THE ALTERNATIVE FEDERAL BUDGET Your New Monitor

BRAND LOYALTY AND PARTY PITCHES SPOTTING THE CORPORATE FROM PODEMOS IN SPAIN: IN THE 2015 ELECTION /28 THE CRITICAL MAKERSPACE /34 WILL THE MOMENTUM LAST? /39 MONITOR Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, May/June 2015 TWENTY YEARS OF BRIGHT IDEAS THE ALTERNATIVE FEDERAL BUDGET Your New Monitor

AUL BROWNE, DUNCAN Cameron, Bruce Camp- But to reach the broadest audience possible, in bell, Ed Finn and Diane Touchette launched a post–Web 2.0 age, the Monitor needed to be the CCPA Monitor on May 1, 1994. Coinci- much more than a bulletin. As Netscape’s guts dentally, that was the year Mosaic Commu- live on in the more nimble Firefox browser, we nications Corporation started offering Net- will continue to cover inequality, climate change, scape Navigator as a free download. The trade and investment agreements, technology, Pfirst generation web browser would define how labour and other issues, but with a much higher people accessed and shared information online, quotient of CCPA research and original feature but it would be a few years before the World Wide articles you won’t find anywhere else. In-depth Web became our primary source of information thematic issues bringing together a wide variety (news, entertainment, travel planning, etc.) and, of perspectives will, we hope, both enhance and for many, the main medium for personal and pro- challenge our understanding of the world. And fessional interactions (email, file transfers, shop- though we will print six issues per year compared ping and banking). At the turn of the millennium, to the previous 10, they will be longer and easier less than half of Canadians were Internet users. to read. This gives us more time to prepare, and Today it is closer to 85%. you more time to read, each one. In a similar way, but on a slightly smaller scale, Since making the Monitor free to download on the Monitor hoped to be a vital new medium for the CCPA website in November, our online reader- progressive ideas that would also grow the sup- ship has grown by thousands. Many more choose porter base of the CCPA. As the mainstream me- to receive the magazine at home, possibly be- dia adopted the government-corporate consen- cause it’s easier to read, or they like to share it sus that there was no alternative to free-market with friends and colleagues, or out of a commit- globalization, opposing viewpoints were purged ment to the CCPA and progressive causes. As we from much of the news. A bulletin “reporting on make the Monitor more attractive and accessi- business, labour and government” from a pro- ble to new readers, we hope we can draw thou- gressive perspective filled a need for alterna- sands more readers to its pages. Not all new on- tive viewpoints. Membership surged, and as the line readers will become CCPA supporters, but CCPA grew in stature and influence, the Moni- some of them will. This is more than a facelift. tor grew with it. It’s a chance to really show off what the CCPA has to offer in a format that we hope appeals to After more than two decades, and on this 35th an- both current readers as well as those who nev- niversary of the CCPA, the Monitor is rebooting to er knew the world before the Internet. adapt to new political opportunities and technological challenges. Neoliberalism produced great We have lofty goals and they are the same as they wealth at the cost of extreme inequality and ex- were for the Monitor’s first editors: to reach new istential pressure on the Earth’s ecosystems. It minds and expand popular support for some- has put a drag on traditional growth everywhere times modest, sometimes radical political and while leaving millions in poverty. When even the economic alternatives to the flagging neoliber- International Monetary Fund recognizes this in al order. We couldn’t have gotten to this point global economic outlook reports, you know the without you. Your support is the only reason the space for dialogue has expanded. That is, there Monitor continues to exist. And your guidance is a wider and more receptive audience for new will be critical to making it continually better. solutions to the inter-related economic, social and environmental crises affecting Canada and the world today. May/June 2015

DELIVERING THE GOOD 14 A Special Feature on the 20th Anniversary Alternative Federal Budget

ELECT US Values Politics, Branding, and the Federal Election 28 RICHARD NIMIJEAN

PUTTING THE CRITICAL 34 BACK INTO MAKERSPACES LAURA ELIZABETH PINTO

THE IRRESISTIBLE RISE OF PODEMOS 39 ASAD ISMI

2 /CONTRIBUTORS 3 /EDITORIAL 5 /FEEDBACK 6 /NEW FROM THE CCPA 7 /THE INDEX 8 /BEHIND THE NUMBERS 41 /FILM 43 /BOOKS 46 /PERSPECTIVES 48 /THE GOOD NEWS PAGE CCPA MONITOR Contributors ISSN 1198-497X CANADA POST PUBLICATION 40009942 Anne-Marie Bouchard Richard Nimijean Julius Stoller photographed this is a professor in the School is a retired surgeon in CCPA MONITOR IS PUBLISHED 6 TIMES month's cover. She is an of Canadian Studies at British Columbia. A YEAR BY THE CANADIAN CENTRE Ottawa-based freelance Carleton University. His Amy Thompson FOR POLICY ALTERNATIVES. photographer who has teaching and research is an Ottawa-based mixed been photographing examine the phenomenon THE OPINIONS EXPRESSED IN THE CCPA media artist. Early in her people, places and things of branding Canada and MONITOR ARE THOSE OF THE AUTHORS career she began working since 2001 (ambphoto. the politics of the brand AND DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT with appropriated images, com). state, including the THE VIEWS OF THE CCPA. drawn to their immediacy intersections of Canadian Amy Casipullai and narrative power. Her ARTICLES MAY BE REPRINTED AND politics and society, is the senior co- subjects exist both within DISTRIBUTED FOR FREE FOR EDUCATIONAL national identity and ordinator, policy and and without our reality, PURPOSES. FOR ALL OTHER PERMISSIONS, public policy. WRITE [email protected]. communications, with straddling and exploring the Ontario Council Laura Elizabeth Pinto the places in between PLEASE SEND FEEDBACK TO of Agencies Serving is an assistant professor at (amyalice.com). [email protected]. Immigrants. the University of Ontario Institute of Technology. EDITOR: STUART TREW Remie Geoffroi She has been recognized SENIOR DESIGNER: TIM SCARTH has been working as a with a Canadian Governor LAYOUT: SUSAN PURTELL professional illustrator for General’s Gold Medal, EDITORIAL BOARD: BRUCE CAMPBELL, over 15 years with high- the University of Windsor KERRI-ANNE FINN, SETH KLEIN, KATE MCINTURFF, profile international clients Odyssey Award, and ERIKA SHAKER, EMILY TURK and publications. He is the Ontario Business a regular contributor to CCPA NATIONAL OFFICE: Educators’ Hillmer Award. Billboard, ESPN, GQ and 500-251 BANK ST., OTTAWA, ON K2P 1X3 She has authored and the Wall Street Journal. TEL: 613-563-1341 | FAX: 613-233-1458 coauthored 11 books, [email protected] Avvy Go and was shortlisted WWW.POLICYALTERNATIVES.CA is the clinic director of the for a Speaker’s Book CCPA BC OFFICE: Metro Toronto Chinese Award from the Ontario 1400-207 WEST HASTINGS ST., & Southeast Asian Legal Legislature for Curriculum VANCOUVER, BC V6B 1H7 Clinic. Reform in Ontario TEL: 604-801-5121 | FAX: 604-801-5122 (University of Toronto Asad Ismi [email protected] Press, 2012). Asad Ismi is an award- CCPA MANITOBA OFFICE: winning journalist and Nancy Reid UNIT 205-765 MAIN ST., WINNIPEG, MB R2W 3N5 radio documentary maker is a freelance graphic TEL: 204-927-3200 | FAX: 204-927-3201 whose work focuses designer and illustrator. [email protected] on U.S. and Canadian Her work can be seen at imperialism, and resistance nrgrafix.com. CCPA NOVA SCOT IA OFFICE: to it, in the Global South. P.O. BOX 8355, HALIFAX, NS B3K 5M1 Chandra Siddan He covers international TEL: 902-240-0926 is a Toronto-based writer affairs for the Monitor. [email protected] and filmmaker. Christine Jones CCPA ONTARIO OFFICE: Jim Stanford is an activist and social 10 DUNDAS STREET EAST, is an economist with movement strategist with P.O. BOX 47129, TORONTO, ON, M5B 0A1 Unifor and a research a long history with the TEL: 416-598-5985 associate with the peace movement. Since [email protected] Canadian Centre for Policy 2008, she has been the Alternatives. His book, CCPA SASKATCHEWAN OFFICE: co-chair of the Canadian Economics for Everyone, 2ND FLOOR, 2138 MCINTYRE STREET Peace Alliance, Canada’s is being republished in a REGINA, SK S4P 2R7 largest umbrella peace second edition by Pluto TEL: 306-924-3372 | FAX: 306-586-5177 and anti-war coalition, and Press and will be available [email protected] was the director of Peace for purchase in June. Brigades International (Canada section) from 2004 to 2013. Editorial Stuart Trew What Is C-51 For?

HE HIGH-PROFILE DUFFY trial is said wrong and suggested others had ter- So what is C-51 for? A cynic might to have put a spotlight on the rorist sympathies. At the end of the say it’s most useful for scoring a few inner workings of the federal charade, the government majority on more tough-on-crime votes in the government and notably the committee voted down all opposition next election. Probably, though, we chain of command from the amendments to C-51, but agreed to should take the government for grant- PMO downwards — the who- table four minor changes, no doubt ed when it says the targets are young Tknew-what of the Nigel Wright handed to them by the PMO, that Muslims or recent converts, mostly cheque exchange, for example, if an- leave the bill’s most overreaching and men, who have been “radicalized” by yone still cares. So far, Duffy’s law- threatening parts intact. We’ve come conflicts in the Middle East and are yers have hammered on the vagar- to expect a heavy-handed, borderline spoiling for a fight, either as part of ies of Senate spending rules, with authoritarian approach to legislating Islamic State or else here in Canada. witness testimonies exposing how a by this government. Remember the Does this make the reforms in C-51 supposedly non-partisan arm of gov- Fair Elections Act, passed last year any more justified? Not at all. The ernment is used for political ends by despite near unanimous opposition government has not made a good Liberals and Conservatives alike. Om- from the legal profession for how it case for why existing laws and prac- nibus anti-terrorism legislation still will disenfranchise thousands of vot- tices are insufficient, and it has ig- before Parliament offers a much bet- ers while making it no easier to pros- nored recommendations that might ter example of how this government ecute electoral fraud. In the case of ensure the proposed disruption and in particular abuses our democratic C-51, the stakes for democracy are enforcement measures in C-51 will institutions for political gain. possibly higher. not be abused. Bill C-51 has attracted special con- Civil liberties advocates, First Na- Craig Forcese and Kent Roach, law demnation from the legal commu- tions and environmental groups feel professors who worked with both the nity and privacy watchdogs for its directly threatened. They worry the Arar and Air India commissions, have own vagaries. What are “terrorism legislation will be used to harass and warned repeatedly that C-51 may ac- offences in general?” Will the pow- collect vast amounts of personal in- tually undermine the successful pros- er to clandestinely disrupt potential formation on well-meaning activists ecution of terrorism-related crimes security threats, including by drain- and hapless innocents. Certainly the while further obscuring the work ing bank accounts or shutting down combination of new disruptive pow- of CSIS. Writing in The Walrus, they websites, also permit CSIS to detain ers for CSIS, the information-sharing chillingly suggest this could be the people without charge contra Char- provisions in the bill, and its overly point: “From what has been said on ter rights? Why is the government ig- broad definition of what constitutes the record by government witnesses… noring the opinion of its privacy com- a threat to Canada could put a chill we can infer that one government pri- missioner that the Security of Infor- on free speech of all kinds. We know ority is to give CSIS the power to de- mation Sharing Act, the first of five from internal memos the RCMP has tain, if not formally arrest, suspects parts in C-51, “would potentially lead been closely watching and in some who are being investigated. Some gov- to disproportionately large amounts cases infiltrating what it calls the ernment statements on the record of personal information of ordinary, “anti-Canada petroleum movement” also suggest that the bill could even law-abiding citizens being collected since before Harper was an MP. (We facilitate foreign renditions.” and shared?” Who is going to over- should keep this in mind every time In a recent poll, only 14% of people see this consolidation and expansion RCMP chief Bob Paulson complains felt the Senate should continue to ex- of the government’s national securi- about a lack of officers to handle ter- ist in its current form. The Duffy tri- ty activities? rorism cases.) This history suggests al clearly isn’t helping. For better or When these and other questions neither the RCMP nor CSIS needs worse, we need ours senators to step came up during marathon hearings C-51 to continue performing their up on C-51 — to live up to their con- of the parliamentary public safety shared role as subsidized private se- stitutional role as a check on govern- committee, government MPs lectured curity for Canada’s oil, gas and min- ment overstep. What do they have to some witnesses on why they were ing sectors. lose? 3 TELEPHONE TOWN HALL The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives hosted a second Telephone Town Hall on March 4 and would like to thank everyone who participated this year. Executive Director Bruce Campbell moderated a lively conversation between senior economists David McDonald and Armine Yalnizyan about the 20th anniversary Alternative Federal Budget (see pages 14 through 27) and other topics of interest to CCPA supporters. Throughout the call, participants were asked their opinion on the work of the CCPA, the format of the CCPA Monitor, and a number of other issues. Here’s what they told us. 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / Which of the following What is your main source Do you plan to make Do you read the Which of these issues is most for learning about the your voice heard in the CCPA Monitor? changes to the Monitor important to you? CCPA's work? next federal election? do you most appreciate?

Alternative Budget, fiscal Letters from the CCPA Yes Cover to cover Use of more and economic policy photos, graphs 11% and illustrations 30% 20% 97% 14% The CCPA Monitor Education Many selected articles of interest Table of contents 4% 73% No 14% 1% 40% Climate change I don’t know Increased coverage CCPA’s Facebook page/ of CCPA research and 32% Twitter feed 2% Only a few articles opinion 3% 21% Income inequality 58% and poverty CCPA's website 5% I rarely read it 37% 7% Separation of commentary from CCPA's blog features and Behind the Numbers longer pieces Gender equality 1% I choose not to receive it 14% 3% 2% General media Trade and investment 7% 3% We could expect the presence of rats made and, thus, there may be Feedback sympatric support from it difficult for hatchlings to less need for supporting the United Kingdom, survive. the whole range of which recently permitted research, monitoring and So, after a number of an independence vote in environmental protection efforts over decades, Scotland. Czechoslovakia (e.g., patrols against the Galapagos National split some years ago poaching, over-fishing, Park Directorate, the into Czech Republic and inappropriate tourism Galapagos Conservancy, Slovakia via a peaceful activities, etc.). The need and a number of other process. Other divisions for all these measures is international conservancy that were not so peaceful still great, as it is in other groups and associated have occurred in the parts of the world. scientists undertook a former Yugoslavia and poisoning program in Marylee Stephenson, How to Undo a Nation Sudan. The ethnic Russian- 2012. They chose the author of Galapagos Islands: speaking citizens of most “targeted” kind of Exploring, Enjoying, am a Canadian who was Crimea, Donetsk and poison, did some careful & Understanding Darwin’s born a Newfoundlander Luhansk would desire I testing then dropped the Enchanted Islands, but whose parents ballots over bullets if given poison by helicopter on 3rd edition, Mountaineers voted by democratic the opportunity. Pinzón (and other small Books (September 2015) means to become part of Independence movements islands similarly infested). Canada. I would also like exist in many parts of Supplementary amounts to believe that if there the world and if the UN of the tortoises’ main A Socialist Takes Stock were a desire to undo can present them with food (Opuntia cactus that union, a democratic, a peaceful, democratic pads) were brought in tephen Lewis was most peaceful process would means to achieve their to help divert them from impressive in your be found. Canada has also S ends, we can hope for accidentally consuming February issue ("A socialist experienced a peaceful, a future world with less the rat poison. takes stock”). His essay democratic attempt by armed conflict. on democratic socialism Quebec to separate. Recently, a three-day would impress most Our Supreme Court has Barry Darby, St. John’s, NL survey of Pinzón, led by Members of Parliament ruled that a province the park wardens and except the most rabid should be able to separate scientist James Gibbs Tory bobble heads (those if a “clear majority” of its Galapagos Tortoises of SUNY’s College of who just nod when Harper citizens indicate a desire Need Help Environmental Science gives his instructions). I to do so. and Forestry, found six think it should be recast as was pleased to see the baby tortoise hatchlings. Canada should advocate a pamphlet and issued to item in the Good News As Gibbs reports, the for a United Nations– I every MP. Page (April 2015) on the survey team “encountered supervised vote on successful rat eradication over 300 tortoises, N. Parker-Jervis, separation in any region on the Galapagos Islands resulting in an overall Victoria, B.C. of a country represented and the re-introduction of population estimate well by its own legislative body giant tortoises, but I have over 500, a near tripling (province, state, etc.). That to note the information of the population from legislature would request is incorrect. This was the 100–200 very old that the UN conduct not really the fault of individuals encountered and certify such a vote. the Monitor, since the on Pinzón when the A decision to separate reporting on the story was Galapagos National Park should have some sort of generally misleading. was established in 1959.” supermajority such as we The change is that baby see in most constitutions First, the rat eradication tortoises now can survive, throughout the world. happened on one tiny at least safe from rats. My definition of a “clear island, Pinzón. There majority” would be 50% have always been giant This is very good news of the citizens affected by tortoises there, at least in indeed. But misleading the decision. If less than living memory. Since the reports about the finding 50% vote to separate then tortoises can live up to 150 give the false impression two-thirds of those voting years, it is indeed possible the Galapagos Islands no would also constitute a to have a number of adults longer has a rat problem, Send us your feedback and thoughts: “clear majority.” there. The problem was that the tortoises are fine, [email protected] 5 health outcomes, reduce finds new connections New from worker turnover, improve to declining unionization. the CCPA productivity (by lowering The Union Card: A Ticket stress) and recognize the to Middle Class Stability contribution workers make examines 30 years of to the bottom line. unionization and income data, thin slicing unionized A new report from the workers along the income CCPA-BC also looks at the spectrum by deciles (slices minimum wage, debunking of 10%) to examine the the myth that the economy impact of union decline on cannot afford a hike to the mobility of Canada’s $15 per hour. David Green, middle class. Mackenzie a professor and former finds that unionization Economics for Making Ends Meet chair of the Vancouver is not just about a wage Everyone School of Economics at wo working parents premium; it affects UBC and an International conomics for Everyone, with two children workers’ location along the Fellow at the Institute for the 2008 book by CCPA need to each earn a middle spectrum of the T Fiscal Studies in London, research associate minimum of $18.52 an hour income ladder. E did a thorough review of and Unifor economist to get by in Toronto, says academic research on Comparing data from 1997 Jim Stanford, is being a new study by CCPA- the economic impacts of and 2011, the report shows republished (June 2015) Ontario economist Kaylie minimum wages and found that most of the decline as an updated second Tiessen. Making Ends that bold increases make in the share of unionized edition. It is an antidote Meet draws on a national good economic sense. families took place at the to the abstract and methodology developed by higher end of the income ideological way that researchers in Ontario and “In reading and using that spectrum. In 2011, 47% economics is normally British Columbia — the research, it is important to of families in deciles five taught and reported. Key National Living Wage recognize that estimates through nine included at concepts such as finance, Framework — to determine showing job loss effects least one union member; competition and wages the living wage in Toronto of minimum wage 14 years earlier, in 1997, are explored, and their in 2015. increases apply only to 56% of families in deciles importance to everyday life teenagers. Estimated “When you take into five through nine had at is revealed. effects for young adult account what it actually least one union member. and adult workers range Do workers need costs to rent an apartment, In other words, the from insignificant to capitalists? Why does pay hydro, own a vehicle, hollowing out of Canada’s non-existent,” he writes. capitalism harm the pay for a TTC [transit] pass, middle class, particularly “Focusing on teenage environment? What buy groceries and pay for its upper-middle class, is workers plays up an really happens on the child care, it means two closely associated with the inaccurate stereotype stock market? Stanford working parents need to decline of unionization in about who earns very low answers these and other bring in a total of $72,242 a Canada, especially in the wages in B.C. and leads to questions in his book, year in order to make ends private sector. exaggerated claims about which provides non- meet for their family of job losses. Only 26% of “We can expect the specialist readers with four,” says Tiessen. “There those currently making middle class to shrink, all the information they are 70,000 working poor in between $10.25 and $12 are and upward mobility need to understand how the city of Toronto, 113,000 teenagers, and only 5% of to stall, as long as capitalism works (and in the overall region. A those making between $12 union representation how it doesn’t). Watch living wage would be a real and $15 are teenagers.” / continues to decline,” the CCPA website for game-changer for those writes Mackenzie. “Any purchasing details and workers.” Unions and policy discussion around book launches in or near The report recommends Economic Stability middle class economics your community. / that provincial and would rightly examine municipal governments, new report by these startling trends community social services, economist and CCPA and reconsider ways the broader public sector A research associate to facilitate the rise of and even private sector Hugh Mackenzie looks collective bargaining For more reports, commentary employers should consider deeper into the source of in Canada’s future. The and infographics from the CCPA’s paying their workers growing income inequality health of the middle class national and provincial offices, visit a living wage to boost in North America and depends on it.” / www.policyalternatives.ca 6 IRD’S DIZZYIN The Index / 58% BA G R PROPORTION OF BARRICK A John Baird's I Dizzying Raise Gold’s International S E . Advisory Board who Compiled by Hadrian .. Y are former public office E Mertins-Kirkwood I N ’ holders. M O

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N / $499,445

I N

M . ’ CANADIAN GOVERNMENT’S . .

