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The PWR: work&labour news&research has been publishing as a weekly newsletter since 2002 and utilized the features of Tumblr to share each edition’s content.  When the newsletter returns from the summer hiatus, it will continue to be published as a weekly newsletter only.

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[worklabournewsresearch]

Ottawa Fails on Climate Policies, Watchdog Says

Blaze Baum, K., & Walsh, M. (2022, April 26). Ottawa fails on climate policies, watchdog says. The Globe and Mail. https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/article-canada-failing-climate-policies-environment-commissioner-reports  UTL Link: https://href.li/?http://myaccess.library.utoronto.ca/login?qurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.proquest.com%2Fblogs-podcasts-websites%2Fmorning-update-ottawa-fails-on-climate-policies%2Fdocview%2F2655489919%2Fse-2%3F

Kathryn Blaze Baum and Marieke Walsh write: “Ottawa is failing to deliver on key climate policies and may be overstating the effectiveness of others, according to a series of new reports by the federal environment commissioner that cast doubt on the Liberal government’s credibility on emission-reduction plans and projections. Taken together, the five reports ... by Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development Jerry DeMarco paint a picture of a government struggling to execute on critical aspects of its climate agenda. The reports covered the following areas: transitioning workers away from fossil-fuel industries, the greening of government operations, climate-resilient infrastructure, hydrogen, and carbon pricing.”

“The commissioner’s reports come in the wake of a flurry of federal spending pledges aimed at expanding existing climate programs and creating new ones for clean hydrogen as well as carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS). ... Delivering on those goals will require steep changes: In his report released last fall, Mr. DeMarco determined that Canada had the worst emissions record in the G7 since the 2015 Paris climate deal was struck. The Paris agreement seeks to hold global warming to no more than 1.5 C above preindustrial levels. Mr. DeMarco’s five audits covered different time frames, but most looked at a period from some point in 2017 or 2018 to the fall or winter of 2021. The hydrogen report covered the period from early December, 2019, to mid-January of this year.”

“The commissioner also looked at the matter of a ‘just transition,’ which refers to the government’s promise to support those affected by a move away from fossil fuels and to minimize the economic impact of the transition to a low-carbon economy. In 2016, the Liberals announced an accelerated phase-out of traditional coal-fired electricity in Canada by 2030 – a move that primarily affects workers in Alberta and Saskatchewan, but also New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.”

Additional Information

Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development. (2022). Just Transition to a Low-Carbon Economy. Office of the Auditor General of Canada. https://www.oag-bvg.gc.ca/internet/docs/parl_cesd_202204_01_e.pdf

Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development. (2022). Greening Government Strategy. Office of the Auditor General of Canada. https://www.oag-bvg.gc.ca/internet/docs/parl_cesd_202204_02_e.pdf

Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development. (2022). Hydrogen’s Potential to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions. Office of the Auditor General of Canada. https://www.oag-bvg.gc.ca/internet/docs/parl_cesd_202204_03_e.pdf

Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development. (2022). Funding Climate-Ready Infrastructure-Infrastructure Canada. Office of the Auditor General of Canada. https://www.oag-bvg.gc.ca/internet/docs/parl_cesd_202204_04_e.pdf

Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development. (2022). Carbon Pricing-Environment and Climate Change Canada. Office of the Auditor General of Canada. https://www.oag-bvg.gc.ca/internet/docs/parl_cesd_202204_05_e.pdf

Photo source: Veeterzy. (2017). [Photograph]. Unsplash. https://unsplash.com/photos/UwBrS-qRMHo

#climate change #climate crisis #low-carbon economy #climate policies #g7 #emission reduction #sustainable development #fossil fuel #greenhouse gas emissions #just transition #transitioning workers

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Federal Government’s Inaction on Just Transition ‘Stealing Our Futures,’ Oil and Gas Worker Says

Bulowski, N. (2022, April 28). Federal government’s inaction on just transition ‘stealing our futures,’ oil and gas worker says. Toronto Star. https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2022/04/28/federal-governments-inaction-on-just-transition-stealing-our-futures-oil-and-gas-worker-says.html UTL Link: http://myaccess.library.utoronto.ca/login?qurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.proquest.com%2Fwire-feeds%2Ffederal-governments-inaction-on-just-transition%2Fdocview%2F2657436019%2Fse-2%3F

Natasha Bulowski writes: “... [A] government audit released ... found Ottawa is falling short on its commitment to support fossil fuel workers in the global shift to a low-carbon economy. If the federal government continues on its current trajectory, the audit revealed, 50 communities and more than 170,000 fossil fuel workers will be left behind in the energy transition. ... Despite Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s 2019 promise to create a Just Transition Act, the federal government has been ‘unprepared and slow off the mark,’ environment commissioner Jerry DeMarco told Canada’s National Observer ...”

