Migrant farm workers are the backbone of Canada’s agricultural economy. But because they can be fired and deported at will, their voices are rarely ever heard in this country. But Gabriel Allahdua is one of the few who can now speak up. And the story he has to tell is startling. It’s a story of racism and labour exploitation that goes back decades, even centuries. And it’s a prophecy of what is to come — that the hardships inflicted on migrant farm workers are only a trial run for the rest of us.  This is the second episode in a two-part series on farm labour.  Featured in this e ..read more

The creation of the Canadian Farmworkers Union, as it would come to be called, was the first step in a struggle that continues to this day. Because even now, farmworkers have far fewer rights than almost any other class of worker. And even today, the men and women who grow our food are subject to horrific working conditions and racial discrimination. But to understand why the situation remains so bad, we need to go back in time to a moment when there was progress and hope. A moment when it looked like things might truly change for the better. This is the first episode in a two-part series o ..read more

Across Canada, emergency rooms have been shutting down, leaving desperate people in the lurch. And at the heart of this health care crisis, is a labour crisis. Nurses are leaving their jobs in droves, leaving hospitals understaffed and sometimes unable to carry out their most basic obligations. In this episode, we'll tell you how nursing went from a profession hailed as heroic to one in an utter state of crisis, all through the eyes of a woman who lived through it all. Featured in this episode: Nadira Ross To learn more: “How Canadian hospitals became dependent on expensive, out-of-town n ..read more

Labour has undergone a seismic shift over the past decade.  The rise of gig work and temp agencies have made employment more precarious than ever. In the interest of profits, companies are turning more and more towards temporary foreign workers and international students for minimum wage jobs. And even for those with seemingly secure employment, wages and benefits continue to be squeezed.  One thing seems clear: workers are getting screwed.  This season of COMMONS will dig into the fascinating history and ever-changing present of what it means to be a worker in Canada.  ..read more

Labour has undergone a seismic shift over the past decade.  The rise of gig work and temp agencies have made employment more precarious than ever. In the interest of profits, companies are turning more and more towards temporary foreign workers and international students for minimum wage jobs. And even for those with seemingly secure employment, wages and benefits continue to be squeezed.  One thing seems clear: workers are getting screwed.  This season of COMMONS will dig into the fascinating history and ever-changing present of what it means to be a worker in Canada.  ..read more

This episode was originally published on August 28th, 2023.  Listen to Monopoly 1 - Lost in the Supermarket and Monopoly 17 - Food Fight In the past several years, Loblaws, Metro and Empire have spent billions on their own stock – And at a time of food price inflation and grocery workers on strike.  Why are they doing it? And why do some economists say stock buybacks should be abolished?    Featured in this episode:  William Lazonick, professor emeritus of economics at University of Massachusetts Jim Stanford, director of the Centre for Future Work   Further re ..read more

This episode was originally published on November 7th, 2022.  Listen to episodes 1 & 3 Richard Marsh was born into the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church. He got out of the group he calls a cult and has made it his mission to expose the Brethren for their alleged abuses.  Now he’s on the run from Brethren members who’ve been searching for him for years. The man hired to hunt Marsh down? David Wallace.  Written and reported by Jesse Brown and Cherise Seucharan  Audio editing and sound design by Tristan Capacchione  Original music by Nathan Burley Additional mus ..read more

We live in a world of obsessive fandoms. The Stans, Swifties, Potterheads, Beliebers, Trekkies, Bronies, Barbs and their ilk are everywhere to be found. But at what point does it go from being harmless entertainment and turn into something more sinister? Featured in this episode: Zoe Alderton, Robert Lawson To learn more: “‘Snapewives’ and ‘Snapeism’: A Fiction-Based Religion within the Harry Potter Fandom” by Zoe Alderton in Religions “Andrew Tate: how the ‘manosphere’ influencer is selling extreme masculinity to young men” by Robert Lawson in The Conversation Everything I Need I Get fr ..read more

Romana Didulo, the self-proclaimed Queen of Canada, is unlike almost any other cult leader Canada has ever seen. In an incredibly short amount of time, she’s been able to gain a mass following, despite her absurd claims and alarming rhetoric. At various points, she’s claimed to be a political leader, a monarch, an interdimensional being communing with aliens, and so much more. She’s urged her followers to take up arms and execute migrants on sight. And now, she’s taken up residence in a small Saskatchewan town that doesn’t know what to do. Featured in this episode: Mack Lamoureux (VICE News ..read more

Multi-level marketing isn’t based on rational business logic. It’s not even built on irrational business logic. It’s ideology. It’s faith. MLMs have become such a ubiquitous part of North American life that their tenets are rarely ever questioned. The sector holds enormous political sway. Millions of people join, leave and rejoin every year, almost all of them ending up poorer for the experience. And to call it a cult is not just a cute turn of phrase. The cultishness of MLMs is essential to their success. Featured in this episode: Robert L. Fitzpatrick, Julie Anderson To learn more: Ponz ..read more