I've worked in Community, Harm Reduction, Housing and Health for over 20 years. Opinions are my own and not those of the organizations I work with.
Vancouver, British Columbia
Joined April 2017
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This holds for the @liberal_party of Canada and most Western countries. If they won't - we MUST. Pressure the political class - they love stasis. This is how Apartheid in South Africa was dismantled.
Russell Maynard retweeted
The book directly challenges the now-dominant "just build more housing" account of urban housing crises associated with economist Edward Glaeser and the broader YIMBY policy consensus. Condon's counter-argument is that restrictive zoning is not the primary driver of unaffordability, and that density deregulation — upzoning that allows more building on a given parcel — mostly inflates land values rather than lowering housing costs, because the anticipated development rights are quickly capitalized into the price of the underlying land
progress.org/wiki/condon-bro…
Russell Maynard retweeted
The Liberal government claims it wants to build Canada strong.
You can't do that by attacking the workers who build it each and every day.
Bill C-39 is the Carney plan to build baby build: but who is it really written for?
The working class of this country?
Or the investor class eyeing mega profits from our airports, public assets and natural resources?
I think the Carney government has shown us whose interests rule in today's Canada.
NEW: Today, the Liberals voted down MP @LeahGazan's bill to end government strikebreaking and protect the constitutional right to strike.
The NDP stands with workers; they chose to stand with the billionaires and corporate interests that are fuelling the crises that working people face every day.
But the fight isn’t over. The Liberals and Conservatives are teaming up to expand this undemocratic power and make life harder for workers with Bill C-39. The NDP and workers coast to coast to coast will be fighting back every step of the way.
ALT Graphic with a photo of WestJet workers on strike with the text: BREAKING. Liberals vote down NDP bill to protect the right to strike.
Russell Maynard retweeted
If you're ever wondering why we have more war and less peace:
55% of global security spending is just military spending.
1% goes towards peacebuilding.
If you want to stop war and war crimes, follow the money.
Less than 1% of global security spending goes to peacebuilding.
At committee recently, I asked Emilie Galland-Jarrett of @SaveChildrenCan about the need to invest in peace.
Humanitarian needs are deepening. Building peace must be a global priority.
Shame on Britain! @10DowningStreet
Banning academic and author Andreas Malm from entering Britain to stop him from speaking alongside myself, a Palestine Action co-founder, is another disgusting attack on free speech as a result of the draconian ban.
The ban must be overturned.
theguardian.com/uk-news/2026…
Russell Maynard retweeted
To all the brilliant, kind and highly productive Arabic origin physicians and scientists I have learned from, read and practiced beside I deeply regret this racist MAGA bigot has a microphone. The only upshot is RFK’s downfall is complete.
Russell Maynard retweeted
"Lana Nusseibeh must not lead the United Nations. Her selection would be an outrage. Canada must act now to demand our allies on the Security Council veto her candidacy."
The NDP's @HMcPhersonNDP calls on Canada to oppose Lana Nusseibeh's candidacy as UN Secretary General:
Russell Maynard retweeted
I find the large amounts of private money funding US Presidential campaigns well and truly disgusting. A system that is well and truly messed up.
The magnitudes would hold true to Canadian oil companies - what a 'legal' ripoff!
U.S. Oil Industry made Over $130 Billion in Profit During Iran War
That was almost 3X what businesses producing and refining oil in the US made in the same period in 2025.
nytimes.com/2026/10/30/busin…
WTF @MarkJCarney ! Pleased your job and do it with Integrity!
This morning, MP @ElizabethMay, members from @IndJewishVoices , Executive Director, Firaaz of @wearehumaniti, Dr. Aaron Shafer from Trent University, and Dr. Baher Abdulhai, board member at PSSAR, held a press conference.
Russell Maynard retweeted
Trump promised to “Drain the Swamp.” Then he made $2 billion off the presidency.
He promised to “Make America Healthy Again.” Then he took healthcare from 15 million people.
He promised “No More Wars.” Then he attacked Iran.
Say NO to Trump. Say NO to a Republican Congress.
Russell Maynard retweeted
Sit down, get your smelling salts, watch your blood pressure: serious people are allowed to say that Israel is undemocratic.
