Blogs

rabble blogs are the personal pages of some of Canada's most insightful progressive activists and commentators. All opinions belong to the writer; however, writers are expected to adhere to our guidelines. We welcome new bloggers -- contact us for details.
Blog - Alberta Diary January 19
Economist Jim Stanford addressing an Alberta audience in 2019. Image credit: David J. Climenhaga
Canada can manage the transition away from fossil fuels, says economist Jim Stanford in new study
David J. Climenhaga | "For the sake of fossil-fuel workers, as well as the sake of the planet, the inevitable phase-out of fossil fuels must be announced and confirmed quickly and firmly." -- Jim Stanford
Blog - Alberta Diary January 18
Inquiry Commissioner Steve Allan. Image credit: Video still/Government of Alberta
Inquiry into 'anti-Alberta' campaigns descends into fiasco
David J. Climenhaga | It's hard to imagine that things are going to get any better if the inquiry's report is ever released.
Blog - Alberta Diary January 18
U.S. President-elect Joe Biden will rescind the Keystone XL Pipeline permit as soon as he's sworn in on Wednesday, the CBC reports. Image credit: Gage Skidmore/Flickr
What will Alberta do after Biden pulls the plug on Keystone pipeline?
David J. Climenhaga | "Rescind Keystone XL pipeline permit," says the transition team's briefing note for day one of the Biden administration on Wednesday. Will Alberta finally wake up and smell the coffee?
Blog - Alberta Diary January 15
Inquiry Commissioner Steve Allan (Image credit: Government of Alberta)
Climate-change denial, bias characterize papers commissioned by 'anti-Alberta' energy campaigns inquiry
David J. Climenhaga | The supposedly public inquiry has been conducted almost entirely behind closed doors at a cost, so far, of $3.5 million. It is scheduled to report on Jan. 31.
Blog - Alberta Diary January 14
Lesser Slave Lake United Conservative Party MLA Pat Rehn on his recent Mexican vacation. Image credit: Facebook
Kenney kicks MLA Pat Rehn, often missing in action, out of UCP caucus
David J. Climenhaga | In a Facebook post published at 8 a.m., Alberta's premier said MLA Pat Rehn "has made no meaningful effort to work in his constituency, or properly to represent his hard-working constituents."
Blog - Alberta Diary January 13
Alberta Finance Minister Travis Toews speaks to the media in 2019. Image credit: David J. Climenhaga
Jason Kenney's coup to consolidate control over teachers' pensions
David J. Climenhaga | Alberta Finance Minister Travis Toews signed an order giving the government's legislated investment manager a veto over anything the Alberta Teachers Retirement Fund instructs it to do.
Blog - David Suzuki January 13
Pro-Trump supporters at the U.S. Capitol. Image credit: Brett Davis/Flickr
U.S. crisis shows need to speak truth to power
David Suzuki | During the pandemic alone, the world's 500 richest people grew their wealth by almost US$2 trillion, while so many others suffered. The world’s wealthiest one per cent now owns half the global wealth.
Blog - Alberta Diary January 12
Danielle Smith and then-premier Jim Prentice on the day of the shocking Wildrose floor crossing in 2014 (Image credit: Dave Cournoyer/Flickr).
Former Wildrose leader Danielle Smith is leaving right-wing talk radio
David J. Climenhaga | Former Wildrose Party leader and notorious floor-crosser Danielle Smith's swan song yesterday announcing her departure from right-wing talk radio had a distinctly Trumpian tone.
Blog - KAIROS Witness January 11
Image: KAIROS Blanket Exercise logo
Indigenous elders lead online interactive sessions to foster reconciliation
Cheryl McNamara | KAIROS Canada launches a winter series of KBE Teaching and Sharing Circles on January 19.
Blog - The Activist Toolkit Blog January 11
Line of riot police. Image credit: James Paramecio/Pixabay
Rooting out white supremacy in the police and armed forces
Maya Bhullar | Racism in law enforcement and the armed forces has proven deadly countless times and seems embedded in the very fibre of these institutions.
Blog - Alberta Diary January 11
Prescient demonstrators at the White House on a summer night in 2018. (Image credit: David J. Climenhaga).
Canadian Conservatives, take note: de-Trumpification is coming and not just to the U.S.
David J. Climenhaga | Right-wing Canadian politicians like Alberta Premier Kenney need to find a way to put some distance between themselves and the obvious comparisons to Donald Trump's excesses.
Blog - rabble.ca's staff blog January 11
'rabble rousers to watch' survey yields invigorating results
Maya Bhullar, Victoria Fenner, Kim Elliott | There is a wealth of inspiration to be found in Canada's many communities.
Blog - Behind The Numbers January 8
Image credit: EdFinn.ca
The remarkable life and progressive legacy of Ed Finn
Erika Shaker | Ed Finn was a historian, an activist, an adviser, a colleague, a shop steward, a mentor, a pun-master, and a surrogate great-uncle. Erika Shaker pays tribute to an extraordinary man.
Blog - Alberta Diary January 8
Alberta Premier Jason Kenney at yesterday's COVID-19 update (Image credit: Chris Schwarz/Government of Alberta)
Kenney sows confusion not clarity on pandemic travel
David J. Climenhaga | According to Alberta Premier Jason Kenney, travel during the pandemic is bad, but it's safe; it's not recommended, but it's facilitated. Is everyone clear on this now?
