Economics

Leduc No. 1 and Alberta's unluckiest lucky day

djclimenhaga — Mon, 13 Feb 2017 05:32:15 +0000

February 13 is the 70th anniversary of the day Alberta simultaneously won the lottery and started to watch everything go to hell in a handcart. February 13...Alberta's unluckiest lucky day.

In other words, 70 years ago, with memories of the Great Depression and the Second World War still very fresh in the minds of the province's population of about 800,000 souls, Leduc No. 1, a few miles south of Edmonton, struck oil and the whole world changed.

Cars didn't have seat belts back in 1947, so no one thought to say: "Fasten your seat belts!" But by gosh, they should've!

We need to work less to live better

David Suzuki — Tue, 24 Jan 2017 23:25:09 +0000

Since the 1950s, almost everything about work in the developed world has changed dramatically. Rapid technological advances continue to render many jobs obsolete. Globalization has shifted employment to parts of the world with the lowest costs and standards. Most households have gone from one income-earner to at least two. Women have fully integrated into the workforce, albeit often with less-than-equal opportunities, conditions and pay. A lot of our work is unnecessary and often destructive -- depleting resources, destroying ecosystems, polluting air, water and soil, and fuelling climate change.

Anthropocentric view ignores crucial connections

David Suzuki — Tue, 17 Jan 2017 23:13:09 +0000

For decades, scientists have warned that we're on a dangerous path. It stems from our delusion that endless growth in population, consumption and the economy is possible and is the very purpose of society. But endless growth is not feasible in a finite biosphere. Growth is not an end but a means.

Canada is wasting billions of dollars a year on prescription drugs

redeye — Tue, 17 Jan 2017 02:12:44 +0000

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A national pharmacare program would save the health-care system billions and improve the health of the one in 10 Canadians who can't afford the medication they are prescribed. A new report commissioned by the Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions (CNFU) says we need to start planning for a national program now. Linda Silas is president of the CFNU. She speaks with Redeye host James Mainguy.

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'All for ourselves and nothing for other people': The takeover of economics by neoliberalism

rabble staff — Fri, 16 Dec 2016 13:17:54 +0000

Friday, December 16, 2016

All for ourselves, and nothing for other people, seems, in every age of the world, to have been the vile maxim of the masters of mankind.

-- Adam Smith, Wealth of Nations

The economics profession has become a self-satisfied apologia for the plunder of society's wealth by the greedy and ruthless 1% -- the "masters of mankind."

A public school teacher's perspective on a decade of cuts

redeye — Thu, 24 Nov 2016 23:08:21 +0000

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Rory Brown is President of the Vancouver Secondary Teachers' Association, a local of the BCTF. He has taught in Vancouver since 1999 and witnessed firsthand the effects of years of cutbacks.

Rory Brown was recorded November 3 at a public forum on the future of education in B.C. organized by the Institute for the Humanities at SFU and Ricochet Media.

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Over a decade of cuts has led to crisis in B.C. public schools

redeye — Thu, 24 Nov 2016 20:47:56 +0000

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Since 2002, the Liberal government has been cutting education funding in B.C. resulting in program cutbacks, overcrowded classrooms and now, for many children, the loss of their neighbourhood school.

On November 3, the Institute for the Humanities at SFU and Ricochet Media sponsored a public forum on the future of education in B.C.

We hear from Alex Hemingway, policy analyst with the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, First Nations community advocate Diana Day, Maggie Milne Martens, co-founder of the Parent Action Network for Community Education and Isabella Preite, a Grade 12 student at Kitsilano Secondary School and Student Trustee on the Vancouver School Board.

Using film to challenge the dubious economics of tar sands and fracking

scott.neigh — Wed, 16 Nov 2016 13:43:36 +0000

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On this week's episode of Talking Radical Radio, Scott Neigh speaks with producer and director David Lavallee about his new documentary film, To the Ends of the Earth, which explores the impacts of unconventional fossil fuels.

Canada-Europe trade deal no longer a foregone conclusion

redeye — Tue, 15 Nov 2016 16:59:13 +0000

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With the regional government of Wallonia's vote to reject CETA, the future of the deal is less certain. Stuart Trew explains what Wallonia's initial opposition meant and how this impacts Canadians. Stuart Trew is editor of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives' national magazine Monitor. He's also co-editor, with Scott Sinclair, of The Trans-Pacific Partnership and Canada - A Citizens' Guide. Stuart Trew speaks with Redeye host Esther Hsieh.

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Is the TPP falling apart? Let's take a look at where the 12 nations are at

OpenMedia.ca — Mon, 22 Aug 2016 20:25:49 +0000

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As the ratification fight intensifies, we're watching closely as the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) winds its way through national legislatures across the globe. So grab your popcorn, and let's take a look at where the TPP stands in each country yet to ratify.

United States

Ears on the earth: The World Social Forum begins

Victoria Fenner — Wed, 10 Aug 2016 00:35:11 +0000

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The World Social Forum kicked off in Montreal today with an opening march and gathering!

We frown on smiles! The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is unhappy to learn public-sector workers are happy

djclimenhaga — Sun, 22 May 2016 04:57:49 +0000

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Employees in the Canadian public sector are far too happy and the so-called Canadian Taxpayers Federation wants it to stop right now!

Regional distribution of benefits highlights inequity in EI system

rabble staff — Thu, 19 May 2016 20:41:22 +0000

Thursday, May 19, 2016

Qualifying for employment insurance based on your postal code is not working. Carleton University economist Frances Woolley discusses why with rabble labour reporter Teuila Fuatai.

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At the moment, "a few miles" will cost a worker more than a month in employment insurance benefits in Saskatchewan.

Unequal access to extended EI benefits sows confusion in snubbed regions

rabble staff — Mon, 16 May 2016 17:29:51 +0000

Monday, May 16, 2016

The Liberals' extended employment insurance benefits to regions suffering higher-than-normal jobless rates have reignited a debate around the entire program. rabble's labour reporter investigates.

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Is Saudi Arabia smarter than Canada?

Green Majority Radio — Mon, 18 Apr 2016 22:59:58 +0000

Saudi Arabia Smarter Than Canada?

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This week was our Spring Fundraiser at CIUT 89.5FM, but we still managed to make a proper show! The podcast here posted has all the "call in now!" stuff cut out and we did an extended after-show to make it back to full-length but the result is some occasionally choppiness so please excuse. That aside, it was a great show and we think you'll love it!