Erika Shaker
@ershaker.bsky.social
Director, CCPA National Office
https://bsky.app/profile/policyalternatives.bsky.social
https://bsky.app/profile/policyalternatives.bsky.social
www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc... 'With a greater push towards fast tracking major projects, including energy projects, these threats to responsible resource development from ISDS are even more profound in 2025.' @policyalternatives.ca @ccpa-tirp.bsky.social
Investment treaties, UNDRIP and the Building Canada Act - CCPA
“Build big things” has become a mantra of the current federal government. Partly in an effort to lessen our economic vulnerability to U.S. shocks, Prime Minister Mark Carney has been out luring foreig...
www.policyalternatives.ca
November 10, 2025 at 5:08 PM
www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc... 'With a greater push towards fast tracking major projects, including energy projects, these threats to responsible resource development from ISDS are even more profound in 2025.' @policyalternatives.ca @ccpa-tirp.bsky.social
www.thestar.com/opinion/cont... ‘When teachers call for reduced class sizes, more support & better teaching conditions…they’re thinking about every kid in every classroom…[&]…the collective future we want those kids to create. Too bad the politics of narrow ignorance keeps getting in the way’
www.thestar.com
November 10, 2025 at 1:52 AM
www.thestar.com/opinion/cont... ‘When teachers call for reduced class sizes, more support & better teaching conditions…they’re thinking about every kid in every classroom…[&]…the collective future we want those kids to create. Too bad the politics of narrow ignorance keeps getting in the way’
www.teenvogue.com/story/womano... pipeline can ultimately take participants down an ultra-conservative path that often involves Christianity and white nationalism. But even if influencers say they don't believe these ideas themselves, their content can lead viewers to others who do.’
The 'Womanosphere' Is Coming for Teen Girls
How beauty and wellness influencers are part of a misinformation ecosystem pushing traditional values on girls.
www.teenvogue.com
November 9, 2025 at 10:09 PM
www.teenvogue.com/story/womano... pipeline can ultimately take participants down an ultra-conservative path that often involves Christianity and white nationalism. But even if influencers say they don't believe these ideas themselves, their content can lead viewers to others who do.’
Reposted by Erika Shaker
The NYTimes article on Mamdani at Bowdoin is "a wreck, but of a form so pure, so purely Timesian, you almost have to admire it. It certainly is instructive." lithub.com/maybe-dont-t...
Maybe Don’t Talk to the New York Times About Zohran Mamdani
It’s remarkable, the people you’ll hear from. Teach for even a little while at an expensive institution—the term they tend to prefer is “elite”—and odds are that eventually someone who was a studen…
lithub.com
November 8, 2025 at 10:45 PM
The NYTimes article on Mamdani at Bowdoin is "a wreck, but of a form so pure, so purely Timesian, you almost have to admire it. It certainly is instructive." lithub.com/maybe-dont-t...
www.thestar.com/opinion/cont... ‘Why not forget the compromises and take an actual stand on some of these issues? Lead a public conversation? Change minds. Spend political capital. The election of Zohran Mamdani in New York shows standing up for big ideas without compromise can actually win…’
Shawn Micallef: How Toronto killed ‘Sesame Street’ with its heritage rules — and how we can bring it back
In the face of opposition from even small groups, the city ends up watering down even the best ideas.
www.thestar.com
November 9, 2025 at 4:49 PM
www.thestar.com/opinion/cont... ‘Why not forget the compromises and take an actual stand on some of these issues? Lead a public conversation? Change minds. Spend political capital. The election of Zohran Mamdani in New York shows standing up for big ideas without compromise can actually win…’
Reposted by Erika Shaker
Doug Ford and the Conservatives think they can take away your right to have a say in local schools without even having to hear what you think about it. Join MPP Peggy Sattler and me for a townhall this Thursday, November 13 at 6 pm, where we'll prove them wrong.
www.ontariondp.ca/stand-up-for...
www.ontariondp.ca/stand-up-for...
Stand Up for Education Now - Take Action on Bill 33
Join your community of fellow New Democrats as we update you on what's happening at Queen's Park this week with public education.
The Conservatives may have ended debate on Bill 33, but the fight's...
www.ontariondp.ca
November 9, 2025 at 4:27 PM
Doug Ford and the Conservatives think they can take away your right to have a say in local schools without even having to hear what you think about it. Join MPP Peggy Sattler and me for a townhall this Thursday, November 13 at 6 pm, where we'll prove them wrong.
www.ontariondp.ca/stand-up-for...
www.ontariondp.ca/stand-up-for...
