Luke LeBrun (@lukelebrun.ca)
Happy 44th birthday to Today’s Special:
Editor, @pressprogress.ca | Send tips and story ideas: llebrun@pressprogress.ca
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view profile on Bluesky Luke LeBrun (@lukelebrun.ca)
Happy 44th birthday to Today’s Special:
NBC News (@nbcnews.com) reposted
The world’s leading genocide scholars’ association has passed a resolution saying that the legal criteria have been met to establish Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, its president says. There was no immediate response from the Israeli foreign ministry.
Luke LeBrun (@lukelebrun.ca) reply parent
And because today is a stat holiday, I am claiming 3 minutes of overtime for the above Bluesky post in accordance with our collective agreement
Luke LeBrun (@lukelebrun.ca)
Every PressProgress article carries this union bug because our newsroom is 100% unionized with secure, good-paying, full-time journalism jobs You can be a union job creator too by becoming a PressProgress member and supporting unionized journalism jobs: pressprogress.ca/become-a-mem...
Phil Lewis (@phillewis.bsky.social) reposted
Rudy Giuliani suffered severe injuries in a car accident last night, according to his spokesperson
Ted Raymond (@tedraymond.bsky.social) reposted
I'm already getting emails about other pylons. We decided to focus on just these ones in this story -- making one particular spot the focus. In this case, I'm told there was a "small cave-in" and the city hasn't started the repair work yet.
Luke LeBrun (@lukelebrun.ca) reply parent
Deeply appreciate @tedraymond.bsky.social’s efforts to get an answer as to which level of government has jurisdiction for maintaining sidewalks underneath provincial highways in Ontario:
Luke LeBrun (@lukelebrun.ca)
“Children born when these cones were first placed on the sidewalk under the Bank Street 417 underpass are now taking their first steps and saying their first words”
CTV News Ottawa (@ctvnewsottawa.bsky.social) reposted
A tale of two pylons: Why these markers on Bank Street have been there for so long
Luke LeBrun (@lukelebrun.ca)
I’ll never understand how or why an oil and mining lobbyist’s personal website somehow became an influential hub for finding journalism jobs in Canada Is literally no one else capable of building a job search website?
Jason Markusoff (@markusoff.bsky.social) reposted
Danielle Smith on Atlas Shrugged, on Edmonton schools' list of books banned by provincial order: "Maybe we should make it mandatory reading in high school." Provincial order: "The school authority must not select for inclusion in a school library... materials containing explicit sexual content."
Luke LeBrun (@lukelebrun.ca) reply parent
I knew a guy who had Kirby tattooed on his bicep
David Reevely (@davidreevely.bsky.social) reposted
AI Minister Evan Solomon says he used an AI tool to get briefed up on the Liberals’ last AI bill. We tried it and, well … if a human briefer briefed a minister like this, I don’t think they’d get a second call up. https://thelogic.co/news/evan-solomon-ai-podcast
PressProgress (@pressprogress.ca) reposted
Nearly all federal funds for gender equality could disappear in the next two years. If the funding isn't renewed, Canada's Department for Women and Gender Equality could see its budget shrink by more than 80%. pressprogress.ca/federal-fund... via @pivot.quebec
Luke LeBrun (@lukelebrun.ca)
“Denmark summoned the top US diplomat in Copenhagen, following a report that American citizens have been conducting covert operations in Greenland Denmark's public broadcaster DR quoted sources as saying the aim was to infiltrate Greenland's society and promote its secession from Denmark to the US”
Ariel Troster (@arieltroster.com) reposted reply parent
The two motions I put forward and won to have the city develop a Rental Renovation Licence By-law are finally resulting in action. We expect to vote on a final renovictions bylaw in the spring. It can’t come soon enough. ottawa.ca/en/city-hall...
Luke LeBrun (@lukelebrun.ca)
The Canadian Freedom Convoy people who argue the Emergencies Act was a dictatorial abuse of power agree that this use of power bears the ‘hallmarks of unreasonableness’ too, right?
Luke LeBrun (@lukelebrun.ca) reply parent
My failure to observe the doctrine of prime ministerial infallibility
Julie S. Lalonde (@julieslalonde.bsky.social) reposted reply parent
Pro-tip: Criticize Carney at least once every few weeks, and you will immediately get notified that you've been blocked by dozens and dozens of people that you didn't want looking at your content anyway, because their partisan brain rot makes them incapable of intelligent thought and reasoning.
David Coletto (@davidcoletto.bsky.social) reposted
New polling data suggests the Carney government’s attempt to order flight attendants back-to-work only had the effect of increasing public sympathy for striking workers. pressprogress.ca/carney-gover...
