Erika Shaker
@ershaker.bsky.social
Director, CCPA National Office
https://bsky.app/profile/policyalternatives.bsky.social
https://bsky.app/profile/policyalternatives.bsky.social
www.thestar.com/politics/pol... ‘Canada’s major airports are currently run by not-for-profit authorities that redirect their revenues — $3.95B in 2022 — into infrastructure and operations. They also send Ottawa millions in lease payments — $525M in 2025, with Pearson alone paying $236M’
Althia Raj: Mark Carney’s flight plan means turbulence for Canadian air travellers
Pension funds seek the stable returns that airports provide, but it's less clear what passengers get out of privatization, Althia Raj writes.
www.thestar.com
September 17, 2026 at 11:31 PM
www.thestar.com/politics/pol... ‘Canada’s major airports are currently run by not-for-profit authorities that redirect their revenues — $3.95B in 2022 — into infrastructure and operations. They also send Ottawa millions in lease payments — $525M in 2025, with Pearson alone paying $236M’
www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc... "...the caregiver story points to a broader tendency in Canadian public policy. Govts respond to enduring problems through instruments designed to expire: pilot programs, one-time benefits, interim measures & funding envelopes that they must actively renew"
Canada can’t stop relying on temporary pilot programs | CCPA
From worker supports to immigration to housing, the federal government has a really hard time committing—but pilot programs aren’t a mode of governance
www.policyalternatives.ca
September 17, 2026 at 2:46 PM
www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc... "...the caregiver story points to a broader tendency in Canadian public policy. Govts respond to enduring problems through instruments designed to expire: pilot programs, one-time benefits, interim measures & funding envelopes that they must actively renew"
www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc... 'In 2025, the MB govt signed a five-year contract with Dynacare that effectively locked these private-sector lab workers into wages 20 - 50% below their public sector co-workers performing the same work in public hospitals.' @policyalternatives.ca
Dynacare workers are standing up to U.S. health care greed in Manitoba | CCPA
The private lab—owned by a U.S. corporation—oversaw a relative drop in workers’ wages. Manitoba stepped in on the side of the company.
www.policyalternatives.ca
September 16, 2026 at 3:19 PM
www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc... 'In 2025, the MB govt signed a five-year contract with Dynacare that effectively locked these private-sector lab workers into wages 20 - 50% below their public sector co-workers performing the same work in public hospitals.' @policyalternatives.ca
www.policyalternatives.ca/serial/alter.... 'While the federal government may present these choices as natural, inevitable responses to the crisis of U.S. aggression, they are indeed choices—and ones that, in many ways, will create an effect opposite of their stated intentions.'
Alternative federal budget 2026-27: Bridge to independence | CCPA
A roadmap to a Canada made truly strong by its commitment to solidarity and dignity for all
www.policyalternatives.ca
September 16, 2026 at 2:48 PM
www.policyalternatives.ca/serial/alter.... 'While the federal government may present these choices as natural, inevitable responses to the crisis of U.S. aggression, they are indeed choices—and ones that, in many ways, will create an effect opposite of their stated intentions.'
Reposted by Erika Shaker
In the end, privatizing Canada’s airports doesn’t solve any of the problems we face. Instead it risks making air travel even more expensive and less pleasant. And Canadians would be giving up democratic control over a critical public asset for generations. www.thespec.com/opinion/cont...
