Poverty reduction didn’t happen under Harper, but it is possible
Last Wednesday’s Ottawa Citizen published an op-ed by Pierre Poilievre, the Member of Parliament for Carleton, Ont., that leaves those of us working in the area of poverty eradication in Canada quite confounded. The article makes the claim that Stephen Harper’s government was successful at reducing poverty, while the Pierre Trudeau government was not. Yes, […]
Unions criticize Foote’s performance throughout Phoenix fiasco, claim she’s ‘disingenuous’ on what she knew
The two biggest federal public service unions say Public Services Minister Judy Foote has been inaccessible throughout the Phoenix fiasco pay system and that she’s being “disingenuous” about how much she knew about the issues facing the payroll program that has affected more than 80,000 public servants. The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) and the Professional […]
The challenge: globalization that works for all
A dark cloud is threatening the world’s economy. This is the backlash to globalization, and the great dangers a retreat from globalization would pose for an increasingly crowded planet and its ability to cope with increasingly complex problems, such as global growth and employment, climate change, global financial stability, migration, and terrorism. These problems cannot […]
Supreme Court debate underscores importance of second-language education
The furor over the Liberal government’s decision to change how Supreme Court justices are appointed has raised questions about the importance of bilingualism at the highest levels of the judiciary, and how it should be weighed against the importance of regional representation on the country’s top bench. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau signalled his priorities, assigning […]
Public service unions file Federal Court application to force government to pay up for problem-plagued Phoenix paycheque delays
The Public Service Alliance of Canada, the largest union representing federal public servants, along with other unions representing government workers, filed a Federal Court notice of application today to force the federal government to pay its employees impacted by problems with the new Phoenix pay system. In filing the application, PSAC was joined by the Association of Justice […]
Public service negotiations: government gestures well received but contract offers still unpalatable for unions
Despite the Liberals coming into office with the promise of treating the public service with more respect than their Conservative predecessors, most public servants are continuing to work on expired contacts, and government offers remain a long way from what unions are demanding. “This Liberal government has come to the table with the same Conservative […]
Canada takes stand against child labour, step towards global goals
More than 167 million children around the world are engaged in work that is robbing them of their childhood, their dignity, their education, their physical and mental development, and often, their health. More than half of them, 85 million, do so in hazardous environments. Earlier this month, Canada took an important stand against child labour […]
North American Leaders’ Summit
MP juggles fasting and legislation during Ramadan
The most challenging part of serving in Parliament during Ramadan, the Muslim holy month when adherents fast from sunrise to sundown, isn’t the long hours or hunger, it’s missing out on family gatherings celebrating the breaking of these daily fasts, says Liberal MP Salma Zahid. Ms. Zahid (Scarborough Centre, Ont.), a practising Muslim, said the first week […]
Canada’s choice for migrant workers: decent work or entrenched exploitation?
Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) is at a crossroads. After years of escalating concern about employers’ growing reliance on, and widespread exploitation of, low-wage migrant workers, the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities (HUMA Committee) is reviewing the controversial program and will report to […]