I effective subsidy of a controversial 2012 Barrick / February 3, Gold “corporate social responsibility” project 2015 in Peru while Baird was DATE FORMER FOREIGN AFFAIRS Minister of Foreign Affairs. minister John Baird announced he was resigning from cabinet and will step down as MP for / $9 million the riding of Ottawa West- CANADIAN GOVERNMENT’S Nepean. contribution in January 2015 to a project headed / January 19, / $235,000 by the Munk School of / $247,500 2009 JOHN BAIRD’S EXPECTED Global Affairs, which was LAST RECORDED TIME annual compensation from founded by Barrick Gold’s SALARY OF A SITTING Canadian Pacific. 30-year former CEO Peter John Baird met with CPR government minister as of Munk. lobbyists while serving April 2015 ($167,400 base as Minister of Transport. salary+$80,100 top-up). / Unknown BAIRD’S EXPECTED SALARY / $2.8 million / May 30, at Barrick. AMOUNT OF MONEY THE AUREA / 3 Foundation, a charity NUMBER OF PRIVATE SECTOR 2013 established by Peter Munk positions taken by Baird LAST RECORDED TIME and his wife Melanie, within two months of Baird met with Barrick / $1 million + distributed to right-wing leaving public office: Gold lobbyists while BRIAN MULRONEY’S PAY AS A think tanks between 2006 1) member of the serving as Minister of Barrick board member and and 2008. Major recipients international advisory Foreign Affairs. advisor according to the of the nearly $2 million board to Barrick Gold; most recent regulatory doled out annually by 2) board director for filings. The former prime Aurea, which “gives special Canadian Pacific Railway minister, who sat on attention to the study (CPR); and 3) international / 1 Year Barrick’s board from 1993 of issues relating to the advisor to Hong Kong COOLING OFF PERIOD UNDER to 2014, received $2.5 political and economic billionaire Richard Li. the 2006 Conflict of million in 2013 when he foundations of freedom Interest Act before a took on a new role as [and] the strengthening of former cabinet minister chair of the company’s the free market system,” can take a job with a International Advisory include the Frontier Centre / 5 company with which they Board—the group Baird for Public Policy, C.D. Howe NUMBER OF RECORDED/ had “direct and significant” will be joining, according Institute, Macdonald- registered times Baird met dealings. to Barrick’s recently filed Laurier Institute, and The with Barrick Gold and CPR 2014 annual report. Fraser Institute. lobbyists while in office.

SOURCES: ParlInfo. Indemnity, Salaries and Allowances (April 1, 2015); Rachelle Younglai. “Barrick Gold hires John Baird, Newt Gingrich,” Globe and Mail (March 25, 2015); Peter Koven. “Barrick co-chairman paid staggering US$17-million in 2012, as company gets generous with executives,” Financial Post (March 27, 2013); Barrick Gold Corporation Annual Report 2014 (March 27, 2015). Remarks by Allan Gotlieb, Executive Chair, Aurea Foundation at announcement of the formation of the Fraser Institute Global Centre for Mining Studies (March 4, 2008); Donald Gutstein. “Follow the money, Part 2—Barrick Gold’s Peter Munk,” from his blog (April 10, 2014) 7 Erika Shaker and David Macdonald DEGREES OF SEPARATION

he shaky economy has prompt- fold along a predetermined and posi- Here’s an idea — a fully referenced ed Canada’s CEOs to pontificate tive trajectory.” idea — for consideration. Canada has on what steps should be — no, As the report is intriguingly refer- the ninth lowest corporate tax rate of must be — taken to solve our ence-free, what might Coates mean 189 countries and the lowest of the G8 economic woes as a nation. At by “entitlement?” Today’s “entitled” as ranked by PwC. Rather than reduc- the end of March, the Canadian students pay an average $6,600 a year ing university enrollment by a third, the TCouncil of Chief Executives (CCCE) re- in tuition and other compulsory fees Alternative Federal Budget (AFB) rec- leased a paper titled Career ready: To- (see our September 2014 CCPA report ommends increasing Canada’s corpo- wards a national strategy for the mo- Tier for Two for a province-by-province rate tax rate by the same proportion, bilization of Canadian potential. Can- breakdown). By the time they graduate from 15% to 22%. This would raise $6 ada’s workforce challenges, it explains, (2017–18), these students will be paying billion a year after the 7% investment are profound. But the reason we have $7,000 a year (adjusted for inflation). tax credit the AFB would return on cor- not met them is simple: too much ed- That doesn’t include books, transpor- porate profits invested in fixed assets ucation for too many young people in tation, food or other living expenses. in Canada in excess of depreciation. too many areas that do not have a di- The average full-time market income What to do with all that newly lib- rect application to the needs of the for those “entitled” young people once erated money? For $2 billion annual- job market. they graduate: $32,000 for someone ly, the AFB would reduce tuition fees The solution? under 25 with a bachelor’s degree, ac- to 1992 levels, which would be what a “Canada could dramatically improve cording to StatsCan’s 2010 Survey of number of CEOs paid when they went the quality of university education by Labour and Income Dynamics. But to university. Alternately, we could go cutting enrolment as much as 25 to if they received funding through the further and eliminate tuition fees alto- 30 per cent while maintaining budgets Canada Student Loans Program, grad- gether for $3 billion a year. at roughly the same level. The young uates have an average $28,500 of loan Either option leaves plenty of room people who were not accepted would debt to pay off. The collective amount for Corporate Canada to reverse its for the most part be those who are, in of student debt owed to the CSLP is es- steadily declining investments in work- any event, unlikely to graduate. This se- timated at over $16 billion. force training and R&D, a disturbing lective approach would likely produce By way of comparison, CEOs who trend that is insufficiently acknowl- more graduates, or at least no fewer, went to university in the early 1990s, edged in Coates’ paper for the CCCE. who are better prepared for the world and who are now in their mid-40s, Apparently it made more sense to re- of work,” explains author Ken Coates. would have paid average tuition and peat the tired refrain about “entitled” (Emphasis added.) compulsory fees of $3,300 a year (in students and the need to reduce ac- So, less education targeted to fewer today’s dollars) in 1993–94. Last year, cess to education instead, since “Ca- students. Because those who wouldn’t the lowest paid of Canada’s 100 high- nadian society will always tolerate and qualify for this more elite system of est paid CEOs took home $4.1 million, encourage considerable freedom of higher education would probably have, while the average salary was $9.2 mil- choice, but there can be too much of you know, “limited skills.” Or at the very lion, representing an average pay raise a good thing.” (Emphasis ours.) least be motivationally challenged. of 16% over the previous year. In other words, a little entitlement is Right? And though student debt probably okay — so long as it comes with a CEO The CCCE-commissioned report is isn’t as much of an issue at the top, we seal of approval. refreshingly honest. (Glimpses of the can’t help but notice Corporate Cana- unvarnished perspective of the cor- da’s coffers are overflowing with $630 Erika Shaker is the director of the CCPA’s Education Project. David Macdonald is a senior economist with porate elite, particularly as it relates billion in cash (Q1 2014) — enough to the CCPA and co-ordinator of the Alternative Fed- to the non-corporate non-elite, are make college and universities free for eral Budget. Follow them on Twitter @ErikaShaker rare.) It even comes with a generous everyone for 17 years (annual universi- and @DavidMacCdn. dose of tough love: “The current gen- ty and college expenditures were $37 eration of young people is defined by a billion in 2009). sense of entitlement and an expecta- Remind us again who’s feeling en- tion that their lives will somehow un- titled? 8 Philippe Hurteau THE IMAGINARY DEFICIT

ince the last election, a fresh Jean Charest was elected premier on governments that have held power sense of creativity and imagi- his promise to reduce Quebeckers’ “tax since the year 2000. The culprit most nation has set in to Quebec’s burden” by $1 billion each year over the responsible for the deficit, after the political life. Not content with course of his mandate. In 2007, the pre- 2008 financial meltdown, is none oth- exaggerating the budget defi- mier doubled down on his pledge by er than the obsession of our elected of- cit by cooking the books, the using a federal transfer to fund a $950 ficials with confusing tax cuts for so- SLiberal government of Philippe Couil- million tax cut just in time for upcom- cial projects. lard has invented a so-called structur- ing elections. In 1852, describing the pathetic spec- al deficit between state expenditures Every single time, those benefitting tacle of French political life, Marx said and revenues. from the tax cuts are neither the poor “all great world-historic facts and per- The logic is quite simple: spending is nor the middle classes, but the wealth- sonages appear, so to speak, twice: the growing faster than revenues. The prob- iest. For the majority of people, a tax first time as tragedy, the second time lem is that it isn’t true. For instance, be- cut means only a few dozen extra dol- as farce.” Will we have the opportuni- tween 2008 and 2012, the Quebec gov- lars in their pockets. The price we pay ty to innovate the third time around, ernment’s revenues grew 15.6% where- is in fact much higher than the benefit: leaving behind the comical effect of as its basic operating costs (health decreasing service quality, longer wait- the farce? care, education, social services, inter- ing lists, service fee hikes, etc. est payments, etc.) increased by 15.1%. It would be much more relevant Philippe Hurteau is a researcher with IRIS, a Mon- treal-based progressive think-tank. So what’s going on in Quebec City? for Carlos Leitão, Quebec’s current fi- Faced with a government living in a nance minister, to stop inventing defi- world of imaginary deficits ($3.2 billion cits where there are none. If anyone is last winter, $5.8 billion by June 2014 and to blame for the current state of our a $7.3 billion peak in December), it’s public finances, it is the successive worth going over a few essential facts. In recent history, let’s say over the last 15 years, we can see the same trends repeated again and again. Af- ter eliminating the deficit in the late 1990s, what did Lucien Bouchard’s Parti Québécois government do? Did it choose to reinvest in public services? Of course not! The fiscal effort that enabled Quebec to return to budget surpluses around the year 2000 was not spent where one would expect. Indeed, it was not an out-of-control state apparatus that monopolized the surpluses, but popu- list tax-cutting policies. As early as 2000, Bernard Landry, then finance minister, announced $4.5 billion in tax cuts. Shortly afterwards,

“We’re not stupid.” One of several Quebec rallies against the austerity policies of the Couillard government. ForgetTheBox.net

9 Arlene Tigar McLaren PARENTS LEAVING THE CAR AT HOME

here’s a popular belief that par- all. Instead, they regularly walked, cy- know your community, “your feet are ents chauffeur their young chil- cled or took public transit with their attached to it.” dren everywhere. Certainly, par- kids. A few had chosen to live without Parents did experience challenges ents have many reasons for pre- a car, others could not afford to own with non-car travel. As much as they ferring cars to other modes of one. In many cases, those who relied wanted to use alternative transporta- transportation. Children get tired primarily on the car (not the majority) tion, they sometimes gave up. For ex- Teasily. Parents need to pack things like did so simply because they lacked vi- ample, public transit was frustrating food, diapers, etc. Parents want to keep able alternatives. when boarding a crowded bus with their children comfortable and safe. The parents we spoke with were gen- a stroller or having to transfer buses Parents have busy and complicated erally aware that over-reliance on cars with poor connections. schedules, and taking the car can be contributes to problems like climate We also found that transportation quick and convenient. change, traffic congestion and poorer options varied depending on where However, research I published in April health. For example, a mother who re- the parents lived and how much money produced some surprising findings. In lied primarily on the car said that she they had. Many parents preferred the 2011–12, Sylvia Parusel and I conduct- didn’t like the environmental impact SkyTrain. It’s more reliable, faster and ed interviews with 52 parents with chil- of driving. She didn’t like the fact that easier with a stroller, and more fun for dren under 12 in four diverse areas of the kids aren’t getting places, “under children compared with the bus and Vancouver: Downtown, Dunbar-South- their own speed. It’s not as healthy a car. But the train is only available in lands, Sunset and Grandview-Wood- way of living.” a few parts of the city. Traffic is more land. We wanted to know how parents Many parents really preferred the dangerous in some areas than in oth- use the car in their daily lives. We hear experience of walking, biking or tak- ers, which often forced parents to be quite a bit about young adults shift- ing transit with their children. Driv- very cautious with their children while ing away from car use towards tran- ing was often too stressful, especially walking or biking. sit, car-sharing, biking and walking. when stuck in traffic with tired, hungry For low-income parents, the cost of But we don’t know much about what’s or bored kids. Parents found their chil- transit fares could prevent them from happening with people with children. dren were happier, healthier and saf- reaching important destinations such What surprised us with this research er outside of the car. They often felt as a doctor’s appointment. For parents is that despite the many challenges more connected to their neighbour- who own a car, the high fares are a dis- of moving about with young children, hoods if they walked or biked locally. incentive to switch to transit. many parents were trying to reduce As one mother said, when you’re walk- Given parents’ interest in finding al- their car use or did not own a car at ing with your child to school, you get to ternatives to driving, we believe that policy-makers would be wise to make strategic investments to improve options for public transit, cycling and walking. We argue these investments should include family-friendly transportation as part of complete communities, where amenities are close enough to be reached by foot or on bike, public transit is more available and affordable, and streets are safer for children to walk and bike throughout the city.

Arlene Tigar McLaren is Professor Emerita in the department of sociology and anthropology at Simon Fraser University and the author of the CCPA-BC paper, Moving Beyond the Car: Families and Trans- portation in Vancouver.

RICHARD MASONER / CYCLELICIOUS 10 Taylor Bendig ROAD TO RUIN

f you love the feeling of cruising down Government and General Employees’ that much ($45.19), assuming they had a brand new stretch of highway, the Union, the CCPA obtained 33 of MHI’s over five years’ experience. last few years have been full of good engineering contracts. These contracts In another example, a ministry-em- news for you. And if you’re in the busi- listed hourly rates for private workers, ployed senior project manager — a job ness of designing and overseeing the which were compared with the hour- restricted to experienced profession- construction work on those highly rates from the collective agreement al engineers — is out of scope, so only Iways, well, these are banner years in- that covers MHI employees. their current monthly rate is available: deed. If you’re a taxpayer on the hook The results were striking. Even us- up to $9,936 for full-time work (based for the roadwork, however, the picture ing the “fully-burdened” cost of public on a public service job posting). The isn’t quite as pretty. employees, which includes a premium same amount would pay for just 55 to While the drop in oil prices is sure to to account for benefits, vacation pay 70 hours of work by a private senior take its toll, road building in Saskatch- and other costs outside wages, they project manager, whose hourly rates ewan has been booming lately. The were far less expensive than their pri- were from $140 to $180. Ministry of Highways and Infrastruc- vate sector equivalents. The contrast Cost comparisons like these go a ture (MHI) had record high budgets in is especially evident amongst the sup- long way towards explaining the soaring 2009 and 2010, and after dipping the port staff that engineering firms supply. consulting costs borne by the Ministry following fiscal year they have gone up In the reviewed contracts, engineer- of Highways and Infrastructure. They consistently in most years since. But to ing firms billed from $64 to $85 per hour also suggest a clear course of action: see truly astounding growth, you need for a draftsperson. Costs for a pub- restore transportation engineering to to focus on the consulting side of the lic service draftsperson ranged from an in-house function of the ministry. road building business. $21.91 to $34.58 per hour. Private sur- Until we do, it will be a rough road MHI’s spending on consultants sky- veyors cost $65 to $90 per hour, while for the province’s finances. rocketed over this same period, from a public surveyor made an hourly rate $12.1 million in 2009 to $61.3 million of between $20.67 and $27.45. Rates for Taylor Bendig is a researcher for the CCPA-Sas- katchewan. in 2014 — an increase of 404%. Last private administrative and clerical staff year’s payout accounted for over a were $62 to $88 per hour; their public tenth of the ministry’s total budget. equivalents typically cost from $20.67 Those amounts, by the way, were ob- to $32.02 per hour. tained through a freedom of informa- Altogether, it was between 1.9 and tion request filed by the CCPA; they 4.3 times more expensive to employ aren’t otherwise publicly available. private workers in these three fields So why is the cost of consultants than their public equivalents. growing at 33 times the rate of the Cost comparisons amongst high- budget itself? er-level engineering jobs are trickier. The vast majority of those consultant Since senior public engineers are out fees go to transportation engineers, the of scope, their hourly rates are not dis- experts who design, oversee and trou- closed. And given the extremely wide bleshoot road-building projects. Until array of private sector job titles, lining relatively recently, MHI had a sizable up exact public counterparts is often in-house team of transportation en- impossible. Still, there are a few tell- gineers and related staff. Following a ing examples. government decision to outsource this One private engineering firm val- work, the branch shrunk to about half ued its interns and summer students its size between 2007 and 2012. Private at $84 per hour. A ministry-employed consulting firms like AECOM and EBA assistant project manager — a high- have filled the gap, at a premium price. skill position responsible for manag- Through another freedom of informa- ing a worksite — cost a little over half tion request filed by the Saskatchewan 11 Christine Saulnier NOVA SCOTIA CAN DO MORE

he Nova Scotia budget tabled of action on poverty reduction is mor- income supports for those living in on April 9 is without vision. It ally repugnant and bad economics. We poverty, more money would be spent was constructed to deal primar- trap people in a system that robs them in the community. Early learning and ily with the deficit. Undertaking of their dignity, while sticking everyone child care kicks back $2.23 for every “restructuring” and “right-siz- with the higher health care costs and dollar invested. ing” of the public sector to bal- lost productivity that results. But instead of a proactive budget, Tance the budget may well make things The wasteful energy rebate is main- the government whipped up hysteria worse. In contrast, CCPA-NS projected tained at a cost of $117 million. With oil about the deficit and debt problems, that Nova Scotia’s fiscal health would prices the lowest they have been for a and did not address the real problems continually improve if the government while, this was a missed opportunity to we face as a province, including pov- recognized its responsibility to invest begin phasing out this rebate and de- erty, illiteracy, lack of affordable, qual- in the economy. signing a pollution price to help us act ity child care and our worsening infra- The deficit exists because of a reve- on climate change. Instead, the gov- structure deficit. With debt-to-GDP de- nue shortfall. In order to stimulate eco- ernment made cuts to the environ- clining and interest rates at a historical nomic growth and increase revenue, ment department. low, this budget is a missed opportunity. the government needed to invest now If youth attraction and retention is a to create jobs. Public sector workers government priority, as it claims, then Christine Saulnier is the director of the CCPA– Nova Scotia. are not the problem: they provide need- deregulating tuition fees for out-of- ed services to Nova Scotians and have province and graduate students at good jobs that provide important eco- Nova Scotia universities sends the nomic injections in communities across wrong message. Combined with in- the province. Cutting those jobs — 163 adequate increases to university op- since February, including 75 at the De- erating grants, relying increasingly on partment of Economic and Rural De- tuition fees to fund higher education velopment and Tourism, which has will make it more inaccessible and in- been eliminated to create a new De- crease student debt even more. partment of Business — will produce There were very few tax changes in a fiscal drag, hurting rural Nova Sco- the budget. User fees were increased tia and women the most. in some areas: a form of regressive tax- Rural Nova Scotia desperately needs ation. The government also cut the investments in infrastructure, such as Healthy Living Tax Credit because it wastewater and transportation, and a was not achieving its objective of help- focal point within government to make ing people with lower incomes access it happen. Economic development is recreation and fitness programs. This about more than business competitive- makes sense, since the people using ness in natural resources and tourism: the credit were earning $90,000-plus a it is about investing in people and com- year. However, the government should munities. Handing over more functions be investing more in these kinds of proof economic development to business grams. For example, it could help mu- interests and unelected bodies like nicipalities provide these services at Nova Scotia Business Inc., which this low or no cost. budget does, removes important dem- The investments CCPA-NS prioritized ocratic checks and balances. in its pre-budget reports are based on The 2015 budget also ignores the a vision of a socially and economical- needs of the most vulnerable among ly just province that is environmen- us. Those living in the deepest poverty tally sustainable. These investments in our province will see no increase in would grow the economy and create income supports. The continued lack good jobs. For example, if we increased 12 Hugh Mackenzie PUBLIC SERVANTS THROWN UNDER THE BUS

