The Leveller
@theleveller.bsky.social
An independent, not-for-profit, left-leaning Carleton University campus and community newspaper. We publish on unceded and unsurrendered Algonquin Territory in so-called Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Read: leveller.ca Subscribe: leveller.ca/newsletter
A rare opinion piece from me! About a month late, but the issues surrounding Canada's Eurovision participation are still very relevant.
The Leveller@theleveller.bsky.social · last wk."Cultural events can serve as a platform for the Israeli state to expand its soft power and portray itself in a positive light on the global stage." We discuss Canada's involvement with Eurovision amidst boycotts against Israel. leveller.ca/2026/08/cana... #cdnpoli #cdnnews #BDS
While #Ottawa Police claim higher reports of Intimate Partner Violence show that new reporting systems are working, systemic barriers are still there: affordable housing, women's shelter spaces and distrust in police. Read our report: leveller.ca/2026/08/otta... #ottnews #ottpoli #onnews #onpoli
Ottawa Police Claim Success With New Intimate Partner Violence Reporting Systems - The Leveller
By Selena Walker Data released earlier this year by the Ottawa Police Services (OPS) showed a six per cent increase of intimate partner violence (IPV) incidents in 2025. While police link this increas...
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"Cultural events can serve as a platform for the Israeli state to expand its soft power and portray itself in a positive light on the global stage." We discuss Canada's involvement with Eurovision amidst boycotts against Israel. leveller.ca/2026/08/cana... #cdnpoli #cdnnews #BDS
Canada’s Participation in Eurovision is Not a Celebration - The Leveller
By: Emma Bainbridge On Canada Day, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) and the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) announced that Canada would become the newest member of the Eurovision Song Con...
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Guilty plea, no-show, rescheduled for convenience & discharged of assault charges. After a Swiss man came to #Ottawa & struck a Palestinian woman on video at an arms fair he only has to pay $5000. We spoke with people who were there. leveller.ca/2026/07/prou... #ottpoli #ottnews #cdnnews #cdnpoli
‘Proud,’ ‘Fucking Racist’ Absolutely Discharged of Assault on Palestinian Woman - The Leveller
By Lydia Kent & Maheeshan Sivanesan Ottawa’s Palestinian community and supporters were disappointed after the final hearing, on July 22, of a Swiss man who assaulted a 21 year-old woman outside a defe...
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A rural town in Alberta is fighting #ai #datacentre proposal that would compete with residents for local water and electricity, while threatening the environment globally. We look at how the fight is taking place there and what to expect in #Ottawa and #Ontario leveller.ca/2026/07/amid... #cdnpoli
Amid the Rise of AI Data Centres, There is Still Hope - The Leveller
By Katryna Brady Synapse Data Centre, Inc., has proposed the construction of a $10 billion Artificial Intelligence (AI) data centre in the rural town of Olds, Alberta. The data centre is part of a pro...
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Democratically-elected #Ottawa school board trustees "will have the same status as the suspended Trustees" according to #Ontario government-appointed supervisor with "no set timeline." Candidate nominations end next month. Our Reporter was there leveller.ca/2026/07/scho... #ottpoli #ottnews #OCDSB
School Board Election to Nowhere? - The Leveller
By Peter Moore Trustee candidates for the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB) will not form a new Board of Trustees after the October 26 municipal election, according to the Ontario governme...
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“Every aspect of mundane life is seemingly exaggerated in @bootsriley.bsky.social surrealist style: colours are brighter, sex is weirder, music is louder and antagonists are more conniving” We recommend #ILoveBoosters in #Ottawa at @mayfairtheatre.bsky.social leveller.ca/you-havent-s... #filmsky
You Haven't Seen One of The Greatest Films This Decade: 'I Love Boosters' - The Leveller
By Ashton Starr I saw I Love Boosters at the Ottawa Cineplex theatre with only seven other attendees. Due to limited promotion, when I was invited to watch it with a friend, I exclaimed “Boots Riley h...
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The key wording - which I love - on this $500K taxes tidbit is, "As first reported in @theleveller.bsky.social last year, ..." Independent community grassroots media FTW! How come no one else was paying attention back then, eh? #ottnews
Luke LeBrun@lukelebrun.ca · 2mo agoNot only that, but the developers also owed the City of Ottawa *HALF A MILLION DOLLARS IN UNPAID TAXES* when city council approved their zoning application so they could build a luxury condo, paving the way for the evictions Full story from @ottawacitizen.com here:
Not only that, but the developers also owed the City of Ottawa *HALF A MILLION DOLLARS IN UNPAID TAXES* when city council approved their zoning application so they could build a luxury condo, paving the way for the evictions Full story from @ottawacitizen.com here:
'I feel betrayed': What's behind the boarded-up stretch of Bank Street?
