScott's DiaTribes: If you care about the Canadian Environment…
.. and what Harper and the Conservative is doing to it, wanting to do to Canadian environmental laws, and how they are trying to silence environmental advocates dissent, check this site out: June 4th is the day of action for the new alliance of environmental groups that has formed. The
Continue readingGypsy representative complains of unfair Tory immigration policies
Normally, I would defend to the death many fellow immigrants and their right to claim refugee status here in Canada. There are plenty of countries in the Balkans that are still so messed up, that any average citizen emigrating from them can be considered a refuge. However, this isn’t the
Continue readingMinister Kenney surprises Burmese community with special announcement
Minister Kenney surprises Burmese community with special announcement Statement of Canadian Friends of Burma – May 7, 2012 OTTAWA – Honorable Jason Kenney, Minister of Immigration, Citizenship and Multiculturalism, visited to Burmese Buddhist Temple in Toronto on May 6 to meet with members of various Burmese/ethnic communities. Community members and
Continue readingScott's DiaTribes: Fine by me
From Carol Goar’s column in the Star yesterday: Stephen Harper’s government is starting to show its age..a telltale sloppiness is creeping in. This is the point at which the Prime Minister either renews his government or lets the small mistakes — the ethical lapses, the hyperpartisanship, the unilateral pronouncements, the
Continue readingThe Equivocator: 5 Questions: Shane Mackenzie
Shane Mackenzie is the OYL United candidate for Policy Director. His proficiency at online communications and social media brought him to my attention shortly after the last federal election. Shane is incredibly hard-working, funny and sincere. He was kind enough to answer my questions: 1. Why are you a Liberal?
Continue readingwmtc: marxism 2011 program notes: prospects for the left under a harper majority
These are my notes from the 2011 Marxism conference in Toronto. The series starts here. * * * * This was just weeks after the 2011 election, and is very interesting to think about at the one-year mark of Harper’s majority. Given what we know now – Jack Layton’s death,
Continue readingwmtc: marxism 2011 program notes: workers fight back: lessons from wisconsin
These are my notes from the 2011 Marxism conference in Toronto. The series starts here. * * * * How can we stop the right?Christine Beckermann, member of ISMay 29, 2011 With the emergence of the Tea Party in the US, Rob Ford’s election in Toronto, and now the Harper
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