Government must put the brakes on Bay St. and prevent windfall pandemic payouts

Government must put the brakes on Bay St. and prevent windfall pandemic payouts

OTTAWA – An upcoming announcement from Canada’s banking regulator has the financial sector salivating at the prospect of gargantuan payouts. Analysts predict that the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI) will announce this week that they will relax a ban on dividends and share buybacks. “The banks now want to reward themselves and investors with windfall gains that…

New cabinet must get to work on building an inclusive and equitable recovery

OTTAWA—Bea Bruske released the following statement about the new federal cabinet: “With women so disproportionately impacted by the economic crisis that accompanied the pandemic, it is not enough that Mr. Trudeau appoints a cabinet based on gender parity. The new cabinet must take concrete action to address the significant setbacks to women’s labour force participation over the last 18 months.…

As clock ticks down, Canada’s unions demand government chooses help for people

OTTAWA—Canada’s unions are urging the federal government to extend emergency benefits to help workers and their families still struggling through the fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Canada’s recent Labour Force Survey showed that nearly one and a half million people are still looking for work and total hours worked still lag well below pre-pandemic levels. “Behind the headlines, the…

Status quo parliament must not return to the status quo

Parliament must get to work on key issues facing workers OTTAWA – Canada’s unions congratulate Justin Trudeau and the Liberal Party on their re-election and offer to work with the government and Parliamentarians from all parties on building a pandemic recovery that addresses the critical challenges facing workers and their families. “Canadians have spoken, and their message is clear: it’s…

Canada’s unions united with nurses in demanding urgent government action

OTTAWA – As the pandemic strains Canada’s public health care systems, nurses are sounding the alarm that urgent action is needed by all levels of government to fix Canada’s nursing crisis. The Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions and provincial nurses’ unions across Canada are holding a National Day of Action today, making sure our health care system is top of mind…

O’Toole another Conservative who would put our public health care system at risk

With the pandemic pushing provinces to the brink, a federal Conservative government would put Canada’s public health care system in jeopardy. OTTAWA – Health care systems are on the brink. Alberta is witnessing 1,500 new cases a day and rising while their health care system is on the verge of collapse. Saskatchewan saw a record 506 new cases. Cases are spiking…

Conservative O’Toole would mean low-wage recovery that leaves workers behind

Service workers see average wages rise paltry 59 cents during the pandemic, less than a bag of potatoes has gone up Sales and service workers have seen wages rise only 59 cents on average – less than price a bag of potatoes has gone up – since the pandemic struck. There are still nearly 300,000 more unemployed than in February…

O’Toole would build a social safety net out of hot air

Conservatives release platform costing, but Canadians already have the tally on broken Conservative promises. Canada’s unions are warning that a huge fiscal hole in Erin O’Toole’s platform and proposals that leave workers behind would put Canada’s already weakened social safety net at risk. Experts have been pointing to how the Conservatives’ unrealistic growth projections create a gigantic fiscal gap in…

Bea Bruske: Put working families at the heart of Canada’s recovery

OTTAWA – Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress released the following statement on Labour Day: “Over the past eighteen months, workers and their families have faced unprecedented challenges from a pandemic and fiscal crisis. “Parents faced the pressure of working from home while dealing with their kids’ schooling. Workers faced the anxiety of being thrown out of work…

Canada’s unions release ad reminding working Canadians Erin O’Toole is dangerous

OTTAWA − Canada’s unions are pushing back against Erin O’Toole’s claims around supporting working Canadians with a video containing hard-hitting truths about O’Toole’s real record of letting down workers. “We have seen his rhetoric around supporting working people. But when you look at his record, you start seeing the real O’Toole,’ said Bea Bruske, president of the Canadian Labour Congress.…