Banning Huawei’s equipment from Canada’s 5G network demonstrates the subordination of powerful economic interests to the prerogatives of the Five Eyes intelligence alliance and imperial ideology. The Liberals look set to concede to US and media pressure to ban the world’s largest 5G network provider from building its cutting-edge broadband in Canada. Sanctioning China based... Continue Reading →
Canada’s NSA
This year marks the 75th anniversary of a little known but influential arm of Canada’s foreign policy apparatus. An entity called the Communications Security Establishment was established to spy internationally in 1946, operating secretly during its first four decades. With an annual budget of $780 million and 3000 employees, the CSE has a variety of high-tech... Continue Reading →
The sad truth about Canada’s likely new fighter jets
A startling about-face on fighter jets highlights the Liberals deference to Lockheed Martin’s influence. After aggressively criticizing the Harper government’s plan to buy 65 F-35s Trudeau’s Liberals have paved the way to buy 88 of the controversial stealth weapons of mass destruction. During the 2015 election campaign Justin Trudeau slagged the Conservatives as “unhealthily attached... Continue Reading →
Funny how Canadian ‘peacekeeping’ always aligns with US imperialism
President Biden pushing Prime Minister Trudeau to engage in peacekeeping may surprise those who view UN military missions as an alternative to US imperialism. But Washington has long promoted Canadian participation in ‘peacekeeping’ that serves US interests. In a recent letter to Global Affairs the US called on Ottawa to establish a 200-strong UN military... Continue Reading →
Claims of Russian interference in Ukraine reek of hypocrisy
The Russians are up to no good and we must prepare to protect Ukraine. Moscow interferes in US and Canadian elections. That’s what Washington, Ottawa and their media sycophants claim. But is this just another case of accusing others of doing the things you do? An age-old propaganda technique designed to deflect attention away from... Continue Reading →
Time to fight climate change, not each other
The Trudeau government’s plan to buy 88 new fighter jets and 15 combat vessels will do little to protect Canadians from this country’s most serious threats. And some people are angry enough to take the streets to send this message to Ottawa. Two dozen rallies were held across the country last week to oppose a... Continue Reading →
Latest instalment of Paul-Zatzman anti-Green soap opera
The Israel lobby is rallying around Annamie Paul and Noah Zatzman. Must be their reward for doing battle with the internationalists and human-rights-for-all (including Palestinians)-supporters in the Green Party, but at least in Zatzman’s case it damages Israel’s cause. Tonight (November 30) former Green Party leader Annamie Paul will be speaking at a Canadian Jewish... Continue Reading →
South Africa puts Canada to shame regarding Palestine
Like Canada, South Africa is a former British colony and settler state. But the divide between these two countries regarding the world’s most aggressive ongoing European colonialism is stark. While Pretoria assists Palestinians by advocating the boycott of a cultural event, Canadians subsidize huge private donations to a wealthy apartheid state. On November 13... Continue Reading →
Reducing conflict with China an environmental necessity
Is the Canadian or Chinese military a greater threat to humanity? As the likelihood of military conflict with China grows it’s worth assessing the balance of power. This offers an indication of which parties are likely to be the primary belligerent force (because they would prevail in a conflict). When it comes to international bases... Continue Reading →
David Suzuki an environmentalist to emulate
While we need to be careful about lionizing any individual and our central focus should always be on building collective strength, this writer’s favorite high-profile environmentalist is David Suzuki. He seems committed, brave, cognizant of the big picture linking environmental, social, political and economic struggles as well as willing to speak truth to power. Suzuki’s... Continue Reading →
At what point does ‘interoperability’ simply mean buy American?
A military concept few have heard of is shaping Canada’s second largest ever government procurement. Ottawa is planning to spend tens of billions of dollars on 88 new fighter jets largely to serve the god of “interoperability”. At its most basic “interoperability” means the ability for military forces to act together seamlessly because their doctrines,... Continue Reading →
On being called ‘vile’ by Elizabeth May
Does Elizabeth May owe me an apology? You decide. Here is what happened: May called me “vile” in order to curry favor with the individual largely responsible for the Green Party unraveling. After Annamie Paul’s senior advisor Noah Zatzman threatened to defeat Green MPs and said they — as well as Jagmeet Singh, Liberal MPs... Continue Reading →
Canadian Forces promote militarism in the classroom
A friend in Montreal, whose partner is a teacher, recently messaged me: “My wife, who sat through the Grade 4 virtual Remembrance Day activity organized by the school board described what it was like: The students watched two soldiers walk around a military base giving a tour. This included tanks. … A student asked if... Continue Reading →
Toronto School Board erases Palestine
Executive officer at the Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation (Toronto) Jason Kunin recently posted to Facebook: “It seems that as a result of Desmond Cole’s unscripted calls of ‘Free Palestine’ during a TDSB [Toronto District School Board] conference in late September, the Board has implemented a temporary ban on ALL outside guest speakers, even for... Continue Reading →
Some simple rules to understand Canadian foreign policy
I’m often asked what determines Canadian foreign policy, but there is no cookie-cutter framework to make sense of the subject. Instead, there are broad principles. The first is principle rarely determines policy. Two major forces drive decisions: 1) support for empire and 2) Canadian corporate interests. But racism, ethnic lobbies and public pressure... Continue Reading →
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