Canadian Author and Activist
The NDP isn’t pushing to sever any of Canada’s 500 military accords with the US despite Donald Trump’s violence and annexation threats. Last April former defence ministers Peter McKay and David Pratt wrote, “It is estimated that since the 1940s, the two countries have signed more than 2,500 agreements covering North American security, defence, research,... Continue Reading →
Describing itself as a “platform” for the US empire, NATO is supporting war on Iran and radically increased military spending. Yet the ‘left’s’ standard bearer in the NDP leadership race won’t support members calling for Canada to withdraw from NATO even as leading left politicians in Europe push to exit the alliance. On Thursday... Continue Reading →
Is Avi Lewis a war monger? Does he want to prolong the costliest proxy war in Canadian history? His campaign’s response to a question on Ukraine suggests as much. Two months ago the Canadian Alliance for Solidarity with Ukraine asked NDP leadership candidates a series of questions including “their position on those on the left... Continue Reading →
Prime Minister Mark Carney has floated the notion of deploying Canadian troops to Ukraine. This would be mistake. Canadian soldiers should not be dispatched to that country. Instead, it’s time for Ottawa to change tack and promote a diplomatic resolution to the violent conflict. In Kyiv Sunday Carney said Canada would consider sending troops to... Continue Reading →
The NDP should be echoing leftists elsewhere challenging a belligerent military alliance spurring major cuts to social programs. Instead, the top brass wants a leading NATO advocate as party leader. It’s widely known the NDP leadership prefers Heather McPherson as the new leader. But McPherson is one of only two NDP MPs on Canada’s NATO... Continue Reading →
Donald Trump and NATO have unleashed a spectacular turn towards dangerous, imperialistic and inevitably wasteful militarism in Canada. Two weeks ago, Mark Carney announced an immediate $9 billion boost — $100 billion over a decade — to a military budget that has already doubled over the past decade. At this week’s NATO summit member states... Continue Reading →
Jean Chrétien is far more sensible on Russia than NDP “resistance leader” Charlie Angus. The former prime minister’s insights can help the party defend social services. In a speech last week about the G7 summit in Alberta, Chretien raised the importance of talking with Russia. He said, “It’s always good to talk, you can’t go... Continue Reading →
Mark Carney just gave Trump a big win that the prime minister masked with anti-US rhetoric. And Carney looks set to hand the Donald another militarist win. As climate-change-fuelled forest fires displace tens of thousands of Canadians, Carney announced a massive increase in military spending Monday to overcome “threats which felt far away and remote... Continue Reading →
If you believe Donald Trump might invade you should be calling for Canada to withdraw from NATO. The alliance won’t defend Canada, has enabled US interference and gobbles up resources. During a recent meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, US President Donald Trump questioned the border and Canadian sovereignty. He said, “if you look... Continue Reading →
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 →
NATO’s new focus on China harkens back to the belligerent alliance’s early days. At the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s 75th anniversary summit in Washington, DC, last week China was a big part of the agenda. The NATO summit’s final declaration mentioned the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) 14 times. It noted that “the PRC continues... Continue Reading →
The Liberals and elements of the dominant media are criticizing the Conservatives for their insufficient commitment to Ukraine. But it’s those who have promoted the NATO proxy war that have damaged the country. The prime minister and Liberal ministers have denounced the Conservatives for not voting for the Canada-Ukraine free trade deal. They are seeking... Continue Reading →
Canada’s obsession with NATO is escalating the conflict in Ukraine and increasing the possibility of nuclear confrontation. During a press conference with her US counterpart last week foreign affairs minister Melanie Joly said Canada supported fast tracking Ukraine into NATO. If that transpired alliance members would be treaty bound to invoke Article 5 of the... 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 →
Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine is a flagrant violation of international law. It has led to thousands of deaths, millions of refugees and tens of billions of dollars in damage. Troublingly, the situation could get worse if the escalatory politics sweeping Canada is any indication. A month ago, Ottawa was unwilling to send lethal weapons... Continue Reading →
Canada needs to break its addiction to one of the most dangerous and violent alliances in human history. Justin Trudeau is currently in Brussels to attend a special summit of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Canada’s prime minister will likely praise an alliance that has become more belligerent – with wars in Yugoslavia, Afghanistan... Continue Reading →
While in no way excusing Russia’s criminal invasion, NATO expansion eastward increased its likelihood. Although we’ll never know if the war would not have happened under different circumstances, after a month of Russian violence against Ukraine the two countries’ negotiators have reportedly agreed that it will reject joining NATO as part of a peace pact.... Continue Reading →
On Wednesday foreign affairs minister Melanie Joly told the press, “right now, it’s not about a diplomatic solution” and that “you can’t negotiate when you have a gun to your head.” But that’s simply not true. That’s exactly what you should do if the alternative is far worse. More war is a recipe for many... Continue Reading →
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has been condemned. The suffering of Ukrainian civilians and soldiers is horrible. Righteous fury has been aimed at the primary architect of this crime against humanity. But save some anger for those who will use the invasion to push other agendas that are bad for humanity and other life on our... Continue Reading →
NATO’s proponents often claim it’s a democratic force but in Canada’s case the alliance highlights the hollowness of our democracy. A healthy polity requires vigorous debate on important issues, but no major party opposes this country’s most significant and destructive military/foreign policy alliance. In fact, the NDP leadership has gone to great lengths to block... Continue Reading →
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