“Last year, an Abacus Data poll commissioned by Iron & Earth surveyed 300 fossil fuel workers across Canada from May 24 to June 11. It found a majority of workers surveyed believe ‘Canada should pivot towards a net-zero emissions economy by 2050 to remain a competitive global economy.’ Ninety per cent of workers surveyed also believe they could transition to at least one type of net-zero technology with 12 months or less of training, according to the poll results. ‘Everybody working in oil and gas is extremely skilled … they are very knowledgeable,’ said [longtime oil and gas worker Stephen] Buhler. He wishes he could tell every oil and gas worker they are capable of working in green industries and that advocating for more green jobs will give both workers and the planet a more secure future.”

Additional Information

Abacus Data. (2021). Climate Emergency Polling & Transition to Renewable Sources with Oil & Gas Sector Workers. Iron + Earth. https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/ironandearth/pages/1702/attachments/original/1635867551/Abacus_-_Iron___Earth_poll_July_13_.pdf

The Prosperous Transition Plan. (2021). Iron + Earth.  https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/ironandearth/pages/1702/attachments/original/1635867638/PTP_Full_Report_Aug4.pdf

Mertins-Kirkwood, H., & Duncalfe, C. (2021). Roadmap to a Canadian Just Transition Act. Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. https://policyalternatives.ca/sites/default/files/uploads/publications/National%20Office/2021/04/Roadmap%20to%20a%20Canadian%20just%20transition%20act.pdf

2030 Emissions Reduction Plan. Environment and Climate Change Canada. (2022). https://www.canada.ca/content/dam/eccc/documents/pdf/climate-change/erp/Canada-2030-Emissions-Reduction-Plan-eng.pdf

Photo source: Liverani, C. (2017). [Photograph]. Unsplash. https://unsplash.com/photos/XLFu0PM5Qsg

#fossil fuel workers #green transition #iron & earth #net-zero emissions #oil and gas #oil and gas workers #green industries #net-zero technology #canada #climate change #just transition

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Opinion: Ottawa's "Just Transition" Needs to be Challenged for Encouraging Fantasy Around Oil and Gas

Exner-Pirot, H. (2022, May 17). Opinion: Ottawa's "just transition" needs to be challenged for encouraging fantasy around oil and gas. Calgary Herald. https://calgaryherald.com/opinion/columnists/opinion-ottawas-just-transition-needs-to-be-exposed-as-a-flawed-fantasy UTL Link: http://myaccess.library.utoronto.ca/login?qurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.proquest.com%2Fblogs-podcasts-websites%2Fopinion-ottawas-just-transition-needs-be%2Fdocview%2F2665521692%2Fse-2%3F

Heather Exner-Pinot writes: “A fantasy has emerged in Canada called a ‘just transition.’ In this paradigm, the transition from dirty fossil fuels to clean, renewable energy in the form of solar panels and windmills will create a prosperous, low-carbon future with a thriving green economy. Taking action now will make our economy stronger and more competitive. The catch is that workers and communities who depend on the oil and gas sector will be disadvantaged. The ‘just transition’ ensures no one is left behind, with workers given the supports to succeed in other, more sustainable, fields. So committed is the federal government to this version of reality, that it is planning to introduce legislation in its name, to codify its ‘people-centred just transition principles.’”

“Global demand for oil and gas is as high as it has ever been. ... Years of underinvestment in production, now topped with sanctions on Russia, mean that prices for LNG and refined products are at record levels. Energy experts think crude oil will soon hit $180 a barrel or higher. Even if demand does eventually match up with supply, it still makes sense for the western world to maintain some production of its own, instead of relying on OPEC and Russia.”

