This week @ rabble.ca: Unistoten camp not blockade or protest
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- Published on Wednesday, 30 March 2016 15:00
- Written by editor
24 Mar 2016
Hey rabble readers!
This week Trudeau introduced his first budget and it left many feeling underwhelmed. But, before we get into that, we're feeling great about rabble's budget. Thank you to our readers for contributing! Over 600 individuals donated more than $50,000 to rabble in our annual winter fundraiser. Every donation makes us stronger, so even though the fundraiser's over, be sure to keep those contributions coming. Donors receive a copy of the Best of rabble.ca 2015 edition.
Thanks to your donations we'll be bringing you a spread of stories on all things political, like the upcoming NDP convention in Edmonton, Karl Nerenberg's reports from Parliament Hill, and a new feminist blog from Quebec and British Columbia that takes on feminist issues across the country, and much, much more.
Are you wondering what's in and what's missing from the 2016 federal budget? Karl Nerenberg's in-depth analysis of the budget gives you all the details and more. And if you like Karl's work, you can throw a few dollars his way, get rewards, updates and more, over on Patreon.
What does the new budget bring for Canadian workers? As labour reporter Teuila Fuatai explains, it promises a much-needed funding boost to a range of Canadian initiatives and sectors, but in the end offers a minimal dose of "real change." Read her analysis and catch up on all of our federal budget coverage right here.
Former CBC host Jian Ghomeshi was acquitted of all charges of sexual assault today. As the verdict of the trial was announced, allies continue to stand with survivors of sexual violence through social media and rallies across the country. Learn more in Alyse Kotyk's report.
In two weeks, rabble is excited to host Combatting Islamophobia in the Media, a community forum on the mainstream media landscape and how it has the power to either reinforce or fight Islamophobia in Canadian society. Join Sunera Thobani, Itrath Syed, and Urooba Jamal on April 5 at 7 p.m. Get all the details and be sure to RSVP here.
This year's annual Marxism conference is about ideas for real change: though the Liberals have given many hope after almost a decade of brutal Conservative rule, pipelines are still being built, soldiers are still marching to war, and the 1% are getting richer. In so many ways, things are still the same. Change it. Change it all. Join in the weekend conference from April 22-23 at the University of Toronto Multifaith Centre. Find all the details here.
This week's top news
Exploitative practices of disabled workers persist across Canada
The "outdated" Alberta employment law permitting employers to pay disabled workers below minimum wage is set to be reviewed by the NDP government.
By Teuila Fuatai
McGill rejects fossil fuel divestment for second time
Divest McGill was not informed of Wednesday's meeting where fossil fuel divestment would ultimately be rejected, just as it was in 2013. Divest McGill and supporters responded quickly.
By David Gray-Donald
Supporters stand in solidarity with sexual assault survivors after Ghomeshi verdict
As the verdict of the Ghomeshi trial was announced, allies continue to stand with survivors of sexual violence through social media and rallies across the country.
By Alyse Kotyk
Despite promise for 'real change' Raif Badawi remains imprisoned
Some Liberal MPs were very critical of the Harper government's response to Saudi blogger Raif Badawi's imprisonment, calling for direct intervention. But, Trudeau has yet to take any action either.
By Ryan Donnelly
Peaceful Black Lives Matter protest turns violent with police force
The Black Lives Matter Toronto protest turned violent Monday night as police attempted to shut down the demonstration. Protesters remain camped out and are in need of support and supplies.
By Alyse Kotyk
No progress made on public sector bargaining as Liberals ape Conservatives' stance
Canada's largest public service union continues to be frustrated during contract negotiations with the Liberals. The unions warns of another era of emaciated civil service systems.
By Teuila Fuatai
This week's top blogs
Trudeau's promises of 'renewed relationship' with First Nations evaporated with Liberal budget
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau won the hearts of many Canadians by finally getting rid of Stephen Harper and his decade of oppression, violation of civil rights and vilification of First Nations.
By Pamela Palmater
Conservatives' broken promises put sex workers trying to exit industry in peril
When the Conservative government brought Bill C-36 into law, it promised to provide $20 million in funding for "exit programs" to help sex workers leave the industry. Where's the money?
By Celine Bisette
Five reasons why the deficit should be bigger, not smaller
Slow growth, income inequality, technical recessions and stagnant employment rates -- ignored by the last government under the illusion the economy would fix itself -- are not going away.
By David Macdonald
On the death of Rob Ford and mourning abusive men
Rob Ford died this morning and left behind a legacy of racism and misogyny. Why are we expected to mourn respectfully?
By Meghan Murphy
Confessions from a disabled Uber user: I use Uber -- and I like it.
Yes, I use Uber. I pray that one day the TTC transit system will actually work for riders with dis/abilities, but until then...
