At a time of ecological and political crises, the left can ill afford denialism, nor the energy absorbed by playing rigged intra-party games. Once the emotional shock has worn off, it is time for cool and clear analysis of the obstacles, and the opportunities, for broader action combining electoral and extra-parliamentary avenues.

At this point, we should be accustomed to political leaders in Ottawa being alarmingly out of touch with the needs of ordinary Canadians. And yet, the federal government’s determination to purchase new warships for the Royal Canadian Navy in the face of spiralling cost overruns stands out as a particularly egregious example.

The US has gambled big in its latest sanctions on Chinese companies in the semiconductor industry, believing it can kneecap China and retain its global dominance. From the slogans of globalization and “free trade” of the neoliberal 1990s, Washington has reverted to good old technology denial regimes that the US and its allies followed during the Cold War.

NATO states and Russia are huge contributors to global emissions. We cannot resolve the climate emergency unless these emitters work cooperatively to transition their economies away from fossil fuels and toward renewable energy. Obviously, there is no realistic prospect of achieving the requisite level of cooperation and mutual trust in a state of escalating war.

The NDP party line was all about Anjali Appadurai being ‘unelectable.’ The truth is likely less clear. After two terms of NDP government, and with a severe housing crisis, an affordability crisis, and the pandemic, all making conditions tough, British Columbians could well be looking for a change in the next election in 2024.

While the Trudeau government promised that its compensation plan would be a “historic” step forward in the relationship between Ottawa and Indigenous peoples, the rejection by the CHRT shows that Ottawa is not even willing to meet the responsibilities it imposes on itself. The dissonance between Ottawa’s rhetoric and its actions needs to be reconciled.

Published here is a full transcript of Anjali Appadurai’s response to the BC NDP Chief Electoral Officer, Elizabeth Cull’s report on the Appadurai campaign. Cull’s report was the evidence used by the party executive council to disqualify Appadurai on October 19. It has been reported that the executive voted not to consider this response from Appadurai.

By intervening in the leadership election in favour of David Eby, and then refusing to reveal the names of the executives who voted to disqualify climate and social justice advocate Anjali Appadurai, the BC NDP has confirmed the criticism that it is an indolent party averse to truly democratic grassroots input.

The high-stakes game of chicken that is the Online News Act reached a new, dangerous level after the federal government closed the list of speakers on its pending Bill C-18 without inviting Meta. That prompted the owner of social network Facebook to issue a statement threatening to stop carrying links to news stories from Canada if Ottawa tries to force it to pay for doing so.

It remains to be seen whether it is legally possible to confiscate and redistribute Russian funds. But even if it is, one may doubt whether it is wise. Little by little, such acts have the effect of sending a message that the international financial system is subservient to Western political interests, writes professor Paul Robinson.