David Webster
@dwebster.bsky.social
Historian: Canada, Quebec, Asia, Timor-Leste, human rights, development. Latest book Challenge the Strong Wind https://www.ubcpress.ca/challenge-the-strong-wind . On unceded Abenaki land, maintenant connu sous le nom Estrie/Eastern Townships.
Toronto also has an immigrant democratic socialist mayor but people don't notice
November 6, 2025 at 10:26 PM
Toronto also has an immigrant democratic socialist mayor but people don't notice
If Americans killed by guns this century were a country, it would have more than double the population of Iceland.
Shootings have killed more than 800,000 people and injured over 2 million others in the U.S. since the start of the 21st century. Earlier this year, 60 thought leaders from multiple disciplines met to create a roadmap for substantially reducing gun violence by 2040.
Here’s what they came up with.
Here’s what they came up with.
A Blueprint for Reducing Gun Violence by 2040, According to Experts
The JAMA Summit on Firearm Violence convened thought leaders from a wide array of disciplines to discuss ideas for preventing shooting deaths and injuries.
www.thetrace.org
November 6, 2025 at 3:04 AM
If Americans killed by guns this century were a country, it would have more than double the population of Iceland.
Reposted by David Webster
An update on my column: Parliamentary committee drops most contentious parts of its demand for data on research funding. It now wants aggregated, not disaggregated data. www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/arti...
November 6, 2025 at 2:29 AM
An update on my column: Parliamentary committee drops most contentious parts of its demand for data on research funding. It now wants aggregated, not disaggregated data. www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/arti...
A missed opportunity that undermines other aspects of Canada's foreign and trade policy. Countrr productive.
Canada is retreating from its international assistance commitments in Budget 2025. Details are vague except for cutting $2.7 Billion in aid spending between 2026 and 2030.
A missed opportunity for Canada to redouble efforts in face of American abandonment of aid.
budget.canada.ca/2025/report-...
A missed opportunity for Canada to redouble efforts in face of American abandonment of aid.
budget.canada.ca/2025/report-...
Chapter 5: Creating a more efficient and effective government | Budget 2025
Chapter 5: Creating a more efficient and effective government — Part of Budget 2025.
budget.canada.ca
November 5, 2025 at 5:46 PM
A missed opportunity that undermines other aspects of Canada's foreign and trade policy. Countrr productive.
Random performative cuts to aid will only hurt Canada globally when we need new friends and diversified trade. Short term thinking remains the problem.
I don’t object to cuts to Canada’s international spending per se
I object to the capricious, callous and dismissive way it’s being done
I get this is feminized, wooly stuff. Not like hard, tangible economics, or hanging out with private equity talking billion dollar deals
I object to the capricious, callous and dismissive way it’s being done
I get this is feminized, wooly stuff. Not like hard, tangible economics, or hanging out with private equity talking billion dollar deals
November 5, 2025 at 1:07 PM
Random performative cuts to aid will only hurt Canada globally when we need new friends and diversified trade. Short term thinking remains the problem.
Reposted by David Webster
Pre-Trudeau, First Nations communities suffered under a 2% annual funding increase cap. That cap didn't keep pace with population growth. Under Carney's Liberals, it's not just a 2% increase cap - it's a ZERO percent cap, a freeze. Literally worse than Harper. www.cbc.ca/news/politic...
November 4, 2025 at 11:59 PM
Pre-Trudeau, First Nations communities suffered under a 2% annual funding increase cap. That cap didn't keep pace with population growth. Under Carney's Liberals, it's not just a 2% increase cap - it's a ZERO percent cap, a freeze. Literally worse than Harper. www.cbc.ca/news/politic...
well this sucks
Here's the biggest PSE story you haven't heard yet: the Canada Student Grant for low-income students is being cut from $4200/year to $3000/year as of next August. It's implicit in the budget tables but the government is too chickenshit to actually say so directly.
