Inequality has become a problem for all Canadians. Nationwide, 3.8% of households control about 67% of total financial wealth. The Conference Board of Canada recently addressed the issue, finding that, “High inequality can diminish economic growth if it means that the country is not fully using the skills and capabilities…
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Many sectors of Canadian society are still in shock, reeling from the recent budget cutbacks announced by the Harper Conservatives. The CBC, the National Film Board, Elections Canada, Canadian Border Services, Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, Veterans Affairs, and Fisheries and Oceans have all been slashed. While the government has said…
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The Nova Scotia government has just announced that it will cut the HST by 1% next year and 1% the following year. This cut will reverse the 2% increase the government imposed in order to assist it to achieve a balanced budget. Increasing the HST was part of a four…
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Last week, the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives-Nova Scotia (CCPA-NS) released its flagship annual publication, the Nova Scotia Alternative Budget (NSAB). This report brings together a wide range of experts, including economists, social scientists, community representatives and social advocates who propose a more inclusive, long-term and forward-thinking approach to the…
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Amid the current climate of cutbacks and austerity, there is some good news. The Government of Nova Scotia, pursuant with the recommendations of the Minimum Wage Review Committee, will be increasing the province’s minimum wage as of April 1st. The 1.5 percent increase, from $10.00 to $10.15 per hour, is…
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On March 12, despite months of protest across the country, the federal government’s Omnibus Crime Bill (euphemistically known as the “the safe streets and communities act”), cleared its final Parliamentary hurdle when the Harper Conservatives voted 154–129 in the House of Commons to pass the legislation. Now the bill goes to the…
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“Workers in Nova Scotia are worse off economically than they were a quarter century ago. For the most part, this deterioration in wages happened at the same time that the economy of the province vigorously increased the wealth it generated.” Now, Nova Scotia has the second-lowest average weekly earnings of…
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According to a Citizenship and Immigration Canada report, the number of migrant labourers in Canada increased from 177,781 to 432,682 between 2000 and 2010. Immigrant Settlement Integration Services says the number of foreign workers entering Nova Scotia has almost doubled in the last five years, from 1,495 to 2,795 and…
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The holy commotion orchestrated by Nova Scotia employers over Bill 102 on First Collective Agreement Arbitration is not really about this very modest piece of legislation. At best, it will affect few employers. As the premier has said, most Canadian provinces have such legislation and it is seldom used. So…
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The recent debate in Nova Scotia surrounding proposed first contract arbitration (FCA) legislation offers revealing truths about the contemporary relationship between labour and capital in Atlantic Canada. Arguments recently presented by the business community to the Law Amendments Committee against FCA can be summarized as follows: – FCA could hurt…
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