An earthshaking political anniversary & Questions surround timing of terrorism charges in Waterloo case
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- Published on Friday, 06 May 2016 09:00
- Written by editor
05 May 2016
Hey rabble readers,
The links between climate change and forest fires are well established. So far, Elizabeth May is the only party leader to go there. Why not Tom? Or Justin? Karl Nerenberg reports on the devastating forest fire that hit Fort McMurray and it is well and truly a must read.
We need more independent journalists like Karl covering politics across Canada. Karl is not just an award-winning writer and documentary filmmaker, he is one of the only truly independent journalists working on the Hill today. Become a patron of Karl's work on his Patreon page and help build a bigger, better rabble parliamentary bureau.
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The fires in Alberta overshadow an earthshaking political anniversary: the NDP's election one year ago today, when Premier Rachel Notley and her New Democratic Party swept to power in Alberta. Political commentator David Climenhaga looks back at a year of NDP government and considers what lies ahead in Alberta politics.
Are you a B.C. news junkie who knows the keyboard is more powerful than the sword? Do you understand the power of media in making political and social change? You might be our next B.C. Editor! Learn more about this position here. Deadline for applications is May 20, 2016.
Check out Indie Inside feature artist LAL, whose latest album, Find Safety, offers a compellingly danceable and provocative political statement. Watch their new video here and for a chance to win a copy of their new album, retweet @rabbleca with hashtag #indieinside or answer the following question: what colour toque is the person wearing at mid-point? Email answers to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. First winner will be announced online May 14!
This week's top news
B.C. continues to neglect climate recommendations, favours LNG projects
Trudeau said working with the provinces and territories will be the cornerstone of the climate change approach. But B.C. is ignoring recommendations that could limit carbon pollution. What now?
By Alyse Kotyk
Airport workers demand fair wages, better jobs on May Day
Toronto airport workers celebrated May Day with a rally demanding equal pay for equal work, $15 minimum wage, sick days and an end to precarious work.
By Teuila Fuatai
#OccupyINAC Vancouver declares victory after ministers agree to meeting
The Council of Mothers and its supporters have ended their occupation of INAC Vancouver after Carolyn Bennett and Mélanie Joly agreed to meet with the group and discuss their demands.
By Lenée Son
High risk of injury for young workers prompts B.C. schools and students to act
A new pilot project in B.C. aims to address the risks associated with work and raise awareness about young workers' rights in the workplace.
By Sarah Beuhler
Toronto library workers fight against austerity as strike looms
Library workers prepare for a looming strike deadline on Monday May 2 as key issues like job security and funding are negotiated this weekend. Teuila Fuatai spoke with two workers about the situation.
By Teuila Fuatai
This week's top blogs
McGill's handling of sexual assault a bureaucratic nightmare
A brave McGill student has recounted the countless ways she was re-victimized by a heartless university bureaucracy and the nuts and bolts of rape culture.
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Here's how you can help as the Fort McMurray fires continue to rage (updated)
Our thoughts are with everyone who has evacuated the region.
By Mercedes Allen
Putting Black faces on our money won't paper over systemic racism
Representation in its basest sense has come to stand in place for actual change when no change is happening at all.
By Rinaldo Walcott
The politics of 'too soon' rarely apply to the rich and powerful
Fires raging in and around Fort McMurray have polarized some progressives who want to talk about climate change and others who argue that it's much too soon.
By Nora Loreto
When school boards take a stand against devastating funding cuts, parents must follow suit
Some B.C. school boards are finally deciding to take a stand against devastating funding cuts doled out yearly that are destroying our public education system.
By Sarah Miller
This week's top columns
An elegy for computer languages past
A new TV show about the early days of the personal computer revolution evokes memories of Commodore 64s and the last time amateurs could bend a modern graphic user interface computer to their will.
By Wayne MacPhail
Canadians need more than celebrity from Justin Trudeau
Justin Trudeau has shown he handles the communications side of being prime minister with aplomb. But making the government work for all Canadians requires more than showing up with a smile.
By Duncan Cameron
All Canadians deserve affordable, high-speed Internet. Because it's 2016.
We can either continue letting our market be regulated by high-cost telecom, or we can take action to ensure that all Canadians can participate in the social and economic benefits of the Internet.
