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United Together Against Pallister's Cuts
FALL 2019 MANITOBA FEDERATION OF LABOUR President Rebeck speaks at Labour Day rally at the Manitoba Legislature United together against Pallister’s cuts Sisters, brothers and friends, the labour movement had a busy summer, and after the snap provincial election we face another term of the Pallister 2019 MFL Health and government and its anti-union agenda. Safety Report Card ( P. 3) However, working families can also count on a stronger NDP opposition in the Manitoba Legislature to stand up for their interests, as the NDP gained six seats. Four more years of As we have done for the previous 3.5 years, Manitoba’s unions will continue Brian Pallister ( P. 4) to be a strong voice on behalf of working families against the Pallister government’s cuts and privatization moves. KEVIN REBECK As Labour Day fell during the provincial election campaign, unions and labour activists joined together for a march from the Winnipeg General Strike streetcar monument to the Manitoba Fight for a Fair Canada this election ( P. 6) Legislature, as well as community events in other communities throughout the province. On the steps of the Legislature, I was proud to join with other speakers like NDP leader Wab Kinew, and NDP candidate for Winnipeg Centre Leah Gazan to stress the need for a united labour movement to stand up and fight back against Conservative governments and their plans to hurt working families. On the municipal front, the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1505 continues to stand up for its members in contract negotiations with the City of Winnipeg. AT.USW9074/DD.cope342 Cont’d on Page 2 Manitoba Federation of Labour // 303-275 Broadway, Winnipeg, MB R3C 4M6 // MFL.ca United together, cont’d 1 ATU 1505 members have been without a contract since January, and the union continues to focus on key issues for its members in negotiations, including better bus schedules, recovery time for transit drivers and mental health supports. -
Why the Changes, and Why Now?
Why the changes, and why now? The upcoming Cabinet reshufe on May 15 comes earlier in the Government’s term than normal, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said yesterday. Below are his explanations for the various movements. On Mr Heng Swee Keat relinquishing Finance: On moving Mr Chan Chun Sing from As I announced two weeks Relinquishing Finance will Trade and Industry to Education: ago, Heng Swee Keat will free him to concentrate continue as Deputy Prime more on the Chun Sing has done an excellent job Minister and Coordinating whole-of-government getting our economy back on track, and Minister for Economic economic agenda, including preparing our industries and Policies. He will also chairing the Future companies to respond to structural continue to oversee the Economy Council, and changes in the global economy. This Strategy Group within the incorporating the has been a major national priority. Now Prime Minister’s Ofce, recommendations of the I am sending him to Education, where which coordinates our Emerging Stronger he will build on the work of previous policies and plans across Taskforce into the work of education ministers, to improve our the Government, as well as the council. He will also education system to bring out the best the National Research continue to co-chair the in every child and student, and develop Foundation. As Finance Joint Council for Bilateral young Singaporeans for the future. Minister, Swee Keat has Cooperation (JCBC), Nurturing people is quite different from carried a heavy burden, together with PRC (People’s growing the economy or mobilising especially during Covid-19 Republic of China) unions. -
The Honourable Jason Kenney Premier of Alberta 307 Legislature Building Edmonton, AB, T5K 2B6
The Honourable Jason Kenney Premier of Alberta 307 Legislature Building Edmonton, AB, T5K 2B6 March 19, 2020 Dear Premier, Re: Action Needed Now in Support of Individuals with Developmental Disabilities and Their Families We very much appreciate the recent and necessary actions you and your government have taken with respect to Albertans in general and services and supports for those with specific vulnerabilities, such seniors and women and children who rely on shelters for safety. We support the Alberta Nonprofit Network (ABNN) in its reQuest to have the government offer a broader array of assistance to non-profit supports and services. In this light we want to ensure the voices of families of children and adult sons and daughters with developmental disabilities, persons with developmental disabilities themselves and those who support them, is not lost. The very vast majority of children and adults with developmental disabilities will only remain safe if they have personal supports in their lives. For as many as possible, this principally will come from families, but unsupported, families will still be at risk. And there are thousands who do not have family in their lives and require the support provided by agencies. Many individuals with developmental disabilities will not understand their degree of vulnerability, particularly as this population has a higher incidence of health challenges. They will not be able take the necessary precautions on their own and some cannot communicate readily or independently when they are not feeling well and potentially symptomatic. Yet others have parents who fall within vulnerable categories themselves and are thus limited in providing for their sons and daughters safety without risKing their own lives. -
