womenfactory

Happy International Women’s Day! Wondering how to celebrate (or take action)? Check out this activist toolkit roundup for some ideas, then read Lynne Fernandez’s blog post on how far we have come — and where we still need to go.

Last week, the body of Inuk student Loretta Saunders was discovered in New Brunswick. On Saturday March 1st, the Mohawk of Tyendinaga set up a road blockade near Belleville, ON to demand a national inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous women. Read about the blockade, and check back for updates from intrepid reporter Krystalline Kraus, on Activist Communique.

An election was called in Quebec on Wednesday this week and set for April 7th. It promises to be a tight race as the PQ’s Pauline Marois vies for a majority. No matter which way the voters swing, the results will have a significant impact on each federal party. Read Karl Nerenberg’s analysis here and then check out Pierre Baudet’s French blog post on Canadian, Quebecker and First Nations alliances here.

Yesterday, the National Energy Board released its report approving the reversal of Line 9 in Ontario. The 158-page decision is fraught with errors, from dismissal of climate change to outright violation of treaties. Jesse McLaren details why we should keep fighting despite the NEB’s rubber stamp.

Canada Reads went down on CBC this week. The annual literary reality show pitted five books and five panellists against each other, and Joseph Boyden’s The Orenda emerged triumphant. But can there ever really be a winner when we compare literature survivor-style? Read Kaitlin McNabb’s pros and cons of Canada Reads, then check out Christina Turner’s argument for why The Orenda isn’t the novel to change Canada. 

A guaranteed annual income (GAI) might sound like some left-wing fantasy that lets lazy people stay home. OH WAIT! It actually makes really good economic sense and could save the healthcare, welfare and justice systems hundreds of millions of dollars. Read Shaun Loney’s very convincing argument for GAI in Manitoba on Policyfix.

Finally, this year marked the 10th anniversary of the overthrow of Jean-Bertrand Aristide’s government in Haiti. In the conclusion to his four part series, Yves Engler examines why Canada helped faciliate the coup – an example of “broken window” foreign policy and thinly diguised imperialism.

On that cheery note, enjoy your weekend!

Image: flickr/kheelcenter