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This week on rabble radio, labour reporter Gabriela Calugay-Casuga sits down with Patrick DeRochie, the senior manager at Shift: Action for Pension Wealth and Planet Health. The two discuss how Shift is fighting to protect pensions and the climate.  “We track Canada's 11 or 12 largest public pension plans, together they have over $2 trillion Canadian and assets under management. What we've found so far in our research is that none of these funds are aligning their massive investment portfolios with climate safety, with limiting global temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius, and ensuring that their own beneficiaries have a safe climate future to retire into.” – Patrick DeRochie. About Shift: Action for Pension Wealth and Planet Health  Patrick DeRochie is the senior manager for Shift: Action for Pension Wealth and Planet Health, a charitable project that mobilizes pension plan members to engage their investment managers on the climate crisis.  At Shift, DeRochie is focused on tracking and analyzing the fossil fuel investments and climate plans of Canadian pension funds and building a network of pension beneficiaries advocating to invest their retirement savings in a zero-carbon future. Previously, DeRochie was climate and energy program manager with Environmental Defence Canada and a political organizer with SEIU Healthcare, one of Canada’s largest healthcare labour unions. DeRochie has been deeply involved in developing federal and provincial climate and energy policy and regulations and acts as a regular commentator in national media.  Shift: Action for Pension Wealth and Planet Health is a charitable initiative that works to protect pensions and the climate by bringing together beneficiaries and their pension funds on the climate crisis. Shift helps Canadians understand where their retirement wealth is invested by tracking pension fund investments and strategy. Shift helps educate and empower Canadians on how to engage constructively with their pension funds to address the climate crisis.  Do you want to take action today? Want to learn more about who your own pension manager is? Learn more about Shift and the work they do here.  If you like the show please consider subscribing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you find your podcasts. And please, rate, review, share rabble radio with your friends — it takes two seconds to support independent media like rabble. Follow us on social media across channels @rabbleca. 

This week on rabble radio, we share a segment from our most recent episode of the Courage My Friends podcast series, hosted on Needs No Introduction.  In this episode of Courage My Friends, podcast series, host Resh Budhu sits down with Ana Guerra Marin and Dara Wawaite-Chabot of Iron & Earth. The three discuss what a just transition can look like for those working and living in Canada’s oil patch and for Indigenous communities. About our guests  Ana Guerra Marin, communities director and just transition lead, started her career in Colombia, listening to and empowering oil, gas and mining workers at various work sites through forming partnerships and understanding worker issues. As Marin delved into the extractive industries, she became more aware of how important it is to address the environmental and socio-economic impacts she was witnessing, and how urgent it is to create long-lasting solutions rooted in community-based initiatives that focus on the most vulnerable persons.  This started a 15-year career focused on helping communities achieve self-determination through social and environmental justice in Latin America and Canada. As a white, cisgender, immigrant woman with invisible disabilities, Marin recognizes her position in the world and challenges societal ideas by creating transformative change through a praxis informed by intersectional and Black feminism, womanism, critical race theory, Indigenous Peoples’ knowledge, decolonization, and critical consciousness. Dara Wawaite-Chabot, Indigenous lead researcher, is a single parent who studies political science full-time at the University of Ottawa and works part-time for Iron & Earth. They support their small family by creating art and working remote contracts fighting for environmental justice in so-called Canada. The Courage My Friends podcast series is presented by rabble.ca and the Tommy Douglas Institute, with the support of the Douglas Coldwell Layton Foundation. If you’d like to hear more from the Courage My Friends podcast, please subscribe to Needs No Introduction – a podcast by rabble which presents a series of speeches and lectures from the finest minds of our time. Available on rabble.ca, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts and more.  If you like the show please consider subscribing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you find your podcasts. And please, rate, review, share rabble radio with your friends — it takes two seconds to support independent media like rabble. Follow us on social media across channels @rabbleca. 

This week on rabble radio, Stephen Wentzell sits down with Red Buffalo Nova, an Ojibwe Two-Spirit, transgender artist, filmmaker, and storyteller to talk about how their multi-layered Indigenous identity informs their creative and professional work.   About Red Buffalo Nova Weipert Red Buffalo Nova Weipert (he/him/they/them) is an Anishinaabe Ojibwe, Two-Spirit and transgender interdisciplinary artist, writer, director, educator and storyteller. Nova is a proud enrolled member of the Pinaymootang First Nation located in Treaty 2 territory, and is a recent graduate of the Master of Fine Arts program at Emily Carr University of Art + Design.  They are a long time collaborator, producer and video mentor with Access to Media Education Society (AMES) and their work has screened at festivals such as imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival (2021) and Vancouver Queer Film Festival (2022).  If you like the show please consider subscribing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you find your podcasts. And please, rate, review, share rabble radio with your friends — it takes two seconds to support independent media like rabble. Follow us on social media across channels @rabbleca. 

