Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives - research • analysis • solutions

New report lifts fog on government job cuts

emily — Wed, 16 May 2012 20:45:35 +0000

Due to the opaque reporting methods used by the federal government to detail its spending and employment projections, getting a clear picture of core public service job losses is unnecessarily complicated. However, CCPA Senior Economist David Macdonald has analyzed data from recently released 2012-13 Reports on Plans and Priorities (RPP) as well as the 2012 federal budget to assess the impact of several rounds of spending cuts on federal employment.

The report, Clearing Away the Fog: Government Estimates of Job Losses, finds that the total number of federal core public service job losses over the next three years will be 29,600—far more than the 19,200 estimate that is now commonly cited. The Departments of National Defence, Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, and Public Works and Government Services Canada will be particularly hard hit.

The analysis also notes that a significant number of positions at Crown corporations, non-profit agencies, and private sector firms who do business with the government outside of the core public service will also be lost, although it is difficult to determine just how many.

Click here to read the full report.

Envisioning the Future of Medicare: A Citizens' Conference

Simon Enoch — Thu, 10 May 2012 16:25:13 +0000

On June 15th, the Saskatchewan Office of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives is proud to present a unique Citizen's Conference on the Future of Medicare. "Envisioning the Future of Medicare" will both celebrate fifty years of universal medicare and look to the future of how we sustain and improve this most important of Canadian social programs. Join us in a unique interactive conversation with some of the brightest minds in the fields of health practice and policy.

For more information on the conference and registration, visit here.

Lessons learned from the Climate Justice Project: Seth Klein at INET conference (video)

Sarah Leavitt — Thu, 03 May 2012 20:36:28 +0000

CCPA-BC Director Seth Klein was recently invited to give a speech in Berlin at the annual meeting of the Institute for New Economic Thinking (an international gathering of leading economists). His 12-minute speech summarized some of the key lessons to date from our Climate Justice Project. You can find it on the INET website (scroll down half way) or on YouTube.

Study reveals secret Canadian bank bailout

emily — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 13:27:38 +0000

Throughout the 2008-2010 financial crisis, Canadian banks were touted by the federal government—and the banks themselves—as being much more stable than other countries’ big banks. Canadians we assured that our banks needed no bailout. However, CCPA’s latest study, The Big Banks’ Big Secret: Estimating Government Support for Canadian Banks During the Financial Crisis, suggests that this was not the case.

The study reveals that Canada’s banks received $114 billion in cash and loan support from both the U.S. and Canadian governments during the 2008-2010 financial crisis. The study estimates that at some point during the crisis, three of Canada’s banks—CIBC, BMO, and Scotiabank—were completely under water, with government support exceeding the market value of the bank.

Due to government secrecy, the study raises more questions than it answers and calls on the Bank of Canada and CMHC to release the full details of how much support each Canadian bank received, when they received it, and what they put up as collateral.

Click here to read the full report.

Living Wage for Metro Vancouver rises to $19.14

Sarah Leavitt — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 21:00:48 +0000

For families with young children, the costs of basic necessities like food, rent and child care quickly add up. Even with full-time work year round, both parents in a family of four must earn at least $19.14 to escape severe financial stress in Metro Vancouver.

This is the Metro Vancouver living wage rate for 2012, according to a report we released today with First Call: BC Child and Youth Advocacy Coalition, and the Metro Vancouver Living Wage for Families Campaign. This is the third annual update of the original Metro Vancouver living wage calculation published in 2008.

Read the news release and check out the short report.

You can also use the calculation guide on the report page to calculate the living wage for your own community. If you do, we'd love to hear from you.

Nova Scotia should defend its health workers' rights

Christine Saulnier — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 18:29:05 +0000

While negotiations between Capital Health and its employees continue, health workers' rights are as prescient now as ever before. Working people have the right to bargain collectively and withdraw their labour, or strike, if they feel they are being treated unfairly. Healthcare workers must be allowed their right to strike; their ability to adequately bargain collectively actually benefits the healthcare system as a whole. With a shortage of health care workers willing to remain in the province, the system's ability to recruit and retain workers is a backdrop to any negotiations. CCPA-NS Research Associates explored these themes in a series of studies over 2007-2008.

A Tale of two Provinces: Alberta and Nova Scotia argues that strikes happen whether they are legal or not, and, like in Alberta, when they are made illegal they often grow in frequency.

