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As more schools bring police officers back to classrooms, parents remain divided | CBC News

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Reposted by Erika Shaker

Scott Piatkowski @scottpiatkowski.bsky.social · 3d

"Even the most sophisticated studies in the literature — with incredible statistical kinds of analysis — have found no link between school safety and the presence of the SRO program or officer."

www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

Less than a decade ago, many Canadian schools were dialing back programs stationing police officers in their hallways. Now, they're returning or being contemplated anew — a shift being celebrated in s...

Trevor Tombe: The budget warning that Canada cannot ignore

Reposted by Erika Shaker

Dr Lindsay Tedds @lindsaytedds.bsky.social · 5d

Not sure who might want/need an alternative perspective but a 44% debt-to-GDP ratio is not concerning and any ones perspective (well not a Hub’s reader) on that should seriously change on that if they look at that if they consider the graph with the x -axis set at 0 #kirstingraphs

Trevor Tombe @trevortombe.bsky.social · 7d

The real danger lies not in the growing size of today’s deficit, but in failing to plan prudently for what comes next.

My latest for @TheHubCanada on federal finances: thehub.ca/2025/10/01/... #cdnecon #cdnpoli

thehub.ca

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Reposted by Erika Shaker

Dr Lindsay Tedds @lindsaytedds.bsky.social · 4d

Want to learn more about why teachers are striking in Alberta? Read @iandoktor.bsky.social to learn how Alberta Government went from having to convince 12% of teachers to sign up for their deal to now 90% of teachers voting against the governments deal www.parklandinstitute.ca/disrespect

When Disrespect Becomes Policy: How Government Neglect Sparked Labour Unrest

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

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Reposted by Erika Shaker

CCPA — Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives @policyalternatives.ca · 5d

Manitoba’s increase to $16.00 per hour and Saskatchewan’s to $15.35 per hour are still far from living wage benchmarks, which @policyalternatives.ca calculate range from $18-$22 per hour in urban areas of these provinces. #canlab www.mbcradio.com/2025/10/sask...

Saskatchewan's Minimum Wage Still Not a Living Wage - MBC Radio

By: Carol Baldwin, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter On October 1, 2025, the minimum wage in Saskatchewan increased to $15.35 per hour. “By raising the minimum wage, we are continuing to support wo...

www.mbcradio.com

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Erika Shaker @ershaker.bsky.social · 4d

www.cbc.ca/news/politic... "I think the language from the current parliamentary budget officer, Mr. Jason Jacques, is just wrong and he should walk that back, quite frankly”

Federal budget watchdog's comments are 'just wrong,' says one of his predecessors | CBC News

A former parliamentary budget officer says it is “just wrong” to suggest that the federal finances are unsustainable and is publicly disagreeing with the current fiscal watchdog.

Five provinces raised their minimum wages this week. Here's how your region stacks up

Reposted by Erika Shaker

CCPA — Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives @policyalternatives.ca · 5d

"Several organizations produce calculations on living wages, rather than minimum wages... @policyalternatives.ca looks at how much money people need to earn without spending more than 30% of their income on rent for a one- or two-bedroom apartment." #canlab www.midnorthmonitor.com/fp-work/five...

Several provinces and territories had raised their minimum wage earlier in the year, with Alberta holding the line since 2018. Read here

www.midnorthmonitor.com

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Erika Shaker @ershaker.bsky.social · 5d

You’ve seen our research and read our commentary and watched or heard my colleagues in the media. We’re people-powered by donors across the country. If you don’t yet support the CCPA, here’s your chance! Watch this video, check out our research and click to find out more! @policyalternatives.ca

CCPA — Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives @policyalternatives.ca · 5d

The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives is Canada’s leading progressive think tank. Let’s make a difference, together: Join us at policyalternatives.ca/Makeadifference

From South Africa to Palestine - CCPA

Erika Shaker @ershaker.bsky.social · 5d

www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc... 'We on the outside should be inspired by this resistance and we have a clear role to play. The most potent weapon we have learnt to rely on, forged through the tried and tested struggles of workers and oppressed people spanning time and space: solidarity.'

In March 2023 at the annual Palestine lecture at the University of London’s School of Oriental African Studies, I said that while Israel has always been a settler-colonial apartheid state maintained t...

Ricardo Tranjan: Here comes the new minimum wage — with the same problem as the old one

Reposted by Erika Shaker

CCPA — Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives @policyalternatives.ca · 5d

The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives is Canada’s leading progressive think tank. Let’s make a difference, together: Join us at policyalternatives.ca/Makeadifference

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Erika Shaker @ershaker.bsky.social · 6d

www.thestar.com/opinion/cont... ‘In Ontario, 51% of minimum wage workers are older than 25 years of age. One in four is older than 40…young people are faced with out-of-control rents and expensive tuition fees. They, too, need decent wages’ @ricardotranjan.bsky.social @policyalternatives.ca

Doug Ford is choosing to keep workers poor when the minimum wage could be and needs to be much higher

www.thestar.com

The Monitor – Fall 2025 - CCPA

Erika Shaker @ershaker.bsky.social · 7d

The Fall Monitor is up on our website and takes a deep dive into the topic of Western separatism. Check it out and remember -- it's your support for the @policyalternatives.ca that makes this important content and analysis possible! www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc...