Don’t fall for Ottawa’s airport privatization trap
Privatizing Canada’s airports could mean higher costs for travellers and less control over a critical public asset.
www.thespec.com
September 14, 2026 at 1:24 PM
In the end, privatizing Canada’s airports doesn’t solve any of the problems we face. Instead it risks making air travel even more expensive and less pleasant. And Canadians would be giving up democratic control over a critical public asset for generations. www.thespec.com/opinion/cont...
www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc... 'A privatized airport authority wouldn’t balance revenues and expenditures, instead it would attempt to drive up revenues and/or drive down expenditures to create a profit that it could pay to shareholders.' @policyalternatives.ca @davidmaccdn.bsky.social
Air travel in Canada is about to get more expensive | CCPA
The impacts of airport privatization on travellers and workers
www.policyalternatives.ca
September 15, 2026 at 3:48 PM
www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc... 'A privatized airport authority wouldn’t balance revenues and expenditures, instead it would attempt to drive up revenues and/or drive down expenditures to create a profit that it could pay to shareholders.' @policyalternatives.ca @davidmaccdn.bsky.social
'Under the current system, democratic institutions have control over how we want our airports to operate and the ability to change them if we want them to operate differently....we shouldn’t be surprised if [privatized airports] no longer operate in our interest.' @simonenoch.bsky.social
www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc... 'privately controlled public assets rarely operate in the public interest. And why would they? The private investor has every incentive to minimize their costs and maximize their returns for the life of these multi-decade contracts' @policyalternatives.ca
Privatizing Canadian airports means less safety and higher costs | CCPA
The feds may announce an “asset recycling” scheme for Canadian airports at their investment summit in Toronto. It would make air travel in Canada worse.
www.policyalternatives.ca
September 11, 2026 at 2:41 PM
'Under the current system, democratic institutions have control over how we want our airports to operate and the ability to change them if we want them to operate differently....we shouldn’t be surprised if [privatized airports] no longer operate in our interest.' @simonenoch.bsky.social
www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc... 'privately controlled public assets rarely operate in the public interest. And why would they? The private investor has every incentive to minimize their costs and maximize their returns for the life of these multi-decade contracts' @policyalternatives.ca
Privatizing Canadian airports means less safety and higher costs | CCPA
The feds may announce an “asset recycling” scheme for Canadian airports at their investment summit in Toronto. It would make air travel in Canada worse.
www.policyalternatives.ca
September 11, 2026 at 2:39 PM
www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc... 'privately controlled public assets rarely operate in the public interest. And why would they? The private investor has every incentive to minimize their costs and maximize their returns for the life of these multi-decade contracts' @policyalternatives.ca
www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc... ‘Been sleeping through the trade war, so far? Let’s catch you up.’ @marclee.bsky.social @policyalternatives.ca @ccpa-tirp.bsky.social
Trump’s new trade escalation: What is going on? | CCPA
Unpacking the tangled mess of the ongoing trade war between the U.S. and Canada, beginning with the latest measures that came into force early September
www.policyalternatives.ca
September 10, 2026 at 9:02 PM
www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc... ‘Been sleeping through the trade war, so far? Let’s catch you up.’ @marclee.bsky.social @policyalternatives.ca @ccpa-tirp.bsky.social
www.readthemaple.com/cija-is-lobb... “It undermines the idea that we’re a sovereign state with rights and obligations.”
CIJA Is Lobbying To Expand Grounds For Revoking Citizenship
Experts say CIJA’s demands would have troubling implications for the rights of naturalized Canadian citizens.
www.readthemaple.com
September 10, 2026 at 3:57 PM
www.readthemaple.com/cija-is-lobb... “It undermines the idea that we’re a sovereign state with rights and obligations.”
futurism.com/artificial-i... ‘As part of the bootcamp, students are also required to pass an eyebrow-raising heart rate challenge, in which they’re hooked up to live monitors in front of their classmates and presented with a pre-recorded video of their parents berating them’
AI School Hooking Children Up to Heart Monitor in Front of Class While Playing Critiques of Their Work
The controversial AI-focused private school Alpha School is making its students do some unusual things before enrolling.
futurism.com
September 9, 2026 at 12:05 AM
futurism.com/artificial-i... ‘As part of the bootcamp, students are also required to pass an eyebrow-raising heart rate challenge, in which they’re hooked up to live monitors in front of their classmates and presented with a pre-recorded video of their parents berating them’
www.ipolitics.ca/2026/09/08/c... ‘In a joint statement, those countries say they “will bring forward national measures to ban trade in settlement goods” and are joining others condemning the Israeli government over the “rapidly deteriorating” situation for Palestinians.’
