Archive for the ‘Debates’ Category
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When it comes to election promises on housing, it’s the details that matter
Monday, August 30th, 2021
The pledges with a far greater chance of creating positive change are the ones that push municipalities to make better and faster planning decisions to increase housing supply, and target federal funding to create housing that’s affordable for lower earners — a niche the market will never fill… Ottawa usually works through the provinces, but it’s welcome to see federal leaders contemplating a more direct relationship with cities.
Tags: budget, housing, ideology, jurisdiction, standard of living
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As a server, hearing others blame CERB for restaurant staff shortages is dehumanizing. If an industry is harmful, why blame low-wage workers?
Thursday, August 5th, 2021
Nobody wants to live in poverty. The idea that the government assistance available is more than what a business can pay makes you think: is it workers in the wrong or is the structure open to oppressive and abusive business models? I hear a lot of talk about how “this is just the way it is,” or “we’ll all go under if we raise wages.”
Tags: economy, ideology, poverty, standard of living
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If employers can’t find workers, they should stop complaining and start offering better jobs
Sunday, August 1st, 2021
The pandemic provided some unexpected benefits.
It freed workers from soul-crushing commutes. People found more time to prepare healthy meals, to get more exercise. They spent less on clothing and styling and worked harder to explore and support local businesses… Perhaps that is what the workforce is doing, imagining a better way to live. Rather than casting insults and wishing for the old normal, perhaps business should do some reimagining, too, about improving an economic model that left most people too stressed to live well and struggling to make ends meet.
Tags: economy, ideology, participation, standard of living
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The future of work in Ontario is at a crossroads. Will we ensure decent employment for all?
Monday, July 26th, 2021
The government has indicated the temporary wage enhancement for personal support workers will be made permanent, which is great news. It should also be expanded to include front-line housing, shelter and child-care staff — all of whom are inadequately compensated for their essential labour. Prioritizing investment in the non-profit sector — a feminized workforce that employs more than 800,000 women across Ontario — would also be a sensible policy decision
Tags: economy, ideology, participation, philanthropy, poverty, standard of living, women
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Good Theory, Good Practice: Seven Principles for a New Political Economy
Wednesday, July 7th, 2021
Mission Economy… speak[s] about how we can restructure the economy to tackle the biggest challenges of our world… There are… seven key pillars to a better political economy that can guide a mission-oriented approach… one that encourages a mission-oriented approach and builds an economy driven by public purpose and citizen engagement.
Tags: economy, globalization, ideology, participation, standard of living
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Common wealth tax myths busted
Monday, July 5th, 2021
Canada’s 47 billionaires increased their wealth by $78 billion during the pandemic, and they now control $270 billion in total. A 1% tax on wealth over $20 million could raise $10 billion in revenue in the first year. As Canada digs itself out of the economic repercussions of the pandemic the time is now to enrich the soil so we can grow back an economy that shares its fruits more equitably with all Canadians. Here are five commonly held myths that continue to muddy the conversation about tax reform:
Tags: economy, ideology, standard of living, tax
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The success of CERB is proof a universal basic income is doable and beneficial
Thursday, June 24th, 2021
A UBI is a government payment that tops up family income so that it modestly exceeds the poverty line, or low-income threshold. As households are able to generate more income on their own, UBI payments are scaled back and eventually discontinued. A UBI holds promise as our most powerful tool in eradicating poverty and solving the crisis of income inequality.
Tags: economy, featured, ideology, jurisdiction, participation, poverty, standard of living
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Do pandemic income supports encourage people to stay off work? Of course — and that could be a good thing
Friday, June 4th, 2021
… this could really shake up capitalism for the better. How? If workers choose to stay in bed, employers might (rationally) choose to entice them back with higher wages… Higher pay though would also narrow the equality gap… People just don’t like bed that much. In fact, they like work, especially if it involves some satisfaction.
Tags: budget, economy, ideology, jurisdiction, participation, standard of living
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All in this together? Greedy CEOs and corporations abuse our trust
Tuesday, May 11th, 2021
… many top Canadian CEOs saw their compensation soar in pandemic year 2020… Companies that got CEWS money when they didn’t really need it may well have followed the rules as they were written. But the government shouldn’t simply ignore abuse. It should call out companies, especially big ones, that violated the spirit of the program. It should see if any of those millions that went to companies that didn’t need them can be recovered. And it should tighten the rules for the remainder of the life of the program.
Tags: budget, economy, ideology, privatization
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Business groups frustrated as sick leave debate carries on
Wednesday, April 28th, 2021
While businesses — and some governments — are inclined to focus on the upfront cost of providing paid sick leave, there are solid business arguments to make for supporting it… “You can be closed down if there’s an outbreak. That’s a huge cost for a business”… Slowing COVID’s spread will also make it possible for the economy to open up sooner and more reliably…
Tags: budget, economy, Health, ideology, standard of living
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