Category: Economy
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Wall Street Can’t Fix the Environment – and Neither Can Bay Street
On December 16, 2019, a few dozen members of Canada’s business, academic and government elite met in Toronto at the invitation of the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC). They were there to officially launch the Energy Future Forum (EFF), “a new pan-Canadian initiative to develop policy answers that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and strengthen the … Keep reading »
Will Boeing Survive as a Civilian Aircraft Maker in 2020?
The dismissal of the company’s CEO is akin to putting a Band-Aid on a stage 4 tumor. Keep reading »
We Should Be Free to Say ‘Fuck You’ to the Boss
As soon as we show up for work, our much-vaunted free speech goes out the window. But when we win full employment and don’t fear losing our jobs, we can tell the boss what we really think. Keep reading »
Ways Out of the Growth Trap
Trade Unions, Climate Crisis and the “Ecology of Work” As the remarkable success of “Fridays for Future” and “Extinction Rebellion” shows, the climate crisis is pushing onto the agenda ever more strongly. Such a push is urgently needed because the window during which its worst effects could be prevented is closing rapidly. Accordingly, the need to … Keep reading »
Taxing the Rich is Only a Start, Though it’s a Good One
It’s become near-consensus on the social democratic left that you can fund a decent welfare state by taxing the rich and shrinking the military. Sad to say that isn’t true. Those are good things in themselves, and you could pay for some excellent things with that agenda, but it would still be well short of … Keep reading »
Revaluing Capitalism for the Long-Term?
In the wake of the 2007–08 financial crash, the mainstream debate has not focused on the choice between socialism or barbarism, but rather on ‘reinventing capitalism’. Faced with a populist ‘other’ ranging from ‘Trump and Brexit’ to the popular but as-yet-ill-defined ‘socialism’ of Corbyn and Sanders, the liberal bourgeoisie in the Atlantic heartland of the … Keep reading »
Beyond NAFTA and CUSMA: Democracy Not Corporatocracy
The Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) falls short of any real alternative, rather it follows a long line of neoliberal trade agreements that have little to do with trade and everything to do with facilitating profit generation for multinational corporations. We discuss the trade agenda and the current political context in Mexico and Canada as well … Watch video »
Globalization’s Corroding Edifice
The World Bank’s World Development Report (WDR), published every year since 1978, plays a similar role to that of the state of the union address in the US, in which the president hopes to keep the faith of the Congress and public. Its task is to persuade state leaders, policy-makers and academics, directors of industry … Keep reading »
Global Economic Volatility and Socio-Political Reactions
Trade and currency wars, financial volatility and economic turbulence are now the most important features of the world economy. The elements of a new international financial crisis are in place. Although we do not know when it will break out, it is unavoidable, and its impact on world economy will be as significant as the … Keep reading »
Make GM Government Motors Again
Seven years ago, we owned General Motors (GM). With 49,000 autoworkers walking pickets to finally end the concessions, it’s mind-boggling to remember that the US Treasury owned GM for three years – and managed to do virtually nothing to benefit the working class with it. Keep reading »
Ten Reasons to say No: A Primer on Sidewalk Labs’ Plan for Toronto
Review of Sidewalk Labs’ plans for Toronto’s waterfront and some of the reasons to say no to corporate control and to insist instead, on a democratic and citizen driven process. Keep reading »
Future Possibilities for the GM Plant in Oshawa
We believe that Oshawa could be the manufacturing centre for battery electric vans and other vehicles, anchored by production for Canada Post and other government bodies. Government action and a public ownership model would be required. There is growing support for this proposal from unions, community activists and environmentalists. It would keep good jobs for … Watch video »