f you just read the words, and didn’t There’s not much that is new on the ernment’s finances despite widespread look at the numbers, Ontario’s 2015 infrastructure front. Total investment agreement this is the key fiscal prob- budget is a magical integration of the increased from $13.3 billion to $13.5 bil- lem the government faces. government’s high-profile infrastruc- lion between 2014–15 and 2015–16. But 3. Infrastructure aside, every other ture and pension initiatives with the the priority has clearly shifted. None public services gap in Ontario is be- need to maintain public services. of the transit money in the pipeline is ing shoved to the sidelines. I The budget devotes page after page destined for the City of Toronto, which, 4. The thousands of Ontarians who to trumpeting the government’s com- it is now clear, has spent all of its tran- serve the province in the public sec- mitments to elementary, secondary sit infrastructure expansion money on tor are expected to bear the largest and post-secondary education, child the Scarborough subway extension. share of the burden imposed by the care, health and poverty reduction Taking a step back from the detail, government’s commitment to meet- while it highlights investments in infra- some critical gaps become clear. You’d ing its budget balance target. structure and the continued develop- never know from reading this budget It is encouraging that the government of the Ontario Registered Pension there is a growing consensus that On- ment is continuing to move forward Plan (ORPP). Unfortunately, when you tario’s fiscal problems are on the rev- with its pension plan and is clearly re- do look at the numbers, it’s clear that enue side, not the expenditure side. thinking many of the limitations94% on the everything else — every other service There’s nothing here to address either ORPP implied by its initial discussion that Ontarians depend on — has been the current revenue gap or the prospect paper. This investment in the long-term thrown under the infrastructure bus. of federal health funding cuts that will retirement income security of genera- Elementary and secondary education make68% that gap even wider. Tax contin- tions of Ontarians is a critical priority. spending is going up at less than the ues to be a four-letter word as far as What is most disappointing, how- rate of inflation, and that includes the the government58% is concerned. ever, is the failure of the government remaining cost of implementing full- The sheer volume of words aside, to make use of its majority mandate day kindergarten. Funding for post-sec- there are four clear messages in this to make some of the key difficult de- ondary education will actually be drop- year’s budget: cisions that would put32% Ontario’s pub- ping at a rate of 0.4% per year on the 1. The1995 overriding priority2000 is to balance2005 lic services2010 and its public2015 finances on way to budget balance. Health care the budget by 2017–18, regardless of a more secure footing for the future. spending is to increase at less than what happens between now and then. the rate of inflation. 2. There will be no substantial action Hugh Mackenzie is a CCPA research associate. Fol- low him on Twitter @MackHugh. The budget makes reference to the to address the revenue side of the gov- government’s poverty reduction strategy. But the only concrete measure is that social assistance benefits are being $128K increased — by 1%, again less than the rate of inflation. The numbers say that 2011–12 2015–16 social assistance benefits (both Ontar- (Projected) io Works and the Ontario Disability Sup- Spending Required to Keep Up port Program) are still lower by 5% to 7%, With Inflation, Population after accounting for inflation, than they $120K were when Conservative premier Mike Harris left office in 2002. On the way to budget balance, expenditures on children and social services will increase by $116K less than one-third the rate of inflation. Actual Spending Ontario spending on public $113K services hasn't kept up

13 SPECIAL FEATURE ON THE 2015 ALTERNATIVE FEDERAL BUDGET DELIVERING THE GOOD SINCE 1995

PHOTO AND COVER BY ANNE-MARIE BOUCHARD THE CHO!CES COALITION asked the Canadian Centre IN 1994 for Policy Alternatives if we would partner with them on an alternative federal budgeting exercise. The Winnipeg-based coalition for social justice had been experimenting with alternative budgets at the provincial, civil and school board level for a few years.

WITH THE EXPERT GUIDANCE of John Loxley, its of our tax and redistributive capacity, a professor of economics at the Univer- that technological change, capital mobil- sity of Manitoba, these exercises brought ity and global competition have severe- together volunteers from all walks of life ly reduced the scope for policy, and that, (and a few economists, of course) to crack accordingly, we must lower our expecta- open the normally secretive government tions of what government does. process of choosing where public money This is an important year for the Alter- should be spent and where it would be re- native Federal Budget, not just because it moved as budget cuts. “The less people turns 20 this year. The federal government know the less they can challenge the pre- has tabled its last budget before an expect- vailing political orthodoxy as expressed in ed October election. It has claimed a mo- the budget,” Loxely would later write in a nopoly on sound fiscal management when guidebook on how to organize an alterna- in fact the small surplus announced on tive budget. “Opening up the process en- budget day was taken from public servic- ables people to see how budgets are put es, Employment Insurance and by draining together, how trade offs are made and to the government’s contingency fund, as Jim appreciate the real versus imagined budg- Stanford explains on the next page. Eco- etary constraints that governments have nomic growth and labour force participa- to work within.” tion in Canada never fully recovered from Participants in the first Alternative Fed- the recent global economic crash. Kate eral Budget came from unions, churches McInturff tells us why a balanced budget and the women’s equality movement, from in Ottawa comes at the expense of deficits environmental, anti-poverty and interna- elsewhere, while David Macdonald lists tional development organizations. Stu- four Alternative Federal Budget fixes that dents, teachers and farmers were repre- would have done much more to kick-start sented, as were Aboriginal voices, policy sustainable job creation in this country. think-tanks and others. Then, as now, the Also in this section, we feature articles process was grounded in the progressive on immigration policy, defence spending values these voices brought to the table: and federal–First Nations relations that full employment and good jobs, the re- are adapted from the 2015 Alternative duction of inequality, the eradication of Federal Budget document. You’ll see on poverty, economic equality between men page 31 how the totality of these alterna- and women, the protection of UN-man- tive program spending and tax measures dated rights (civil, political, economic, would positively improve the incomes and social, cultural and labour), and the pur- well-being of a large majority of people suance of peace, justice and sustainable while only marginally increasing taxes for development for all peoples. All acknowl- Canada’s top earners. It proves that despite edged society’s ills would not be reversed constraints — real and imagined, external overnight, but rejected the idea, which and self-imposed — governments do have congealed in Ottawa over the course of a wide range of choices about how they the 1990s, that we have reached the lim- spend, tax, regulate and provide services. The Alternative Federal Budget turns 20 Jim Stanford Five Outrageous Things About Budget 2015

ITH A DOCUMENT whose very ver with which to assure the compa- there’s no need for so much symbol- timing, let alone content, ny’s continuing manufacturing pres- ic protection. was so transparently po- ence here. The fire sale was widely in- But perhaps most offensively of liticized and manipulative, terpreted in the automotive media as all, they raided $3.4 billion from the it’s hard to know where to a sign that Canada was “giving up” on annual operating surplus of the Em- start. But among the many the industry, as another spate of arti- ployment Insurance system. That Wgalling, shortsighted and ultimately cles tells of a new migration of auto EI surplus, by the way, is created be- destructive components of this year’s investment to Mexico. cause our system denies benefits to federal budget, five stand out. More fundamentally, selling an over 60% of unemployed Canadians. asset to balance a current budget The appropriate fiscal response, es- 1. Timing makes the state poorer, not richer. pecially with growing layoffs around Toby Sanger with the Canadian Un- the country, would be to fix that prob- y delaying the budget announce- ion of Public Employees has argued lem instead of raiding the EI cookie B ment several weeks, the govern- that, based on consensus analyst fore- jar. It’s the response recommended in ment only heightened the economic casts, the government would have this year’s Alternative Federal Budget. uncertainty in Canada arising from a made an extra $1 billion by hanging That makes a total of $7.5 billion sharp decrease in oil prices and grow- on to its shares for just one extra year. in shell-game transactions. Without ing evidence of serious economic trou- Of course, that would be too late to those three fiscal tricks, the reported ble. Contrary to what the finance min- help the government contest anoth- balance would be a $6.1 billion deficit, ister told us, this delay had nothing er election with a phony surplus to not a $1.4 billion surplus. The empha- to do with fluctuating oil prices. The wave around. sis placed on achieving balance is mis- government was just stalling until placed anyway, as many economists the fiscal year started so it could sell 3. Phony Balance of all stripes have pointed out. But to its shares in General Motors and use attain this inappropriate “victory” in the net proceeds to help achieve the he government’s “balanced budget” such an underhanded and misleading politically all-important “balance.” It T is entirely dependent on fiscal way sets a new low for the politiciza- was a shameful and reckless gaming sleight-of-hand. On top of siphon- tion of fiscal policy. of the process (and content) of fiscal ing off $2.1 billion from the GM shares, policy-making. the government diverted $2 billion out 4. Public Transit of its normal $3 billion contingency 2. Selling the Silverware reserve. Apparently, things are so sta- he opposition parties have argued ble in the world economy these days T this is the moment for government he $2.1 billion net proceeds from to invest heavily in overdue infra- T the sale of GM shares were essen- structure projects. This view is fully tial to the government’s declared, and and loudly endorsed by economists we should add quite small, surplus of around the world, who correctly iden- $1.4 billion. The shares fetched $3.3 bil- tify secular stagnation (not public lion, but the government had to de- The budget confirms debt) as the greatest threat to pros- duct their “book value,” which was perity and stability. The argument artificially low due to the govern- the path of grinding, must be having some effect on pub- ment’s ultra-cautious accounting in lic opinion: a recent poll indicated 2009 when it helped bail-out the firm. disguised austerity Canadians preferred infrastructure The bigger outrage is that the seat spending to tax cuts by more than at the GM director’s table was worth that has dominated two to one. far more to Canada than the pro- fiscal policy under this The government has responded to ceeds from the sale of shares, since it this pressure with some mostly token gave the government an indirect le- government. infrastructure initiatives in the 2015 16 budget. The Public Transit Fund, for example, gets several pages of text in the budget plan. But you have to wade through many tables until you realize it doesn’t get any money until the ALL GOVERNMENTS 2017–18 fiscal year, and then it's only $250 million. Given the high cost of TAX AND SPEND. transit investments, and how desperately we need them (for economic, social and environmental reasons), this It’s what they do. They raise money is offensive. I am amazed Joe Oliver from the population and use it to fund could announce it with a straight face. government priorities, be it a national 5. More Stealth Austerity pharmacare plan or a war in the Middle East. ven many critics of the government The question is not whether to “tax and spend,” but whom we will tax E are describing the budget as full of and what we should spend it on. Here are a few of the ways the 2015 AFB tax cuts and other “election goodies.” changes the calculus by closing tax loopholes and redistributing the tax This is a mischaracterization. Some of burden to fund important new social programs to fill current public the tax cuts are new and, therefore, needs. *Figures are for the 2015–16 fiscal year taking up air time. Combined with the Family Tax Cut announced last TAX SPEND year they are also way too expensive, costing $5 billion just this year. These cuts will have a perverse impact on CANCEL FAMILY INTRODUCE POVERTY REDUCTION equality, labour force participation INCOME SPLITTING TRANSFER TO PROVINCES SAVES $2 BILLION COSTS $2 BILLION and other variables, as some articles have pointed out. But the real thrust of the budget won’t make the head- REMOVE CAPITAL GAINS CREATE A NATIONAL lines because it’s just “more of the DEDUCTION FOR INDIVIDUALS PHARMACARE PROGRAM same,” which isn’t traditionally newsy. SAVES $3.5 BILLION COSTS $3.4 BILLION The budget confirms the path of grinding, disguised austerity that has dominated fiscal policy under this INTRODUCE AN INHERITANCE REDUCE POST-SECONDARY government. Federal public adminis- TAX ON ESTATES OVER $5 MILLION TUITION FEES TO 1992 LEVELS COLLECTS $2 BILLION COSTS $1.9 BILLION tration employment has decreased by 50,000 positions since mid-2011. The government has imposed incremen- CANCEL STOCK OPTION CREATE NATIONAL PLAN TO ADDRESS tal, poorly understood spending cuts DEDUCTION VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN that cumulate to $14 billion per year. SAVES $600 MILLION COSTS $500 MILLION It has underfunded veterans’ offices, coast guard facilities, meat and railway inspectors, EI processing, and REDUCE INEFFICIENT FOSSIL INCREASE CANADA'S CONTRIBUTION many other services that are essen- FUEL SUBSIDIES TO CLIMATE CHANGE INITIATIVES SAVES $375 MILLION COSTS $400 MILLION tial to the quality and safety of our lives. The government will unilater- ally reduce health transfers to the REDUCE MILITARY SPENDING INCREASE FOREIGN AID TO MEET provinces beginning in 2017 by $36 bil- TO PRE-9/11 LEVELS INTERNATIONAL COMMITMENTS lion over a decade. It will force Cana- SAVES $1 BILLION COSTS $1.3 BILLION dians to work until age 67 to collect Old Age Security. These painful and unnecessary IMPLEMENT A TAX HAVENS INVEST IN AFFORDABLE measures are significantly under- WITHHOLDING TAX AND SOCIAL HOUSING COLLECTS $2 BILLION COSTS $2 BILLION mining the quality and cohesion of Canadian society. Their silent con- firmation in this budget is its dom- ELIMINATE CORPORATE MEALS CREATE 140 NEW COMMUNITY inant feature—not the pre-election AND ENTERTAINMENT DEDUCTION HEALTH CENTRES goodies the government hopes we SAVES $400 MILLION COSTS $300 MILLION will talk about all summer. 17 The Alternative Federal Budget turns 20

Kate McInturff A Bachelor’s Budget ILLUSTRATION BY REMIE GEOFFROI How eliminating the deficit has diminished us all

ANADA’S FEDERAL government ran in this framework, the ties that bind currencies, debt, and international a deficit for nearly thirty years, the government to the economy are relations). from the late 1960s to the late never quite cut in practice. Govern- The ideological inconsistency 1990s. Successive Conservative ments are still called upon to inter- of this come-here-no-go-away ap- and Liberal governments de- fere to the extent that that interfer- proach to the role of government livered programs, implement- ence is perceived as stabilizing (of manages to sustain itself in no small Ced economic and fiscal policies, and part thanks to the social logic that ran the country without balancing underwrites it. When Shakespeare’s the budget. The sky did not fall. The Polonius advises his son that he fabric of Canadian society did not should “neither a borrower nor a unravel. Nobody fell off a fiscal cliff. lender be,” he is cautioning against Where did the obsessive concern No person, no indebtedness and dependence. In- with a balanced federal budget come debtedness is to be feared because from and how did it gain such curren- government, is an island. it might circumscribe his son’s abil- cy in the popular imagination? ity to act in his own best self-inter- The ideological origins of this ob- As Donne reminds us, est, just as government interference session lie in the drive to diminish the in the marketplace is shunned by role of government to an ever-shrink- everyone is a piece of conservative economists for under- ing island unto itself, disentangled the continent, a part of mining the ability of consumers to from economic and social relation- decide for themselves what serves ships with its populace. Even with- the main. them best. 18 The willingness of the chief advo- 94% cates of non-interference to accept government interference when it is in their interest is well documented. Consider bank bailouts, corporate Households tax cuts and industry-friendly legislation. In 2009, the government inter- 68% vened to assist the hard-hit auto industry. Ironically, the federal budget 58% will achieve balance this year because of that bit of government spending Federal government and lending—selling off the last of their shares in General Motors to make up for the shortfall in revenues 32% resulting from the drop in oil prices. Now the government is proposing 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 to formalize its financial isolation with a balanced budget bill. There is little support for such legislation from economists. Balanced budget Balance is. Balance has a nice con- Debt to GDP ratio: Over the past 20 years, bills have been, at best, ineffective— sonance with reason, level-headed- household debt as a percentage of GDP so widely open to interpretation that ness and rationality. All qualities one has grown steadily as federal debt has governments continue to accumulate might wish for in those managing fallen debt, or not, as they wish. At worst, the economy. balanced budget bills tie the hands of The conservative economic concen- They want to know, will I have a job legislators, forcing cutbacks in pub- tration on balancing public budgets, next year? Will I make enough to pay lic services and restricting spending however, is also driven by something my bills? Can I afford to send my chil- when it is needed. The “balance” in deeper. It is built on the model of hu- dren to university or college? balanced budget legislation carries man behaviour offered by Polonius A balanced government budget no requirement that the impact of to his son: independence, disentan- does not increase the chances that the those cuts be balanced or that the glement from obligations to others, answers to those worries will be a re- money that is spent be targeted at a bachelor’s life. Strange advice com- assuring “yes.” Quite the opposite. As those most in need. ing from a father. the federal budget comes into balance In practice no government, of any Therein lies the deeper contradic- and federal debt diminishes, house- stripe, has put deficit and debt elim- tion. hold debt increases. The past decade ination above all else. Every ruling No person, no government, is an is- has seen household debt increase al- party has run deficits. Every ruling land. As Donne reminds us, everyone most in direct proportion to the de- party has seen government debt in- is a piece of the continent, a part of crease in federal debt. crease at some point in its tenure. the main. Fathers have sons who they As budget cuts translate into di- Everyone has been both a borrower wish to protect, governments have a minished services and support for and a lender. populace whose needs they serve. Pol- families, those families have picked Why, then, the obsessive reitera- iticians are fond of reminding their up the tab. Why? Because they rec- tion of the balanced budget mantra? audiences that the public purse is ognize their own interdependence. In part, it boils down to messaging. filled with the public’s money. What Because interdependence is what Economies are complex things. So too is that, if not indebtedness? Why then families and communities are made are public budgets. Effective economic repay that debt by withdrawing sup- of. Parents re-mortgage their hous- policies are precisely those that wade port from that public? Why cut services to send their children to school. into the weeds—identifying and tar- es to veterans and the unemployed? Teachers spend their own money to geting the specific challenges faced by Most puzzling of all, why have people buy school supplies for students who specific communities and sectors at supported economic policy that is so can’t afford them. Families pitch in to a particular point in time. Child and clearly not in their own best interest? pay for their aging parents’ prescrip- family tax policies, for example, that Here, too, lies a misunderstanding, tion drugs. target their benefits to low-income both social and economic. In the place of the slow withdrawal parents are more complex but also When polls show that Canadians of government into isolation from its more effective than sending a check are concerned with the economy, it is own citizens, it is time to ask our gov- for the same amount to everyone not a sign that every Canadian wants ernments to reconsider their indebt- (whether they need it or not). to be the next finance minister. It’s edness to Canadians and our mutual But complexity doesn’t fit in a a sign that Canadians are worried interdependence. We’re all a part of tweet. It’s not share-able or like-able. about their own economic security. the main. Let’s start acting like it. 19 The Alternative Federal Budget turns 20 Avvy Go and Amy Casipullai A Land of Unequal Opportunity Immigrants are the key to Canada’s economic success

