Justin Trudeau likes making high-minded sounding statements that make him seem progressive but change little. The Prime Minister’s declaration marking “Haiti’s Independence Day” was an attempt of the sort, which actually demonstrates incredible ignorance, even antipathy, towards the struggle against slavery. In his statement commemorating 215 years of Haitian Independence, the Prime Minister failed to mention... Continue Reading →
NDP members must push for pro-Palestinian positions
When will NDP members push back against the party leadership’s all-too friendly relations with Canada’s leading Israel lobby group? Recently, former NDP Premier of Nova Scotia Darrell Dexter joined the board of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) while four years ago NDP foreign critic Paul Dewar and MP Robert Chisholm attended a CIJA sponsored Young... Continue Reading →
First principle of international relations should be ‘do no harm’
Many progressives call for Canada to “do more” around the world. The assumption is that this country is a force for good, a healer of humankind. But if we claim to be the “doctors without borders” of international relations, shouldn’t Canada swear to “first do no harm” like MDs before beginning practice? At a minimum... Continue Reading →
The world needs more union involvement in foreign affairs
Unions are a force for good in the world. Too bad not all of them are a force for good everywhere in the world. Canadian unions are largely indifferent to international affairs. And when they engage it’s rarely to challenge Ottawa’s foreign policy. Over the Labour Day weekend the Ontario Federation of Labour and some... Continue Reading →
Critical voices needed at development studies conference
Are they critical thinkers or cheerleaders pretending to be independent of the government that funds them? Given the title conference organizers chose — “Is Canada Back: delivering on good intentions?” — one would guess the latter. But, an independent researcher keeps an open mind. Publicity for the mid-September conference organized by the Canadian Council for... Continue Reading →
When Israel backers claim to be anti-racist, one needs to ask questions
What to call someone who claims to oppose racism, except for that directed against Palestinians? Judge someone by what they have done and continue to do. Consider the source. These thoughts ran through my mind as I struggled to write about Bernie Farber’s standing among some Left/liberals. After Israel recently solidified its apartheid regime, a... Continue Reading →
Trudeau’s broken promise part of build-up to war against Iran
Another Liberal broken promise. Before becoming prime minister, Justin Trudeau promised to re-engage with Iran. His government has failed to do so and is beginning to echo the warmongers in Washington and Tel Aviv. “I would hope that Canada would be able to reopen its mission [in Tehran],” Trudeau told the CBC in June 2015.... Continue Reading →
NDP flirts with anti-Russian extreme right
In response to Ukrainian Canadian Congress campaigning, two NDP MLAs recently convinced the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission to withdraw a brand of Russian vodka from its stores. Alberta MLAs Deron Bilous and Jessica Littlewood argued that a hammer and sickle logo on a bottle of vodka was “offensive“. Articulating a growing rightist effort to... Continue Reading →
NDP’s claim to ‘dialogue’ with Palestinians a cruel joke
The NDP is refusing to heed a call from 200 well-known musicians, academics, trade unionists and party members to withdraw from the Canada-Israel Interparliamentary Group (CIIG). To justify its decision the party says it is also represented on the Canada-Palestine Parliamentary Friendship Group (CPPFG). In response to the open letter signed by Roger Waters, Maher... Continue Reading →
NDP MPs must stop being ‘friends’ with Israel
Is it appropriate for NDP Members of Parliament to be working for “greater friendship” with a country that is killing and maiming thousands of non-violent protestors? Would it have been appropriate for any elected member of the party to be a “friend” with South Africa’s government during the apartheid era? Victoria area MPs Randall Garrison... Continue Reading →
Expanding powers of CSE more about imperialism than security
The Trudeau government is seeking to empower an influential, if little-known, arm of Canadian imperialism. Bill C-59 would authorize the Communications Security Establishment to carry out offensive operations “to degrade, disrupt, influence, respond to or interfere with the capabilities, intentions or activities” of foreign actors. In effect, the Department of National Defence-run intelligence agency could... Continue Reading →
Forget Facebook, Five Eyes is bigger threat to our privacy, security
While the media has been full of news about information-gathering by Facebook and other Internet giants, other secretive organizations that are a major threat to our personal privacy and public security are seldom mentioned. And when they are, it has most often been because politicians are praising them and offering up more money for them... Continue Reading →
Is militaristic shill for bloodstained African dictator really a hero?
He’s gone from shaking hands with the devil to promoting Africa’s most bloodstained ruler. Last week Roméo Dallaire attended a screening of Rwanda — The Royal Tourin Chicago. The tourism documentary criss-crosses that country with Paul Kagame and the Rwandan dictator was on hand for the premiere. Six months ago Dallaire met Rwanda’s war criminal... Continue Reading →
Ontario anti-racism committee members tied to racist JNF
Independent Jewish Voices and the United Jewish People’s Order’s exclusion from an Anti-Racism Directorate committee has rightly been criticized. But, the Ontario government’s more appalling decision to appoint individuals tied to an explicitly racist organization has been ignored. Two years ago the Liberals put forward a plan titled “A Better Way Forward: Ontario’s 3-Year Anti-Racism... Continue Reading →
Who cares about Ottawa interference in Venezuela’s election?
Is there no voice in Parliament willing to denounce Canadian interference in another country’s electoral process? The Trudeau government is engaged in a wide-ranging campaign to weaken Venezuela’s elected government. In a bid to elicit “regime change,” Ottawa has worked to isolate Caracas, imposed sanctions, and supported the country’s opposition. Recently, foreign minister Chrystia Freeland... Continue Reading →
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