December 10, 2009
Wednesday WTF: The craziness spreads in Le Journal de Montréal lockout
[This was meant to auto-post yesterday, but didn't, for some reason. So it's kind of "WTF Thursday" today...] La Journal de Montréal/ Rue Frontenac employees picket La Journal's offices in Montreal. Quebecor Media Inc. locked-out 253 employees nearly one year ago. Reporters sans frontières has now waded into the mire that is the lock-out of employees at Le Journal de Montréal. Unlike many public... [More >>]
November 24, 2009
ThisAbility #40: Glee is for me
Kevin McHale takes centre stage and heat for playing wheelchair using Artie Abrams. Image from The Fox Network Sometimes it seems that no minority sits on a higher horse than people with disabilities—give an inch and they want a mile. I bet that’s what creator Ryan Murphy, executive producer Brad Falchuck and the rest of the creative muscle behind Glee thought, in their most private moments,... [More >>]
November 5, 2009
Today is the Day of Action for a Poverty-Free Ontario
Students, faculty, workers and community members will march today, November 5th, as part of the Campaign for a Poverty-Free Ontario. Organized by the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS) and allied groups, this Day of Action calls on the McGuinty government to take concrete steps to eliminate poverty in Ontario by adequately funding social services and equity measures. A CFS press release states... [More >>]
October 20, 2009
ThisAbility #38: Ableism Goes Retro on Mad Men
Don Draper (Jon Hamm) and Joan Holloway (Christina Hendricks) speculate on the future of their newly disabled colleague in "Guy Walks Into an Advertising Agency"--copyright AMC 2009 While most of Mad Men’s devoted fan base was surely whipped into a frenzy thanks to “The Big Reveal” this past Sunday, [Sorry folks, I'm going to be good and keep the spoilers behind the link]... [More >>]
June 29, 2009
NDP considering name change: the ‘Democratic Party’
If several high-profile individuals have their way, one of Canada’s major political parties could be on the way to a rebranding even before the summer is out. The New Democratic Party could enter the fall session of parliament with a new name, simply called the “Democratic Party.” The move has been promoted by a mounting number of MPs and other party members at the grassroots. Two... [More >>]
June 26, 2009
Trash your neighbour and save the environment
From Flickr. As the original caption points out, Torontonians will apparently do anything to avoid actually littering. I grew up in Saskatchewan, so I’m not accustomed to being on the receiving end of the country’s resentment of Toronto. For this reason, I never thought I’d publicly acknowledge, let alone write about, problems created by the ongoing garbage workers’ strike. But the strike... [More >>]
June 22, 2009
Grumble if you want, but Toronto city workers are right to strike
CUPE workers on strike in Toronto. Image source: Lorenda Reddekopp/CBC [Disclosure: CUPE is a This Magazine advertiser] Toronto is now about half a day into a municipal workers’ strike, and the usual braying chorus has sprung up on radio, television, and the op-ed pages, alternately condemning or defending the strike action. Generally, there are three viewpoints expressed: This is inconvenient,... [More >>]
May 28, 2009
Socialism without socialists in Wired Magazine
The new new new new new new new new new new economy. Wired magazine’s current issue contains an interesting essay that’s worth a read, called (in Wired’s loveable hyperbolic style) “The New Socialism.” With the U.S. economy still in a tailspin and “socialism” back on the political radar there (Obama: is he, or isn’t he?) the time is ripe to seriously... [More >>]
August 29, 2008
Keep the “Labour” in “Labour Day”
A Toronto Labour Day parade from the early 1900s, shot by Yousuf Karsh It’s Friday afternoon and around our office, we’re all thinking about the upcoming long weekend. Labour Day, for many Canadians, is just another day off, the end of the summer, a chance to sleep in one last time before school starts up again (and for the clubbier set, the last chance to wear white without being laughed... [More >>]
August 27, 2008
Mr. Layton goes to Denver (updated)
A press release came in this afternoon saying that NDP leader Jack Layton is spending three days at the Democratic National Convention in Denver to talk to the Dems’ labour caucus, among others, and see if he can shake some important hands. Now, the NDP’s electoral standing in Canada isn’t exactly on par with the U.S. Democrats, and Layton isn’t pulling Obama-level numbers himself... [More >>]
