Archive for the ‘Policy Context’ Category
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Why scrapping stimulus was a bad move
Saturday, September 24th, 2011
Sep 23 2011
With the Great Recession consigned to the history books, austerity became the mantra among the advanced economies that had suffered most from the epic downturn… What a difference a year makes… the “Arab Spring” has been led not by religious ideologues or ethnic nationalists. It has been spearheaded by university-trained youth who’ve known only joblessness and underemployment since graduation… Earlier this month, Harper appeared to abruptly switch his focus to job creation after the latest employment report showed Canadian job creation has gone into reverse, with the country losing a net 5,000 jobs in August.
Tags: budget, economy, ideology, poverty, standard of living
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It’s going to take more than free-market ideology to create jobs
Tuesday, September 13th, 2011
Sep. 13, 2011
The dismal experience of Europe has proven that a single-minded focus on austerity and debt reduction is economically self-defeating… the next government should emphasize continuing support for public services and infrastructure, partnership with private sector capacity expansions, and more support for training and adjustment programs to prevent displaced workers of any age from falling by the wayside of the labour market. We also need stronger regulations to protect young workers from abuse by contract agencies and other unfair employers.
Tags: economy, featured, globalization, standard of living, youth
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When will politicians act to save jobs?
Saturday, September 10th, 2011
Sep 09 2011
… the same conventional wisdom that extols the private sector argues that government jobs are a drain — that nurses and teachers are somehow unproductive and that anyone on the public payroll is grossly overpaid. In the face of today’s harsh reality, a logical government would continue spending public money to support jobs. But this is not a logical era… Provincially, the three main parties insist they can balance the budget painlessly by 2018 — which they almost certainly cannot.
Tags: economy, globalization, ideology
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Workers call for tougher labour laws to end wage theft
Monday, September 5th, 2011
Sep 05 2011
Last year, Ontario workers were entitled to $21.4 million in unpaid wages against solvent companies and almost $43 million in unpaid wages against bankrupt or insolvent employers, according to labour ministry documents… Ontario’s Employment Standards Act sets out the province’s minimum workplace regulations and is the only protection against abuse for low-paid, vulnerable workers. Since the act is more than 40 years old, Ladd says it never contemplated the complex work environment that includes temporary employment agencies, sub-contractors, franchises and live-in caregiving.
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What has gone wrong for working Canadians?
Sunday, September 4th, 2011
September 4, 2011
… the middle class has suffered through a quarter century of wage stagnation, where real income after inflation barely increases… in the 33 years between 1976 and 2009, median income increased by just 5.5 per cent – from $45,800 in 1976 to $48,300 in 2009… But Canada’s richest 20 per cent almost doubled their enormous income difference over the poorest 20 per cent, from $92,300 to $177,500. Apparently these huge gains at ordinary Canadians’ expense are not enough. Corporations continue to clamour for even more tax cuts, despite no evidence that pandering to business creates jobs or investment.
Tags: economy, ideology, participation, rights
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Did we learn nothing from the recession? [Employment Insurance]
Friday, September 2nd, 2011
Sep 01 2011
Our budget is $30 billion in deficit, our employment insurance account has a $10.4 billion shortfall and we have the highest level of household debt in our history. If Canada falls back into a recession — or if we’re already in one that hasn’t shown up in the statistics — millions of families will have no cushion… here are some of the [Mowat Centre] report’s major thrusts: • Treat all laid-off Canadians equally… • Extend EI coverage to everybody who pays into the fund… • Change the rate-setting mechanism… • Allow older workers to job share and reduce their hours gradually…
Tags: budget, economy, ideology, rights, standard of living
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Think Labour Cost Cuts “Saved” the Auto Industry? Think Again.
Thursday, September 1st, 2011
August 31, 12011
Implicit… is the assumption that high labour costs were indeed the reason why the Detroit Three got into trouble… The flip side is the corollary claim that the reason the companies have recovered… must be because they dramatically reduced their labour costs. Both assumptions are wrong. Labour costs were not the key problem in the Detroit Three’s crisis. And cuts in labour costs have not been the key reason, or even a major reason, for the subsequent improvement in their performance… Yet labour costs (and labour negotiations) seem to get 99% of the attention.
Tags: economy, globalization, ideology, standard of living
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Public austerity: Why is Canada leading the way?
Thursday, September 1st, 2011
August 31, 2011
Government spending cuts in Canada are planned to be deeper than any other advanced industrial countries, points out Canadian Labour Congress economist Andrew Jackson, even though the country’s balance sheet is healthier… It’s not government debt or deficits that lie behind Canada’s economic problems; it’s the painfully slow recovery and a weak job market. The degree of austerity planned by Canadian government will only make matters worse.
Tags: budget, economy, ideology, standard of living
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McGuinty puts unions first in debate over arbitration
Friday, August 26th, 2011
Aug 26, 2011
Although it appears rigorous and fair-minded on paper, in practice it works to feed a relentless spiral in public sector wages, while backing municipal governments into a corner. Local politicians find themselves in a trap: once an arbitrator anywhere in the province rules that one union group deserves a raise, every other union in the same job category demands an identical package. The local council can either resist and face labour disruption, or cave in and scramble to raise the money through higher taxes.
Tags: budget, economy, ideology, rights
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We work hard, they enjoy life
Sunday, August 21st, 2011
Aug. 20, 2011
The Americans don’t legislate vacation time, but Mercer notes that 15 days is what employers typically offer – putting the United States near the bottom. But not dead last. That honour belongs to Canada. Though each province is different, Ontario is typical, with a paltry 10 days of minimum vacation plus nine statutory holidays. Even the Chinese, with their legendary work ethic, give themselves two days more…. Crudely put: We work harder, they enjoy life more.
Tags: economy, ideology, rights, standard of living
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