“It seems almost farcical to dedicate legislative effort and taxpayer dollars to training programs for unemployable oilpatch workers, or to help oil and gas regions become economically viable. Canada has never exported more crude and bitumen than it does now, buoyed by the recent completion of the Line 3 pipeline, the reversal of the Capline pipeline, and global markets taking whatever we could muster. But labour, especially experienced labour, is a constraining factor, and is hampering growth, even with wages at three times or more the Canadian average. ... The more immediate question, however, is if we will stop using hydrocarbons for fuel. Here, the pragmatist must concede that that problem with fossil fuels is not the fuel per se, but the emissions. It is going to be far cheaper and faster to invest hundreds of billions of dollars into carbon capture, than it will be to replace tens of trillions of dollars worth of fossil fuel infrastructure with brand new energy systems.”

Additional Information

Wang, S., & Lloyd, J. (2022, March). What will Canadian green jobs really look like? Macdonald-Laurier Institute. https://macdonaldlaurier.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Mar2022_Canadian_green_jobs_Wang_Lloyd_COMMENTARY_FWeb.pdf

Photo source: Korol, T. [Photograph]. Reuters. https://calgaryherald.com/opinion/columnists/opinion-ottawas-just-transition-needs-to-be-exposed-as-a-flawed-fantasy

#Capline pipeline #oil pipeline #oil industry #dirty fossil fuels #global demand #lng #energy #cude oil #fossil fuel infrastructure #just transition #climate change #Macdonald-Laurier Institute #green jobs #oilpatch workers

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Opinion: How to Win a Just Transition for All Workers

Strickland, S. (2022, April 12). How to win a just transition for all workers. The Hamilton Spectator. https://www.thespec.com/opinion/contributors/2022/04/12/how-to-win-a-just-transition-for-all-workers.html UTL Link: http://myaccess.library.utoronto.ca/login?qurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.proquest.com%2Fnewspapers%2Fhow-win-just-transition-all-workers%2Fdocview%2F2649499739%2Fse-2%3F 

Sean Strickland writes: “The emissions reduction plan (ERP) unveiled by the federal government March 29 puts Canada on the road to net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. This will be no small task. In fact, it represents a transformative adjustment for the Canadian economy that must strike a balance between combatting climate change and ensuring the continuation of good, middle-class jobs. No one gets left behind must be operative words as Canada heads toward 2050. It is encouraging that Ottawa’s introduction of the first ERP, which lays the path ahead to 2030, includes $9.1 billion in investments, including an additional funding of $400 million for zero-emission vehicle charging stations. The plan includes moving forward on the Atlantic Loop — a regional power grid that will help to transform Canada’s energy landscape and put Canadians to work.”

“In all, Ottawa has taken a big step forward. But Canada’s net-zero objectives remain a work in progress. It is clear a Team Canada approach is needed to make the ERP a long-term political — and a climate — success. ... The best way to ensure public confidence in ERP is to follow the important principle of Just Transition — preparing the workforce to fully participate in the low-carbon economy while minimizing the impacts of labour market transitions.”

“Labour markets need confidence that livelihoods and interests will be protected under the principles of Just Transition as Canada follows through on promises of clean economy infrastructure. Just Transition will mean a lengthy to-do list to follow up on the ERP’s initial success:”

“Labour market analysis to determine how employment opportunities in oil and gas will be impacted by the transition to net-zero emissions to determine and ensure how feasible it would for workers in oil and gas to transfer to a job in clean energy.”

“Investment in large-scale infrastructure projects to bridge the gap during this transformative period until new energy technologies come on stream.”

“Public and private Investment in new technology including CCUS, hydrogen and small modular reactors.”

“Our deadline for net zero is just 28 years away. The task ahead won’t be easy. But it can be done and the 600,000 skilled trades members of Canada’s Building Trades Unions are up to the task.”

Additional Information  

Building Canada’s Net-Zero Future: A Just Transition for Energy Workers. (2022). Canada’s Building and Trade Union. https://buildingtrades.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/030922-Just-Transition-Brief-EN_Finalized.pdf

Enviroeconomics & Navius Research. (2022). Assessing Net-Zero Electricity Supply and Demand Models in the Atlantic Loop. Ecology Action Centre. https://ecologyaction.ca/sites/default/files/images-documents/Assessing%20Net%20Zero%20Electricity%20Supply%20and%20Demand%20Models%20in%20the%20Atlantic%20Loop%20-%20Final%20report%20-%20May%202022.pdf

Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act. Government of Canada. https://www.canada.ca/en/services/environment/weather/climatechange/climate-plan/net-zero-emissions-2050/canadian-net-zero-emissions-accountability-act.html