Reposted by Erika Shaker
If you like this but want a Canadian perspective, buy my latest book, called Corporate Control, about how Canada set its economy on fire to sell smoke to the world.
“Legislation should prevent discrimination and self-preferencing, and put a price on data extraction-and in some cases cap excessive fees.” The legendary thinker + doer Tim Wu www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/arti...
Opinion: Can we go back to the optimism of the 1990s, before the extraction economy took over?
Our economic system benefits only those at the very top – but it’s not too late for change
www.theglobeandmail.com
November 8, 2025 at 6:31 PM
If you like this but want a Canadian perspective, buy my latest book, called Corporate Control, about how Canada set its economy on fire to sell smoke to the world.
ottawacitizen.com/news/ocdsb-s... “You trade what would have been hundreds of hours a week for one individual who is getting paid significantly more. You’re not able to get meaningful feedback from the community, and you are spending more money, which is the antithesis of fiscal responsibility.”
OCDSB supervisor will earn up to $350,000 a year
Education Minister Paul Calandra expects they will be paid the maximum amount and he's 'not shy or embarrassed' there's a budget in place
ottawacitizen.com
November 8, 2025 at 2:52 AM
ottawacitizen.com/news/ocdsb-s... “You trade what would have been hundreds of hours a week for one individual who is getting paid significantly more. You’re not able to get meaningful feedback from the community, and you are spending more money, which is the antithesis of fiscal responsibility.”
www.thestar.com/news/gta/tor... ‘There is an “unmet demand” in those areas in Etobicoke and Scarborough, where coverage rates remain among the lowest in the city….. “There is still a long way to go to address adequate levels of child care in our city.”’ @policyalternatives.ca
Toronto child-care spaces are increasing but these neighbourhoods are missing out, report says
Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives looked at 158 neighbourhoods to see what child-care coverage looked like between 2022 and 2025.
www.thestar.com
November 7, 2025 at 1:49 PM
www.thestar.com/news/gta/tor... ‘There is an “unmet demand” in those areas in Etobicoke and Scarborough, where coverage rates remain among the lowest in the city….. “There is still a long way to go to address adequate levels of child care in our city.”’ @policyalternatives.ca
www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc... 'Ontarians need a firm govt w/ the courage to raise revenue & spend it on concrete programs & services that make life better...the govt of the day asks us to sit tight & wait for the market to do its magic' @policyalternatives.ca @ricardotranjan.bsky.social
Ontario Fall Economic Statement: No help on the way - CCPA
Last May, CCPA’s detailed analysis of the Ontario budget argued that it failed to address years-long funding shortfalls, leaving the province vulnerable to the economic storm on the horizon.
www.policyalternatives.ca
November 6, 2025 at 10:30 PM
www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc... 'Ontarians need a firm govt w/ the courage to raise revenue & spend it on concrete programs & services that make life better...the govt of the day asks us to sit tight & wait for the market to do its magic' @policyalternatives.ca @ricardotranjan.bsky.social
www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc... 'A decade after Paris, Canada’s challenge is no longer knowing what to do. Instead, the challenge is to break the cycle of denial, delay and deference that subjugates climate policy to the very industries at the heart of the crisis.' @policyalternatives.ca
Canadian climate policy a decade after the Paris Agreement - CCPA
The Paris Agreement was signed in 2015 by 196 countries amid a wave of global urgency to confront the defining crisis of our time—climate change. Grounded in the best available science, it called for ...
www.policyalternatives.ca
November 6, 2025 at 9:34 PM
www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc... 'A decade after Paris, Canada’s challenge is no longer knowing what to do. Instead, the challenge is to break the cycle of denial, delay and deference that subjugates climate policy to the very industries at the heart of the crisis.' @policyalternatives.ca
www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc... 'Child care, pharmacare, health care, income security and a host of other vital programs were effectively ignored—programs that are crucial to gender equality, social justice and our collective ability to prosper and thrive.' @policyalternatives.ca
The path to prosperity set out in budget 2025 leaves millions behind - CCPA
The millions struggling to pay their rent and put food on the table were looking for relief in budget 2025—and they were disappointed.
www.policyalternatives.ca
November 6, 2025 at 8:45 PM
www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc... 'Child care, pharmacare, health care, income security and a host of other vital programs were effectively ignored—programs that are crucial to gender equality, social justice and our collective ability to prosper and thrive.' @policyalternatives.ca
‘yesterday's federal budget teased that the government is working with CBC/Radio-Canada to explore Canada's participation in the annual Eurovision Song Contest…Two government sources say Prime Minister Mark Carney is personally involved in the push’ www.cbc.ca/news/enterta...
