Features

by Editors — last modified 2018-10-06T08:57:06-04:00

Original articles by non-sectarian socialist student, labour and community organizers based in Canada.

Public debate, public governance: what's missing from the Sidewalk Labs project | What's Left Issue 110

— by Editors (What's Left) — last modified Aug 17, 2019 12:56 PM

The dog days of summer saw a new development in what some are calling a new world-historical event, and not in a good way. It is the creation of Sidewalk Labs on the Toronto waterfront through an "innovative" (one hears this word a lot) and perhaps unholy alliance between the Alphabet subsidiary (Alphabet is both Google's and Sidewalk Labs' parent company) and an odd bird of municipal governance, Waterfront Toronto.

The Climate Struggle – a Struggle for Social Power | Asbjørn Wahl

— by Graham H. Cox — last modified Jun 24, 2019 08:46 AM

"Because measures to combat climate change will require great changes in society, we face a major social struggle. A narrow focus on environmental policy issues simply will not suffice. The climate and environmental struggle must therefore be put into a wider political context. A system critical approach is needed. Increasingly, our entire social model, the way we produce and consume, is under question. The way out of these crises requires a system change and this can only be achieved if we are able considerably to shift the balance of power in society. "

Alberta Conservatives Start Governing by Attacking Worker Rights and Future Generations

— by Graham H. Cox — last modified May 27, 2019 08:18 AM

The newly elected United Conservative Party under Jason Kenney announced in the speech from the throne that their main priority is to drive wages down for workers, remove protections for workers at work, defund their political opposition, and undermine future generations in Alberta and around the world. Bill 1 is to attack the environment -- kicking them while they are down. Bill 2 is going to attack workers, their unions, wages, youth, and health & safety for employees.

#SaveOurLibraries : resisting Ford's ignorant cuts

— by Roxanne Dubois — last modified May 03, 2019 08:59 AM

It was just a question of time before the Ford government went after libraries. Of all the things that are going on in Ontario, it is so sad that we have to take up the fight to defend local library services.

What is a general strike?

— by Editors (What's Left) — last modified May 01, 2019 08:07 AM

Today is May Day, International Workers' Day. With roots in the workers' struggle for an 8-hour work day, this day has been marked for more than a century in countries across the world. May Day is a great day for socialists, labour organizers and agitators to draw connections between the workers' struggle under capitalism and the gains we have made in history. May Day is marked around the world with cultural celebrations and also protests where workers' rights are under attack.

Lancement de Vendredi Français

— by Roxanne Dubois — last modified Apr 27, 2019 09:35 AM

Notre collaboratrice Roxanne Dubois publie un nouveau bulletin hebdomadaire intitulé vendredi français qui s'adresse aux francophones et aux francophiles. Le vendredi, le bulletin présente une sélection de bouchées de culture en français à lire et à apprécier. Roxanne partage des écrits originaux: des nouvelles, poèmes et de l'écriture créative sous plusieurs formes. De temps à autre, elle partage aussi du contenu externe en français comme de la musique, de l'art, des vidéos et des liens médiatiques.

Ontario Budget 2019 undermines the academic system | Graham Cox

— by Graham H. Cox — last modified Apr 22, 2019 08:58 PM

The Ford Government's cuts to the university sector puts additional strain on an already stressed funding system. The new budget drives an aggressive free-market agenda obsessed with short-term results that does not work in a university setting and will undermine teaching, learning, and research in Ontario. The announced direction for Strategic Mandate Agreement's (SMAs) will drive universities to align their teaching and research priorities with short-term labour market demands. This will undermine of the long-term research and teaching objectives at the heart of quality academic education and research. In short, the budget is a disaster for the academy and will bring hardship to the workers, students, and faculty on our campuses.

“It is New Brunswick that enriches the Irvings, not the Irvings that enrich New Brunswick.”

— by JBB — last modified Apr 04, 2019 12:54 PM

The NB Media Co-op interviews philosopher and critic Alain Deneault. "... the Irvings have developed their structures in a productive corner of the country, forgotten by the public authorities and big capital, in a bid to marginalize competition. Multinationals like Shell, Total and Exxon are led to act in a concerted manner, notwithstanding the competitive relationship they maintain among themselves, when they need to curry favour with one of the many states in which they operate. This opens up the game a little, while in the Maritimes, the family holds outrageous power. They managed to obtain from legislators both tax benefits and a readiness to oblige such as are rarely seen."

The Green New Campaigns in Canada | Graham Cox

— by Graham H. Cox — last modified Apr 01, 2019 11:16 PM

In the US, the Green New Deal has gained deserved momentum because it is being promoted by charismatic elected officials, propelled to power on the basis of their broad left-wing credentials -- and not only because of their focus on climate. We cannot bypass this step in Canada. This means that unapologetic socialist elements in our labour party must also be propelled into a position to promote such an agenda.

Student Walkout at Noon on March 20 | Campus Coalition

— by Graham H. Cox — last modified Mar 05, 2019 03:56 PM

Join students from across the province in a walk out on Wednesday March 20 at 12 pm to demonstrate to the Ontario government that we will not tolerate their attacks on students.

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