Canadian Labour Congress

Media Advisory - CLC President Bea Bruske Available to React to Budget

Retrieved on: 
Monday, March 27, 2023
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OTTAWA, March 27, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC), will be available to comment on Budget 2023, and to discuss its impact on workers and their families.

Key Points: 
  • OTTAWA, March 27, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC), will be available to comment on Budget 2023, and to discuss its impact on workers and their families.
  • Canada’s unions are calling for a workers’ budget , that prioritizes real and strategic investments in publicly funded, publicly delivered services like health care, and measures to permanently strengthen our EI system.
  • Workers and their families are falling behind, and our inadequate social safety net is failing them.
  • March 28, 2023, and/or in advance of the budget, by arrangement

A Workers’ Budget: Labour demands for Budget 2023

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, March 21, 2023
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OTTAWA , March 21, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Canada’s unions are calling on the federal government to invest in workers in its budget to be released on March 28.

Key Points: 
  • OTTAWA , March 21, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Canada’s unions are calling on the federal government to invest in workers in its budget to be released on March 28.
  • Our government must learn from the COVID-19 pandemic and use Budget 2023 to put people first,” said Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress.
  • Workers want the government to restore balance in our economy - the eye-watering cost of day-to-day necessities means workers and their families continue to struggle.
  • “We hope to see some sizable investments in Budget 2023-24 to tackle Canada's health care workforce crisis.

Canada’s Unions: Urgent Action Required to Rein in Corporate Greed

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, March 9, 2023
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Canada’s unions are now urging the federal government to crack down on corporate greed and make life more affordable for millions of hard-pressed workers and their families.

Key Points: 
  • Canada’s unions are now urging the federal government to crack down on corporate greed and make life more affordable for millions of hard-pressed workers and their families.
  • “We welcome the long-overdue decision to make Galen Weston Jr. and other wealthy CEOs answer for their company’s outrageously high prices.
  • Canada’s unions call on the federal government to rein in corporate greed by tackling corporate concentration, making corporations pay their fair share and redistributing proceeds to support low-income households,” said Bruske.
  • “We also need political leadership to take strong and urgent action to make life more affordable by funding vital public services like Pharmacare, long-term care, mental health care, child care and public transit.”

Canada doubles immigration program for out-of-status construction workers in the Greater Toronto Area

Retrieved on: 
Friday, January 20, 2023
Housing, The Honourable, Government, Construction, Deportation, Employment, Education, Canada Child Benefit, Congress, Health, CLC, IRCC, Growth, Government of Canada, Physician, Canadian Labour Congress, GTA, Peter Fonseca, Greater Toronto Area, Parliament, Spouse, City, Refugee, Nursing, Tourism, Health insurance, Clothing, Citizenship, Mississauga

The program promotes greater stability in the construction industry and ensures that skilled workers in Canada continue to address critical housing development needs.

Key Points: 
  • The program promotes greater stability in the construction industry and ensures that skilled workers in Canada continue to address critical housing development needs.
  • "This pilot program is a significant step forward in addressing critical labour shortages for the Greater Toronto Area by supporting stability in the construction industry and bringing workers out of the underground economy.
  • The out-of-status construction workers contribute greatly to the economy and society, and continue to fill labour shortages.
  • The extension of the out-of-status construction workers in the GTA initiative for 2023 will help more vulnerable workers and their families during these uncertain times.

Workers Mobilize to Parliament Hill Urging Action on Polycrisis

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, February 7, 2023
Bruske, Pension, Legislation, Congress, Member of parliament, Canadian Labour Congress, Bankruptcy, Environment, Investment, ERS, CLC, Climate change, Parliament Hill, Healthcare, Health insurance

OTTAWA, Feb. 07, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hundreds of workers and labour leaders from across Canada are mobilizing to Parliament Hill today to sound the alarm about the mounting issues facing workers.

