Socialist Alternative Canada

"When the governor general prorogues parliament, at the prime minister’s request, it ends all business in progress and allows the government to reset parliament’s agenda. It has been widely used by prime ministers to avoid difficult or embarrassing situations. Canada’ first prime minister, Macdonald, tried it in an attempt to stop an investigation into his party’s corrupt dealings over the construction of the transcontinental railway. Harper had parliament prorogued to avoid a no-confidence vote he would probably have lost. Trudeau did the same to end investigation into the WE scandal. Although not as serious as dismissing the government, as happened in Australia, the power to prorogue does undermine democratic rights."

"Albertans need to chart another path, to get rid of Kenney, Canada’s least popular Premier, and build a society based on reliable, well-paid union jobs in a diverse array of industries. In fact, if we ever wish to solve revolving unemployment in our province, we need to demand a program of diversification and public ownership."

"Some involved hundreds of people, more often thousands. The centre of Nizhni-Novgorod was filled, in Vladivostok people crowded onto roofs to watch, and in scenes reminiscent of 1917 Nevski Prospect in St Petersburg was occupied by demonstrators. According to Reuters, there were forty thousand out in Moscow."

"Alberta is beset by problems. The economy is weak. The province is facing a record-high deficit exceeding $20 billion. While other provinces have recovered many of the jobs lost during the pandemic, Alberta’s unemployment rate was 11 per cent in December. "Perhaps more alarming, though, is the loss of Alberta’s greatest resource. And no, it’s not oil. "It’s people.... "Provincial government data shows that Alberta is on track to see more people leaving than arriving in 2021. It’s the first time since the 1980s that the former prairie powerhouse saw two consecutive quarters of negative net migration."

"In December, CBC News reported Chartwell homes had 4.6 deaths per 100 beds, among the highest average death rates in Canada. While that was lower than some other for-profit LTC companies, it’s significantly above the municipally-owned average of 1.4. "The Ontario government’s Science Advisory Table acknowledges ownership is a factor driving the conditions that increase deaths. Other experts note the drive for profits in private healthcare can push companies to understaff and crowd facilities, increasing profits at the risk of health."