ITH A FEDERAL election still ternatives, The Colour Coded Labour year, 14,216 workers entered Canada probably a few months Market, Sheila Block and Grace-Ed- under the low-skilled stream of the away, it’s hard to pinpoint ward Galabuzi found the wages of Temporary Foreign Worker Program what the main issues will racialized workers (both immigrant (TFWP), a 6% increase from 2013. be. Some expect the new and Canadian-born) were in relative This happened despite the govern- “war on terror” to become decline. Earnings by male visible-mi- ment’s announcement in April 2013 Wa wedge issue, others are convinced nority newcomers were just 68.7% of that workers would only be accepted that Canada’s general economic per- white male earnings. where there were “acute skills short- formance will dominate the cam- Updating their findings in 2014, ages.” The other three streams of the paigns. Yet for a large and growing based on the 2011 NHS data, Block and TFWP (agricultural workers, live-in segment of our society, the number Galabuzi noticed that while racialized caregivers and high-skilled occupa- one issue is, and has been for the Ontarians have slightly higher labour tions) have not seen the same kind of last decade, the quest for a decent, force participation, their unemploy- growth, though temporary workers well-paying job. We are talking about ment rate (10.5%) was a full three per- in all four streams are just as likely immigrants — virtually the backbone centage points higher, their earnings to face abuse and exploitation, which of Canada’s economy. 16.7% lower, and their overall poverty can include unpaid overtime, exorbi- By 2017, a fifth of Canadians will be- rate (20%) more than 8% higher than tant recruitment fees, unsafe work long to a visible minority and nearly the non-racialized average. The once conditions and sub-standard hous- all labour market entrants will be im- steady but small gap between the la- ing. The problem is widespread, well migrants, a great many of them from bour market experience of established documented by researchers (see Fay Asia, Central and South America, and and recent immigrants, on the one Farada’s 2014 study Profiting from the Caribbean. According to the 2011 hand, and the Canadian-born, on the the Precarious) and migrant rights National Household Survey (NHS) other, widened by 2% to 2.5% during groups, and was finally recognized and other Statistics Canada data, be- the Great Recession (2009–10). One by Prime Minister Harper in Janu- tween 2007 and 2011, Canada’s popu- 2014 Statistics Canada study showed ary 2014. lation grew by almost 6%, the high- the deterioration was sharpest among In June 2014, the government intro- est increase among G8 countries. Im- recent immigrants. Another point- duced more changes to the TFWP, no migration supplied two-thirds of this ed to a marked drop in the earnings doubt mostly in response to media growth — and 75% of labour market advantage of a university education reports that employers were turning expansion — over the past decade. among new immigrants — from 59% away Canadian workers. The chang- Given the expected accelerated aging above what a less-educated immi- es targeted low-skilled occupations, of the population between now and grant worker would expect 30 years redefined as “low-wage,” and includ- 2031, without sustained immigration ago to only 13% among those who ed inspections, prosecutions and pen- or a substantial increase in the birth came to Canada between 2004 and alties for employers caught abusing rate (1.61 children per woman in 2011), 2007. Immigrants who are university the system; reforms to the labour population growth could be close to graduates are four times more likely market assessment process that em- zero in 20 years. to be unemployed than their Canadi- ployers must perform before hiring Despite the growing importance an counterparts. from outside Canada (e.g., increased of new Canadians to the economy, by While Canada’s labour market is application fees); new restrictions on any measure (income, employment, becoming more unequal, and it is get- the length of TFWP permits; and a housing conditions, health, etc.) im- ting harder for educated and skilled cap on the number of positions that migrants and members of racialized immigrants to translate their experi- can be filled this way. In general, communities are falling behind their ence into fair earnings, the number of these reforms focused on enforce- Canadian-born and/or non-racialized low-skilled temporary foreign work- ment. The only change addressing neighbours. For example, in their 2011 ers continued to grow in 2014. The the vulnerability and exploitation report by for the Wellesley Institute Globe and Mail reported last October of temporary workers was the pro- and the Canadian Centre for Policy Al- that in the first three months of last duction of a government pamphlet 20 on rights and responsibilities to be tradictions of Canada’s immigration South, will be denied an opportunity provided to migrant workers as they system. More than 150 migrant con- for permanent residency in Canada. entered Canada. The Canada Border struction workers are suing Ottawa Services Agency (CBSA) was given because official language proficiency An Alternative Immigration Policy new enforcement responsibilities is required to stay permanently, but and funding, but these also target- not to work temporarily. ith Canada’s aging population and ted violations of the program rules Life has become more precarious W declining birth rate, immigration rather than of worker rights and en- for Canada’s other temporary for- will continue to be fundamental to titlements. eign workers as a result of addition- the health of the economy. Unfortu- Since the reforms were rolled out al recent changes. The removal of nately, the federal government has last year, exploitation has continued the mandatory live-in condition of done very little to ensure that new apace and now includes the down- the Live-in Caregiver Program (LCP), immigrants are employed in occu- loading of increased program fees which was part of a package of re- pations commensurate with their ($1,000 per permit) by employers onto forms announced in November, may experience. Individuals and families their workers. Enforcement by CBSA answer a long-standing demand from who have chosen Canada as their has been even harder on workers and caregivers and is a welcome change. new home, and who want to con- includes stop-check operations in But the program still lacks effective tribute their skills through meaning- which migrants who have lost their enforcement to make sure caregiv- ful work, find themselves jumping TFWP status are identified — some- ers who live with their host employ- through more and more hoops just to times in unrelated traffic stops by er (for economic and related reasons) get a foot in the door. They then face local or provincial police — and de- do not continue to be exploited. A 2014 sharp term limits (in the case of the ported. Compared to the severity of report by the Quebec-based Filipino TFWP), and systemic and overt dis- this kind of action, the government women’s organization Pinay, Live-In crimination that shuts them out of has gone easy on employers, who Caregivers and Intimidation in the the labour force in far greater num- face little more than a suspension Workplace, found that 18.5% of car- bers than their non-racialized and of their Labour Market Impact As- egivers had reported some type of Canadian-born neighbours. sessment, a series of minor fines or, abuse ranging from working outside There are options for the federal at worst, a ban on hiring temporary of the job description, low salaries, government that would create more foreign workers. Even here it’s the unpaid overtime and long hours to opportunity in the jobs market. They worker who suffers most — forced to racial discrimination, verbal abuse, include federal incentives for employ- either leave the country voluntarily sexual harassment and “slave-like ers to practise employment equity, in- or be deported when their employer conditions.” cluding tax incentives to hire, train, breaks the rules. The pathway to permanent res- retain and promote workers from tar- Thousands of people were forced idency was also significantly nar- get groups. The government should into this position when their four- rowed in November with the intro- also significantly limit the low-skilled year TFWP permits ran out April 1. duction of tighter requirements, such stream of the TFWP and give all mi- The federal government introduced as language tests and the need for grant workers the opportunity to the term limit in 2011 and in June 2014 professional credentials, and a na- pursue permanent residency and full shortened it to two years for work- tional cap of roughly 5,000 principal citizenship. Furthermore, the feder- ers in the low-skilled stream. It only applicant applications per year. This al government could put conditions affects migrant workers in what was number is divided into two streams, on social transfer payments to the then known as the “low-skill pilot with a limit of 2,750 spots for child provinces to make sure immigrants project” (now the low-wage stream care providers and 2,750 for caregiv- are gainfully employed in their cho- of the TFWP). Many of the estimated ers for high medical needs (the high- sen fields. 70,000 workers affected would prefer skilled stream). Canada’s labour unions have an im- to continue working in Canada. The The LCP, while small in number, portant role to play in this discussion. Canadian Federation of Independ- has been a steady feature of Canada’s With their large membership and in- ent Business (CFIB) says the feeling migrant worker programs, reflecting fluence, unions can counter the per- is mutual — further evidence that a need that is not satisfied by other sistent myth, in Canada as elsewhere, a number of these jobs are, in fact, government policies. Given the lack that immigrants are “taking away” the not temporary at all. The CFIB has of a national child care strategy, and jobs of Canadians. Unions would also suggested that low-wage temporary poor investment in home care for do well to increase their promotion of foreign workers should be granted a those that need it, Canadians will settlement support and funding for pathway to permanent residence af- continue to rely on migrant workers newcomers while building solidari- ter two years of work. Some work- for child care and elder care for the ty with immigrant advocacy organ- ers may have the opportunity to ap- foreseeable future. It is highly prob- izations to address structural ineq- ply for permanent resident status, lematic that these needed workers, uities in the labour market and sys- but this number is likely to be very the majority of whom are racialized temic discrimination in our immigra- small due to the complexity and con- women from countries in the Global tion policy. 21 The Alternative Federal Budget turns 20 David Macdonald Four Things the 2015 Federal Budget Should Have Done (But Didn’t)

HE GOVERNMENT HAS made a po- more slowly, wage growth is slower plement (NCBS) from $2,290 a year to litical choice to create an ar- and there are fewer raises in gener- $4,580 a year for firstborn children tificial surplus ahead of this al. A higher proportion of Canadians would reduce the child poverty rate year’s federal election and by also consider themselves as neither by a quarter. law must put all future surplus- full-time nor part-time workers but es toward debt repayment. This self-employed — a notoriously unsta- 3. Provide Affordable Childcare Twill almost certainly delay Canada’s ble category of employment. full economic recovery when there This situation is unlikely to correct utside of Quebec, in Canada’s big- are policies within reach that would itself. The federal government has the O ger cities, it is normal for parents help create good jobs, provide valua- fiscal room to be much more proactive to pay between $40 and $60 a day in ble services for parents, reduce child in an effort to kick-start good job cre- child care fees depending on the age poverty and begin to seriously take ation. It could easily have announced of their child. That is more than a stu- on climate change. Here are just four $10–$20 billion more per year in spend- dent can expect to pay for university fully-costed options from the 2015 Al- ing and still see the debt-to-GDP ra- tuition in many parts of Canada, and ternative Federal Budget that did not tio decline. There was some new in- it consumes between a quarter and find their way into the government’s frastructure money announced but it 33 cents of every dollar that a wom- plans for the coming year. does not kick in until 2019. In contrast, an (generally the lower earner in a the 2015 Alternative Federal Budget household) makes. 1. Kick-Start the Job Market recommends an immediate infusion If the cost of child care is one big of federal dollars to new transit con- problem for young families, lack of t around 2%, economic growth in struction, green infrastructure, im- options is the other. There are a mil- A 2015 is going to be the weakest since proved services for the unemployed lion Canadian families with children the 2008–09 recession. This is due to and veterans, and the hiring of more under five where both parents work. the collapse of corporate investment, food and consumer product safety However, there are only half a mil- especially falling capital spending in inspectors. Not only would this in- lion regulated child care spaces out the tar sands in response to the drop vestment put more people to work there. The gap is even wider when in oil prices. The definition of a re- and return high economic benefits we consider the number of families in cession is two-quarters of negative to the Canadian economy, it would which one parent, usually the wom- growth. Canada isn’t there yet, but also improve the quality of services an, is not working due to high fees in we’re dangerously close. that many people rely on. the first place. Things are worse for the labour The federal government recently market, which has seen almost no 2. Lift 240,000 Kids Out of Poverty introduced and is putting substantial recovery. The proportion of Canadi- resources into two new “child care” ans with a job is at its lowest point he most recent statistics availa- programs: family income splitting in a decade and virtually unchanged T ble (from 2012) show that 16.3% of and the “enhanced” Universal Child since 2009. The unemployment rate children live below the Low Income Care Benefit (UCCB). Unfortunately, has dropped since then, but for a dis- Measure poverty line, putting Cana- neither is doing much to make child turbing primary reason: many people da in the bottom half of OECD coun- care more affordable for lower- and have stopped looking for work out of tries with data. For comparison, the middle-income families. frustration, often because they can’t rate of child poverty in Nordic coun- Income splitting is heavily skewed find a job. At the same time, there has tries is below 5%. There is no compel- toward higher-income households been a marked drop in job quality. The ling reason why Canada should not and provides no benefits at all for Canadian Employment Quality Index be performing better. Transfer pro- single-parent families. The after-tax is at 30-year lows, meaning more Ca- grams that target low-income fam- monthly UCCB cheque, now worth nadians are taking part-time work ilies with children already exist, but $100 but increasing to $160 per child instead of full-time jobs. High-pay- they need to be properly funded. Dou- under six, pays for about three days’ ing full-time jobs are being created bling the National Child Benefit Sup- worth of child care. An additional 22 $60 a month for families with children between six and 17, while possibly useful as extra pocket change, will go to families with no child care costs (since the kids will be in school full time at this point). The total cost of income splitting, the new base UCCB and the additional cheque for older children will be $7 billion a year. That is enough money to give all parents a $7-a-day child care option, as exists in Quebec, if they need it. Truly affordable child care is right Shrinking the War Chest there for the taking. The spending is already in place, it is just so badly targeted that parents who actually use child care gain almost nothing from it. HE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT has the extraordinarily poor track record of been criticized for not spend- the government in implementing cur- 4. Get Serious About Climate Change ing enough on Canada’s military. rent programs, the Alternative Feder- The Alternative Federal Budget al Budget calls for immediate consul- he effects of rising temperatures due thinks the Department of Na- tations with veterans groups on the T to anthropogenic climate change tional Defence gets about $4 mandate for an independent public are evident in the rapidly shrinking Tbillion more than it needs each year inquiry into the department’s system- glaciers of British Columbia and Al- and could be using its finances much ic failure to adequately support Can- berta, and globally in rising sea levels, more effectively. ada’s most needy veterans. more frequent droughts and generally more erratic weather. No one specific Reduce Defence Spending Fully Review Canada’s weather event can be directly attrib- Over Five Years Defence Policy uted to climate change, but the general trends are unmistakable — and ex- The Department of Defence was grant- These spending reductions are rea- pensive. For instance, in 2011, Canadian ed budget authority to spend up to $20.1 sonable but will require hard choic- insurers paid out record high damag- billion in fiscal year 2014–15. Adjusted es about priorities, capabilities and es related to extreme weather. A new for inflation, this is just over $2 billion affordable force structures. A “root record was set again in 2013. less than its historic high in 2009–10. and branch” defence policy review The European economy has grown But the 2015 federal budget would pro- will identify and prioritize key defence by 45% since 1990 while EU policy has vide $11.8 billion over 10 years through tasks and roles and their funding en- helped lower carbon emissions — the an automatic 3% increase pear year velopes. This would involve an estab- chief cause of climate change — by starting in 2017–18. The government lished democratic practice almost en- 20%. In contrast, the federal govern- also slated $360 million for Canada’s ex- tirely abandoned by the Harper government talks about making Canada’s tended engagement against the Islam- ment — the issuance of a Green Paper economy more sustainable, but it has ic State in Syria and the Levant (ISIL). based on broad public and expert con- not seriously addressed the climate In its first year, the Alternative Federal sultation, followed by a White Paper crisis for fear of hurting economic Budget would shrink the department that establishes the government’s new growth, particularly in the oil and to the size it was before September 11, position in light of this input. This pro- gas sector. (The term “climate change” 2001 ($11.9 billion in 2000–01, or $16.1 bil- cess would explore whether it is time did not appear once in the 2015 fed- lion in 2014 dollars). As spending is pro- to shift Canada’s focus from NATO to eral budget.) jected to decline slightly in any event, United Nations–led peace and security The 2015 Alternative Federal Budget the budget would be further reduced initiatives, and take a hard look at the proposes a suite of measures to move by $1.5 billion by 2017–18. appropriate balance between military Canada toward a low-carbon future. and criminal justice responses to the One of the most important steps is the Take Immediate Action for Veterans challenges posed by terrorism. This re- implementation of a $30-per-tonne view, together with the recommended carbon tax to mirror what is in place In the weeks immediately preceding spending reductions, would provide ur- in B.C. A carbon tax refund would the federal budget, the government gently needed public dollars for other offset the regressive nature of such announced a series of initiatives in- priorities, boost efficiency in national a tax, and excess revenue generated cluding some new benefits and more defence, and lay the foundation for a could be invested in green infrastruc- staff to handle veterans services cas- strong Canadian military that is better ture to further reduce Canada’s cares (e.g., mental health disability bene- capable of protecting Canadians and bon footprint. fits) and process claims. However, given supporting UN peace operations. 23 The Alternative Federal Budget turns 20 Assembly of First Nations Meeting the Basic Needs of First Nations

FUNDAMENTAL transformation across the entire spectrum of land, of the fiscal relationship be- Current transfers to First economic, education, and social is- tween First Nations and the sues. Recognition, rather than extin- Canadian government is ur- Nation governments guishment, is the basis upon which gently required. As a result are conditional, First Nations must be able to exer- of their historical and ongo- cise their inherent Aboriginal title Aing dispossession and marginaliza- inflexible, inadequate, and rights over their lands and re- tion, First Nation women, men and sources. Canada’s current policies children fare worse than all other unpredictable and and approaches to reconciling First people in Canada on virtually every Nations jurisdiction remain out of indicator of well-being. First Nation arbitrary. They are step with contemporary jurispru- peoples face disproportionately high not based on the dence and international convention levels of poverty and lower levels of and standards including the United access to economic and educational populations they serve. Nations Declaration on the Rights opportunities. They are three times of Indigenous Peoples, which Cana- as likely to live in housing in need of da endorsed in 2010. major repairs, more likely to be with- As treaty rights and title–holders, out safe drinking water (see illustra- First Nations seek willing partners tion), and First Nation women and Nation children in Canada up to the to create economic opportunities. girls continue to experience dispro- poverty line would cost $580 million, However, due to the unique relation- portionately high rates of violence. or 11% of the annual budget of Abo- ship between First Nations and the Current transfers to First Nation riginal Affairs and Northern Devel- lands they occupy, careful and thor- governments are conditional, inflex- opment Canada. ough consideration must be given ible, inadequate, unpredictable and A new funding relationship is re- to all projects that may result in ad- arbitrary. They are not based on the quired that reflects the spirit and verse environmental and cultural im- populations they serve, resulting in intent of treaties and inherent First pacts. Free, prior and informed con- the denial of services adequate to Nations jurisdiction. New funding sent is the foundation for successful meet First Nations needs or com- mechanisms based in partnership and economic partnerships, yet Canada parable to those provided to other recognition of rights are required in actively works to prevent the imple- people in Canada. While Canadians order to meet the needs of the com- mentation of this principle. At the re- receive services from all levels of munities, ensure parity between First cent UN World Conference on Indig- government, through direct federal Nation and non-First Nation commu- enous Peoples, Canada was the only transfers to provinces and territo- nities, and account for the real costs member state to object to the out- ries at an average growth rate of 6% to First Nation governments of de- come document and its support of per year, Finance Canada has main- livering services. New mechanisms the UN Declaration on the grounds tained a 2% cap on increases to First must ensure that every First Nation that free, prior and informed consent Nations funding since 1996. This bare- receives sustainable resources in ac- represented a veto on the part of In- ly keeps up with inflation, making no cordance with their rights and the digenous peoples. adjustments for booming population fiduciary obligations of the feder- growth and the needs that come with al government. This is essential for AFB 2015 Actions it, and was imposed on already inad- First Nations to address their day-to equate funding amounts. The remov- day needs and to raise the quality of he Alternative Federal Budget will al of this cap on funding growth and life of every Nation. T remove barriers to education and an adjustment of transfers for need Treaties, not the Indian Act, form economic opportunities, better meet would reduce the disastrous current the foundation of the relationship the health and social service needs, rate of poverty for First Nation chil- with the Crown. Treaty implemen- and enhance safety and security in dren, now at 50%. To bring all First tation is central to achieving change First Nation communities. 24 ͸ Invest $470 million annually for the next 10 years in First Nations water DRINKING WATER ADVISORIES BY JURISDICTION treatment systems. PROVINCES AND TERRITORIES: 1,669 | FIRST NATIONS: 169 ͸ Invest $1 billion annually for the TOTAL: 1,838 DRINKING WATER ADVISORIES IN CANADA next 10 years to address the housing crisis in First Nation communities. ͸ Release the $1.9 billion to support First Nations schools and address the urgent shortfall in First Nations 169 DRINKING WATER ADVISORIES (DWAS) education, while committing to en- IN 126 FIRST NATION COMMUNITIES gage First Nations in the develop- Atlantic 7 | Quebec 2 | Ontario 79 ment of a new First Nations educa- Manitoba 5 | Saskatchewan 24 tion fiscal framework that reflects Alberta 17 | British Columbia 35 actual costs for First Nations education systems. ͸ Invest $355 million in 2015–16 to address the existing gap in First Na- tions education funding, and implement equitable funding for First Na- tions education systems. ͸ Add $108 million per year to First Nations Child and Family Services with a 3% annual escalator. ͸ Invest $1.3 billion over five years in the Non-Insured Health Benefits program and implement a comprehen- sive approach to mental health and Note: Drinking water advisories include boil water advisories, water quality advisories, do not use/consume advisories, precautionary drinking water advisories, and any other advisory for drinking water. *Information for Ontario only includes Boil Water Advisories. addictions programming. ͸ Provide new investments of $500 million annually for First Nations skills training and employment. HILE THE PROVINCES and ter- Policy is more than 30 years old and ritories are responsible badly outdated. Double the current investment to ͸ for municipalities’ drink- Canada urgently needs a Nation- $60 million in emergency on-reserve ing water, the federal gov- al Water Policy based on the princi- shelters. ernment is responsible for ples of water as a commons, a public ͸ Establish and fund a National Pub- drinking water on First Na- trust, and a human right. The notion of lic Commission of Inquiry on Miss- Wtion reserves. As of January 2015, there the “commons” asserts that water is a ing and Murdered Indigenous Wom- were 169 drinking water advisories in common heritage to be shared, pro- en and Girls, to be fully inclusive of effect in 126 First Nations communi- tected, managed and enjoyed by all. A families and communities. ties. There are routinely more than 100 commons framework requires a shift in water advisories in effect, with more water governance to prioritize the hu- Establish and fully fund a Nation- ͸ than half of the advisories in place for man right to water, public participation, al Action Plan to Ending Violence between five to 15 years. These advi- and the inclusion of First Nations and Against Women. sories in First Nations communities other communities in decision-mak- ͸ Invest $51.2 million annually to sup- are a black eye for the Canadian gov- ing processes. Public trust principles port community-based healing pro- ernment, pointing to the long-stand- require governments to protect water grams. ing and systemic failure to provide sources for communities’ reasonable clean, safe drinking water to Indige- use, and to make private use subser- Invest in First Nations justice sys- ͸ nous communities. vient to community rights. tems and community-based justice While there are more than 20 fed- programming. eral departments and agencies with Excerpt and illustration are from the report On Notice for a Drinking Water Crisis in Cana- ͸ Invest in stable, predictable, sus- different responsibilities for freshwa- da by Council of Canadians water campaigner tainable and culturally appropriate ter, there is no national strategy to Emma Lui. The report breaks down the threats First Nation policing services to en- address urgent water issues and no to drinking water, including from energy and other industrial projects, by province and ter- hance safety and security in First Na- federal leadership to conserve and ritory. Lui is the author of the AFB chapter on tion communities. protect our water. The Federal Water water policy. 25 The Alternative Federal Budget turns 20 Bruce Campbell 20 Years of Bright Ideas The AFB influence on federal budgeting

