Underated rebellions

This Magazine wants to know what Canada's most underated rebellion is.

The CAW says that it was the 1945 UAW strike against Ford in Windsor, 1945. I tend to agree. This isn't taught in school, and I suspect most adult Canadians aren't aware either.

To make your choice, go This Magazine.

Feline Reproductive Rights

I'm a strong supporter of a woman's right to choose. In my mind, no one stands between a woman and her own body.

However, I've never thought much about reproductive rights for cats, and other animals for that matter. That being said, my friend just got a cat (from a friend of his) and it needs to be spayed. The veterinarian quoted him a price for the procedure, but suggested that it would cost more should the cat already be pregnant, as they would have to perform an abortion.

I wonder, does PETA have an official stance on such this issue?

Balance and Fairness in Labour Relations, Tory style

I followed UncorrectedProofs link to see that Mike Harris (thankfully not THAT Mike Harris) is running for a seat in the Ontario legislature this fall. Turns out he's running in Kitchener. Since K-W is my home away from home, I was curious if he was running in my home away from home riding. Nope, turns out that's Elizabeth Witmer. The site states that,

In June 1995, she was appointed Minister of Labour. In this capacity, she moved quickly to restore balance to provincial labour relations and to strengthen workplace safety and insurance legislation.

Whew, now I feel better. Good thing that she believes in fairness and balance in provincial labour relations. I guess that accounts for the Tories ending employment equity, repealing of anti-scab legislation, posting de-certification procedures in organized workplaces (realizing that there would be no posting of certification procedures in unorganized ones), repealing Bill 40 and passing Bill 7- without public consultation-which promoted "flexibility" in the workplace, preventing workfare employees from organizing, and preventing farm workers from organizing. Nothing quite like fairness and balance Tory style.

What kind of music would God listen to?

A surprising choice...

New Working Class Punk Band

Check out the MySpace page of EVERYBODY OUT! featuring ex-Dropkick Murphy Rick Barton for some solid punk rock tunes. Check out the song 'Home;' it's about bringing home American troops from injust and illegal wars.

EVERYBODY OUT ! Meaning An injunction to workers to 'down tools' come out on strike. Origin During the 1970s in the UK this phrase was synonymous with militant union activity. It was used when workers were called out on strike.....................

Can the Ontario Liberals be trusted with our money?

Goodbye $32 million, hello scandal.

This probably doesn't help the Liberal cause, coming only 11 weeks before the election.

Bishop's University locks out unionized staff

Bishop's University in Quebec has locked out all of its unionized employees. This includes professors, librarians, and support staff.

As a unionized worker in the university sector who is currently awaiting a conciliation date, this story is a of great interest to me.

Non-English Languages Banned in the US Government?

Perhaps that Anglo-chauvinists in Canada could learn something....

Karl Marx has never looked this good...

Thanks to consumerism and the free market, you can bring Marx home with you. No longer confined to philosophical text, this Marx is soft and cuddly. Conservatives don't have fear him either- he's only 11" tall!

If you don't support our troops....

While at the SCENE music festival yesterday, I saw a young chap wearing a troubling shirt. The back of his tee read "If you don't stand behind our troops, then stand in front of them." Really classy. If one doesn't support the troops (and presumbly the imperial war they are in), then they should essentially be treated like the enemy and shot (and maybe even tortured!). I guess freedom of belief and conscience meant little to that guy.

However, on a much brighter note, another shirt I saw read "Oh Canada, your home on Native land." Oh snap!

Immigrant Workforce

I saw Bedouin Soundclash peform yesterday at the SCENE music festival. Sadly, they didn't play my favorite Bedouin song, 'Immigrant Workforce,' which chronicles the struggles of the immigrant working-class.


When the alarm goes off in the blue morning dark,
you know its 5 A.M on the Pacific Rim.
With your eyes wide blind, into a bathroom light,
the news wire line says join the workforce boy,
made of stalwart stock, made from the earths own salt,
did you put your luck in North America?
Well it is 7 bills 7 days to fills take in line And join the workforce boy.

