Welcome to the October edition of the Broadbent Bulletin.
Earlier this month, Peggy Nash spoke to Air Canada Union leader Wesley Lesosky about the recent flight attendants strike on Activists Make History. Director of Policy Clement Nocos & Research Fellow Dave McGrane also wrote and shared One Hundred Years of Progressive Influence, a brief history of social democracy in Canada, published by the Foundation for European Progressive Studies (FEPS) as part of their Next Left Country Case Study series.
Alongside the UN General Assembly, the Broadbent Institute signed onto a new partnership with progressive think tanks and governments in defence of democracy. The ‘International Network of Democratic Thought’ connects the Broadbent Institute to counterpart think tanks in Chile, Spain, Brazil, Colombia, Uruguay and Mexico in defence of democracy, human rights, social justice, and multilateralism.
New Podcast: Social Democrats of the North
This month we are launching Social Democrats of the North, a new podcast series hosted by Broadbent Fellow Dave McGrane. Highlighting Canadian visions for justice & equality from confederation to the quiet revolution, this series explores the struggles and ideas of Canada’s most influential social democrats.
In this first episode, McGrane recounts the story of Médéric Lanctôt — the journalist, politician, and union leader from Montreal who can be considered Canada’s first social democrat. From working with Montreal’s working poor to organizing a federation of unions against the Anglophone elite, Lanctôt fought back against the wealthy and powerful of his time.
What’s New in Perspectives Journal
In September we published Issue no. 4 – Summer 2025 of Perspectives: A Canadian Journal of Political Economy and Social Democracy. This latest issue explains some of the philosophical and historical ideas behind Prime Minister Mark Carney’s early decision making, as well as the economic dogmas those decisions adhere to.
Here’s what’s included in the latest issue:
- Carney and the Calgary School: or, Passive Revolution and Canada’s Social State in the Neoliberal Era – Mack Penner
- Back to the Future: Razing the Welfare State’s Third Pillar in the United States – Gregg Olsen
- From Stagnation to Inclusive Growth: How Income Inequality and Distributional Imbalances Stall Economic Growth in Canada – Simone Mao
- The Democratic Politics of Industrial Policy and Defining Canadian Abundance – Michael Leger
- The Temptations of Trite: How Policymakers Avoid Addressing Homelessness as a Structural Challenge – Abe Oudshoorn et al.
- Ballots Without Barriers: Empowering Unhoused Voters during the 2025 Ontario Election – Lily Brousseau, Aya Kadhem, Romanpreet Kaur & Mary Kyle Legado
- Genuine Democracy in an Age of Hyper-Individualism – Grace Blakeley
Become a ‘Friend of Progress’ and receive Perspectives Journal no. 4 in Print!
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PressProgress Spotlight
PressProgress continues to spotlight labour news with in-depth reporting you won’t find in the mainstream papers. You can keep up with the latest on Canadian workers by subscribing to ShiftWork by PressProgress’ Emma Arkell — a free newsletter rounding-up national labour news, strikes, lockouts and new organizing across Canada.
Here’s the latest PressProgress reporting from September:
- Explainer – Debunking Misinformation about Acetaminophen and Pregnancy
- Why Canada Post Workers Are Back On Strike
- Ben Mulroney’s Blurred Lines Between Journalism, Business, Lobbying and Partisan Politics
- Canadian Doctors Targeted for Discussing Health Crisis in Gaza
- U of T Building Shut Down Amid Backlash to Professor’s Social Media Post
- Podcast – What a New Court Ruling Means for Encampments in Ontario
- Rising Cost of Living Fuels Public Sector Strikes in BC
- How Gerrymandering Could Threaten Democracy in Alberta
- 9 Disgraceful Quotes From Convoy-Friendly Justice John Carpay’s Disbarment Report
- ‘It’s an Extremely Physical Job’: BC Nurses Could Strike
That’s all for this October edition Broadbent Bulletin. Thank you for following our work to advance a just and equitable world, and stay tuned for other updates and announcements from the Broadbent Institute. Consider supporting the Broadbent Institute, sharing this Bulletin with your friends and family, and subscribing if you haven’t done so already.