This week @ rabble.ca: A primer on Harpers new anti-terror legislation

Details: Published on Friday, 20 February 2015 16:44; Written by editor

20 Feb 2015

Hi rabble readers,

What makes Stephen Harper think that we're in dire need of new legislation to fight terrorism? "Anti-terror" Bill C-51 grants new powers to already hyperactive state security agencies -- and baits as "soft on terror" anyone who questions the bill's necessity. Get a primer on key provisions in the bill and find all you need to know in our in-depth coverage.

We have some good news... and some really, really, downright awful news. According to a new poll, support for the Harper Conservatives is at its highest since the 2011 election. But the good news is 98% of rabble.ca readers would not vote for the Conservatives. Will you help us reach a lot more people before election day in 2015? Support our work so we can counter Harper's destructive plan for Canada!

rabble.ca and Octopus Books are co-hosting the panel discussion "The Harper record on trial," to better understand how Harper has changed Canada, and to discuss how we should respond at this critical time for our country. Join us in Ottawa Feb. 24 to hear three prominent reporters and writers, Karl Nerenberg, Mark Bourrie and Maude Barlow, speak about Canada under Harper. Read an excerpt from Karl Nerenberg's new book and get more details about the event here!

As Target employees continue working to close down the store outlets across Canada, one employee of Target Canada is documenting work at Target during its 16-week liquidation. You can find their behind-the scenes report here.

Can you support the labour movement as you drink beer? Yes! Read about how to support striking workers with your beer choices, in three relatively easy steps.

Our dating column, Left in Love, launched one year ago, on February 14, 2014. Wondering how our lefty dates turned out? Catch up with our daters and revisit some great dates in our special retrospective!

This week's top news

This week in labour news: From railroads to universities, labour is in motion
Here's some of what happened in the labour movement this week.
By Ella Bedard

Guest in a stolen house: On immigration, colonialism and Canada
Can one truly be an ally to First Nations people in Canada if they participate in its colonial structures? What if one comes from a country that was damaged by colonialism?
By Sharon O Nyangweso

How to drink beer and support striking workers too
Can you support the labour movement as you drink beer? Yes. Here is how to support striking workers with your beer choices, in three relatively easy steps.
By Ella Bedard

The Target diaries: The official 'End of Life' letter
As Target employees continue working to close down the store outlets across Canada, one employee of Target Canada is documenting work at Target during its 16-week liquidation.
By anonymous

Connecting Palestinian and Indigenous peoples' struggles for freedom
When the Idle No More movement arose spontaneously, one of the first international communities to recognize the struggles of Indigenous peoples in Canada were Palestinians.
By Robert Lovelace

Water issues may be the key to stopping Enbridge's Line 9, say activists
The National Energy Board has softened its stance on water protection for Enbridge's Line 9. Is the deal done? No, far from it, says Canada's activist community.
By Steve Cornwell

Across Canada ceremonies remembered stolen sisters
As calls for an Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women continue, activists across the country gathered on February 14 to remember the women who are gone.
By Christina Gray

This week's top blogs

Canada's negligence and indifference is killing Indigenous people
Racism doesn't just hurt feelings -- racism kills. It's time for Canadians to support and stand up for this land's Aboriginal people.
By Pamela Palmater

On this World Day of Social Justice, call for 'No More Silence'
Today is the World Day of Social Justice. You likely didn't know that. For me, every day is this one. Every day I invite Canadians to see how the settler colonial project impacts Indigenous peoples.
By Audrey Huntley

#ShutDownCanada and the impact of online activism
Now that we have had some time to reflect on the #ShutDownCanada demonstrations, I think there are some important lessons to be learned/re-learned by veteran activists who think they know all tricks.
By Krystalline Kraus

It's time for media to stop enabling the Fraser Institute's misleading practices, lack of rigour and cheap embargoes
I expect today's "study" from the Fraser Institute will make claims about the cost of public services in Alberta that are unsupported by the evidence but heavily spun in a press release.
By David J. Climenhaga

NDP resists Harper's 'anti-terror' bill. Liberals denounce it, but will vote for it!
The NDP's Mulcair says the overly broad wording of Bill C-51 threatens the right of peaceful protest and dissent. The Liberals' Trudeau agrees, but his party will vote for C-51 anyway.
By Karl Nerenberg

What's happening to Canada? Open letter from Ralph Nader to Prime Minister Stephen Harper
Ralph Nader's been watching the progress of Canada's anti-terrorism bill, and he has some thoughts to share with Prime Minister Stephen Harper on that topic.
By Ralph Nader

Flag Day's forgotten history: My uncle Ed
Rod Mickleburgh reflects on a forgotten and endearing nugget of Canadian history: a one-term NDP politician (and uncle) who almost got a national holiday in February -- 18 years ahead of his time.
By Rod Mickleburgh

This week's top columns

Off with their heads! Exposing the new feudalism
In the last few weeks, news stories have emerged that suggest the West is beginning to devolve into a kind of new feudalism. Are we seeing the signs of a new feudal order?
By Murray Dobbin

