AlolanVulpix

joined 3 years ago
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A lot of people in my social media feeds are thinking of voting Liberal in the coming election. Mark Carney seems like a safe bet and the fear of a Pierre Poilievre victory in the Trump era is frightening. If your main issue is the best person to deal with Donald Trump, he is probably that. I understand.

Carney seems trustworthy and kind. He says he understands that private industry is good at creating wealth but not so good at protecting vulnerable people in the process. Unfortunately, it’s not 1990 anymore and the idea that providing private corporations with tons of government money and tax cuts will produce wealth for everyone has been thoroughly discredited through lived experience. What it has produced is massive wealth, all of which is concentrated in the one per cent or more likely the 0.1 per cent and more and more suffering by the poor and the working class. The result is Trump and Elon Musk and the other authoritarians and fascists gaining ground around the world. And Mark Carney as the head of the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England as well as a senior executive in important private equity companies has been part of the problem not part of the solution.

 

Richard lives in a pup tent in downtown Ottawa, next to the Bank of Canada and about a block from the temporary home of the House of Commons. He’s a thin, tough man in his sixties. Or he could be in his fifties. When you’ve worked outside for years as a roofer and then end up on the street, your face has seen a lot of sun. Carrying a heavy load of trauma and anxiety is also a great way to look older than you are.

Richard gets by on $789 a month from the Ontario Disability Support Program. That’s what everyone gets, whether they’re paying for a home or not. A few years ago, he might have been able to afford to share a small apartment, but that wouldn’t work now: Rentals.ca reported average rents in Ottawa ranged from $1,699 for a bachelor apartment to $1,892 for a one-bedroom in April 2023.

This math leaves Richard and many of the other 3,000 unsheltered people in downtown Ottawa living in pup tents. They’re all over the place. And a lot of homeless people spend cold nights lying in sleeping bags in doorways or on ventilation grates that blow hot air.

 

Danielle Smith must resign immediately.

The Alberta Premier can be friends with anyone she chooses — including the adjudicated rapist threatening to ruin Canada. However, Smith crossed a line by asking Trump to interfere in Canada’s federal election.

It doesn’t matter that Smith’s request to Trump administration officials to pause the tariff war doesn’t meet the formal — arguably outdated — definition of election interference. Smith clearly stated that her request was a consequence of the tariff war benefitting Mark Carney, and that a pause would benefit Pierre Poilievre.

Were this not enough, Smith advocated for Poilievre because she thinks he and Trump are “in sync.”

Smith doesn’t care about Canadian sovereignty, and it shows when she flew down to Mar-a-Lago, when she attended Trump’s inauguration and whenever she speaks to the American far-right, which is unfortunately often.

She is supposed to represent the people of Alberta — Canadian citizens — not the interests of the Trump Organization. Her actions — always immature, often childish and completely unacceptable for any Canadian politician — have proven her unworthy of her office.

We are a forgiving society to not call them treasonous.

If Danielle Smith doesn’t want to stand up for Canada, then it’s time for her to stand down.

 

APTN News on Bluesky

As the country gets ready to go to the polls on April 28, Elections Canada Chief Electoral Officer Stephane Perrault says they’ve worked hard to better engage Indigenous voters this time around.

Hear how on the latest APTN News Brief: pod.fo/e/2bdbe9

 

MediaSmarts on Bluesky

The #househippo is here to remind us that misinformation can fool anyone—even you!🧐 In an election season, always check the facts with a reliable source before you share online. Learn how at www.breakthefake.ca #BreaktheFake

 

Canadians for EU Membership on Bluesky

An election is underway, tell the candidates it's time for Canada to stop "getting closer" to the EU and go all the way inside!

 

Fair Vote Canada on Bluesky

A federal election is coming and our soverignty is on the line.

That's why we're looking for volunteers to deliver door hangers—and help fight for proportional representation.

Sign up here: secure.fairvote.ca/en/action/el...

Let’s ditch first-past-the-post.

Let’s make every vote count. #cdnpoli

A bold red and white graphic with large text that reads: “Ditching American products? Let’s ditch their voting system too.” At the bottom, it says: “Find out how the First Past the Post voting system weakens Canadian sovereignty, fosters division, and leaves us vulnerable to extremists.” Includes the Fair Vote Canada logo and a QR code.

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