The NDP's Approach to Constitutional Issues Has Not Been Electorally
Constitutional Confusion on the Left: The NDP’s Position in Canada’s Constitutional Debates Murray Cooke [email protected] First Draft: Please do not cite without permission. Comments welcome. Paper prepared for the Annual Meetings of the Canadian Political Science Association, June 2004, Winnipeg The federal New Democratic Party experienced a dramatic electoral decline in the 1990s from which it has not yet recovered. Along with difficulties managing provincial economies, the NDP was wounded by Canada’s constitutional debates. The NDP has historically struggled to present a distinctive social democratic approach to Canada’s constitution. Like its forerunner, the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF), the NDP has supported a liberal, (English-Canadian) nation-building approach that fits comfortably within the mainstream of Canadian political thought. At the same time, the party has prioritized economic and social polices rather than seriously addressing issues such as the deepening of democracy or the recognition of national or regional identities. Travelling without a roadmap, the constitutional debates of the 80s and 90s proved to be a veritable minefield for the NDP. Through three rounds of mega- constitutional debate (1980-82, 1987-1990, 1991-1992), the federal party leadership supported the constitutional priorities of the federal government of the day, only to be torn by disagreements from within. This paper will argue that the NDP’s division, lack of direction and confusion over constitution issues can be traced back to longstanding weaknesses in the party’s social democratic theory and strategy. First of all, the CCF- NDP embraced rather than challenged the parameters and institutions of liberal democracy. -
Report of the Joint Study Group for an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA)
Report of the Joint Study Group for an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between the Republic of Turkey and Japan Contents Chapter 1:Background......................................................................................1 Chapter 2:Overview..........................................................................................2 (1)General Aspects..............................................................................................2 (2)Current Situation and Future Perspectives of Bilateral Trade………………….6 (3)Current Situation regarding Bilateral Investment.............................................8 (4)Current Situation on Agricultural Issues...........................................................9 Chapter 3:Summary of Discussions..................................................................10 (1)Trade in Goods..............................................................................................11 (2)Rules of Origin...............................................................................................12 (3)Customs Procedures.....................................................................................13 (4)Trade in Services...........................................................................................13 (5)Investment.....................................................................................................14 (6)Electronic Commerce....................................................................................15 (7)Technical Barriers to Trade............................................................................15 -
Cuban Leadership Overview, Apr 2009
16 April 2009 OpenȱSourceȱCenter Report Cuban Leadership Overview, Apr 2009 Raul Castro has overhauled the leadership of top government bodies, especially those dealing with the economy, since he formally succeeded his brother Fidel as president of the Councils of State and Ministers on 24 February 2008. Since then, almost all of the Council of Ministers vice presidents have been replaced, and more than half of all current ministers have been appointed. The changes have been relatively low-key, but the recent ousting of two prominent figures generated a rare public acknowledgement of official misconduct. Fidel Castro retains the position of Communist Party first secretary, and the party leadership has undergone less turnover. This may change, however, as the Sixth Party Congress is scheduled to be held at the end of this year. Cuba's top military leadership also has experienced significant turnover since Raul -- the former defense minister -- became president. Names and photos of key officials are provided in the graphic below; the accompanying text gives details of the changes since February 2008 and current listings of government and party officeholders. To view an enlarged, printable version of the chart, double-click on the following icon (.pdf): This OSC product is based exclusively on the content and behavior of selected media and has not been coordinated with other US Government components. This report is based on OSC's review of official Cuban websites, including those of the Cuban Government (www.cubagob.cu), the Communist Party (www.pcc.cu), the National Assembly (www.asanac.gov.cu), and the Constitution (www.cuba.cu/gobierno/cuba.htm). -
The Honourable Jason Kenney Premier of Alberta Office of the Premier 307 Legislature Building 10800 - 97 Avenue Edmonton, Alberta T5K 2B6