O FEDERAL GOVERNMENT has ever Conservative government in its 2006 important role as a model for stim- fully embraced the Alterna- accountability agenda. ulus spending in Canada. In Janu- tive Federal Budget. Never- AFB policies helped stop the in- ary 2014, an AFB technical paper ex- theless, its recommendations troduction of a complicated target- posed the regresivity of the govern- have found their way into par- ed seniors benefit proposed in 1995 ment’s family income splitting tax ty platforms, successive gov- to replace Canada’s Old Age Securi- plan, which led to a partial reining Nernments have drawn from its pro- ty and Guaranteed Income Supple- in of the still inequitable policy. An- posals, and several retrograde poli- ment programs. They led to the in- other recent AFB innovation, which cy initiatives were reversed because troduction and enhancement of the continues this year, is the calcula- of our efforts. child benefit in the late 1990s and the tion of the distributional impact of Early on, the AFB took a strong working income tax credit in 2007. our tax and program measures and stand against the government-sup- They inspired inflation indexing of their impact on poverty reduction ported high interest rate policies of personal income tax brackets in 2000. and job creation. We have also been at the Bank of Canada. Though these The closing of an array of tax loop- the forefront of gender-based budg- were, strictly speaking, not a budget holes for the wealthy, the restoration etary analysis. No government, fed- issue, we argued that expansionary of health transfers to the provinces eral or provincial, has applied such a monetary policy was critical to re- in 2004, the enhancement of materni- thorough assessment of the impact storing economic prosperity and jobs. ty and parental leave benefits under of their budgets on inequality, pover- To its credit, the government even- Employment Insurance, funding for ty and job creation, which they claim tually adopted that policy stance, new infrastructure, the introduction to be priorities. This pioneering inno- which, with its impact on exchange of scholarships for students in need, vation should be adopted as a stand- rates, and strong U.S. demand for and expanded Aboriginal transfers ard feature of government budgets. Canadian exports, produced solid were all policies whose genesis can The AFB has, over time, served mul- growth, job creation and the rapid be linked to the AFB. tiple purposes. It is an exercise in elimination of the deficit. Unfortu- During the 2008 financial crisis, economic literacy, in holding gov- nately, absent the adoption of other the AFB branched out, producing a ernments to account and speaking AFB proposals on taxes and redistri- fiscal stimulus plan that played an truth to power. It is a meeting place bution, this period of fiscal success of ideas and an instrument for build- also produced widening income in- ing progressive policy consensus. It equality. is a resource to help empower citi- The AFB gained credibility with- zens and fuel popular mobilization. in policy circles and the media not Organizers of a recent international only for its sophisticated fiscal The AFB is an exercise conference in Berlin called our alter- framework, but also for its accu- native budget the leading example of rate predictions of emerging budg- in economic literacy, in its kind in the world. Former parlia- etary surpluses between 1999 and mentary budget officer Kevin Page 2004. Year after year our forecasts holding governments to has praised it, as have many other were much more accurate than those account and speaking economists and academics. released by the Department of Fi- The AFB provides a benchmark nance, which tried to hide the sur- truth to power. It is a for what is possible, given the politi- plus — money that could have been cal will. It puts forward the fiscal di- put back into social programs (fed- meeting place of ideas mensions of a broad progressive pub- eral and provincial) still straining lic policy agenda consistent with the from the 1995 cuts. A longstanding and an instrument for values of large segments of Canadi- AFB call for the creation of an in- building progressive an society. dependent parliamentary budget Bruce Campbell is the executive di- office was partially adopted by the policy consensus. rector of the CCPA. 26 The Alternative Federal Budget turns 20

1st Decile 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 9.5 10th Decile Lowest Income Highest Income Total Impact ($ Per Family) of AFB tax and program measures per income decile Big gains for 70% Tax/Transferof families with ($ Peronly Family) modest tax increasesProgram for Spending high-income ($ Per earners Family) How the AFB Benefits You

AST YEAR’S ALTERNATIVE Federal chapter on income inequality, pover- age incomes of $380,000 and that Budget was the first to calculate ty and wealth. The top 50% of Cana- the earnings of the top 5% have in- the poverty and distributional dian families would see an increase creased 70% since 1990 (adjusting impacts of its proposed tax and in taxes (although this largely affects for inflation). Put another way, the transfer changes. This year, we those in the top 5% through a new $12,000 in additional taxes represents also include the distribution- personal tax bracket above $250,000), only 3% of gross income for Canada’s Lal impacts of program spending — a the full inclusion of capital gains, and top earners. The AFB programs that first for the AFB and a new tool for the cancellation of both family and most benefit those in the lower-in- analyzing budgets by any Canadi- pension income splitting. come deciles are spending on pover- an government. It allows us to vis- Once program spending is included, ty reduction plans and tuition grants ualize how smart budgeting can be we can see the AFB significantly ben- to low-income students. Wealthi- used to reduce income inequality in efits 70% of the population, although er Canadians will benefit from new the process. there is something for everyone in national pharmacare and medical The figure on this page illustrates these programs, no matter where they care programs, and the lowering of the impact of the 2015 AFB on fami- fall on the income spectrum. Those tuition and child care fees. lies by income decile. The net income families whose income places them The CCPA encourages other gov- gain in the bottom half of the income in the sixth and seventh deciles will ernments (provinces, territories and distribution reflects how families in see taxes go up slightly, but these are even municipalities) to examine the these deciles receive more from trans- more than offset by increased program distributional impacts of their pro- fers than is withdrawn in taxes. This spending (e.g., on health care, educa- posed changes in taxation, transfers is due primarily to the AFB propos- tion and child care). The ninth decile and program spending. Gaining a als on increasing the Guaranteed In- pays about $1,000 more annually, even better understanding of the effect of come Supplement, as proposed in the after program spending is included, budgeting on poverty reduction, and chapter on seniors and retirement se- while Canada’s richest 5% of families income and gender inequality, gives curity, and doubling both the Nation- will pay $12,000 more a year in taxes. us all a way to hold governments ac- al Child Benefit Supplement and GST Keep in mind this largest hike in countable for the choices they make tax credit, both proposals from the taxes affects those with gross aver- on budget day. 27 Elect Us™ Values Politics, Branding, and the 2015 Federal Election Campaign Story by Richard Nimijean, Illustrations by Nancy Reid INCE ASSUMING POWER, the Harp- that is not transparent, that is not a number of polls over the last few er government has consistently open and, frankly, is rooted in a cul- months putting the economy and sought to convince Canadians ture that is anti-women?” (emphasis jobs as the major issues for the next that Conservative values and added). Conservative backbencher election. For example: Canadian values are one and Larry Miller was forced to apologize Abacus Data finds a significant and the same. The Globe and Mail when that same week he said on live ͸ growing number of people believe Sjournalist John Ibbitson recently radio such women should “stay the that economic conditions will wors-� agreed with that assessment, noting hell where they came from.” en and feel they have fallen behind in a column this February that Harper That these views are inconsistent financially over the past year. is the most conservative prime min- with broadly accepted notions of di- ister this country has ever seen and versity in multicultural Canada, a ͸ Consequently, Canadians are the that contemporary Canada reflects country that also accepts and pro- most pessimistic they have been his values. The proof, according to Ib- motes freedom of religion, goes with- about the economy since 2009, and bitson, was that the two major oppo- out saying. Philosopher Charles Tay- are feeling "tapped out," according sition parties have essentially adopt- lor told CBC’s Power and Politics it to a poll by Toronto advertising firm ed his platform. “Like it or not, Ste- was “dumb” to claim wearing a niqab Bensimon Byrne, with two out of phen Harper’s Canada is everyone’s was anti-women, since it could make three people saying we need a new Canada now,” he wrote. it easier for terrorist recruiters to at- perspective on the economy. The government’s critics and polit- tract disaffected Canadians to their Thus, while Canadians are con- ical opponents maintain it is Harper cause. Indeed, the prime minister’s ͸ cerned about security, a survey con- who is out of touch with Canadians, statement on the International Day ducted for CBC News found they feel arguing that the prime minister has for the Elimination of Racial Discrim- overwhelmingly that the top priori-� radically transformed Canada (or is ination clearly contradicted his views ties for federal politicians should be trying to), though not for the better. on the niqab. “We are proud of Can- unemployment, the economy and They are clear: Harper is outside the ada’s diversity and inclusiveness,” health care. Canadian value set. Indeed, recent Harper said. “The promotion of these books by Michael Harris (see my re- values has helped to build our great ͸ And now, Canadian business exec- view of his Party of One in the March country where pluralism thrives.” utives have become more pessimis- 2015 Monitor), Donald Gutstein, Karl So why would the prime minis- tic about the prospects for economic Nerenberg and Mark Bourrie have ter make such statements? Clearly, growth given current economic con- sounded the alarm as the 2015 federal short-term political interests are in- ditions, with nearly 40% anticipating election nears. This arguably plays to volved. A discussion about “values” economic decline in the next year. Of the prime minister’s advantage. Cur- places the opposition parties on the note here, the governor of the Bank rent debates about Bill C-51, extending defensive given broad public sup- of Canada, Stephen Poloz, called Can-� Canada’s mission against ISIL, public port for the prime minister’s posi- ada’s first-quarter economic results safety and security, getting tough on tion. It also distracts from a mean- “atrocious.” crime and defending Canada and Ca- ingful debate — a debate Canadians nadians against those that wish to do want to have — about the public pol- Frank Graves of EKOS summed up us harm, all framed around the ques- icy record of the government, which the zeitgeist well when he said: “Ca-� tion of who has Canada’s best interests on the economy in particular is less nadians may be parking the smug- at heart, allow Harper to define the than stellar. Since the Great Recession ness they felt about how our economy debate — and Canada — on his terms. of 2008, the reality is that employ- performed immediately following the This pole position is fuelled by re- ment gains have not been substan- 2008 market meltdown. They’ve been cent debates over the right of new tial (and are dropping for manufac- watching the U.S. economy growing Canadians to wear the niqab at citi- turing), economic inequality is grow- at double the rate of Canada’s, while zenship ceremonies. Canada’s courts ing, and the collapse of oil prices will enjoying significantly lower unem- have declared the Conservative-im- have a devastating effect on western ployment. They’ve started feeling the posed guidelines outlawing this op- provinces. Harper’s claim that Cana- slide in the Canadian dollar in pro- tion for women inconsistent with ac- da was an emerging clean energy su- duce prices and the cost of travel.” tual legislation. In response, Prime perpower has not proven to be true. Yet there was Finance Minister Joe Minister Harper stated, “Why would The Canadian public is fundamen- Oliver recently proclaiming that while Canadians, contrary to our own val- tally anxious about the country’s election campaigns normally focus on ues, embrace a practice at that time economic prospects, as reflected in economic issues, this one would also 29 focus on security. It’s an interesting how each party is acting in the lead- would serve as the basis of a new strategy. Harper usually tops polls on up to the 2015 election. The resurgent government. the question of which leader would Liberals under Justin Trudeau are try- There was little discussion of fun- make the best economic manager. So ing to reclaim their label as Canada’s damental economic issues in the 2011 why change the channel? “natural governing party.” Trudeau election, nor was there much articu- Clearly there is some concern that, has framed the Liberal economic mes- lation of distinct approaches to the in the end, Canadians are more likely sage around helping the middle class, economy. Discussions on raising the to vote out of economic fear — of job pointing to growing income inequal- corporate tax rate were an exception, loss, economic insecurity and higher ity as a Harper problem. However, he though in the big picture this would prices — than exaggerated fears of ji- has been short of specifics, perhaps produce limited new revenue in a had on Canadian soil. Keeping the fearful that laying out policy options multi-billion-dollar economy. This major opposition parties on the de- too early will allow the Conservatives time around, the Conservative pro- fensive, by focusing on terrorism and and the NDP to gang up. Most impor- posal for income splitting serves as the niqab, and questioning the patri- tantly, he ignores the fact that eco- a proxy for party positions on the otism of anybody who challenges this nomic inequality increased during economy. Whereas Harper frames approach, leaves the remote firmly in the Chrétien years, as CCPA econ- these measures as sound social poli- Harper’s hands. Thus, Foreign Affairs omist Armine Yalinzyan began ex- cy that also provides relief for taxpay- Minister Rob Nicholson stated in the ploring in 1998 with the first Grow-� ers, the Liberals and NDP condemn House on March 26, “ISIL has declared ing Gap report. the tax cuts as wasteful or beneficial war on Canada by name and seeks to Tom Mulcair’s NDP is trying to to only a few — 15% of households, ac- wage its jihad against our people. No prove that the 2011 election results cording to Parliamentary Budget Of- matter how these facts are communi- were not a fluke, that the NDP is in fice estimates. cated, Canadians know that the lead- fact the natural alternative to Harp- Ironically, perhaps, both opposition ers of the opposition parties will dis- er’s Conservatives. It has been court- parties are challenging Harper (on miss them and with that are dismiss- ing the middle class vote by speaking taxes and other issues) through val- ing Canadian values.” of pragmatic economic policy that is ues politics and the appeal to Cana- progressive. The party has announced da’s “middle class,” which, in their view, Shrinking Terrain that, if elected, it would introduce seems to embody and define Canadian small business tax cuts, innovation values. Why this emphasis? Because rogressive Canadians interested tax credits and an extension of the again, in many ways, their economic P not simply in a debate about “Ca- accelerated capital cost allowance strategies are not radically different nadian values,” but also in economic for manufacturing equipment. Fol- from the governing Conservatives, fairness, full (and meaningful) em- lowing the Quebec model, the NDP nor for that matter the Chrétien Lib- ployment, and a return to the mixed made a pledge to introduce $15/day erals or Mulroney Progressive Con- economy (if not more) face a tough de- child care, and it has proposed a $15/ servatives of earlier times. cision: who should get their support hour federal minimum wage. All of While Mulcair’s child care and fed- in the next election. For as much as this would be accomplished with a eral minimum wage measures begin there is some space between the three balanced budget and no tax increas- to flesh out an activist plan much of major parties on the question of de- es save for reversing corporate tax what has been discussed so far in- fining Canadian values, there is less cuts and cancelling the proposed in- volves cancelling cuts announced or of a gap than meets the eye on eco- come splitting scheme. Most recent- implemented by the Tories (e.g., to the nomic issues, reflecting the persistent ly, Mulcair announced that funds to CBC, Old Age Security, etc.). The NDP neoliberal consensus, and the rise of combat child poverty would be raised leader seems committed to fiscal or- values politics in Canada and most by making Canadians pay taxes on all thodoxy, at least rhetorically. Unifor western countries over the past few stock option benefits. economist Jim Stanford, for exam- decades. Both the NDP and the Lib- These proposals build on earlier ple, has proposed a massive $30 bil- erals are treading carefully, trying NDP discussions about issues dear lion infrastructure program, but wor- not to minimize security concerns to consumers, such as high ATM fees, ries the NDP might be hesitant to im- while also convincing the public they credit card rates and gas prices. Mul- plement it because it would involve can form a majority government. For cair is continuing the NDP’s recent a deficit. The reluctance of the gov- each, though, the stakes are different. efforts to mainstream their policy ernment and opposition parties to The meteoric rise of the NDP and agenda, and to present themselves to promote deficit spending to stimu- the stunning collapse of the Liberals Canadians as credible economic man- late the economy is odder still when in the 2011 federal election, along with agers who can relate to the concerns both mainstream and labour econ- the emergence of the Green Party and of “average” Canadians and consum- omists are now agreed it would be the implosion of the Bloc Québécois, ers — a long-time weak spot for the very helpful. led some to believe that a fundamen- party. In this, they are distinguish- For another example of something tal realignment was underway in Ca- ing themselves from the Liberals by approaching economic consensus, nadian politics. This has influenced offering a fairly detailed plan that where the Conservatives are also 30 driving the debate, look at tax pol- much on values: it distracts from the als would lead to a classic left-right icy generally. To those on the left fact that economic policy differenc- divide in Canadian politics, the NDP who express concern about Harp- es are not as great as they are often had become “liberals in a hurry” in er’s stewardship of the economy, presumed to be. This leads to an em- more ways than one. arguably the biggest damage came phasis on leaders as brands. In 1987, Maclean’s magazine fea- from the two-point cut to the GST, Looking at a recent study by Ab-� tured NDP leader Ed Broadbent on which has reduced the federal gov- acus Data we can understand why the cover with the heading “On the ernment’s ability to spend dramat- the parties would adopt this strat- March.” Teasers promised to explore ically — by an estimated $14 billion egy. Mulcair is seen as “competent” the NDP’s “quest for power” and “how annually. By point of comparison, and a “good guy,” although with tired they would govern.” The NDP’s ap- Mulcair’s plan to tax stock options and old-fashioned ideas. Trudeau is proach to the 1988 election foreshad- would only raise $600 million to $1 seen as modern and likable, but in- owed the emerging trend in Canadi- billion annually. So far, no opposi- experienced. Harper is seen as se- an politics: a new emphasis on tac- tion party is prepared to talk of re- rious and competent, but self-cen- tics and strategy in order to “win.” turning the GST to 7%. tred and not trustworthy. John Ged- The mantra of speaking for “ordi- Though the loss of revenues from des of Maclean’s explained Canada’s nary Canadians” emphasized val- Harper’s tax cuts are significant, electoral decision this way: “Harper those outside partisan circles would as the safe choice, Mulcair as an or- do well to remember similar measures dinary guy, and Trudeau as a restor- brought in by the Chrétien and Mar- er of balance.” tin Liberal governments. Between fiscal years 2000–01 and 2004–05, the When Ideas Mattered federal government’s revenue-raising capacity dropped by $31.1 billion t was not so long ago that Canadian in 2004 dollars ($37.68 billion when in- I election campaigns were marked by flation is factored in). This occurred vigorous debates about Canada’s fu- in a period of large federal surplus- ture, centred mainly, though not ex- es, 90% of which were put onto Cana- clusively, on economic visions. While da’s debt when Martin had promised the Liberals and Progressive Con- to put 50% into new social spending. servatives never differed radically A survey of commissioned by the on broad ideological grounds, they Broadbent Institute in 2012 found occasionally adopted fundamental- that 23% of Canadians were “very ly different approaches to economic willing” and 41% “somewhat willing” issues and challenges. For example, to pay slightly higher taxes to pay for the parties took opposing stances social programs such as health care, on free trade with the United States education and pensions. Yet this year in the elections of 1911 and 1988, and the NDP announced it would further they have differently embraced (and lower small business taxes if elected, later scaled back) Canada’s mixed so- a move a move adopted by the Con- cial welfare state. The ability of the servatives in the 2015 budget that will more centrist Liberals to veer left or disproportionately benefit higher-in- right of centre, depending on where come Canadians with uncertain im-� political pressures lay, reflected the pacts on job creation. real but minimal impact of the CCF ues that connected parties to vot- Not surprisingly, many analysts and early NDP, which offered a so- ers, rather than seeing the party as recognize that rhetoric aside there cial-democratic alternative vision of an institution that represented a is not much difference between the the Canadian political economy. relatively coherent set of ideologi- major parties. Kelly McParland of the Indeed, the 1988 “free trade election” cal principles and associated policy National Post wrote in January that might have been the last gasp for this proposals. Alas, overlooking the ma- since NDP plans help the rich, and type of ideological politics. As the two jor issue of the election (free trade) the Liberals have quietly adopted major parties brawled over the Cana- in order to appeal to “average Cana- major elements of the Conservative da-U.S. FTA, on the cusp of a new era dians” did not help the NDP, as the economic agenda, the opposition par- of globalization and ascendant neo- party descended into near-oblivion ties are left talking about how they liberalism, the NDP was criticized for for almost two decades. are different without actually be- not engaging fully with the issue — of By 1993, Canadians seemed to have ing so. Campbell Clark of the Globe effectively ceding the anti–free trade had enough of Mulroney’s neoliberal and Mail has similarly argued that position to the party that once advo- continentalism — the prime minister Mulcair’s economic plan sounds like cated for it. Dreaming of power and used the FTA as a leaping off point for Harper’s. This is why leaders focus so hoping that the demise of the Liber- the North American Free Trade Agree- 31 ment — and supported, in three elec- parties are less responsive to the de- ers can choose Conservative one elections, Jean Chrétien’s Liberals, with mands of citizens. In our parliamen- tion and NDP the next. The choice is their promise of restoring hope and tary democracy, it is only necessary to not about ideology, but about trust, economic prosperity to the country. get roughly 40% of the popular vote belief and efficacy. It is emotional, However, as I have argued elsewhere, to form a majority government. Par- which is the foundation of all brand the Liberals were adept at framing ne- ties often campaign and even govern relationships. oliberal messages within a value set as if all voters mattered, but the real- But it is also not only a matter of that the public, or at least that por- ity is that they target a much smaller finding the right brand: your market- tion of it living in vote-rich Central body of movable voters through in- ing strategy needs to work, too, even if Canada, identified with. This explains creasingly sophisticated techniques. the rhetoric often does not match the why the Liberals and NDP are cur- The ongoing emphasis on wedge pol- reality behind it. Although consum- rently fighting over the middle class itics, in tandem with the “permanent ers will often stay loyal to a product and whose policies best reflect their campaign,” has contributed to the di- as long as it is high quality, allowing interests, and why, given the nature lution of party differences on ideolog- the corporation to grow, as the case of of Conservative attack ads, both par- ical grounds. We emphasize tactics. Apple shows, they will rapidly aban- ties are reluctant to offer a radically Pundits play up strategy. We rarely don it for something new if the emo- debate policy. tional trust is severed. We saw this In a transformation that is tied when the Coca-Cola Corporation in- up with the triumph of neoliberal- troduced New Coke in the 1980s. In ism, party differentiation now has a politics, as we know, trust is at record symbolic versus ideological basis. The lows, which is intensified by a short- rise of “brand politics,” in which par- term focus on the next election ver- ties emphasize values, not ideas, re- sus, say, the long-term vision of cor- flects the post-ideological nature of porations trying to develop a last- Canadian politics. Just as branded ing market. Much like the consumer products develop long-lasting loyal- willing to give new brands a shot if ty via intense relationships with con- they are disappointed in what they’re sumers, parties hope that by narrow- buying now, voters can tire of their casting messages to strategic constit- favourite party for reasons unrelat- uencies voters can develop the same ed to policy. emotional relationship with a leader and party as they do their car, mobile What Are They Selling? phone, running shoe, etc. Ironically, as this narrows the real choices (over o if we are staking out political policy) voters have at the polls, it has S brands, with relatively minor dif- further blurred the lines between par- ferences, what do Canada’s political ties that all claim to embody “Cana- parties have to offer? We can think of dian values,” specifically those held Harper as a “steady at the till” leader, by the middle class. the man to keep us safe; Mulcair as a Corporate branding of products “progressive” guy whose heart is in and services succeeds not by duping the right place; and Trudeau as the consumers. Branding is the art of of- modern man who “gets” contempo- fering high-quality goods embodying rary Canadian values. The dilemma different economic platform to that specific values to consumers willing voters face as the election nears is that of the current government. to pay a premium for being a part of we are not always sure what these Advances in technology have con- it all. That is why the “Think Differ- brands embody — what they have tributed to this phenomenon. New ent” philosophy of Apple ultimately to offer beyond the marketing pitch. communications technologies like made it the world’s most valued cor- For Harper, there is clearly a short- the Internet, mobile communications poration. Political brands, be they a term political advantage in trying to (telephony and computing), powerful leader or party, aim to have the same carve out distinct positions on terror- computing hardware and software, effect on voters. The appeal to values ism and values consistent with his po- and the advent of social media have is the new form of political competi- litical strategy of presenting Canada changed the game for political par- tion in an era of low faith in the po- as a muscular power that acts in prin- ties. It is that much easier to reach litical system and the ability of poli- cipled ways. This isolates and under- political “consumers” when you have ticians to deliver change. Hence the mines his opponents politically. The reams of personal information sit- mantra “they are all the same” is per- tough posture is part of his brand, ting in searchable databases, as Su- haps less cynical than representative though critics quickly point out that san Delacourt shows us in her book of a real systemic blandness in par- he is very selective when upholding Shopping for Votes. At the same time, ty politics. It explains how many vot- the principles underlying his foreign 32 policy. Still, it is much better for Harp- dramatic decline of foreign aid and Despite the drama of recent er to stay on the defensive on his own peacekeeping occurred largely un- months (the ISIL mission, C-51, the terms than to have to contest the next der the Liberals. The Liberals often limits of multiculturalism), the polls election on terms set by the opposi- spoke of internationalism, but they indicate the three major parties are tion, whatever they may be when the acted as if not quite committed to its very close, with support for the Bloc writ drops. principles. Québécois and Green Party increas- I may be criticized for downplaying It remains to be seen if Harper’s ing. While the former is probably party differences. To be fair, they can campaign of fear, flag-waving and de- linked to debates, much hotter in differ notably on social policy, crime, fending Canadian interests and val- Quebec, about the niqab, the dou- the environment and foreign policy. ues, under the banner of “strong Con- bling in Green support since the last However, concern over wedge politics servative leadership,” will beat out election points to a thirst for inno�- and the permanent campaign often the increasingly pragmatic politics of vative public policies that reflect the dilute those differences, in Canada as the NDP and the Liberals. The recent values of many Canadians. We are elsewhere. (The U.K. elections offer Ontario provincial election suggests reminded of this with each new poll a beautiful example of sameness on the opposition will need something showing the importance of the econ- the part of all three major parties.) more, since it reminds us that voters omy to voters over almost all other And it is important to remember that will respond to starkly different eco- current Harper positions, in a wider nomic visions and are open to an ac- historical context, often look famil- tive government role in the economy. iar, having been introduced or em- Andrea Horwath’s political gam- braced in some form at some point bit — the Ontario NDP leader was ac- by the opposition. cused by Rick Salutin of campaigning For example, on the environment, from the Progressive Conservative’s the Harper government has under- right flank — should be a caution to mined programs and regulation, but the federal NDP. In the quest for pow- Canada’s poor environmental record er, does abandoning traditional eco- has roots in Liberal governance. Take nomic positions help or hurt a par- the Cabinet Directive on Streamlin- ty? Can the NDP articulate a broad- ing Regulation, which increased in- er vision and policy platform that dustry involvement in the regulato- appeals to both centrist and left vot- ry process and further shifted the ba- ers? Or has it abandoned the latter? sis of federal health and safety meas- Similarly, Trudeau may want to take ures from precaution to the evidence note that Liberal Premier Kathleen of risk. Though introduced by the new Wynne won by pitting her proposal Conservative government in 2007, the for interventionist government (and directive was only the end result of deficit spending if necessary) against four years of work by the Chretien the austere federal and provincial PC and Martin Liberals. Moreover, the model — this after her predecessor, Liberals are endorsing new tar sands like Martin in Ottawa, took billions pipelines and calling for a rather de- out of provincial revenues in corpo- centralized approach to carbon taxes. rate tax cuts. On security, Liberal support for Bill There is potentially more room for C-51, the Anti-Terrorism Act 2015, de- the NDP federally on the idea of pro- spite modest calls for more oversight, gressive governance. Harper’s nation- concerns. On April 1, the Globe and probably reflects the party’s complex al vision is ultimately restricted to re- Mail reported that 90% of respond- experience drafting very similar an- ducing the role of government and, ents to a Nanos poll it conducted ti-terrorism legislation, on a similarly to a lesser extent, returning to a more think “the party or leader with the expedited timeframe, in the post-9/11 classic sense of Canadian federalism. best plan for the Canadian econo- era. And while Harper is tilting Cana- Here the Conservatives are hardly out my will be more important in de- dian foreign policy in the Middle East of step with the Liberals. But the NDP termining who wins than the par- to favour Israel, in other areas he is has been shy about making the case ty with the best plan to fight ter- hardly more radical (or self-interest- for bigger government — a sign of the rorists.” In contrast, only 4% in the ed) than the Liberals were in power. poverty of a strategy that vaguely Globe poll said fighting terrorism is In 1995, Chretien’s foreign policy was declares the primacy of middle class more important than the economy. framed in terms of how it would bene- values. Both opposition parties are The question is: can one of the other fit Canada economically, and the 2005 ignoring the instruments and insti- parties take hold of the remote and Martin vision suggested moving aid tutions of public policy that histori- flip the channel from jihadi terror- to countries where Canada could be cally shaped the values Mulcair and ism to something most of us would seen to be making a difference. The Trudeau harken to. prefer to watch? 33 34 PUTTING THE CRITICAL BACK INTO