Photo source: [Photograph]. Torstar File. https://www.thespec.com/opinion/contributors/2022/04/12/how-to-win-a-just-transition-for-all-workers.html

#energy workers #emissions reduction plan #canadian economy #tradespeople #atlantic loop #green technology #just transition #labour market #net-zero emissions #infrastructure #Canad's Building Trades Unions

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Fossil-Fuel Industry Workers Say Green Economy Could Leave Them in Dust

Maldonado, S. (2022, May 5). Fossil-fuel industry workers say green economy could leave them in dust. The City. https://www.thecity.nyc/2022/5/5/23059331/fossil-fuel-industry-workers-green-economy-jobs 

Samantha Maldonado writes: “As New York looks to build a green economy and meet its climate mandates, excitement is building over promised new jobs, countered by real concerns over careers being cut short. ... The transition to ‘decarbonize’ New York’s economy to implement its climate law is expected to result in hundreds of thousands of new clean energy jobs, outpacing those that will be lost by a margin of 10 to 1, according to estimates by a state climate panel last year. New York policymakers face the overlapping questions raised by those who see the clean energy transition as a way to bring younger and historically marginalized people into the green economy, as well as those who want more support for workers in industries with jobs at risk. ‘The question here is, how do we ensure that those same workers who will be transitioning off those sites and those jobs will have benefits and protections for themselves and their families?’ said Maritza Silva-Farrell, executive director of the organization ALIGN, a union-funded group promoting green jobs.”

“The state’s climate law mandates a carbon-neutral economy by 2050, a goal to be achieved largely by moving away from burning fossil fuels and towards increased electrification powered by renewable and clean energy sources. ... One possible pathway for the state to achieve its mandates includes using those fuels, and another does not — it instead includes quicker electrification and wider use of renewable resources.”

“No matter which pathway state policymakers decide to adopt, more than 211,000 green jobs could be created by 2030, with solar, offshore wind, building electrification and manufacturing expected to be the top-growing sectors as a result of the energy transition, according to a 2021 Jobs Study by the state’s Just Transition Working Group. ... The Just Transition study has floated recommendations put forth by the Sustainable Development Solutions Network’s 2020 Zero Carbon Action Plan, which mapped out ways displaced workers in fossil fuel-based industries could be helped. That plan included pension guarantees, re-employment and three years of compensation equal to their pay in previous jobs, as well as two years of retraining and up to $75,000 for possible relocation. ... For its part, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority has committed $120 million for workforce development and training programs that will reach 40,000 New Yorkers. The authority also applied for a $25 million federal grant to support training both new and displaced workers for clean energy jobs. It also supports job programs for new workers and those transitioning into clean energy work.”

Additional Information

Just Transition Working Group: 2021 Jobs Study. New York State of Opportunity. (2021). https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/21830507-jtwg-jobs-report

The Zero Carbon Consortium. (2020). America’s Zero Carbon Action Plan.  Sustainable Development Solutions Network. https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/6f2c9f57/files/uploaded/zero-carbon-action-plan%20%281%29.pdf

Skinner, L., et. al. (2022). Climate for Change: A Climate Jobs Roadmap for New York City. Labor Leading on Climate, Worker Institute at Cornell University, ILR School. https://ecommons.cornell.edu/bitstream/handle/1813/111277/Climate_for_Change_NYC_Full_Report_VD.pdf

Maldonado, S. (2022, March 9). NYC looks to environmentally friendly jobs in a cloudy economic climate. The City. https://www.thecity.nyc/2022/3/9/22969901/nyc-looks-to-environmentally-friendly-jobs-in-a-cloudy-economic-climate  

Photo source: Fractenberg, B. (2022). [Photograph]. The City. https://www.thecity.nyc/2022/5/5/23059331/fossil-fuel-industry-workers-green-economy-jobs

#Environment #green jobs #industry workers #decarbonize #climate law #clean energy sources #just transition #sustainable development #displaced workers #clean energy jobs #nyc

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Why the EU’s Patchy ‘Just Transition’ Framework is Not Up to Meeting its Climate Ambitions

Akgüç, M., Arabadjieva, K., & Galgóczi. B. (2022). Why the EU’s patchy ‘just transition’ framework is not up to meeting its climate ambitions. The European Trade Union Institute. https://www.etui.org/publications/why-eus-patchy-just-transition-framework-not-meeting-its-climate-ambitions

