While world leaders are increasingly saying out loud that the postwar liberal world order is dead, the ruling classes in the Global North have an answer for what will come to replace it: fascism. Will they be able to implement their vision?
A guide to standing up to book bans and beyond, and how to protect and strengthen public education in Canada
A year ago this week, Bill C-389, An Act to amend the Canadian Human Rights Act and the Criminal Code (gender identity and gender expression), passed third reading in the House of Commons, receiving support from MPs from all political parties. So whatever happened to it? The private member’s bill,…
Vancouver is the epicentre of BC’s housing crisis and shortage. So why does the city still effectively ban new apartment buildings on most of its residential land, reserving it exclusively for low-density housing?
Canadian firms in Colombia protected by military death squads Since 1990, 35,000 Colombians have been killed in a horrific escalation of political violence. An average of ten political assassinations are reported every day. Colombia’s state security forces and their paramilitary allies have been responsible for the vast majority of these…
Group letter to John Horgan and Michelle Mungall Honourable John Horgan, BC Premier, and Honourable Michelle Mungall, BC Minister for Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources cc Andrew Weaver, BC Green Party Leader Dear Premier Horgan and Minister Mungall, We write to you today as directors of numerous civil society organizations that recently…
We urge you to reconsider this trade agreement and to prioritize the protection of human rights, environmental sustainability, and the rights of Indigenous peoples. There must be a transparent and inclusive process that respects the voices and concerns of those most affected, including the Indigenous communities in Ecuador who have long resisted harmful…
Last month the Winnipeg Free Press published a full page of criticism regarding the decision to run the Bipole III transmission line down the West Side of Lake Winnipeg. The critique consists of two parts, namely, an open letter by 18 retired engineers titled, “Engineers united on east side,” and…
Our privacy shield is getting badly battered on every front Privacy is an extremely complex human value, but it boils down to the need and “right to be let alone”–to be free of unwarranted intrusions into our daily lives, 24/7. Think of privacy as a cultural and legal shield protecting…
tuchodi / Flickr” style=”border-radius:0px;–objectFit:cover;–imagePosX:50%;–imagePosY:50%” decoding=”async” srcset=”https://www.policyalternatives.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/policynote_distinguising-consent-from-veto_apr2017_900x400-300×133.jpg 300w, https://www.policyalternatives.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/policynote_distinguising-consent-from-veto_apr2017_900x400-768×341.jpg 768w, https://www.policyalternatives.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/policynote_distinguising-consent-from-veto_apr2017_900x400.jpg 900w” sizes=”(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px” />An unfortunate legacy of the Harper era in Canada is that public officials and the media often conflate the right to consent for projects or policies that could affect Indigenous peoples with veto power. That error is not supported by Canadian or international law, and is at odds with the…
Civil society organizations and academics are warning about investor-state dispute settlement
(Vancouver) Fracking should be immediately banned close to BC Hydro’s two existing Peace River dams as well as the Site C dam construction project until a full public inquiry determines whether a comprehensive ban is warranted, the BC office of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives says. The CCPA issued…
A Parallel Report on Canada’s Implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action Download 1.19 MB 163 pages This study provides an assessment of Canada’s progress in meeting the goals for gender equality set out in the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. Adopted unanimously by 189 countries including…
OFL Communications / Flickr” style=”border-radius:0px;–objectFit:cover;–imagePosX:50%;–imagePosY:50%” decoding=”async” srcset=”https://www.policyalternatives.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/policynote-june2017-historic-gains-ontario-workers-2-300×133.jpeg 300w, https://www.policyalternatives.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/policynote-june2017-historic-gains-ontario-workers-2-768×341.jpeg 768w, https://www.policyalternatives.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/policynote-june2017-historic-gains-ontario-workers-2.jpeg 900w” sizes=”(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px” />In light of the growth and prevalence of precarious employment and the lack of decent conditions of employment for vulnerable workers, labour advocates and unions in Ontario campaigned for improvements to employment and labour relations laws. As a result of their campaign, in February 2015, Ontario’s provincial government established an…