Story by Laura Elizabeth Pinto, Illustration by Amy Thompson

ALK INTO HACKFORGE at the ty access to equipment that would be pose of helping teachers and students Windsor Public Library unaffordable or impractical to have engage in digitally focused making. and you’ll find a shared at home. Equipment varies depend- But as with any promising critical space where people come ing on the makerspace’s size and fo- movement, this one has seen its share together and make things. cus — anything from workstations of co-optation. Grassroots, often an- You’ll find various elec- and other hardware to circuit boards ti-consumerist community spaces Wtronic parts, a motion control devel- and 3D printers. Other makerspaces like Hackforge have spawned corpo- oper’s kit, soldering irons and a lathe, focus on tactile media such as wood- ratized venues designed mainly to in- a milling machine, a dual-trace oscil- working equipment and textile pro- crease sales. Despite this almost inev- loscope, a 3D printer, a treadle-pow- duction (looms, knitting or sewing ma- itable turn in the evolution and aims ered sewing machine and much more. chines). Some include equipment for of the makerspace, the potential ex- Anyone can use the community space the creation of print media, such as ists for communities and educators at no cost — so long as they commit the Espresso Book Machine’s on-de- to demand more critical approach- a few hours of their time and knowl- mand paperbacks. es to these spaces of creative growth. edge each month. Usually, makerspaces include learn- Current Hackforge president and ing components in the form of work- The Birth of the Maker Movement founding member Doug Sartori de- shops, courses, or peer tutoring and scribes the process of bringing Hack- collaboration to help community oday’s “making” has its roots in the forge into being as “making stone members use the equipment and me- T ancient Greek conceptions of hu- soup: we started with walls provided dia. Ideally, members freely exchange man activity and was identified by by the Windsor Public Library, then resources and ideas in order to make Aristotle as one of three basic human people from the community started things by combining artisanal tech- activities, the others being theōria, bringing stuff in, which made Hack- nique and experimental play. The edu- or contemplation, and praxis, or do- forge grow.” Sartori and other found- cation sector has embraced the trend, ing. The word poïesis, the root of our ing members envisioned a commu- with more and more schools creating modern word “poetry,” is derived from nity space where people could “do” their own makerspaces or tapping the ancient Greek ποιέω, literally “to technology without corporate in- into those already in the communi- make.” In this classic sense, making volvement. They wanted Hackforge ty. In Canada, makerspaces have been is an action that transforms but also to provide tools and human resourc- mainstreamed in the form of school- continues the world. Given its central es to fill gaps in what the local college based and community-based venues importance to human life, it is hard- and university could offer. “It’s about housed in universities (like SparqLab ly surprising the concept of making bringing in people without formal at Queen’s University or MLab at the (against merely consuming) has made education, and empowering them to University of Victoria), public and uni- a comeback. do something that they want to do.” versity libraries, for example the To- The rise of popular making is evi- As part of the global “maker move- ronto Reference Library’s digital me- dent in O’Reilly Media’s 2005 launch ment,” spaces like Windsor’s Hack- dia lab, and independent venues such of Make Magazine, a quarterly publi- forge have gained international pop- as Hamilton, Ontario’s Idea|Haus. In cation that boasts 7.8 million month- ularity and attention. Known as mak- 2013, the mobile DHMakerBus was es- ly page views and a readership of erspaces, though sometimes called tablished in London, Ontario, using about 300,000. The magazine claims digital innovation hubs or hacker- Indiegogo crowdfunding, to travel to “bring the do-it-yourself mindset spaces, these sites provide communi- southwestern Ontario with the pur- to all the technology in your life.” But 35 the maker movement can be traced do one thing and make it do some- play, then hung it above the stair- further back, to the DYI (do-it-your- thing else. This productive concep- case. When Hacklab members swipe self) activist movement (or DIY ethic) tion of hacking is a far cry from its their cards on entry, their names flash established with the lofty goal of get- more ominous definition associated across the sign. Windsor’s Hackforge ting “off the grid,” by recycling, repair- with cybercrime. DIY and makers also features a community-made 3D printing, gardening, sewing, building, mak- share the principle that, according to er crafted, somewhat ironically, out of ing music and preserving food as an the Makerspace Playbook, “everyone parts from a VCR. These examples il- act of anti-consumerism. DIY in this is a maker… We share what we make, lustrate the ways in which communi- form began to emerge in North Amer- and help each other make what we ty members engage in innovative play ica in the late 1960s and early 1970s, share.” But there is an important dis- to repurpose items that might other- grounded in social and environmen- tinction in that while DIY implies in- wise be discarded. Sartori is working void setup() { tal movements of the day. Rather than dependent creation (think of a per- to establish closer ties between the lo- for (int thisPin = 0; thisPin < 8; thisP- buying new things, the DIY ethic dic- son noodling around in their garage cal art and tech communities through in++) { tates that individuals should create, to create something through trial and projects like these at Hackforge. pinMode(col[thisPin], OUTPUT); repair and fix for sustainability, and error or self study), the maker move- Other maker communities are pinMode(row[thisPin], OUTPUT); to lessen, or even eliminate, their re- ment emphasizes collaboration for so- grounded in a strictly anti-consum- digitalWrite(col[thisPin], HIGH); liance on corporations. cial learning. Thus the makerspace as erist, pro-environmentalist ethos. } The first incarnations of the mak- a term to describe locations in which An example is Repair Café Toronto, for (int x = 0; x < 8; x++) { er movement shared the subversive individuals come together to create. launched in 2013, which organizes for (int y = 0; y < 8; y++) { ethos of DIY. For example, its “hack- Among educators, “making” has be- monthly gatherings in public spaces pixels[x][y] = HIGH; tivism” component arose from con- come a vogue term. The recent wave where volunteer “fixers” help visitors } cern about labour exploitation and of makerspaces, however, has shifted learn how to repair for free in order digital monopolies. In this context, away from the original maker move- to build a more sustainable society void readSensors() { “hacking” refers to the Massachusetts ment’s roots. Rather than a stance and counter the throwaway mindset. pixels[x][y] = HIGH; Institute of Technology (MIT) defini-� against consumerism, making has “We throw away vast amounts of x = 7 - map(analogRead(A0), 0, 1023, 0, 7); tion — to take an object designed to emerged with a new purpose artic- stuff. Even things with almost noth- y = map(analogRead(A1), 0, 1023, 0, 7); ulated by the Maker Education Ini- ing wrong, and which could get a new pixels[x][y] = LOW; tiative: “a strategy to engage youth lease on life after a simple repair. The }a nMode(pingPin, OUTPUT); in science, technology, engineering, trouble is, lots of people have forgot- digitalWrite(pingPin, LOW); math, arts, and learning as a whole.” ten that they can repair things them- delayMicroseconds(2); So, instead of making as an inter- selves or they no longer know how,” digitalWrite(pingPin, HIGH); disciplinary means of personal and states the café’s website. “Knowing delayMicroseconds(5); community self-reliance, many new- how to make repairs is a skill quick- er projects see it as a way to engage ly lost. Society doesn’t always show digitalWrite(pingPin, LOW); students in subject-specific learning. much appreciation for the people pinMode(pingPin, INPUT); This is not necessarily at odds with who still have this practical knowl- duration = pulseIn(pingPin, HIGH); an anti-consumerist stance. But, as edge, and against their will they are some of the examples to come illus- often left standing on the sidelines. Serial.print(inches);PRINCIPLES OF MAKERSPACES trate, the philosophy of the early mak- Their experience is never used, or Serial.print("in, ");IDENTIFIED IN THE MAKERSPACE PLAYBOOK ers has been lost or ignored in many hardly ever.” Serial.print(cm);IEveryone is a Maker. emerging makerspaces. Repair Café Toronto embodies the Serial.print("cm");IOur world is what we make it. ethics of a sharing economy where Serial.println(); IIf you can imagine it, you can make it. Formalizing Makerspaces people with repair skills are valued. IIf you can’t open it, you don’t own it. and Maker Faires Various events outside of the mak- delay(100); IWe share what we make, erspace also provide recognition for More than DIY, }t and help each other make what we share. ackforge is one of many community these skills, to showcase the fruits of IWe see ourselves as more than consumers— H makerspaces in Canada. Toronto’s makers’ labours. The Maker Faire is we are productive; we are creative. Hacklab is another example of a dig- perhaps the most well known. Make ital makerspace. Unlike Hackforge’s Magazine, which originated (and IMakers ask, “What can I do with what I know?” volunteer model, Hacklab members heavily brands) the event, describes IMakers seek out opportunities to learn to do new contribute $50 a month in dues for it this way: things, especially through hands-on, DIY interactions. collectively owned 3D printers, laser IThe divisions between subjects like math and art and cutters and hand tools. This maker- Part science fair, part county science dissolve when you are making things. Making space is “motivated by a sense of cu-� fair, and part something is an interdisciplinary endeavor. riosity and play,” as the Toronto Star entirely new, Maker Faire IIt’s all right if you fail, as long as you use it as an suggested in a 2013 profile. For exam- is an all-ages gathering of opportunity to learn and to make something better. ple, one member bought, reverse-en- tech enthusiasts, crafters, IWe’re not about winners and losers. We’re about gineered and fixed a small computer educators, tinkerers, hobbyists, everyone making things better. and discarded, broken TTC LED dis- engineers, science clubs, authors, artists, students, and MORE THAN DIY, commercial exhibitors. All of MORE THAN MAKERSPACE, CRITICAL MAKERSPACE these “makers” come to Maker Learning: Situated (collective and social Faire to show what they have CRITICAL MAKERS justice oriented). Has a concern for inclusion made and to share what they of groups typically under-represented. have learned. KEEP IT REAL Making: Anti-commercial/anti-consumerist, DIY The first Maker Faire took place in with a social purpose beyond making for the California in 2006. Make Magazine Learning: Individual sake of making, and values making for the reports that 98 independently pro- sake of critiquing democracy or avoiding Making: Individual: Making orientation consumer activity. duced mini and featured Maker Faires highly variable, from “off the grid” to void setup() { occurred in 2013, including events in commercial. Can be for-profit (e.g., tuition). Sustainability emphasized for (int thisPin = 0; thisPin < 8; thisP- the United States, Canada, Japan (To- (e.g., not a craft that will be discarded). Contributing: No obligation to contribute: in++) { kyo), and throughout South America pinMode(col[thisPin], OUTPUT); and Europe. As the ultimate sign of learners can be passive consumers of Contributing: Requires participation and knowledge. giving back. Varied forms of exchange for pinMode(row[thisPin], OUTPUT); how mainstream these events have digitalWrite(col[thisPin], HIGH); become, the White House even host- learning (“take some, leave some” model) CONVENTIONAL MAKERSPACE such as: } ed a Maker Faire in 2014. Organizers, for (int x = 0; x < 8; x++) { at the smallest scale or presidential, Learning: Collective IMandatory sharing of tips or ideas for (int y = 0; y < 8; y++) { must apply in advance to host an (e.g., in exchange for facility use, leave a tip pixels[x][y] = HIGH; event and, if approved, sign a licens- Making: Collective assistance, usually (but sheet, video or lesson plan). } ing agreement in exchange for use not always) anti-commercial/ consumerist, of the Maker Faire brand. Locally, though has been co-opted by corporate IMandatory volunteer “tutor” time to work interests. with those new to the space. void readSensors() { schools have participated in past To- pixels[x][y] = HIGH; ronto Maker Faires alongside commer- Contributing: Sometimes requires IMandatory contribution to lab’s x = 7 - map(analogRead(A0), 0, 1023, 0, 7); cial enterprises and entrepreneurs participation and helping others to learn. accomplishments (e.g., photo or y = map(analogRead(A1), 0, 1023, 0, 7); selling their wares. In this way, Mak- description of item made). pixels[x][y] = LOW; er Faires reflect the shift from mak- }a nMode(pingPin, OUTPUT); ing’s grassroots, DIY beginnings to a digitalWrite(pingPin, LOW); more corporatized reality. delayMicroseconds(2); While members of community mak- digitalWrite(pingPin, HIGH); erspaces can (and often do) partici- delayMicroseconds(5); pate in Maker Faires, not all makers support them. Hackforge, as Sartori digitalWrite(pingPin, LOW); explains, holds its own public events, collaboration amongst co-workers.” ism, since the crafters use consumer pinMode(pingPin, INPUT); like December’s Art in Tech / Tech in This seems to be contrary to the orig- materials — either the sort one pro- duration = pulseIn(pingPin, HIGH); Art gathering in Windsor, to showcase inal “community learning” model, and cures from a retailer like Michael’s, the achievements and innovations of it contrasts with Repair Café Toronto or printer filaments from an office Serial.print(inches); community members at which “no and Windsor’s Hackforge, which are supply store — rather than repairing Serial.print("in, "); money needs to change hands.” both run by volunteers. and repurposing (upcycling) materi- Serial.print(cm); Some emerging makerspace initia- als. Unlike making, crafting on spec, Serial.print("cm"); From Anti- to Complicit- tives have nothing to do with “mak- while potentially an important learn- Serial.println(); Consumerism ing” in the productive sense implied ing tool, lacks a sense of innovation by poïesis nor do they embrace the and uniqueness achieved by way of delay(100); he commercial turn of the maker original values of the DIY and mak- ingenuity. Otherwise, the output of }t T movement in recent years has tak- er movements. Rather, in these main- crafters would not be identical. More than DIY, en many forms. User fees and mem- streamed (and arguably superficial) One of the more popular fixtures of bership costs are more common, and forms, users participate in crafting many makerspaces is the now some- some makerspaces advertised online in order to produce objects such as what controversial 3D printer. If the and elsewhere appear to be for-prof- toys or clothes — things that will ul- hype is to be believed, 3D printers it businesses. A number of Toron- timately wind up in a landfill. A re- have the potential to tame consum- to makerspaces are strictly based on view of the websites of several On- erism by democratizing manufactur- workshops that people must pay to tario makerspaces reveals that partic- ing. The idea is that with a 3D print- attend, others are run as corporate ipating children are merely produc- er, and some open source code, people events billed as “team building” ac- ing objects in tandem using various can manufacture anything they need tivities. For example, Toronto’s The technologies, but following very pre- or want, from almost anywhere, with- Shop has provided space to corporate scriptive instructions such that the out having to rely on corporations. If a events for Shiseido, Shopify, Grolsch output by each student was identical. component in your washing machine and Capital One, to “promote creative This model falls prey to consumer- breaks, for example, rather than hav- 37 ing to order the part, you could print ronmentally conscious early days of edge from teachers, constructionist it with filament in your own home, the maker movement. learning encourages the learners to and make the repair yourself. Given the mainstream populari- create new knowledge based on ac- The dominant printer model, the ty of makerspaces, it is no surprise tive engagement with raw material, MakerBot, is common in educational that corporate interests would want including virtual material in the case makerspaces because of its affordabil- to co-opt the concept for the purpose of digital technologies. These lofty ity and availability at big box retailers. of selling goods and making profits. aims and substantive processes are Originally developed and sold exclu- There are GE Garages, to “reinvigor- meant to contribute to deeper learn- sively as an open source item, Maker- ate America’s interest in invention, in- ing than would be possible with su- Bot users could get code online that novation, and manufacturing.” Wom- perficial crafting, but also to encour- would print a particular item. In 2013, en’s clothing and lifestyle retailer An- age makers to think about — and do the MakerBot manufacturers elimi- thropologie hosts pop-up craft nights something about — social and en- nated its open source capabilities, re- at its stores. These are sponsored by vironmental problems they may be quiring users to purchase code for ob- Free People, a popular (and very ex- able to fix. jects to print. A great many of those pensive) designer clothing company To fulfil its collective and demo- objects are toys: monochromatic trin- whose denim, purchasable right at cratic ethos, the critical makerspace kets of a single colour that strongly the store, provides the crafting ma- must engage the learner as a whole resemble the surprise inside a Kind- terial. Big box stores like Home De- person who fully participates, not er Egg. There has also been environ- pot, Lowe’s and Michaels routinely of- a passive receiver of official knowl- mental backlash to the inefficiency fer DIY workshops tied to the sale of edge held by the “teacher.” The com- of 3D printing (it can take hours or their merchandise. While not billed as plexity of making demands a com- days to produce an object), their ex- makerspaces, DIY workshops offered munity of practice in which people cessive energy use, and the filament by retailers further devalue the cul- develop identity in context. Learn- waste created as a byproduct. On top tural currency of the DIY and making in this way becomes far more of dwindling open source options er movements because they are part than a mere how-to demonstration and these negative environmental of a broader push to “teach” in order or passive transmission through a impacts, inexpensive 3D printers do “sell” product. YouTube video produced by an “ex- not result in less expensive produc- pert.” Within maker communities, tion. They follow a razors-and-blades Bring Back the Critical Makerspace learning must involve a meaningful business model: you’re not just buy- dialogue and “figuring out,” to arrive ing the printer; you’re stuck spend- riginally developed in the spirit of at unique and creative solutions to ing a fortune on the raw material (fil- O anti-consumerism, hands-on pro- problems identified by individual ament) to keep it going. duction and hacktivism, the maker members of the maker community. “The ability to give students mean- movement has mutated into diverse If you’re just solving problems from ingful agency in a limited time is a branches, including the corporatized a teacher with ready-made solutions, problem,” says Sartori, acknowledg- makerspace. Critical making, on the you’re doing it wrong. ing the challenges of using 3D print- other hand, can take us back to these Critical making brings to mind Neil ing as a one-time educational op- roots, concerned as it is with the re- Postman’s 1996 work, The End of Edu- portunity. The Toronto Reference lationship between technologies and cation, in which he advocated aban- Library (TRL) opened a digital me- social life, with an emphasis on the doning conservative and convention- dia lab in 2014 at a cost of $44,000. emancipatory potential of the mak- al canons of education, worried about The lab contains 3D scanners, Ar- ing process; of the transformation our reliance on textbook learning. duino (circuit board) kits, Raspberry that occurs between the maker and While it was published nearly two Pi computers, high-definition video the making. In this classical sense of decades ago, the central themes res- cameras, and audio mixers. The To�- poïesis, making is a vehicle for deep onate with current educational de- rontoist reported on the lab last win-� learning through digital technology bates. Postman used stories to explore ter, describing how elementary stu- and community interaction. how students might be enriched by dents watched a 3D printer layer fil- Among the more vocal proponents real-world experience with authentic ament to make a chess piece. Other of critical making are Matt Ratto of projects, tasks and problems within children used 3D printers to create the University of Toronto and Yasmin the local community. Critical making a fine-tooth comb and key fobs with Kafai of the University of Pennsyla- is this kind of learning, a transforma- the library’s logo. There is no mak- nia. Both situate critical making with tional education where the teacher is ing or even learning here. The stu- constructionism: the idea that learn- “inventing ways to engage students in dents do not appear to be engaged ing is most effective when people are the care of their own schools, neigh- in creativity or innovation; they are active in making tangible objects in borhoods and towns.” Reflecting on mere spectators of the production the real world, and through this pro- Postman’s work offers a fresh per- of crafts using state-of-the-art tech- cess construct new relationships. Un- spective on how educators might put nology. This is obviously a long way like instructionist learning, where the the “critical” back into makerspaces in from the anti-consumerist or envi- learners receive pre-packaged knowl- schools and beyond. 38 International affairs