Health Care Strikes: Pulling the Red Chord argues that if politicians and health care administrators insist on running a system so low on resources that it cannot handle any labour disputes, then the ability of workers to strike, to pull the red cord as it were, is an essential system mechanism to ensure quality of care in the long run.

Is Compulsory Arbitration a Good Substitute for the Right to Strike in Health Care deals with several of the most intractable problems in health care collective bargaining that make withdrawal of the right to strike especially harmful to the health care system.

Note: Since the release of these studies, Saskatchewan has introduced “essential services” legislation that reached well beyond any existing labour-relations law. In February, the legislation was struck down by the superior court as it found that workers have the constitutional right to strike and while it can be restricted, the court ruled that this legislation effectively took away employees' right to take part in meaningful strike action. The government is currently appealing the decision.

Can Wildrose remove its thorns?

Simon Enoch — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 21:03:01 +0000

Is the Wildrose challenge to Tory supremacy in Alberta over? Or is it just beginning? Find out here.

ILO cites ongoing labour rights violations by Canadian governments

emily — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 17:36:46 +0000

In a recent report, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) cited Canada for over 20 ongoing violations of the ILO's international labour standards. Governments across Canada have refused to change labour laws which have been found to be in contravention of Convention No. 87, Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organize—a convention which Canada, with the support of all provincial and territorial governments, ratified in March 1972.

Find out more about the ILO report in these articles:

CFLR hosts book launch for "Constitutional Labour Rights in Canada"

emily — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 15:17:14 +0000

The Canadian Foundation for Labour Rights (CFLR) recently launched Constitutional Labour Rights in Canada: Farm Workers and the Fraser Case, a new book on labour rights in Canada. The book is a collection of 11 essays related to the Supreme Court of Canada April 2011 decision in Ontario (Attorney General v Fraser), which dealt with the scope of constitutional protection of collective bargaining.

"This book makes the connection between labour rights and human rights. It brings together the perspectives of a group of prominent individuals who share the view that labour rights and independent unions are essential for democratic and just societies.” - CFLR Board member, James Clancy

Contributors to the book include trade unionists, union-side lawyers, and labour law academics. Find out more here.

What’s at stake for working seniors?

emily — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 13:34:36 +0000

It is argued by some that eligibility for Old Age Security (OAS) and the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) at age 65 discourages older Canadians from remaining in the workforce, and that we need to keep them working longer to avoid present and future labour shortages and a sharp rise in the so-called “dependency” ratio. Accordingly, the federal government proposes to phase-in an increase in the age of eligibility from age 65 to age 67, affecting Canadians who are now 54 and younger.

A new CCPA report, Working After Age 65: What is at Stake?, looks at some of the realities of working past age 65, and examines the potential impact of increasing the OAS eligibility age. The report finds that forcing Canadians without workplace pensions or large savings to work full-time past age 65 is unfair—especially given the high probability that the jobs many are able to find will be part-time and low paid.

Read the full report here.

Taxing the rich

emily — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 15:01:17 +0000

There's a growing movement in Canada to pressure our governments to ask those who have more to give to contribute more in taxes. A new Environics Poll for the Broadbent Institute shows 83% of Canadians favour raising taxes on the richest. And a new movement, Doctors for Fair Taxes reflects a growing number of Canadians are willing to do their part. But there is some resistance, and we're not just talking about Canada's politicians. Watch CCPA's Senior Economist Armine Yalnizyan speak truth to power in this CTV debate with a strenuous opponent to higher taxes on the rich.

Income Inequality Un-Canadian: Poll

emily — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 14:43:24 +0000

The Broadbent Institute has launched its new Equality Project with a poll by Environics Research that shows the majority of Canadians view growing income inequality as a big problem with long-term consequences - a problem that undermines Canadian values. The poll also shows Canadians are ahead of their politicians in supporting the need for higher taxes to protect social programs. And this finding: 83% of Canadians support raising taxes on the richest.

See the poll here and an op-ed by Ed Broadbent in the Toronto Star here.

Youth and Community-led Activism in Canada

emily — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 20:15:46 +0000

In spite of system and systemic failure, young people are—with creativity, passion and determination—fighting for change across sectors and within communities. They are pushing the progress envelope. And we need to celebrate their victories and support them with knowledge, with numbers, and with resources.