November 4, 2025 at 11:47 PM
well this sucks
Reposted by David Webster
They better not go and shake that man’s hand while he’s kidnapping folks from the community that made them
November 2, 2025 at 4:19 AM
They better not go and shake that man’s hand while he’s kidnapping folks from the community that made them
1000 people post VLADDY simultaneously
November 2, 2025 at 1:21 AM
1000 people post VLADDY simultaneously
If the Jays win tonight, Carney will apologize to Trump.
November 1, 2025 at 10:51 PM
If the Jays win tonight, Carney will apologize to Trump.
Open Letter to Protect Tri-Council EDI Data
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Open Letter to Protect Tri-Council EDI Data
Why do we need urgent action to protect our data?
The mandate of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Science and Research is to review and report on topics relating to science and research in ...
docs.google.com
November 1, 2025 at 10:09 PM
Open Letter to Protect Tri-Council EDI Data
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Reposted by David Webster
Western governments preferred to break the world, destroy every institution that uplifted human rights in some capacity, just so they didnt have to extend those human rights to us. Think about that.
October 31, 2025 at 2:34 PM
Western governments preferred to break the world, destroy every institution that uplifted human rights in some capacity, just so they didnt have to extend those human rights to us. Think about that.
Nothing better than reading memoirs
October 31, 2025 at 12:48 AM
Nothing better than reading memoirs
The "notwithstanding" clause in Canada's 1982 constitution was meant as a "nuclear option."
Section 33: “Parliament or the legislature of a province may expressly declare ... that the Act or a provision thereof shall operate notwithstanding" the Charter of Rights. #cdnhist #notwithstanding /2
Section 33: “Parliament or the legislature of a province may expressly declare ... that the Act or a provision thereof shall operate notwithstanding" the Charter of Rights. #cdnhist #notwithstanding /2
October 28, 2025 at 6:44 PM
The "notwithstanding" clause in Canada's 1982 constitution was meant as a "nuclear option."
Section 33: “Parliament or the legislature of a province may expressly declare ... that the Act or a provision thereof shall operate notwithstanding" the Charter of Rights. #cdnhist #notwithstanding /2
Section 33: “Parliament or the legislature of a province may expressly declare ... that the Act or a provision thereof shall operate notwithstanding" the Charter of Rights. #cdnhist #notwithstanding /2
The joy that comes from learning. Victoria BC, Lək̓ʷəŋən territory.
October 24, 2025 at 4:12 PM
The joy that comes from learning. Victoria BC, Lək̓ʷəŋən territory.
Toronto recognized a priest fo...
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Toronto recognized a priest for her book on a church encampment. Then, it tore it down | CBC News
Dozens of people gathered outside a church in Toronto's Kensington Market neighbourhood on Thursday as city staff began clearing another homeless encampment, deemed to be a fire hazard.
www.cbc.ca
October 17, 2025 at 11:39 AM
Toronto recognized a priest fo...
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Don't "dig a hole and bury the past." My review of the excellent RESISTING INDONESIA’S CULTURE OF IMPUNITY: Aceh’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission | Edited by Jess Melvin, Sri Lestari Wahyuningroem, and Annie Pohlman pacificaffairs.ubc.ca/book-reviews...
RESISTING INDONESIA’S CULTURE OF IMPUNITY: Aceh’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission | Edited by Jess Melvin, Sri Lestari Wahyuningroem, and Annie Pohlman
book review of RESISTING INDONESIA’S CULTURE OF IMPUNITY: Aceh’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission | Edited by Jess Melvin, Sri Lestari Wahyuningroem, and Annie Pohlman
pacificaffairs.ubc.ca
October 8, 2025 at 2:10 PM
Don't "dig a hole and bury the past." My review of the excellent RESISTING INDONESIA’S CULTURE OF IMPUNITY: Aceh’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission | Edited by Jess Melvin, Sri Lestari Wahyuningroem, and Annie Pohlman pacificaffairs.ubc.ca/book-reviews...