The Honourable Jason Kenney Premier of Alberta Office of the Premier 307 Legislature Building 10800 - 97 Avenue Edmonton, Alberta T5K 2B6 Dear Premier Kenney, Alberta’s nonprofit and charitable sector is prepared to support the Government of Alberta in this time of crisis to ensure support for communities and individuals. We are a vital aspect of the wider support system and, in many cases, we are at the front-line of caring for this province’s most vulnerable. To ensure continued delivery of essential services in this time of need, the Alberta Nonprofit Network (ABNN)—advocating on behalf of Alberta’s nonprofit and charitable organizations— urges the Government of Alberta to ensure additional funding is available to front-line organizations and provide assurance and flexibility regarding ongoing funding agreements. We are eager to establish clear lines of communication with the Government of Alberta and continue discussions on the impacts of COVID-19 on service delivery and the expectations of the sector. We were pleased to see the province provide emergency funding of $60 million to support select COVID-19-related social services. It was a clear confirmation of the critical role civil society organizations will play in managing this pandemic. However, it is crucial to recognize that many other front-line nonprofits will see increased demand for their services, including care facilities, food banks, and mental health organizations. Beyond front-line COVID-19-related services, many more organizations are considering the short- and long-term impacts of COVID-19 on operations. Now that organizations have taken the necessary precautions to protect staff and stakeholders from the spread of the virus, their attention has turned to the impacts that social isolation measures will have on operations, staffing, service delivery, and funding, including lost casino and event revenue. -
Selecting Selinger: the 2009 Leadership Race and the Future of NDP Conventions in Manitoba∗
Selecting Selinger: The 2009 Leadership Race and the Future of NDP Conventions in Manitoba∗ Jared J. Wesley, University of Manitoba [email protected] Paper for Presentation at The Annual Meeting of the Canadian Political Science Association Concordia University, Montreal June 2010 Abstract In a delegated convention held in October, 2009, the Manitoba New Democratic Party (NDP) selected former Finance Minister Greg Selinger to replace Canada's longest-serving and most popular premier, Gary Doer. Official appeals filed by the victor’s chief rival, Steve Ashton, and persistent criticism of the process in the media raised significant concerns over the method by which the new premier was selected. These complaints proved a fleeting fixation of the media, and have not harmed the NDP’s popularity or affected the smooth transition of the premiership from Doer to Selinger. Yet, questions persist as to whether the 2009 leadership race marked the last delegated convention in the history of the Manitoba New Democratic Party. This paper examines the 2009 leadership race in the context of contests past, analyzing the list of criticisms directed at the process. Grounding its findings in the comments of delegates to the 2009 Convention, it concludes with a series of probable choices for the party, as it begins the process of considering reforms to its leadership selection process. Leading contenders for adoption include a pure one-member, one-vote system and a modified version similar to that of the federal NDP. ∗ Funding for the 2009 Manitoba NDP Convention Study was provided by the Faculty of Arts, Duff Roblin Professorship, and Department of Political Studies at the University of Manitoba, and the Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Politics and Governance. -
France and Germany: a Tandem in Trouble | the Economist
France and Germany A tandem in trouble The European Union is fretting over a widening gulf between the two partners that have always acted as its foundations May 4th 2013 | BERLIN AND PARIS | From the print edition IT HAS been at the core of the European project ever since its inception in the early 1950s. Even so the Franco-German relationship has worked largely by simultaneously disguising both German strength and French weakness. And it has had many ups and downs. Yet a combination of the euro crisis, German economic success under Chancellor Angela Merkel and French economic weakness under President François Hollande has made it more lopsided—and thus more fraught—than ever before. Consider the demonisation of Mrs Merkel across the euro zone. It is one thing for this to happen in the streets of Athens or Nicosia; quite another when it breaks out in Germany’s main partner. Yet Mr Hollande’s Socialist Party is lashing out at Germany, and specifically at Mrs Merkel. The latest row began with a draft party document, leaked to Le Monde, that used incendiary language in talking of a European project driven by Mrs Merkel’s “selfish intransigence”, called her the chancellor of austerity and said her policies were shaped exclusively by concerns for the savings of Germans, the trade balance and her electoral future. This followed a call by Claude Bartolone, the Socialist speaker of parliament, for a “confrontation” with Germany over austerity. Arnaud Montebourg, the industry minister, said it was time to “start a fight” with the EU, seen in France as code for Germany. -