Luke LeBrun (@lukelebrun.ca) reposted
If Mark Carney had told voters he planned to drop retaliatory tariffs in order to stay in Trump’s good books (as he just did today), Carney simply would not be prime minister right now This is another incredible flip-flop from a guy who appropriated “Elbows Up” as his campaign slogan
Luke LeBrun (@lukelebrun.ca)
I asked PressProgress’ Labour Reporter @emmaarkell.bsky.social to explain everything you need to know about the Air Canada flight attendant’s strike on this week’s episode of the Sources podcast:
Luke LeBrun (@lukelebrun.ca)
“Walking back counter-tariffs is not an olive branch — it’s an open invitation for more U.S. aggression. It sends the wrong signal at the worst possible moment”
Unifor (@unifor.org) reposted
Unifor sounds the alarm after Canada removes retaliatory tariffs on the U.S., warning the move undermines Canadian workers and weakens Canada’s bargaining position in an escalating trade war. www.unifor.org/news/all-new...
Emma Arkell (@emmaarkell.bsky.social) reposted
🔊 On the latest episode of Sources, PressProgress editor @lukelebrun.ca and I talk about everything that happened in the Air Canada flight attendants strike: what they're fighting for, why they defied the government's order, and what this all means for the Canadian labour movement.
Ashton Pittman (@ashtonpittman.bsky.social) reposted
Mississippi's new social media age-verification law has now forced BlueSky to block Mississippi IP addresses. Our Mississippi Free Press team is now urgently having to grapple with what that means for our audience—and for press freedom. My new editorial:
Ian (@ianagp.bsky.social) reposted
If you were to read the comments, something I emphatically do not recommend doing, you'd think Liberals were always against tariffs this whole time.
Emma Arkell (@emmaarkell.bsky.social) reposted
I'm on today's The Big Story podcast @thebigstory.bsky.social talking about what went down in the Air Canada flight attendant's strike and how the events of this week could change the landscape for labour in the years to come ⬇️ podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/l...
Luke LeBrun (@lukelebrun.ca) reply parent
Even if you believe Carney is playing 4D chess or have some esoteric take on tariffs, the fact is Carney misled voters Carney said one thing, then he did the exact opposite And not just on some obscure policy – on the single biggest issue in one of the biggest elections in Canadian history
Luke LeBrun (@lukelebrun.ca)
If Mark Carney had told voters he planned to drop retaliatory tariffs in order to stay in Trump’s good books (as he just did today), Carney simply would not be prime minister right now This is another incredible flip-flop from a guy who appropriated “Elbows Up” as his campaign slogan
PressProgress (@pressprogress.ca) reposted
🎧 Podcast: What you need to know about Air Canada’s flight attendants’ strike PressProgress’ Labour Reporter @emmaarkell.bsky.social breaks down and explains everything you need to know about one of the most charged labour disputes in recent Canadian history
Greg Sargent (@gregsargent.bsky.social) reposted
The FBI is raiding John Bolton's house, apparently at Kash Patel's personal direction, the NY Post is reporting:
Emma Arkell (@emmaarkell.bsky.social) reposted
Air Canada flight attendants were perfectly positioned to publicly challenge the federal government's back-to-work order. I spoke to labour experts and workers on the picket line to better understand why this woman-dominated workforce was able to do what others couldn't.
Robert Downen (@robertdownen.bsky.social) reposted
Peter Thiel to give four lectures on the "biblical Antichrist." Among the "religious thinkers upon whom Peter will draw" is Nazi theorist Carl Schmitt.
PressProgress (@pressprogress.ca) reposted
The government's "eyebrow-raising" penchant for breaking up strikes finally met its match in the woman-dominated workforce of CUPE's Air Canada unit. Why the flight attendants' strike was "a perfect storm" for labour: pressprogress.ca/air-canada-f...
