Charles Smith
@profsmithsask.bsky.social
Teaching labour politics in Treaty 6 territory, the Paris of the Prairies. Co-Editor of Labour/Le Travail and President of CAWLS. Terrible guitarist. Even worse Pianist. Proud father of twins. Blue Jays nut. Fair weather runner. Opinions are my own.
Reposted by Charles Smith
Imagine a system of “academic freedom” where you can fired for, say, pointing out that the unemployment rate is higher for non-White Americans than for White Americans.
As if pointing out facts is a crime.
As if pointing out facts is a crime.
Without academic freedom, academics cannot ask critical questions, conduct new research or feel secure to challenge established orthodoxy. This is a clear violation of such freedoms at the centre of the modern university. This is an affront to the academy.
Texas A&M Tightens Rules on Talking About Race and Gender in Classes
www.nytimes.com
November 14, 2025 at 12:00 AM
Imagine a system of “academic freedom” where you can fired for, say, pointing out that the unemployment rate is higher for non-White Americans than for White Americans.
As if pointing out facts is a crime.
As if pointing out facts is a crime.
Reposted by Charles Smith
Message to all faculty: your expertise is no longer trusted or valued at this so-called “university.”
November 14, 2025 at 12:22 PM
Message to all faculty: your expertise is no longer trusted or valued at this so-called “university.”
Without academic freedom, academics cannot ask critical questions, conduct new research or feel secure to challenge established orthodoxy. This is a clear violation of such freedoms at the centre of the modern university. This is an affront to the academy.
Texas A&M Tightens Rules on Talking About Race and Gender in Classes
www.nytimes.com
November 13, 2025 at 11:41 PM
Without academic freedom, academics cannot ask critical questions, conduct new research or feel secure to challenge established orthodoxy. This is a clear violation of such freedoms at the centre of the modern university. This is an affront to the academy.
What governments have opposed every major environmental initiative over the past two decades again?
November 13, 2025 at 8:39 PM
What governments have opposed every major environmental initiative over the past two decades again?
I’m 100% sure that if China started randomly blowing up boats in Australian waters, this would be Canada’s response. No really, I’m sure. 🙄🙄🙄
Unlocked | Up to the U.S. to decide if it violated international law with Caribbean boat strikes, says Anand
www.hilltimes.com/story/2025/1...
www.hilltimes.com/story/2025/1...
Up to the U.S. to decide if it violated international law with Caribbean boat strikes, says Anand
Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand broke with tradition as she seemingly asserted that Canada's top diplomat doesn't weigh in on a foreign country's adherence to international law.
www.hilltimes.com
November 13, 2025 at 7:37 PM
I’m 100% sure that if China started randomly blowing up boats in Australian waters, this would be Canada’s response. No really, I’m sure. 🙄🙄🙄
Wow. This talking point never gets old, huh?
Health Minister Jeremy Cockrill says it's rich for NDP to say health care has never been worse, pointing to 52 rural health care closures in the 1990s. He says we're working on innovative solutions, like virtual care, and our plan is the best. #skpoli
November 13, 2025 at 7:24 PM
Wow. This talking point never gets old, huh?
Reposted by Charles Smith
On this 1st day of Trans Awareness week, here is a list of resources from our faculty providing legal analysis of anti-trans laws/policies (looking at you AB & SK). These resources are produced by allies, and it is also crucial to listen to voices from trans communities:
egale.ca/egale-in-act...
egale.ca/egale-in-act...
Trans Awareness Week 2025 - Egale Canada
Every March 31st, the trans community and allies come together to observe Trans Day Of Visibility (TDOV)
egale.ca
November 13, 2025 at 6:29 PM
On this 1st day of Trans Awareness week, here is a list of resources from our faculty providing legal analysis of anti-trans laws/policies (looking at you AB & SK). These resources are produced by allies, and it is also crucial to listen to voices from trans communities:
egale.ca/egale-in-act...
egale.ca/egale-in-act...
Running in Fall/Winter #yxe can bring anything, but it will definitely bring wind in your face while running North, East, South, and West. Bonkers.
November 13, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Running in Fall/Winter #yxe can bring anything, but it will definitely bring wind in your face while running North, East, South, and West. Bonkers.
Reposted by Charles Smith
As of this morning, Starbucks workers across the country are officially ON STRIKE. And we're prepared for this to become the biggest and longest ULP strike in Starbucks history.
