Search results for “site/human rights”

  • Fast Facts: Thinking Alternatives

    It is essential that we oppose the terribly destructive policies being imposed upon us by the federal Conservative government, but it is equally if not more important that we think and talk about the kind of alternative approaches that we need. A useful starting point in thinking alternatives is a…

  • Every revolution is about power

    So what does a sustainable economy really look like, and how do we get there? Climate change essentially means a huge mitigation effort on greenhouse gases culminating in something close to zero emissions by mid-century at the latest. This means phasing out fossil fuels entirely; or minimally, if it comes…

  • Old Age Security system needs strengthening: report

    CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE FULL REPORT OTTAWA—Canada’s Old Age Security system needs improvement in order to help ensure the economic security and dignity of Canadians in retirement, says a new report released today by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA). The report, by pension expert and CCPA Research…

  • Softwood lumber deal an economic and political disaster

    Claiming–without evidence–that “a clear majority” of lumber producers now support the Canada-US softwood lumber agreement, Prime Minister Harper says this is sufficient for his government to bring forward implementing legislation in Parliament, though it almost certainly falls far short of the original 95% support target. Given the significance of this…

  • Public or private – how the choice for P3s gets made

    Did you ever wonder how Partnerships BC justifies using 35 year contracts for public private partnerships rather than borrowing the money publicly and doing things like hospitals and roads as public projects? Well now you can find out.  PBC has published its methodology on a website.  They have even asked…

  • You Don’t Have to Sell BC Hydro to Give it Away

    I recently told a right wing friend of mine that this is the worst government British Columbia has had in a very long time. I said that not because of its political orientation and values that time and again favour the interests of the wealthy over the less fortunate in…

  • Inequality and Climate Injustice: A Durban Post-Mortem

    The United Nations climate change talks in Durban, South Africa, ended 2011 with a whimper. After a year in which climate disasters rolled across the globe, major polluting nations like Canada chose to ignore them, seeking instead to disrupt the Durban negotiations, then blew the world a raspberry, by officially…

  • War on Workers continues in Nova Scotia

    The holy commotion orchestrated by Nova Scotia employers over Bill 102 on First Collective Agreement Arbitration is not really about this very modest piece of legislation. At best, it will affect few employers. As the premier has said, most Canadian provinces have such legislation and it is seldom used. So…

  • On climate, Canada is a rogue state

    On Sunday, CTV leaked Canada’s intentions to pull out of the Kyoto treaty process on climate change. What is significant about Kyoto is that it is a legally binding international treaty, and one that puts the onus of emission reductions on the countries that have done the most to cause the problem…

  • The New Politics Initiative: Ten Years After

    Rabble.ca is running a series of reflections on the tenth anniversary of the New Politics Initiative, which sought to create a more democratic politics in Canada ideally as part of a revitalized NDP. The vision statement is here; my piece follows, and there are also contributions from Judy Rebick and Jim Stanford. Altogether these…

  • Naomi Klein on Capitalism vs. the Climate

    With all the hoopla about climate change and global warming, it’s hard to be a capitalist these days. At least, that was the theme of the Heartland Institute’s Sixth International Conference on Climate Change (and judging from some of the opinions voiced at this event, I can only imagine the…

  • June 2006: It’s Broke and It Can’t Be Fixed

    Renegotiating NAFTA won’t solve Canada’s trade problems Several prominent critics of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), including NDP leader Jack Layton, have proposed that its defects—including repeated U.S. refusals to honour its terms—can be corrected by renegotiating this treaty. Before examining this proposal, it should first be kept…