www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc... ‘Nearly half of all federal programs linked to the calls have ended or are at risk of being sunsetted in the coming years. Annual spending on new programs is expected to fall from a peak of $3.7b in 2024-25 to approximately $1.8b from 2028-29 onwards’

Absolute jerks this time of year—but still gorgeous!

Carney’s AI strategy mentions commercializing of our medical data TWICE.

www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc... 'we identify 7 key takeaways from the federal govt’s new strategy....what ties them all together is the govt’s ideological commitment to AI adoption as a matter of principle even (or especially) when that principle is unsupported by evidence'

Also: Ottawa just unilaterally cut the Canada Public Transit Fund (CPTF) - the most important public transit fund for municipalities established in 2024 - by $5bn. The FCM did not experience this as the "spirit of cooperative federalism". www.pm.gc.ca/en/news/news...

www.thestar.com/opinion/cont... ‘The past few years have taken a widespread social, economic & emotional toll. But some are carrying that burden more than others…If you see them on a picket line, now you know why. And you can choose to support them’ @ricardotranjan.bsky.social @policyalternatives.ca

Angus Reid data shows 68% of Canadians want heavy regulation of AI, even if it slows development, and would oppose a large data centre planned near their home. The government is way offside with Canadians on this. Telling them to become “literate” isn’t going to work. angusreid.org/ai-regulatio...

cheknews.ca/creative-ind... “Rather than requiring wealthy media companies to modestly invest in Canada’s cultural ecosystem, Ottawa has chosen to transfer that responsibility to Canadian taxpayers under the guise of ‘consumer protection’”

globalnews.ca/news/1186346... “There used to be some problematic beliefs that it was just certain people could be food insecure, and it was due to their own personal failings or challenges…It’s not an individual failing, it’s a systemic failing.”

I love having a prime minister who completely buys into the tech industry’s framing of AI, such that he’s throwing billions of dollars at AI companies and pushing more Canadians into relying on their shitty products. To him, the core issue is “engagement and adoption,” regardless of the drawbacks.

My colleague @hadrianmk.bsky.social has entered the chat. Read his thoughts on the new federal AI strategy @policyalternatives.ca

www.thestar.com/politics/pol... ‘Carney’s focus has been on the economy, there is no doubt. But it’s also worth highlighting what’s happening outside of the spotlight — whether the government wants us to know about it or not.’

montreal.citynews.ca/2026/06/03/o... “The CRTC’s new requirements would impose new costs on the companies providing these services, which could ultimately fall on Canadian consumers through higher prices…now is not the time to make culture & entertainment more expensive.” So embarrassingly weak

www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc... ‘In an analysis of the social factors of the climate crisis, it is clear that concentrating income at the top accelerates emissions, while broader income distribution reduces them.’ @policyalternatives.ca

www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc... ‘Federal policymakers…want drug companies to be able to bring drugs to market faster, so that drug companies can start collecting revenue sooner—all while drug prices remain high & those high prices are maintained for longer periods’ @policyalternatives.ca

www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc... 'Instead of expecting employers to voluntarily comply with minimum employment standards or for govt agencies to address worker complaints after the fact, we should be encouraging broader union coverage & giving workers greater voice & power on the job.'

calgaryherald.com/news/local-n... ‘Meanwhile, real per-capita hospital funding by the province declined by four per cent between 2014 and 2023, from $2,252 to $2,169, according to a report by the @policyalternatives.ca’ @alonghurst.bsky.social

1/2 "We are living through a feedback loop where extreme wealth buys political influence (through lobbying and media ownership), which then secures policies (tax cuts and deregulation) that generate even more wealth. This loop doesn’t just “harm” democracy, it deactivates it."

‘It’s how neoliberalism sets the table for authoritarianism. And it’s why, no matter how eloquent it sounds or how well-cut its suit, we need to expose & reject it—as well as the “common sense,” “doing more with less” & “empowering the individual” narratives that translate it into election slogans’

www.theguardian.com/politics/202... “Blair argued for the government to crack down on welfare spending, abandon restrictions on oil and gas and smooth relations with Donald Trump” Sounds familiar, eh?

www.theguardian.com/global-devel... “The worst part is that neither the companies nor the water authorities will say exactly how much water is being extracted from the wetland – the figures are very unclear”

www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc... 'In a ‘post-Carney’s Davos speech’ world, we must remember: neoliberalism is not just the devil we know—it’s an on-ramp to the devil we like to tell ourselves is confined to the U.S.' @policyalternatives.ca

www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc... The govt's 'embrace of austerity—quietly targeting time-limited programs for cuts as it re-directs critical programming dollars to the military & physical infrastructure—speaks volumes about its actual commitment to gender equality' @policyalternatives.ca

Let me get this straight: Canada ‘chastised’ Israel for raping and torturing our citizens… by reiterating Israel’s “right to self-defence”? You truly can’t make this shit up. www.pm.gc.ca/en/news/read...