The tenants are evicted. The project collapsed. And creditors were pursuing the development group over tens of millions of dollars in loans and other alleged debts.
ottawacitizen.com
“The city rolls out the red carpet for these arms dealers. It makes me sick.” No arrests, but a large police presence stood between protesters and the CANSEC weapons fair. Our reporters were there: leveller.ca/2026/06/over... #ottpoli #onpoli #ottnews #onnews
Overwhelming Police Response to CANSEC Protests - The Leveller
by Joshua Bezanson Protesters attempted to shut down CANSEC, the largest defence and security convention in Canada, on May 28. Demonstrations began early in the morning, forming a line near the two en...
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#Ottawa Police are promoting a voluntary security camera registry, but critics warn even limited surveillance tools can contribute to the gradual expansion of police monitoring infrastructure over time. Read our report here: leveller.ca/2026/06/volu... #ottpoli #onpoli #ottnews #onnews
Voluntary Camera Registry Links Ontario Police to Private Surveillance Footage - The Leveller
By Selena Walker Ottawa police are promoting a voluntary security camera registry program they say helps investigators contact residents and businesses faster during investigations. The CAMSafe progra...
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#Ontario landlords are applying for and granted Above Guideline Increases to tenants' rent, without proper maintenane and work. Tenants say AGIs are "just another way to make rent unaffordable for long term tenants." Read the feature: leveller.ca/2026/05/onta... #ottpoli #onpoli #ottnews #onnews
Ontario’s Landlord-Tenant Board “Rubber Stamps” Above Guideline Rent Increases - The Leveller
By Ashley Liza Fernando BBetween 2021 and 2024, Dominic’s landlord performed renovations on his building that included roof fixing, a change in the hot water tank, and other exterior work. Dominic onl...
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“The Board of Governors is not democratic… getting these boards to divest from weapons going to Israel and fossil fuels polluting the world is like pulling teeth.” We report on a year of student and faculty demands and the #Carleton admin response: leveller.ca/2026/05/one-... #ottnews #ottpoli
One Year Later, Carleton Board of Governors Remains Complicit - The Leveller
By Lydia Kent & Maheeshan Sivanesan On April 28, the Carleton University community once again gathered outside Richcraft Hall where the Board of Governors met, for a protest organized by the Carleton4...
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May first marks International Workers' Day. In Ottawa, hundreds took to the streets to celebrate working class solidarity, march in the streets, and speak to pressing campaigns. Read about it here: leveller.ca/2026/05/otta... #ottpoli #ottnews @seiulocal2.bsky.social
Ottawa's May Day Rally Brings Together Communities, Common Struggles - The Leveller
By James Adair On May 1st, over 500 people gathered in Ottawa to celebrate May Day, otherwise known as International Workers’ Day. Colourful signs and banners of different community organizations and ...
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4 years ago, we mentioned @bootsriley.bsky.social 's masterpiece Sorry to Bother You in a list of revolutionary labour films. Our staff can now say his 2nd work I Love Boosters is also a brilliant social critique of capital. Screening at @bytownecinema.bsky.social now! leveller.ca/2022/10/film...
Films for Leftists: A short list of labour films to inspire social change - The Leveller
Why would we want the media we consume to be evocative of a capitalist hellscape we already live in?
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Next week in #Ottawa a weapons trade fair will be met by protests mobilized by a community opposing war profiteering for decades. We look at the reasons and history behind Shut Down CANSEC including anti-war successes at having the event banned: leveller.ca/2026/05/a-ma... #ottpoli #ottnews #cdnnews
A “Marketplace of Mass Death” - The Leveller
by Rahul Balasundaram O n May 27-28, the world’s biggest war profiteers will once again come to the EY Centre to showcase their weapons of mass killing as part of the annual CANSEC convention organiz...
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“...the very person who stands to gain from controlling who can come in and who doesn’t, is the same person who controls that...” What happened at the Ottawa District Labour Council elections? Our report: leveller.ca/2026/04/inco... #ottnews #ottpoli #cdnlabour
Inconsistencies at Ottawa District Labour Council Elections Keep Status Quo - The Leveller
By James Adair Editor’s Note: There are a lot of union acronyms in this article. We’ve provided references at the bottom. U nion locals with membership in the Ottawa District Labour Council (ODLC) cla...
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“They are trying to shift the blame to migrants..." Amidst political blame game against refugees and migrants in #Canada Liberals are making changes that will impact the most vulnerable. Read about it here: leveller.ca/2026/04/carn... #cdnnews #cdnpoli #ottnews #ottpoli
Carney’s Attack on Refugees and Migrants - The Leveller
Written by Rahul Balasundaram O n March 26, Bill C-12, the Strengthening Canada’s Immigration System and Borders Act, received royal assent and became law. It marks one of the most significant shifts ...
