Laurence Miall is the author of Blind Spot (Newest Press) and a contributor to Canadian newspapers. He lives in Edmonton, Alberta.
The phrase “a country fit for heroes” expressed the spirit of social reform that was seen as WWI veterans’ just reward for service. It was a promise of health and well-being for everyone — a tonic against the forces of austerity that we should revive.
Canada’s carbon tax isn’t achieving much for the environment, and because the tax falls heavily on working people, it is more unpopular than ever. Without a redesign, the carbon tax is a gift to right-wing populists.
Since the pandemic became global, there has been a sharp increase in the percentage of remote workers. Liberals have championed this shift but ignored the fact that allowing people to work remotely does nothing to combat the exploitation inherent in capitalist labor.
Jesse Brown’s Canadaland has stepped into the breach left by Canada’s ailing legacy media. The podcast has been a strong shot in the arm for the country’s investigative journalism.
Despite their election rhetoric, Canadian politicians have been acting in the interests of corporations for decades. We need to confront corporate interests — and in order to do so, we have to recognize how intertwined they are with the Canadian state.
Mark Carney, ex-governor of the central banks in Canada and Britain, has written a much-hyped book about the problems with modern capitalism. But this consummate insider can’t trace the roots of those problems back to their fundamental sources.
From Bob and Doug McKenzie to the Trailer Park Boys, the Canadian hoser is an integral part of the country’s cultural landscape. The hoser is also a working-class emblem, whose uncertain fortune in the face of economic downturns reflects the wider experience of Canadian workers.