The NDP's parliamentary debate instigated last weekend leads to a wider debate. Whose economy is it? What is the economy for? How do we improve economic well-being? Conservatives want to avoid this.
Canadian economy
What deflation will do to Canada
Where is the Canadian economy headed? The federal finance minister is on the road doing his pre-budget consultations. Expect Jim Flaherty to return with the same complacent views he proclaimed when he left Ottawa; the wording was drawn up for him months ago by the Prime Minister's Office. It reads: the recovery is on track and it is time to cut government spending.
The Harper script for the economy is all about politics and ideology. Liberals want to tax and spend. You can entrust your future to Stephen Harper; unlike Layton and Ignatieff, the Conservative leader will not raise taxes.
Canada and the next world financial crisis
How will the next financial crisis erupt? (Or perhaps we should describe it as a further chapter of the ongoing financial crisis.) It's like figuring out which piece of tinder will ignite after a sizzling heat wave. We know it's bad out there, but just where will the next spark hit? What follows is one of many- potential financial crisis scenarios that Canada could face.
Ten points in Canada's real economic update
The minister of finance has made his Fall Economic Update. We wanted to hear what he had to say about government spending -- but we didn't. Why? Because the real story is one of austerity.
The federal finance minister promised Canadians a look at what is happening with the economy. On the surface, the job is fairly straightforward. James Flaherty has to say whether the economy is growing, or not; and he has to say what he intends to do about it.
What are the game changers?
For those involved in social change work, these days can be frustrating ones. Just as the neoliberal order of tax cuts, deregulation, resource extraction and free trade seems to be maxed out, like the Energizer bunny it keeps coming back. Meanwhile, progressive forces (academics, unions, NGOs and political parties) can give a good fight from time to time, but overall are as fragmented as ever.
So how do we move ahead to create a movement for change that will excite people about the world that could be, and put our ruling class on the defensive? For starters, we need to better focus our energies on articulating a vision and some clear highly strategic "game changing" steps towards that vision.
Filmmaker Claudia Medina on 'Life After Growth'
The filmmaker talks about the state of the world economy and the value of the movement towards de-growth in the world.
Related rabble.ca story:
April 6, 2012 |
Economists the world over have warned politicians to steer clear of harsh, short-term austerity measures as a means of balancing budgets yet Canadian governments have chosen to plug their ears.
Roundtable Discussion on the Canadian Economy
Mar 21 2012 - 7:00pm
Mar 21 2012 - 9:00pm
Location
SFU Woodward's Building
Vancouver, BC
Canada
49° 15' 40.4136" N, 123° 6' 50.1372" W
See map: Google Maps
Since the 2008 global financial earthquake, the world economy has continued to be turbulent.
The roundtable discussion will be focused on the Canadian economy within the current global environment, but with a specific Vancouver and BC based perspective. Each of the panelists will, from their own vantage point, talk about concerns with the economy currently, opportunities in the mid and long term for BC, and public policy ideas that they would put forward to improve the BC economy.
The panelists include:
Doug McArthur is a Distinguished Professor in the Graduate School of Public Policy at SFU. Previously, he was a Senior Fellow in Public Policy at UBC and served in a number of senior positions in the civil service in BC.
It's the economy excuse, stupid
For the Harper Conservatives, the economy is the all-purpose excuse. Throw out free collective bargaining at the Post Office? The economy requires decisive government intervention. Act in secret to lay off thousands of federal public servants? The economy needs less government spending. Reduce corporate income taxes below that of U.S. rates, so global companies pay more tax in the U.S., and less in Canada? Increased corporate profits are good for the economy.
James Laxer lecture: The crash and after -- Economic choices for Canada
Jan 5 2011 - 4:00pm
Jan 5 2011 - 6:00pm
Location
York University
Vanier College Common Room
Toronto, ON Canada
43° 46' 31.8468" N, 79° 30' 8.2332" W
See map: Google Maps
The lecture will deal with the causes and consequences of the global economic crash, the reconfiguration of the global economy and the choices for Canada in the coming decades. Is there an alternative to the Harper government's vision of Canada as an "energy superpower" that should tie itself even more closely to the U.S. through the forging of a Fortress North America deal with Washington?
The lecture is to be followed by discussion and questions and is open to the public.
