Archive for the ‘Debates’ Category
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Ottawa should drop bully tactics on job training
The Canada Job Grant, which was sprung on the provinces without consultation, has several serious flaws. First, there is no credible evidence of a significant skills gap in Canada… Second, Ottawa’s grants are targeted at a small segment of the population: young people who want to become electricians, plumbers, pipefitters, carpenters, draftsmen and other building contractors. That excludes the vast majority of the unemployed… [Third it] cannibalizes existing programs that help the most vulnerable members of society develop the skills they need
Tags: budget, economy, jurisdiction
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Ottawa’s fight with provinces is about more than job grants
It will provide companies with subsidies to train reasonably skilled workers who need training upgrades to take up positions in their firms. This is unlikely to have any effect on broad-based skills shortages (if they exist) and it is unclear why companies supposedly facing dire labour shortages need public money to subsidize their internal training budgets.
Tags: budget, economy, jurisdiction, privatization, tax
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… The pitfalls of poverty
… one would think there’d be some understanding and empathy for the situation of those of us who scrape by the skin of our teeth from one paycheque or benefit’s payment to another. Yet, poverty, or being “poor” is filled with societal shaming, judgment, levelled criticism and disdain… The fact is, I’m the working poor. But I hate to admit it. The concept fills me with shame. And pain. And stress. Lots of stress.
Tags: ideology, mental Health, poverty, standard of living
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Jim Flaherty needs credible jobs plan
Since the early days of the recovery, Canada’s job creation record has gone from modest to moribund. Last year, the nation eked out just 102,000 jobs — its worst performance since the recession… Since 2012 the federal Conservatives have cut roughly 15,000 public service jobs. This year they plan to eliminate another 5,000. Following Ottawa’s example, the provinces have reduced their payrolls… Corporate leaders have turned a deaf ear to his entreaties to use their multibillion-dollar stockpile of retained earnings to hire unemployed workers.
Tags: budget, economy, globalization, ideology, privatization, standard of living
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Canada Budget 2014: ‘Do-Nothing’ Plan Could Harm Economy, CCPA Warns
… the [CCPA] is urging the government to abandon austerity measures, raise taxes and delay their deficit-killing deadline by a year in order to revive Canada’s sluggish economy, lower unemployment and reduce poverty… restoring the corporate tax rate to 22 per cent and the small business rate to 15 per cent, spending the extra revenue on infrastructure and improved public services… generates far more jobs and economic activity dollar-for-dollar than corporate tax cuts.
Tags: budget, economy, ideology, participation, standard of living, tax
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The myth of Harper’s job creation record
Our employment rate… is nowhere near the pre-recession high of 63.5 per cent, reached pre-crash in 2008… Canada ranks 20th of 34 OECD countries in net job creation… Many of the jobs have been in typically low paying occupations… about four of 10 jobs have been temporary or precarious employment… lack(ing) benefits, pensions or job security… We still have over 1.3 million unemployed Canadians, with persistently high youth unemployment. And three million people living in poverty.
Tags: budget, economy, featured, globalization, ideology, participation, standard of living
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If the minimum wage rises, will the sky fall?
… raising the floor for worker pay may result in little or no job losses. In industries where foreign competition is not a factor… Australia has a minimum wage equivalent to nearly $16, and their unemployment rate is lower than Canada’s… While some people on minimum wage, and many earning more than the minimum, are living in poverty, the average minimum-wage worker isn’t. That’s why a sharply higher minimum wage, right across the board, is not the ideal poverty-alleviation policy.
Tags: economy, globalization, ideology, participation, poverty, standard of living
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Unionization linked to prosperity, studies find
as unions came under attack in the early 1980s, wages began to flatline — and at points even fell. At the same time, we’ve seen rapid increases in temporary and precarious work, limiting the opportunities available to our young people. Without secure employment, youth cannot hope to enter the middle class. Instead, their lives remain on hold at a time when they should be building a future. It’s a cruel reality that this could be the first generation that’s actually worse off than its parents.
Tags: economy, globalization, ideology, pensions, rights, standard of living
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Jobs, growth – for the G20, it’s all about trade
the G20 should renew its resolve against protectionism and in favour of freer markets. Each country should commit to open up trade through bilateral, plurilateral and multilateral actions, and domestic reforms to help businesses engage more fully in global commerce. Over time, trade benefits everyone because countries end up focusing on what they do best. A more global economy with stronger cross-border investment eventually helps everyone because it generates more wealth and ultimately creates more jobs.
Tags: economy, globalization, ideology, standard of living
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Free market policies have failed us
… fluctuations of our currency have a far greater impact on profitability than cutting taxes. And the impact of oil and resource exports on raising the value of our currency did far more damage than any benefit from tax cuts might have created. If new jobs appear in the next year, it will be due to our dollar dropping in value, not from recent tax cuts. / … at a time when 1.4 million Canadians are jobless and additional stimulus is required, Finance Minister Jim Flaherty wants not just a budget balance but to receive more than he spends, so that when the 2015 election comes he can dangle tax-reduction goodies.
Tags: budget, economy, globalization, ideology
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