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…
Federal government announces positive changes to drug pricing regulations
August 9, 2019
Canada’s unions applaud today’s announcement by the federal government of new measures updating Canada’s drug-pricing regulations. “Many life-saving medicines are unaffordable. This new framework will better protect Canadians from skyrocketing drug prices by lowering the cost of brand name medicines,” said CLC President Hassan Yussuff. “This is a good step towards a universal public pharmacare program in Canada.” Canada currently…
Universal pharmacare should be an easy pill to swallow
June 24, 2019
By Hassan Yussuff, as published in the Toronto Sun. Finally, some good news for the millions of Canadians who have to choose between paying for groceries or their prescription medications. Canada’s Advisory Council on the Implementation of National Pharmacare has laid out a clear path for public, single-payer, universal pharmacare in its final report. “The time for universal, single-payer, public…
Canada’s unions say pharmacare council gets it right, now governments must act
June 12, 2019
Canada’s unions are applauding the recommendation made by the Advisory Council on the Implementation of National Pharmacare for the adoption of a public, universal and single-payer plan for prescription drug coverage across Canada. “Universal pharmacare will fundamentally improve the lives of all Canadians and, with this report, we finally have a blueprint for completing the medicare system Canada first adopted…
Time for Pride celebration, and resistance to attacks on human rights, say Canada’s unions
June 5, 2019
As Pride events are held in communities across the country, Canada’s unions are celebrating the achievements of LGBTQ2SI activism from coast to coast, while committing to challenging the rise of racism and hate politics threatening human rights around the world. “Pride season is an important moment to come together and celebrate the victories and visibility of LGBTQ2SI activism in our…
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 Labour Congress welcomes progress in the federal budget, but says much is riding on the next election
March 19, 2019
The Canadian Labour Congress welcomes new measures to lay the groundwork for national pharmacare, provide assistance for the neediest seniors, skills training, and a community-centred approach to carbon reduction, but says Canadians have a lot riding on the next election. “Canadian workers, their families and their communities will benefit from new budgetary measures that lay the groundwork for curbing exorbitant…
Working people need a fairness budget: 10 things Canada’s unions want to see in Budget 2019
March 12, 2019
The 2019 federal budget signals the government’s plans and priorities leading up to the fall election. Canada’s unions expect Budget 2019 to outline a multi-year roadmap making significant improvements to the well-being of working people and vulnerable groups in Canada. At the same time, the budget must address urgent priorities for working people in its spending plans for the 2019-2020…
Canada’s unions welcome the interim report presented today by the federal Advisory Council on the Implementation of National Pharmacare. Its key recommendations begin to address the existing inefficiencies in an unfair system that leaves millions of Canadians unable to afford their prescriptions and grappling with the third highest drug prices in the world. “The recommendations in today’s report have the…