Join the workforce boy if you want some more you might find what you’re looking for
Join the workforce boy if you want some more you might find what you’re looking for

Come from state money in university you find yourself in adversity its 7 bills 7 days to fill so join the fire, And join the workforce boy.

Join the workforce boy if you want some more you might find what you’re looking for
Join the workforce boy if you want some more you might find what you’re looking for

Its Sunday to Monday leaving money to money when the clocks don’t stop running and the break is not coming
seperate history , the credentials are mystery,
the colour you're seeing, it goes deeper, believe me,

Made from stalwart stock, from the earths own salt, well I tell you why you join the workforce boy,
you're made from stalwart stock, made from the earths own salt,
did then why you join the workforce boy,

Join the workforce boy if you want some more you might find what you’re looking for
Join the workforce boy if you want some more you might find what you’re looking for

In the workforce boy, hey,
join the workforce boy
You might find what you’re looking for
Come from country to country to city.
You are a Paki, samali, west indie.
You come from India, Malaysia, Ukraine,
or Asia, Jamaica
Join the workforce boy.

Racism in the Ontario Government

It looks like the motto of the Ontario government is 'black males need not apply'.

Evon Reid, who is black, was waiting to hear about his application for a job with the Ontario government as a media analyst when he received the email Friday.

"This is the ghetto dude that I spoke to before," Aileen Siu, a cabinet office worker, wrote as she forwarded a query from Reid about the job to another person.

Reid, a 22-year-old political science major and self-confessed "political junkie" who remains interested in landing the media analyst job, said yesterday the reference to "ghetto dude" is the kind of slight that keeps young black men from getting a job in the first place.

"This isn't a Confederate flag in a pickup truck," he said. "But it's the kind of private view that affects decisions about someone like myself in the job market."

It is shameful that such an event would take place within the circle of the Ontario government. No word yet on whether or not Dalton McGuinty will apologize in person on behalf of the government.

CUPE and Quebec Sovereignty

Over the weekend I attended a CUPE educational school. The participants were provided with a 'Glossery of Terms' related to the union movement, and sovereignists will be happy with what was this glossery said.

National Union- A union whose membership is confined to Canada only.

International Union- A union that has members in Canada, Quebec, and the United States.

That being said, CUPE is now an international union, as its members live and work in both Canada and Quebec (though not the United States).

United We Stand, Divided We Fall

Dropkick Murphys- Live on St. Patrick's Day, 2002

Say hey Johnny boy, the battle call.
United we stand, divided we fall.
Together we are what we can't be alone,
We came to this country, you made it our home.

This man so humble, this man so brave.
A legend to many, he fought to his grave.
Saved family and friends from the hardship and horror,
in a land of depression he gave hope for tomorrow.

Say Johnny me boy, this ones for you.
With the strength of many and the courage of few.
To what do we owe this man who's fight
was for the masses, he gave his life.

Say hey Johnny boy, the battle call
United we stand, divided we fall.
Together we are what we can't be alone,
We came to this country, you made it our home.

A friend to the locals who dabbled in crime.
He'd give you a job and he'd give you his time.
He wasn't a crook, but he couldn't be conned.
John knew the difference between right and wrong.

Say Johnny me boy, you live no longer,
Others forgotten, your memory's stronger.
Lets drink to the causes in your life:
Your family, your friends, the union, your wife.

Say hey Johnny boy, the battle call.
United we stand, divided we fall.
Together we are what we can't be alone.
We came to this country, you made it our home.
[x2]

And the boys on the docks needed John for sure.
When they came to this country he opened the door.
He said "Man I'll tell ya, they don't like our kind.
Though it starts with a fist it must end with your mind."

Say hey Johnny boy, the battle call.
United we stand, divided we fall.
Together we are what we can't be alone.
We came to this country you made it our home.

