COMMONS

Mandalena Lewis is one of far too many flight attendants who have been harassed or assaulted on the job. And her story is just one example of a culture of sexism and abuse that she alleges pervades the airline industry.

But it’s not just airlines. So many workers, especially in female-dominated professions like nursing, education or food service, have to endure similar demeaning and violent treatment.

And when they go to their employers, not only are they often ignored. They’re actively silenced.

Featured in this episode: Mandalena Lewis, Julie Macfarlane 

To learn more:

“Former WestJet flight attendant hails ‘history making’ decision to allow class action lawsuit” by Jenny Peng in The Toronto Star

“B.C. Court of Appeal certifies former flight attendant's class-action lawsuit against WestJet” by Joel Ballard in CBC News

Notice of Civil Claim in Mandalena Lewis vs WestJet Airlines Ltd. (2016)

“How NDAs silence victims and let perpetrators off the hook” by Julie Macfarlane in Broadview

Credits: Arshy Mann (Host and Producer), Jordan Cornish (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Producer), Karyn Pugliese (Editor-in-Chief)

Additional music from Audio Network

Sponsors: Douglas, Article

If you value this podcast, please support us. We rely on listeners like you paying for journalism. As a supporter, you’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on Canadaland merch, invites and tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you’ll be a part of the solution to Canada’s journalism crisis and you’ll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody. Come join us now, click the link in your show notes or go to canadaland.com/join

You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime

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In 2006, Zakaria Amara was arrested and imprisoned for planning what could have been one of the deadliest terror attacks in Canadian history. A ringleader of the so-called “Toronto 18,” he’s one of the most infamous Canadian convicts of the last few decades. 

But this won’t be an episode about the Toronto 18 terror plot. This is about what happened to one of the ringleaders after that plot was foiled. About his many years of incarceration. About the possibility of rehabilitation. And what role, if any, imprisonment and prison labour played in that.

Featured in this episode: Zakaria Amara

CORRECTION: We stated in this episode that this was Zakaria Amara’s first interview with a member of the press. But it was in fact his first broadcast interview since his release. We regret the error.

To learn more:

The Boy and His Sandcastle: A Journey of Redemption by Zakaria Amara

“The Toronto 18 case still skews our views on ‘radicalization’ and terrorism” by Adnan Khan in The Globe and Mail

“Bomb plot ringleader: ‘I will change…’” by Michael Friscolanti in Maclean’s

“Books behind bars” by Leslie Sinclair in This Magazine

Credits: Arshy Mann (Host and Producer), Jordan Cornish (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Producer), Karyn Pugliese (Editor-in-Chief)

Additional music from Audio Network

Sponsors: Article

If you value this podcast, please support us. We rely on listeners like you paying for journalism. As a supporter, you’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on Canadaland merch, invites and tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you’ll be a part of the solution to Canada’s journalism crisis and you’ll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody. Come join us now, click the link in your show notes or go to canadaland.com/join

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

♩♪ A long, long time ago, I can still remember

How the music used to pay my bills

I knew that if I got my break

That I could be as big as Drake

And then I could stop shopping at No Frills ♩♪

♩♪ But Spotify, it’s nearly killed us

Ticketmaster’s ground us to dust

The companies got too large

Now monopolies are in charge ♩♪

♩♪ And the record labels I fear the most

Have all just merged and so now we’re toast

Don’t you think it’s just so gross?

The way, the music, died ♩♪

Featured in this episode: Simon Outhit, Cory Doctorow

To learn more

Chokepoint Capitalism: How Big Tech and Big Content Captured Creative Labor Markets and How We'll Win Them Back by Rebecca Giblin & Cory Doctorow

“'A public relations nightmare': Ticketmaster recruits pros for secret scalper program” in CBC News by Dave Seglins, Rachel Houlihan & Laura Clementson 

“We went undercover as ticket scalpers — and Ticketmaster offered to help us do business” in Toronto Star by Robert Cribb & Marco Chown Oved

“Is Live Music Broken? It’s Not Just Ticketmaster, It’s Everything” in The Ringer by Nate Rogers

A Statement From Live Nation Entertainment

Credits: Arshy Mann (Host and Producer), Jordan Cornish (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Associate Producer), André Proulx (Production Coordinator)

Additional music from Audio Network

Sponsors: Douglas,

For a limited time, get 6 months of exclusive supporter benefits for just $2/month. Go to canadaland.com/join to become a supporter today. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Prison labour is largely invisible in Canada. Most prisoners who work do institutional upkeep, the kind of cleaning, cooking and maintenance that’s required to keep a prison running.

But then there are prison industries. Not only do Canadian prisoners work for for-profit businesses, but they’re sometimes doing dangerous and nauseating work around. 

Featured in this episode: Calvin Neufeld

To learn more:

Bloody Bad Business: Report on the Joyceville Institution Abattoir

“Prison farm supporter worries new Kingston farms may exploit prison labour” by Jonna Semple in Global News

Credits: Arshy Mann (Host and Producer), Jordan Cornish (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Producer), Karyn Pugliese (Editor-in-Chief)

Additional music from Audio Network

Sponsors: Douglas, Pod Save The World

For a limited time, get 6 months of exclusive supporter benefits for just $2/month. Go to canadaland.com/join to become a supporter today. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

All labour exists on a spectrum, ranging from enslavement at one pole, to fully, freely given on the other.

And, in Canada, at the most extreme end of that spectrum are prison labourers. Incarcerated people have few rights and fewer options when it comes to their working lives.

If we want to truly understand our criminal justice system and Canadian labour, we need to examine how prisoners work.

