Canada’s unions welcome federal government commitments on climate change
December 11, 2020
OTTAWA – Coming on the heels of the government’s climate accountability legislation, today’s 2030 climate emissions reduction plan contains significant announcements for working people. Expanded investments in energy efficiency, conservation and large-scale retrofitting of residential and commercial structures will create significant numbers of new jobs and require expanded investments in skills training and growing Canada’s construction trades. Green and climate-resilient…
Federal government’s new bill on climate change an important step on the hard road ahead
November 20, 2020
Canada’s unions are welcoming the tabling of new federal legislation that puts the country on track to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2050. However, there is much work to do to get there, said Hassan Yussuff, president of the Canadian Labour Congress. “This bill provides a solid path towards reaching Canada’s targets. That being said, it will take…
Canada is in the midst of an economic crisis that has disproportionately affected low-paid, vulnerable workers in precarious employment, especially women, young workers, newcomers, workers of colour and workers with disabilities. Federal fiscal policy measures must prioritize helping Canadians return to decent jobs. This means expanding access to training and apprenticeship opportunities. Canada’s unions believe the federal government should use…
This year marks the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. Like most things, Earth Day will look very different this year, as events move online as people around the world avoid gathering in groups in an effort to stem the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. In this unprecedented health and economic crisis brought on by the pandemic, nature has the power…
Canadian Labour Congress stands in solidarity with student-led Global Climate Strike
September 20, 2019
Students around the world are taking bold action to protect the planet, holding climate strikes every Friday, pushing for urgent and ambitious climate action to limit global warming. The strikes were started in August of 2018 by 16-year-old Swedish activist Greta Thunberg. These #FridaysForFuture student strikes now take place in communities all over the world, including across Canada. Students are…
Working families have a lot at stake this election
September 2, 2019
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…
Labour Day 2019: Unions seek to put fairness on the ballot
September 2, 2019
This Labour Day, Canada’s unions are launching a campaign to make fairness a ballot box question in the October federal election. That means unions will be calling on Canadian workers to vote for candidates who support universal pharmacare, retirement security, climate action, equity and inclusion, and good jobs for everyone. “Over the last four years, our work has resulted in…
Canada’s unions call for Just Transition and ambitious climate action this Earth Day
April 22, 2019
Last year, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) stated clearly how we have eleven years to stabilize the planet at a 1.5-degree limit of warming, or face terrible physical and social impacts from climate change. We are already feeling some of those effects, with extreme heat waves and flooding, forest fire seasons that are the worst on record, and…
The Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) releases detailed analysis of Budget 2019
March 25, 2019
The 2019 federal budget was released on Tuesday, March 19 and despite being the last budget before this fall’s federal election, sets out only a modest fiscal plan rather than a bold vision for the future. The CLC, which represents over 3 million Canadian workers, issued an immediate response to the budget but is now releasing a more detailed budget…
Canadian workers are building the economy, but many working families cannot make ends meet. The labour movement works to change this, advocating for a range of policies. Unions bargain for better wages and benefits, helping workers and their families and creating a more just, prosperous and equitable society.