Blog - Alberta Diary January 7
Alberta Premier Jason Kenney. Image: Government of Alberta/Flickr
Alberta premier piously pleads for restoration of order in Washington
David J. Climenhaga | Painful though it may be to watch, there's nothing bizarre about what happened in Washington. The U.S. has been perfecting the techniques of "colour revolution" for half a century.
Blog - Alberta Diary January 6
Palm Springs sign. Image: Randy Heinitz/Flickr
After Aloha-gate, 'anti-Alberta energy campaigns' report is likely to be a dud
David J. Climenhaga | Where's the commissioner of the inquiry into "anti-Alberta energy campaigns" when you need him? In Palm Springs, apparently.
Blog - David Suzuki January 6
Image: Book cover of "The Sacred Balance: Rediscovering Our Place in Nature"
Rediscovering our place in nature
David Suzuki | An economy was once created to serve people and their communities. Today economic rationalists contend that people must sacrifice and give up social services for the economy.
Blog - Alberta Diary January 5
Alberta Premier Jason Kenney less than a week ago on New Year's Eve 2020. (Image: Screenshot from UCP video).
In epic flip-flop, Jason Kenney disciplines globe-trotting MLAs and sacks chief of staff
David J. Climenhaga | On Friday Jason Kenney praised former municipal affairs minister Tracy Allard for helping keep Calgary-based WestJet in the air. Yesterday, he threw her under the wheels of the airport bus.
Blog - Alberta Diary January 2
More than 1,000 Albertans have died from COVID-19, half of them in December
David Climenhaga | Albertans learned last week the grim toll from COVID-19 in the province has now passed 1,000 deaths.
Blog - The Journalism Doctor December 31
The New York Times Building. Photo by Adam Jones CC 2.0
A case study of journalistic negligence
John Gordon Miller | Heads should roll at the New York Times at the highest level.
Blog - rabble.ca's staff blog December 21
Canada needs independent media now more than ever
Kim Elliott | 2021 will be a year of rebuilding, reconnecting, and restructuring systems that have undeniably failed us. Much remains unknown - but we know that we need independent media more than ever.
Blog - Alberta Diary December 21
Panitch in 2019 (Image: Photo by David J. Climenhaga)
Leo Panitch, intellectual pillar of the Canadian left, dead at 75 of COVID-19
David J. Climenhaga | Panitch, one of the intellectual pillars of the Canadian left and a leading scholar of the global depredations of neoliberalism, died Saturday from COVID-19.
Blog - A change is gonna come December 20
Despite MZO Stratford says NO to Xinyi Glass factory and Doug Ford.
Doreen Nicoll | Residents are feeling left out of the process after the province invoked a Minister’s Zoning Order (MZO) in July.
Blog - Alberta Diary December 18
Left to right in background: Alberta Municipal Affairs Minister Tracy Allard, Premier Jason Kenney and Justice Minister Kayvee Madu; In the foreground, Chief Medical Officer of Health Deena Hinshaw. (Image: Kaycee Madu/Twitter)
United Conservative Party politicians appear maskless in photo days after mandatory order introduced
David J. Climenhaga | Justice Minister Kaycee Madu posted a photo of himself with Dr. Deena Hinshaw, Premier Jason Kenney and Municipal Affairs Minister Tracy Allard. Only Hinshaw wore a mask.
Blog - Cathy Crowe's blog December 18
Protesters hold signs about homelessness in front of the Toronto sign at Toronto City Hall (Image: Photo by Cathy Crowe)
The best and worst for homeless people during this year's pandemic
Cathy Crowe | As 2020 comes to an end, homeless people remain severely vulnerable. However, this year has seen some heroes step up.
Blog - Alberta Diary December 17
Image: CHUTTERSNAP​/Unsplash
Toyota announces electric car technology breakthrough, but don't expect Alberta to celebrate
David J. Climenhaga | The electric vehicle technology breakthrough could have a huge impact on the demand for Alberta's number one non-agricultural product: oil.
Blog - On The Other Hand December 16
Image: The White House/Flickr
Electoral college seals Trump's fate, but his denial of reality continues
Penney Kome | Claiming to have won the 2020 presidential election may be among Trump's most startling denials of reality, but as with most of his words and deeds, he has an agenda.
Blog - Alberta Diary December 16
Alberta Premier Jason Kenney at Edmonton International Airport. Image: Jason Kenney/Twitter
Reversal on COVID-19 vaccine timing shows Canada's Conservatives can turn on a dime
David J. Climenhaga | Days ago, Conservative leaders were calling Canada's COVID-19 vaccine rollout "a debacle." Now they're trying to jump aboard and take credit.
Blog - David Suzuki December 15
Image: NASA/Unsplash
We have the power to create a brighter future
David Suzuki | It bears repeating that getting back to "normal" isn't good enough. "Normal" means a global economy fuelled by overconsumption.
Blog - rabble.ca's staff blog December 15
Who are the rabble rousers to watch in 2021?
Maya Bhullar, Kim Elliott | We want to hear from you. What are the organizations that inspire you? Who are the activists leading progressive change? Who are the rabble rousers to watch in 2021?

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