Publications

CLC report: reducing greenhouse gas emissions in Canada

Ten lessons Canada can learn from the U.S. on reducing greenhouse gas emissions Table of Contents Introduction Post-1990 – Emissions Rise, Kyoto Falls in North America Copenhagen and beyond – U.S. on track to meet 4% below 1990; Canada way off course to meet 7% over 1990 U.S. Emissions Reductions at the Federal Level – the President Barack Obama Plan…

Letter to former Prime Minister Harper on just transition

The CLC wrote to former prime minister Harper in March, 2015 urging commitments that would mean transition to a very low carbon economy within by 2050. Dear Prime Minister: As per the agreement of the United Nations Conference of the Parties in Lima in December 2014, Canada is expected to announce in March 2015 its Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs)…

Prime Minister addresses national meeting of the Canadian Labour Congress

(Ottawa) Prime Minister Justin Trudeau addressed a national meeting of labour leaders from across the country in Ottawa on Tuesday morning, signaling the onset of a new era in relations between the labour movement and the federal government. “We were happy to welcome the Prime Minister to our meeting, and to hear him recommit to repealing the former Conservative government’s…

October job numbers are up but overall trend remains weak

October’s Labour Force Survey shows that over the past twelve months job growth still isn’t keeping up with labour force growth. This month’s increase is for the most part based on an increase of 32,000 jobs in public administration, most of that are temporary and likely associated with hiring for the federal election. “We still have a weak job market,…

Canadian labour looks forward to working with new Liberal Government

The Canadian Labour Congress is congratulating Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on his swearing-in and the appointment of his new cabinet, and looks forward to working with the new government to address key priorities for working Canadians. “We are looking forward to constructive collaboration with Prime Minister Trudeau and his cabinet ministers to implement the progressive change promised during the election…

Canadians Reject Politics of Fear and Division: CLC hopeful for progressive change under Liberal government

OTTAWA – The Canadian Labour Congress is congratulating Prime Minister-designate Justin Trudeau and the Liberal party on their election victory, and urging them to act quickly on key priorities for working Canadians. “Canadians have soundly rejected the Conservatives’ politics of fear and division and have voted for change, and we look forward to working to ensure the Trudeau government delivers…

Making the shift: How part-time workers are organizing for better, more stable jobs

It’s hard to balance family and other responsibilities when your work schedule can change with little or no notice. But this past July was a good month for making shift work better for working Canadians and their families. Thousands of people working at major Canadian grocery outlets – where shift scheduling can be unpredictable and full-time hours hard to come…

This Labour Day, let’s talk about a better choice for Canadian workers

This Labour Day, workers across Canada are celebrating how, with the help of their unions, they’ve been able to improve their day-to-day lives — and those of their neighbours. They will also be talking about how this election, we can make a better choice for Canadian workers. When unions help working people stand up for fairness, we all benefit —…

Syrian refugee crisis: how Canada can help

Sadly, it took the picture of a dead three-year-old boy lying on the beaches of Turkey to bring home the tragic reality of the Syrian refugee crisis. Yet, this crisis has been with us since 2011 as the civil war in Syria led millions to flee their homes and some four million to become actual refugees, mostly in neighbouring countries.…

Look out, Chevron: Ecuadorian villagers can now seek justice in Canadian courts

The CLC applauds the Supreme Court of Canada’s unanimous ruling that Ecuadorian villagers can proceed with their claim against Chevron in an Ontario Court. At issue are Texaco’s oil exploration and extraction activities in Ecuador between 1972 and 1990 (Texaco is now owned by Chevron). The region has suffered extensive environmental pollution that has disrupted the lives and jeopardized the…