Say #NoContractNoCoffee with us: DON'T BUY STARBUCKS for the duration of our open-ended ULP strike! $SBUX
Say #NoContractNoCoffee with us: DON'T BUY STARBUCKS for the duration of our open-ended ULP strike! $SBUX
November 13, 2025 at 11:33 AM
As of this morning, Starbucks workers across the country are officially ON STRIKE. And we're prepared for this to become the biggest and longest ULP strike in Starbucks history.
Say #NoContractNoCoffee with us: DON'T BUY STARBUCKS for the duration of our open-ended ULP strike! $SBUX
Say #NoContractNoCoffee with us: DON'T BUY STARBUCKS for the duration of our open-ended ULP strike! $SBUX
Reposted by Charles Smith
The over representation of #Indigenous people within Canada's #prison population is intensifying horribly.
www.aptnnews.ca/national-new...
www.aptnnews.ca/national-new...
Zinger leaving post early due to lack of progress on Indigenous issues
Ivan Zinger, Canada's prison watchdog says he's leaving his job early due to the lack of progress on Indigenous issues in penitentiaries.
www.aptnnews.ca
November 13, 2025 at 3:08 PM
The over representation of #Indigenous people within Canada's #prison population is intensifying horribly.
www.aptnnews.ca/national-new...
www.aptnnews.ca/national-new...
And yet oil producing regions are determined to expand production at all cost.
Oversupply of oil could create glut of 4m barrels a day, says energy watchdog
Warning comes as scenario in which global demand continues to grow until 2050 is included in IEA outlook report
www.theguardian.com
November 13, 2025 at 2:27 PM
And yet oil producing regions are determined to expand production at all cost.
Company propaganda is so predictable. They offer great wage and benefits! (except for the lived experience of every worker saying the opposite) We're so disappointed they won't bargain! (except they've been trying to bust the union since day one). Ignore the company double speak. Support workers.
‘Whatever it takes’: Starbucks workers launch US strike and call for boycott
Unfair labor practice strike on ‘red cup day’ in over 25 cities comes amid stagnant negotiations with coffee chain
www.theguardian.com
November 13, 2025 at 2:22 PM
Company propaganda is so predictable. They offer great wage and benefits! (except for the lived experience of every worker saying the opposite) We're so disappointed they won't bargain! (except they've been trying to bust the union since day one). Ignore the company double speak. Support workers.
What are the long term implications of the "rush to develop" so prized by the Carney government? It could be devastation of pristine Indigenous lands or worse.
Opinion: As Carney pushes major projects, he must heed a cautionary tale from Canada’s past
No doubt there is room to streamline approval processes, but there must be enough rigour so future developments don’t leave behind environmental liabilities
www.theglobeandmail.com
November 13, 2025 at 1:56 PM
What are the long term implications of the "rush to develop" so prized by the Carney government? It could be devastation of pristine Indigenous lands or worse.
Reposted by Charles Smith
These are the kind of things that make the trumps relatable to the working class
Eric Trump: "You can send $500 million worth of bitcoin on a Sunday night at 11pm while having a glass of wine with your wife for virtually zero fees."
November 13, 2025 at 1:31 PM
These are the kind of things that make the trumps relatable to the working class
I feel like we're living in that scene in the classic film, the Seventh Seal, where we just wilfully dance toward death. Honestly, we know the problem and still do nothing.
Carbon Dioxide Emissions Head for Another Record in 2025
www.nytimes.com
November 13, 2025 at 1:29 PM
I feel like we're living in that scene in the classic film, the Seventh Seal, where we just wilfully dance toward death. Honestly, we know the problem and still do nothing.
But lucky the Liberals in Canada and the Republicans in the US don’t care!!
World still on track for catastrophic 2.6C temperature rise, report finds
Fossil fuel emissions have hit a record high while many nations have done too little to avert deadly global heating
www.theguardian.com
November 13, 2025 at 4:04 AM
But lucky the Liberals in Canada and the Republicans in the US don’t care!!
Great, as always. And Edwin Díaz as the 9th inning guy? Oh hells yes.
The Bo-nanza has Begun.
On Tucker, Bichette, Trolololosi, Simmons, Schneider, Straw, Bieber, Berríos, Yesavage, Vlad, Teo, bat speed, and more!
