Canadian Author and Activist
Across the globe temperature records are falling and in western Canada forest fires are raging again. An extreme weather incident recently exposed the weakness of Toronto’s infrastructure. As the climate crisis gathers steam, evermore Canadians are sleeping on streets due to decades of governmentneglecting public housing. At the same time six millionCanadians are without a family physician. Instead of prioritizing... Continue Reading →
Canada’s liberal political establishment are echoing Kahanist fascists in their smears of internationalist, anti-genocide, activists. On Monday evening thousands marched through downtown Toronto against Canada’s complicity in Israel’s assault on Rafah. The emergency protest began at the Israeli consulate on Bloor Street, marched towards the US consulate on University Avenue and ended at Yonge &... Continue Reading →
The symbolism of joining a military force to combat a government challenging Israel’s genocide is stark. But, criticism of Canada’s role in the US led Red Sea coalition has largely come from hawks wanting more. As I’ll detail, they are likely underplaying Canada’s assistance for what could significantly escalate fighting in the region. In solidarity... Continue Reading →
Canada’s top politicians were recently served a notice of intention to seek prosecution for aiding and abetting Israel’s war crimes in Gaza. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly, National Revenue Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau and Justice Minister Arif Virani were warned they could be liable and face charges before the International Criminal Court... Continue Reading →
As it claims to promote the international rules-based order, the Trudeau government is seeking to block a World Court opinion on Palestine. Recently Canada submitted a statement opposing an International Court of Justice (ICJ) advisory opinion on UN General Assembly resolution A/RES/77/247. Titled “Israeli Practices Affecting the Human rights of the Palestinian People in the... Continue Reading →
Justin Trudeau’s government refuses to support United Nations votes to make the world more just and less dangerous. Ottawa’s record on the General Assembly’s largely symbolic resolutions strips away Canada’s progressive veneer. Three weeks ago Canada was one of six countries to vote against a General Assembly resolution affirming the rights of Palestinian refugees to... Continue Reading →
The Liberals are celebrating the demise of one of the more positive outcomes of WWII. And, in pushing conflict with China, they are ignoring Canada’s ignoble role in some horrible history. Last week Global Affairs’ principal Twitter account praised Japan for massively increasing its military spending. “Canada welcomes Japan’s new National Security Strategy and increased... Continue Reading →
Justin Trudeau is ramping up Canada’s confrontational posture with China. In following Washington’s lead he’s once again playing a part in a script written by those who want to maintain a US empire that dominates the planet. Recently CTV reported that “on numerous occasions” Chinese aircraft have intercepted a Canadian CP-140 Aurora patrolling near its... Continue Reading →
Canada is acting just like the junior imperial power it is in a part of the world this country has long considered its backyard. Washington is asking Ottawa to lead a military mission to Haiti. The Canadian government in turn is leveraging its influence to get Caribbean countries to staff and sell a Haiti force.... Continue Reading →
Real internationalism requires a proper assessment of global power dynamics, capacity to see through stark media bias and willingness to hold one’s own government accountable. As such, it trips up liberals who fundamentally trust the media and worry about being isolated from power. Recently Chrystia Freeland delivered a speech at the influential Brookings Institute... Continue Reading →
If the Canadian government was really trying to “help” Haiti solve its political and insecurity crisis it would criticize police who kill protesters. In recent days Ottawa has aggressively taken up the Haitian cause. On Wednesday Canada’s ambassador to the United Nations Bob Rae met the president of the Dominican Republic, Luis Abinader, to talk... Continue Reading →
By restarting Operation UNIFIER Canada is ramping up its war with Russia. The military training mission had been Ottawa’s principal contribution to a seven-year-old proxy war, which appears likely to continue for years. Last week Defence Minister Anita Anand announced that 225 Canadian troops would be dispatched to England to train Ukrainians. They will offer... Continue Reading →
Israel has attacked Gaza again and it’s time Canadians understood their country’s contribution to the brutal treatment of those living in the 360 square kilometre strip of land. Today Israel killed at least 10, including a five-year-old girl, in Gaza. Seventy-five more Palestinians were injured in the latest outburst of Israeli violence. Most of those... Continue Reading →
Humanity is a mistake away from “nuclear annihilation”, according to the head of the United Nations. But the Canadian government refuses to support efforts to lessen that risk. In fact, they’ve pursued policies that increase the likelihood of nuclear war. At Monday’s opening of the review conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear... Continue Reading →
We must keep the pressure on. Even while ecocidal forces attack Canada’s environment minister, those hoping to avoid societal collapse can’t stay mum on the former Greenpeace employee’s climate crimes. Last Thursday I interrupted Steven Guilbeault’s press conference to challenge his approval of the Baie du Nord offshore oil project. I asked the minister of... Continue Reading →
Irving Shipbuilding is currently seeking a $300 million government subsidy to upgrade its shipyard in order to build warships the company has already won a contract to build. One would have thought to win a huge contract to build ships, a company would need a shipyard capable of building them without needing further subsidy but... Continue Reading →
Once again Canada’s government is choosing to defend an unpopular neoliberal government against a popular uprising. The Trudeau government is hostile to popular protests roiling Ecuador. Ottawa worries that a regional ally might fall and that Canadian mining companies’ interests will be harmed. On June 13 the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador (CONAIE) launched... Continue Reading →
Gustavo Petro’s election victory in Colombia is a major blow to Justin Trudeau’s bid to bolster pro-empire/corporate governments in the hemisphere. Sunday’s presidential vote strengthens the socialistic, regional integrationist forces Ottawa has sought to undercut. An ex-rebel fighter, Petro is widely considered Colombia’s first ever left-wing leader. While the senator and former mayor of... Continue Reading →
The war in Ukraine can continue for years. Or it could escalate into something far worse. Or it could end in the near future. Canada has limited influence over its direction, but what influence it has should be used to support, rather than undermine, peace negotiations. The Italian, French and German governments have all recently... Continue Reading →
As more and more Canadians, including university students across the country, oppose Israel’s apartheid policies. the Liberals devoted millions of dollars in the recent federal budget to strengthen anti-Palestinian forces. They put up $5.6 million over five years for Canada’s Special Envoy on Preserving Holocaust Remembrance and Combatting Antisemitism. The position was created a... Continue Reading →
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