National Director's Update

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

National Director's Update In this Issue: Women of Steel Gather Resisting Austerity in D5 Daniel Moves On Our Working Forest Erin and Scott go to Ottawa Steel Needs Trudeau’s Help Equality & Pride Coming Amandeep Nijjar co-chairing a session Helping Syrian Refugees of the USW National Women’s Conference Taking on Telus in Vancouver. December 2015 Facing Challenges with Hope and Solidarity in Sault Ste. Marie, featuring a day the job-killing Trans-Pacific Trade All the best, of giving back to the community; Partnership (TPP), a trade deal Daniel! our Consultation Workshop for that will drive down wages for Our brother Daniel Aboriginal Steelworkers; and our vulnerable workers and threaten Roy, Director USW National Women’s Conference our country’s autonomy. of District 5, in Vancouver where we launched announced during As unionists we also stand up for our petition to end violence against human rights in times of crisis. the District 5 Annual Assembly that women. he is stepping down. An inspiring Syrian refugees are desperate. I labour and social justice activist, I look forward to our USW National urge USW locals and area councils fierce defender of workers’ rights, Policy Conference, Equality and to join with the Humanity Fund Daniel will blaze a trail wherever his Pride, next April in Montreal. Our and support sponsorship of Syrian career takes him. He will always be gatherings give us strength to face refugee families. part of our Métallos-Steelworkers our challenges. Steelworkers come together in family. Steelworkers remain strong solidarity to work for peace, workers’ The District 5 assembly was the defending our members in the rights and positive change. Our final conference in a year of steel industry against job cuts, hope and solidarity make us strong. successful conferences for our loss of crucial health benefits and In solidarity, union: USW District 3’s conference reduced pensions. We are calling in Edmonton, held before Rachel on governments to defend our jobs Notley’s majority NDP win in and our industries. Alberta; USW District 6’s conference Our union is mobilizing against Ken Neumann National Director cope-sepb 343> <sru-sdr, uswmetallos United Steelworkers Canadian National Office 800-234 Eglinton Ave. E.,Toronto, ON M4P 1K7 @SteelworkersCA Tel.: 416-487-1571 Web: usw.ca Email: [email protected] NATIONAL WOMEN’S “Violence at home doesn’t stay of Action on Violence Against CONFERENCE at home,” said Vicky Smallman, Women, the CLC will release an Director of Women’s and Human online resource for workplace Sign the USW Rights at the Canadian Labour representatives that will make Congress. The CLC released a domestic violence a union issue. petition to end study last year in which a third violence against of respondents said they had Unions Built Childcare women at experienced domestic violence. in Quebec “Only 12.5% of women said they While hopes for a national childcare www.usw.ca/evaw talked to their union,” she said, program were dashed with the adding that women can experience results of the October 19 federal stalking and harassment in the election, Quebec socio-economic workplace, which means unions researcher Eve-Lyne Couturier must respond with negotiated also warned that Quebec Premier protections. Philippe Couillard wants to privatize “We need to develop model childcare, which as a public service USW’s partner union in Mexico, Los given our family energy, hope Women Speak Out contract clauses for domestic at $7 a day has been the envy of Mineros. and support in our times of need. violence leave,” Smallman added. Canadian families outside of Quebec. You represent the truest and best Postcards and electronic messages “There is no organization anywhere Action Needed from “And there needs to be peer- meaning of love – love for a family, are calling for an immediate “Unions were the major builder of that is more united and more support, including training for love for the union, love for working Federal Government national inquiry into missing and childcare in Quebec,” Couturier said. committed to the struggle for Women of Steel are calling on the stewards on how to recognize together to make the world better, murdered indigenous women, and A special message to delegates women’s work and dignity, equality new federal government to stand signs of domestic violence so they brighter and more fair for all.” a national action plan on violence was read by USW Vice-President and social justice than the United up for the rights and safety of can provide real protection and against women. The plan should be at Large Carol Landry from Oralia Steelworkers,” said Casso de Gomez. The Steelworkers have scheduled Canadian women and girls. support.” based on a blueprint developed by Casso de Gomez, wife of Napoleon “For us, and for the men and our International Women’s Celebrating 25 years since the the Canadian Network of Women’s Smallman announced that on Gomez, the exiled president of the women of Los Mineros, you have Conference for March 7-10, 2016, in Women of Steel program began Shelters and Transition Houses. December 6, the annual Day Pittsburgh. ■ empowering union activists, nearly 300 delegates to the National Women’s Conference in Vancouver ended the three-day conference with a clear message to the new Prime Minister in Ottawa. 