Finding a Foothold in Leftist Populism: An Interview with Luke Savage

Finding a Foothold in Leftist Populism: An Interview with Luke Savage

Join Kallee Lins and Jaime Frederick as they interview Luke Savage. Luke is a writer whose work has appeared in the Toronto Star, the New Statesman, Jacobin and more. He is also the coauthor of Ed Broadbent’s 2023 book Seeking Social Democracy. Join us for Luke's commentary on the rising popularity of explicitly socialist movements around the world, the failures of Carney's centrism in Canada, and strategies for building broad, bold, progressive political coalitions.  Find Luke on social media: Substack: Luke Savage | Substack [https://www.lukewsavage.com/] BlueSky: @lukewsavage.bsky.social — Bluesky [https://bsky.app/profile/lukewsavage.bsky.social] Facebook: www.facebook.com/LukeSavage [http://www.facebook.com/LukeSavage] Background and further reading: How Carney is betraying a vision of a fair and strong Canada [https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/mark-carney-won-on-a-promise-of-strong-but-fair-canada-this-is-how-he/article_4d53c228-bf60-411d-b6e3-be93669eba8e.html]: Toronto Star Something's got to give - Luke Savage [https://www.lukewsavage.com/p/somethings-got-to-give] Mark Carney's "sovereign wealth fund" is a mirage: Luke Savage [https://www.lukewsavage.com/p/mark-carneys-sovereign-wealth-fund] Reclaiming Socialism in Canada’s NDP Leadership Race: Jacobin [https://jacobin.com/2026/02/canada-lewis-ndp-leadership-election]

Revitalizing the NDP: How EDAs Can Be Living Spaces Year-Round

Hosts Jaime Frederick and Kallee Lins speak with Guerric Haché, an Electoral District Association (EDA) member in Vancouver Centre, about rebuilding and energizing NDP EDAs. Guerric is a designer and programmer with 13 years' experience in the video game industry, alongside being as an independent writer and artist, and a prolific nature photographer. Originally from Gatineau, Québec, they've made their home in Vancouver for well over a decade, where they are a member of the EDA for Canada's New Democratic Party in the riding of Vancouver Centre, and a member of COPE, Vancouver's municipal coalition of progressive electors. Tune-in to hear about practical organizing ideas like member socials, building digital community spaces, and strengthening ties with labour unions and other activist communities. You'll also hear about the rich potential of EDAs to shape party policy, support volunteers, and connect across ridings, without shying away from common structural challenges like generational divides and inexperience with governance practices.  Join Building Left to learn more about concrete ways to connect with your EDA and revitalize the grassroots of democratic socialism in your community.  Connect with Guerric on BlueSky Social: Quillipede (@quillipede.bsky.social) — Bluesky [https://bsky.app/profile/quillipede.bsky.social] Background/Further reading and listening: Mark Carney runs roughshod over the environment [https://www.thestar.com/politics/political-opinion/mark-carney-runs-roughshod-over-the-environment-its-worse-than-what-harper-did/article_1fa59928-a8d5-481a-896b-405c86a466d1.html] Carney government’s changes to pesticide rules will put safety at risk [https://www.thestar.com/politics/political-opinion/mark-carneys-pesticide-policy-could-put-the-economy-ahead-of-your-health/article_0b98726c-f50e-4f21-b8f1-0f4101f595fe.html] Carney government plan targets protections for at-risk whales [https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal/carney-government-proposal-targets-extinction-protections-for-endangered-killer-whales-off-bc-coast/article_f0da6bac-3a97-43a3-91e4-d9578503b04f.html] Mark Carney has forgotten who helped get him elected [https://www.thestar.com/politics/political-opinion/mark-carney-has-forgotten-who-helped-get-him-elected/article_37ccba7b-6b33-47a8-b7a6-1438f8a410ea.html] Canadian prime minister Mark Carney is not the climate guy you thought | Seth Klein | The Guardian [https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/may/21/mark-carney-climate-canada] By hosting a global weapons bank, Carney is setting up Canada for war profiteering ⋆ The Breach [https://breachmedia.ca/by-hosting-a-global-weapons-bank-carney-is-setting-up-canada-for-war-profiteering/] Carney government eying curbs on right to strike: Unions [https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal/carney-government-eying-curbs-on-right-to-strike-labour-leaders-warn/article_5923c835-c7b2-4420-84ed-0f41ff90074b.html] ANALYSIS: The anatomy of a stunner in Scarborough Southwest | TVO Today [https://www.tvo.org/article/analysis-the-anatomy-of-a-stunner-in-scarborough-southwest]

Workers First at City Hall? How One Progressive is Shifting to Municipal Politics

In this episode of Building Left, hosts Kallee Lins and Jaime Frederick speak with Trevor McAleese, a Kelowna-based video game developer and former federal NDP candidate who is now running for city council. Trevor discusses why municipal politics matter, and explains how he proposes to tackle issues such as affordable housing, short-term rental challenges, childcare, climate change and wildfire preparedness. The conversation explores campaign organizing differences between federal and municipal races, conservative slate strategies in B.C., and practical solutions like inclusionary zoning, municipally-run childcare, and support for the arts and tech sectors. Trevor shares advice for progressives considering municipal runs and emphasizes the importance of community-focused representation. More info/background: Trevor McAleese for Kelowna City Council [https://www.trevorforkelowna.ca/] Only in Nelson | The feature-length documentary movie [https://onlyinnelson.com/] Peggy Nash's Women Winning Office – Between the Lines [https://btlbooks.com/book/women-winning-office]

Inside the NDP: How Federal Council Really Works

In this episode, hosts Kallee Lins and Jaime Frederick speak with El Foulkes, an organizer, union activist and artist who sits on the NDP federal council as a table officer from Quebec. El explains how the council and executive operate between conventions, shares their experience on transparency, consultation and decision‑making, and discusses internal organizing to strengthen democratic processes across the party. Join us for a conversation about what structural changes are needed within the party and how a model of continuous, grassroots organizing can lead to a more accountable, movement‑focused NDP. Folllowing that, Kallee and Jaime briefly dig into recent political developments—Avi Lewis’s early moves as NDP leader, federal by-election results and what it means that the Liberal government now holds a majority of seats in the House of Commons. Background/More information: NDP Executive & Council (list not updated at time of publication) [https://www.ndp.ca/federal-executive] Toronto Star: Carney government plans to water down fundraiser rules [https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal/carney-government-plans-to-water-down-disclosure-rules-for-fundraisers/article_c9e7c068-447c-4615-9031-693f96b0cd8b.html] Information on Stephen Lewis Memorial [https://everloved.com/life-of/stephen-lewis-toronto-on-canada/funeral/?flow=201] RSVP to attend Stephen Lewis Memorial (livestream) [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSepQ-2J-lQnbXPsMcDPHw5KXsbilDcstG4i-w7-FJbUJsklkA/viewform]

Convention Confidential: What you may have missed from the debates, elections and tributes

Jaime Frederick puts co-host Kallee Lins in the hot seat for a report from the NDP convention in Winnipeg. Join Building Left for a deep dive into Avi Lewis's first-ballot victory, executive council elections, and what the recently passed resolutions reveal about the future direction and unity of the party.