Speed up childcare funds, says HRDC Minister Stewart
Human Resources Development Minister Jane Stewart wants to speed up the distribution of the new $935-million federal childcare fund set aside last February in the federal budget. The fund, to be spent over five years to reduce the burden of working parents with young children, has been criticized as being “back-loaded” as only $25-million has […]
Canada’s aging population: Time for a plan of action
SAINT JOHN, N.B.–With a massive demographic shift on our horizon, Canada must immediately prepare our social institutions for the coming of age. Statistics Canada has found that between 1991 and 2001, the number of Canadians aged 65 or older increased by 12 per cent. This trend will increase more rapidly as of 2011, when the […]
Auto industry set to rebound: Allan Rock
While the future is hard to predict, there is a general consensus that market conditions for Canada’s automotive sector are set to improve in 2004, says Industry Minister Allan Rock. “While current conditions are not at the peak levels of 1999-2000, the Canadian market has held up very well,” said Mr. Rock (Etobicoke Centre, Ont.) […]
Building an active automotive strategy
It is a pleasure to have the opportunity to address some of the current challenges and opportunities facing the Canadian automotive industry. The auto sector affects all aspects of Canadian society. Not only is it Canada’s largest industry, employing directly or indirectly one in seven Canadians, it is also Canada’s largest source of export earnings. […]
Auto industry lacks level playing field
NAFTA and the end of the Auto Pact have created challenges for the auto industry. Kyoto offers new opportunities. It is time to have a plan for dealing with both. In Windsor we all understand the importance of the Auto sector to our economy. The loss of auto jobs affects not only the autoworkers and […]
Canada’s automotive industry is eroding
During the past 18 months, the National Liberal Auto Caucus has studied the state of Canada’s automotive industry, an industry integral to our economic health, representing 16 per cent of our total manufacturing GDP, 22 per cent of all exports and employing half a million Canadians one in seven directly or indirectly. Although […]
‘Frivolous’ taxes have set up auto industry to fail
The Canadian automotive industry has proven to be a fundamental contributor to the Canadian economy. Roughly 2.5 million vehicles were built in Canada last year alone. The industry also employs over half a million people in Canada and accounts for two per cent of Canada’s gross domestic product. The free flow of goods across borders […]
Manley proposes Minister of Lifelong Learning
Having worked since 1993 to bring the federal government back from the brink of financial and political crisis, we are now working to restore this level of government to its proper place in Confederation. While that proper place does not include running the elementary and high schools, the colleges and the universities, it does include […]
Welcome to Canada! Leave your training at the door
“To succeed in the global knowledge-based economy a country must be capable of producing, attracting and retaining a critical mass of well-educated and appropriately trained people”. So says the Government of Canada’s Innovation and Learning Strategy. Yet, the reality is a far cry from the lofty goal stated by the federal government as young Canadians […]
Don’t play politics with the lives of public employees
Canada has been blessed with a competent and professional public service, but there is much work to be done from the political level to appreciate and support the thousands who administer public affairs. My experience with reviewing and improving Bill C-25 at the Government Operations and Estimates Committee, reminded me of so many problem issues, […]