By Krystalline Kraus
This week's top columns
After Brussels: How should Muslims respond to terrorist attacks?
When reacting to terrorist attacks like those in Brussels, for Muslims living in the West, the position is almost impossible.
By Monia Mazigh
Liberals dishonour generations of war and torture victims
Selfies taken by Canadian cabinet ministers with war criminals Henry Kissinger and Colin Powell are examples of how fawning obeisance disappears the victims of power while celebrating brutal violence.
By Matthew Behrens
The Post-it note and the computer
"Ubiquitous computing" imagines a world in which computers are not front and centre in our lives, but become, like motors, the invisible engines of modern life.
By Wayne MacPhail
Why a centrist NDP is not an option
Political parties of the left exist to reverse the prevailing balance of political forces, not sell out the weaker groups. When a party such as the NDP forgets why it exists, its constituents desert.
By Duncan Cameron
Acknowledging Canada's complicity in the Libyan catastrophe
The Libyan story should provide critically important foreign policy lessons for the West and for Canada, but without a mea culpa and recognition of this catastrophic error, no one will learn anything.
By Murray Dobbin
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
Unist'ot'en camp not blockade or protest
In 2010, members of the Unist'ot'en First Nation set up a camp near Houston, B.C. in the path of two proposed pipelines. Six years later, the camp has evolved into a healing centre for youth.
By Redeye Collective
Building a broad community coalition in Vancouver
Deb Cameron Fawkes and Deborah Littman talk about the work of the Metro Vancouver Alliance.
By Scott Neigh
Corporations, governments and you
We draw a narrative from a selection of news to discuss the cultural practices, who has power and why, and the rampant double standards that exist in our current system.
By Daryn Caister
South African women and tribal courts
Victorious struggle against an ill-conceived bill.
By Erna Curry
This week's top rabbletv
Watch: Black Lives Matter Toronto sit in turns violent after police involvement
Black Lives Matter supporters and allies staged a peaceful protest at Toronto Police Headquarters, which became violent after police involvement.
By Lu Asfaha
This week's top books
Fat activism: A history by and for fat people
Charlotte Cooper's book Fat Activism: A Radical Social Movement studies the history of fat activism and seeks to challenge its current, more problematic, narratives.
By Laura Brightwell
In this issue
Upcoming events
OttawaUncovering 'Canada Park': A dispossessed Palestinian speaks out
Heidar Abu Ghosh's hometown is covered over by "Canada Park," preventing him from returning. He will uncover this reality for Canadians.
By Independent Jewish Voices Canada
TorontoReconciliation: The Children's Version
Dr. Cindy Blackstock talks about why the Canadian government had to be taken to court.
By Ryerson University
VancouverConcert to Support the Unist'ot'en Clan
Benefit concert featuring speaker Freda Huson and Vancouver bands Five Alarm Funk and The Boom Booms to raise money to help build a healing lodge.
This week's top in cahoots
Breathe easy bank presidents, budget didn't touch stock option loopholes
The Liberal government has caved on the campaign promise to close the stock option loophole. Too bad, because it costs Canada $1 billion a year and Canadians definitely don't get their money's worth.
By Canadians for Tax Fairness
Federal budget murky on water, says Council of Canadians
The federal budget, released on World Water Day, doesn't go far enough to address the water crisis in First Nations communities.
By Council of Canadians
Liberal budget repairs some damage, but lacks clear direction to help working people
There is still no clear plan from the Trudeau Liberal government to strengthen the economy and help working people in Canada.
By Canadian Union of Public Employees
Active babble topics
Justin Trudeau Senate appointments
By Pondering
Rob Ford succumbs to cancer at age 46
By Debater
Black Lives Matter mobilization in Toronto
By Unionist
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This week's top tool
Believe survivors: Speak out and stand up
Disgusted by the Ghomeshi verdict? Speak out with others who are as disgusted as you are.
Poll
What do you think of the Liberals' first federal budget?
The Trudeau government delivered its first budget on Tuesday. Many noted that it was a radical departure from the previous Harper government budgets, while others thought it was not radical enough.
Some real responses to addressing poverty and reducing inequality were tabled along with major funding increases for First Nations reserves and education; however, the actual committment seems suspect.
The budget missed the mark on closing loopholes, reducing subsidies for the fossil fuel industry and implementing a national child-care strategy.
The reaction to budget 2016 has been varied. What do you think of the Liberals' first federal budget?
Choices It's all right, but not enough. More funding is needed to really tackle problems like unemployment. It stands up to the promises the Liberals made during the election. Good start. Anyone calling this budget "progressive" or "historic" is off-base. It's flawed, especially the commitment to infrastructure and First Nations spending. It got some things really right, others sort of right, and then didn't touch the last few issues. Terrible. Just terrible. None of the above.
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