Updates

Socialist Project Fredericton is pleased to co-host an event in Fredericton with Rodrigue Turgeon of Mining Watch Canada and Alain Deneault, Université de Moncton à Shippagan.

When: Thursday, September 24, 2026, 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM AT 

Where: Ted Daigle Auditorium, Edmund Casey Hall, St. Thomas University, 51 Dineen Dr., Fredericton

‘Mine, baby, mine.’ But, can we mine our way out of our crises? 

Rodrigue Turgeon in conversation with Alain Deneault

More mines – lithium, copper, nickel, tungsten, etc. – are being pitched as the solution to multiple problems – the economy, national sovereignty and security, and even the climate crisis. Mines are touted as nation-building projects and sources of critical strategic metals essential for national defense while the U.S. Department of War has pumped more than a total $78 million into different mines in Canada, including $15 million for the proposed Sisson tungsten and molybdenum mine, 60 km from Fredericton. Mines are also sources of transition metals needed for electric vehicles and renewable energy. 

Hear a critical take on mining as the cure-all solution to various crises of our times. What are the downsides of more mining? Who benefits from mining? Who loses? How can communities push back against proposed mining projects? Are there other solutions to today’s most pressing problems that are worthy of more exploration and support?  

Rodrigue Turgeon supports many communities affected by mining across the country as the National Program Co-Lead of MiningWatch Canada. A lawyer from Abitibi-Témiscamingue, one of Canada’s most well-known mining regions, Rodrigue understands firsthand the social and environmental impacts of mining. Author of the book Nanikana, he holds a master’s degree in law and life sciences and a graduate degree in common law and transnational law, and is co-spokesperson of the Coalition Québec meilleure mine.

Alain Deneault is a philosopher and author of several books and essays on international finance, globalization, transnational corporations, and corporate tax havens. His books include Imperial Canada Inc.: Legal Haven of Choice for the World’s Mining Industry, Mediocracy: The Politics of the Extreme Centre, and Noir Canada : Pillage, corruption et criminalité en Afrique. He teaches philosophy and environmental ethics at the Shippagan campus of the Université de Moncton on the Acadian Peninsula.

Hosts: Contesting Energy Discourses through Action Research (CEDAR), Sustainability Learning Lab and partners at St. Thomas University, Coalition for Responsible Energy Development (CRED NB), Wolastoq Grand Council, the Stop Sisson Mine Coalition, Conservation Council of New Brunswick, Socialist Project Fredericton, Conseil de la paix NB Peace Council, NB Media Co-op and MiningWatch Canada. 

For more information, contact Tracy Glynn at tglynn@stu.ca. 

SPFredericton is offering Socialism and Capitalism, a course of the Leo Panitch School for Socialist Education, over the weekend of October 17-18 in downtown Fredericton.

The course is free of charge with optional donation to the Leo Panitch School.

Registration is open. Click HERE to register.

Course details HERE.

Our weekend course examines the historical development of socialism as a response to the continual evolution of capitalism. We ask: “What is socialism now and how did we get here?” And we ask: “What is capitalism now and how has it changed?” All the while we trace the evolution of socialism as an analytical and political paradigm responding to the harmful and often violent effects of capitalism. Throughout our journey we will stress that the essence of socialism involves the desire to get beyond the horrors and trauma caused by capitalism.

Monday, July 6 @ 5 to 6:30 PM, at Conserver House, 180 St. John Street in Fredericton. A talk and discussion led by Herman Rosenfeld, a long-time Socialist Project (Toronto) member.

The talk and discussion with SPFredericton members will focus on the current set of challenges facing working people, driven by Trump and the US on the one side, and the responses by Carney, Labour, popular movements and the left (including the NDP, led by Avi Lewis) on the other? And we’ll ask: “How might socialists respond?”

Everyone is invited to this workshop hosted by Socialist Project Fredericton.

Saturday, June 13 at 2 PM

Conserver House, 180 St. John St., Fredericton

Tobin LeBlanc Haley, Associate Professor of Sociology at the University of New Brunswick, interrogates the problem of housing unaffordability impacting growing numbers of households in Canada. Moving beyond the conceptualization of the current housing “crisis,” she traces the decades of policy decisions and logics that led us to this moment, offers a critical analysis of the current responses from decision-makers and suggests alternatives.

