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 - Yves Engler's Blog October 31
Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland. Image: International Monetary Fund/flickr
Ottawa's sanctions, support for Venezuelan opposition constitute regime change
Yves Engler | Notwithstanding her government’s violation of the UN and Organization of American States charters’ in Venezuela, Freeland’s claim that Ottawa doesn’t engage in “regime change” is laughable.
Blog - On The Other Hand October 30
Photo: Keijo Knutas/Flickr
My dad put the tattoo on the Marlboro man's hand
Penney Kome | Our long journey from conformity to individualism, and now to diverse communities.
Blog - Cathy Crowe's blog October 30
Protest signs at 21 Park Rd, location of Toronto's new winter respite program. Image: Cathy Crowe
Bandaids don't fix a sub-standard shelter system
Cathy Crowe | Toronto's recent announcement of winter only respite centres for people chronically homeless neglects the humanitarian disaster.
Blog - Alberta Diary October 30
Jason Kenney. Image: michael_swann/flickr
Jason Kenney wins, completing double reverse hostile takeover of Alberta's conservative parties
David J. Climenhaga | So what happens next? Will Jason Kenney now strategically moderate his radical and controversial social conservatism, or double down on it?
Blog - The Journalism Doctor October 30
Toronto Star newsroom, December 17, 1930. Photo: Toronto History​/Flickr
Why is Toronto's media still so white?
John Miller | More than half of Toronto's population identified as a visible minority in the 2016 census, yet represent just a tiny minority of Toronto's media. It's time to change.
Blog - Alberta Diary October 30
Backlit keyboard. Image: Colin/Wikimedia Commons
Trailing UCP candidates knuckle under after brief rebellion over evasion of voting limits on home computers
David J. Climenhaga | UCP leadership election procedures may have failed to pass the sniff test, but party officials see no problem.
Blog - Yves Engler's Blog October 27
Photo: United States Navy/Wikimedia Commons
The Canadian military's search for 'gravitas' in Asia
Yves Engler | Amidst tension on the Korean Peninsula, the Canadian Navy has joined Washington's "pivot" towards Asia.
Blog - Alberta Diary October 27
Jason Kenney. Image: michael_swan/flickr
Desperation anyone? Clock runs out on Brian Jean's campaign to lead the UCP
David J. Climenhaga | Jason Kenney's campaign to lead the United Conservative Party has been described as a juggernaut, crushing every conservative who stands in its way. It seems likely Brian Jean is next.
Blog - October 25
Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall. Image: Huskies Football/flickr
Saskatchewan premier promises to repeal privatization Bill 40
Brent Patterson | Saskatchewan premier Brad Wall promises to repeal bill that would allow government to sell off nearly half of Crown corporations without referendum.
Blog - David Suzuki October 24
Photo: Pixabay
Government inaction, industry tactics increase caribou risks
David Suzuki | In response to the need for action to protect and restore caribou habitat to reverse the creatures' decline, the Forest Products Association of Canada has done its part to stall the necessary changes.
Blog - October 24
Image: Ben Ostrowsky/flickr
Ottawa must deny entry to Islamophobe Robert Spencer
Groupe de recherche sur l'extrême droite et ses allié-e-s-GREDA | Stand up against the conference on October 29 in Grand Prairie Alberta
Blog - Independent Jewish Voices Canada October 23
Roger Waters The Wall tour, September 16, 2010 at Air Canada Centre in Toronto. Photo: Sam Javanrouh/Flickr
Roger Waters' BDS activism welcomed by Independent Jewish Voices
Independent Jewish Voices Canada | Statement from Independent Jewish Voices Canada (IJV) in support of musician Roger Waters' activism on BDS and Palestine.
Blog - Pulpit and Politics October 23
Amanda Lindhout, former Canadian hostage in Somalia. Image: Art Babych
Former hostages Joshua Boyle, Amanda Lindhout were reckless
Dennis Gruending | Former hostages Joshua Boyle, Amanda Lindhout were reckless and endangered others.
Blog - Common Frontiers October 23
Demonstrators outside Minister of Foreign Affairs Chrystia Freeland's office in Toronto. Image: Jay Collin
Canadian government support for Venezuelan opposition raises concerns
Raul Burbano | By unconditionally supporting the opposition, the Canadian government is adding fuel to the politicization in Venezuela that contributes to the conflict.
Blog - Alberta Diary October 22
The myth of Western alienation is back with a vengeance
David J. Climenhaga | The digital editions of the gutter press are full of the complaints nowadays of such alienated Albertans as United Conservative Party leadership contenders Brian Jean and Jason Kenney.
Blog - On The Other Hand October 22
The cast of the Harvey Weinstein-backed Project Runway. Photo: Project Runway/Wikimedia Commons
Like most women, I've been slimed, too.
