Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Alberta private-school funding under fresh scrutiny amid historic teachers’ strike

Harold Pliszka @hpliszka.bsky.social · 2h

If UCP agreed to fund public education in Alberta to even the per-student Canadian average, I bet Alberta could continue funding private schools without widespread controversy. But, here we are with funding at the bottom and a teacher strike & lockout...
www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/alber...

Funding for private education isn’t a topic at the bargaining table, but a petition has reignited debate over it

Canada is close to losing its measles elimination status. What happens then?

Harold Pliszka @hpliszka.bsky.social · 2h

"The country has been free of endemic measles for 27 years but is now facing an outbreak that has killed at least two people and infected more than 5,000 others since last October...
One of the main causes is shrinking vaccination rates..."
www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic...

Experts blame waning vaccination rates and disinformation for outbreaks that have continued for nearly a full year

Shellene Drakes-Tull: In a world on fire, it’s our duty to speak out against injustices — so that’s what I’m doing

Harold Pliszka @hpliszka.bsky.social · 18h

"When we normalize injustice and work to silence anyone who speaks against it, we are creating a world where anything goes," writes Shellene Drakes-Tull.
www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...

In the face of wiping out an entire people it is imperative to speak because being silent isn’t a real choice.

www.thestar.com

‘Shameless’: How the Alberta Next Panel Blamed Immigrants | The Tyee

Harold Pliszka @hpliszka.bsky.social · 18h

“Since [the] Alberta Next panel raised its ugly head, it has also created additional hostility with some of the comments associated to that,” said Ernst, who pointed out that the federal government’s open immigration policy is not the fault of immigrants.
thetyee.ca/News/2025/10...

Divisive scapegoating, including showing a slanted video, fits the populist playbook, says an expert.

thetyee.ca

Harold Pliszka @hpliszka.bsky.social · 20h

Gosh, I love advance voting. Took less than 5 minutes.

Harold Pliszka @hpliszka.bsky.social · 23h

"Today, thanks largely to Dr. Mount, virtually every large hospital in North America has a palliative care ward...
[But] Only 58% of Canadians receive palliative care at end-of-life, according to data from the Canadian Institute for Health Information."
www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/arti...

Opinion: Lessons on dying well from the father of palliative care

The best way to honour Dr. Balfour Mount’s legacy is by making palliative care available to all Canadians

Canadian company that employed temporary foreign workers gets record fine for abuses — but workers won’t get any money

Harold Pliszka @hpliszka.bsky.social · 1d

"Migrants pay the price with their health, livelihoods and dignity, while most employers walk away with a slap on the wrist and the government pockets the fines. This isn't justice — it's profiteering off migrant suffering," explained Niger Saravia.
www.thestar.com/news/gta/can...

The Migrant Workers Alliance for Change is calling on Ottawa to compensate migrant workers from fines collected.

www.thestar.com

Harold Pliszka @hpliszka.bsky.social · 1d

Go Jets!
www.cbc.ca/sports/the-b...

A preview of some Canadian NHL teams entering new season | CBC Sports

CBC Sports' daily newsletter marks opening night of the 2025-26 NHL season with a quick catch-up on four of the seven Canadian clubs.

5 premiers urge Carney to withdraw court submission on notwithstanding clause | CBC News

Harold Pliszka @hpliszka.bsky.social · 1d

"In a filing submitted last month to the Supreme Court of Canada in a case on Quebec's secularism law, Ottawa argues the constitutional limits on the notwithstanding clause preclude using it to distort or wipe out the rights and freedoms guaranteed by the Charter."

Harold Pliszka @hpliszka.bsky.social · 1d

Right-wing premiers urge Carney to withdraw court submission on notwithstanding clause.
www.cbc.ca/news/politic...

Five premiers say Ottawa must withdraw its recent call for limits on the notwithstanding clause because it amounts to a "complete disavowal" of the bargain that spawned the Charter of Rights and Freed...

Alberta teacher prompts petition on province's private school funding | CBC News

2 1

Harold Pliszka @hpliszka.bsky.social · 1d

The question approved by Elections Alberta is, "Should the government of Alberta end its current practice of allocating public funds to accredited independent (private) schools?"
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

If high school chemistry teacher Alicia Taylor gets her wish, Albertans will vote in a referendum on whether to end public funding for independent schools.

