COMMONS Canadaland Beyond

Earla Phillips has almost 16,000 Uber rides under her belt. But over the last few years, she’s been trying to hold Uber, one of the most powerful tech companies in the world, to account.
Earla is a leader in a growing movement of gig workers who are trying to reclaim the basic labour rights that have been stripped from them.
She expected to face opposition from tech companies and governments that are hostile to workers. But what she didn’t anticipate was that one of the biggest obstacles in her path would be a labour union. 
Featured in this episode: Earla Phillips, Anthony Milton (Ricochet)
To learn more:
“Rideshare drivers are fighting to unionize. One of Canada’s biggest unions is standing in their way” by Anthony Milton in Ricochet
“How Uber got almost everything it wanted in Ontario’s Working For Workers Act” by Vanmala Subramaniam in The Globe and Mail
“Union worked with Uber to ensure Ontario government would not classify gig workers as employees, documents show” by Vanmala Subramaniam in The Globe and Mail
Credits: Arshy Mann (Host and Producer), Jordan Cornish (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Producer), Karyn Pugliese (Editor-in-Chief)
Sponsors: Douglas, Article
 
Additional music from Audio Network
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You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime.

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The huge rise in international students in Canada — most of them from Punjab, India — has become one of the biggest stories in the country. But most media outlets and political parties have framed it entirely as a housing issue.

They’re missing the point.

This is a story about the creation of a new, racialized underclass to do all of the work we don’t want to do. And it’s about the human wreckage that’s left in the wake after we’re done squeezing those people of every penny and every drop of sweat that we can.

Featured in this episode: Jaspreet Singh, Rupa Banerjee

To learn more:

“The International Student Boom Might Be Over” by Kuwarjeet Singh Arora in Baaz News

“How recruiters in India use false promises to lure students to Canada” by CBC’s Fifth Estate

“Canada’s open secret: International students are here to be exploited” by Kunal Chaudry in The Breach

Credits: Arshy Mann (Host and Producer), Jordan Cornish (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Producer), Karyn Pugliese (Editor-in-Chief)

Additional music from Audio Network

Today we’re sharing an episode of the newest show on the network, A Field Guide to Gay Animals.
A Field Guide to Gay Animals explores sexuality, gender, and joy in the animal world. Animal enthusiasts Owen Ever and Laine Kaplan-Levenson take us on a quest to see beyond the natural world as we know it and into the natural world as it is: queer as f*ck.
Cheeky and contemplative, curious and raunchy, Field Guide shows us that the natural world is more exuberant, more joyful, and more gay than we could possibly imagine.
Follow A Field Guide to Gay Animals wherever you listen to podcasts. 


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Mandalena Lewis is one of far too many flight attendants who have been harassed or assaulted on the job. And her story is just one example of a culture of sexism and abuse that she alleges pervades the airline industry.
But it’s not just airlines. So many workers, especially in female-dominated professions like nursing, education or food service, have to endure similar demeaning and violent treatment.
And when they go to their employers, not only are they often ignored. They’re actively silenced.
Featured in this episode: Mandalena Lewis, Julie Macfarlane 
To learn more:
“Former WestJet flight attendant hails ‘history making’ decision to allow class action lawsuit” by Jenny Peng in The Toronto Star
“B.C. Court of Appeal certifies former flight attendant's class-action lawsuit against WestJet” by Joel Ballard in CBC News
Notice of Civil Claim in Mandalena Lewis vs WestJet Airlines Ltd. (2016)
“How NDAs silence victims and let perpetrators off the hook” by Julie Macfarlane in Broadview
Credits: Arshy Mann (Host and Producer), Jordan Cornish (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Producer), Karyn Pugliese (Editor-in-Chief)
 
Additional music from Audio Network
Sponsors: Douglas, Article
If you value this podcast, please support us. We rely on listeners like you paying for journalism. As a supporter, you’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on Canadaland merch, invites and tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you’ll be a part of the solution to Canada’s journalism crisis and you’ll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody. Come join us now, click the link in your show notes or go to canadaland.com/join
You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime


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In 2006, Zakaria Amara was arrested and imprisoned for planning what could have been one of the deadliest terror attacks in Canadian history. A ringleader of the so-called “Toronto 18,” he’s one of the most infamous Canadian convicts of the last few decades. 
But this won’t be an episode about the Toronto 18 terror plot. This is about what happened to one of the ringleaders after that plot was foiled. About his many years of incarceration. About the possibility of rehabilitation. And what role, if any, imprisonment and prison labour played in that.
Featured in this episode: Zakaria Amara
CORRECTION: We stated in this episode that this was Zakaria Amara’s first interview with a member of the press. But it was in fact his first broadcast interview since his release. We regret the error.
To learn more:
The Boy and His Sandcastle: A Journey of Redemption by Zakaria Amara
“The Toronto 18 case still skews our views on ‘radicalization’ and terrorism” by Adnan Khan in The Globe and Mail
“Bomb plot ringleader: ‘I will change…’” by Michael Friscolanti in Maclean’s
“Books behind bars” by Leslie Sinclair in This Magazine
Credits: Arshy Mann (Host and Producer), Jordan Cornish (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Producer), Karyn Pugliese (Editor-in-Chief)
 
Additional music from Audio Network
Sponsors: Article
If you value this podcast, please support us. We rely on listeners like you paying for journalism. As a supporter, you’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on Canadaland merch, invites and tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you’ll be a part of the solution to Canada’s journalism crisis and you’ll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody. Come join us now, click the link in your show notes or go to canadaland.com/join

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♩♪ A long, long time ago, I can still remember
How the music used to pay my bills
I knew that if I got my break
That I could be as big as Drake
And then I could stop shopping at No Frills ♩♪
♩♪ But Spotify, it’s nearly killed us
Ticketmaster’s ground us to dust
The companies got too large
Now monopolies are in charge ♩♪
♩♪ And the record labels I fear the most
Have all just merged and so now we’re toast
Don’t you think it’s just so gross?
The way, the music, died ♩♪
Featured in this episode: Simon Outhit, Cory Doctorow
To learn more
Chokepoint Capitalism: How Big Tech and Big Content Captured Creative Labor Markets and How We'll Win Them Back by Rebecca Giblin & Cory Doctorow
“'A public relations nightmare': Ticketmaster recruits pros for secret scalper program” in CBC News by Dave Seglins, Rachel Houlihan & Laura Clementson 
“We went undercover as ticket scalpers — and Ticketmaster offered to help us do business” in Toronto Star by Robert Cribb & Marco Chown Oved
“Is Live Music Broken? It’s Not Just Ticketmaster, It’s Everything” in The Ringer by Nate Rogers
A Statement From Live Nation Entertainment
Credits: Arshy Mann (Host and Producer), Jordan Cornish (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Associate Producer), André Proulx (Production Coordinator)
Additional music from Audio Network
Sponsors: Douglas,
For a limited time, get 6 months of exclusive supporter benefits for just $2/month. Go to canadaland.com/join to become a supporter today. 

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