Mehtap Akgüç, et. al. write:  “The Fit for 55 climate policy package launched by the European Commission in 2021 removed fears that the European Green Deal would be just a declaration of ambitious objectives, not followed by concrete action. Concrete action is clearly visible now and – apart from some uncertainties in implementation – it seems that the Commission is taking the climate emergency seriously. ... Climate change, as well as mitigation and adaptation measures, will create winners and losers, exacerbating social inequalities. Recognising this, the announcement of the European Green Deal in 2019 included pledges to ‘leave no one behind’. ... The Commission has also proposed a non-binding Council Recommendation on ensuring a fair transition towards climate neutrality to provide guidance to Member States on how to tackle the social and employment effects of the transition.”

“Climate policies will have a major effect on the world of work. Millions of new jobs are expected to be created in the transition to a net-zero carbon economy, but a large number of jobs will also disappear. ... The energy and automotive sectors will be the ones most affected by the decarbonisation drive from climate and environmental regulations at EU and national levels. ... Training, reskilling and upskilling should be made available to the wider workforce and in a flexible format to the widest extent possible (for example, online or with flexible hours) to ensure that nobody is left behind.”

“The European Green Deal recognises that just transition policies should be an integral element of a transformation strategy that leads us from a fossil fuel-based resource-depleting linear economic model to a sustainable zero-carbon circular economy. ... Russia’s assault on Ukraine has brutally exposed Europe’s fossil energy dependence, reinforcing the case for speeding up the energy transformation. But soaring energy prices are putting enormous pressure on poorer households locked into fossil energy traps, and the resulting social crisis threatens to derail the green transition. A large part of the workforce is in fear of change, a concern that is justified in a labour market environment characterised by increasing precariousness.”

Additional Information

Akgüç, M., Arabadjieva, K., & Galgóczi. B. (2022). ETUI Policy Brief. The European Trade Union Institute. https://www.etui.org/sites/default/files/2022-04/Why%20the%20EU%E2%80%99s%20patchy%20%E2%80%98just%20transition%E2%80%99%20framework%20is%20not%20up%20to%20meeting%20its%20climate%20ambitions-2022.pdf

The Just Transition Mechanism: making sure no one is left behind. European Commission. https://ec.europa.eu/info/strategy/priorities-2019-2024/european-green-deal/finance-and-green-deal/just-transition-mechanism_en

European Green Deal. European Council. https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/policies/green-deal/

Fit for 55. European Council. https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/policies/green-deal/fit-for-55-the-eu-plan-for-a-green-transition/

Photo source: Baumeister, M. (2021). [Photograph]. Unsplash. https://unsplash.com/photos/u29d3Qwbz58

#climate policy #european green deal #European Union #fit for 55 #energy sector #automative sector #transition policies #social crisis #etui

[worklabournewsresearch]

A Just Transition Manifesto to Save the Green Deal

industriAll Europe. (2022, May 18). A just transition manifesto to save the Green Deal. https://news.industriall-europe.eu/Article/747

industriAll Europe writes: “Today, industriAll Europe, representing workers across Europe’s manufacturing, energy and mining industries, is publishing its Just Transition Manifesto. … We are launching our manifesto in volatile times. The energy price and cost of living crises are intensifying the socio-economic inequalities exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Supply shortages are adding further pressure, potentially threatening industries and decarbonisation efforts alike, and raising questions about security of energy and raw materials supplies and independence from imports. Another key shortage we face is skilled workers. … We know from bitter experience that the accumulated impact on purchasing power we are now seeing creates simmering social pressure, which can quickly and unexpectedly boil over, causing long-term damage to Europe and our societies. … Our conclusion is clear: The lack of a sufficiently strong social strategy is the Achilles heel of the Green Deal.”

“Our Just Transition Manifesto comprises five key pillars. Altogether, they make up the much-needed Just Transition framework:

An industrial policy fit for ambitious climate goals and good quality jobs. ...

Funding the transition today to avoid the cost of inaction tomorrow. ...

Stronger collective bargaining and social dialogue. ...

A toolbox of workers’ rights to anticipate and shape the change. ...

Tackling new skills needs and a right to quality training and life-long learning for every worker. ..."

