Publications

Canada’s unions call for mental health supports for all

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the mental health of people across Canada. It is important to recognize the negative impact, and reflect on the stigma still associated with mental illness in our workplaces and communities. Mental Illness Awareness Week (MIAW), this week from October 4 to 10, is part of a national public education campaign in…

A robust immigration system is key to our recovery

By Hassan Yussuff, as published in The Province COVID-19 has forced rethinks on many aspects of our lives that we previously took for granted. That includes thinking about how our communities function, and specifically about who ensures that they continue to, even in times of upheaval. This has brought more visibility to the workers who many of us don’t often…

It’s time for publicly funded health care to include seniors’ care

By Hassan Yussuff as published in National Newswatch The images, the stories, the experiences of our seniors during this pandemic are enough to bring a grown man to tears. In fact, it has. Even Ontario’s Premier Doug Ford has, at times, become emotional while talking about the conditions in the province’s long-term care facilities. It’s a dire situation right across…

There is no economic recovery without adequate child care

By Hassan Yussuff and Goldy Hyder as published in The Star. The economic fallout of COVID-19 is stark – and women are feeling the brunt of it. Over 1.5 million women lost jobs over March and April, according to Statistics Canada. That’s a 17% drop in employment levels since February. Even with workplaces and services beginning to reopen, families will…

A call for collective action

By Hassan Yussuff as published in National Newswatch. We are in the midst of a global pandemic. The federal government is introducing new programs almost daily to support millions of Canadians who have been affected by this crisis. Public service employees are doing amazing work getting that support to the people who need it. Meanwhile, the calls for austerity are…

Improving the lives of workers is sound business sense

By Hassan Yussuff, as published in the Toronto Sun. There will always be those who believe that the most important aspect of any business is the bottom line, regardless of how such tunnel vision can negatively impact the lives of workers. But the best employers understand that a sound business model includes nurturing workplaces in which their employees are treated with…

Working families have a lot at stake this election

By Hassan Yussuff You can be forgiven if you’ve avoided thinking about the upcoming federal election all summer, but Labour Day is here. That means it’s time to return to the fall routine and start thinking about how you are going to cast your ballot. You may have seen politicians working the barbecue circuit, vying for the support of workers…

Universal pharmacare should be an easy pill to swallow

By Hassan Yussuff, as published in the Toronto Sun. Finally, some good news for the millions of Canadians who have to choose between paying for groceries or their prescription medications. Canada’s Advisory Council on the Implementation of National Pharmacare has laid out a clear path for public, single-payer, universal pharmacare in its final report. “The time for universal, single-payer, public…

When government, employers & unions take domestic violence seriously

By Hassan Yussuff, Derrick Hynes, and the Hon. Patty Hajdu In the four years since the release of the first-ever pan-Canadian study on the impact of domestic violence at work, unions, employers and governments have embarked on a remarkable joint project to help protect jobs and promote workplace safety. We now have a common understanding of the magnitude of this…

Canada’s unions call on federal government to create national strategy on anti-Black racism

To mark Black History Month, Canada’s unions are renewing their call on the federal government to commit to an anti-Black racism strategy. Such a strategy would require the government to commit to analyzing race-based statistics on how various institutional policies impact Canada’s Black communities. The key objective would be to eradicate institutionalized racism that is disproportionately harming this specific segment…