Who will speak for the working class?
POWELL RIVER, B.C.—A recent report out of the United States raises questions about politicians’ obsession with the state of the middle class and highlights why Donald Trump won the U.S. election. It is a sobering picture and a scathing indictment of neo-liberalism—particularly so-called free trade. While the authors don’t say so explicitly, the conclusion is […]
Budget criticized for lack of public-service investment, no Phoenix fix
“Meh,” was how one public service union leader reacted after the federal government’s budget was unveiled last week, though there were positive reviews coming from educational interest groups, mixed reaction from the health sector, and a range of other assessments from those who had some interests riding on this federal budget. Chris Aylward, national executive […]
Few signs of life for Canada’s dead money
OTTAWA—It’s been five years since Mark Carney kicked up a storm with his suggestion that for the sake of the economy Canada’s corporations should start spending some of the huge piles of “dead money” they were hoarding. “The level of caution could be viewed as excessive,” Carney, then head of the central bank, said of […]
Poverty is sexist: what Canada can do this Women’s Day to fight it
Globally, 130 million girls are denied the basic right to education, meaning 130 million missed opportunities for girls to reach their full potential and help their communities and countries grow. Before launching a career in television, I was an electrical engineer and still have a passion for math, science (and weather patterns, of course). I’m […]
Despite ‘rocky start,’ public service union leaders prefer Trudeau to Harper
The relationship between Justin Trudeau’s Liberal government and unions has been “rocky” so far, but federal public service union leaders say it is better than it would have been if the Conservative government of Stephen Harper had been re-elected in 2015. “We have a respectful working relationship [with the Liberal government],” Robyn Benson, national president […]
Time to restore funding to Canadian studies abroad
Canada has for many years been at, or near the top, of the United Nations’ Human Development Index. In 2015 it scored ninth out of 188 countries reviewed. Every year the publicity about Canada’s quality-of-life achievements comes and goes without much remark in the press inside Canada or abroad. Meanwhile, Canada, as a medium-range power, […]
Whither Canada in a stormy world?
It is timely, during our 150th anniversary year, to consider what Canada has achieved, and what our future holds, domestically and internationally. But given the issues facing the world today, the search for greater understanding is increasingly urgent. What is the role, the responsibility—and the opportunity—for Canada at a time when other nations, including some […]
Trudeau lobbied by universities during his cross-country tour
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was lobbied by four universities that hosted town hall meetings for him during last month’s cross-country tour, according to the federal lobbyists registry. Communication reports on the registry indicating contact with Mr. Trudeau (Papineau, Que.) were filed by the University of Winnipeg for Jan. 26, the University of Saskatchewan for Jan. […]
Unions want feds to cough up a $75-million Phoenix contingency fund
The three largest public service unions are calling on the federal government to earmark $75-million in the upcoming federal budget to create a Phoenix “contingency” fund for public service workers who continue to experience pay issues under the problem-plagued payroll system that launched one year ago. The unions say a contingency fund could help departments […]
Want to stop populism? Try universal basic income
LONDON, U.K.—There’s a new idea that might be the solution to runaway populism. Well, it’s not that new, really—it has been kicking around in left-wing circles for a least a quarter-century—but it has suddenly gone mainstream. It’s called universal basic income (UBI), and pilot programs to see if it really works in practice are being […]