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“I would say he should tell the truth to the people of Ontario…" Provincial government and energy minister claim Darlington nuclear work was on time and under budget - that's not the whole story. More work and higher prices in the future. Read it here: leveller.ca/2026/04/nucl... #onpoli #onnews
Nuclear Reno Job at Darlington Didn’t Include All the Work - The Leveller
By Peter Moore O n February 2, Energy Minister Stephen Lecce announced the early completion of the Darlington nuclear plant refurbishment. “The unit is now complete and will be returning to service fo...
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Since Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced cuts to OSAP funding, massive student protests ignited across the province. They're back out again this week. We spoke to #CarletonU students about these changes: leveller.ca/2026/04/stud... #onpoli #ottpoli #cdnpoli #onnews #ottpoli
Students in Ottawa React to OSAP Cuts - The Leveller
By Maxwell Heroux & Maheeshan Sivanesan O n February 12, the Ontario government announced it will cut OSAP grants and end the domestic tuition freeze starting this fall. This would drop the maximum a...
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“The Canadian bail system is broken but not for the reasons politicians claim it is.” We analyzed the data, spoke to expert criminologists and found that #Canada Bill C-14 will do more harm than good. Read about it here: leveller.ca/2026/04/to-j... #cdnnews #cdnpoli #onnews #onpoli #cdncrime
To Jail and Back Again - The Leveller
By Jane Hayes B ill C-14, the Bail and Sentencing Reform Act, reached the Senate on February 24. The Bill will amend the Canadian bail system to address concerns about the efficiency and safety of the...
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"We missed having a spot that was open after iftar, somewhere people could go after breaking their fast, somewhere to come together and have a cup of coffee." Read how a new cafe in #Ottawa helped a community observe Ramadan. leveller.ca/2026/03/loca... #ottnews #ottfood
Local Ottawa Cafe Blends Coffee and Culture - The Leveller
A new production of Little Women is hitting the stage at Carleton University this weekend.
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"People that have been involved in this movement for a very long time are New Democrats who want this party to be rebuilt." Read our interview with #NDP leadership hopeful Heather McPherson: leveller.ca/2026/03/we-a... #cdnpoli #cdnnews
"We Are a Movement" - The Leveller
by Nicholas Harrison A s we started our call, Heather McPherson was locked in. Literally, since her laptop camera was set to track her head movements, but also because I was meeting her while she was...
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“I don't feel any of us are serving the general public in Canada by staying partisan and isolated and refusing to recognize that the system we have doesn't serve our potential constituency well at all.” #NDP leadership hopeful Tony McQuail interview: leveller.ca/2026/03/tony... #cdnpoli #cdnnews
Tony, From the Ground Up - The Leveller
by Nicholas Harrison A few hours after my conversation with Tony McQuail, I received an email from him titled “links on nonviolent defence and farmers for climate solutions.” The email contained a va...
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We interviewed Tanille Johnston on hard work, her political history, motherhood and gender politics as part of our series on #NDP leadership candidates. Read it here: leveller.ca/2026/03/ente... #Canada #CanadianNews #CanadianPoliitcs #cdnnews #cdnpoli
“Enter as The Human You Are” - The Leveller
Progressive politics in Canada looked bleak at the end of 2024. For months, polling had indicated that a conservative movement was ascendant in Canada, mirroring Donald Trump’s return to the American ...
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After joking around about an #NDP leadership bracket last year, a few of the hypothetical candidates actually put in their nominations. We've invited each of the candidates to speak with us at The Leveller. So far, 3 of the 5 interviews are posted here: leveller.ca/ndp-leadersh... #cdnpoli #cdnnews
NDP Leadership Interview Series 2026 - The Leveller
by Nicholas Harrison I had the idea to create an NDP leadership bracket last year, and The Leveller kindly agreed to publish it. The article was a glib and goofy attempt to sum up the constellation of...
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"They will pretend to care now because we are actually doing something together.” Tenants of 550 Wilbrod met to make demands of their landlord to follow through on maintenance and follow the law. Read it here: leveller.ca/2026/03/tena... #ottawa #ottnews #ottpoli #onnews #onpoli #housing
Tenants of Sandy Hill are Organizing! - The Leveller
By Ashley Liza Fernando I n Sandy Hill, at the end of the cul-de-sac on Wilbrod Street, sits an apartment building facing the Rideau river. The building, which is a 20 minute walk away from the Univer...
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For International Women's Month, Sock'n'Buskin presents Little Women, "a very timeless story with strong role models for young girls." The play will be held at Carleton University from March 19-22. leveller.ca/2026/03/sock... #ottawa #Carletonu
Sock 'n' Buskin Presents Little Women - The Leveller
Just Voices celebrates their twentieth anniversary
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