Thoughts on BC Politics and More

In late August, Statistics Canada released several updates to its ongoing “Quality of Employment in Canada” publication. These data drops include articles related to average wages, workers earning low pay and training participation, along with material covering perceived job security, paid leave entitlement, and medical and dental benefits coverage.  The statistical agency’s frequent updates in this series provide timely and broad snapshots of job quality in Canada. As the latest figures indicate, workers have made some gains in the post-pandemic economy, but longstanding inequalities persist ... CLICK HERE for the full story

The world of work is changing, says federal Jobs and Families Minister Patty Hajdu. Since she started her new post in May, she’s seen major strikes at Air Canada and Canada Post. And Hajdu said she has recognized the challenges as federally regulated employers grapple with how to manage artificial intelligence tools and the impact of gig work. “I think that there is an anxiety about the changing nature of work,” Hajdu told The Tyee. “That’s why my department comes into this work more broadly than just looking at labour”  ... CLICK HERE for the full story

Canada is seeing a spike in strikes — and as tariffs and the affordability crisis continue to hit workers hard, unions warn of more action on the horizon. Some labour leaders say that includes a potential battle with a federal government that has repeatedly sent them back to work. "We're preparing for the fight that's ahead," said Alisha Kang, president of the Union of National Employees. "The movement is done with lip service"  ... CLICK HERE for the full story

Canada’s labour movement dodged a bullet in April’s federal election. The bullet from the right was deflected slightly off course by the collective decision of Canadian voters to consolidate the centre-left vote behind Marc Carney’s Liberals. But it was a very close call after surging and ebbing political waves saw a late shift of working class voters back towards the Conservatives—the presumptive winners until the new American imperialism threatened Canadian sovereignty and fundamentally shifted the dynamic and direction of federal politics. Canadian unions welcomed the result with relief and are now searching for points of influence and collaboration with the Carney government to hold the line on past gains and defend worker interests in the ongoing trade war and the coming program of “nation-building” projects. There are a few seats for labour at several of the new government’s tables, but unions are one of many interest groups in the ever-widening ‘Team Canada’ camp. Moreover, Cana...

This was a missed opportunity for labour to build stronger ties of solidarity with Indigenous peoples and others. On June 20, Bill C-5, the so-called One Canadian Economy Act, passed in the House of Commons, despite warnings that the legislation will erode democratic oversight in the name of economic development.  This “major projects” bill essentially grants the federal government the ability to side-step regulatory consultations and fast-track economic initiatives it deems to be in the national interest.  The legislation amends the Free Trade and Labour Mobility in Canada Act and the Building Canada Act, removing supposed “barriers” to the internal trade of goods and services, streamlining labour mobility and credential recognition, and perhaps most notably, granting sweeping powers to cabinet to pre-approve projects designated to be in “the national interest" ... CLICK HERE for the full story 

A few weeks ago, I asked Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre why he thought the Trudeau government had opened up immigration so dramatically in the aftermath of the pandemic. His best hypothesis was that the government was responding to businesses who wanted to drive up labour competition and drive down wages. It’s a classic public choice story. Poilievre’s answer brought me back to one of Canada’s most important political economy books in recent decades, Brian Lee Crowley’s 2009 book, Fearful Symmetry: The Fall and Rise of Canada’s Founding Values ... CLICK HERE for the full story 

On June 2, the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) released its 12th annual Global Rights Index. The yearly report tracks violations of workers’ and union rights around the world. Its findings are troubling, to say the least. “This year’s Index reveals a stark and worsening global crisis for workers and unions,” the report says. The data reveals sharp escalations in violations of key worker rights, including the right to form and join unions, the right to strike, and the right to collective bargaining. Over the 12 years in which the ITUC has been tracking such trends, violations of these various rights have grown considerably. According to the 2025 report, the right to form unions and have them legally recognized was violated in 74 per cent of countries ... CLICK HERE for the full story

According to Statistics Canada’s latest Labour Force Survey (LFS), unemployment ratcheted up to 6.9% last month, matching a pre-pandemic high. Joblessness has returned to its level in November 2024, which was the highest since January 2017 (excluding the lockdown portions of the pandemic). Areas of the economy most exposed to American trade uncertainty are beginning to show signs of trouble, with workers of course bearing the brunt. For example, manufacturing and retail and wholesale trade registered the largest job losses in April. As the repercussions of United States President Donald Trump’s trade war continue to accumulate, Canadian workers are feeling the pinch. On a year-over-year basis, the number of unemployed people was up by 13.9%, or 189,000 workers. Moreover, among the jobless, long-term unemployment is growing ... CLICK HERE for the full story