2 National Director’s UPDATE • December 2015 National Director’s UPDATE • December 2015 3 A Matter of Choice Quebec Steelworkers support massive movement against Liberal austerity program. Delegates to the Steelworkers District 5 Annual Quebec’s Liberal government that its priority to justify such cuts. Érik Bouchard-Boulianne, Assembly voted unequivocally to support Quebec’s should be fighting inequality, rather than economist at the Centrale des Syndicats du Common Front of public-sector unions in a exacerbating the problem with its austerity Québec labour federation, demonstrated the massive campaign against the provincial Liberal agenda. merits of progressive policies to maintain public government’s austerity program. “The Liberal government tells us that we have services and redistribute more wealth. “They are not only defending their working a spending problem, that making cuts in social Delegates passed a resolution calling for conditions, they are also defending the quality of programs is no longer just a choice,” Roy said. legislation to classify workers and pensioners as our public services. It’s our duty to support them,” “But it is possible to make other choices. We can preferred creditors in corporate bankruptcies. Daniel Roy! Steelworkers Quebec Director Daniel Roy said of the choose to stop giving tax breaks to the richest few, Leading the debate were former employees and Quebec Steelworkers Director Daniel Roy Common Front movement. stop cutting corporate taxes and stop the capital pensioners of Cliffs Natural Resources who have made a surprise announcement at the District 5 “When public-sector workers negotiate decent flight to tax havens.” lost their jobs, their benefits and life insurance and Annual Assembly in November that he will be working conditions, this also has an impact on Delegates heard from Eve-Lyne Couturier, whose pensions are at risk. stepping down from the job on Dec. 31. Daniel negotiations in the private sector and on conditions a researcher at Quebec’s Institute for Socio- Delegates also agreed to participate in the 2016 has accepted the position of Vice-President in non-unionized workplaces,” Roy said. Economic Research, who presented evidence World Social Forum, which will be held in Montreal of Membership Development at the Fonds de The 400 delegates to the District 5 assembly, held quantifying the damage caused by the neoliberal next summer, attracting 50,000 progressive solidarité FTQ, the Quebec labour federation’s Nov. 18-20 in Rivière-du-Loup, sent a message to austerity agenda and debunking the myths used activists from around the globe. ■ development capital fund. A ‘Métallo’ since he began his career as a welder with Raymond Industries in Sept-Îles 39 years ago, Daniel took over from Michel Arsenault as District 5 Director in 2007. Delegates attending the District 5 assembly took the opportunity to pay Daniel a glowing tribute. In his final address as the Steelworkers’ Quebec Director, Daniel credited his union for teaching him everything he knows. “Take care of one another! As Métallos, we are Ferry Workers’ stubborn, we argue, we lay our hearts out on the Solidarity Achieves table. But once our decision is made, we move Contract Gains forward,” he told delegates. After waging a high-profile, three-week “When those whom we deal with see before strike, engineering and navigation officers them people who are committed and firm in their of the Société des traversiers du Québec, a decisions, people who have a backbone, they provincial agency providing ferry services, can’t help but respect us.” have reached a new collective agreement. The Daniel indicated he would like to see his ferry officers made significant gains in several Assistant, Alain Croteau, succeed him as Director, areas, in particular recruitment and retention with Dominic Lemieux, the Steelworkers’ bonuses and the employer’s share of the North Shore Coordinator, as the new Director’s group insurance premium. The contract also Assistant. USW International President Leo W. ensures the ferry officers obtain the same wages, Gerard will appoint an interim director to assume retirement benefits, parental rights and other responsibilities until the next International conditions as workers represented by Quebec’s Executive Board elections are held. ■ Common Front of public-sector unions. ■ 4 National Director’s UPDATE • December 2015 National Director’s UPDATE • December 2015 5 Election 2015 – Moving Forward Together are now in a new, post- efforts during the election. We Thanks to USW members for your We Harper era with a Liberal have recruited many new USW enthusiasm and commitment.
