Workers on the front lines of our economy stock our grocery shelves, pack boxes in warehouses, and deliver our food. As COVID-19 rages on, they are facing dangerous working conditions with inadequate personal protective equipment, low wages, and a high stress load. Frontline workers did not sign up to be…
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The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the vital importance of collective responses via governments at all levels. The Canadian context of federalism, with a division of powers between federal and provincial/territorial governments, also highlights key differences in approaches to the pandemic. At its best, federalism is an advantageous arrangement, with the…
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Ontario Finance Minister Rod Phillips presented his Economic and Fiscal Update at Queen’s Park today, tabling the Ford government’s battle plan to combat the health and economic crises brought on by the accelerating spread of the COVID-19 virus around the world. Phillips’ intervention is a big one. Today’s update includes…
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On March 17, Ontario Premier Doug Ford declared a state of emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic, mandating the immediate closure of everything—from recreation centres and public libraries to restaurants and bars—until March 31. Prohibiting public gatherings of 50 people or more, the Ford government also shared a breakdown of…
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The 2020-21 Alberta budget was tabled on February 27, just four months after the previous post-election budget. Jason Kenney’s United Conservative government is cutting public spending while also cutting corporate taxes, and thousands of public sector jobs are expected to be lost over the remainder of his term. Here are…
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When Ontario teachers and education workers walk off the job Feb. 21, they’ll hit the bricks with a lot of public support. Since contract talks began, Minister Stephen Lecce and Premier Doug Ford have tried hard to divide workers from their unions and unions from the parents, guardians, and grandparents…
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(La version française se trouve ici) The Association des enseignants et des enseignants franco-ontariens (AEFO) represents French-language elementary and secondary teachers across Ontario. Last December, 97 per cent of AEFO’s members voted in support of strike action. In January, they initiated work-to-rule action. This week they are holding a one-day…
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L’Association des enseignantes et des enseignants franco-ontariens (AEFO) représente les enseignantes et enseignants et des travailleuses et travailleurs des écoles élémentaires et secondaires franco-ontariennes. En décembre, 97 pour cent des membres de l’AEFO ont voté pour un mandat de grève. En janvier, ils ont débuté une grève du zèle. À…
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In January, I joined more than 6,000 people at the Toronto Convention Centre to hear former U.S. president Barack Obama speak about “the future of work.” Seeing him in person for the first time got me reflecting on the past, and what remains my most impactful Obama moment. I was…
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Previously, we have examined the board-by-board impact of larger class sizes and mandatory e-learning in Ontario schools. One blog estimated the number of teaching positions that will be eliminated in each board as a result of policies approved in Spring 2019; the other blog recalculated figures in response to Education…
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