One year of Left in Love dates leaves us wanting more
Left in Love launched one year ago, on February 14, 2014. Meghan Murphy contacted some past daters to see what they felt about their dates and to find out how our matchmaking skills panned out.
By Left in Love

Another world is possible: Popular movements push back against austerity
The future of Europe is in flux, as popular uprisings in Greece and Spain gain power and challenge traditional economic and political systems.
By Amy Goodman

Confusing 'deficit elimination' with 'prosperity' -- and B.C.'s fading glory
B.C.'s economic performance has actually been slowly fading throughout the Liberal government's tenure. It turns out that just balancing a budget does not imply automatic prosperity after all.
By Jim Stanford

How Stephen Harper holds his own
However dangerous and twisted the Conservatives have been in government, Stephen Harper has delivered for his supporters. It is what makes him such a serious threat to repeat in government.
By Duncan Cameron

Troubled times ahead with new anti-terror legislation
Bill C-51 grants new powers to already hyperactive state security agencies, and baits as "soft on terror" anyone who questions the bill's necessity. Here is a primer on key provisions in the bill.
By Matthew Behrens

MORE FROM...
Naomi Klein, Linda McQuaig, Rick Salutin, Duncan Cameron, Wayne MacPhail, Murray Dobbin and others! Read columns...

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This week's top podcasts

Justice for First Nations children: A talk by Cindy Blackstock
Every child has the right to grow up safely at home, go to a good school and be healthy. But the federal government chronically underfunds services for First Nations children on reserve.
By Redeye Collective

UPop Montréal: A free, grassroots 'université populaire'
Étienne Lepage talks with me about the work of UPop Montreal to create grassroots community spaces for learning, encounter, and critical dialogue.
By Scott Neigh

GroundWire | February 17, 2015: #ShutDownCanada, Women's Memorial March
On this week's GroundWire: responses to Winnipeg's status as most racist city, Audrey Siegl physically attacked by police at #ShutDownCanada Vancouver, Women's Memorial March.
By GroundWire

The mother of motherhood studies
In the early 21st century, Dr. Andrea O'Reilly began writing, editing, publishing, and organizing around the study of mothering and brought it forward as a new academic discipline.
By Frieda Werden

This week's top rabbletv

Not Rex: On the demise of Sun TV
In the free market of ideas, Sun News went bankrupt. Good riddance.
By Humberto DaSilva

This week's top books

Harper vs. Canada: Putting the Conservatives' record on trial
Karl Nerenberg has been rabble's parliamentary reporter since 2011, when the Harper government won its majority. Karl’s got a new book, full of keen observations about the Harper years.
By Karl Nerenberg

In this issue

Upcoming events

TorontoGreen Jobs: The Newest Challenge for Workers and Unions
What is the meaning of 'green work' in capitalist societies of endless production and consumption for the purposes of profits?
By Centre for Social Justice

OttawaThe Harper record on trial
rabble.ca and Octopus Books are co-hosting an event that will attempt to understand how Harper has changed Canada, and to discuss how we should respond at this critical time for our country.
By Octopus Books

HalifaxPublic Talk: Climate Change Warning Labels on Gas Pumps
Can a simple sticker help us act on climate change? Robert Shirkey, with Our Horizon, will discuss a proposal for municipalities to require climate change information labels on gas pump nozzles.
By Dalhousie Environmental Law Students' Society

This week's top in cahoots

Interns bill a good first step
A private member's bill that is up for second reading in the House of Commons today is a much-needed step in efforts to end the exploitation of unpaid interns in Canada.
By Unifor

Lean and mean health care
"Lean production" claims to be efficient, but is an excuse to cut jobs, undermine services and sabotage solidarity.
By Socialist Worker

Working families shoulder the burden to deliver 'balanced' budget
The new B.C. budget continues the Liberals' practice of "balancing" the budget on the backs of those who can least afford it, while cutting taxes for high-income earners.
By Canadian Union of Public Employees

Active babble topics

Proportional Representation: Let's make 2015 the last unfair election
By janfromthebruce

Harper attacks Radio Canada employees for hating conservative values
By Debater

RCMP call "anti-petroleum movement" a growing security threat
By lagatta

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This week's top tool

Black history month
Read about the controversy and history of Canada's Black History Month.

Poll

What is the most shocking aspect of the B.C. Liberal budget?

The B.C. Liberals introduced their provincial budget this week, further chronicling their practice of "balancing" the budget at the expense of those who can least afford it.

What is the most shocking aspect of the B.C. Liberal budget?

Choices That they're touting it as a success! Sure, it's "balanced," but at what cost? That they're continuing to underfund key public services like health care and education. AH! That high-income earners are getting 17 times more money back than the poorest British Columbians. That they just gave up on things like the B.C. Jobs Plan and a poverty reduction strategy. Well, isn't it good that B.C. has a surplus as opposed to a deficit? None of the above.