“I think it’s really, really clear where Jews of conscience stand [on Palestine].” Canadian Party Leader @avilewis.ca explains to @mehdirhasan.bsky.social why he identifies as anti-Zionist and believes most North American Jews feel similarly. Watch the full interview: zeteo.com/p/avi-lewis-...

www.cbc.ca/news/canada/... ‘text messages were revealed…suggesting senior ministry officials were in communication with a Victoria police officer over the board’s proposed safety plan, as well as an independent adviser appointed by the province to improve that plan, just before the board’s firing’

Note: "a recent report by @policyalternatives.ca, which says the Ford government has underfunded the education system by $6.3 billion since 2018." #onpoli www.ctvnews.ca/london/artic...

www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc... 'If Canada is serious about understanding and protecting our biodiversity, there needs to be some major renewed support for vital institutions such as the CNC, and the important work being done there' @policyalternatives.ca

“My last message is simple: don’t give up on truth. I’m sick of those who believe that being a journalist means reporting both sides’ versions, without filters, without challenging their veracity, especially– and this is worse and all too common –when you know that one side isn’t telling the truth.”

www.cbc.ca/news/canada/... Weather…or not. ‘“I can kind of rely on some American apps,” Stanley said. “But it would be nice to see the Canadian government and the Saskatchewan government invest a little bit more in forecasting.” Farmers' livelihoods depend on the forecast.’

canadiandimension.com/articles/vie... ‘Capitalists are openly celebrating the Carney government’s willingness to declare that corporations’ demands rule its decision-making.’

www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc... ‘By the time a system fails someone, the decision has already been made. It was made when the budget determined how much care, space, and attention the system could afford to give.’

Israeli soldiers tortured and raped international humanitarian aid volunteers, including Canadians, after kidnapping them in international waters. What will it take for the Canadian government to sever ties?

breachmedia.ca/elbows-up-ca... ‘Framed as cooperation, the arrangement has shifted Canadian mining priorities to suit U.S. military needs—even in a time of tension between the two countries.’

www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc... '“eliminating red tape” (that is, deregulation) is invariably accompanied by fiscal austerity—including cuts to regulatory agencies, notably staff who propose, monitor, and enforce regulations.' @policyalternatives.ca

“this is an opportunity to actually reinvest in that system to make sure that it serves all students well and effectively, and in a sustainable manner that doesn't indebted an entire generation as a result of making this commitment.”

www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc... ‘Rights in this country were not legislated into existence by generous governments….none of it was offered. It was won through sustained collective action’ @policyalternatives.ca

Wondering how we could benefit from a windfall tax in the Canadian oil industry sector?

“The cost pressures are increasing at about 6% for the hospital sector, this comes from the Ontario Hospital Association. The provincial govt is saying we will only see a 4% increase in base and targeted funding. So, there is a (funding) gap" @alonghurst.bsky.social @policyalternatives.ca

www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc... 'These tragic deaths...are associated with the systematic underfunding & under-resourcing of AB’s hospitals by the provincial govt. Emergency room wait times are a canary in the coal mine for health care system performance' @policyalternatives.ca

www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc... ‘For Canada, this renewed “honeymoon” with China may provide some leverage in navigating the upcoming review, but its practical impact appears limited.’ @policyalternatives.ca

“Governments should be creating rules and regulations so AI data centre developers can be held accountable,” said @simonenoch.bsky.social, a senior researcher with the @policyalternatives.ca But there’s hardly any regulations around how these facilities can be built.”

thetyee.ca/Opinion/2026... ‘National pharmacare can help address widening inequality and cost-of-living pressures, but we need the federal government to recommit to this nation-building project.’ @alonghurst.bsky.social @policyalternatives.ca

www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic... ‘The diplomats also say they want Ottawa to take legal action against Canadian companies that bid on or help to build settlements Canada says are illegal under international law.’

ottawacitizen.com/news/ontario... “The result is burnout for a lot of health-care professionals…this funding crisis is so alarming b/c it’s going to put more & more front-line staff in a position where they are not able to provide the level of care they know patients need” @alonghurst.bsky.social

www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc... ‘Food insecurity is linked to worse physical & mental health, higher rates of chronic illness, & increased strain on our healthcare system. It affects children’s development, & limits people’s ability to work, learn, & participate fully in society’

www.cbc.ca/news/canada/... ‘the Supreme Court of Canada has refused to hear an appeal after the railway company prevailed in Superior Court and the Court of Appeal’ Awful

'Beige is the colour of a former senior Liberal advisor showing up in the replies with the political-economy hand-wave like it is a gift instead of an insult' an absolute (necessarily so) scorcher from @lindsaytedds.bsky.social deadfortaxreasons.wordpress.com/2026/05/14/b...

www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc... 'all 8 boards [under provincial supervision] have been deprived of considerable amounts of funding...The amount varies by board size, but most shortfalls represent between 20 & 30% of a year’s funding' @ricardotranjan.bsky.social @policyalternatives.ca

The federal government has released its long-delayed electricity strategy: natural-resources.canada.ca/energy-sourc...