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 November 5
Athabasca University president Neil Fassina. Image: David J. Climenhaga
'Poster boy' of Alberta government's post-secondary education overhaul moving to B.C.
David J. Climenhaga | Neil Fassina is about to leave his job as president of Athabasca University to lead Okanagan College in Kelowna, B.C.
Blog - Alberta Diary November 4
President Trump addresses supporters on election night. Image: Screenshot of Donald J. Trump video/Facebook
With votes yet to be counted, U.S. President Donald Trump prematurely declares election victory
David J. Climenhaga | If what is happening in the United States were taking place in another country, the American establishment would likely be denouncing the behaviour of President Trump as that of a tyrant.
Blog - David Suzuki November 3
Image: 223 223/Unsplash
What do we lose when the caribou disappear?
David Suzuki | When we turn away from the world not shaped by human hands and decrease our connection to other living things, we can be struck by profound loneliness.
Blog - Alberta Diary November 3
Jason Kenney responds to journalist Emma Graney's question at yesterday's news conference. Image: Screenshot of Government of Alberta video/YouTube
Alberta government's excuse for blocking federal COVID tracing app changes again
David J. Climenhaga | Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke with an Edmonton radio station Friday to urge the province to adopt the federal app, and stated that the United Conservative Party government was blocking its use.
Blog - Alberta Diary November 3
The White House. Image: David J. Climenhaga​
A message to American voters from a concerned Canadian
David J. Climenhaga | "If you haven't done it already, you know what you need to do today, for the sake of your Republic, our Dominion, and the rest of the planet as well. To wit: Vote!"
Blog - The Views Expressed November 2
Image: Joshua Hoehne/Unsplash
Students should demand abolishment of tuition fees, not a discount
Kit Dobson | Current demands for pandemic discounts on tuition are imprecise and impractical, but the abolishment of fees entirely would make the social benefits of post-secondary education accessible to all.
Blog - Alberta Diary November 2
The ad pictured on a Vancouver bus. Image: Garnett Genuis/Twitter
Alberta MP accused of sponsoring anti-abortion messaging in Vancouver bus ads
David J. Climenhaga | Conservative MP Garnett Genuis said his supporters crowdfunded the ads appearing on buses in Vancouver, and insists they're not attacking reproductive rights.
Blog - The Activist Toolkit Blog November 2
Image: Element5 Digital/Unsplash
What is on the 2020 U.S. election ballot?
Maya Bhullar | A toolkit for understanding the 2020 United States election.
Blog - The Views Expressed October 30
Chalk River Laboratories, run by Atomic Energy of Canada Limited, near Chalk River, Ontario. Image: Ryan Padraic/Wikimedia Commons
U.S. corporations profiting from major Canadian nuclear liability
Ole Hendrickson | The nearly 70-year history of Atomic Energy of Canada Limited has left a $16-billion toxic legacy of shuttered reactors, polluted lakes and groundwater, contaminated soils, and radioactive waste.
Blog - Alberta Diary October 30
Well-known earth scientist David Hughes. Image: David J. Climenhaga
Trans Mountain pipeline expansion will result in losses on oil exports, scientist finds
David J. Climenhaga | David Hughes concludes in a new study that if TMX is completed, it will result in a loss of at least US$4 per barrel shipped to Asia by that route.
Blog - The Views Expressed October 29
Sask. NDP Leader Ryan Meili on the campaign trail earlier this month. Image: Ryan Meili/Twitter
Saskatchewan NDP's 'play it safe' approach fails in provincial election
Jim Harding | If the NDP ever wants to govern Saskatchewan again, it will have to build a new coalition that can embrace the key issues of the day.
Blog - rabble.ca's staff blog October 29
Image: Pikist
Emerging artists: rabble.ca wants to know how COVID-19 is affecting your life, art and career
rabble staff | rabble.ca wants to collect stories from young artists whose work and lives have been affected by COVID-19.
Blog - Alberta Diary October 29
Image: Paul Lowry/Flickr
Alberta inquiry into 'foreign-funded' environmentalists gets another extension
David J. Climenhaga | Commissioner Steve Allan still hasn't managed to unearth any foreign funders of "anti-energy" campaigns.
Blog - Brent Patterson October 28
Image: Rob Schleiffert/Flickr
Billions could be better spent on Green New Deal jobs rather than warplanes
Brent Patterson | Boeing says buying its fighter jets would create employment in Canada, but even a cursory analysis shows a Green New Deal would create more jobs.
Blog - The Activist Toolkit Blog October 28
Image: pxhere/Creative Commons
Three ways to support the Mi'kmaw fishers in Nova Scotia
Maya Bhullar | Tools to dig into the details behind the conflict and support the enforcement of treaty rights.
Blog - Alberta Diary October 28
Image: Jeff Wallace/Flickr
Conservative propaganda about Pierre Trudeau's energy policy has become the dominant narrative
David J. Climenhaga | The National Energy Program was intended to ensure Canadian oil security, increase Canadian ownership of the resource, and capture for all Canadians some of the huge windfall increases in oil revenue.