Asad Ismi The Irresistible Rise of Podemos

ARELY HAS A political party be- ous challenge to the neoliberal aus- and PP have been enmeshed in cor- come so popular so quickly. terity policies imposed on the conti- ruption scandals reaching up to the Driven by the economic and nent by the European Union, its cen- prime minister in the case of the PP, political crisis gripping Spain, tral bank and commission. and due to such machinations Spain’s Podemos (“we can” in English), According to a recent poll, had the biggest corporations hardly pay any the country’s anti-austerity Spanish national election been held taxes. Rleftist party, is topping opinion polls on March 30, Podemos would have Podemos has pledged to break the only 15 months after its formation, taken first place with 22% of the popu- stranglehold on Spain of what it calls 11 months since taking five seats in lar vote. It would not have been a land- “the Caste,” restructure the public the European Parliament, and fresh slide: in second place was the Spanish debt, establish true participatory de- from winning 15 seats in the Anda- Socialist Workers Party (PSOE) with mocracy, make corporations pay tax- lusian provincial parliament during 20%, then the ruling right-wing Parti- es, and end the austerity regime im- elections this March. Were a nation- do Popular (PP) at 19%, and finally 18% posed on the country by the EU and al election to be held in Spain today, for the new right-wing Ciudadanos the two establishment parties since Podemos, with its impressive 350,000 party. Since 1982, Spain has been ruled the 2007 economic crisis. Unemploy- members, would almost certainly alternately by the PSOE and PP, both ment in Spain stands at an all-time form the government. of them firmly neoliberal, with the high of 26%, but it has skyrocketed That test, however, will have to wait former socialist in name only. for youth, reaching 56% in 2013. until November, though many look to The Spanish elite, including the The PP government of Prime Minis- the recent victory of the Syriza par- banks and upper-middle class, exer- ter Mariano Rajoy has subjected Spain ty in Greece as a foreshadowing of cises power in both the main parties to the largest cuts in public spending what’s to come for Podemos. Spain’s thereby consolidating rule by a cor- since 1978, dismantling an already un- economy is the fourth largest in the rupt oligarchy. The country has been derfunded welfare state and increas- euro zone. A victory for the anti-es- run by this group for 40 years, since ing poverty to the point that 44% of tablishment left there, even more so the death of the fascist dictator Gen- families are now in an economical- than in Greece, would present a seri- eral Francisco Franco. Both the PSOE ly precarious position. More than 39 400,000 families have been evicted democracy.” Podemos is doing this “by nance of a small, some say too con- from their homes (2014 saw nearly offering an alternative political par- trolling party leadership. This argua- 100 foreclosures carried out per day). ty model…that is not beholden to pri- bly detracts from its appeal, especially Highly regressive labour reforms that vate capitalist interests but is instead on the left. It will also not be enough make it easier for employers to fire crowdfunded through small dona- to shout down the “Caste” come elec- workers have resulted in a 10% drop tions [and] that seeks to maintain con- tion time, given the rising popularity in wages. Spanish public debt reached tact with social movements and with of Ciudadanos, a kind of right-wing 100% of GDP in late 2014, or about a grassroots party activists,” she said. version of Podemos that is also posi- trillion euros ($1.46 trillion). The party is also offering a change to tioning itself as an antidote to the es- Jaime Pastor, a professor of polit- voters with respect to transparency tablishment parties. ical science at Spain’s Public Open and accountability in how decisions Podemos’ partial retreat from rad- University and member of the Au- are made, including party financing. icalism has included the repudiation tonomous Citizen Council of Podem- Podemos’ major accomplishment by its leaders of the influence of Ven- os in Madrid, told me the popularity has been to transform the 15M move- ezuela’s Bolivarian Revolution on the of Podemos stems from the fact that ment into an amazingly popular polit- party. Monedero, Podemos’ 52-year- its leaders, and especially Secretary ical party in a very short time — some- old spokesperson, received $500,000 General Pablo Iglesias, have created thing the North American Occupy from the Chavez government for his a new discourse that is very critical movement failed to achieve. Party political advice, money that helped of the elite. This “won the sympathy leadership was very important in start the new party. The citizen cir- of many people” after the eruption this respect. Iglesias, Podemos cam- cles Podemos set up across Spain of the 15M movement, also known as paign director Iñigo Errejón Galván were inspired by the Bolivarian circles the Indignados, which rose in 2007 in and Juan Carlos Monedero are “very and communal councils that ensured reaction to the poverty created by of- media savvy, charismatic, and com- grassroots public participation in the ficial austerity measures. “Podemos mitted, and they also have a lot of Venezuelan Revolution and therefore is not anti-capitalist, but it is against political credibility within Spanish its massive popularity and success. the current regime and the austerity social movements,” explained Fom- These connections are glommed policies of the EU,” said Pastor. inaya. “They have important organ- onto by the right-wing political es- Despite an impressive showing in izing and communication knowledge tablishment and media in Spain to the recent Greek elections, Syriza is from years of social movement or- justify exaggerated claims that Po- struggling with a belligerent EU on ganizing.” demos is a puppet of the Venezuelan a mutually acceptable package of re- Iglesias frequently appears on po- regime. Instead of defending Chavez, forms in exchange for bailout money litical talk shows where a mass audi- Iglesias and his group have distanced to ease the economic crisis. Podemos, ence can watch him calmly take on themselves from both him and the if elected, would face a similar situa- his main critics. This has broadened current government of Nicolás Ma- tion, and like Syriza the party has no the appeal and credibility of Podemos duro, saying they have nothing to do intention of leaving the euro zone. beyond traditional left-wing circles. with Venezuela — a country they once “It will be very hard to end austeri- In fact, the party claims to be neither held up as doing more than all oth- ty measures inside the EU,” said Pas- left nor right, but against “the Caste,” ers to help fix underdevelopment in tor, “but the Spanish economy is big- a strategy that is all the more success- the Global South. ger than Greece and that can lead to ful for how utterly discredited the “Rather than standing with Ven- some divisions inside the EU. A Po- “mainstream socialism” (essentially ezuela, they treat it in a neocoloni- demos government that wants to neoliberalism) of the PSOE has been. al and paternalistic manner which make the EU restructure Spanish debt “Socialist and social democratic I find very unfortunate,” said Mun- will need an alliance with the Syriza parties in Europe have destroyed the taner. “No amount of need for politi- government in Greece and will also rich socialist tradition. These parties cal support in Spain can justify such need to mobilize the Spanish people have made the label ‘socialist’ mean- an attitude. With these kinds of op- in a major way and encourage their ingless by compromising with neolib- portunistic leaders, and in spite of self-organization.” eralism,” said Carles Muntaner, a pro- an excellent team of advisors, I am Cristina Flesher Fominaya, an as- fessor of nursing and public health skeptical about Podemos being able sociate professor of sociology at the at the University of Toronto, in a re- to bring about substantial change University of Aberdeen, Scotland, and cent conversation. The Spanish-Cat- in Spain.” author of the book Social Movements alonian travels frequently to Spain In spite of these shortcomings, Po- and Globalization: How Protests, Oc- where he works with the Indigna- demos has successfully interrupted a cupations and Uprisings are Chang- dos movement. “In this sense the Po- corrupt two-party rule, brought hun- ing the World, is also following the demos strategy of downplaying the dreds of thousands of mainly young rise of Podemos. She told me the par- socialist label is a good one.” people into politics and put Spain’s ty represents “a historic opportunity However, there may be limits to this elite on the defensive. The party’s to break the hold of a two-party sys- strategy. Podemos has shifted toward grassroots must now ensure Podem- tem and to try to regenerate Spanish the political centre under the domi- os lives up to its radical promise. 40 Film Chandra Siddan Subaltern Englishness

ARLIER THIS YEAR, a full-page ad Loosely based on the biography ous. Even with the criticism of its in the Guardian U.K. supported Alan Turing: The Enigma by Andrew historical inaccuracies, absence of a petition started by Matthew Hodges, the film is bare and slapdash gay sex and the downplaying of the Breen, editor of the gay maga- in its rendering of the Second World collaborative effort of building the zine The Advocate, demanding War, refusing to pander to the con- first code-breaking machine, The a pardon from the British gov- ventional British jingoism about the Imitation Game is a success despite Eernment for 49,000 men convicted un- era. Despite some a-ha moments, the (if not because of) the artistic liber- der the country’s former “gross inde- film offers very little glory or payoff ties taken. cency” law. The ad was paid for by the even for those who contributed the In his film’71 , Yann Demange uses producers of The Imitation Game, the most, including the Bletchley Park the war thriller genre in a similar way petition signed by Norwegian director team, which remained a secret long to Tyldum, in this case to present the Morten Tyldum and his British lead after the war. British army foot soldier as a subal- actor Benedict Cumberbatch. In a refreshing moment of can- tern who finds more kindness from It was a promotional effort, per- did pub chatter, Joan Clarke (Keira the enemy than the side he is fighting haps, but also much more, highlight- Knightley) defends her profession- for. Set in Belfast at the beginning of ing as it did the posthumous pardon al friendliness to Turing (Cumber- the Troubles, the film shows us one granted in 2013 to the film’s subject, batch), her socially inept boss: “Be- night in the life of Gary Hook (Jack Alan Turing, the mathematician ac- ing a woman doing a man’s job I do knowledged to have created the first not have the luxury of being an ass.” computer and cracked the German It is this aspect of the film, what you army’s Enigma code during the Sec- might call its intersectionality, which Cumberbatch as Turing: Persecuting ond World War. Turing, as the film makes it politically contemporane- difference portrays, was persecuted and given experimental “chemical castration” after being convicted for homosexu- al activity in 1952. He committed su- icide soon after. With The Imitation Game’s late-2014 popular release, Tu- ring’s pardon has become the thin end of a political wedge. The film itself is a well-calculated balancing act. Its main plot depicts Turing’s sometimes prickly leadership of the cryptanalysis team at Bletchley Park as it attempts to understand Germany’s coded communications, and thus its war strategy. But it is the non-linear aspects of the protagonist’s necessarily secret sexual life that form the key narrative. In the flashback to Tu- ring’s childhood, when he absorbs, stoned-faced, the news that his first love has died, we see the price paid by those marked by difference: a constantly maintained mask filter- ing the life force away. 41 Lost in his backyard: When he is rescued by a young Prot- thriller, capturing the visceral expe- Jack O’Connell as the young British estant Irish boy, Hook is brought to rience of someone caught in a war he solider in Northern Ireland a pub where he recognizes members does not understand. of the MRF, first seen in the barracks, Both Tyldum and Demange worked who are now planning a bomb attack. with very strong screenplays that But the pub explodes, killing the boy honour outsider-hood and vulnera- O’Connell), a young soldier posted to and putting Hook on the run. The bility in a dangerous environment. Northern Ireland with an ill-equipped MRF wants to silence him (he knows The Imitation Game, written by Gra- platoon. During their very first mis- too much), the “provisional” IRA want ham Moore, topped the legendary sion, to search for weapons on the to kill him, while the British army Hollywood Black List of best unpro- Catholic side, the fresh-faced soldier seeks his rescue. After an operation duced screenplays in 2011; three years is separated from his unit and begins performed without anaesthetic by later it took the Oscar for best adapt- a difficult journey through the may- a Catholic doctor, a wounded Hook ed screenplay. Demange, a successful hem of Belfast in 1971. drags himself around the stairs and TV director who made his feature film Along the way, Hook will meet the hallways of the Divis Flats housing debut with ’71, is of Algerian-French conflict’s major players: the old guard projects, a high-conflict zone during background, raised by his mother in Irish Republican Army at odds with a the Troubles that has since been de- a London working class milieu on a younger and more violent “provision- molished. diet of French New Wave cinema. He al” IRA, and the Irish-Protestant Ul- What he learns of war in one night was writing a film about an orphan ster Volunteer Force in cahoots with leaves Hook grateful (for his surviv- in the Algerian civil war when the the covert counter-insurgency unit of al) but embittered at the plight of screenplay by Scottish playwright the British Army, the Military Reac- the Irish and in particular his young Gregory Burke appeared. tion Force. The film offers an indict- benefactors, who remind him of the In their own ways, these two ment of the notorious plainclothes kid brother he left behind when he films question the politics of her- MRF “death squads” that knowing- was posted to Belfast. His experience oism and winning. They present a ly broke the army’s rules of engage- casts even more doubt on the British subaltern history — a history told ment and did so with impunity, given presence in Northern Ireland than if from below — based on the perspec- the support of higher-ups determined the film had taken an obvious polit- tive of groups excluded from estab- to crush the Republican cause. This ical side. When the wounded soldier lished power structures, groups that is a rare view of bloody war against is dismissed with a perfunctory as- are fearful and wounded. They re- the shocking backdrop of 1970s white surance that the British army looks mind us of the personal and political English-speaking society, similar sit- after its own, while rejecting his ver- truths that are suppressed, even on uations in non-white environments sion of events, the irony is thick. ’71 is the “good” side, when history is writ- being all too familiar. a rare combination of art house and ten by the winners. 42 Books Reviewed by Christine Jones Textbook Resistance

