The federal government is ramming ratification of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) through Parliament in a process as undemocratic as the deal itself.
Bill C-30 to implement the trade deal with Europe was brought before Parliament for second reading this week, and is expected to pass by today. Trade committee hearings into the bill, which normally start after second reading, have already begun, and are due to wrap up November 29.
When Unifor formally opened bargaining with the Detroit Three automakers three months ago, only one thing seemed certain: the future of the industry was at stake.
In the aftermath of the US election, many of us have been thinking and talking about the outcome and what difficulties lay ahead. Although the results may have been a devastating surprise, the voters have spoken. I believe that this outcome is a reflection of a deep mistrust in politics and of politicians. It is also a stark reminder that sexism and racism continue to have a powerful influence in our lives and fuel hate.
We cannot allow this hatred to go unchecked and set us backwards.
There was some welcome news on the west coast this week.
On Monday in Vancouver, Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, officially reopened the coast guard’s Kitsilano Station.
It was the ceremonial completion of a promise the Liberal government fulfilled last May, when it reversed the former Harper government’s decision to close the station in the heart of Vancouver, Canada’s busiest harbour.
Published Wednesday August 3, 2016 in the Huffington Post
In one week, Unifor will begin its first-ever round of bargaining with the Detroit Three automakers in what may be the most important round of bargaining to take place in the sector in more than a generation.
When I and representatives from each of the Unifor bargaining units at the Detroit Three automakers sit down with the companies to formally open negotiations on August 10 and 11, we will have one clear and simple message for them.
Published Wednesday July 27, 2016 in the Huffington Post
Stephen Harper emerged recently from his self-imposed obscurity to say goodbye. I say good riddance.
The former prime minister who once boasted, “You won't recognize Canada when I'm through with it,” lost the federal election last October and stepped down as leader of the Conservative Party, but remained a Member of Parliament.
Published in the Huffington Post Wednesday July 20, 2016
As Canada’s provincial premiers arrive in Whitehorse for their annual meeting, they will be joined by many groups interested in what happens at the meeting, from doctors to business people to academics to labour.
This article was published on Wednesday June 29, 2016 in the Huffington Post.
I have made no secret of my respect for our new Prime Minister, especially after the disdain I held for his predecessor.
That’s why it can be tough at times to watch – as good Canadian jobs are lost to Mexico, a place of horrible human rights abuses – while Justin Trudeau publicly talks about being such good friends with Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto.
Imagine this. You buy a house. You like the house a lot. You find it welcoming, and can imagine having a long life with that house. You particularly like the kitchen, and the neighbours seem nice. So you sign the deal, and go to the bank to work out the mortgage.
Just as you get to the bank, your realtor calls. Turns out, that kitchen you liked so much? It’s no longer part of the deal. Or maybe it will be. It’s going to take a couple of years living in the place to sort out.
In the meantime, the sale price stays the same, and your mortgage will be just as high as before.
There has been a thaw of sorts lately in Ottawa and other corridors of power, as far as labour’s relations with government go – and that’s a good thing for working people across this country.
After a decade of being frozen out by the Harper Conservatives, what we are seeing now is a rebalancing of the voices heard by our members of parliament – including those who sit in cabinet.