Key Points: 
  • OTTAWA, Feb. 07, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hundreds of workers and labour leaders from across Canada are mobilizing to Parliament Hill today to sound the alarm about the mounting issues facing workers.
  • At the same time, public services are being pushed to their limits and our care systems are in crisis.
  • Meanwhile workers’ rights are under attack as wealthy CEOs prioritize profits over workers’ well-being, and communities are still grappling with the effects of climate change,” added Bruske.
  • Promised anti-scab legislation will ensure a fairer bargaining process that can help unionized workers make gains that benefit all workers — if the legislation is strong enough.

Canada’s Unions Welcome Improved Long-Term Care Standard — But Demand an end to For-Profit Care

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, January 31, 2023
Bruske, Health, Safe, COVID-19 deaths, Safety, COVID-19, Congress, Government, Private sector, Canadian Labour Congress, Death, Canada Health Act, Long-term care, Hospital, Health insurance

OTTAWA, Jan. 31, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Canada’s unions welcome improvements to the National Long-Term Care Services Standard but they must be even stronger. The standard released today focus on resident-centered care, a model of senior care that is accommodating and respectful of the resident’s personal wishes and that works directly with the health workers providing the care.

Key Points: 
  • OTTAWA, Jan. 31, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Canada’s unions welcome improvements to the National Long-Term Care Services Standard but they must be even stronger.
  • Canada’s unions believe it is crucial that long-term care be brought entirely into the public system and regulated under the Canada Health Act.
  • “In the first months of the pandemic, more than 81 percent of COVID-19 deaths were in long-term care and retirement homes.
  • For-profit long-term care homes have fewer staff, fewer hours of care per resident per day, lower pay, and more job insecurity,” added Bruske.

CLC: Bank Of Canada’s Eighth Consecutive Rate Hike Means Workers Will Take Another Hit

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, January 25, 2023
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The most recent consumer price index numbers in Canada and abroad showed that inflation is moderating – yet the Bank is stubbornly raising interest rates for the eighth time.

Key Points: 
  • The most recent consumer price index numbers in Canada and abroad showed that inflation is moderating – yet the Bank is stubbornly raising interest rates for the eighth time.
  • “The Bank has continuously raised interest rates, more than any other G7 country.
  • The Bank seems undeterred, despite more and more voices joining Canada’s unions in calling for a halt to its tightening cycle,” added Bruske.
  • Soaring prices for everyday necessities are affecting everyone, while workers continue to see their wages fall further behind inflation.

Politicians Must Collaborate to Find Solutions for Canada’s Struggling Workers

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, January 24, 2023
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December’s CPI numbers showed that inflation is moderating in Canada, but workers continue to see their wages lagging.

Key Points: 
  • December’s CPI numbers showed that inflation is moderating in Canada, but workers continue to see their wages lagging.
  • “Let’s hope they are just as quick to start reducing rates as they were hiking them.
  • Meanwhile, before noon on January 3, Canada’s top CEOs had already pocketed the average workers’ annual salary.
  • To tackle the never-before-seen staff shortage, the government must invest in health care workers with better pay, benefits, pension plan and working conditions.

Canada’s Unions Are Lifting Everyone Up

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, December 15, 2022
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“Canada’s unions are working hard to fend off a Bank of Canada-manufactured recession.

Key Points: 
  • “Canada’s unions are working hard to fend off a Bank of Canada-manufactured recession.
  • Unions urged the federal government to throw a lifeline to struggling families.
  • Unions will continue to call for EI reform, which is more important than ever as Canada teeters on the brink of a recession.
  • She added that Canada’s unions would push for more cooperation to tackle the pressing challenges ahead of us.

The Bank’s Forgotten Mandate: Support Maximum Sustainable Employment

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, December 13, 2022
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“A year ago, amidst great fanfare, the Bank received direction that Canada’s monetary policy should also support maximum sustainable employment.

Key Points: 
  • “A year ago, amidst great fanfare, the Bank received direction that Canada’s monetary policy should also support maximum sustainable employment.
  • But the Bank seems determined to manufacture a recession and risk devastating job losses,” said Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress.
  • Canada’s unions have been urging the federal government to do its part to help families struggling with the affordability crisis, including by fixing our shattered Employment Insurance system.
  • Let’s act swiftly to strengthen our EI system so the program is there for the people who need support.”