CCPA Policy Note

Entries Tagged as 'Employment & labour'

BC’s public sector: among the smallest in the country

February 25th, 2010 · Iglika Ivanova · No Comments · Employment & labour, Privatization, P3s & public services, Provincial budget & finance

Have you heard pundits say that BC’s public sector is too big or “bloated”? It’s an argument frequently used as an excuse to advocate for government spending cuts, but is it true? You may want to take a look at the numbers for yourself.
The CCPA just released a short report on the size of the [...]

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Now for some disaster relief on the homefront

January 22nd, 2010 · Marc Lee · 1 Comment · Climate change, Employment & labour, Poverty, inequality & welfare

I’ve been very pleasantly surprised at the public response to the tragic earthquake in Haiti. I’ve seen donations being collected through school bake sales, at the liquor store, and on Hockey Night in Canada, among the usual channels for such stuff. It’s nice to know that, collectively, we care, in spite of the neglect of [...]

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Clearing the hurdles — sports brands and worker rights

January 15th, 2010 · Seth Klein · No Comments · Employment & labour

As we prepare to host the Olympics, it’s worth thinking about how high (or low) the bar is set by the major companies that make sportswear. Despite some progress in recent years, substantial violations of worker rights and poverty wages are still the norm for workers in the sportswear industry. In response, Play Fair and [...]

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New Brunswick Plans for a $10 Minimum Wage

January 6th, 2010 · Iglika Ivanova · 8 Comments · Economy, Employment & labour, Poverty, inequality & welfare

On January 5, New Brunswick’s provincial government announced plans to increase their minimum wage from the current $8.25 per hour to $10 over the next two years. The move has gotten surprisingly little coverage in the mainstream media out West so far, but I urge you to check out this excellent article on the Times [...]

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When $300,000 isn’t enough

December 21st, 2009 · Adrienne Montani · 2 Comments · Employment & labour, Health care, Poverty, inequality & welfare

I heard today that the Fraser Health Authority is giving its CEO Nigel Murray a $30,000 bonus on top of his $300,000 annual salary.  Put that up against the cuts the Authority is making to services for addicted youth and seniors, among others. 
 Remember that hospital housekeeping workers, who are the first line of defense against [...]

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The catch-22 of low-income benefits that are phased out quickly

October 9th, 2009 · Iglika Ivanova · 8 Comments · Children & youth, Employment & labour, Housing & homelessness, Poverty, inequality & welfare, Provincial budget & finance, Taxes, Women

My friend Emily is a single mom. She works full time for a salary that keeps her and her child above the poverty line but doesn’t allow for much more. Her income is low enough that she qualifies for temporary relief from paying her student loans (which are massive even though she is yet to [...]

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Will job creation solve our poverty problems?

September 28th, 2009 · Iglika Ivanova · No Comments · Economy, Employment & labour, Poverty, inequality & welfare

You may recall that during the leaders’ debate prior to last May’s election, Gordon Campbell argued that creating jobs is the best poverty reduction strategy out there. Since his re-election, the government’s attention has been focused on the economy, while social policy has taken a back seat. But is this the best approach?
A recent report [...]

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BC’s minimum wage the lowest in Canada

August 31st, 2009 · Iglika Ivanova · 6 Comments · Employment & labour

Tomorrow, September 1, officially marks the day that BC will become the province with the lowest minimum wage in the entire country ($8 per hour). This is because New Brunswick is proceeding with their plans to increase their minimum wage to $8.25.
Meanwhile, BC’s government has repeatedly refused to increase the minimum wage here, claiming that [...]

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Spending cuts will spell further job losses and a longer recession

August 27th, 2009 · Iglika Ivanova · 1 Comment · Economy, Employment & labour, Poverty, inequality & welfare, Provincial budget & finance

Want a recipe to harm the economy and increase hardship for British Columbians in the middle of a recession? It’s easy – all you have to do is cut government spending. Unfortunately, this is exactly where our government seems to be headed judging by their ominous throne speech.
A new report by yours truly, released today [...]

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BC government should heed its own report on childcare

May 7th, 2009 · Iglika Ivanova · No Comments · BC Election 2009, Children & youth, Economy, Employment & labour, Poverty, inequality & welfare, Women

Do you remember the 2008 Throne Speech in which the provincial government launched a feasibility study on providing full day kindergarten for 5 year-olds and extending full day preschool options to younger children as well? Here’s a refresher:
A new Early Childhood Learning Agency will be established. It will assess the feasibility and costs of [...]

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