Publications

Canada’s unions congratulate Magali Picard on historic FTQ presidential win

MONTRÉAL – Canada’s unions would like to congratulate Magali Picard on being the first woman and Indigenous person to be elected President of the Fédération des travailleurs et des travailleuses du Québec (FTQ). “On behalf of the CLC and its 3.3 million members, we congratulate Magali on her historic win. We have a long-standing relationship with the FTQ and we’re…

Beware of Premiers bearing promises of a quick health care fix

By Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress, and Patty Coates, President of the Ontario Federation of Labour, as published in National Newswatch. Winston Churchill famously said, ‘Never let a good crisis go to waste,’ and clearly Premiers Doug Ford in Ontario and Danielle Smith in Alberta, took note. Both are seizing this crisis in our health care system…

Statement by the Canadian Labour Congress regarding the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC)

The Canadian Labour Congress has expressed its grave concerns about the allegations against Luca Visentini, stemming from an ongoing corruption investigation by the Belgian authorities. Visentini was elected to the position of General Secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation in Melbourne, Australia, in November 2022. He was subsequently arrested and released with conditions as part of the investigation. Visentini…

New! Permanent Residence for “Out-of-Status” Construction Workers in the GTA, 2023

Permanent Residence for “Out-of-Status” Construction Workers in the GTA, 2023 The Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) is working with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to process at least another 500 applications for permanent residence for out-of-status construction workers in the GTA in 2023. Under the new Subsequent Temporary Public Policy to Continue to Facilitate Access to Permanent Resident Status for…

As we head into the holidays, Canadians are struggling after being hammered by aggressive interest rate hikes

Bruske: In 2023, Parliament needs to focus on the true causes of inflation and address the affordability crisis Canadians will continue to face Today’s numbers are further evidence that inflation is already slowly moderating in Canada. Yet again, Canada’s unions are calling on the Bank to pause its tightening cycle and avoid further hiking rates. “The Bank’s rapid and aggressive…

Statement from Bea Bruske on the mass shooting in Vaughan, Ontario

Canada’s unions are shocked and horrified to hear of the tragic mass shooting in Vaughan on Sunday evening. Canada’s unions wish to express their deepest sorrow and shock at the news of this horrible event, where five lives were brutally lost. We want to extend our heartfelt condolences to the families of those who were killed in this senseless act of…

International Migrants Day: Canada must do more to help undocumented people secure their rights

Canada’s unions are urging the federal government to be ambitious in developing an inclusive and comprehensive regularization program for undocumented people that includes protections to ensure their safety. An estimated 500,000 undocumented people in Canada live under constant fear and threat of abuse and exploitation due to their immigration status. They frequently face racism, discrimination and wage theft, work in…

Canada’s unions are lifting everyone up

Bruske: As Parliament adjourns, we celebrate progress made and gear up to fight even harder for workers in 2023  OTTAWA — The current parliamentary session has drawn to a close, and Canada’s unions are taking the opportunity to celebrate the progress made this year for workers.   In 2022, many workers and their families buckled under sky-high inflation, eye-popping grocery bills…

The Bank’s forgotten mandate: Support maximum sustainable employment

BRUSKE: More balanced economic policies needed to avoid devastating job losses OTTAWA –– A year after the Bank of Canada received a new mandate, Canada’s unions are asking what happened to the new directions that added employment considerations when the Bank is setting Canada’s monetary policy. “A year ago, amidst great fanfare, the Bank received direction that Canada’s monetary policy…

Canada’s unions: hate and racism cannot continue to go unchecked

Canada’s unions have long brought workers together in solidarity and unity to carry on the fight against racism in our workplaces and communities. As we mark Human Rights Day—observed annually on December 10—Canada’s unions are calling out rising hate and racism, and underscoring the path set 25 years ago when they released the National Anti-Racism Task Force report titled Challenging…