Five things wrong with America

Chicago's hardcore punks Rise Against have just released a list of five things that they think are wrong with America.

1. The Iraq War: Still being involved in an unjustified invasion of Iraq that is now a civil war that is taking our beloved soldiers -- our brothers and sisters and wives and husbands -- away from us, en masse.

2. 'American Idol'

3. The Minutemen: If you patrol the border of Mexico in your pickup truck with your buddies, some dogs and a rifle, you are a racist and you are looking for an excuse to use your gun rack. Stop pretending you aren't.

4. Meat Is Murder: America's obsession with torturing animals, injecting them with hormones, brutally slaughtering them, establishing acceptable amounts of feces and then not only eating it ourselves but then teaching our children that this is "the way things are," just like our parents taught us -- bon appetit!

5.: Global Warming Naysayers: People who still believe that global warming is just a theory and that our climate change is simply a natural cycle -- those same people believe the War in Iraq has something to do with 9/11. Those people bore me.

I agree with all of them, except for number four. I think that millions of Americans without any form of health insurance would have something to add to this list...so would millions of homeless people, the un(der)employed, and the working poor. All in all, Rise Against gets a 4/5...80%...and honest "A"

White People For Peace

Gainsville, Florida punks 'Against Me!' are one of my favorite bands. Check out the first single off their new album 'New Wave,' release this past Tuesday. It's called 'White People for Peace,' and speaks to the hypocrisy of politicians suggesting that God is on their side during a war. It also examines the deaf ears and blind eyes in the American administration.

East and West could not agree
So their generals gave a call and gathered troops at the border
With guns ready, drawn and aimed
each side was praying to a God
to bless them with strength and courage
it was in His name that artillery lit the sky on fire
the people sang protest songs to try and stop the soldier's gun

Protest Songs in a response to Military Aggression
Protest songs to try and stop the soldier's gun
But the battle raged on......

Sirens filled the air and the ground shook with war
Civilian casualties has been a cost that was predetermined
when interviewed for report victims pleaded in frustration
Their claim: That this was a war without reason
Bureaucrats engaged in debate to try and reach a resolution
the people sang protest songs to try and stop the soldier's gun

Protest Songs in a response to Military Aggression
Protest songs to try and stop the soldier's gun
But the battle raged on......

The Broadcast like their prayers went unanswered and ignored
god, like the rest of the world, just watched in silence
There was purpose to be served, there were fortunes to be earned
before a peace could be called to stop the fighting

Protest Songs in a response to Military Aggression
Protest songs to try and stop the soldier's gun
But the battle raged on......

Niagara Hotel Workers Rising

Niagara's Hotel Workers deserve better...damn right they do. Check out their site to hear about their struggle against the anti-union CNH Corporation.

CUPE Ontario set to target Provincial Liberals

CUPE Ontario president Sid Ryan says that his union is gearing up to take on (and take down) the provincial Liberals in the upcoming Ontario election.

"We will be targeting Liberals in every riding," Ryan said, adding the union will use members on the ground as well as advertising to defeat the Liberals.

"Where we can find a Liberal, we'll be going after them. We don't believe the Liberals deserve our support. The premier has fashioned himself as the education premier but he's presiding over unprecedented cuts in the school board system," said Ryan.

The Liberals are referring to this strategy as self-serving, arguing that Ryan is concerned only about his own election campaign. He plans on seeking office in Oshawa.

"It's clear that [Ryan] was launching his election campaign," [Education Minister Kathleen Wynne] said. "This is obviously at least partly personal for him. He knows very well that we've been working with boards and we've put new money into the system."

CUPE Ontario is upset that the government has cut over 500 support staff from school boards across the province in an attempt to balance the books. The government also plans on cutting nearly 600 more jobs in the near future. While there has been peace amongst the government and the provinces teachers unions, the same cannot be said regarding support staff, who have has concession pushed upon them and who have been forced to hit the picket lines.