This week on rabble radio, we feature a segment from our most recent Off the Hill political panel. This month, our theme was ‘Off the Hill: Truth before reconciliation.’ This month, our Off the Hill panel was informed by National Indigenous People’s Day. From coast to coast to coast, Canadians want to see reconciliation – but are they willing to hear the truth first? Our June panel dissected this question and more. Special guests this month included: Joan Phillip, Melanie Mark and Rachel Snow. Hosted by Robin Browne and Libby Davies.  About our guests Robin Browne is Off the Hill’s co-host. Robin is a communications professional and founder of the 613-819 Black Hub, living in Ottawa. His blog is The “True” North. Libby Davies is Off the Hill's co-host and author of Outside In: a Political Memoir. She served as the MP for Vancouver East from 1997-2015, and is former NDP Deputy Leader and House Leader. Joan Phillip is a respected community leader and Indigenous Elder who has dedicated her life to fighting for social justice, human rights, and climate action. Her work experience includes youth counsellor at Britannia School, program director at the Aboriginal Friendship Centre, and lands manager for the Penticton Indian Band. Melanie Mark served as the MLA for Vancouver-Mount Pleasant from 2016 to 2023. Mark is the first First Nations woman elected to the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia and the first First Nations woman to serve in the Cabinet of British Columbia. Mark is Nisga'a, Gitxsan, Cree and Ojibway. Rachel Snow is Iyahe Nakoda, the daughter of late Reverend Dr. Chief John Snow. She holds a juris doctor from the College of Law, University of Saskatchewan and is an outspoken educator, speaker, writer and co-contact person for the Indigenous Activist Networks. Rachel resides on her ancestral lands in Mini Thni which is west of Calgary, Alberta. Rachel is also a columnist for rabble. Photo: Tungsten Rising on Unsplash  If you like the show please consider subscribing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you find your podcasts. And please, rate, review, share rabble radio with your friends — it takes two seconds to support independent media like rabble. Follow us on social media across channels @rabbleca. 

This week on rabble radio, national politics reporter Stephen Wentzell sits down with Khaleel Seivwright, a carpenter who has made headlines over the past four years as he created tiny shelters for the houseless population in Toronto.  Wentzell and Seivwright discuss the need to provide meaningful quality of care for the houseless and also speak about the audience response to Someone Lives Here, the recent documentary following Seivwright’s work during the COVID-19 pandemic.  About Khaleel Seivwright Khaleel Seivwright is a carpenter known for formerly building tiny shelters for unhoused people in Toronto in the fall of 2020. Currently he is working with a team building tiny home communities for unhoused people in Toronto. In 2021, rabble columnist Cathy Crowe followed Seivwright’s important work and his fight with the City of Toronto and then-mayor John Tory throughout his process.  Someone Lives Here follows Seivwright during the COVID-19 pandemic as he launched a project of building small private shelters for homeless people in Toronto, against the bureaucratic resistance of the city government. The film premiered at the 2023 Hot Docs Festival where it was awarded the Rogers Audience Award.  Join us for Off the Hill next week for National Indigenous People’s Day On Wednesday, June 21 at 4:30pm PT / 7:30pm ET, join us for our final Off the Hill political panel before our summer hiatus. This month, we focus on National Indigenous People’s Day. What is causing the slow-moving action on the 94 Calls to Action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada? What can Landback look like across Turtle Island? And are we any closer to true reconciliation? Register for this free event today! If you like the show please consider subscribing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you find your podcasts. And please, rate, review, share rabble radio with your friends — it takes two seconds to support independent media like rabble. Follow us on social media across channels @rabbleca. 

This week on rabble radio, rabble contributor Doreen Nicoll sits down with Ontario educator Frank Domenic to discuss the state of Ontario’s universal health care system.  Health care privatization in Ontario is something rabble writers have been closely following over the past year. For further reading, please see the following pieces:  Linda McQuaig – Ontario’s shift to private health care will cost much, much more (May 23, 2023)  Doreen Nicoll – Groups working to save public health care in Ontario (May 18, 2023) Karl Nerenberg – Doug Ford’s private surgery plan is driven by ideology not innovation (January 17, 2023)  rabble radio – The ongoing fight against privatized healthcare (September 16, 2022)  rabble radio – The privatization of long-term care homes in Ontario must be stopped (May 6, 2022)  About our guests  Frank Domenic is a teacher in Ontario who creates content on social media focusing on news and politics, ranging from global issues to niche local Ontario content. You can follow him on Twitter @TheFrankDomenic and on TikTok @frankdomenic.  Doreen Nicoll is a freelance writer and frequent contributor to rabble.ca  She is diligently working to end poverty, hunger, and human rights abuses across Canada and the globe. Join us for Off the Hill  On Wednesday, June 21 at 4:30pm PT / 7:30pm ET, join us for our final Off the Hill political panel before our summer hiatus.  This month, we focus on National Indigenous People’s Day.  What is causing the slow-moving action on the 94 Calls to Action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada? What can Landback look like across Turtle Island? And are we any closer to true reconciliation? Register for this free event today!  If you like the show please consider subscribing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you find your podcasts. And please, rate, review, share rabble radio with your friends — it takes two seconds to support independent media like rabble. Follow us on social media across channels @rabbleca. 