Recommended publications
  • Dealing with Crisis
    Briefing on the New Parliament December 12, 2019 CONFIDENTIAL – FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY Regional Seat 8 6 ON largely Flip from NDP to Distribution static 33 36 Bloc Liberals pushed out 10 32 Minor changes in Battleground B.C. 16 Liberals lose the Maritimes Goodale 1 12 1 1 2 80 10 1 1 79 1 14 11 3 1 5 4 10 17 40 35 29 33 32 15 21 26 17 11 4 8 4 2015 2019 2015 2019 2015 2019 2015 2019 2015 2019 2015 2019 BC AB MB/SK ON QC AC Other 2 Seats in the House Other *As of December 5, 2019 3 Challenges & opportunities of minority government 4 Minority Parliament In a minority government, Trudeau and the Liberals face a unique set of challenges • Stable, for now • Campaign driven by consumer issues continues 5 Minority Parliament • Volatile and highly partisan • Scaled back agenda • The budget is key • Regulation instead of legislation • Advocacy more complicated • House committee wild cards • “Weaponized” Private Members’ Bills (PMBs) 6 Kitchen Table Issues and Other Priorities • Taxes • Affordability • Cost of Living • Healthcare Costs • Deficits • Climate Change • Indigenous Issues • Gender Equality 7 National Unity Prairies and the West Québéc 8 Federal Fiscal Outlook • Parliamentary Budget Officer’s most recent forecast has downgraded predicted growth for the economy • The Liberal platform costing projected adding $31.5 billion in new debt over the next four years 9 The Conservatives • Campaigned on cutting regulatory burden, review of “corporate welfare” • Mr. Scheer called a special caucus meeting on December 12 where he announced he was stepping
    [Show full text]
  • INSIDE Chairman’S Column
    Issue #2, 2018 Hostile legislation outflanks opportunity for pension increase he UK Government in March outflanked the strategy devised by Tthe All-Party Parliamentary Group on Frozen British Pensions to achieve the annulment of the Statutory Instrument legislation that freezes our pensions each spring – a plan that had the support of four political parties in Westminster including Labour, as detailed on the front page of the last issue of JUSTICE. The Government incorporated an additional clause into the Statutory Instrument, a clause to increase the allowance paid to caregivers. As there is no way to split or revoke a specific part of a Statutory Instrument, no MP could in good conscience veto the entire legislation as doing so would have denied increases (‘frozen’ pensioners) within one piece of uprating for at least the current financial to fulltime carers in Britain. undividable legislation. Just a few days ear- year. ICBP is now investigating ways to The International Consortium of British lier, Parliament had awarded upratings to block the repetition ever again of such an Pensioners plans to make a great deal of every pensioner around the world for the incongruous maneuver. noise in the UK about this Government financial year beginning April 6, 2018. We appreciate that many CABP sting – this unjustifiable tying together of It was a frustrating outcome for all members had asked friends in the UK increases in benefits for one group (carers) who worked hard to put everything to petition their local MP to support the with decreases in benefits for another group in place so we could achieve pension eagerly anticipated annulment.
