September 2019 Union News
It’s summertime in Canada. Sweltering hot days filled with outdoor fairs, exhibitions and warm nights spent around the campfire. The smell of grilled meat on the barbeque mixes with the clink of cold drinks coming out of the cooler. This is the best time of year in the best country on earth. As the lazy summer days start to slowly become shorter, and the evening breeze starts to take on a cooler tone, our thoughts turn towards the coming autumn and the changes that it will bring. This autumn brings with it the federal election, and the opportunity for us to exercise our free and democratic right to choose who will lead us over the coming four years. As federal public servants we are particularly impacted by the upcoming election, and the changes that it may, or may not bring. We have decided to highlight some of the policies, positions and past actions taken by the various political parties in our country, in the hope that we will all be in a better position to make an informed decision this October.
Conservative Party of Canada
Many believe, with good reason, that the actions and policies of a federal conservative government would in many ways mirror those of the provincial conservatives in Ontario. If this is the case, here are a few things that we as workers should all be aware of.
In late 2018, the provincial Conservatives passed sweeping legislation aimed at rolling back many of the changes made by the previous Liberal government. These changes included a freeze on minimum wage in the province, as well as a cut to the number of paid personal leave days for workers. The latter presenting yet another opportunity for workers in the province to choose between their mental and physical well-being and their ability to pay their bills. “It’s going to be good for employers…” mused Conservative House Leader Todd Smith at the time. While the changes were welcomed by many in the business community, the fact is, they clearly will have negative impacts on the lives of workers. At the federal level, the previous Harper government mounted one of the most sustained and vicious attacks on organized labour in the history of our country. Legislation including bills C-60, C-4, C-525 and C-377 targeted everything from workers’ rights in regards to taking job action all the way up to a union’s ability to certify. Nothing, absolutely nothing, should lead anyone to believe that a new conservative government led by Andrew Scheer would do anything differently.
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party swept to power amid great fanfare in the fall of 2015, promising a new way of doing business and sunny days ahead. While the reality has been more a mix of sun and cloud (at times more cloudy than anything else), as far as organized labour in this country is concerned there have been some positive developments.
The adoption of Bill C-4 in 2017 marked the repeal of much of the previous Harper government’s anti-union legislation, including Bills C-377 and C-525. While the much anticipated “reset” in the relations between Canada’s labour organizations and our federal government has been less than comprehensive, the tone of our interactions and the fundamentals of the relationship are markedly different than those during the Harper years. That being said, the current impasse in negotiations and the government’s inability to properly manage the Phoenix fiasco brought on by the previous government, are clear reminders that this government still has a long way to go if it plans on living up to its promise that “Organized labour has a strong partner in the Government of Canada”.
New Democratic Party of Canada
The traditional and natural ally of organized labour in this country, the New Democratic Party of Canada has, for its entire history advocated and fought for the rights of workers in this country. As the only party who has, as of today released their election platform, we are able to gain some insight into the commitments being made:
New Democrats believe that the federal government has an important role to play in making work better, fairer, and more secure for everyone. We believe that membership in a union is the best ticket into the middle class – and it leaves workers and our entire economy better off.
New Democrats will make sure that workers and employers can take action together to improve health and safety, eliminating unsafe working conditions and ensuring that whistleblowers are protected. We believe that it’s time to update the Canada Labor Code to enhance safeguards for workers and ban the use of replacement workers in labour disputes – for good.
Green Party of Canada
At the federal level, the Green Party has committed to increasing paid vacation entitlement, as well as supporting provincial policies mandating shorter working hours. Furthermore, as stated on the Green Party of Canada website:
“The Green Party understands that decades of evidence proves that a society with a strong labour movement is healthier, has less income disparity, and a stronger middle class. Greens believe in the rights of workers to organize and in the free collective bargaining process. Labour rights are human rights. We believe in pay equity for women, in the equal treatment of organized and non-organized workers, and in workers’ right to fair wages, healthy and safe working conditions, and working hours compatible with a good quality of life.”
People’s Party of Canada
Is this even a real political party?
As we head towards the upcoming federal election, we have an opportunity to shape the direction in which our government takes our country. From our international priorities and domestic policies, all the way to the laws that govern the workplaces in which we earn our living. We find ourselves in a unique position. We are tasked with electing not only our government but also our employer and our votes will fundamentally shape the relationship we have with the Canada Revenue Agency. As we consider the various factors that will ultimately decide which party’s policies and philosophy we support, it is of incredible importance that we keep in mind the profound impacts that our decision will have on our workplaces, and ultimately our lives.
Joseph de Maistre once wrote that “Every country has the government it deserves”. This October it is time for us to decide as Canadians what type of government that is.
Nate Angus-Jackman
Communications Committee