Anthony Fenton is a researcher based in BC, specializing in Canadian political economy and international relations. Currently, he's finishing his PhD thesis at York University (Toronto), which focuses on the political and economic history of Canada’s relations with Saudi Arabia and the neighboring Gulf monarchies, covering the post-WWI to the present day. His Twitter handle is @AnthonyFenton

Also in this episode:

ATU Canada requests a meeting with Marc Garneau, the Minister of Transport, calls for the Federal govt to invest at least $250,000 in each bus route Greyhound wants to cancel. ATU President John DeNino speaks positively about the idea of a nationalized bus service but would still settle for a corporate subsidy.

(Correction: in the episode Marc Garneau was referred to as the Minister of Infrastructure. He is the Minister of Transport).

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/greyhound-canada-subsidies-manitoba-saskatchewan-alberta-1.4779609

SGEU receives a strike mandate from it's members while thousands of workers in other public sector unions are still without contract. Anthony Fenton and Chris Smith wrote an article last year outlining Saskatchewan's 2017 austerity budget for context.

https://leaderpost.com/news/saskatchewan/possible-strike-looms-as-tension-grows-between-labour-and-province

https://leaderpost.com/news/politics/thousands-of-sask-workers-in-limbo-with-contract-negotiations-open

http://rankandfile.ca/saskatchewans-2017-austerity-budget/

A Nigerian man who was about to be deported died during an altercation with border officers in Calgary, but the cause of death is unknown. No One is Illegal Toronto has an article on actions you can take to help stop deportations.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/bolante-idowu-alo-cbsa-widow-1.4782208

http://toronto.nooneisillegal.org/node/376

Anthony Fenton is a researcher based in BC, specializing in Canadian political economy and international relations. Currently, he's finishing his PhD thesis at York University (Toronto), which focuses on the political and economic history of Canada’s relations with Saudi Arabia and the neighboring Gulf monarchies, covering the post-WWI to the present day. His Twitter handle is @AnthonyFenton

Also in this episode:

ATU Canada requests a meeting with Marc Garneau, the Minister of Transport, calls for the Federal govt to invest at least $250,000 in each bus route Greyhound wants to cancel. ATU President John DeNino speaks positively about the idea of a nationalized bus service but would still settle for a corporate subsidy.

(Correction: in the episode Marc Garneau was referred to as the Minister of Infrastructure. He is the Minister of Transport).

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/greyhound-canada-subsidies-manitoba-saskatchewan-alberta-1.4779609

SGEU receives a strike mandate from it's members while thousands of workers in other public sector unions are still without contract. Anthony Fenton and Chris Smith wrote an article last year outlining Saskatchewan's 2017 austerity budget for context.

https://leaderpost.com/news/saskatchewan/possible-strike-looms-as-tension-grows-between-labour-and-province

https://leaderpost.com/news/politics/thousands-of-sask-workers-in-limbo-with-contract-negotiations-open

http://rankandfile.ca/saskatchewans-2017-austerity-budget/

A Nigerian man who was about to be deported died during an altercation with border officers in Calgary, but the cause of death is unknown. No One is Illegal Toronto has an article on actions you can take to help stop deportations.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/bolante-idowu-alo-cbsa-widow-1.4782208

http://toronto.nooneisillegal.org/node/376

David Bush, editor at RankandFile.ca, talks about Ontario’s cancellation of the Basic Income Pilot Project, and what it means for Prairie provinces pushing for Basic Income programs of their own.

Calgary organizer Nicole Montford from NationalizeBusRoutes.ca talks about the days of action planned September 1-3 calling for nationalized intercity transit.

David Bush, editor at RankandFile.ca, talks about Ontario’s cancellation of the Basic Income Pilot Project, and what it means for Prairie provinces pushing for Basic Income programs of their own.

Calgary organizer Nicole Montford from NationalizeBusRoutes.ca talks about the days of action planned September 1-3 calling for nationalized intercity transit.

It is a rough time to be a transit driver in Winnipeg. In February 2017, a transit driver was stabbed and killed after waking a sleeping rider. Last week, a bus was briefly hijacked by a man spraying bear mace. The Workers Compensation Board release numbers that showed a dramatic increase in drivers on stress leave to cope with the day to day harassment and violence they experience on the job.

This all comes in addition to the struggles Winnipeg transit has had delivering reliable service.

The PC government led by Brian Pallister cut the 50/50 funding agreement, which had been in place since the 70s, where the province and municipalities split funding for transit.

The federal government recently announced 530 million dollars in infrastructure funding, but that funding does not go towards actual service - increasing the number of routes and their frequency. According to a comprehensive study released by McGill university, service is the number one factor to increase ridership.

The city threatened to cut 22 routes last year citing low ridership but, after sustained organizing led by Functional Transit Winnipeg and other groups, agreed to keep them running. They did however, increase the fare by .25 cents.

These factors are all important to the conversations you’re about to hear, which is whether Winnipeg Transit needs its own police presence to keep drivers and riders safe. These are just a few of the many conversations that need to be had about transit and policing in the city, especially as the municipal election approaches this fall.

It is a rough time to be a transit driver in Winnipeg. In February 2017, a transit driver was stabbed and killed after waking a sleeping rider. Last week, a bus was briefly hijacked by a man spraying bear mace. The Workers Compensation Board release numbers that showed a dramatic increase in drivers on stress leave to cope with the day to day harassment and violence they experience on the job.

This all comes in addition to the struggles Winnipeg transit has had delivering reliable service.

The PC government led by Brian Pallister cut the 50/50 funding agreement, which had been in place since the 70s, where the province and municipalities split funding for transit.

The federal government recently announced 530 million dollars in infrastructure funding, but that funding does not go towards actual service - increasing the number of routes and their frequency. According to a comprehensive study released by McGill university, service is the number one factor to increase ridership.

The city threatened to cut 22 routes last year citing low ridership but, after sustained organizing led by Functional Transit Winnipeg and other groups, agreed to keep them running. They did however, increase the fare by .25 cents.

These factors are all important to the conversations you’re about to hear, which is whether Winnipeg Transit needs its own police presence to keep drivers and riders safe. These are just a few of the many conversations that need to be had about transit and policing in the city, especially as the municipal election approaches this fall.

ATU Canada President Paul Thorp and CUPW President Mike Palecek talk Greyhound's future. Also, Amazon on the Prairies, resisting "border crisis" rhetoric, Justice for Stolen Children Camp in SK and Manitoba labour's lawsuit against the provincial govt.

ATU Canada President Paul Thorp and CUPW President Mike Palecek talk Greyhound's future. Also, Amazon on the Prairies, resisting "border crisis" rhetoric, Justice for Stolen Children Camp in SK and Manitoba labour's lawsuit against the provincial govt.