This week on rabble radio, rabble editor Nick Seebruch sits down with Alberta political analyst Dave Cournoyer to review the recent provincial election in Alberta, and the newly re-elected Premier of Alberta Danielle Smith.  READ MORE: Smith’s UCP ekes out a win in Calgary, secures majority Smith and Alberta New Democrat Leader Rachel Notley were neck and neck for most of this election; but even after scandal after scandal, and despite losing some seats, Danielle Smith’s United Conservative Party was able to amass enough support to overtake Notley and the New Democrats.  READ MORE: Despite election win, UCP shut out of Edmonton For more analysis on the recent Alberta election and for all-things Alberta politics, we encourage you to check out David Climenhaga’s contributions on rabble.ca.  About our guest  Dave Cournoyer is an Edmonton-based writer, political watcher, and communications professional. He writes about Alberta politics at daveberta.substack.com and is the host of the Daveberta Podcast. He can be found on Twitter at @davecournoyer and on Instagram at @daveberta. If you like the show please consider subscribing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you find your podcasts. And please, rate, review, share rabble radio with your friends — it takes two seconds to support independent media like rabble. Follow us on social media across channels @rabbleca.

This week on rabble radio, we feature a segment from our most recent Off the Hill political panel. This month, our theme was ‘Off the Hill: Labour in high gear for action and change.’ Recent months have seen significant activity in Canada’s labour movement — including a public service strike, actions against austerity across the country, and the CLC convention in Montreal. This month our panel dove into recent developments and wondered what’s next for the labour movement in Canada. Our panel included MP Alexandre Boulerice, OSBCU - CSCSO president Laura Walton, policy expert and rabble columnist Chuka Ejeckam and rabble parliamentary reporter Karl Nerenberg. Hosted by Robin Browne and Libby Davies. If you like the show please consider subscribing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you find your podcasts. And please, rate, review, share rabble radio with your friends — it takes two seconds to support independent media like rabble. Follow us on social media across channels @rabbleca. 

This week on rabble radio, Georgia Kelly and Norm di Pasquale discuss why the current renovation plans for Ontario Place may not be in the best interest of Ontarians – or the surrounding wildlife and environment.  Norm di Pasquale is the co-chair of grassroots advocacy group Ontario Place for All. Norm has been fighting for waterfront public space for a decade, leading the NoJetsTO fight against jets at the island airport. di Pasquale has been an elected school board trustee in Ontario and has also run in federal and municipal elections. About Ontario Place for All  Ontario Place for All is a grassroots organization which aims to ensure Ontario Place redevelopment plans truly serve the public of Ontario, maintains the cultural heritage of the building and respects the surrounding environment.  Learn more about Ontario Place for All here – and, for those of you who want to donate to the cause, visit this page.  Join us for Off the Hill this month!  Recent months have seen significant activity in Canada’s labour movement — including a public service strike, actions against austerity across the country, and the CLC convention in Montreal.  This month, rabble’s Off the Hill political panel takes a dive into recent developments and what’s next for the labour movement in Canada. Register for this free event here!  Guests this month include: MP Alexandre Boulerice, OSBCU - CSCSO president Laura Walton, policy expert and rabble columnist Chuka Ejeckam and rabble parliamentary reporter Karl Nerenberg. Hosted by Robin Browne and Libby Davies.  If you like the show please consider subscribing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you find your podcasts. And please, rate, review, share rabble radio with your friends — it takes two seconds to support independent media like rabble. Follow us on social media across channels @rabbleca. 

This week on the show, national politics reporter Stephen Wentzell sits down with Olivia Chow, currently running for mayor of Toronto. The two discuss her platform, her history and why she believes it’s all about love and ‘creating a caring city.’ “People in Toronto are feeling stuck. They’re stuck waiting for the bus, stuck in traffic or stuck on lists for housing, childcare and recreation programs. After a decade of conservative mayors, the city has become more expensive and less liveable for people,” said Chow. “We can give in to fear and pessimism, or we can choose to channel our frustration into hope. We can open up city hall and work together to build a more caring, affordable and safer city.” – OliviaChow.ca.  About Olivia Chow Olivia Chow has served two terms as a school trustee, four terms as a Toronto city councillor and eight years as New Democratic Party Member of Parliament for Trinity—Spadina from 2006 to 2014. Chow is a well-known public figure for social justice and progressive political change. She is also the founder of the Institute for Change Leaders where she has trained thousands of activists in political organizing.  Join us for Off the Hill this month!  Recent months have seen significant activity in Canada’s labour movement — including a public service strike, actions against austerity across the country, and the CLC convention in Montreal.  This month, rabble’s Off the Hill political panel takes a dive into recent developments and what’s next for the labour movement in Canada. Register for this free event here!  Guests this month include: MP Alexandre Boulerice, OSBCU - CSCSO president Laura Walton, policy expert and rabble columnist Chuka Ejeckam and rabble parliamentary reporter Karl Nerenberg. Hosted by Robin Browne and Libby Davies.  If you like the show please consider subscribing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you find your podcasts. And please, rate, review, share rabble radio with your friends — it takes two seconds to support independent media like rabble. Follow us on social media across channels @rabbleca.