    [Show full text]
  • Freeland, Champagne to Balance Canada-US Relationship
    Heard on the Hill Foreign Policy Michael Harris Politics Hill Climbers Susan Riley Sheila Copps p. 9 Senate news Energy p. 6 NDP rookie MP Matthew Rose LeMay p. 7 policy briefi ng pp. 19-27 Green making waves p. 4 Hill Times’ 30th shin dig p. 33 THIRTY-FIRST YEAR, NO. 1686 CANADA’S POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT NEWSPAPER MONDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2019 $5.00 Opinion Climate catastrophe was a problem with the climate. In fact, they have gone up 15 per So much for promises of ‘early and deep cent in the past 10 years. So much for the promises of “early and deep cuts” in emissions to avoid catastrophic heating. cuts’ to avoid castrophic climate change Governments have been making these promises since the ONDON, U.K.—What a sur- report by the United Nations is BY GWYNNE DYER emissions are still going up 30 early 1990s, and they are never Lprise! The annual emissions now out, and greenhouse gas years after we fi rst realized there Continued on page 10 News Prime minister News Foreign policy News Legislation New Foreign Affairs Minister Humbled François-Philippe Policy primer: Champagne and Trudeau new Deputy Prime Liberals Minister and changes Intergovernmental promise to Affaris Minister leadership style, Chrystia Freeland, address Impact pictured at but unclear if Rideau Hall on Assessment law Nov. 20, 2019. The Hill Times it’s an ‘actual photographs by outrage without conversion’ or Andrew Meade amendments just a ‘diff erent BY PETER MAZEREEUW role, for now’ overnment offi cials are pol- Gishing off “guidance” docu- ments that experts say could be BY ABBAS RANA used by new Environment Minis- ‘No such thing as too ter Jonathan Wilkinson to make fter dealing with numerous good on his promise to address Ahigh-profi le controversies in criticisms of his government’s his fi rst mandate, being reduced Impact Assessment Act without to a minority government in many cooks’: Freeland, changing the law.
    [Show full text]
  • Canada Gazette, Part I, Extra
    EXTRA Vol. 149, No. 7 ÉDITION SPÉCIALE Vol. 149, no 7 Canada Gazette Gazette du Canada Part I Partie I OTTAWA, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2015 OTTAWA, LE MARDI 3 NOVEMBRE 2015 CHIEF ELECTORAL OFFICER DIRECTEUR GÉNÉRAL DES ÉLECTIONS CANADA ELECTIONS ACT LOI ÉLECTORALE DU CANADA Return of Members elected at the 42nd general election Rapport de député(e)s élu(e)s à la 42e élection générale Notice is hereby given, pursuant to section 317 of the Canada Avis est par les présentes donné, conformément à l’article 317 Elections Act, that returns, in the following order, have been de la Loi électorale du Canada, que les rapports, dans l’ordre received of the election of Members to serve in the House of Com- ci-dessous, ont été reçus relativement à l’élection de député(e)s à mons of Canada for the following electoral districts: la Chambre des communes du Canada pour les circonscriptions ci-après mentionnées : Electoral Districts Members Circonscriptions Député(e)s Saint Boniface—Saint Vital Dan Vandal Saint-Boniface—Saint-Vital Dan Vandal Whitby Celina Whitby Celina Caesar-Chavannes Caesar-Chavannes Davenport Julie Dzerowicz Davenport Julie Dzerowicz Repentigny Monique Pauzé Repentigny Monique Pauzé Salaberry—Suroît Anne Minh-Thu Quach Salaberry—Suroît Anne Minh-Thu Quach Saint-Jean Jean Rioux Saint-Jean Jean Rioux Beloeil—Chambly Matthew Dubé Beloeil—Chambly Matthew Dubé Terrebonne Michel Boudrias Terrebonne Michel Boudrias Châteauguay—Lacolle Brenda Shanahan Châteauguay—Lacolle Brenda Shanahan Ajax Mark Holland Ajax Mark Holland Oshawa Colin Carrie Oshawa
    [Show full text]
  • Debates of the House of Commons
    43rd PARLIAMENT, 2nd SESSION House of Commons Debates Official Report (Hansard) Volume 150 No. 087 Friday, April 23, 2021 Speaker: The Honourable Anthony Rota CONTENTS (Table of Contents appears at back of this issue.) 6077 HOUSE OF COMMONS Friday, April 23, 2021 The House met at 10 a.m. The hon. parliamentary secretary to the government House lead‐ er. Mr. Kevin Lamoureux (Parliamentary Secretary to the Presi‐ Prayer dent of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and to the Leader of the Govern‐ ment in the House of Commons, Lib.): Madam Speaker, much like we saw the Conservatives do a lot of back-flipping on the price GOVERNMENT ORDERS on pollution, ultimately they understood what Canadians expected. ● (1000) I wonder if the member would acknowledge that the public wants to see this issue move forward. Will the Conservatives do some [English] back-flipping on this issue and ultimately recognize the safety of CRIMINAL CODE Canadians? The House resumed from February 26 consideration of the mo‐ Mrs. Shannon Stubbs: Madam Speaker, I literally just said that tion that Bill C-21, An Act to amend certain Acts and to make cer‐ residents in cities like Toronto and other places, where gangs are tain consequential amendments (firearms), be read the second time shooting up their streets, deserve action from the government to and referred to a committee. keep them safe. However, this is what the Liberals are doing. They The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Carol Hughes): The hon. are repealing minimum penalties for unauthorized possession of a member for Lakeland has three minutes left for questions and com‐ prohibited firearm, a prohibited or restricted firearm with ammuni‐ ments.