“There is no silver policy bullet. But our research and discussions have shown that well-functioning industrial relations systems and strong welfare states provide the confidence needed for workers to see the transition as an opportunity. Hard rights are needed, not just soft coordination. The EU must embrace the social dimension of the Green Deal. Not as an optional extra, but as a reinforced and proactive foundation for the decarbonisation of our industries. And with workers at its core, who are actors in co-designing their future, not recipients of policy or corporate decisions.”

Additional Information

industriAll Europe. (2022). Nothing About Us Without Us: Setting the scene for our Just Transition Manifesto. https://news.industriall-europe.eu/documents/upload/2022/5/637878838600044339_T%20manifesto%20long%20EN.pdf

Just Transition. industriAll Europe. https://justtransition.industriall-europe.eu/

Photo Source: (2022). [Photograph]. industriAll Europe. https://news.industriall-europe.eu/Article/747 

#Green Deal #just transition #industriAll Europe #industry #climate change #Just Transition Manifesto

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Canada Faces Huge Physical Costs from Climate Change, Making Net Zero a Great Investment

Willcott, N. & Cleary, S. (2022, May 17). Canada faces huge physical costs from climate change, making net zero a great investment. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/canada-faces-huge-physical-costs-from-climate-change-making-net-zero-a-great-investment-182847

Neal Willcott and Sean Cleary write: “There has been a lot of discussion in Canada lately about the financial costs of achieving the country’s climate targets. And rightly so. The situation is urgent and we need to act now. Fighting climate change will require a concerted effort, affecting all sectors of the economy. And while there will be great economic opportunity and lots of new jobs in the green economy, there will be considerable disruptions in the workforce, major economic challenges and significant capital investment required.”

“In a new study we recently published with the Institute for Sustainable Finance, we posit that economic value is sacrificed every day that action is not taken to mitigate the economic and ecological risks posed by climate change. Existing economic models agree that losses are unavoidable without change and investment. But questions remained regarding how much value will be lost and how quickly.”

“Our study found that the costs of climate change damage are expected to grow gradually until 2050, around which time there is a sharp increase under all scenarios. By 2070 there is an exponential increase in damages. These dates correspond to two of the significant target dates for achieving net zero noted by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in its reports. … We have much to lose. And it should now be clear that tackling climate change more than pays for itself in terms of avoided physical damage alone.”

Additional Information

Cleary, S., & Hui, S. (2022). An Update on Canadian Corporate Performance on GHG Emissions Disclosures and Target Setting. Institute for Sustainable Finance. https://smith.queensu.ca/centres/isf/pdfs/tsx-emitters-report-2022.pdf

Skea, J. et al. (2022). Climate Change 2022: Mitigation of Climate Change. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. https://report.ipcc.ch/ar6wg3/pdf/IPCC_AR6_WGIII_FinalDraft_FullReport.pdf

Creutzig, F., Roy, J., et al. (2022). Chapter 5: Demand, Services and Social Aspects of Mitigation. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. https://report.ipcc.ch/ar6wg3/pdf/IPCC_AR6_WGIII_FinalDraft_Chapter05.pdf

Photo Source: Gunn, F. (2022). [Photograph]. The Canadian Press. https://theconversation.com/canada-faces-huge-physical-costs-from-climate-change-making-net-zero-a-great-investment-182847

#climate change #sustainable finance #ecological risks #economic risks #costs of climate change #Canadian economy #Institute for Sustainable Finance #IPCC

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The Sustainability Job Market is Booming. What does that Mean for Hiring?

Tirodkar, P. (2022, May 2). The sustainability job market is booming. What does that mean for hiring? GreenBiz. https://www.greenbiz.com/article/sustainability-job-market-booming-what-does-mean-hiring

Prerana Tirodkar writes: “‘The sustainability job market is booming. There has never been a better time to pursue a career in sustainability,’ said Katie Kross, a sustainability educator at Duke University's Fuqua School of Business who has been observing the market for almost two decades.”

“Some trends are starting to coalesce. GreenBiz’s most recent benchmarking study, the State of the Profession 2022, analyzed trends in the American sustainability job market. According to the report, the average total compensation for sustainability managers is $146,900, $227,158 for directors and for vice presidents, an impressive $404,972. These salaries reflect an economic upheaval and the historic business transition the private sector is going through as we move toward a greener economic system.”

