Category Archives: Labour
Liberals review rollout of social finance fund to combat pandemic fallout
OTTAWA — The federal government is taking a second look at how quickly it will dole out hundreds of millions in help to social services looking to tap into new sources of capital, particularly as COVID-19 dries up traditional donations. Social Dev...
Canadian artists, writers, performers call for national basic income
TORONTO — A group of Canadian artists, writers, technicians and performers is calling on Ottawa to guarantee a basic income for anyone in need. Novellist and screenwriter Emma Donoghue, poet George Elliott Clarke and opera singer Adrianne Pie...
Liberals revise COVID-19 wage subsidy, ease eligibility in bid to boost takeup
OTTAWA — Finance Minister Bill Morneau says the Liberals are easing eligibility rules for the government's emergency wage subsidy and changing the amounts businesses can receive. The government had been under pressure to make the subsidy more accessibl...
B.C. to get $2.2B in COVID-19 support, Horgan celebrates paid sick leave program
VICTORIA — British Columbia Premier John Horgan says he's proud that a national sick leave program has been announced as part of $19 billion in federal funding to support the provinces and territories during the COVID-19 p...
Hospitality workers fearing long-term unemployment seek government action
VANCOUVER — The union representing hospitality workers across the country says it fears staff laid off because of COVID-19 may not have a job when the pandemic is over. The challenges facing workers are unprecedented, with more than 90 per cent
PMO didn’t direct me to choose WE for volunteer program: Chagger
OTTAWA — The federal minister responsible for a $912-million student volunteering program said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's office didn't order her to make the agreement with WE Charity that has become mired in ethical questions for the go...
Charities awaiting word on fate of $912M student-volunteer program
OTTAWA — Non-profit groups that wanted to use the Canada Student Service Grant to hire volunteers say they have not heard a peep from the federal government since WE Charity walked away from running the $912-million program almost two weeks
B.C. government brings in changes to workers’ compensation system
VICTORIA — Workers' compensation benefits in B.C. would be based on a higher maximum salary amount under legislation introduced Tuesday by the provincial government. Amendments to the Workers Compensation Act would increase the maximum insura...
Health-care workers plan political, legal action in response to emergency orders
HAMILTON — A union representing Ontario health-care workers said Tuesday it's planning a series of escalating political and legal actions, including brief work interruptions, in response to the province potentially extending its emergenc...
Senators call for changes to COVID-19 aid and more transparency on spending
OTTAWA — The federal government's key emergency benefit for workers with jobs hit by the pandemic is "not a permanent solution" to ongoing hardships, a Senate committee says in a report that makes an argument for a guaranteed minimum income. ...