The escalation of Trump’s Trade War on Canada has again generated patriotic sympathies, but Canadian sovereignty is still at stake – and a bargaining chip for the federal government. In a new opinion article for Perspectives Journal, Christine Cooling, Hailey Baldock, and Nir Hagigi highlight Canada’s concessions on digital policy to the Trump Administration in this trade war and ask: “If the US finds that this red line can be crossed, what other economic concessions will the Trump Administration demand?”
From Alberta to Brazil, in August the Broadbent Institute engaged in domestic and international discussions on sovereignty, progressive organizing, and democracy.
2026 Panamerican Congress: Montevideo, Uruguay
The Broadbent Institute joined the Canadian delegation at the 2026 Panamerican Congress in Montevideo, Uruguay to discuss defending Canadian sovereignty and the threats to democracy at home and around the world with progressive leaders and thinkers from across the Western Hemisphere.
The Third Panamerican Congress took place from Friday, August 21, through Sunday, August 23 at Uruguay’s Legislative Palace and the Mercosur Parliament. Over several days, Montevideo hosted deliberations organized around four areas: peace, security and multilateralism; sustainable development and regional integration; digital sovereignty and artificial intelligence; and well-being and care for the majority. Roundtable discussions on Artificial Intelligence and Digital Sovereignty took place, informed by the Broadbent Institute’s pre-Congress workshop held in Toronto, Canada on July 9.
Building relationships with progressives in the US, Caribbean and Latin America, the Broadbent Institute and the Canadian delegation strengthened calls to end the so-called Donroe Doctrine, shared lessons on progressive public policy that works and wins elections, planned future convenings and connections on defending democracy and the sovereignty of peoples. The 2027 Panamerican Congress is slated to take place in Brazil.
Perspectives Journal on Sovereignty and Democracy
From the rights of airline workers to the billionaires and oligarchs behind right-wing reactionary politics around the world, Perspectives Journal is putting forward ideas and critical thinking from progressive organizers and labour movement leaders in Canada and around the world. Here’s more from Perspectives Journal last month:
BOOK EXCERPT – Breaking Free of Neoliberalism in Trump Times
From Broadbent Research Fellow Alex Himelfarb’s new book: Gaining a majority in mid-2026, the Carney government was free to pursue economic growth to achieve greater independence from US-Canada ties. Yet this single-minded agenda misses much of what Canadians expect and need from their federal government.
OPINION – How Canadians Can Fight Back Against Alberta Separatism
From 2026 Emerging Leader Aaron Singleton: Albertans must be reminded that Canadians have their backs, and there are many ways the rest of Canada can support unity with Alberta.
VIDEO – Defending Democracy Against the Reactionary International
Canada is not immune to the forces of the Reactionary International, and has taken part in it through the decades. David Adler describes what’s behind the power undermining democracy in Canada and around the world, and how organizing progressive forces is needed to defend democracy.
VIDEO – Unpaid Work Won’t Fly: How Air Canada Flight Attendants Organized
An interview with CUPE Air Canada Component organizer Shanyn Elliot – flight attendants forced their employers back to the bargaining table to end unpaid work and negotiate for fair wages.
BOOK REVIEW – The Price of a Promise
Since money always enables a claim on real resources, it provides power in the real world. How it does so, however, is a complicated story mediated by legal and political institutions. Our review of Against Money by economists Josh W. Mason and Arjun Jayadev.
Voter Contact Organizer 101
Last month, the Broadbent Institute’s VCO 101 Training Session for the Toronto-York Region Labour Council brought together 26 participants from unions, ongoing political campaigns, and municipal offices for a practical introduction to voter contact organizing. The session explored the VCO role as the intersection of data, people, logistics, strategy, and volunteer management, with an emphasis on building voter-contact operations that are consistent, accessible, and scalable.
Participants worked through interactive exercises and real-world campaign scenarios covering voter data and geography, canvass planning, digital tools, volunteer recruitment and retention, canvass development, shift preparation, and problem-solving in real time.
PressProgress remains at the centre of what could be one of the biggest, longest and most expensive media trials in Canadian history over its factual reporting on a former political candidate.
Learn more about what they’re up against and support their ongoing work by visiting journalismdefence.ca
Here’s NEW PressProgress reporting from August 2026:
- SOURCES PODCAST – Canadian Healthcare: When Provinces Go Rogue – by Brishti Basu, August 4
Last month, health reporter Brishti Basu hosted a virtual health panel, on the subject of ‘when provinces go rogue’ with healthcare policies that defy federal laws, evidence-based solutions, or both. - ‘Pouring fuel into flames’: Carney-Smith plan for West Coast pipeline would run through wildfire fraught parts of BC – by Rumneek Johal, August 11
- Health Canada is changing regulations. Experts hope this could mean good news for reproductive healthcare – by Brishti Basu, August 17
- While Doug Ford’s Government Changes Eligibility for Social Assistance, Experts say Existing Programs are Failing Those in Need – by Eric Wickham, August 19
- What is going on inside Kerry-Lynne Findlay’s BC Conservatives? – by Rumneek Johal, August 21
- Sold a Lie: Emails Reveal Government and College Assured International Students they Would be Eligible for a Post-Graduation Work Permit Despite Rule Changes – by Rumneek Johal, August 25
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