Memikwaldamnana, we remember. Vigil for the Rogers Raid on the Abenaki village Odanak, October 4, 1759 and the 34 massacred that day.
October 5, 2025 at 6:38 PM
Memikwaldamnana, we remember. Vigil for the Rogers Raid on the Abenaki village Odanak, October 4, 1759 and the 34 massacred that day.
Reposted by David Webster
One first step people should do to respond to this is start using the “report a speed trap” function in Apple Maps to report where ICE is operating. Make Apple party to the attempt to protect people.
ICEBlock Owner After Apple Removes App: ‘We Are Determined to Fight This’
🔗 www.404media.co/iceblock-own...
🔗 www.404media.co/iceblock-own...
ICEBlock Owner After Apple Removes App: ‘We Are Determined to Fight This’
Apple removed ICEBlock reportedly after direct pressure from Department of Justice officials. “I am incredibly disappointed by Apple's actions today. Capitulating to an authoritarian regime is never t...
www.404media.co
October 4, 2025 at 3:30 PM
One first step people should do to respond to this is start using the “report a speed trap” function in Apple Maps to report where ICE is operating. Make Apple party to the attempt to protect people.
This is objectively true. Biden chose to let genocide happen, when he could have stopped it. US liberals' contortions just show that they can't see, can't resist the fascism taking over their country.
“Israel must immediately stop the bombing of Gaza” — Biden never made this simple demand, despite 15 months of relentless Israeli slaughter of Palestinians during his presidency
October 4, 2025 at 4:50 PM
This is objectively true. Biden chose to let genocide happen, when he could have stopped it. US liberals' contortions just show that they can't see, can't resist the fascism taking over their country.
Not surprisingly, apologists for Israel's genocide have a soft spot for war criminal Prabowo Subianto, president of Indonesia.
October 3, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Not surprisingly, apologists for Israel's genocide have a soft spot for war criminal Prabowo Subianto, president of Indonesia.
I just signed KAIROS Canada’s urgent call to the Prime Minister: Stop the famine. End the siege on Gaza. Canada must press for an immediate ceasefire, unrestricted humanitarian aid & total arms embargo on Israel. Add your name: kairoscanada.org/gaza-letter-...
#Gaza #CeasefireNow #StopArmingIsrael
#Gaza #CeasefireNow #StopArmingIsrael
Gaza Letter Campaign |
kairoscanada.org
October 2, 2025 at 4:27 PM
I just signed KAIROS Canada’s urgent call to the Prime Minister: Stop the famine. End the siege on Gaza. Canada must press for an immediate ceasefire, unrestricted humanitarian aid & total arms embargo on Israel. Add your name: kairoscanada.org/gaza-letter-...
#Gaza #CeasefireNow #StopArmingIsrael
#Gaza #CeasefireNow #StopArmingIsrael
Because Americans sure don't know how
For decades, American experts have flown around the world teaching local activists how to practice democracy. Now it’s time for activists from authoritarian countries to come to American and show Americans how to fight autocrats.
October 1, 2025 at 3:48 PM
Because Americans sure don't know how
The insidious lessons of Canada's "residential schools" are being applied to assimilationist education in Tibet today, featuring residential preschools where Chinese language is enforced on Tibetan children aged 4 to 6.
Human rights violators learn from each other.
share.google/MiU6IZ7Cb5zW...
Human rights violators learn from each other.
share.google/MiU6IZ7Cb5zW...
How China Is Weaponizing Education to Erase Tibetan Identity
For China, Sinicizing Tibet’s next generation through boarding schools is the ultimate strategy for solidifying its control over the region.
share.google
October 1, 2025 at 3:45 PM
The insidious lessons of Canada's "residential schools" are being applied to assimilationist education in Tibet today, featuring residential preschools where Chinese language is enforced on Tibetan children aged 4 to 6.
Human rights violators learn from each other.
share.google/MiU6IZ7Cb5zW...
Human rights violators learn from each other.
share.google/MiU6IZ7Cb5zW...