Archive for the ‘Debates’ Category
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In Ottawa, TPP’s death could open the door to transparent trade dealing
Much of the TPP focused on economic regulation, such as intellectual property enforcement, health regulation and environmental standards. Trade agreements are a poor place to negotiate these issues… Mr. Trudeau’s government inherited a trade policy marked by secrecy, encroachment onto domestic regulation and little ambition to see Canadian policies reflected in the final texts. The TPP’s demise offers the chance for real change by pursuing trade agreements that offer economic gains and remain true to the commitment for an open and transparent government.
Tags: economy, globalization, ideology, jurisdiction, participation, rights
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Elites, elections, and the politics of alienation
… the long-range benefits of freer trade for the majority of people will outweigh any harms which trade liberalization may cause, especially in the short run. But one of the mistakes those of us advocating free trade have made was to fail to adequately recognize and address the fears and situations of those suffering those harms and to provide transition measures to alleviate them.
Tags: economy, globalization, ideology, participation, standard of living
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A Web of Deceit: Untangling the Myths and False Promises of the Trans-Pacific Partnership
The commitments government trade negotiators make behind closed doors lock in a myopic and increasingly em- battled neoliberal orthodoxy — small government, big finance, weak regu- lation and a preference for privatized service delivery — that prevents future governments from changing course without great political and financial costs.
Tags: economy, featured, globalization, ideology, jurisdiction, pharmaceutical, privatization, rights, standard of living
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‘Viking Economics’ Suggests Next Steps in Fight Against Capitalism
Lakey has no utopian faith in parliamentary democracy. He does not argue that voting for a particular political party is sufficient… he is not naive enough to believe that the ability and desire to fight back come from increased misery. They come instead from a vision for the future and from the hope that change is possible.
Tags: economy, globalization, ideology, participation, rights, standard of living
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Bill Morneau is half right about precarious labour
A universal, quality, affordable child-care system would vastly improve the prospects for parents, whatever their job situation. Deliver pharmacare… Most temporary and part-time workers don’t have an employer-provided health plan and, as a result, many can’t afford to fill needed prescriptions. Fix Employment Insurance… The current system is not working for those who need it most.
Tags: child care, economy, featured, Health, pharmaceutical, poverty, standard of living
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A government suddenly gone tone deaf
Inequality is an evil that Freeland knows well. It was the theme of her book, Plutocrats. She enthuses over free trade because it has raised levels in the Third World and that’s a serious argument in its favour. But it did so while undermining the lives and bargaining power of working people in the developed countries: that’s serious too. Why should they pay the price while the plutocrats get richer?
Tags: economy, featured, globalization, ideology, participation, rights, standard of living
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Ottawa’s bold new plan for economic growth is eerily familiar
The scheme… relies on privatization, deregulation, public-private partnerships and user fees. It would reserve profitable public infrastructure for the private sector but have governments alone foot the bill for those schemes — such as environmental remediation and First Nations projects — that are destined to lose money. It would have the government set up a new agency to convince foreign investors that Canada is open for business.
Tags: economy, globalization, ideology, standard of living
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What’s Wallonia’s Beef?
The most important innovation in CETA is the creation of a standing tribunal and appellate body. Members are appointed by the CETA parties, not the parties to a dispute, and must meet high standards for independence and the avoidance of conflicts of interest. Appellate review should improve the quality and consistency of ISDS awards… “… while not perfect, CETA’s approach has the best claim to legitimacy in any treaty to date”
Tags: economy, globalization, ideology, privatization, rights, standard of living
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It’s Canada vs. the protectionists in the new world trade wars
… a consensus has evolved on the overall benefit of more trade, even as we watch the acrimonious debate in the U.S. and Europe. Hopefully, the outcome of this argument in our major trading partners will be as enlightened as it was for Canada. The debate abroad may even be beneficial for Canada, since the arguments our politicians make for international trade highlight the hypocrisy of the many internal barriers to trade within Canada.
Tags: economy, globalization, ideology, standard of living, tax
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Wages, poverty line
It is unfortunate that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau rejects a federal minimum wage increase as part of a poverty reduction strategy… He pits minimum wage increases against government expenditures on infrastructure and children’s benefits, as if they cannot occur simultaneously. What does Mr. Trudeau have against employers paying their share? Should not a full-time worker be guaranteed an income above the poverty line from her or his salary?
Tags: budget, economy, ideology, jurisdiction, poverty, standard of living
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