    [Show full text]
  • May 29, 2020 Table of Contents
    COUNCIL INFORMATION PACKAGE May 29, 2020 Table of Contents Item From Subject Page 1 Town of Midland Direct Payment of Federal Funds to Municipalities to Waive Property Taxes for the Year 2020 - Financial help to alleviate the 2-3 suffering from COVID-19 Pandemic 2 City of Hamilton Request to Regulate and Enforce Odour and Lighting Nuisances Related to the Cultivation of 4-5 Cannabis Plants 3 Town of Montague Federal Assistance for Municipalities 6 4 City of Kitchener Financial Support for Municipalities - Resolution 7-8 5 City of Cambridge Canada Day Celebration 9-18 6 Municipality of Mattice-Val Funding for Rehabilitation Côté Facilities 19 1 575 Dominion Avenue Midland, ON L4R 1R2 The Corporation of the Town of Midland Phone: 705-526-4275 Fax: 705-526-9971 www.midland.ca March 23, 2020 By Fax to: 613.941.6900 & Twitter @CanadianPM, @JustinTrudeau The Right Honourable Justin Trudeau Prime Minister of Canada Langevin Block, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0A2 Dear Prime Minister: Re: Direct Payment of Federal Funds to Municipalities to Waive Property Taxes for the Year 2020 - Financial help to alleviate the suffering from COVID-19 Pandemic It is trite to repeat the human and financial toll of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Similarly, the commitment of the federal, provincial and municipal governments toward alleviating the suffering of Canadians does not require repeating. We, at the Town of Midland, in the Province of Ontario, are proposing what we believe to be a simple but effective solution to facilitate the delivery of our common and shared commitment to the financial and psychological well-being of all Canadians.
    [Show full text]
  • LOBBY MONIT R the 43Rd Parliament: a Guide to Mps’ Personal and Professional Interests Divided by Portfolios
    THE LOBBY MONIT R The 43rd Parliament: a guide to MPs’ personal and professional interests divided by portfolios Canada currently has a minority Liberal government, which is composed of 157 Liberal MPs, 121 Conservative MPs, 32 Bloc Québécois MPs, 24 NDP MPs, as well as three Green MPs and one Independent MP. The following lists offer a breakdown of which MPs have backgrounds in the various portfolios on Parliament Hill. This information is based on MPs’ official party biographies and parliamentary committee experience. Compiled by Jesse Cnockaert THE LOBBY The 43rd Parliament: a guide to MPs’ personal and professional interests divided by portfolios MONIT R Agriculture Canadian Heritage Children and Youth Education Sébastien Lemire Caroline Desbiens Kristina Michaud Lenore Zann Louis Plamondon Martin Champoux Yves-François Blanchet Geoff Regan Yves Perron Marilène Gill Gary Anandasangaree Simon Marcil Justin Trudeau Claude DeBellefeuille Julie Dzerowicz Scott Simms Filomena Tassi Sean Casey Lyne Bessette Helena Jaczek Andy Fillmore Gary Anandasangaree Mona Fortier Lawrence MacAulay Darrell Samson Justin Trudeau Harjit Sajjan Wayne Easter Wayne Long Jean-Yves Duclos Mary Ng Pat Finnigan Mélanie Joly Patricia Lattanzio Shaun Chen Marie-Claude Bibeau Yasmin Ratansi Peter Schiefke Kevin Lamoureux Francis Drouin Gary Anandasangaree Mark Holland Lloyd Longfield Soraya Martinez Bardish Chagger Pablo Rodriguez Ahmed Hussen Francis Scarpaleggia Karina Gould Jagdeep Sahota Steven Guilbeault Filomena Tassi Kevin Waugh Richard Lehoux Justin Trudeau
    [Show full text]