Eurovision came up in the budget. Could Canada actually join the contest? | CBC News
Yesterday's budget teased that the government is working with CBC/Radio-Canada to explore Canada's participation in the Eurovision Song Contest. While Europop fans might be excited, Canadian participa...
www.cbc.ca
November 6, 2025 at 1:35 AM
‘yesterday's federal budget teased that the government is working with CBC/Radio-Canada to explore Canada's participation in the annual Eurovision Song Contest…Two government sources say Prime Minister Mark Carney is personally involved in the push’ www.cbc.ca/news/enterta...
Reposted by Erika Shaker
This government is paying unelected school supervisors up to $350,000 a year to replace democratically elected trustees and they won’t even respond to parents or communities. Ontarians deserve transparency, not government appointees hiding from accountability.
#onpoli #onted
#onpoli #onted
November 5, 2025 at 2:59 PM
'Beyond the demand for applicants’ personal information, the other shocking overreach by the committee is their demand for the public release of peer reviews, scores, deliberation notes of granting committees and the detailed personal information of reviewers.'
How much are MPs entitled to know about research grants? Not as much as they think. A parliamentary committee is asking for researchers' personal information in what seems like an anti-DEI crusade, by @picardonhealth.bsky.social www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/arti... via @theglobeandmail.com
Opinion: How much are MPs entitled to know about research grants? Not as much as they think
A parliamentary committee is asking for academics’ private information on a strange anti-DEI crusade
www.theglobeandmail.com
November 5, 2025 at 8:25 PM
'Beyond the demand for applicants’ personal information, the other shocking overreach by the committee is their demand for the public release of peer reviews, scores, deliberation notes of granting committees and the detailed personal information of reviewers.'
Have you subscribed to One Picket Line? It offers class-based analyses of housing data & policy, fuelling solidarity across labour & tenant movements. When you subscribe you get access to the first issue too! docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F... @policyalternatives.ca @ricardotranjan.bsky.social
Published by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, One Picket Line offers class-based analyses of housing data and policy, aimed at fuelling solidarity across labour and tenant movements.
Check out the first issue: Rent is biting off wage gains of a growing share of unionized workers
docs.google.com
November 5, 2025 at 7:54 PM
Have you subscribed to One Picket Line? It offers class-based analyses of housing data & policy, fuelling solidarity across labour & tenant movements. When you subscribe you get access to the first issue too! docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F... @policyalternatives.ca @ricardotranjan.bsky.social
www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc... 'Smith and Moe have been strangely quiet in their reactions to the federal government’s actions so far—not traits they are known for.' @policyalternatives.ca @simonenoch.bsky.social
Will the feds’ climate climb down placate petro-province premiers? - CCPA
Perhaps lost in yesterday’s federal budget news dominated by job cuts and military spending is the extent to which the federal government is also abandoning the climate commitments of the previous gov...
www.policyalternatives.ca
November 5, 2025 at 7:37 PM
www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc... 'Smith and Moe have been strangely quiet in their reactions to the federal government’s actions so far—not traits they are known for.' @policyalternatives.ca @simonenoch.bsky.social
Reposted by Erika Shaker
There’s no olive branch for the NDP in today’s federal budget--might Canada be plunged into another election? Full CCPA analysis of the budget is now live: www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc...
Post-election budget could plunge Canada into another federal election - CCPA
With so much on the line, the newly elected federal government has tabled a budget that, in many ways, could pass as a Conservative budget.
www.policyalternatives.ca
November 4, 2025 at 10:05 PM
There’s no olive branch for the NDP in today’s federal budget--might Canada be plunged into another election? Full CCPA analysis of the budget is now live: www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc...
Reposted by Erika Shaker
“There’s huge differences between what were in the election platforms and what are actually being proposed in the budget,” said @davidmaccdn.bsky.social, senior economist with the @policyalternatives.ca #Budget2025 #cdnpoli www.thestar.com/politics/fed...
Public service will be cut as Ottawa slashes spending by $58.2B over five years, budget says
Mark Carney’s Liberals plan to curb federal spending by about $58.2 billion over five years by slashing public service jobs, axing and winding down programs, and reducing benefits for some
www.thestar.com
November 4, 2025 at 11:15 PM
“There’s huge differences between what were in the election platforms and what are actually being proposed in the budget,” said @davidmaccdn.bsky.social, senior economist with the @policyalternatives.ca #Budget2025 #cdnpoli www.thestar.com/politics/fed...