Everyone is invited to join this event hosted by Socialist Project Fredericton & Cinema Politica Fredericton.

Bisbee ’17

Wednesday, May 20 at 6:00 – 8:30 PM

Conserver House, 180 St. John St. Fredericton

With opening remarks by Jeffrey Brown, associate professor of historical studies, University of New Brunswick, and scholar of American labour history and political culture. 

Bisbee ’17 is a non-fiction feature film by Sundance award winning director Robert Greene set in Bisbee, an eccentric old mining town on the Arizona-Mexico border that finally reckons with its darkest day: the deportation of 1200 immigrant miners 100 years ago. 

Locals collaborate to stage recreations of their controversial past. Radically combining documentary and genre elements, the film follows several members of the close knit community as they collaborate with the filmmakers to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Bisbee Deportation, where 1200 immigrant miners were violently taken from their homes by a deputized force, shipped to the desert on cattle cars and left to die. 

To watch the trailer and for more information, visit: https://www.cinemapolitica.org/film/bisbee-17/

Contact: fredericton@cinemapolitica.org or socialistprojectfred@gmail.com

This International Workers’ Day, we gather across New Brunswick to affirm a simple truth: a worker is a worker, no matter where we come from or the immigration status we hold. You are invited to a powerful two‑city May Day forum bringing together migrant justice organizers from Minneapolis, New Brunswick, and beyond.

A Worker is a Worker — May Day Forum

With Minneapolis & New Brunswick migrant justice organizers

 Register here:https://migrantworkersalliance.org/maydaynb/ 

About the Forum

We are honoured to welcome Aizar Cabrera from the Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Centre, who will speak about the ongoing battle for survival in Minneapolis and how migrant communities are building solidarity in the face of escalating attacks.

In January 2026, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents killed Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti on the streets of Minneapolis. Six more people have died in ICE custody since the start of the year. Yet Canada continues to treat the U.S. as a “safe third country,” blocking many from seeking refugee protection here if they first enter through the U.S.

On this global day of worker solidarity, we will examine how capitalists and government policies divide the working class—here in New Brunswick, in Minneapolis, and across borders. And we will highlight the migrant workers and advocates who are organizing to make work safer and more dignified for all.

Speakers include:

• Wolastoq Grand Council Chief Ron Tremblay – Fredericton event
• Stacy Plummer, New Brunswick migrant worker & MWAC advocate
• Niger Saravia, Migrant Workers Alliance for Change
• Cristian Sanabria, Madhu Verma, Migrant Justice Centre
• Tracy Glynn, Madhu Verma Migrant Justice Centre & Socialist Project Fredericton

More info:

The NB Media Co-op published a commentary by Peggy Nash, Executive Director of the Centre for Policy Alternatives. “Our solidarity is with the people of Minneapolis.” Read it HERE.

Another discussion meet-up today at a café in downtown Fredericton, on the topic of ecosocialism. Anyone who wants to suggest discussion topics and come to future meet-ups should make sure you’re on the SPF info list. Sign up link is at the top of the page.

First meet-up discussion today downtown, on the topic Avi Lewis and the NDP. More people came than expected, 16, so we broke up into two groups. Anyone who wants to suggest discussion topics and come to future meet-ups should make sure you’re on the info list. Sign up link is at the top of the page.

SPFredericton held the first class of its new course on March 16, 2026. Info HERE. Registration is now closed. The course will be offered again in Fall 2026.

The Socialist Project Fredericton launched on March 9, 2026. Twenty-three of us met at Conserver House in downtown Fredericton.

The NB Media Co-op published a story about the first meeting: “Socialist Project Fredericton holds its first gathering” Read it HERE.

Here are a few photos.

We discussed plans for upcoming workshops and coffee meet-ups as well as the first SPF course starting March 16, Socialism and Capitalism, info HERE. Everyone interested to stay in this info loop should sign up for the SPF info list, link HERE.