“This evolution is already occurring with corporate sustainability teams shifting from hiring broad generalist roles to specialists. ... Alison Taylor, a senior advisor to Business for Social Responsibility (BSR) and executive director at Ethical Systems, a research collaboration on ethical culture housed at New York University's (NYU) Stern School of Business, has a warning for those looking to pursue a career in sustainability in this time of unprecedented growth in the sector. ‘Everybody who wants to work in sustainability should be cautious about a job that’s called a 'sustainability' job,’ she said. ‘We lack clarity on what skills qualify as sustainable. It can mean different things in different sectors, industries and geographies. ...’”

Additional Information

Linkedin Economic Graph. (2022). Global Green Skills Report 2022. https://economicgraph.linkedin.com/content/dam/me/economicgraph/en-us/global-green-skills-report/global-green-skills-report-pdf/li-green-economy-report-2022.pdf 

Davies, J. (2022). State of the Profession 2022. GreenBiz Group. https://info.greenbiz.com/rs/211-NJY-165/images/State%20of%20the%20Profession%202022%20Report.pdf

Photo Source: nmedia. (2022). [Illustration]. Shutterstock. https://www.greenbiz.com/article/sustainability-job-market-booming-what-does-mean-hiring

#job market #sustainability #corporate sustainability #green jobs #sustainability job market #compensation #sustainability workers

[worklabournewsresearch]

Apprenticeships for Greener Economies and Societies

European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training. (2022). Apprenticeships for greener economies and societies. Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. https://www.cedefop.europa.eu/en/publications/3091

The European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training writes: “Apprenticeships can help by providing opportunities to young people, as well as adults, to develop appropriate skills; at the same time, apprenticeships will also need to undergo changes in response to the green transition. Cedefop and the OECD decided to explore this two-way relationship.”

“This publication draws from practices and research and provides insights into how apprenticeships can promote and react to a green economy and society, from small-scale modular curriculum adaptation, to more encompassing sectoral or regional approaches. In this way, apprenticeships demonstrate transformative potential for economies and societies, responding to the opportunities and challenges that may support a green recovery that leaves no one behind.”

Additional Information

Cedefop and OECD. (2022). Apprenticeships for greener economies and societies. Publications Office of the European Union. https://www.cedefop.europa.eu/files/3091_en_0.pdf

Photo Source: (2022). [Illustration]. Apprenticeships for greener economies and societies. https://www.cedefop.europa.eu/en/publications/3091 

#apprenticeships #job training #green jobs #green transition #green recovery #oecd #cedefop

[worklabournewsresearch]

Why Net Zero without a ‘Just Transition’ is Not an Option

Winters, B. (2022, May 18). Why net zero without a ‘just transition’ is not an option. World Economic Forum.  https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2022/05/why-net-zero-without-a-just-transition-is-not-an-option/ 

Bill Winters writes: “While developed markets are likely to have the finances to reach their long-term climate goals, in emerging markets the funding gap remains wide. … To transition fairly, developed markets must help emerging markets find the financing they need – and it is here that private investors can have a huge impact.”

“The big question is how we find the money to transition to net zero? Governments are looking at ways to introduce more renewable energy sources, create cleaner transport networks and make buildings more energy efficient. … While developed markets are likely to have the finances to reach their long-term climate goals, in emerging markets the funding gap remains wide. According to our latest report, ‘Just in Time’, emerging markets require almost $95 trillion to transition.”

“To unlock the necessary private investment, there needs to be greater collaboration between the government and the private sector. The public sector will need to use its own funds to encourage private investment. Blended finance, for example, can crowd in private sector investment by reducing the risk, as public money is used to subsidise the cost of capital or mitigate possible losses. … In short, the funding needed is significant and reaching net zero will be no mean feat. However, despite the mountain we have the climb, we must remain optimistic in our ability to deliver a just transition.”

Additional Information

Jurgens, J., Birol, F., Kerry, J. F., Timmermans, F., & MacGregor, C. (2022, May 24). Speeding up on the road to net-zero. World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2022. https://www.weforum.org/events/world-economic-forum-annual-meeting-2022/sessions/speeding-up-on-the-road-to-net-zero

Just in Time: Financing a Just Transition to Net Zero. (2022) Standard Chartered. https://assets.turtl.co/pdfs/tenant=standardcharteredbank/just-in-time.pdf

Photo Source: (2022). [Photograph]. Shutterstock. https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2022/05/why-net-zero-without-a-just-transition-is-not-an-option/

#climate change #climate goals #developed markets #just transition #net zero

[worklabournewsresearch]

6 Big Questions for a Global Recovery in 2022 and Beyond

United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. (2022). 6 Big Questions for a Global Recovery in 2022 and Beyond. https://www.un.org/en/desa/6-big-questions-global-recovery-2022-and-beyond

The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs writes: “In a world challenged by intertwined crises, the UN High-level Advisory Board on Economic and Social Affairs (HLAB) is stepping up to offer advice on how the world can recover and make progress towards sustainable development.”