📸 @bluejays.com
On Tucker, Bichette, Trolololosi, Simmons, Schneider, Straw, Bieber, Berríos, Yesavage, Vlad, Teo, bat speed, and more!
📸 @bluejays.com
Today in MLBTR: The Bo-nanza has Begun
On Tucker, Bichette, Trolololosi, Simmons, Schneider, Straw, Bieber, Berríos, Yesavage, Vlad, Teo, bat speed, and more!
stoeten.substack.com
November 12, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Great, as always. And Edwin Díaz as the 9th inning guy? Oh hells yes.
Beyond the awfulness of so many of these resolutions, it does lend a question: how much influence should delegates to a convention have with sitting parties and governments?
ANALYSIS | Pride flags, fluoride, abortion: Here's what UCP will push Danielle Smith to change next | CBC News
Alberta's premier likes to fulfil her party members' policy wishes. But do these ones coming to convention go too far?
www.cbc.ca
November 12, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Beyond the awfulness of so many of these resolutions, it does lend a question: how much influence should delegates to a convention have with sitting parties and governments?
The great Sam Gindin on the crisis of the current moment.
Canadian Auto Isn’t in ‘Crisis’, It’s in Danger of Extinction
Canadian autoworkers have faced many crises over the years, but the present threat is distinct. Lana Payne, President of Unifor, has warned that “If we don’t push back hard against him [US President D...
socialistproject.ca
November 12, 2025 at 3:32 PM
The great Sam Gindin on the crisis of the current moment.
Reposted by Charles Smith
"Do the rich have too much political power in the US?"
🟢 Yes: 84%
⚫️ No: 7%
Read it here: open.substack.com/pub/usapolli...
🟢 Yes: 84%
⚫️ No: 7%
Read it here: open.substack.com/pub/usapolli...
Americans Unite Against Billionaire Influence
Voters across party lines say billionaire power has gone too far and demand higher taxes
open.substack.com
November 11, 2025 at 4:56 PM
"Do the rich have too much political power in the US?"
🟢 Yes: 84%
⚫️ No: 7%
Read it here: open.substack.com/pub/usapolli...
🟢 Yes: 84%
⚫️ No: 7%
Read it here: open.substack.com/pub/usapolli...
This is really great.
In 2006 a high school English teacher asked students to write to a famous author & ask for advice.
KURT VONNEGUT - born 103yrs ago today - was the only one to respond.
His reply was a doozy.
KURT VONNEGUT - born 103yrs ago today - was the only one to respond.
His reply was a doozy.
November 11, 2025 at 3:05 PM
This is really great.
Reposted by Charles Smith
A stocktake of the G20 club of big economies, which collectively accounts for 77% of global emissions, reveals wildly different trajectories for future emissions, as our charts show
For the first time, climate models show the 1.5°C goal is dead
Governments have failed to limit global warming. What comes next?
econ.st
November 11, 2025 at 2:40 PM
A stocktake of the G20 club of big economies, which collectively accounts for 77% of global emissions, reveals wildly different trajectories for future emissions, as our charts show
Reposted by Charles Smith
“This was a very very bad vote”
November 10, 2025 at 3:30 AM
“This was a very very bad vote”
Reposted by Charles Smith
Talked about the prospect of another pipeline and Carney's recent comments on my Monday political panel.
As I said, the biggest impediment isn't regulations or even Indigenous opposition but the lack of a viable business case.
www.nationalobserver.com/2025/10/23/o...
As I said, the biggest impediment isn't regulations or even Indigenous opposition but the lack of a viable business case.
www.nationalobserver.com/2025/10/23/o...
Danielle Smith’s pipeline still doesn’t have a business case
The biggest obstacle standing in the way of another pipeline to the West Coast isn't the tanker ban or federal climate policies. It's oil prices and the nature of the businesses that rely on them for ...
www.nationalobserver.com
November 10, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Talked about the prospect of another pipeline and Carney's recent comments on my Monday political panel.
As I said, the biggest impediment isn't regulations or even Indigenous opposition but the lack of a viable business case.
www.nationalobserver.com/2025/10/23/o...
As I said, the biggest impediment isn't regulations or even Indigenous opposition but the lack of a viable business case.
www.nationalobserver.com/2025/10/23/o...