  • Party Name Riding Province Email Phone Twitter Facebook
    Party Name Riding Province Email Phone Twitter Facebook NDP Joanne Boissonneault Banff-Airdrie Alberta https://twitter.com/AirdrieNDP Liberal Marlo Raynolds Banff–Airdrie Alberta [email protected] 587.880.3282 https://twitter.com/MarloRaynolds https://www.facebook.com/voteMarlo Conservative BLAKE RICHARDS Banff—Airdrie Alberta [email protected] 877-379-9597 https://twitter.com/BlakeRichardsMP https://www.facebook.com/blakerichards.ca Conservative KEVIN SORENSON Battle River—Crowfoot Alberta [email protected] (780) 608-6362 https://twitter.com/KevinASorenson https://www.facebook.com/sorensoncampaign2015 Conservative MARTIN SHIELDS Bow River Alberta [email protected] (403) 793-1252 https://twitter.com/MartinBowRiver https://www.facebook.com/MartininBowRiver Conservative Joan Crockatt Calgary Centre Alberta [email protected] 587-885-1728 https://twitter.com/Crockatteer https://www.facebook.com/joan.crockatt Liberal Kent Hehr Calgary Centre Alberta [email protected] 403.475.4474 https://twitter.com/KentHehr www.facebook.com/kenthehrj NDP Jillian Ratti Calgary Centre Alberta Conservative LEN WEBBER Calgary Confederation Alberta [email protected] (403) 828-1883 https://twitter.com/Webber4Confed https://www.facebook.com/lenwebberyyc Liberal Matt Grant Calgary Confederation Alberta [email protected] 403.293.5966 www.twitter.com/MattAGrant www.facebook.com/ElectMattGrant NDP Kirk Heuser Calgary Confederation Alberta https://twitter.com/KirkHeuser Conservative DEEPAK OBHRAI Calgary Forest Lawn Alberta [email protected]
    [Show full text]
  • 1 June 1, 2020 the Right Honourable Justin Trudeau, P.C., M.P. Prime Minister of Canada Government of Canada Langevin Block, Ot
    June 1, 2020 The Right Honourable Justin Trudeau, P.C., M.P. Prime Minister of Canada Government of Canada Langevin Block, Ottawa, ON K1A 0A2 The Honourable Navdeep Bains Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry House of Commons Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A6 Dear Prime Minister Trudeau and Minister Bains: On behalf of the Aerospace Industries Association of Canada, we would like to extend our appreciation to the Government of Canada, both at the political and official level, for the work being done to protect the health and safety of Canadians during the ongoing COVID-19 global pandemic. This has been an unprecedented situation with devastating consequences across our nation. Canada’s aerospace industry is vital to our country’s economy and it requires immediate attention and a long-term vision to ensure its continued international leadership. Canada has won a coveted place among aerospace nations as a result of hard work by industry members, constant innovation, and political foresight and leadership. Today, our aerospace industry is the fifth-largest in the world and ranks top three in multiple production categories: civil flight simulators, turboprop and helicopter engines, business jets and regional aircraft. The COVID-19 pandemic is severely impacting Canada’s aerospace sector and seriously jeopardizing our standing in the globally competitive aerospace market. Protecting our position, and our industry’s $25 billion annual GDP contribution, requires the same political leadership and corporate foresight of the postwar years when Canada first started to build its aerospace capabilities. The commitment we made as a nation then to be a leader is needed again today.