By David Christopher, Digital Freedom Update
Questions surround timing of terrorism charges in Waterloo case
Immediately after the Brussels attacks, a Waterloo engineering student was arrested by the RCMP. It's not the first time the security establishment has taken advantage of a climate of fear.
By Monia Mazigh
Saudi arms deal sheds unsavoury light on Liberal foreign policy
The decision to sign the Saudi arms deal speaks volumes about Trudeau's foreign policy, revealing a government with a progressive public face contradicted by a ruthless disregard for human rights.
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
#WeBelieveSurvivors: Challenging rape culture after the Ghomeshi case
Erin Crickett talks about supporting survivors of sexual violence and challenging rape culture, beyond legal system reform.
By Scott Neigh
What in the world is the World Social Forum?
Activists from around the world will be coming to Montreal from August 9-14, 2016. Hear ye, hear ye!
By Victoria Fenner
What's yours is mine: Against the sharing economy
In his recent book, Tom Slee delivers a sharp critique of technology companies like Airbnb and Uber, arguing that these businesses damage rather than serve the interests of communities.
By Redeye Collective
This week's top books
The revolution will be led by women with wooden legs
In Ramprend, women come of age and lose one leg to a saw. Why? Delve into Huey Helene Alcaro's dystopian world of religious fervor and gender roles run amok.
By Clarissa Fortin
In this issue
Upcoming events
MontrealNoor Zaheer: Nationalism and Intolerance in India Today
Educated at Delhi University and the Tashkent Institute of Oriental Studies, Dr. Zaheer is a well-known feminist, author and journalist who writes in Hindi, Urdu and English.
By Alternatives
TorontoPublic Exposures: The art-activism of Condé + Beveridge (1976-2016)
Forty years ago artists Carole Condé and Karl Beveridge rejected the market-driven mainstream of contemporary art. A public reckoning with their pioneering work is long overdue.
By A Space Gallery
TorontoGeorge Elliott Clarke Speaks at The 4th Annual Tommy Douglas Institute - Canada: A Different Story
The 4th annual Tommy Douglas Institute at George Brown College is pleased to announce Canada's 7th Parliamentary Poet Laureate George Elliott Clarke as its keynote speaker.
By George Brown College
This week's top in cahoots
Asian Heritage Month -- May 2016
Every May, Canadians have the privilege of celebrating Asian Heritage Month. Learn about the rich and exceptionally diverse histories of our large and growing Asian communities from coast to coast.
By United Food and Commercial Workers
PSAC celebrates 50 years of solidarity!
PSAC was founded in 1966 -- celebrate the achievements over 50 years of collective bargaining, organizing, and fighting for social change.
By Public Service Alliance of Canada
Unifor sends solidarity and support to the people of Fort McMurray
Unifor is making an initial $250,000 contribution to the Red Cross in support of relief efforts and encouraging all 310,000 members and locals across the country to consider making a donation as well.
By Unifor
Active babble topics
Pierre-Karl Péladeau quits as PQ leader, MNA for St-Jérôme
By cco
Fort McMurray wildfire
By Left Turn
2016 presidential election campaign 2
By MegB
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This week's top tool
Voices-Voix is launching actions to rebuild after Harper
Join the thunderclap on May 14 to make the government take action!
Poll
What do you want to see in Canada's postal system?
The Liberal government announced today that it will be launching a formal review of Canada Post, which will include such issues as whether door-to-door delivery will remain.
The corporation first announced in December 2013 it would phase out home delivery in urban areas -- resulting in up to 8,000 jobs being cut -- along with other changes.
The anouncement was met with ire from most, including CUPW and grassroots organizations, calling it "another case of a Harper-driven impoverishment of an essential service."
Trudeau campaigned on a promise to restore home delivery, and in October 2015 the plan to replace home delivery was suspended.
Judy Foote explained that the Liberals' review process will include Canadian's feedback on the national system and that they are not "ruling out anything."
What do you want to see in Canada's postal system?
Choices A progressive postal service: home delivery, postal banking, remaining a public service. Stuff like that! All I really care about is getting home delivery back -- it's a necessary service and those are important union jobs. I'm not sure, but I like the sounds of this review process. I'm going to think about it and provide feedback. What is postal banking and why is it such a big deal right now? I agree with the corporation and Harper: just sell the thing and make some money. None of the above.Forward to a friend
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