The collection Worth Fighting For because these stories tell of our earli- reminds us that from well before est dissenting predecessors, but also Canada was, well, Canada, we were because they are the years our cur- as much a nation of war resisters. rent government holds in such (ob- Conceived, according to the editors, sessively) high esteem. “in part as a response to the current Two things became clear to me in acceleration of military commemo- the reading: the Canadian state real- ration,” the book’s 17 chapters aim to ly hasn’t appreciated, and obviously “help recalibrate our understanding still doesn’t like, people who say “No!” of Canadian history by document- to it; and the best way to say “No!” is ing Canada’s long tradition of war re- through collective action. It was both sistance.” More than that, these are exciting and at times smirk-worthy really good stories. What could have to see the history of this resistance, been an overly academic exercise was, with its perennial organizational and for this reader, actually very hard to movement debates, so neatly laid out put down. on the continuum of successful peo- Some but not all of that interest ple’s challenges to the state (in all its WORTH FIGHTING FOR: stems from my history with what we incarnations). The resistance isn’t CANADA’S TRADITION OF WAR can alternately call the current an- confined to organizations, though. RESISTANCE FROM 1812 TO THE ti-war, peace or war resistance move- By telling their respective stories, WAR ON TERROR ment. I found it hard to separate my the authors bring to us the ways that EDITED BY LARA CAMPBELL, experiences with those of the people individuals have, in their personal MICHAEL DAWSON AND CATHERINE and groups that opposed the Boer, and public spheres, sought to break GIDNEY First and Second World Wars, and the constant barrage of propaganda found myself constantly comparing used by the government and sup- Between The Lines (March 2015), $34.95 organizational methods and cam- portive non-state actors to convince paign tactics. I was particularly drawn us that Canada the Good is support- E ARE EXPOSED in this coun- to those chapters covering the peri- ed by the co-dependent pillars of war try to seemingly end- od between 1812 and the 1940s, in part and security. less volleys of pro-war, These histories show that to do war pro-military messaging resistance is to put yourself out there and myth-as-fact story- knowing you will likely be mocked, telling. Some of it is sub- ridiculed or worse. “The military craze Wtle, as when the prime minister re- has been carried to such an extent, fers to the War of 1812, impossibly, It will probably surprise that those who did not bow down as as a Canadian victory, or expresses hero-worshippers were looked upon his opinion that “Canada as a truly few readers that as disloyal,” writes Amy Shaw in her independent country was forged in students, teachers chapter, “Dissent in Canada against the fires of the Western Front.” Other the Anglo-Boar War, 1899–1902,” which times it is in your face: the air force and Canada’s schools details early instances in the tradition flyover or army celebration before a of humiliating and shaming anti-war CFL kick-off or NHL face-off. In all broadly speaking activists. Dissenters in this era were cases the goal is to entrench the no- attacked by “average people,” some- tion, on the international stage and played a strong role thing made much more likely when in our collective and individual psy- in the history of war the government was publically cast- ches, that Canada was, is and will al- ing spurious charges against those ways be a warrior nation. resistance. who disagreed with it. 43 In that way, we can see these pub- other chapters, we learn of the de- ity not War and Austerity.” Their con- lic attacks on anti-war protesters as bates on strategy and tactics, mes- stituent members, and people who an early instance (an event on the saging and mobilizing, and how our don’t think of themselves as anti-war continuum) of the criminalization of peace predecessors sought to under- activists but who disagree with Can- dissent. In almost every case since, as stand how to transform an idea into ada’s recent and current wars, can be A PENNY explored in other chapters, when the action. This should give the current found almost everywhere: in the trade state has been unable to win hearts peace movement some solace, and a union movement, environmental/cli- and minds through mythmaking it renewed interest in learning how it mate movement, student movement, FOR YOUR THOUGHTS has resorted to slander, scapegoat- can move more adroitly through these anti-poverty movement, anti-mining and more serious forms of perse- perennial debates. The book helps us ing/extractives movement, and the HOW CORPORATIZATION DEVALUES TEACHING, RESEARCH, cution. The strategy is not limited to realize that no matter our differences, list does go on. As war affects all, the AND PUBLIC SERVICE IN CANADA’S UNIVERSITIES wars. Today’s environmentalists, First the organizing will continue. correlation for a vast majority of an- Nations and other critics of the gov- If the collection falls down any- ti-war advocates around the world ernment are labelled as foreign-fund- where it’s in failing to define what is most vividly felt in the resistance ed threats to security, terrorists even. “movement” means from the perspec- to global austerity — the further re- Internationally and nationally, teach-ins, occupa- Abuse spreads from there onto social tive of either the editors or authors. treat of the social state to make way tions, strikes and mass protests are being mo- media and into government-friendly The term is used constantly through- for a meaner security state. Austeri- bilized against exorbitant tuition fees, declining news media. I expect that if Worth out the book (and I use it here, rath- ty is about control. The laws and pol- educational quality, mismanagement, the com- Fighting For is ever reprinted there er shamelessly), yet without param- icy that dismantle economic and so- will be a chapter about Bill C-51, the eters. What is a movement? How is it cial equalizers in the name of bal- modiﬁcation of research, and the suppression of Anti-Terrorism Act 2015. different from resistance, and what anced budgets are the administra- free speech and critical inquiry. It will probably surprise few read- is its correlation with solidarity? At tive equivalent of the bombs hitting ers that students, teachers and Cana- what point does resistance become the ground. A Penny For Your Thoughts tracks how the de- da’s schools broadly speaking played a movement? Is it a matter of con- Worth Fighting For should be re- teriorating condition of Canadian post-secondary a strong role in the history of war re- stancy or quantity, as in number of quired movement reading in a time education is rooted in corporatization, the process sistance. Rose Fine-Meyer’s chapter, boots on the ground? Importantly, when our government (and perhaps through which universities and colleges increas- “A Good Teacher is a Revolutionary,” who gets to answer these questions? those in waiting, too) feel it’s okay to provides a rich overview of the role Who decides when a thing becomes toss aside the narratives and expe- ingly work for, with, and as businesses. Polster of educators in opening the class- a movement? riences and lives lived of those who and Newson help citizens to arrive at their own room to alternative views of war and For myself and others who believe disagree with their party lines. To understandings of corporatization and to iden- peace between 1960 and 1990. Teach- we are involved in a movement (or know the long history of those who tify where and how they can intervene strategi- ers have never shied from committing several) these are deeply personal said “No!” will make us stronger as cally in their local universities and communities sociology, so to speak. As Fine-Mey- questions. Another — Where’s the we continue to resist militarism and er points out, through this period peace movement now? — has come war. David Tough, in his chapter “A to reverse its eﬀects. By so doing, Canadians can there was a growing body of materials up frequently over the past few years. Better Truth: The Democratic Leg- reclaim their universities as public-serving insti- and resources for those who sought It’s clear the people asking the ques- acy of Resistance to Conscription, tutions that realize their highest aspirations and to bring into the classroom issues tion are usually thinking back to the 1917–1921,” summarizes this idea in a meet their own, their fellow citizens’, and the glob- such as women’s rights, human rights, enormous response, in Canada and sentence: “There is a democratic legal community’s most pressing needs. poverty, and “antiwar narratives and globally, to the second Iraq war. Un- acy to the First World War, but it is peace education.” History and social til the recent C-51 protests, February the resistance to conscription, not science departments were once well 15, 2003 saw the greatest numbers of the war itself that is its source.” We staffed, committed to understanding people in the streets and through a can take that idea one step further. and hopefully solving the contradic- variety of other methods to say “No!” Resistance to war is one of the most Please send copies of A Penny For Your Thoughts ($47 incl. S/H and tax) to: tions of human coexistence on plan- to war. And though Canada did have effective ways of ensuring a demo- et earth. Since the 1990s these pro- some military personnel in Iraq, the cratic legacy in Canada. Name grams have typically been the first to government of the day sided with the Organization go when the cuts come down. massive No to War response. So where It was fascinating to read how our is the peace movement today as Ca- Address inner struggles to build movements nadian bombs are being dropped on are never altogether new. Ian McK- Iraq and Syria? City Province Postal Code ay, in his chapter “Margaret Ells Rus- I would argue it is doing what the Method of Payment  Cheque  Visa  Mastercard sell, Women Strike for Peace, and the peace movement has done since we Global Politics of Intelligent Compas- first started naming it as such, which Card # Expiry Date sion,” highlights how many of the is to be a grand space for solidarity Total Payment leaders of the WSP (Women Strike for between many movements for so- Peace) also sought to address the “per- cial change. For several years now, MAIL ORDER FORM TO: Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives @ 250ne Community ils and potential of combining grass- the Canadian Peace Alliance’s mem- 500-251 Bank Street, Ottawa, ON K2P 1X3 roots spontaneity with internation- ber groups have committed to a cen- Or order securely online at www.policyalternatives.ca al diplomacy.” Likewise, throughout tral campaign of “Peace and Prosper- For bulk or international orders, please call 613.563.1341 or email [email protected] 44 A PENNY FOR YOUR THOUGHTS HOW CORPORATIZATION DEVALUES TEACHING, RESEARCH, AND PUBLIC SERVICE IN CANADA’S UNIVERSITIES

Internationally and nationally, teach-ins, occupations, strikes and mass protests are being mo- bilized against exorbitant tuition fees, declining educational quality, mismanagement, the com- modiﬁcation of research, and the suppression of free speech and critical inquiry. A Penny For Your Thoughts tracks how the de- teriorating condition of Canadian post-secondary education is rooted in corporatization, the process through which universities and colleges increasingly work for, with, and as businesses. Polster and Newson help citizens to arrive at their own understandings of corporatization and to identify where and how they can intervene strategi- cally in their local universities and communities to reverse its eﬀects. By so doing, Canadians can reclaim their universities as public-serving institutions that realize their highest aspirations and meet their own, their fellow citizens’, and the global community’s most pressing needs.

Please send copies of A Penny For Your Thoughts ($47 incl. S/H and tax) to: Name Organization Address City Province Postal Code Method of Payment  Cheque  Visa  Mastercard Card # Expiry Date Total Payment MAIL ORDER FORM TO: Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives @ 250ne Community 500-251 Bank Street, Ottawa, ON K2P 1X3 Or order securely online at www.policyalternatives.ca For bulk or international orders, please call 613.563.1341 or email [email protected] Perspectives Julius Stoller Nurse Practitioners Would Reduce the Pressure on Wait Times

ANY PEOPLE REPORT difficulty reported in the Globe and Mail on Jan- for same-day consultations are for finding a new family physi- uary 30, revealed that more than 59% self-limiting illnesses. These num- cian after relocating within of Canadians over 55 waited two days bers will vary from rural to urban lo- Canada or when their exist- to see a primary care provider, and cations and also with the demograph- ing health provider retires. over 30% waited more than six days. ics of particular family practices. It is It is an all too frequent top- Canada ranked last among several impossible to acquire hard data on Mic of conversation and I can attest to countries in achieving “timely” (that this point, but as we’ve ascertained its relevance from my own recent ex- word again) access to health care. already, such patients do not need perience. Jeremy Veillard, vice president of to consult a highly trained physician. On the same theme, it can be ex- research and analysis at the Canadi- Those who favour point-of-access tremely difficult to secure a same- an Institute for Health Information, payment in order to cut demand do day consultation from many family which released the survey, told the not address the negative health im- physicians. This leads to higher at- Globe “access to primary care and pact their proposals would have. The tendance at hospital emergency de- to specialists remains a challenge in financially disadvantaged in our soci- partments. Although some of these this country and it has not improved ety, which many studies have shown trips will be for medical emergen- since 2007...despite substantial invest- to bear the brunt of illness, would ob- cies, a great many are for self-limit- ment in the health care system.” Un- viously be inhibited from seeking care ing illnesses — illnesses that will abate fortunately, no statistics were giv- and advice if they had to pay for it up spontaneously, without medical inter- en on the effects of the survey find- front. Even if one allows that some invention — or conditions, such as a sim- ings on final health outcomes. Lack crease in the supply of first-response ple virus infection, minor trauma or of data on this key point makes crit- primary care providers is warranted, allergic response to soaps or plants, icisms of Canadian health care hard must they all be physicians, as the that could be treated with over-the- to interpret and accept. CMA president obliquely suggests? counter medications. Ask any physi- The number of doctors in Canada If not, there is actually a huge un- cian if they would request a same- has increased substantially, but ac- tapped pool of health professionals day consultation, for themselves or cording to Dr. Chris Simpson, presi- who could fulfil a role in same-day their family, for such minor illnesses. dent of the Canadian Medical Asso- care and ease the heavy burden on Inappropriate attendance at hospital ciation, they are working fewer hours our physicians. emergency departments is a major than their predecessors. “The days Trained nurse practitioners (NPs) contributing factor driving up costs when doctors worked 90 to 100 hours a have been an important part of health to our medical system. week and were on call 24/7, well that’s care systems in Canada and many oth- The daily press often writes about just not a healthy way for somebody er industrialized countries for sever- “timely” access to care. But definitions to practise,” he said in the same arti- al decades, but they are woefully un- of timeliness are often vague or the cle. “Work-life balance has been a little derused here. NPs can be trained in report does not take into account the bit different for younger physicians.” less than half the time it takes to qual- variation in severity and acuteness So it would seem there is a problem ify a family physician and are thus of the illness being discussed. Some- with access to primary care health cheaper to produce and maintain. But times care is needed within minutes professionals, though it is unclear can they provide first-contact same- or hours, while at other times wait- if it is significantly affecting health day care without reducing health out- ing a day or two, or even longer, would outcomes for the Canadian public. In comes or endangering the consulting not be harmful. Thus, it is wise to be seeking a solution to this problem, an public? Studies dating back over 20 skeptical about sweeping criticisms economist might ask if this was a sup- years have shown they can. of our health care system based on so- ply-side shortcoming or a matter of In one U.K. study from 1995, about called timely access statistics. Other overactive demand. Certainly, grow- 1,300 patients asking for same-day agendas are almost certainly in play. ing demand for care from an ageing access were divided into two groups With this caveat in mind, a recent population is a factor. However, it is and followed over a six-month peri- international survey on access to care, likely that 20% to 40% of requests od. One group saw fully trained phy- 46 sicians, the other visited NPs. Roughly stance is to change, it will be slowly tail nicely with the change in attitude 50% of the patients in each group re- and over many decades. Currently, pri- to workloads, lifestyle and compen- quired advice and self-care. Only 21% mary care by NPs is well accepted by sation expectations among today’s in both groups came back for a second patients and should be encouraged, physicians. It would be more profes- visit, and only 10% of patients in the provided certain caveats are in place. sionally satisfying by facilitating the NP group were referred immediately These could include the following: productive use of skills and scientif- to an on-site physician. Thus, about ic knowledge they spent so many NPs cannot practice without phy- 80% of patients were dealt with after ͸ years acquiring. sician backup on site. Instant refer- one visit in both groups, and the NP There are such clinics in Canada ral must be available when there is group reported satisfaction that their and they are successful. But they form uncertainty, or recognition of a more problems had been dealt with. No seri- a minority of practice settings. I be- complex or serious illness. ous errors were noted in either group. lieve they should be the norm, certain- Similar results have been confirmed ͸ To properly fulfil this role, NPs need ly in urban and suburban locations. in Canada and other locations. Inter- on-site access to simple X-ray and ul- So we do indeed have a supply-side estingly, data shows that NPs spend trasound imaging, electrocardiograms problem, as the economist would more time at each consultation, often and other laboratory studies. say. But relying on the production in educating the patient about their of vast numbers of new physicians Other health care professionals current illness and overall problems. ͸ is too expensive for the public purse should also be on site, including nurs- Ask anyone who has had recent con- and would not satisfy the need for es, dieticians, physiotherapists, den- tact with the medical profession and enough practitioners. In 1986, there tists, podiatrists and possibly others. you will hear that time is in short sup- were 173 physicians per 100,00 Cana- ply for overloaded physicians. This is ͸ There should be simple surgical dians, according to the CMA. In 2013, likely a function of the fee-for-ser- facilities for minor wounds and so the number rose to 220, but still com- vice or piecework style of practice that physicians and NPs can perform plaints roll in about a creaking system. still most common for family doctors. simple therapeutic and/or diagnostic In conclusion, I contend the solu- NPs will certainly make mistakes procedures. tion to more timely access to care in- from time to time, but so do physi- volves graduating a limited increase cians. Notwithstanding major ad- Co-operative clinics of this kind in the number of new physicians, but vances in technology over the last need to be set up and suitably fund- much more importantly by the wide- few decades, the practise of medi- ed; a fee-for-service payment method spread deployment of nurse practi- cine remains an art. If this circum- is not appropriate. This would dove- tioners as a first-contact resource.

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A legacy gift is a gift you plan now Please let us know if you have already arranged a legacy gift or that will benefit the CCPA in the future. if you would like to learn more about how to maximize your support for the CCPA. Legacy gifts are not just for the wealthy or the elderly. Legacy gifts allow you to potentially contribute more than at any other Development Officer Katie Loftus would be happy to assist you time in your life. The most popular options are setting up a gift with your gift planning. Katie can be reached at 613-563-1341 ext. in your will (a bequest) and life insurance. Legacy gifts can be in 318 or [email protected]. You can also visit us online any amount and can also take the form of real estate, appreciated at www.policyalternatives.ca/ccpavisionaries. securities, retirement plans, art or trusts. “...a legacy gift to the CCPA also constitutes a precious gift to our children and grandchildren.” —Ed Finn seventh largest bank in a 17% increase from 2013 rain began to fill them, The Good America) announced it but a few billion short people in neighbouring News Page will no longer finance of what it was in 2011. villages took up the work mountaintop removal coal Half of the world’s total and over 8,000 johads Compiled by mining in Appalachia. The new investment in solar have now been renovated. Elaine Hughes technique has destroyed power (US$74.9 billion) Rajendra, known as the an estimated 500 happened in China and “Water Man of India” for Appalachian mountains Japan, while investment his untiring efforts in in the past five years, in Europe in offshore wind water conservation, has increasing cancer and power totalled US$16.2 been awarded the 2015 birth defect rates in nearby billion of a global total of Stockholm Water Prize, communities due to air US$18.6 billion. / Truthout, and said of the future: and water pollution. “We Common Dreams, Planet “My immediate plans laiming “somewhat of chose our target believing Ark are to take up a global- a mood shift among everyone needs to take level campaign on water C our consumers,” the responsibility for their role he world may be getting conservation and peace.” Ringling Brothers circus in the unfolding disaster of hotter, it is also getting He will be leading the plans to retire their 43 climate change, including T greener. Analysis of 20 global water walk in the performing elephants banks whose financial years of satellite data has U.K. in August. / The Daily by 2018, though, given decisions have enormous revealed that, since 2003, Climate accusations of physical consequences compared global vegetation has abuse and unhealthy with most individuals and expanded thanks to tree ortland, Oregon has living conditions, animal groups,” wrote George planting in China, forest banned the use of rights activists claim this Lakey shortly after the growth in former Soviet P neonicitinoid pesticides is still too long to wait. bank announced it would states and more rainfall on city property. The Circus president Kenneth be divesting. / Truthout, in some areas, increasing Portland City Commission Feld said his tour is New York Times the amount of carbon voted unanimously on complicated by municipal absorbed by above-ground the ban despite protests and national bans on atin America plants to four billion from farmers who say the the use of elephants for (population 500 tonnes — an admittedly insecticide is crucial for entertainment. When L million), led by Chile, small amount compared crop production, bringing they are retired, the Mexico and Brazil, to the 60 billion tonnes to eight the number of U.S. animals will be moved to increased solar energy of carbon emitted into municipalities to ban the a conservation centre in production by 370% in the atmosphere over the use neonicitinoids, which Florida. / BBC 2014, surpassing the same period. “Hopefully are suspected to be an entire European solar this (study) will lead to important factor in the n March 26, as a market growth rate of greater efforts to stop recent decline of honey result of protests from 60% between 2007 and tropical forest loss and to bee populations. At the O environmental and 2011. The U.S. Department promote sustainable use end of March, Ecojustice Indigenous groups, New of Energy predicts of ecosystems in ways congratulated Ontario Brunswick joined Quebec, the rapidly growing that preserve enough of for new regulations Newfoundland and production of wind the carbon absorption restricting the use of Labrador, and Nova Scotia power by utility-scale function as we continue neonic pesticides to cases

in prohibiting hydraulic wind plants in 39 states to pump CO2 into the where farmers can prove fracturing (fracking) for now provides 4.5% of the atmosphere through their soya and corn crops oil and gas while the country’s electricity. The fossil fuel burning,” are threatened by pests, impacts are studied. “It is Obama administration said Louis Verchot, a but the group called on the responsible and prudent to has stated that increasing research director at the province to apply the same do our due diligence and production to all 50 states Indonesia-based Center test across the board. / get more information,” said by 2050 would reduce for International Forestry Planet Ark, Ecojustice.ca Energy and Mines Minister emissions, support more Research. / Reuters Donald Arseneault. / The than 600,000 jobs and Maritime Executive possibly provide 35% of n 1982, Rajendra Singh the country’s electricity. and local villagers began n March 2, after According to a recent I de-silting traditional some 125 actions United Nations report, surface level rainwater O by the Earth Quaker investment in global storage facilities (johads) Action Team (EQAT), green energy increased to in Rajasthan, the driest PNC Financial (the US$270.2 billion last year, district in India. Once 48 SUPPORT THE CCPA

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