Canada to join European ban on Israeli settlement goods amid rising violence
Canada, the United Kingdom, France and other countries are accusing Israel of enabling settler violence and working to expand settlements that are widely understood to be illegal under international l...
www.ipolitics.ca
September 8, 2026 at 4:46 PM
www.ipolitics.ca/2026/09/08/c... ‘In a joint statement, those countries say they “will bring forward national measures to ban trade in settlement goods” and are joining others condemning the Israeli government over the “rapidly deteriorating” situation for Palestinians.’
theijf.org/article/phil... ‘Alongside the activities cited by the CRA as contravening Canadian policy or international law, Howe said that many charities named in this story also supported programs that would be recognized as legitimate charitable causes.’
Philanthropists critical of Nakba exhibit donated $4.8M to groups later sanctioned for funding illegal settlements, Israeli military
CRA alleges groups carried out or served as conduits for ineligible activities
theijf.org
September 5, 2026 at 2:52 PM
theijf.org/article/phil... ‘Alongside the activities cited by the CRA as contravening Canadian policy or international law, Howe said that many charities named in this story also supported programs that would be recognized as legitimate charitable causes.’
This has always been a deliberate strategy, articulated by former Ed Minister Snobelen during the Harris government in the 90s: push polls, maligning public schools and those working in then, centralizing control and decentralizing responsibility while underfunding the system.
www.thestar.com/news/gta/a-t... ‘years of underfunding have degraded the public education system. “From a public service perspective, if we can’t provide the service people expect, they’re going to look for alternatives.”’
Why is Ontario public school enrolment dropping? Inside the trend setting off alarm bells for school boards
Ontario public school enrolment is declining as parents look for alternatives. Read why families are leaving and how boards face financial strain.
www.thestar.com
September 5, 2026 at 12:46 PM
This has always been a deliberate strategy, articulated by former Ed Minister Snobelen during the Harris government in the 90s: push polls, maligning public schools and those working in then, centralizing control and decentralizing responsibility while underfunding the system.
www.thestar.com/news/gta/a-t... ‘years of underfunding have degraded the public education system. “From a public service perspective, if we can’t provide the service people expect, they’re going to look for alternatives.”’
Why is Ontario public school enrolment dropping? Inside the trend setting off alarm bells for school boards
Ontario public school enrolment is declining as parents look for alternatives. Read why families are leaving and how boards face financial strain.
www.thestar.com
September 5, 2026 at 12:42 PM
www.thestar.com/news/gta/a-t... ‘years of underfunding have degraded the public education system. “From a public service perspective, if we can’t provide the service people expect, they’re going to look for alternatives.”’
www.ctvnews.ca/climate-and-... ‘Scientists who contributed to the paper shared their concern that a report of this magnitude was quietly released by the federal government.’
‘Effectively irreversible’: Changes to Canada’s climate permanent, federal report says
The effects of climate change are impacting Canadians even more than scientists predicted less than a decade ago, according to a new report released this week.
www.ctvnews.ca
September 5, 2026 at 1:31 AM
www.ctvnews.ca/climate-and-... ‘Scientists who contributed to the paper shared their concern that a report of this magnitude was quietly released by the federal government.’
montrealgazette.com/quebec-elect... ‘Still on the theme of private health-care expansion, Fréchette also said she would expand the scenarios in which the government funds private-sector services.’
Fréchette says CAQ would allow more private health care to reduce wait times
The proposal would also allow doctors to work in both the private and public sectors, reversing a policy introduced by the CAQ.
montrealgazette.com
September 4, 2026 at 6:00 PM
montrealgazette.com/quebec-elect... ‘Still on the theme of private health-care expansion, Fréchette also said she would expand the scenarios in which the government funds private-sector services.’
www.cma.ca/about-us/pre... ‘The new rules clearly violate the Canada Health Act & the principles of fair and timely access to health care for all…the federal govt must stand up for Albertans & all Canadians to ensure this new legislation doesn’t create a new normal of health care haves & have-nots.’
