Two giants have left us—Mel Watkins a few months ago, and now John Loxley. John (pictured, left, with Andrew Jackson and Watkins, his John Kenneth Galbraith Prize co-winners in 2008) was an inspiring and fiercely dedicated leader. His scholarly work, though impeccable, was not of an ivory tower vintage,…
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The federal government announced on July 31, 2020 plans to transition CERB recipients who’ve reached the end of their eligibility period to a reformed employment insurance program. Prime Minister Trudeau assured CERB recipients that “no one will be left behind” during this transition. The Alternative Federal Budget (AFB) Recovery Plan…
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On July 21, the Alternative Federal Budget (AFB) Recovery Plan was released. The document aims to provide public policy direction to Canada’s federal government, in light of the current COVID-19 pandemic (more information on the AFB Recovery Plan can be found here, while an overview of the AFB’s history is…
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With the reopening of the economy in June, more women are back at work and others are picking up more hours, but their recovery continues to lag that of men. This unequal situation creates numerous challenges for Canada as we move into what may be a long, slow recovery, especially…
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In 25 years of Alternative Federal Budgets, this edition of the AFB stands out: reflecting a chapter of history as it is unfolding, in real time, in the middle of a global pandemic. Future generations will look back at 2020 as a critical turning point, a year in which the…
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Over the past four months, Canadian governments have taken unprecedented measures to minimize the spread of COVID-19 as governments worldwide have enforced lockdowns, closed borders, changed public policy and provided various stimulus packages. As the pandemic has spread, we have witnessed politicians across the spectrum articulate a struggle to strike…
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The killings of Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, all by current or former police officers, triggered a second tidal wave of the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement in the U.S. this spring. Like the first wave in 2012, this one quickly burst the banks of international borders, spilling…
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If anything is clear in this pandemic, Canada needs a wealth tax on the super rich to rein in extreme inequality and contribute to crucial public investments in the wake of COVID-19. A wealth tax is economically and technically feasible, but it requires breaking with a status quo that often…
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As several provinces have begun to loosen lockdown measures, thoughts turn to what Canada’s recovery will look like. WilI the massive disruptions we are experiencing spur a reevaluation of priorities and lead to paradigm shifts in our social and economic systems¹? Or will we embrace a ‘business as usual’ recovery…
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Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, provinces and territories have implemented eviction bans that protect tenants from the imminent threat of homelessness but do not prevent them from falling in arrears and being evicted once bans are lifted. Eviction bans contributed to the effectiveness of shelter-in-place emergency orders put in place to…
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