O’Toole would build a social safety net out of hot air
September 8, 2021
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…
Canada’s unions release detailed analysis of Budget 2021
April 30, 2021
On April 19, 2021 the federal government announced its first budget in two years. More than 12 months into a global pandemic and the accompanying economic shock, and in the midst of a devastating third wave of infections in Canada, this budget comes at a crucial time. The pandemic has forced Canadians to confront stark realities and profound shortcomings in our…
Budget 2021: Canada’s unions welcome ‘crucial’ funding for child care, skills training and $15 federal minimum wage
April 19, 2021
Canada’s unions are applauding significant investments in child care, training and skills development and a $15 federal minimum wage, in addition to a further expansion of emergency benefits announced in today’s federal budget. “This budget will bring some relief to the country’s workers and their families. Women workers have long borne the brunt of the absence of high-quality, universal child…
#WeAreTheRecovery: Pandemic response must centre women’s economic justice
March 8, 2021
Canada’s unions are marking International Women’s Day by calling on the federal government to focus on women’s economic justice in their pandemic recovery plans, which must include a national, universal childcare program. “It’s no secret that the gendered impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic have hurt women the most, especially those who also face other forms of discrimination and marginalization,” said…
Human Rights Day: equitable COVID-19 recovery requires investment in care
December 10, 2020
Canada’s unions are marking International Human Rights Day by calling for long-term investments in the care sector. “Recover Better – Stand Up for Human Rights” is the United Nations theme for this year’s International Human Rights Day, which is observed December 10. “It is critical that Canada’s COVID-19 recovery efforts tackle the human rights failures that have been exposed by…
Canada’s workers engage MPs during first-ever Virtual Action Week
November 5, 2020
By Hassan Yussuff, as published in National Newswatch On any given day of a normal year, Parliament Hill is buzzing with people lobbying elected representatives. According to the federal government’s lobbying commissioner, there were 18,728 monthly communications reports submitted in 2019 20. Those communications reports were generated in large part by paid, registered lobbyists working with large corporations. This year,…
OTTAWA – Hundreds of workers from communities across Canada are meeting virtually with their MPs this week, part of the country’s first-ever national Action Week, organized by Canada’s unions. Participants will be calling on elected representatives to push for federal investments towards job creation, health care and child care, among other necessary programs. Over 200 meetings are scheduled. “The pandemic…
The COVID-19 pandemic exposed the vulnerability of Canada’s care system. On October 29, Canada’s unions are joining together the International Trade Union Confederation and global unions for a Global Day of Action on Care. Workers around the world want investment in public health and care services including mental health, child care, early childhood education, elderly care and other social care…
Canada’s unions welcome employment gains, but urge continued focus on jobs
October 9, 2020
OTTAWA – Canada’s unions welcome the job gains reported in the September findings from Statistics Canada’s monthly labour force survey released today, but are warning that expanded government investment will remain crucial to a full economic recovery. “Despite ongoing gains, the latest numbers continue to signal medium-term risks to Canada’s labour market,” said Hassan Yussuff, President of the Canadian Labour…
Canada’s unions call for recognition of the importance of domestic workers
June 16, 2020
Canada’s unions are marking International Domestic Workers Day by calling on the federal government to work with the provinces and territories to ratify ILO Convention 189 and ensure labour legislation recognizes and protects domestic workers. “It is important that we recognize the significant economic contribution of domestic work – work performed in or for a household or households – as…