Decades of toxic dumping by Winnipeg’s aerospace industry have left behind a poisoned aquifer, unacknowledged corporate responsibility, and a government still subsidizing the polluters. Magellan Aerospace, builder of fighter jet and rocket parts, continues to profit—despite a contamination crisis so severe, experts say cleanup won’t be completed in our lifetimes.

Redirecting even a fraction of the F-35 budget toward humanitarian response wouldn’t weaken Canada’s defence, it would redefine and strengthen it for the threats we actually face. By shifting focus from outdated notions of warfare to the urgent realities of today, Canada has a chance to lead the world in a new era of security—one rooted in resilience, readiness, and compassion.

Western support for Israel during its war with Iran and continued assault on Gaza reveals deep double standards in applying international law. Despite rising global protests and civilian casualties, leaders still back Israel while silencing dissent. The situation points to a broader crisis of legitimacy and the erosion of democratic norms across the West.

The priorities of our political leaders can be very hard to understand. Western countries are suffering years of economic stagnation, deteriorating public services, and a host of other problems. Yet our governments have decided that what we need to do is spend more money on defence—and not just more money, but a lot more money than what we are spending at present.

Today, the vast majority of Iranians see their government as a corrupt, mafia-like regime that is the main cause of their daily misery. Through decades of uprisings, the Iranian people have sought to overthrow this enemy within. But overthrowing the regime is the exclusive right and prerogative of the Iranian people—not of foreign powers.

If it does not want to remain complicit in Israel’s crimes, Canada must immediately apply all means of political and economic pressure at its disposal. There are many things it could do, including recognizing the State of Palestine, joining in actions before the international courts, terminating economic and military agreements, and breaking off diplomatic relations.

The vast majority of Western politicians have boxed themselves into too much of a corner after having demonized Russia to such an extent to really raise serious questions about the need for increased defence expenditure and to question any benefits it might bring. At a certain point, politically, there isn’t any going back without a colossal loss of face.

While warmongers worldwide are jubilant at the thought of profiting from the geopolitical upheaval, a spiral of violence would be devastating for the Iranian people and the entire region, as were the US-led regime change wars in Iraq, Libya and Afghanistan. A wider conflict would devour the Middle East and could spread beyond that region in terrifying ways.

Are we so morally bankrupt that we will allow Netanyahu’s cynical maneuver, an act of naked aggression in flagrant breach of international law, to divert us from our responsibilities to end Israel’s genocide in Gaza? From the first responses of Western political leaders, it would appear that the answer to this question is unfortunately an unhesitating and emphatic yes.

How can the Canadian Jewish left urge faith leaders and institutions to publicly stand against Israel’s genocide? As more and more Jews are realizing that Israel’s unrelenting war on Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank is not being waged to keep Jews safe, either in Israel or around the world, they are supporting the growing calls for aid and a ceasefire.