... unions and labour federations across the country are working to shape the federal election. At the same time, labour’s ability to put its issues on the table is limited. This doesn’t mean that labour is irrelevant or inconsequential in the electoral realm, however. Quite the contrary: Canadian political parties not only want the votes of union members, but also the endorsements of labour leadership. In fact, it’s safe to assume that many decision-makers inside the Liberals, Conservatives and NDP believe union endorsements are a path to union votes. Thus, not only do federal parties and local candidates appeal to working-class voters on an individual basis, but they frequently seek the support of national unions and their locals ... CLICK HERE for the full commentary

Last week, United States President Donald Trump paused the implementation of his 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian imports until April 2. Although he’s walked back from the cliff’s edge once again, we are still on the precipice of widespread economic disruption. As was the case on the eve of the pandemic, we are ill-prepared, our social safety net containing the same deficiencies now as then.   Despite the latest delay to across-the-board tariffs, levies on Canadian steel and aluminum products entering the U.S. are nevertheless scheduled to take effect on March 12, which will have significant impacts on a variety of industries and harm considerable numbers of workers on both sides of the border ... CLICK HERE for the full story

In many ways, the Canadian labour market and labour movement are both looking more like they did pre-pandemic. Hopes of using the relatively robust post-pandemic economy as a springboard to build something better seem to largely be fading. Strike activity was down considerably in 2024, after reaching historic heights the previous year, by some measures. Wage growth has cooled, even as unions continue to seek pay increases to account for post-pandemic inflation. While some legislative gains were made this past year, governments also intervened in several important labour actions to end or pre-empt strikes and to come to the aid of employers who locked out their workers. In particular, the federal government has been especially coercive in its use of back-to-work orders ... CLICK HERE for the full story

2023 was widely regarded as a great year for Canada’s labour movement. There were some of the largest, highest profile strikes in decades that raised expectations for workers and re-established unions in the public eye as vehicles for tangible improvements to daily life. But a month into 2024, and workers’ fighting spirits show no sign of slowing: Transit workers shut down Vancouver for two days, a labour leader was arrested this week picketing with 500 civilian military support staff on strike and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is preparing for another possible port strike. So, what more can we expect this year? Here’s a look at just a few of the biggest upcoming contract battles of 2024 . . . . CLICK HERE for the full story

The West Coast tallied up another 9,000 jobs in November, reversing losses posted a month earlier. That was enough to push the province’s unemployment rate down 0.1 percentage points to 5.3 per percent, according to Statistics Canada data released Friday. Meanwhile, Canada’s unemployment rate rose by one tick on a monthly basis to 5.8 per cent, despite adding 25,000 jobs ... CLICK HERE for the full story

... Involuntary part-time employees are underemployed workers. The worker is ready and willing to work full-time, but doesn’t work more than 30 hours per week. This can be due to a reduction in hours due to business conditions, as seen during lockdowns. It also includes people who are unable to find full-time work. In short, it’s another form of underutilized labor in the economy—not unlike unemployment. Labor supply is a delicate balance. Too little labor leads to a non-productive increase in wages, meaning it’s a raise—but not due to increased output (either in quantity or value). It may sound nice, but it tends to occur during periods where inflation eats up at least the extra wage growth ... CLICK HERE for the full story

  Employment rose by 40,000 (+0.2%) in August. This increase in employment was outpaced by population growth (+103,000; +0.3%) and the employment rat e — t he proportion of the population aged 15 and older who are employe d — f ell 0.1 percentage points to 61.9% ...   ... Employment increased by 12,000 in British Columbia in August 2023, the first significant increase in the province since September 2022. At 61.5%, the employment rate in the province was little changed in August 2023, but was down 0.7 percentage points from the beginning of the year ... For the full report, CLICK HERE

Canada rarely makes the global news. When it does, it is often in reference to the exploits of Canadian entertainers — Justin Bieber, Céline Dion and Drake.    For a country of about 40mn people, roughly the population of California, that is not a bad return on celebrity icons. But while the country may exceed expectations in the pop and rap arena, it underwhelms on the international economic stage, relative to its vast potential ...   ... as long as current trends in productivity continue, living standards will drop and Canada’s enormous economic potential will remain latent. That would be a great shame for the thousands moving there seeking a better life, and for the global economy. CLICK HERE for the full commentary