OECD Endorses Canadian Opposition

I was out of the country but have the impression that the extremely gloomy OECD forecast and critical recommendations for Canada released just before the G20 London summit were not given the attention they deserved. http://www.oecd.org/document/59/0,3343,en_2649_33733_42234619_1_1_1_1,00.html The OECD released its intermim outlook largely to push the case for more stimulus by G20 countries, particularly those, like Canada, with strong fiscal […]

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EI Training and the Federal Budget

Here’s a perhaps rather obvious thought prompted by reading an outline of the next OECD Employment Outlook. In a period of high and likely prolonged unemployment, governments should increase their investment in training of the unemployed by an amount at least in line with the increase in unemployment. Budget 2009 fails that test. Spending on training under Part II of […]

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Following the money: the case of BC communities

It is one of those publications that few media outlets will report on, and even fewer British Columbians will read, but BC Stats just released the latest version of its Local Area Economic Dependencies, updated based on 2006 census data. This publication basically asks where the income in various BC communities comes from. In many communities the resource sector is […]

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Is EI Working for the Unemployed?

The Liberals have promised to monitor the impact of the federal Budget through regular “report cards” on government performance. One key issue to look at is the adequacy (meaning inadequacy) of the EI program at a time of rapidly rising unemployment. The Budget did move very modestly on this front, adding five weeks to eligibility in each EI region, thus […]

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Relentless Self-Promotion: Michael Coren Show

I just returned from the Steelworker Mecca of Hamilton-Burlington, where the Michael Coren Show is taped. It will be broadcast at 8pm tonight through the Crossroads Television System (CTS) on cable in Ontario and Alberta, and on satellite across Canada. Sarah Blackstock of the Income Security Advocacy Centre and I squared off with two Kevins, one from the Canadian Taxpayers […]

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The Other Shoe Drops

Generally in recent months and particularly in November, there were pronounced job losses in the province of Ontario and the manufacturing sector. In December, the Ontario and manufacturing numbers did not change much. But job losses spread to other provinces and the construction sector. In effect, the only remaining bright spots in Canada’s labour market have been extinguished. Even adjusting […]

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Wayne Fraser on Employment Insurance

Saturday’s Toronto Star featured the following op-ed from the United Steelworkers’ Ontario-Atlantic Director: Fix EI system to help those who didn’t cause the crisis TheStar.com – Opinion – Fix EI system to help those who didn’t cause the crisis Federal government, coalition or minority, should bolster benefits for the unemployed December 13, 2008 Wayne Fraser As all Canadians familiar with […]

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Election Masks Loss of Youth Employment

Election Conceals Deteriorating Labour Market The period covered by October’s Labour Force Survey included election day. Temporary hiring for the election increased public-sector employment by slightly more than private-sector employment declined. In particular, jobs disappeared in every goods-producing industry: manufacturing, construction, utilities, natural resources and agriculture. Since 2002, manufacturing employment fell by 350,000 largely because supply-side factors – rising energy […]

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CLC Response to the Economic Crisis

http://canadianlabour.ca/en/clc-response-economic-crisis-summary This call for government action was the result of deliberations at yesterday’s meeting of the CLC Executive Council, and reflects prior discussions among union economists. This is the summary. I’ll post the long version after it has bene translated and posted to the CLC web site. CLC Response to the Economic Crisis (SUMMARY) Global capitalism: on the edge of […]

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Calm Before the Storm?

Today’s apparently rosy Labour Force Survey should not distract policy-makers from serious problems in Canada’s labour market. So far in 2008, full-time employment is down and unemployment is up. Wanted: Full-Time Jobs Total employment rose by 107,000 in September, far exceeding the modest uptick that one might have expected from temporary hiring by Elections Canada. However, as Statistics Canada notes, […]

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Employment Insurance and Recession

Here’s a piece from the CLC election web site: http://canadianlabour.ca/en/employment-insurance-and-election-what-will-happen-if-there-a-recession EI is a critically important program for Canadian workers, especially in tough times like we face today. Laid-off workers obviously need adequate benefits to support themselves and their families while they search for a new job. Recessions mean that more workers lose their jobs, and that they find it much […]

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How Low Can Canadian Business Taxes Go?

Canada has the third-lowest business taxes of ten countries examined in a study released as part of KPMG’s 2008 Competitive Alternatives report. The spin from KPMG has been that “If the provinces follow the federal lead and reduce their rates as well, Canada’s advantage will be enhanced.” Canadians should be asking a different question. If we already have a substantial “tax […]

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Summertime Blues for Canadian Workers

My assessment of today’s Labour Force Survey follows: Devastating Loss of Full-Time Jobs Canada lost 39,000 full-time jobs in June. While 34,000 of these positions were replaced with part-time jobs, 2,000 more Canadians entered the workforce, swelling the ranks of the unemployed by 7,000. One hopes that the Bank of Canada will respond to this labour-market downturn by cutting interest […]

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Parting Shots at Budget 2008

Transcripts are now available of my appearances before the House and Senate Finance Committees regarding Bill C-50 (Budget Implementation). I critiqued the Budget’s general direction and its particular changes to (Un)Employment Insurance. The following remarks to the House committee duplicate what I said to the Senate committee, although MPs asked different questions than Senators. Mr. Erin Weir (Economist, United Steelworkers): […]

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What Happened to the $54 Billion EI Surplus?

CLC Statement on the Canada Employment Insurance Financing Board The 2008 Budget Implementation Bill (C-50) creates – through Part 7, the Canada Employment Insurance Financing Board Act – a new, independent crown corporation, the Canada Employment Insurance Financing Board (CEIFB). The key functions of the new corporation and Board are to manage a separate Employment Insurance (EI) reserve fund, and […]

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Employment Insurance and Severance Pay

There is a very specific set of issues for displaced workers arising from the treatment of severance pay, which represents compensation for involuntary job loss in recognition of the very real costs incurred by the worker. Under the current Employment Insurance system, a worker who is laid-off does not normally receive a regular EI benefit cheque until such time as […]

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Employment Insurance and Displaced Older Workers

Since 2002, almost 250,000 manufacturing workers have lost their jobs because of the high dollar and our huge and growing trade deficit with developing Asian countries.  Many are older workers who will typically face a long stretch of unemployment, followed by employment in a new job at much lower wages. Our Employment Insurance (EI) program still provides an important income […]

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