lukewsavage.bsky.social (@lukewsavage.bsky.social) reposted
I’m back in the Star today with a new piece on how striking Air Canada flight attendants successfully called Ottawa's bluff — and set a potentially significant precedent in industrial relations that may soon have important political implications as well: www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
Toronto Star (@thestar.com) reposted
The Air Canada strike wasn’t just a win for workers. It was also a wrench in Mark Carney’s plans. Thanks to Air Canada’s flight attendants, Carney will surely think twice before trying to override the Charter rights of striking workers again. #Opinion
Luke LeBrun (@lukelebrun.ca) reply parent
Maybe Siana and McWidget can explain what we’re looking at here? CC: @sianababy.bsky.social @notmuch.bsky.social
PressProgress (@pressprogress.ca) reposted
Carney government’s decision to intervene in Air Canada flight attendants’ strike backfired with public, new polling suggests Canadians overwhelmingly sided with flight attendants over Air Canada and Mark Carney’s government – including Carney’s own supporters
Luke LeBrun (@lukelebrun.ca) reposted
"Coletto’s polling data suggests the public support for the flight attendants grew as a result of the labour dispute, with a net +40% of respondents ... By contrast, impressions of Air Canada worsened, standing at net -34%, while Carney’s government came away from the strike at net -13%"
Luke LeBrun (@lukelebrun.ca) reply parent
It absolutely is anti-Indigenous racism Some of the people who run these political parties and media outlets were incubated in bubbles
Luke LeBrun (@lukelebrun.ca)
It remains absolutely bewildering to me that an incumbent premier took out newspaper ads proudly declaring she *refuses* to attempt to recover the remains of murder victims And equally bewildering @winnipegfreepress.com agreed to take her money and run these ads pressprogress.ca/heather-stef...
Winnipeg Free Press (@winnipegfreepress.com) reposted
The successfully completed search of a Winnipeg-area landfill for two victims of a convicted serial killer cost $18 million — less than one-tenth of the original worst-case estimate, Premier Wab Kinew revealed Wednesday.
Norm Di Pasquale🇨🇦 (@normsworld.bsky.social) reposted
Ford Government plans to wipe out Trustees at ALL public school boards. Guess they don’t like the advocacy & transparency! Edu Minister Calandra: “I don't foresee a situation where governance of our English public schools remains the same," www.cbc.ca/news/canada/... #onted #onpoli
Luke LeBrun (@lukelebrun.ca)
"Coletto’s polling data suggests the public support for the flight attendants grew as a result of the labour dispute, with a net +40% of respondents ... By contrast, impressions of Air Canada worsened, standing at net -34%, while Carney’s government came away from the strike at net -13%"
Luke LeBrun (@lukelebrun.ca) reply parent
I didn't realize that's who he was arguing with!
Luke LeBrun (@lukelebrun.ca) reply parent
He says he asked Smith an "immigration question" at a recent one of her town halls despite the risk of "being called racist" (let me know if anyone tracks down the video of his question)
Stephanie Carvin (@stephaniecarvin.bsky.social) reposted
This is the third such incident to be uncovered in two months. We are going to be spending billions on the Canadian military - they need to go beyond words of outrage and demonstrate that they are taking steps to address this. www.cbc.ca/news/politic...
Toronto Star (@thestar.com) reposted
Labour leaders demand Carney government change the law used to end Air Canada impasse
Canadian Labour (@canadianlabour.bsky.social) reposted
Huge congrats to @cupescfp.bsky.social flight attendants! Despite Carney’s government imposing Section 107, they stood firm, fought back, and won a fair deal at the bargaining table. Deals are made at the table, not through government interference. #canlab canadianlabour.ca/cupe-flight-...
Luke LeBrun (@lukelebrun.ca) reply parent
"Among the sticking points for the union was the issue of pay for work performed while planes are on the ground. While not elaborating on the issue, the union said in a statement provided to CBC News that 'unpaid work is over'."
Luke LeBrun (@lukelebrun.ca)
"A tentative agreement has been reached to end the contract dispute between Air Canada and its flight attendants, both the airline and the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) said early Tuesday."
Luke LeBrun (@lukelebrun.ca)
62.8% of the 202 independent candidates that were running in the Battle River—Crowfoot byelection last night received votes With 285 of 286 polls reporting, Jason Buzzell, Jenny Cartwright, Bert William Westergard and Breccan Zimmer are currently in a four way tie for first with 11 votes each
amanda moore 🐢 (@noturtlesoup17.bsky.social) reposted
ATF, FBI, MPD, and Secret Service just arrested someone in front of the Union Market Trader Joe’s at 4 and Florida NE DC while residents heckled them.
Luke LeBrun (@lukelebrun.ca)
Emma is doing live boots on the ground reporting from the Air Canada flight attendants' picket line Follow @emmaarkell.bsky.social and subscribe to her ShiftWork newsletter for more Canadian labour news and original reporting on strikes in Canada 👇 pressprogress.ca/shiftwork/
Emma Arkell (@emmaarkell.bsky.social) reposted reply parent
I was going to head home to upload photos and interviews but the dinosaurs showed up
Luke LeBrun (@lukelebrun.ca)
I think the PMO must have seen how bad Wally Kibler was getting ratio'd on Bluesky:
Dale Smith (@journodale.bsky.social) reposted
Oh, come on. She can't not have known this was happening. There were protests already and private members' bills in the previous parliament. As @senatorpaulasimons.bsky.social wrote on here yesterday, this has been endemic in the industry for decades. Don't say you didn't know anything. Honestly...