These days, there are many reminders to hold on to this one precious thing: our democracy. Not just ticking a box at election time, but working in between elections to protect the systems in place to ...

Join CBC to honour the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation | CBC News

Reposted by Erika Shaker

Niigaan Sinclair @niigaanwewidam.bsky.social · 8d

Am very honoured to co-anchor today’s CBC News Special on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation - check it out at 2 p.m. ET (1 pm CT) on CBC TV, CBC Gem, CBC News Network, CBC News streaming channels, the CBC News app and the CBC News YouTube Channel

www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

Marking its fifth year on Tuesday, Sept. 30, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (also known as Orange Shirt Day) is dedicated to reflecting and learning together about the enduring legacy o...

Death rates rose in hospital ERs after private equity firms took over, study finds

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Erika Shaker @ershaker.bsky.social · 8d

www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news... ‘The research, which compared outcomes at hospitals over a 10-year period, adds fresh evidence to previous studies showing harmful patient outcomes and higher costs among health care entities owned by profit-oriented financiers.’

The increased deaths in emergency departments at private equity-owned hospitals are most likely the result of reduced staffing levels, researchers say.

www.nbcnews.com

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Reposted by Erika Shaker

APTN News @aptnnews.bsky.social · 9d

Yukon-based First Nations education advocacy organization says it ended the rural nutrition program after its Jordan’s Principle funding was cut.

Jordan’s Principle cuts end Yukon food program for Indigenous kids

An advocacy organization in Yukon says it was forced to axe its rural nutrition program after its Jordan’s Principle funding was cut.

www.aptnnews.ca

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Erika Shaker @ershaker.bsky.social · 8d

www.cbc.ca/news/canada/... #solidarity with @albertateachers.bsky.social

Alberta teacher strike likely as ATA members vote down tentative agreement | CBC News

Alberta Teachers' Association members started voting on the tentative deal on Saturday.

Canada Post denies Ottawa's reforms give it leverage over striking union in negotiations | CBC News

Erika Shaker @ershaker.bsky.social · 10d

www.cbc.ca/news/politic... ‘If North Grenville's post office is shut down as part of the reforms, Peckford said it would be a "devastating development" because the post office is also a hub where people can connect.’ @cupwsttp.bsky.social

Canada Post is denying the Liberal government’s directive to change the postal service’s operational model gives it leverage over the striking union in negotiations, as the two sides continue their da...

Are BC's striking workers winning in their struggle against the government?

Erika Shaker @ershaker.bsky.social · 10d

www.kamloopsbcnow.com/watercooler/... “It’s not just handing out cheques…it’s providing services that improve our economy & our quality of life. It’s one of the core ways that we stabilize relative to the swings, the booms & busts of the overall economy” @marclee.bsky.social @policyalternatives.ca

More than three weeks after the BC General Employees’ Union went on strike, the number of workers on picket lines continues to increase without.

www.kamloopsbcnow.com

The post office must be defended - CCPA

Erika Shaker @ershaker.bsky.social · 11d

www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc... ‘For rural and remote communities that remain rural, post offices often represent the sole outpost of the federal government, providing vital goods and services that cannot be accessed elsewhere’ @policyalternatives.ca @cupwsttp.bsky.social

When Stephen Harper’s government announced the end of door-to-door mail delivery in favour of community “super-boxes” in 2014, then Canada Post CEO Deepak Chopra was asked about the difficulty this wo...

Ontario’s plan to eliminate school boards is anti-democratic - CCPA

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Erika Shaker @ershaker.bsky.social · 12d

www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc... 'Will Ontario be able to push back against this whittling away of democratic institutions and use this opportunity to revitalize their school boards and make them relevant again?' @policyalternatives.ca

It seems that every few years, another province toys with the idea of eliminating school boards—those pesky thorns of local democracy that stick in the side of governments flush with neoliberal fantas...

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Erika Shaker @ershaker.bsky.social · 12d

…which is good for local communities and local economies too. There’s also a public health connection that’s been completely unaddressed in the broader debate.

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Erika Shaker @ershaker.bsky.social · 12d

No, you’ve made it clear you want to see investment in public infrastructure and I agree. But as I said, Canada Post is not publicly funded, it’s user funded. And more services offered through it benefits more people while putting money back into the economy.

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Erika Shaker @ershaker.bsky.social · 12d

And, incidentally, the argument about ‘outmoded systems’ that ‘haven’t evolved’ isn’t unique to the public post office, of course. It’s often made of public institutions to justify cuts to them as well.

Erika Shaker @ershaker.bsky.social · 12d

Why do you think it hasn’t evolved to accommodate people who do still write and receive letters while building on the existing system the way other countries have and do? Postal banking, senior check-ins, rural post offices as community hubs—this is how you build on established infrastructure.

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Erika Shaker @ershaker.bsky.social · 12d

Raise postage prices in line with inflation. That would be a start. It’s still a remarkable deal.