22 October 2007 | no. 490

Harper fiddles while planet burns
Tories ditch Kyoto in Throne Speech
Stephen Harper’s vision for the country: more war, less Kyoto. That’s what the Tories promised in the government’s throne speech on October 17. The war in Afghanistan and the effects of climate change are the two biggest issues in federal politics today. And Harper has taken positions that are in direct opposition to the opinions of a majority of people across the country.
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Commission stirs Islamophobia
The debate in Quebec on the “reasonable accommodation” of the needs of religious and ethnic minorities in the public sphere has been stirring up Islamophobia and racial bigotry throughout most of 2007.
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First Nation's treaty sparks debate over tactics
On October 15 in Victoria, Chief Kim Baird and other members of the Tsawwassen First Nation were feted in the Legislature for agreeing to sign the first modern-day treaty in BC.
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Sellling the reconstruction myth in Afghanistan
The Department of National Defence and the Canadian Forces employ twelve public relations staff in Kandahar province compared to only three people working for the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).
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The real struggle takes place on the
streets of Burma
Revolt from below, not intervention from the West, is the key to overthrowing Burma’s military junta.
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Toxic toys make China scapegoat
When children unwrap their favourite toys this holiday season, they may also be getting a gift that keeps on giving – lead accumulation in their tissues and bones.
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Editorial
Polls, politics and pro-war pundits
Amid much fanfare in the Canadian press, Environics Research, a polling company, announced the results of the first Canadian-sponsored poll of Afghans’ opinions of the NATO mission in Afghanistan.
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Letter
Fund one system for all
A publicly-funded school must be accessible to all members of the public. This is true of all French-language schools as they are fully accessible and accommodating to people of all religions, nationalities and languages.
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Left Jab
CEOs awash in greenwash
If you have been worrying about climate change devastating our environment, you can relax.
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Russian Revolution 90 years on
Since the success of the Russian workers’ revolution in October 1917, every period of radicalization and social transformation brings back this moment of history as a reference point, writes Abbie Bakan.
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United Auto Workers' contract a
defeat for U.S. workers
The American working class suffered a major defeat in the recent settlement reached between the United Auto Workers and General Motors, writes Carolyn Egan
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CAW makes historic concessions
The Canadian Auto Workers (CAW) and the auto parts giant Magna have announced that they have negotiated a “Framework for Fairness Agreement” that would allow 18,000 Magna workers to vote on joining the CAW.
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CUPE delegates call for troops out of Afghanistan
Over 2,200 CUPE delegates from across the country gathered in Toronto from October 14 to 19 for a national convention.
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Vancouver library workers end strike
On October 19, Vancouver’s public library workers voted 71 per cent to accept a deal that would end their 88-day strike, returning all city employees to work.
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Military communities speak out
The largest gathering of trade union women ever to take place in North America convened in Toronto from September 22 to 23.
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Campaign for asylum gains new ground
When police in Nelson, BC arrested US war re sister Robin Long earlier this month, little did they know they would strike a nerve right across the country.
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Border police block U.S. activists
Border police block US activists On October 3, the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) stopped two US-based peace activists from entering Canada.
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Tories plan 'secret trial' comeback
In February 2007, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that the government’s use of so-called “security certificates” was unconstitutional, and gave them one year to change the law.
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