Emma Arkell (@emmaarkell.bsky.social) reposted reply parent
Here's my first piece on the strike, an explainer on what Air Canada flight attendants are fighting for bsky.app/profile/pres...
PressProgress (@pressprogress.ca) reposted
Defying an order to end the strike, the union's president proclaimed: "If we stick together, they can’t fire us all." Here's what Air Canada flight attendants are fighting for: pressprogress.ca/air-canada-f...
Emma Arkell (@emmaarkell.bsky.social) reposted
I'm at Vancouver Airport where CUPE's Air Canada Component is picketing. Air Canada flight attendants are still on strike, defying a back-to-work order from the federal government.
Luke LeBrun (@lukelebrun.ca)
Would love to see a Venn diagram of people who want unionized flight attendants to go to jail and people who stand up and try to retrieve their carry on bags from the overhead bins while the plane is still moving on the tarmac
Luke LeBrun (@lukelebrun.ca)
We’ve entered the stage in the Air Canada flight attendants strike that Mark Carney supporters are calling for unionized workers to be jailed:
Richard Einarson 🇨🇦 (@richardeinarson.bsky.social) reposted
Wow. That's bonafide courage. The Carney government is offside from the vast majority of Canadians here. It's time to reverse course here and respect the right to strike.
Luke LeBrun (@lukelebrun.ca) reposted
CUPE's Mark Hancock is prepared to be jailed for defying the Carney government's back-to-work order to force Air Canada to negotiate with flight attendants "If it means folks like me going to jail, so be it...Our members want a solution here, but that solution has to be found at a bargaining table"
Luke LeBrun (@lukelebrun.ca)
CUPE's Mark Hancock is prepared to be jailed for defying the Carney government's back-to-work order to force Air Canada to negotiate with flight attendants "If it means folks like me going to jail, so be it...Our members want a solution here, but that solution has to be found at a bargaining table"
Luke LeBrun (@lukelebrun.ca)
Air Canada is using its app to push out anti-union messaging to passengers:
Luke LeBrun (@lukelebrun.ca) reposted
“Air Canada flight attendants will defy the back-to-work order and remain on strike after the federal government ordered binding arbitration to end the work stoppage”
Larry Savage (@profsavage.bsky.social) reposted
When politicians allow the system to be rigged in favour of employers, workers have no choice but to resist. Unions can’t be expected to bow to unjust laws — and the way the Liberals have abused section 107 is clearly unjust. www.cbc.ca/news/canada/... #canlab #cdnpoli
Ted Raymond (@tedraymond.bsky.social) reposted
The union called a decision by the CIRB chair Maryse Tremblay to not recuse herself from handling the case a “staggering conflict of interest,” since she had worked as a senior counsel for Air Canada in the past. Tremblay’s LinkedIn says she served as Air Canada’s counsel from 1998 to 2004.
CUPE SCFP (@cupescfp.bsky.social) reposted
CUPE’s National President Mark Hancock – YYZ – August 16th 2025
Candace Rennick (@candacerennick.bsky.social) reposted
CUPE has a message for Mark Carney, Patty Hajdu and the Liberal government: You have seriously understimated our strength, our determination. You have picked a fight with the wrong union, the wrong workers, and you have definitely picked a fight with the wrong women. #unfairCanada #UnpaidWorkWontFly
Luke LeBrun (@lukelebrun.ca) reposted
La Presse's Deputy Editor writes that any of their journalists who signed a statement denouncing journalists being murdered would be in violation of La Presse's journalistic standards on "impartiality": www.lapresse.ca/actualites/e...
Liam McHugh-Russell (@xntl.bsky.social) reposted reply parent
A. It's not clear that Min. Hadju has the legal power under s. 107 of the Canada Labour Code to end the strike. While the federal government started using this approach 3-4 years ago, its legality has never been tested in the courts #AirCanada
Shawn Micallef (@shawnmicallef.bsky.social) reposted
Good to see Cdn labour flexing some muscle.
Julie S. Lalonde (@julieslalonde.bsky.social) reposted
I dunno, man. It's almost like Carney being rah-rah about AI and making vague statements about "Building Canada" with no mention of workers, should have been huge red flags that the man thinks about industry before workers.
Avi Lewis (@avilewis.bsky.social) reposted
The Carney government has badly misjudged the mood of Canadians. People are shocked at the unfairness of unpaid work. It's hitting everyone working their asses off and still struggling with the cost of living. The 99% are with the workers today!