Reposted by Erika Shaker
.@policyalternatives.ca senior economist David MacDonald predicts specific cuts will be made via “stealth” over the coming months. He does not expect them to be clearly laid out on Tuesday. #budget2025 #cdnpoli www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/art...
Public service braces for billions in spending cuts ahead of Tuesday’s budget
The finance minister has hinted at shrinking the size of the public service, a move union leaders say could put up to 70,000 jobs at risk
www.theglobeandmail.com
November 4, 2025 at 8:59 PM
.@policyalternatives.ca senior economist David MacDonald predicts specific cuts will be made via “stealth” over the coming months. He does not expect them to be clearly laid out on Tuesday. #budget2025 #cdnpoli www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/art...
Reposted by Erika Shaker
“This will have a big impact on the Ottawa-Gatineau area,” @davidmaccdn.bsky.social, a senior economist with the @policyalternatives.ca, told CTV News Ottawa.
“In terms of the likely impact in Ottawa, it’s going to be about 14,000 FTEs over this period 2024 to 2028.”
www.ctvnews.ca/ottawa/artic...
“In terms of the likely impact in Ottawa, it’s going to be about 14,000 FTEs over this period 2024 to 2028.”
www.ctvnews.ca/ottawa/artic...
Federal government to cut another 28,000 public service jobs by 2029
The Canada Strong Budget 2025 outlines the plan to reduce the size of the federal public service by 40,000 jobs through job cuts, attrition, and early retirements from its peak of 367,772 employees in...
www.ctvnews.ca
November 4, 2025 at 11:17 PM
“This will have a big impact on the Ottawa-Gatineau area,” @davidmaccdn.bsky.social, a senior economist with the @policyalternatives.ca, told CTV News Ottawa.
“In terms of the likely impact in Ottawa, it’s going to be about 14,000 FTEs over this period 2024 to 2028.”
www.ctvnews.ca/ottawa/artic...
“In terms of the likely impact in Ottawa, it’s going to be about 14,000 FTEs over this period 2024 to 2028.”
www.ctvnews.ca/ottawa/artic...
Reposted by Erika Shaker
“This budget contains a poison pill of deep funding cuts, the extent of which hasn’t been witnessed since the Harper cuts of 2011 to 2014.” www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc...
Post-election budget could plunge Canada into another federal election - CCPA
With so much on the line, the newly elected federal government has tabled a budget that, in many ways, could pass as a Conservative budget.
www.policyalternatives.ca
November 4, 2025 at 11:22 PM
“This budget contains a poison pill of deep funding cuts, the extent of which hasn’t been witnessed since the Harper cuts of 2011 to 2014.” www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc...
Reposted by Erika Shaker
Looking for a budget summary and you aren't an oligarch or the owner of a mid-sized company? Check out what the @ccpa has put together:
www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc...
www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc...
Post-election budget could plunge Canada into another federal election - CCPA
With so much on the line, the newly elected federal government has tabled a budget that, in many ways, could pass as a Conservative budget.
www.policyalternatives.ca
November 4, 2025 at 10:06 PM
Looking for a budget summary and you aren't an oligarch or the owner of a mid-sized company? Check out what the @ccpa has put together:
www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc...
www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc...
Reposted by Erika Shaker
Oil and gas trumps climate action in brutal federal budget. By senior @policyalternatives.ca researcher @hadrianmk.bsky.social #budget2025 #cdnpoli #ClimateCrisis www.nationalobserver.com/2025/11/04/o...
Oil and gas trumps climate action in brutal federal budget
The budget makes clear that fossil fuel production for export is a central pillar of this government’s economic strategy — and that it won’t let climate measures get in the way.
www.nationalobserver.com
November 4, 2025 at 10:41 PM
Oil and gas trumps climate action in brutal federal budget. By senior @policyalternatives.ca researcher @hadrianmk.bsky.social #budget2025 #cdnpoli #ClimateCrisis www.nationalobserver.com/2025/11/04/o...
Reposted by Erika Shaker
I was a coms staffer at PSAC when the Harper government slashed the public service — a miserable time for everyone. All it led to was layoffs, followed by the fed govt hiring more temps and expensive consultants. And then eventually hiring back even more people. It takes humans to run a country 🤷♀️
November 4, 2025 at 10:15 PM
I was a coms staffer at PSAC when the Harper government slashed the public service — a miserable time for everyone. All it led to was layoffs, followed by the fed govt hiring more temps and expensive consultants. And then eventually hiring back even more people. It takes humans to run a country 🤷♀️