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analysis December 12

Andrew Scheer speaking at Alberta's United Conservative Party annual general meeting in November. Image: Andrew Scheer/Flickr

Scheer's departure means social conservatism is on the defensive

Karl Nerenberg | The Conservative party leader's resignation signals that in Canada, opposition to same-sex and reproductive rights is now an out-there, fringe position, well beyond the mainstream.

analysis December 12

The corner of Russell and St. George streets in Toronto, near the former location of Praxis's office. Image: City of Toronto Archives/Flickr

The break-in at Praxis Corporation

Paul Weinberg | In December of 1970, the offices of anti-poverty organization Praxis Corporation were broken into and set on fire. Who was responsible?

analysis December 11

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg in 2017. Image: Raul Mee/Flickr

Major decisions at NATO conference overshadowed by leaders' gossip

Karl Nerenberg | For the first time ever, NATO has acknowledged outer space as what it calls the "fifth domain" of warfare. The other warfare domains are land, air, sea and cyberspace.

in their own words December 6

Remembering the Montreal Massacre

Judy Rebick | Thirty years later, remembering the killings at L'École Polytechnique and what came next.

rabble news December 6

Inside Ecuador's mass movement against neoliberalism

Diana Vela Almeida | This fall, Ecuador erupted into massive protests against neoliberal economic reforms. Protesters orchestrated a unified national shutdown and spurred an international movement against neoliberalism.

analysis November 29

Evo Morales in 2017. Image: Ministério das Relações Exteriores/Flickr

Leaders of Bolivia's right-wing coup will oversee -- and control -- new elections

Medea Benjamin | With the control that the right-wing coup leaders have consolidated in record time, and the intimidation and fear felt by opponents, it is hard to see how free and fair elections can take place.

analysis November 29

It's time we turned off our idling cars, SUVs and trucks

Karl Nerenberg | If Canada aspires to be a global leader, we are going to have to step up our game on greenhouse gas emissions reductions. To achieve that, all of us will have to start considering our own choices.

rabble news November 28

For-profit home-care company locked in stalemate with workers

Zaid Noorsumar | The union is asking for better wages, paid sick days and safer working conditions.

analysis November 25

Trudeau drives a stake through the heart of any hope for electoral reform

Karl Nerenberg | The Liberals have abandoned any pretence to the idealistic and aspirational spirit of reform that -- at least rhetorically -- informed their first mandate.

rabble series November 21

Working as a janitor: Natalie

Zaid Noorsumar | Ottawa janitor Natalie Guitead works three jobs; moonlighting as a nanny and an event planner to make ends meet.

analysis November 20

Premier Jason Kenney announces the launch of a public inquiry into foreign-funded anti-Alberta energy campaigns in July 2019. Image: Government of Alberta/Flickr

Jason Kenney should not be allowed to dictate federal agenda

Karl Nerenberg | The Alberta premier’s aggressive manner, coupled with the rise of a fringe western separatist movement, have too many Ottawa insiders overly worried.

rabble series November 18

Working as a janitor: Lyle

Zaid Noorsumar | Canadian janitor Lyle Skrapek talks about injuries, the physical toll working takes on his body, and the invisibility of his job.

rabble interview November 14

Zalika Reid-Benta on the diasporic short story

Vincent Ternida | The Toronto-based author speaks about stories of belonging, home, and the in-between in her debut collection.

rabble series November 8

Natalie Guitead (left) and Lyle Skrapek (right). Images: Used with permission

The daily grind of working as a janitor

Zaid Noorsumar | The physical challenges of custodial jobs are hard to overstate. Lyle Skrapek says that sometimes at the end of the day, he feels like he has played a game of hockey.

rabble news November 7

Protesting against the Ford Conservatives' planned cuts to education. Image: Mary Crandall/Flickr

CUPE education workers ratify deal with the province

Zaid Noorsumar | CUPE represents approximately 55,000 support staff in the province including special needs assistants, early childhood educators and custodians.