Clément Mangin (@clementmangin.com) reposted
S’il faisait face à peloton d’exécution sous un régime fasciste, il refuserait probablement de dénoncer ses bourreaux. Ce n’est pas de la déontologie journalistique, c’est de la débilité.
Luke LeBrun (@lukelebrun.ca) reply parent
“CUPE announced it is calling a national day of action and will have demonstrators outside of the Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver and Calgary airports this morning”
Luke LeBrun (@lukelebrun.ca)
“Air Canada flight attendants will defy the back-to-work order and remain on strike after the federal government ordered binding arbitration to end the work stoppage”
Luke LeBrun (@lukelebrun.ca) reply parent
I think what La Presse is saying is that you are allowed to take a position on the abstract concept of “murder,” but not on any specific instance of murder or someone who is a murderer
Luke LeBrun (@lukelebrun.ca) reply parent
FWIW, here is the statement in question: www.lesoleil.com/opinions/poi...
Luke LeBrun (@lukelebrun.ca)
La Presse's Deputy Editor writes that any of their journalists who signed a statement denouncing journalists being murdered would be in violation of La Presse's journalistic standards on "impartiality": www.lapresse.ca/actualites/e...
David J. Doorey (aka The Law of Work) (@thelawofwork.bsky.social) reposted
It’s an oversimplification to say binding arbitration always favors employers. Some unions have done very well through arbitration. However Liberals can be criticized for their selective intervention. The odds of them ordering arbitration skyrocket if employers want it. 1/2
Luke LeBrun (@lukelebrun.ca)
Inviting thoughts and reactions in my replies:
CUPE SCFP (@cupescfp.bsky.social) reposted
The Liberal government has invoked Section 107 of the Canada Labour Code to end a strike by Air Canada flight attendants fighting to end unpaid work and poverty wages.
Luke LeBrun (@lukelebrun.ca) reply parent
Fair enough, I suppose that's another difference
Luke LeBrun (@lukelebrun.ca) reply parent
Maybe David Parker is where Danielle Smith is getting her Orbanesque policy ideas from? pressprogress.ca/alberta-prem...
Kurt Phillips (ARC Collective) (@arccollective.bsky.social) reposted
Reading David Parker talking about emulating Hungary and getting women to pop out babies like PEZ dispensers has a certain “ick” factor, doesn’t it?
Luke LeBrun (@lukelebrun.ca) reply parent
This is Canada, sir. And the correct spelling is labour, not labor.
Emma Arkell (@emmaarkell.bsky.social) reposted
“No one should accept being forced to work for free, for hours and hours, every day. No one should accept being forced to work for poverty wages for years in a profession, just to earn a dignifying living. That’s what this is about,” said CUPE Air Canada Component president Wesley Lesosky.
Luke LeBrun (@lukelebrun.ca) reposted
The key difference between the left and the centre is that (many) liberals philosophically reject the idea that democratic rights extend into the workplace They imagine that “democracy” is something you do once every four years at a ballot box, then you return to a workplace run like a dictatorship
Luke LeBrun (@lukelebrun.ca)
The key difference between the left and the centre is that (many) liberals philosophically reject the idea that democratic rights extend into the workplace They imagine that “democracy” is something you do once every four years at a ballot box, then you return to a workplace run like a dictatorship
Luke LeBrun (@lukelebrun.ca)
“The Liberals are violating our Charter rights to take job action and give Air Canada exactly what they want — hours and hours of unpaid labour from underpaid flight attendants, while the company pulls in sky-high profits and extraordinary executive compensation”
davidakin (@davidakin.bsky.social) reposted
AI Strategy for the Federal Public Service 2025-2027: : Within the Government of Canada, there is a 30% vacancy rate for digital roles, threatening delivery and leading to a costly dependence on external contractors. www.canada.ca/en/governmen...
Luke LeBrun (@lukelebrun.ca)
This video clip unironically reminds me of that weird CSIS tweet everyone made fun of and later prompted Adam Zivo to publicly confess to being a foreign spy: pressprogress.ca/this-nationa...
Canadian Association of Journalists (CAJ) (@cajournalists.bsky.social) reposted
CAJ condemns targeted killing of journalists in Gaza. Read full statement on CAJ website: https://caj.ca/caj-condemns-targeted-killing-of-journalists-in-gaza
Luke LeBrun (@lukelebrun.ca) reply parent
In case you were wondering, here are all the tweets Air Canada has ever sent out referencing CUPE. Most tweets are just links to press releases on the AC website. The tone is also noticeably less adversarial nor unhinged.