School trustees have a dramatic history in Calgary. Here's what they can (and can't) do | CBC News

Harold Pliszka @hpliszka.bsky.social · 1d

"In 1999, when now-premier Danielle Smith was elected as a trustee for the CBE, she and others on the board clashed so badly that the minister of learning at the time, Lyle Oberg, stepped in after 10 months."
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

We connected with several retiring trustees to see what they achieved and a political scientist to understand the history of this position.

Rare white beaver wows Ottawa-area wildlife watchers | CBC News

Harold Pliszka @hpliszka.bsky.social · 1d

Cool beaver.
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

Ottawa wildlife photographers have captured stunning images of a rare leucistic beaver.

Harold Pliszka @hpliszka.bsky.social · 1d

Alberta Conservatives say they don't know what teachers want in their contract. I'm not an accountant, teacher, nor government negotiator but it seems very clear to me that teachers want per student funding at least equal to the Cdn avg so boards can hire 1000s more teachers & TAs. #Alberta

Grief and Loss — Reverve Counselling

Harold Pliszka @hpliszka.bsky.social · 2d

We can experience grief and loss from the death of a loved one, and we can experience it from many types of loss (i.e., divorce, job loss, adult kids moving out of the home, moving to a new home, etc.).
www.revervecounselling.ca/blog/grief-a...

We can experience grief and loss from the death of a loved one, and we can experience it from many types of loss (i.e., divorce, job loss, adult kids moving out of the home, moving to a new home, etc....

www.revervecounselling.ca

Alberta teachers’ strike, biggest in province’s history, enters day two

Harold Pliszka @hpliszka.bsky.social · 2d

"Jason Foster, a labour relations professor at Athabasca University, says the strike by 51,000 members of the Alberta Teachers’ Association makes it the largest labour walkout in provincial history."
www.thestar.com/news/canada/...

The labour action affects more than 740,000 students across 2,500 public, separate and francophone schools.

www.thestar.com

After ‘some serious soul searching,’ Rush will reunite for a 2026 North American tour

Harold Pliszka @hpliszka.bsky.social · 2d

Lee said that after “some serious soul searching,” he & Lifeson decided to return ... to pay tribute to the band’s past & to Peart: “No small task, because as we all know Neil was irreplaceable.”

Sitting in for Peart will be German drummer Anika Nilles"

www.theglobeandmail.com/culture/arti...

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame members will play a dozen shows in seven cities next summer

Alberta bargaining committee serves 51,000 teachers with lockout notice | CBC News

Harold Pliszka @hpliszka.bsky.social · 2d

"Our classrooms, hallways and school fields are empty, and not because we've given up on public education but because we care too much about it to stand by and watch it slowly erode and crumble from chronic underfunding," ATA president Jason Schilling said.
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

Employers have served Alberta teachers with a lockout notice hours after they walked off the job Monday.

Teachers' strike risks putting strain on Alberta economy, business leaders warn | CBC News

Harold Pliszka @hpliszka.bsky.social · 2d

Alberta's Conservative government caused a massive teachers strike that - in addition to harming student wellness - will likely also hurt Alberta's economy.
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

With more than 730,000 kids across Alberta out of school due to the ongoing teachers' strike, many workers and business owners face uncertainty amid limited options for child care.

When Disrespect Becomes Policy: How Government Neglect Sparked Labour Unrest

Harold Pliszka @hpliszka.bsky.social · 2d

"Alberta once had what I considered the best education system in the world. I fear that the advantages our education system used to have will continue to be eroded and destroyed by the same government mismanagement we've seen during the last eight years."
www.parklandinstitute.ca/disrespect?u...

As Albertans brace for the first teacher strike in nearly 25 years, a new opinion piece on Parkland’s blog gives a frontline perspective on the government’s long war against public education.

www.parklandinstitute.ca

Harold Pliszka @hpliszka.bsky.social · 2d

Nice 😉
youtu.be/80_39eAx3z8?...

Buffalo Springfield - For What It's Worth (Official Audio)

YouTube video by RHINO

youtu.be

Harold Pliszka @hpliszka.bsky.social · 2d

For what it is worth, you make a strong argument.

Harold Pliszka @hpliszka.bsky.social · 2d

For what it is worth, other than maybe calling for layoffs (because of budget cuts), I doubt that Carney is directly responsible for how the layoffs happen.