    [Show full text]
  • Craig M. Scott
    Last updated: September 13, 2020 CRAIG M. SCOTT Professor of Law, Osgoode Hall Law School of York University Mailing Address: Osgoode Hall Law School Ignat Kanefff Building, York University 4700 Keele Street Toronto ON M3J 1P3 Email: [email protected] Date of Birth: March 14, 1962 Nationality: Canadian First Language: English Second languages: French Spanish I. INSTITUTIONS ATTENDED AND QUALIFICATIONS OBTAINED Institutions Dates Attended Qualification Obtained Dalhousie University Sept 1987 - April 1988 LL.B. (one-year conversion of English B.A. in Jurisprudence) University of London Oct 1986 - Sept 1987 LL.M. (with Distinction) in (London School of Public International Law Economics) Oxford University Oct 1984 - June 1986 B.A. (First Class Honours) (St John's College) in Jurisprudence McGill University Sept 1981 - May 1984 B.A. (First Class Honours & 1st in Class) in Political Science Lester B. Pearson College Sept 1979 - June 1981 International Baccalaureate (I.B.) of the Pacific 2 II. PROFESSIONAL POST-GRADUATE WORK HISTORY 2020 – Director, Graduate Program in Law (Research LLM and PhD), York University (Osgoode Hall Law School), as of July 1, 2020 2017 – 2018 Acting Director, Nathanson Centre on Transnational Human Rights, Crime and Security, Osgoode Hall Law School Jan 1, 2016 - Return from political leave and resumption as Professor of Law, Osgoode Hall Law School Sept 19, 2012 - Critic for Democratic and Parliamentary Reform, Official Opposition (New Oct 19, 2016 Democratic Party), House of Commons of Canada; Member, Procedural
    [Show full text]
  • Joint Statement Calling for Sanctioning of Chinese and Hong Kong Officials and Protection for Hong Kongers at Risk of Political Persecution
    Joint statement calling for sanctioning of Chinese and Hong Kong officials and protection for Hong Kongers at risk of political persecution We, the undersigned, call upon the Government of Canada to take action in light of the mass arrests and assault on civil rights following the unilateral imposition of the new National Security Law in Hong Kong. Many in Hong Kong fear they will face the same fate as the student protestors in Tiananmen Square, defenders’ lawyers, and millions of interned Uyghurs, Tibetans, and faith groups whose rights of free expression and worship are denied. We urge the Government of Canada to offer a “Safe Harbour Program” with an expedited process to grant protection and permanent residency status to Hong Kongers at risk of political persecution under the National Security Law, including international students and expatriate workers who have been involved in protest actions in Canada. Furthermore, Canada must invoke the Sergei Magnitsky Law to sanction Chinese and Hong Kong officials who instituted the National Security Law, as well as other acts violating human rights; and to ban them and their immediate family members from Canada and freeze their Canadian assets. Canada needs to work closely with international allies with shared values to institute a strong policy toward China. It is time for Canada to take meaningful action to show leadership on the world stage. Signatories: Civil society organizations Action Free Hong Kong Montreal Canada-Hong Kong Link Canada Tibet Committee Canadian Centre for Victims of
    [Show full text]
  • March 26, 2020 Honourable Filomena Tassi Minister of Labour
    March 26, 2020 Honourable Filomena Tassi Minister of Labour Government of Canada [email protected] Honourable Jason Copping Minister of Labour and Immigration Government of Alberta [email protected] RE: JOB AND INCOME SUPPORT FOR CANADIANS DURING COVID-19 Dear Ministers: On behalf of the Alberta Federation of Labour, the largest advocacy organization for working people in Alberta, I write to urge your governments to take further steps to support Canadian workers. We applaud the recent federal announcement of The Canada Emergency Response Benefit. Changes made to streamline and simplify income supports for Canadians in need during the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrate that the Federal Government is listening to feedback and responding to the real needs of working Canadians and businesses. However, even with this improved program and application system, more needs to be done to help and protect hard-working Canadians. Specifically, we need to recognize that $2000 a month is simply not enough to cover the bills of most Canadian households. Two further options for getting more money into the pockets of Canadians, should be considered. First, we urge you to consider copying Denmark. Their program has the state providing wage-subsidies that cover 75% of employees’ salaries and the employer is contributing the remaining 25%. There are several advantages to this kind of wage subsidy program for working Canadians and businesses. First, this kind of program keeps workers connected with employers. There is no need for the relationship between workers and employers to be severed (whether temporarily or not), in order for workers to qualify for income support, as is the case with the standard benefits under the Employment Insurance program.
    [Show full text]