Alert! Radio

  • Episode 202 (February 8th 2012)

    Micheal Vonn, Policy Director of the British Columbia Civil Liberties Association discusses soon-to-be introduced “lawful access” bills to expand police surveillance powers. The federal government has announced that it will soon be introducing legislation to increase the ability of police to intercept private communications and access more personal information stored electronically. Steven Staples, President of the Rideau Institute takes on pro-war lobbyists at the Conference of Defence Associations, part of an increasingly powerful National Security Establishment in Ottawa. Canadian Dimension labour columnist Herman Rosenfeld analyses the anti-union campaign shaping up in Canada and laments about the weak state of the labour movement’s opposition. Download this episode (54.2 MB)

  • Episode 201 (February 1st 2012)

    Noted health care analyst Pat Armstrong reflects on what lies behind Harper’s new health care policy. It’s not just a matter of numbers. Pensions expert Andrew Jackson shows why Harper’s pension policy is fiscally unnecessary and devastating, especially for low income seniors. Investigative journalist Martin Lukacs talks about Harper’s tar sands agenda and his efforts to sell it in Canada, the USA and Europe.  He comments on the counter campaigns led by indigenous resistance movements in alliance with environmentalists, other activists and municipalities. Download this episode (50.4 MB)

  • Episode 200 (January 25th 2012)

    Carlo Fanelli analyses what was accomplished at Toronto City Hall to limit the regressive measures introduced by Mayor Rob Ford and the shape of the battles still to come. Political scientist Dennis Pilon reflects on the history of municipal amalgamations that bring to power right-wing mayors like Rob Ford in Toronto and Larry O’Brien in Ottawa largely owing to votes from once independent outlying middle class and wealthy suburban communities that swamp the votes of those residing in the city proper. Political economist Sam Gindin unravels the European debt crisis and austerity agendas of governments everywhere and their impact on a stagnating global economy. He examines the limitations of resistance movements as they emerged in 2011 and suggests new strategies for 2012. Download this episode (51.2 MB)

  • Episode 199 (January 18th 2012)

    The National Energy Board’s Northern Gateway hearings just began and are expected to carry on through the summer and beyond. Ben West of BC’s Wilderness Committee takes us through the process and tells us what to expect. Is the lockout of CAW workers at the Electro-Motive plant in London, Ontario, the beginning of an assault against private sector unionism in Canada? Labour commentator Doug Nesbitt discusses this question and offers some radical strategies for the labour movement, including occupation. What’s the real story behind the accusation that Iran is working to build a nuclear weapons capacity? Reporter Alex Kane comments from New York. Download this episode (53.4 MB)

  • Episode 198 (January 10th 2012)

    Expectations for 2012—2011 was a tumultuous year in Canadian and world politics. ALERT asked on-the-ground activists to talk about their expectations for 2012: Judy Rebick on Canadian politics; Clayton Thomas Muller on Indian Country; Mathew Brett on the Occupation Movement; Saul Landau on US politics; Sam Bahour on the Middle East. Download this episode (53.6 MB)

  • Episode 197 (November 30th 2011)

    Stephen Maher examines Egyptian politics on the week of the vote, Gerald Caplan questions why everyone but Iran can have nuclear weapons, Peter Kulchyski on Federal Legislation to disclose the salaries of First Nation Chiefs and Band Councillors. Download this episode (52.5 MB)

  • Episode 196 (November 25th 2011)

    Patrick Bond dissects international climate talks at upcoming COP 17 conference. Vincent Mosco explains the historical significance of the Occupy movement and where it is headed. Download this episode (54.8 MB)

  • Episode 195 (November 17th 2011)

    Organizer Matthew Brett addresses the current state of Occupy movement and the Quebec student strike. Gordon Laxer on the consequences of delaying the Keystone XL pipeline. Lesley Hughes on the most censored stories of 2011. Download this episode (53.8 MB)

  • Episode 194 (November 9th 2011)

    Karen Devito on the Canadian boat to Gaza shares experiences of her group’s detention by Israeli authorities, Toronto Star columnist Thomas Walkom on the Eurozone’s bail-out efforts for Greece and Martine Elois of Échec à la Guerre explains the Remembrance Day White poppy campaign. Download this episode (52 MB)

  • Episode 193 (November 3rd 2011)

    Roger Rashi discusses the potential political consequences of alleged ties between the Mafia’s involvement in the Quebéc construction industry and provincial political parties. Regina-based political economist and author, John Warnock, weighs in on Saskatchewan’s upcoming provincial election. Download this episode (40.3 MB)

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