Bea Bruske, president of the Canadian Labour Congress, released a statement after meeting between Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem: “While we understand and respect the Bank of Canada’s mandate to independently set monetary policy, we remain deeply concerned about the Bank’s preoccupation with encouraging companies to push down wages, at a time when so many workers … Read more
Bea Bruske, president of the Canadian Labour Congress, has written to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (Papineau, Que.) demanding he call an emergency First Ministers’ meeting and reconvene parliament in order to urgently shore up our public health care system. “Our crumbling public health care system is facing a crisis that requires leadership from all levels of government,” said Bruske. … Read more
Canada’s unions are calling on the federal government to make firm commitments towards investing in the country’s economic recovery in the Sept. 23 Speech from the Throne. “Social programs like national pharmacare and child care will help to rectify structural inequities that this pandemic has made all the more clear,” said Hassan Yussuff, President of the … Read more
As Parliament prepares to resume, a coalition of pharmacare advocates gathered in Ottawa to strategize the next steps to ensure the successful delivery of universal pharmacare. “With a critical mass of support, it’s time for this Liberal government to seize this historic opportunity to implement universal, single-payer national pharmacare,” said Canadian Labour Congress President Hassan Yussuff. “With … Read more
Canada’s unions released a ground-breaking report on the impacts of Islamophobia in the workplace: Islamophobia at Work: Challenges and Opportunities explores the rise of anti-Muslim attitudes and discrimination in Canada. The report provides recommendations for employers, trade unions, and government on how to address this pernicious phenomenon.“This report is the first of its kind to examine the underlying … Read more
Canada’s unions applaud the federal government’s new Just Transition Task Force for Canadian Coal-Power Workers and Communities, which will draft a plan to support affected workers and communities as Canada moves to phase-out coal-fired power. The task force, lead by CLC President Hassan Yussuff and New Brunswick Conservationist Lois Corbett, will develop recommendations to present to … Read more
Canada’s unions are celebrating the announcement by the Standing Committee on Health that recommends a single-payer, universal prescription drug plan for Canada. The recommendation came in its report Pharmacare Now: Prescription Medicine Coverage for all Canadians, tabled in the House of Commons April 18. “This announcement reinforces what we’ve heard at town hall meetings across the … Read more
Canada’s unions are applauding the federal government for showing international leadership on climate change by announcing plans to tie Canada’s phase-out of coal-fired electricity with a just transition for affected workers and communities. Environment and Climate Change Minister Catherine McKenna (Ottawa-Centre, Ont.) also announced her government’s intention to work directly with the Canadian Labour Congress to … Read more
Canada’s unions say they welcome legislation being proposed to address harassment and violence in federally-regulated workplaces, and look forward to working with the government to address outstanding issues and ensure effective implementation. The proposed legislation was announced by Employment, Workforce Development and Labour Minister Patty Hajdu (Thunder Bay-Superior North, Ont.) , and would amend both the Canada … Read more
Canadian Labour Congress president Hassan Yussuff is optimistic that pharmacare will emerge as a priority in this week’s meeting between federal and provincial and territorial health ministers in Edmonton, Alta. “We will be there to encourage the health ministers to take steps that would advance the discussion around implementation of a universal prescription drug plan that … Read more