To anyone that was at the ONDP's 2007 convention...

Could someone inform me if anything happened with the Socialist Caucus' resolution on the creation of a single, unified, secular education system in Ontario? As far as I know, the resolution wasn't heard on the floor, but I would appreciate if someone could confirm this or tell me otherwise. Thanks.

Toronto or Moscow?

I'm not normally a Toronto Sun reader, but there was one at my house today, so I flipped through it at lunch.

By the sounds of this column, you'd think Stalin was running Hogtown.

I've said it before but I can't help repeating myself. This is the most inane tax to be dreamed up to date by one of the good socialist soldiers -- in this case Coun. Adam Vaughan....

...If the consultations on the City of Toronto Act taxes are any indication, city officials and their NDP masters will do as they please no matter who's against this silly tax.

Is this columnist for real?

Parents beware!

Remember when you only had to worry about your kid being a commie? Now that the Soviet Union has fallen, 'emo' presents the most significant and worrysome challenge to parents everywhere.

Check out this piece of knee-jerk reactionary reporting. (Please note that a brief commerical runs before the video)


They've also provided a list of 'emo bands', so you can also check your kids record collection (err, iTunes). Fugazi? Are you kidding me? Is this 2007 or 1990?

It's also noteworthy that they've attempted to connect emo with homosexuality.

CBS-47 needs to get with the program.

Catholic church asserts itself as the only 'True' church

Pope Benedict XVI has reasserted the universal primacy of the Roman Catholic Church, approving a document released Tuesday that says Orthodox churches were defective and that other Christian denominations were not true churches.

"Christ 'established here on earth' only one church," the document said. The other communities "cannot be called 'churches' in the proper sense" because they do not have apostolic succession – the ability to trace their bishops back to Christ's original apostles.

If God actually existed, would he really want Christians bickering over which churches are real and which are false?

I guess there are more important things to the Church than AIDS in Africa, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the crisis in Darfur, and world poverty, among others.

Stephane Dion is not a leader....

He's a flip-flopping liberal.

N-word buried

This is good news for the human race...

"Today we're not just burying the N-word, we're taking it out of our spirit," said Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick. "We gather burying all the things that go with the N-word. We have to bury the `pimps' and the `hos' that go with it."

He continued: "Die N-word, and we don't want to see you 'round here no more."

Religious nuts exposed!!!

And this one comes complete with song and dance!

God's Abortions

Every mother a willing mother, every child a wanted child.

Know Your Rights

The right not to be killed (unless done by a policeman or an aristocrat).
The right to food money (provided you are willing to submit to harassment and humiliation).
The right to free speech (unless you actually try it).

Corporate welfare in St. Catharines

While I'm more than happy to hear that 600 additional jobs will likely be created at Gneral Motors in St. Catharines, I'm troubled at the level of corporate welfare that exists here. It seems that local residents are footing the bill for major corporations. At least our mayor is willing to admit as much...

[Mayor Brian] McMullan said he is "very optimistic" about the project. "When you look at potential opportunities, I believe this is the one we have to make a reality."

And McMullan said if the transmission assembly line comes to the Garden City, every homeowner in St. Catharines will have made a contribution to its success - through the decade of property tax shifts that has seen industries getting property tax breaks and homeowners paying a bigger share.

"Our commercial and industrial tax rate is one of the lowest in Ontario," McMullan said. "It is very competitive."

Whip It

Why couldn't Devo 2.0 be this cool?

These kids are great

Labour on DVD

I was in a dollar store today looking for a birthday card for my grandfather. As I was leaving the store, I noticed a rack of DVDs for sale near the door. I took a quick glance and saw "Hoffa." Intrigued, I continued to look. Much to my surprise, I found "Norma Rae (Collectors' Edition)". What are the chances that two well-known labour union movies are for sale in a dollar store? Oddly, the were $7.99 each, and not the typical $1.00.