The spring 2012 issue of Our Schools / Our Selves, Power of Youth: Youth and community-led activism in Canada, looks at the personal stories of young activists and organizers in Canada and how they are using activism and organizing to bring about change in whatever issue they are working on.

The book, edited by Brigette DePape, explores grassroots activism across a variety of themes, and it shows the concrete work young people are doing, as well as highlighting challenges they face, lessons learned, ways forward, and bold visions for the future.

Click here to preview and order Power of Youth: Youth and community-led activism in Canada.

CCPA-NS Reacts to provincial budget

Christine Saulnier — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 20:07:55 +0000

As was expected, the provincial budget released by Nova Scotia's ruling New Democratic Party is characterized by a fixation on getting “back to balance”. With a debt to-GDP ratio of 35%, there is no need to prioritize fiscal balance to the exclusion of other important needs. What is being further unbalanced in the government’s rush “back to balance”? Our rural communities are struggling against a tide of out-migration, and many people among us are struggling to make ends meet.

Persistent inequalities and inequities across our province require our government to lead the way by reframing this debate so that it is about our collective future.

For a budget that would move the province Forward to Fairness through targeted investments in Nova Scotia's future, funded by fiscally responsible progressive taxation, see our Nova Scotia Alternative Budget, which can be downloaded here.

Click the image above to see footage of CCPA-NS Executive Director, Christine Saulnier, reacting to the budget.

Read Saulnier’s blog post, “HST cut in Nova Scotia: Detracting from real debate about our future,” here.

CBC covered reactions to the budget, here.

The Chronicle Herald covered reactions to the budget, here.

What a Wildrose Victory May Mean for Saskatchewan

Simon Enoch — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 19:08:51 +0000

Simon Enoch, Director of the Saskatchewan Office, wonders what a Wildrose Party victory in the upcoming Alberta election will mean for Saskatchewan. More here.

Why we need a Canadian sector development policy

emily — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 15:06:12 +0000

Today CCPA released a paper on sector development policy by Jim Stanford. The general goal of sector development policy is to attain a more desirable sectoral mix in the economy, winning a greater share of output and employment in identified high-value or “strategic” sectors than would otherwise be the case. Sector development policy has been historically important in Canada, given our ongoing national challenge to escape the “staples trap,” and become more than just a resource-supplier to other countries. We need more industries that add value to our resources (rather than exporting them in raw form); that generate more high-income, high-quality jobs; that embody technology and innovation; and that contribute to greater success in world markets.

This report details the negative structural consequences of the mostly unregulated resource boom and proposes a set of measures which would help to minimize those negative side-effects of resource development, and contribute to a more balanced, successful, and sustainable industry mix in Canada’s economy in future generations.

Read the full report: A Cure for Dutch Disesase: Active Sector Strategies for Canada’s Economy.

The folks who bring you more than the weekend

chris — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 14:57:39 +0000

American Rights at Work recently commissioned 5 studies examining the broader value and impact of unions on the US economy and society. The separate studies, profiling unionized healthcare workers, teachers, childcare providers, building trades workers, and union pension funds, are summarized together in a report entitled "Beyond the Weekend".

Budget needs to move Nova Scotia Forward to Fairness

Christine Saulnier — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 18:15:00 +0000

Today, the provincial government is releasing its budget. While there has been much talk about getting "back to balance," CCPA-NS has advocated for a budget that more accurately reflects the province's real fiscal situation. Our fact sheet, "Twelve Things You Should Know about nova Scotia's Fiscal Situation," explains that the deficit and the debt aren't really urgent problems for Nova Scotia. The province's debt-to-GDP ratio and the portion of GDP going towards debt servicing costs have declined dramatically in the last few years.

Instead of making cuts that will slow our economic recovery and jeopardize our quality of life, CCPA-NS has offered and Alternative Provincial Budget that makes targeted investments, paid for through progressive taxation, that will move the province "Forward to Fairness."

An entire press release, "Understanding the Provincial Budget," can be found here.

"Twelve Things You Should Know about Nova Scotia's Fiscal Situation" can be downloaded here.

The Nova Scotia Alternative Budget 2012 can be downloaded here.

Read a blog post that explains the Alternative Budget by Research Associate Jason Edwards, here.