Blog - David Suzuki October 27
Image: Sally T. Buck/Flickr
Decolonization requires action and new ways of seeing
David Suzuki | Land repatriation lies at the heart of decolonization. In Canada, we must work to advance Indigenous sovereignty, support Indigenous land-use practices, and shift governance.
Blog - The Views Expressed October 27
Guy Smith, president of the AUPE, addresses the media outside of the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Edmonton (Image: Courtesy of ProgressReport.ca)
Alberta government's plan to lay off 11,000 public sector health workers sparks wildcat walkouts at 45 health facilities
David J. Climenhaga | Infuriated at the Kenney government's determination to lay off public sector health-care workers and privatize their jobs, members of the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees walked off the job.
Blog - On The Other Hand October 27
Image: Jay Phagan/Wikimedia Commons
U.S. advocates push back against voter suppression ahead of election
Penney Kome | Current polls suggest Democratic candidate Joe Biden is on course to win the 2020 election. But polls only matter if Americans can actually vote.
Blog - The Views Expressed October 26
Premier Jason Kenney at a public announcement in Calgary on October 9, 2020. Image: Alberta Newsroom/Flickr
Alberta's United Conservative Party staffers may soon catch a whiff of the 'Kenney stink'
Eric Strikwerda | By any reasonable measure, nearly everything the Kenney government has touched has turned into a stinky disaster.
Blog - Alberta Diary October 26
The message on the author's COVID Alert smartphone app, and yours too if you live in Alberta. Image: David J. Climenhaga
It's time to activate the federal 'COVID Alert' app in Alberta
David J. Climenhaga | COVID Alert can be turned on in Alberta immediately without waiting for the provincial government to solve the technical issues with its own failed app, which it has walked away from anyway.
Blog - The Journalism Doctor October 26
Rex Murphy at the UBCM conference in 2014. Image: Province of British Columbia/Flickr
Rex Murphy's latest complaint about 'journalistic crimes' shows he's drifting into an alternate reality
John Miller | The Postmedia columnist recently claimed the media are covering up a dubious story about U.S. presidential candidate Joe Biden's family.
Blog - The Views Expressed October 23
Map from 1962 showing the range of nuclear missiles based in Cuba. Image: Wikimedia Commons
Cuban missile crisis anniversary a reminder of the dangers of Donald Trump
Ed Finn | October 27, 1962, was by far the most dangerous day in human history -- the day the world came perilously close to being devastated by a nuclear holocaust that could have killed three billion people.
Blog - The Views Expressed October 23
MP Iqra Khalid during the public forum on October 22 to consider Canada's policy in regard to Kashmir. Image: Screenshot of Facebook video
Canada remains silent on Indian colonization of Kashmir
Karen Rodman | Since August 5, 2019, India has illegally annexed the territory, downgraded its status and put the Valley of Kashmir under siege.
Blog - Alberta Diary October 23
Premier Jason Kenney pictured on October 16, 2020. Image: Alberta Newsroom/Flickr
Isolated Premier Jason Kenney blows off criticism of his government's approach to COVID-19 restrictions
David J. Climenhaga | New COVID-19 cases are soaring in Alberta, on Wednesday passing 400 for the first time since the start of the pandemic.
Blog - Council of Canadians' blog October 23
Mi'kmaq fishers rallying on the shore. Image: Contributed photo
How corporate mega-fishery Clearwater has set the stage for violent conflict in Mi'kma'ki
Robin Tress | What does corporate mega-fishery Clearwater Fine Foods have to do with the Mi'kmaq Nation exercising their treaty right to fish?
Blog - Council of Canadians' blog October 23
Mi'kmaq fishing boats. Image: Courtesy Sipeknekatik
Settler violence against Mi'kmaq fishermen highlights double standard in Canadian policing
Robin Tress | In the past week we've seen shocking acts of violence and vandalism in Nova Scotia as non-Indigenous fishers continue to oppose Mi'kmaq rights-holders exercising their treaty right to fish.
Blog - The Views Expressed October 22
Image: Joel Muniz/Unsplash
Why are Canadians in need still forced to rely on food banks?
Jade Guthrie | The first food bank opened its doors in Alberta in 1981 as a "temporary" measure to address food insecurity. But many still rely on them 40 years later.
Blog - Alberta Diary October 22
Premier Jason Kenney at the opening of the Mazak Edmonton Technical Centre on October 21, 2020. Image: Alberta Newsroom/Flickr
Jason Kenney's handpicked advisors call for mention of residential schools to be erased from primary grades curriculum
David J. Climenhaga | Erasing mention of residential schools from curriculum "will perpetuate systemic racism," the Alberta Teachers Association's Indigenous education officer says.
Blog - Greening the News October 22
BC NDP Leader John Horgan flanked by candidate Bowinn Ma on campaign trail on September 29, 2020. Image: John Horgan/Twitter
Why some environmentalists are turning off British Columbia's NDP government
Robert Hackett | Despite the promises made while in opposition, and some positive steps, the Horgan government's environmental policy seems to be: pick low-hanging fruit, but don't offend corporate carbon capital.

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