Penney Kome | In light of the allegations against Harvey Weinstein women took to social media to share their experiences with the hashtag #MeToo. It's an old story, but it's still news.
Blog - Alberta Diary October 20
Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi
Right-wing propaganda pivots to explain away progressive successes in Alberta municipal elections
David J. Climenhaga | It's not bad news for the NDP that voters in many communities continue to tilt toward middle-of-the-road progressive candidates in elections for municipal councils and public school boards.
Blog - Alberta Diary October 20
Photo: http://www.elections.ab.ca
Alberta Electoral Boundaries Commission calls for addition of 3 urban ridings, loss of 3 rural constituencies
David J. Climenhaga | Alberta's Electoral Boundaries Commission has issued a final report calling for one new urban riding in the Edmonton area and two in the Calgary region, plus three fewer rural ridings.
Blog - Alberta Diary October 20
Photo: Premier of Alberta/Flickr
In pragmatic move, Premier Rachel Notley appoints former Tory minister from Calgary to infrastructure portfolio
David J. Climenhaga | The appointment to cabinet of former Tory Sandra Jansen, who crossed the floor to the NDP last year, is designed to win hearts and minds in Calgary, likely to be the key electoral battleground.
Blog - Common Frontiers October 20
Demonstrators outside Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland’s constituency office in Toronto. Image: José Luis Granados Ceja​
Toeing Trump's line, Canada backs baseless fraud allegations in Venezuela
José Luis Granados Ceja | In the span of only few months, the Canadian government has issued at least 14 statements aimed at undermining the democratically elected government of Nicolas Maduro in Venezuela.
Blog - Yves Engler's Blog October 19
Ontario-6934. Image: Dennis Jarvis/flickr
Canada's war shrines
Yves Engler | Each year, tens of millions of dollars in public money is spent on war memorials. The Afghan Memorial is just the latest addition to Ottawa’s long list of war shrines.
Blog - Independent Jewish Voices Canada October 19
Image: darstv/Youtube
Independent Jewish Voices Canada congratulates Nadia Shoufani on victory for freedom of speech
Independent Jewish Voices Canada | Shoufani remained steadfast as she was suspended from her job, and faced the prospect of losing her career after her case was brought before the Ontario College of Teachers.
Blog - Policy Note October 19
Hupacasath First Nation run-of-river renewable energy. Photo: Green Energy Futures - David Dodge/Flickr
First Nations-led renewable energy generation in B.C. offers promising path forward
Karena Shaw, Dana Cook, Eryn Fitzgerald, Judith (Kekinusuqs) Sayers | First Nations have built significant momentum in the renewable energy industry and their involvement is bringing real benefits to their communities.
Blog - The Activist Toolkit Blog October 18
Anti-Islamophobia protesters. Image: Fibonacci Blue/flickr
The "alt-right" and Islamophobia continue to be normalized
Maya Bhullar | We need to continue to confront and fight back.
Blog - MiningWatch blog October 18
Photo: EARTHWORKS​/Flickr
House subcommittee hearings on mining in Latin America a public disservice
Jen Moore | The House of Commons Subcommittee on International Human Rights hasn't heard from people most directly affected by Canadian mining operations in the region.
Blog - David Suzuki October 17
The Orca known as AT3 of the Alaska Transients. He is the last member of the AT1 pod to be born since the Exxon-Valdez spill. Image: Wikimedia Commons/Andrew Blazejewski​
Oil spills pose unacceptable threats to marine life
David Suzuki | The 76 southern resident killer whales off the B.C. coast, Canada's most endangered marine mammal, are particularly threatened by oil spills.
Blog - October 17
Justin Trudeau and Donald Trump at the White House. Image: Foreign Leader Visits/Wikimedia Commons
Trump and Trudeau not likely to reach agreement in NAFTA talks
Brent Patterson | Brent Patterson breaks down the status of the ongoing NAFTA talks.
Blog - On The Other Hand October 13
Mayor Naheed Nenshi. Image: Flickr/Premier of Alberta​
Calgary's popular Mayor Nenshi faces challengers in upcoming election
Penney Kome | Hockey arena and a new transit route are major contentious issues in Calgary's upcoming mayoral election.
Blog - Alberta Diary October 13
Brian Jean. Image: Brian Jean/flickr
Wildrose leader complains UCP voting system may be rigged
David J. Climenhaga | One has to feel a certain sympathy with would-be UCP leader Jean. Confronting Jason Kenney is a bit like standing in front of the proverbial juggernaut.
Blog - Campus Notes October 13
University of New Brunswick Crest. Image: JamesMcGrath2011/flickr
Hundreds of UNB faculty and staff reject white supremacist posters on campus
Lucas Crawford, Carmen Ellison, Sabine Lebel | Three hundred staff and faculty at the University of New Brunswick pen a letter rejecting white supremacy on the university campus and urging students to disrupt white supremacist activities.

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