On the International Transgender Day of Visibility, make sure no one is left behind
March 31, 2020
This year, on the International Transgender Day of Visibility, perhaps more than ever, it is important that allies celebrate trans lives loudly and clearly. While we are all struggling to make sense of the current crisis, we have to consider the most marginalized among us, who are always facing threats to their safety and security that the rest of us are now…
Home is not safe for everyone: Domestic violence during a pandemic
March 26, 2020
Canada’s unions are calling for increased vigilance and awareness to the growing risk of domestic violence amidst the coronavirus pandemic. The recommendation that people stay in their homes, along with added financial pressure and stress, can elevate the risk of violence and further entrenches isolation, which increases opportunities for abusers to exert power and control. Women’s shelters and transition houses…
Canada’s unions say marginalized workers must not be forgotten during pandemic
March 20, 2020
Canada’s unions are marking the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination by calling on the federal government to protect the rights of marginalized workers and refugees as part of its COVID-19 response. Migrant workers, undocumented people, people living on low-incomes, international students, racialized workers and refugees are particularly vulnerable to the health fallout of the current pandemic, as…
Supporting workers in a time of crisis: Key steps for governments and employers
March 16, 2020
Canada’s unions are calling on the federal government and its provincial and territorial counterparts to provide immediate income support to workers in self-isolation, quarantine or who are addressing child care needs. Income support will be critical to minimizing the economic impact of COVID-19. In addition, the Canadian Labour Congress is calling on all governments and employers to take every step…
Canada’s unions are calling for urgent fiscal measures to respond to COVID-19
March 16, 2020
Canada’s unions are calling on all levels of government to provide adequate supports for workers and their families as the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic reverberate in communities and throughout the economy. “We continue to share our recommendations with the federal government as this situation progresses. While there has been an important move in easing measures around Employment Insurance (EI)…
Business and Labour come together to mitigate COVID-19 risks
March 13, 2020
OTTAWA – The Canadian Chamber of Commerce and the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) issued the following joint statement today in response to the COVID-19 pandemic: “The Canadian Chamber of Commerce and the CLC are uniting our response efforts to ensure all appropriate measures are put in place to mitigate the impacts of COVID-19 for Canada’s employers and employees. “Canada’s economy,…
OTTAWA – Canada’s unions are calling on the federal government to implement all measures necessary to protect jobs and ensure public health measures stop the spread of COVID-19. “Canadian workers are in a very tenuous situation right now. The majority have no paid sick leave and low cash reserves to buffer against unemployment. For many, missing work is not an…
Hundreds of activists bring union priorities to the Hill
February 25, 2020
OTTAWA – Hundreds of union activists are meeting with Members of Parliament and Senators today to discuss issues they want to see addressed in this Parliament’s first budget — with national pharmacare as their top priority. “We know that universal, public pharmacare will be less expensive and keep more people healthy and out of the hospital,” said Hassan Yussuff, President…
By Hassan Yussuff, as published in The Hill Times. In the next few weeks the Minister of Finance will rise in the house and give a speech laying out the government’s budget priorities for the next year. National pharmacare must be at the top of that list. The three parties who promised pharmacare won a majority of the vote in…
Pharmacare advocates to new Parliament: “The time for pharmacare is now”
January 23, 2020
OTTAWA – As Parliament prepares to resume, a coalition of pharmacare advocates gathered in Ottawa to strategize the next steps to ensure the successful delivery of universal pharmacare. With polls showing over 90 per cent of Canadians in support of a national pharmacare program, and the Hoskins Report providing a clear path to implementation, 2020 is set to deliver big…