Featured in this episode: Jordan House, Asaf Rashid

To learn more:

Solidarity Beyond Bars: Unionizing Prison Labour by Jordan House & Asaf Rashid

“Prison breaking-point: Canada’s jail system is in crisis, and that affects all of us” by Justin Ling in The Globe and Mail

“The case for a prisoners’ union” in Briarpatch  by Jordan House & Asaf Rashid

Credits: Arshy Mann (Host and Producer), Jordan Cornish (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Producer), Karyn Pugliese (Editor-in-Chief)

Additional music from Audio Network

Sponsors: Douglas

For a limited time, get 6 months of exclusive supporter benefits for just $2/month. Go to canadaland.com/join to become a supporter today. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today we’re sharing with you a preview of the first episode of Canadaland’s newest show Pretendians.

What do some of the most prominent and successful Indigenous artists, leaders and thinkers have in common? They aren’t Indigenous.  

From major universities, to the halls of power, to Hollywood, there are people claiming to be Indigenous in the interest of power, money, and status. There are dozens of outrageous cases of Indigenous identity fraud that we know about, and likely thousands that we do not. 

So why do these so-called “Pretendians” do it? How do they pull it off? And what happens when they are exposed?  

To hear more follow Pretendians in your podcast app or click here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Newfoundland and Labrador, fishing is more than just an industry or a job. It truly is a way of life. It’s at the core of what has made this place what it is.

Today, as fishers leave the industry in droves, all of that is at risk of dying.

But is it even worth it to try to keep all of that alive? After all, there’s plenty of ways to make a living. And what kind of future is in store for the people who refuse to let go?

Featured in this episode: Kimberly Orren, Leo Hearn, Jenn Thornhill Verma, Ryan Cleary

To learn more:

“Could smaller, more sustainable cod fishing make a comeback? Newfoundlanders look cautiously for ways to rebuild” by Jenn Thornhill Verma in The Globe and Mail

“Fishing school takes students out of the classroom and out on the water” by Amanda Gear in CBC News

“The Fishing Revolution and the Origins of Capitalism” by Ian Angus in Monthly Review

Credits: Arshy Mann (Host and Producer), Jordan Cornish (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Producer), André Proulx (Production Coordinator), Karyn Pugliese (Editor-in-Chief)

Additional music from Audio Network

Sponsors: Rotman, AG1

If you value this podcast, Support us! You’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch, tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you’ll be a part of the solution to Canada’s journalism crisis, you’ll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody. 

You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The cod collapse is a harbinger of the many environmental disasters we’re about to face. But what happens to workers in the aftermath of that kind of catastrophe? In Newfoundland and Labrador, monopolistic corporations took advantage.

The history of the Atlantic fishery can be understood as a power struggle between fishermen and merchants. 

And the merchants are winning.

Featured in this episode: Glen Winslow, Ryan Cleary, Jenn Thornhill-Verma

To learn more:

“Who Controls Fish Processing in Newfoundland & Labrador?” by Jenn Thornhill-Verma & Jack Daly in The Independent

“Why are fish harvesters protesting in Newfoundland?” in CTV News

“Danish company Royal Greenland buying 4 more N.L. fish plants” in CBC News

Credits: Arshy Mann (Host and Producer), Jordan Cornish (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Producer), André Proulx (Production Coordinator), Karyn Pugliese (Editor-in-Chief)

Additional music from Audio Network

Sponsors: Douglas, AGI

If you value this podcast, Support us! You’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch, tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you’ll be a part of the solution to Canada’s journalism crisis, you’ll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody. 

You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The closure of the cod fishery in Newfoundland and Labrador was the most devastating mass layoff in Canadian history. And its impacts are still being felt to this day.

The collapse of Newfoundland cod is a story of man-made environmental calamity that turned into economic devastation. It’s a story of a government ignoring the knowledge of working people, in favour of the so-called expertise of industry, to disastrous effect.

But this isn’t just history. It’s prophecy. It’s a vision of what may come if we continue to ignore the ecological limits of this planet in the pursuit of profit.

Featured in this episode: Bernard Martin, Jenn Thornhill-Verma, Ryan Cleary, Glen Winslow

To learn more:

Cod Collapse: The Rise and Fall of Newfoundland’s Saltwater Cowboys by Jenn Thornhill-Verma

Lament for an Ocean: The Collapse of the Atlantic Cod Fishery by Michael Harris

Managed Annihilation: An Unnatural History of the Newfoundland Cod Collapse by Dean Bavington

Cod: A Biography of the Fish that Changed the World by Mark Kurlansky

Credits: Arshy Mann (Host and Producer), Jordan Cornish (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Producer), André Proulx (Production Coordinator), Karyn Pugliese (Editor-in-Chief)

Additional music from Audio Network

Sponsors: Rotman, Douglas 

If you value this podcast, Support us! You’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch, tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you’ll be a part of the solution to Canada’s journalism crisis, you’ll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody. 

You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode was originally published on November 24, 2021. 

Twenty-six men were working underground when an explosion tore through the Westray Mine in Nova Scotia. Their friends and colleagues went into the wreckage to try to save them.

The story of Westray is one of managerial malice and the heroism of everyday people. But why is it that governments let this happen over and over again, at the expense of so many lives?

Featured in this episode: Vernon Theriault, Tom Sandborn

To learn more:

Westray: My Journey From Darkness to Light by Vernon Theriault and Marjorie Coady

“Hell’s History” by Tom Sandborn in The Tyee

The Last Shift by CBC’s The Fifth Estate

Credits: Arshy Mann (Host and Producer), Jordan Cornish (Producer), Damilola Onime (Producer), Kieran Oudshoorn (Managing Editor)

Additional music from Audio Network

Sponsors: Douglas, AG1

If you value this podcast, Support us! You’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch, tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you’ll be a part of the solution to Canada’s journalism crisis, you’ll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody. 

You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.