Family Resource Centres in Manitoba Public Housing

Karen Schlichting — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 15:03:11 +0000

This report looks at family resource centres in six Manitoba Housing complexes outside Winnipeg's inner city. These resource centres meet very basic needs for the tenants, including access to phones, faxes, and computers; social engagement with friends and neighbours; and, for many people, when money is tight at some times in the month, access to food banks, cooking programs and occasional snacks. Tenants spoke about the changes they have seen in themselves, in their families and in the communities as a result of the resource centres. Their comments show that these centres are important resources for the communities.

Download here You Know You're Not Alone: Community Development in Public Housing

Federal budget commentary and analysis

kerri — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 20:47:01 +0000

The federal budget will leave Canadians peniless in more ways than one. Read CCPA's news release in reaction to the budget here.

The following CCPA staff and research associates have posted their budget analysis on our blog (watch this space—we'll be posting links as they come in):

Marc Lee: A budget that screws the planet for short-term profits
David Macdonald: Federal budget drags Canada into unnecessary austerity
Canadian Labour Congress: CLC Analysis of the 2012 Federal Budget
Andrew Jackson: OAS, the Budget, and the Baby Boomers
Erin Weir: Budget 2012: Pennywise But Pound Foolish
Bruce Campbell: Federal budget worsens inequality, high unemployment future

Just Like Mike: Ontario Budget Analysis

emily — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 14:07:23 +0000

Over on our blog, Behind the Numbers, CCPA Research Associates are sharing their analyses of the Ontario budget:

Hugh Mackenzie shares his devastating critique of the budget, suggesting that Premier Dalton McGuinty’s ninth Ontario budget completes the job of cutting government down to size—a job started by the Mike Harris Conservatives in the 1990s. Read the full post: Completing the job started by Mike Harris.
Erin Weir shares his analysis of the budget in the blog post, Drummond Commission report: countering cutbacks in Ontario. He suggests that the most striking feature of the budget might be how close it comes to last month’s Drummond report. Read more here.

Brad Wall's Wonderful World of Laissez-Faire

Simon Enoch — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 18:08:03 +0000

With the elimination of the Saskatchewan Film Employment Tax Credit and the certain demise of the film industry in the province, Premier Brad Wall asked:
"If an industry cannot survive at all without a permanent taxpayer subsidy, should the taxpayers subsidize indefinitely?" The Saskatchewan Office offers an answer.

Tuition fees and accessibility to higher education

kerri — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 17:19:37 +0000

This week, three hundred thousand students from 178 associations are boycotting their classes in Quebec to protest the provincial government's decision to raise tuition fees $325 a year for the next five years. CBC radio in Quebec City interviewed Erika Shaker, director of the CCPA's Education Project, about the relationship between fees and accessibility to higher education, as well as the social and economic benefits of public investment in our colleges and universities. Click here to listen to the interview.

Jets and Jails or Jobs and Justice?

Simon Enoch — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 16:56:42 +0000

Saskatchewan Director Simon Enoch discusses the upcoming federal budget and the CCPA's Alternative Budget with Prairie Dog's Gregory Beatty. Read more here.

Forward to Fairness: Nova Scotia Alternative Budget 2012

emily — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 13:07:03 +0000

CCPA-NS brings together academics and community partners to assemble its Alternative Budget for 2012. This document shows Nova Scotians that minor changes in government spending could have a major impact on the health and wellness of its population. Putting the welfare of the province's citizens first, the NSAB projects a potentially balanced budget by 2014 without sacrificing services that Nova Scotians rely on. The NSAB's prescriptions would move Nova Scotia in the right direction: forward to fairness.

“Our budget protects programs while increasing revenues, primarily through increased upper-end income taxes. This budget does not pose a risk to the province’s delicate recovery by imposing austerity measures that will result in job losses. Rather, it continues to build our social and physical infrastructure and invest in our communities and our people where it is most needed.”

Read the full Nova Scotia Alternative Budget 2012.

The following media outlets covered the NSAB: Global Maritimes (start at 7:00), The Cape Breton Post, The Chronicle Herald, The Canadian Press (Hosted by Ipoitics.ca), The Halifax Media Co-op, and the Halifax Media Co-op (on youth).

Accomplished author Stephen Kimber also commented on the NSAB, here.