The Case of the Canadian Province of Alberta's Oil Sands
Project Document A sub-national public-private strategic alliance for innovation and export development: the case of the Canadian province of Alberta’s oil sands Annette Hester Leah Lawrence Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) This background document was prepared by Annette Hester and Leah Lawrence, Consultants of the Division of International Trade and Integration, Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), within the activities of the study “Public-private alliances for innovation and export upgrading“, coordinated by Robert Devlin and Graciela Moguillansky with the financial support of SEGIB, through the project “Alianzas público-privadas para la Innovación y el Desarrollo Exportador: Casos Exitosos Extraregionales y la Experiencia Latinoamericana”. Some of their preliminary findings were formerly presented at ECLAC, in Structural Change and Productivity Growth 20 Years later: Old Problems, New Opportunities, (LC/G.2367 (SES.32/3)), Santiago de Chile, 2008, chapter VI, pages 231 to 299.. The paper benefited from the support and comments of Inés Bustillo, Clement Bowman, and Eddy Isaacs, as well as the research assistance of Timmy Stuparyk and Michael Bagan. Annette Hester and Leah Lawrence are Calgary-based economists and writers. Ms. Hester is a research fellow with the Centre for International Governance Innovation in Waterloo, Canada and a Senior Associate with the Centre for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, DC. The views expressed in this document, which has been reproduced without formal editing, are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Organization. LC/W.292 Copyright © United Nations, April 2010. All rights reserved Printed in Santiago, Chile – United Nations ECLAC – Project Documents collection A sub-national public-private strategic alliance for innovation and export… Contents Abstract…………………….............................................................................................................. -
Government of India Ministry of Commerce & Industry (Department of Commerce) Lok Sabha Starred Question No
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE) LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 214 TO BE ANSWERED ON 14TH DECEMBER, 2015 IMPORT OF WASTE MATERIAL *214. SHRI JAGDAMBIKA PAL: Will the Minister of COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (वािणय एव ं उद्योग मंत्री ) be pleased to state: a) the details of the policy/rules for import of waste, garbage and scrap material into the country; b) the total quantity and value of such material imported into the country from other countries during the last three years and the current year, country and year-wise; c) whether the imported material is recycled for local requirements and to fuel small industries and if so, the details thereof; d) whether such waste material is harmful to the people and if so, the steps taken by the Government to prevent or reduce its harmful effects; and e) whether any instance of violation in import of waste material have come to the notice of the Government and if so, the details thereof along with the action taken by the Government in this regard? ANSWER वािण य एवं उद्योग रा य मत्रीं ((ीमती िनमलार् सीतारमण) वतंत्र प्रभार ) THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (SMT. NIRMALA SITHARAMAN) a) to e): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House. ************** STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 214 FOR ANSWER ON 14TH DECEMBER, 2015 REGARDING “IMPORT OF WASTE MATERIAL ” (a) The Foreign Trade Policy (2015-20) lays down the import policy for metallic waste and scrap. -
Hon'ble Union Minister of Commerce & Industry Addresses Board Of
Hon'ble Union Minister of Commerce & Industry addresses Board of Trade Meeting {Right time now to expand India’s Export Footprint Globally; Every district to transform into an Export Hub; Leads Index 2019 released- Gujarat Tops Logistics Index; Scheme for Export Credit to be announced soon; ECGC procedures being made Exporter friendly} The Hon’ble Union Minister of Commerce & Industry and Railways, Shri Piyush Goyal and the Hon’ble Ministers of State of Commerce and Industry, Shri Hardeep Singh Puri and Shri Som Parkash have addressed the 2nd meeting of the Board of Trade in New Delhi. The Board of Trade and Council for Trade Development and Promotion have been merged into the Board of Trade and representatives of both bodies were present in the interactive meeting. Addressing the participants the Hon’ble Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, Shri Piyush Goyal said that each district of India has the equal potential to that of a country with its own distinct handicraft and unique specialties like saris, perfumes, sweets and utensils which has the potential for exports. There is a need for transforming each district of India into an export hub. He urged his colleagues from States to identify and take measures to realize this by incorporating it into its export strategy. He further said that the merger of banks will now enable them to disburse enhanced credit, raise their risk appetite and to raise resources from the market. He further added that Rs 70,000 crore will be released to PSBs upfront and additional lending and liquidity to the tune of Rs 5 lakh crore will benefit corporate, retail borrowers, MSMEs, small traders and exporters.