Meech Lake Alive and Well

For many Canadians, Meech Lake represents a failed consitutional accord that they would rather to forget about. However, for some, myself included, the realm of constituional politics is fascinating. Needless to say, I was rather happy when I found Patrick J. Monahan's "Meech Lake Accord: The Inside Story" at my local thrift store for the low price of $0.99

Parties without a purpose?

Chantal Hébert wonders aloud if the Bloc is drifting into irrelevance.

But over the long term, no subsidy can make up for the demobilization of a party's grassroots. The Bloc no longer resonates with Quebecers in the way it use to. With every passing month, its fate inspires more indifference than passion.

How does newly crowned Parti Quebecois leader Pauline Marois respond to this indifference within the sovereignty movement? She attempts to 'modernize' her party by purging SPQ Libre- the party's left-wing tenancy.

This is bad news if you ask me. While the sovereignist project may be at the crossroads, attempting to weaken the influence of Quebec's working-class, which has long associated itself with sovereignty, is an unwise move. The intersection of class and culture has been a driving in force in Quebec's quest for independence. To attempt to weaken- or even eliminate- this intersection may prove to be deadly, for both the PQ and BQ.

Is it any wonder that A Day of Action took place?

This story chronicles First Nations children in British Columbia being pepper sprayed by RCMP officers. Personally, I think those fellas are a bit too trigger happy with that stuff. In this instance, I fail to see how children how the young children were a threat to an adult police officer.

Ontario NDP employs attack ads

From the Toronto Star...

The Ontario election may be 99 days away, but the New Democrats have already begun airing attack ads against Premier Dalton McGuinty’s Liberals.
This morning, the NDP unveiled a new 30-second spot that will air on Telelatino throughout the FIFA Under 20 World Cup soccer tournament.

The commercial blasts McGuinty for ramming through MPP pay raises just before last Christmas and awarding himself a $40,000 increase while refusing to hike the minimum wage above $10 an hour for another three years.

NDP election planning co-chair Dianne O’Reggio refused to say how much the ads cost. Ontarians go to the polls on Oct. 10.

While there is some debate amongst pollstars and academics regarding the effectiveness of attack ads, these two issues are, in my opinion, important issues that illustrate where the Liberals (and Conservatives) stand. On the other hand, both were principled issues taken by the ONDP. A $10 minimum wage and politician pay raises might just be the best steam that the ONDP has. After all, these two issues went a long way in winning them back York-South Weston. Perhaps they can have a similar effect elsewhere.

And I guess we know the tone of the campaign...

(I'll post the ad as soon as I can find it!)

Ontario Citizens Assembly- Referendum

Ian Urquhart is cautiously predicting a victory for MMP in the upcoming October referendum.

If the political scientists are right, this suggests Ontario is on the cusp of a sweeping change in the way we select our legislators.

While it isn't the strongest endorsement, it does reflect the challenges that MMP supporters will face in the quest to bring fairness to Ontario's electoral system.

At this point, the real problem is that few know what MMP is, and what its pros (and cons) are.

Given the widespread public ignorance of the electoral reform issue – a recent Environics poll showed 70 per cent of Ontarians are not familiar with it – how, then, will voters learn about the pros and cons of MMP?

The Ontario government- which is remaining officially neutral in the referendum- will be using Election Ontario to educate citizens on the mechanics of the two systems, not on their pros and cons. Of course, the benefit of MMP is not simply the mechanics. The real benefit lays in the fact that it doesn't have the undemocratic consequences of the FPTP system. This is the real selling point, but the one that can't be used by Elections Ontario. Furthermore, the regulations "could be interpreted as meaning the parties must stay out of the electoral reform campaign." That would be disasterous for the NDP, who planned on making MMP a cornerstone of their platform.

Officially, the referendum will question will read:

"Which electoral system should Ontario use to elect members to the provincial legislature? The existing electoral system (first-past-the-post)" or "the alternative electoral system proposed by the citizens' assembly (mixed member proportional)."

