Bill C-32 a good first step, more must still be done to protect LGBTQ community

Bill C-32 a good first step, more must still be done to protect LGBTQ community

Canada’s unions are pleased that the federal government is taking steps to end discrimination against the LGBTQ community with the move to repeal section 159 of the Criminal Code and the appointment of a Special Advisor on LGBTQ issues. Today Minister of Justice Jody Wilson-Raybould announced Bill C-32 which would repeal section 159 of the Criminal Code, a law which…

Supreme Court of Canada victory for BC teachers sends strong message to governments across Canada

In a very rare move, Canada’s Supreme Court has ruled from the bench that the BC government violated the guarantee of freedom of association under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms when it passed legislation stripping class size protections from BC teachers’ collective agreements. “The Supreme Court of Canada has sent a strong message to governments across the country…

Canada needs smarter investment for the future, not more P3 projects

In Tuesday’s fiscal update, the federal government announced that it is prioritizing infrastructure investment to support long-term growth. And while investments in public transit, green infrastructure and rural and northern communities are welcomed, there is concern that investment in clean air, clean water, social housing, and childcare were not addressed. “We support the priorities that the government is continuing to…

Prime Minister must support motion to end discrimination against First Nations children

CLC president Hassan Yussuff is calling on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to comply with the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal ruling ordering an end to discrimination against First Nations children in the delivery of child welfare services on reserves. “Your government made a promise to Canadians that it will implement the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and we believe…

ETUC and CLC statement on CETA: More democracy for a fair and progressive trade agenda

The failure of the signature of CETA and the consequent postponement of the EU-Canada Summit show that our concerns were right and are shared by local and national politicians. The deal cannot be ratified unless the flaws in CETA are fully addressed.  This is the result of a negotiation process that was conducted in secrecy.  We believe that this situation…

Prime Minister Trudeau tells young union activists he’ll keep his election promises

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau pledged to keep his election promises amid tough questions from more than 400 delegates at the Canadian Labour Congress’ Young Workers Summit in Ottawa today. The questions ranged from trade to pipelines and the environment, from the Phoenix payroll system and public sector bargaining to the need for accessible child care and good quality, secure jobs…

CLC calls on government to fulfill electoral reform promise

Today, CLC President Hassan Yussuff joined with partners in the Every Voter Counts Alliance to call on the government to fulfill its promise on electoral reform and institute a made in Canada version of proportional representation. “This is an opportunity to uphold the democratic principle of making every vote count.  The only way to do that is through proportional representation,” said Yussuff. Throughout the…

CETA’s failure is a win for democracy

The Canadian Labour Congress says that the European Union and Canada failed to reach a deal on CETA because negotiators failed to take the concerns of unions and civil society seriously. “These talks failed because governments on both sides of the Atlantic chose not to seriously address the concerns we put on the table when the text first became public…

Celebrities help Canadian unions celebrate human rights victories

On Thursday evening, Canada’s unions will launch Rise Up!, a national human rights conference, with an opening night celebration featuring a DJ set by A Tribe Called Red, celebrity guest speakers including Daily Show Senior Correspondent Hasan Minhaj, author and MLA for Fort Rouge Wab Kinew, and Dr. Dawn Lavell-Harvard, vice-president of the Native Women’s Association of Canada (NWAC). “This is…

Government repeals anti-union legislation

On Wednesday, Parliament voted to adopt Bill C-4, a government bill that repeals the previous Conservative government’s controversial anti-union bills C-377 and C-525. Earlier this year, Labour Minister MaryAnn Mihychuk made good on the Liberals’ election promise to repeal the bills. “We are pleased that the government has done the right thing and overturned bills C-377 and C-525 and we…