analysis November 6

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Image: Adam Scotti/PMO

Justin Trudeau to meet opposition leaders amid signs he plans to govern from the centre right

Alex Cosh | Early excitement about the possibility of the NDP and Greens winning meaningful concessions from the Liberals was quickly tempered by Trudeau’s first policy announcements.

analysis November 5

Elizabeth May at a Trans Mountain pipeline protest on Burnaby Mountain. Photo: Elizabeth May/Facebook

Elizabeth May succeeded despite the barriers of first-past-the-post

Karl Nerenberg | Given the built-in biases of our electoral system, it is a minor miracle that the Greens managed to win any seats at all in the House of Commons.

rabble series October 31

Enrique Turnainsky (left photo) and Martin Echevarrieta (right photo). Image: Zaid Noorsumar

These Canadian janitors live to work

Zaid Noorsumar | Unions have improved job conditions for many janitors, but spiralling costs of living require people in the low-wage sector to work themselves to exhaustion and forgo time with their families.

analysis October 28

What happened to the Green party on Vancouver Island?

Alex Cosh | The Greens' pan-ideological approach might partly explain why the party struggled to make new gains in an NDP-dominated area like Vancouver Island.

analysis October 22

Trudeau should now work with NDP and Greens on a progressive agenda

Karl Nerenberg | To give his weakened party a greater measure of legitimacy, Trudeau might want to govern in such a way that takes into account all progressive voters, not just those who voted Liberal.

analysis October 21

Three ridings to watch on election night

Alex Cosh | A recent surge in support for leader Jagmeet Singh has improved the NDP's chances of winning seats in some key Liberal-held ridings.

opinion October 20

Climate strike activists in Edmonton. Image: Paula E. Kirman

Indigenous voices raised at Edmonton climate strike

Paula E. Kirman | Greta Thunberg helps amplify, but is not the true centre of protest.

analysis October 19

Could Andrew Scheer really lose his seat this election?

Alex Cosh | If there is any riding in this year's federal election that warrants strategic voting by left-leaning electors, surely it's the Conservative leader's district of Regina-Qu'Appelle.

rabble news October 18

NDP promises to establish national care standards for seniors

Zaid Noorsumar | The NDP is the only federal party promising to establish national standards -- although it will face an uphill task in that endeavour.

analysis October 18

Which political party would do the most to tackle growing inequality?

Karl Nerenberg | Although the NDP and the Greens tried to put wealth and income inequality on the election campaign agenda, most mainstream media coverage has focused elsewhere.

analysis October 17

Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau. Image: Justin Trudeau/Facebook

Trudeau could -- and should -- govern even if Scheer wins more seats

Karl Nerenberg | Governing from second-place position is not common in Canadian history, but there is nothing untoward or abnormal about it.

rabble interview October 17

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Image: 2017 Canada Summer Games/Flickr

Liberals fear a progressive challenger more than they fear the right wing

Hans Rollman | Author Martin Lukacs speaks about his new book, "The Trudeau Formula," which argues that progressive branding has played a huge role in Liberal party operations.

rabble news October 15

Workers protest short-staffing at Thunder Bay nursing home

Zaid Noorsumar | Deteriorating working conditions in long-term care combined with poor wages have led to a severe personal support worker shortage -- making the situation even worse.

analysis October 12

Image: Screenshot/Justin Trudeau/Twitter

In French debate, Trudeau wins; Singh holds his own; Scheer loses

Karl Nerenberg | Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau came into his own, gamely defending himself on one of the most dubious parts of his time as prime minister: the SNC-Lavalin affair.

analysis October 12

Maxime Bernier. Image: Maxime Bernier/Twitter

Extreme right-wing narratives gain momentum in federal election, despite parties struggling in polls

Alex Cosh | The campaign period has been marked by a dwindling of civility and pitting communities against one another through vilification and marginalization, says hate crime expert Barbara Perry.

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