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.

Book review: Art after Money, Money after Art: Creative Strategies Against Financialization by Max Haven

— by Roxanne Dubois — last modified Nov 17, 2018 11:34 AM

Ten years after the crash, is any aspect of our daily lives unfettered by the influence of finance capital? It is clear enough that neoliberalism has permeated most layers of public governance, most social interactions, to create a legacy of starved public services, wealth inequality and powerful global capitalism. Surely art has been spared, especially in the contemporary form, which can be an expression of emotion and beauty, or even a space where criticism, resistance and subversiveness are not only allowed but expected. Max Haiven argues instead that art and money cannot be disassociated; that art is in fact dependent on capitalism and in no way apart from it.

Book review: The Break by Katherena Vermette

— by Roxanne Dubois — last modified Nov 04, 2018 05:37 PM

So far this year, I have read a number of incredible books, none of which have come close to The Break by Katherena Vermette. I finished this book months ago, and have since been haunted by some of its vivid, upsetting and heartwarming scenes. In many ways, this book is far too grand to summarize. In fact, what you will read below is less of a book review, and more of a post on why everyone in Canada should read this book.

Tariq Ali on Galeano, the Left, and making space for big ideas

— by Roxanne Dubois — last modified Oct 27, 2018 01:59 PM

Internationally known left-wing writer and scholar Tariq Ali was in Toronto last night. Two back-to-back speaking events were hosted by the Toronto Public Library as part of the On civil society series. He first talked about his favourite writer Eduardo Galeano, and then about the Left more broadly. Both talks were sold out, the second even requiring an overflow room.

Conservatives in Ontario start their attack on workers' rights today

— by Graham H. Cox — last modified Oct 24, 2018 04:49 PM

Doug Ford and his conservatives attack the rights of workers in Ontario with the repeal of Bill 148 provisions. This brings us back to the regressive position workers were in before Bill 148. For workers seeking union protection, the law removes all of the provisions that brought some balance back to workers. The new legislation will tilt labour law drastically in favour of employers and capitalists.

Section 2 of the Canadian Charter. Or, what Ford has trampled.

— by Graham H. Cox — last modified Sep 11, 2018 08:14 AM

Section 2 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms -- The Charter -- lists your fundamental freedoms under the Constitution of Canada. The fundamental freedoms are freedom of expression, freedom of religion, freedom of thought, freedom of belief, freedom of peaceful assembly and freedom of association.

Book review: Jonny Appleseed by Joshua Whitehead

— by Roxanne Dubois — last modified Sep 09, 2018 01:51 PM

Jonny Appleseed is heading back to the Peguis First Nations community where he was born, just outside of Winnipeg, because his stepfather passed away. Such is the premise of this short, punchy first novel by author Joshua Whitehead. In this book, Jonny's character wanders through thoughts and memories, feelings of pain and joy as he attempts to gather enough money to go back to the reserve to see his mother.

Ford's "free speech" directive to Ontario's universities and colleges limits freedoms | Citizens' Press

— by Editors (What's Left) — last modified Sep 02, 2018 03:26 PM

Ontario universities have academic freedom enshrined in their very fabric, negotiated in collective agreements and outlined in the principles of their governing bodies. Protecting the rights of these organizations to continue their work is essential to maintaining the academic culture of free exchange on campuses. Instead of expanding and fostering the healthy freedom of expression enjoyed on Ontario’s university and college campuses, the Ford government's new "free speech" directive will put a chill on academic freedom and debate.

Graduate student issues and the academy | Graham Cox

— by Graham H. Cox — last modified Aug 25, 2018 05:57 PM

A version of this article was presented to the Canadian Federation of Students-Ontario 2018 general meeting. The domination of the neoliberal view for the previous nearly four decades has meant that all public spending has to be couched as supporting the private economy. Even for something as basic as higher education cannot be described as having an inherent value, it must be commodified and linked to some private sector profit. In the case of university, public funding is only available because it is part of the private sectors desire to have skilled workers. As such, a post-secondary education degree is only talked about as a pathway to a job, and not as a valuable process by itself.

Toronto Council Seats: What to know | Citizens' Press

— by Graham H. Cox — last modified Aug 14, 2018 11:58 AM

In the middle of the municipal election campaign, the new conservative government in Ontario run by Doug Ford (the one-time failed councillor from Toronto) has announced massive changes to the number of councillors in Toronto and the structure of representation in the city.

Book review: The Marrow Thieves by Cherie Dimaline

— by Roxanne Dubois — last modified Jul 15, 2018 08:29 AM

Cherie Dimaline first published a novel in 2011, and should be on everyone’s list of authors to follow. Her most recent book is The Marrow Thieves, which received multiple awards and competed in the 2018 edition of Canada Reads. The novel is set in a world ravaged by climate change, where it rains almost every day and humans have been through numerous environmental catastrophes. Everyone has lost the ability to dream in their sleep, except for Indigenous people who have, in their bone marrow, a special composition that allows them to continue dreaming. As a result, they are persecuted. In this book, we get to know eight people through the eyes of a young boy, Francis also known as Frenchie, who is part of this group on the run from the marrow thieves.

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