Federal government must strongly oppose Alberta's latest move toward American-style health care: Canadian doctors
Today, many Alberta doctors can now work in private clinics, billing patients’ credit cards while working in the public system at the same time. The Alberta government has taken this extraordinary ste...
www.cma.ca
September 2, 2026 at 3:25 AM
www.cma.ca/about-us/pre... ‘The new rules clearly violate the Canada Health Act & the principles of fair and timely access to health care for all…the federal govt must stand up for Albertans & all Canadians to ensure this new legislation doesn’t create a new normal of health care haves & have-nots.’
www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc... indispensable back-to-school analysis for ON students and families, educators and education workers from @policyalternatives.ca’s @ricardotranjan.bsky.social
Doing more with less: 10 facts about school funding in Ontario | CCPA
The numbers show that schools and educators in Ontario are being asked to do more with less, and students are paying the price
www.policyalternatives.ca
September 1, 2026 at 1:10 PM
www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc... indispensable back-to-school analysis for ON students and families, educators and education workers from @policyalternatives.ca’s @ricardotranjan.bsky.social
Four alarm firesale.
www.pm.gc.ca/en/news/news... ‘Mr. Barton brings extensive experience in global business, investment, and public service. He is the Chair of Rio Tinto and of LeapFrog Investments and spent more than 30 years at McKinsey & Company, including nine years as Global Managing Partner.‘
Prime Minister Carney announces the appointments of new Chair of the Board and CEO of Invest in Canada
Invest in Canada is a key player in this mission – guiding investors from initial interest to shovels in the ground.
www.pm.gc.ca
August 31, 2026 at 10:48 PM
Four alarm firesale.
www.pm.gc.ca/en/news/news... ‘Mr. Barton brings extensive experience in global business, investment, and public service. He is the Chair of Rio Tinto and of LeapFrog Investments and spent more than 30 years at McKinsey & Company, including nine years as Global Managing Partner.‘
Prime Minister Carney announces the appointments of new Chair of the Board and CEO of Invest in Canada
Invest in Canada is a key player in this mission – guiding investors from initial interest to shovels in the ground.
www.pm.gc.ca
August 31, 2026 at 10:32 PM
www.pm.gc.ca/en/news/news... ‘Mr. Barton brings extensive experience in global business, investment, and public service. He is the Chair of Rio Tinto and of LeapFrog Investments and spent more than 30 years at McKinsey & Company, including nine years as Global Managing Partner.‘
www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc... ‘An additional word to the federal govt: Stop laying off workers. Pursuing austerity at this moment is a massive own-goal—not only in terms of the state’s capacity to deliver critical public services, but as an economic stabilizer during difficult times’
Standing up to Trump requires standing up for workers | CCPA
The government’s support package for workers and business will need to be scaled up if we are to successfully build a strong and independent future
www.policyalternatives.ca
August 31, 2026 at 6:26 PM
www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc... ‘An additional word to the federal govt: Stop laying off workers. Pursuing austerity at this moment is a massive own-goal—not only in terms of the state’s capacity to deliver critical public services, but as an economic stabilizer during difficult times’
www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc... 'As it once did long ago, the federal government should immediately begin working with provincial governments on emergency stabilization funding to prevent lasting damage to the vital sector.' @policyalternatives.ca
Missing in action: Federal leadership on post-secondary funding | CCPA
The federal government needs to reclaim its role as a leading funder of universities and colleges in Canada
www.policyalternatives.ca
August 31, 2026 at 2:23 PM
www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc... 'As it once did long ago, the federal government should immediately begin working with provincial governments on emergency stabilization funding to prevent lasting damage to the vital sector.' @policyalternatives.ca