Why I won't be walking for Israel.

Remember the Grassy Narrows River Run last September? Maybe not. It’s certainly possible you lost the story in the flames of outrage expressed over Toronto DSB students attending the rallies and hearing chants like: “from Turtle Island to Palestine, occupation is a crime” and others by people in the area protesting the slaughter of Palestinians in Gaza.

As Monday's election tells once again, we need to fight for better wages, affordable groceries, dignity in retirement—and at the same time—push for a fairer electoral system. These struggles are one and the same.

What is happening to the most vulnerable students in our schools? It’s true that kids may be vulnerable for all sorts of reasons – poverty, underfunding of schools and systemic racism to name a few. But there are at least 358 000 young people that the province acknowledges require special teaching or treatment or accommodation. For many it's not happening.

As a teacher and union leader, I believe we must stand against all racism — including antisemitism — and against the mass killing of civilians. Our conscience compels us to demand better from our leaders. Canada must implement a two-way arms embargo on Israel now.

By pushing back against the Trump administration's wanton destruction of government and the public good, the Chicago Teachers Union is taking a stand against fascism.

Teachers should, if they choose, be able volunteer their time to organize events like sports, concerts, art displays and so on. But that doesn't mean school boards and the Ford government get to use their unpaid work to back off funding.

President Donald Trump issued an executive order on March 20, 2025, that calls for closing the U.S. Department of Education.

The president needs congressional approval to shutter the department. But his order directs Education Secretary Linda McMahon to take the necessary steps to close the Department of Education and return authority over education to the States and local communities.

On January 29, 2025, Donald Trump signed an executive order, which eliminates curricula that his administration deems as promoting “radical, anti-American ideologies.” This executive order is not just an attack on critical race theory or teachings about systemic racism – it is a cornerstone of an authoritarian ideology designed to eliminate critical thought, suppress historical truth, and strip educators of their autonomy.

Doug Ford spent last weekend “sulking” because he didn’t grab more seats in the recent election that ended with a third Tory majority. The premier was ticked because he didn’t get the absolute electoral supremacy he thought was coming to him. He’s a rich man whose house is never quite big enough.