Category Archives: Labour
Alberta government to cut up to 11,000 health-care jobs
EDMONTON — The Alberta government will cut up to 11,000 jobs at Alberta Health Services to save money — a move the Opposition says is cruel and will create chaos in the health-care system. Health Minister Tyler Shandro made the announcement
Pandemic exposes need for basic-income program, expert says
OTTAWA — A leading Canadian expert on government-funded basic incomes says the oft-debated idea could have averted much of the economic effects of COVID-19. Evelyn Forget says a basic-income program would have provided help to hard-hit Canadians automa...
Unilateral ban on single-use plastics ignores spirit of USMCA, critics, experts say
WASHINGTON, Wash. — Canada's proposed ban on single-use plastics may not run afoul of its trade deal with the United States and Mexico, but experts suggest it disregards the "pause-and-check" spirit of the agreement. The Washington-based Plastics Indus...
B.C.’s public health officer urges businesses to ensure proper measures in place
VICTORIA — British Columbia's provincial health officer is urging businesses to ensure they are in compliance with health and safety standards to protect employees from COVID-19. Dr. Bonnie Henry says public health teams would provide guidance if a wor...
Liberals revamp rent relief for businesses hit by COVID-19, expand loan program
OTTAWA — The federal government will provide direct help to businesses hit by the COVID-19 pandemic to help them offset the cost of rent, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Friday. He said a revamped commercial rent-relief program will cover up to...
Agreement with Nova Scotia government restores union rights for school specialists
HALIFAX — The Nova Scotia Teachers Union says it has reached an agreement with the province that restores the union rights of school psychologists, speech language pathologists and social workers. The union said today that after the deal was reached, t...
Few to use new sickness benefit for COVID-19 diagnosis, PBO suggests in new report
OTTAWA — Parliament's spending watchdog says relatively little of the government's new sickness benefit will go to people who have tested positive for COVID-19. In a report Wednesday morning, the parliamentary budget officer estimated only $50 million ...
B.C. Greens’ election proposals include 4-day work week, free child care
VANCOUVER — British Columbia's Green party wants to see free child care for children under three and free early childhood education for three- and four-year-olds. Campaigning in Vancouver on Tuesday, Green party Leader Sonia Furstenau says their plan w...
Highlights of the British Columbia NDP’s election platform
VANCOUVER — Highlights of the British Columbia NDP's platform in the Oct. 24 election campaign: — Families with an annual household income under $125,000 would get a one-time $1,000 COVID-19 recovery benefit, with the benefit going to others on a slidi...
Focus on innovation, not alcohol, key to survival for restaurants: experts
VANCOUVER — The pandemic may serve as an opportunity for the restaurant industry to innovate in order to avoid closures as public health measures limit the sale of booze and erode already thin profit margins, say addiction and business experts. Dr.