Perspectives from Londoners

A video still from John Greyson's film 'Sorry.' On the left, a woman stands on a stage with clasped arms and closed eyes, surrounded by stage lights. On the right, a young woman practices the violin.

PERSPECTIVES – Experiencing 2026 “Queer Cinema for Palestine: No Pride in Genocide”

On June 27, film festival “Queer Cinema for Palestine: No Pride in Genocide” screened at the London Public Library, hosted by Embassy Cultural House in partnership with People for Peace London, Independent Jewish Voices London, and Antler River Media Co-op, and organized by member of Embassy Cultural House’s advisory circle Ira Kazi. The 2026 program screened across 59 countries in a record-breaking 300 locations. It featured six short films: A Message by Mama Gannush (Palestine, 2026), Ceasefire by Teodor Vladar (Slovakia/ Hungary, 2025), The 5-year Plan for Financial Independence by Dua Omari (Palestine, 2025), Until We Return by Huss AC…

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Photograph. Activists are pictured at the May 16 counter-protest in a London, Ontario parking lot with signs, banners, and drums. A large banner reads "Your neighbour is not your enemy - hope not hate" and signs read "No matter where you are from, we're glad you're our neighbour" in English, French and Arabic. Flags from PSAC/AFPC and London and District Labour Council are visible.

PERSPECTIVES – Blame Billionaires, Not Immigrants: Confronting Far-Right Rhetoric with Working Class Unity

On May 16, the far-right group “Stand United Canada” called for a convoy to provincial and national borders across the country. The choice of a disruption on Victoria Day long weekend was specifically to align the protest with far-right UK activist Tommy Robinson’s rally, similarly dubbed “Unite the Kingdom.” British far-right organizers used Nakba Day, knowing there would be mass demonstrations of Palestinian solidarity, to rally anti-immigrant hatred out on the streets. “Stand United Canada” and Nazi Propaganda “Stand United” is one of many far-right groups that has cropped up and is vaguely calling for government accountability. Rooted in anti-vaxx…

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Photograph of a handwritten letter on brown wrapping paper with a variety of handwritten notes attached on adhesive note paper. The main text reads "Dear MP Kurt Holman, after watching the film Earth's Greatest Enemy and seeing the rapid embrace and expansion of military investment under the Prime Minister's new commitment to NATO spending targets that is underway in our community, here are some suggestions we would like to see implemented and fought for in Parliament." The notes below are not all clearly legible at a glance, but some of the most visible include "No profits from genocide," "Land Back," and "Free public transit." The letter was composed by community members after watching a screening of Earth's Greatest Enemy by Abby Martin in London, Ontario in May 2026.

PERSPECTIVES – It’s Time to Convert General Dynamics Land Services from Weapons Manufacturing to Building Rail Transit: A conversation with Kurt Holman

I arrived at MP Kurt Holman’s office on a sunny Tuesday morning. The treats I had brought for the meeting did not make it to the door as the chocolate truffles melted in the spring sun. I waited for a moment as a moving truck from the Brick dropped off a new sofa for the office. Kurt and other office staff were quite excited to put that sofa to work, and I was intrigued to see all the volunteers abuzz in the board room working on citizenship packets for new residents to the area. I wondered to myself, how many…

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PERSPECTIVES: Bill C-22 poses a very serious risk to privacy rights

In an unprecedented move, the Liberal government led by Prime Minister Mark Carney is in the process of passing a controversial bill that’s garnered concern both at home and abroad. Bill C-22, the “Lawful Access Act” is currently in committee consideration and awaiting third reading in Parliament this coming Tuesday. This legislation, in its current form, is looking to provide law enforcement with the power to force service providers, including secure VPNs, to provide users’ personal information and metadata. It also requires said information to be stored for up to a year.  Although federal authorities defending the bill have stated…

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Three Community Living London workers belonging to OPSEU Local 166 take a photo in front of sign for MPP Rob Flack's office.

PERSPECTIVES: Worth fighting for: Community Living London workers ready to strike

Community Living London workers are preparing to walk off the job on Monday, joining thousands of workers across Ontario in a growing labour dispute driven by chronic underfunding, low wages, and worsening working conditions.  This action is a part of the “Worth Fighting For” campaign, a coordinated, province-wide community and labour action in Ontario led by frontline workers in the community and social services sectors, including members of OPSEU/SEFPO and CUPE. Workers are demanding retroactive pay to compensate for wage increases being unfairly capped at 1 percent in 2019 by the Ontario government’s Bill 124, which was ruled unconstitutional in…

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PERSPECTIVES: Stevenson for Mayor? Thanks, Josh Morgan

In this increasingly polarized political climate that we find ourselves in today, Londoners don’t seem to agree on much. But if there’s one sentiment that’s almost unanimous across all 14 wards, it’s that our city is headed in the wrong direction. The genuine anger and frustration at the state of our city is palpable, much of it justifiable and righteous within itself. But it is commonly misdirected towards our unhoused neighbours, immigrants, or the “other” – whoever that may be at any given moment. No one has better capitalized upon this smouldering rage than current Ward 4 councillor – now…

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PERSPECTIVES: It’s About Time We Take Our City Back From Corporate Interests 

On March 28, I had the pleasure of participating in the province-wide Fight Ford protests right here in London, Ontario at Victoria Park. I was incredibly grateful to have the opportunity to speak to an issue that Londoners across this city know all too well— our city being an increasingly unaffordable rental market with working-class Londoners priced out of housing by corporate developers and predatory landlords.   Now, with the news that our city has officially earned the unfortunate distinction of having the highest unemployment rate in the country at 9.1%, this housing emergency has become all the more dire.   As…

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PERSPECTIVES: Recollections and Reflections on the 2026 NDP Convention

There was much speculation going into convention that the NDP was a spent force in Canada’s political scene. I and many attending the 2026 bi-annual convention in Winnipeg were not of this view. That said, I venture to guess that many of the over 2000 delegates believed that, beyond electing a new leader, the organization must change to meet the moment.  Overall, I felt that the mood at this convention was hopeful. London was well represented by new and long-time members of all four London area ridings, including active union members, disability and education activists, and all four 2025 federal…

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PERSPECTIVES: We Must Fight Ford’s Policies that Hurt the Working Class  

On March 28, in cities across Ontario, thousands of people gathered in protests to ‘Fight Ford’ including London. Doug Ford and his Conservative government have spent years attacking the very things that make our communities strong—our schools, our healthcare system, our workers, our environment—all while handing public wealth over to private corporate interests. We must be clear about something right from the start: this government does not have a real mandate. In the 2025 provincial election, they won a majority with just 43% of the vote—on only 45% turnout. That’s less than 20% of eligible voters. Twenty percent is not…

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