Statement from Bea Bruske: Poilievre’s Conservatives blocking priority bills for workers
December 14, 2023
OTTAWA––Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress, released the following statement: “Canada’s unions are outraged by the political games on display in Parliament this week as opposition leader Pierre Poilievre and his Conservative Party use procedural tactics to delay, derail, and ultimately block critical pieces of legislation designed to benefit workers across Canada. The Sustainable Jobs Act (Bill C-50)…
Workers mobilize on the Hill to urge MPs to act as families continue to struggle
November 28, 2023
Bruske: Workers are calling on MPs for urgent action on pharmacare and two key pieces of legislation OTTAWA––Workers from across Canada took to Parliament Hill this week to urge the government to create a public, universal pharmacare system. “This government had a chance to show that they are serious about pharmacare, but we saw no mention of it in the…
Government, workers and businesses must come together to win the low-carbon economic transition
October 11, 2023
By Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress as published in iPolitics Today Canada faces a once-in-generation economic, environmental, and political challenge, and we won’t get a second chance to get this right. Our neighbour and biggest trading partner is aggressively adapting their workforces and industries. Countries around the world are accelerating their transition to a zero-carbon economy. If…
Bruske: How Canada can create sustainable jobs as we shift to a low-carbon future
June 19, 2023
By Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress as published in the Ottawa Citizen Bill C-50, just tabled, provides a roadmap toward making Canada’s economy competitive for years to come. “On a global scale, clean energy investment has surpassed spending on oil and gas for the first time.” From raging wildfires to extreme storms, each day brings stark reminders…
Earth Day 2023: Canada’s unions call on governments to put workers and communities first
April 21, 2023
This year’s Earth Day theme, Invest in Our Planet, is a timely reminder of the need for our elected leaders to take ambitious and necessary action to tackle the climate emergency. Canada’s unions are calling on the government to move towards a net-zero carbon economy with workers and communities at its core. As communities across the country and around the…
Workers are sounding the alarm—parliamentarians must take heed
February 1, 2023
By Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress as published in The Hill Times Ask any worker in Canada how they are faring right now, and they will most likely tell you that they are struggling. The issues facing workers and their families are stacking up. Eye-watering costs for food, housing, and other necessities are hammering workers’ wallets. Inflation…
Canada’s unions on COP27: Some wins, but we have our work cut out for us
November 21, 2022
The COP27 negotiations in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, delivered some important wins but highlighted that, more than ever, the world needs a Just Transition. Canada’s unions are pleased that the Sharm El-Sheikh Implementation Plan emphasizes the need for a Just Transition to centre social dialogue and include social protection. This is a significant step forward that recognizes the importance of engaging…