Russell Maynard retweeted
⭕️ Pulitzer Prize winner Benjamin Moser:
“The more I studied Zionism, the more I spent time there, the more I realized that every inch of Israel is Palestine. It was always Palestine.
Jews were never not allowed to live there as equal citizens, as they are in Britain or any other Western country. But the establishment of this state really did mean this massive ethnic cleansing that was not just a one-off.”
Russell Maynard retweeted
Can you give just $10 a month? How about $20 or $50?
Whatever amount you can consistently commit to makes a difference. Set up a monthly donation now: linktr.ee/thesameerproject?u…
Monthly donations allow The Sameer Project to plan ahead, sustain distributions, and make informed decisions about how much food, water, medical care, and other essential assistance we can provide to families in Gaza.
When funding is unpredictable, so is the aid people depend on to survive.
Consistency is solidarity. After more than three years of genocide, Palestinians in Gaza deserve something they can count on.
Commit to a monthly donation today. Even $10 a month helps us build a more reliable lifeline for families who have lost nearly everything.
Make your solidarity consistent. Become a monthly donor through the links: linktr.ee/thesameerproject?u…
Other ways to donate include:
paypal.me/mahertali (Paypal option, please make sure to add a message saying "GENERAL")
account.venmo.com/u/Maher-Al… (Venmo option, please make sure to add a message saying "GENERAL")
Russell Maynard retweeted
jennykwanndp.ca/globe_mail_o…
Kwan gets it right. Too bad Eby didn’t.
Impossible to NOT WATCH! : Israeli actress slams occupation in accidental ‘hot mic’ moment aje.news/tylycb?update=50998… via @AJEnglish
Russell Maynard retweeted
A classic chart to counter the wisdom of crowds idea. US Americans are absolutely clueless about how common things are. They think over a quarter of Americans are Native Americans, one in five Americans is transgender, over a quarter of the population are Muslim, one in five households earn over half a million dollars. The right answer to all of these questions is 1%. They build their worldview on totally incorrect assumptions towards reality. Data literacy matters.
Russell Maynard retweeted
The groundbreaking documentary by Lebanese journalist @radwanmortada about Israel’s pager attacks is now available for English speakers.
3 weeks after it was released, the Israelis looted and then blew up Radwan’s house.
Tomorrow pro-Israel fanatics will release a propaganda film in U.S. theaters about the criminal pager attacks.
Watch Radwan’s movie instead ⬇️
aljazeera360.com/video/10423…
Russell Maynard retweeted
Senator @ChrisMurphyCT reveals that war plan briefings by the administration show that Trump and Israel are planning an extreme escalation to win the war of choice wth Iran.
Murphy calls the plan "insane." Not only will it fail, but it will also lead to "the likely destruction of our commitment to the rule of law."
What Sen. Murphy says here is that Trump and Israel are planning a military campaign that violates every rule of war, including every American law regarding the conduct of war.
It is not a war plan; it's a war crimes plan.
Russell Maynard retweeted
Housing should be a human right, not vehicle for investor profits.
As former UN expert Leilani Farha explains, Canada’s housing crisis isn’t simply a shortage of homes. It’s a system increasingly designed to generate wealth for investors 1/4
theglobeandmail.com/opinion/…
Congrats Ron
Recovery is inspiring...
Today marks 33 years of sobriety for Ron, a man who was instrumental in my recovery and helped change my life. ❤️
In 2010, I was living in a recovery house in Surrey. I had one set of clothes and a pair of sandals. That was it.
Ron noticed I didn't have much. He gave me his number and told me to call him that weekend.
I called, and he took me out for breakfast. We talked about my life, and he told me, "You can change your life if you're willing to work hard, and I'll help you."
After breakfast, he took me shopping and bought me clothes and shoes. I told him I wouldn't be able to pay him back.
He said something I've never forgotten...
"I'm not asking you to pay me back. But if you stick around and work this program, you'll understand."
He was right and I eventually learned that one of the greatest gifts of recovery is helping another person find their way, just like someone helped me.
But here's where the story gets even better.
Years later, I married Ron's daughter and gave him three beautiful grandchildren.
I guess I found a way to pay him back after all. ❤️
Happy 33 years sober, Ron!
What a trip life is. Sometimes the people who help you rebuild your life end up becoming part of it forever.