This even takes the steam out of a 'Vote YES' campaign. I guess we'll have to go with 'VOTE MMP' instead.

Happy Canada Day

I only celebrate a country that must be made.

Until the next time....

Ontario Provincial Election and Collective Bargaining

It's for reasons like this that Ian Urquhart is my favorite columnist on the political scene. One of his most recent columnists focuses on farm workers, collective bargaining rights, and the upcoming Ontario election.

For the first time ever, farm workers were given the right to organize under the Rae government. However, following the election of the Conservatives in 1995, this right was repealed. The case was eventually heard at the Supreme Court, which ruled that farm workers could organize. While the Harris government allowed them to join unions, they were subsequently denied the right to strike or bargain collectively. To be clear, the Liberals voted along with the Conservatives, and in 2003 made specific mention to their decision, reiterating that they wouldn't restore these rights if elected.

The recent decision by the Supreme Court of Canada regarding B.C. Health Unions and their right to bargain collectively throws the legitimacy of Agricultural Employees Protection Act, the ironically named act that prevents Ontario's farm workers from organizing, in to question. Unions in the province are currently plotting strategy on how to proceed. In fact, it could- and I certainly hope it does-become an election issue.

"The highest court in the land has spoken," said UFCW President Wayne Hanley in a letter two weeks ago to Premier Dalton McGuinty. "Ontario's agricultural workers are looking to you to do the right thing by restoring their rights to collective bargaining."

McGuinty, through a spokesperson, says that his position has not yet changed. "It (agriculture) is a different kind of business," said the spokesperson, noting the seasonal nature of harvesting.

Urquhart predicts that the Liberals will delay the inevitable- that is extending collective bargaining rights to farm workers- until after the election. I say this needs to be a major issue for the NDP and progressive minded voters in Ontario this fall. Additionally, Ontario also bans domestics, welfare recipients in workfare programs, school principals and vice-principals, as well as farm workers, from collective bargaining.

I also think that this strongly illustrates organized labour's move toward the judicial system as a protector of its rights. Whether this is a sign of its weakness or a sign of its strength is up for you to decide.

Pictures from First Nations Day of Action

The CBC has a number a great photos from Thursday's First Nations Day of Action. The gallery can be seen here. My personal favorite is lucky number 13.

Capitalism Stole My Virginity

I saw the video tonight on the Punk Show, so I figured I'd post it up here. It's by The (International) Noise Conspiracy, featuring Dennis Lyzxen, formerly of the Refused.

Nowhere is untouched by the shame
Who said we could get by with our childhood games
Days of innocence are all long gone
Avoid the shock honey and try to live on

Woke up all paralyzed
All dreams corrupted in front of our eyes
Cause on every forehead of every little whore
There's a sign that says, 'baby don't come back no more'

Distasteful ugly and cheap
That is how you make me feel, I said
Capitalism stole my virginity
Capitalism stole, capitalism stole
Capitalism stole my virginity

Robbed out of our bleeding hearts
Smashed our illusions, tore them all apart
Now we are unsentimental and unafraid
To destroy this culture that we hate

Sort of tired of being nothing
When, when we should be everything
On every forehead of every little whore
There's a sign that says, 'baby we're all born to die'

Distasteful ugly and cheap
That is how you make me feel, I said
Capitalism stole my virginity
Capitalism stole, capitalism stole
Capitalism stole - yeah

We are all sluts, cheap products
In someone else's notebook
We are all sluts, cheap products
In someone else's notebook
We are all sluts, cheap products
In someone else's notebook
We are all sluts, cheap products
In someone else's notebook

Distasteful ugly and cheap
That is how you make me feel, I said
Capitalism stole my virginity
Capitalism stole, capitalism stole
Capitalism stole my virginity, oh
Capitalism stole, capitalism stole
Capitalism stole my virginity, oh yeah
Capitalism stole, capitalism stole
Capitalism stole my virginity, oh