“Can we still save the planet? The world is not on track to meet the objectives of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. The public sector has a role and responsibility in changing this trajectory, while ensuring a just and inclusive transition that does not cause major disruption or dislocation. We need to bolster further leadership by developing countries and ensure that the narrative in support of climate action is adapted to local contexts to also address specific concerns, such as the loss of biodiversity, deforestation, and depletion of local resources, which have a real impact on communities in the developing world.”

“What are the implications of population ageing for the future? Population ageing is occurring in almost all countries of the world, albeit at different levels and with different speeds. In many developing countries, the population is still relatively young but is ageing faster than developed countries did. While population ageing is a sign of reductions in mortality and fertility associated with socioeconomic development, it also leads to fiscal pressures that will affect public pension systems and other social protection measures. We will need to pay more attention to the role of care economy, as well as the interlinkages between population growth, ageing and migration.”

“Lastly, we need to ask ourselves the most fundamental questions of our time: ‘How can the world be better prepared for future crises?’ and ‘How can the world make the move away from short-termism towards long-term thinking in building future-oriented policies and cooperation mechanisms?’”

Additional Information

United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. (2022). Six Big Questions for the Global Economic Recovery. https://www.un.org/sites/un2.un.org/files/hlab-ii_qa_compendium_final.pdf

Photo Source: (2022). [Photograph]. UN DESA. https://www.un.org/en/desa/6-big-questions-global-recovery-2022-and-beyond 

#United Nationals #sustainability #sustainable development #long-term thinking #climate change #just transition #care economy

[worklabournewsresearch]

Tech Industry Warns that More Remote-Work Jobs are Headed Out of U.S.

Bykowicz, J. (2022, May 10). Tech Industry Warns That More Remote-Work Jobs Are Headed Out of U.S. The Wall Street Journal. https://www.wsj.com/articles/tech-industry-warns-that-more-remote-work-jobs-are-headed-out-of-u-s-11652175000 UTL Link: http://myaccess.library.utoronto.ca/login?qurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.proquest.com%2Fnewspapers%2Ftech-industry-warns-that-more-remote-work-jobs%2Fdocview%2F2661405216%2Fse-2%3F

Julie Bykowicz writes: “Tech-industry representatives are coming to Capitol Hill this week to warn that the remote-work trend will lead to more offshoring of software developer and other technology jobs unless the U.S. admits more high-skilled immigrants. Remote jobs in tech jumped by more than 420% between January 2020 and last month, growth that was intensified by the pandemic, according to a jobs data review by Tecna, a trade group for regional tech councils. In February, more than 22% of all tech jobs were listed as remote, compared with 4.4% in January 2020.”

“Many in the tech industry say they are desperate to fill open positions and argue that turning away foreign talent because there aren't enough visas jeopardizes the country's position as a leader in technology and innovation. ‘There is tremendous frustration, which I share, among tech companies that have been asking us to improve the system for more years than I can count, and nothing has been able to move,’ said Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D., Calif.), chairwoman of the House Immigration and Citizenship Subcommittee, whose district includes Silicon Valley. ‘Ultimately, this could hurt the U.S. economy. There's no rule that Silicon Valley is always going to have the tech crown.’”

“In contrast, Canada, which has been courting tech workers for years, has no cap on visas for immigrating tech workers and entrepreneurs, making it an attractive destination for Indian, Chinese and Eastern European computer coders and software engineers who have had a hard time obtaining U.S. visas. Toronto added more than 81,000 tech jobs since 2016, more than any other city in North America, according to a report published last year by CBRE Group, a U.S. commercial real estate services and investment firm.”

“The skilled-immigration debate has been overshadowed in recent years by border policy and other immigration issues. In congressional hearings, Republican lawmakers have focused on immigration at the border with Mexico as the priority and have said companies should focus on training U.S. workers instead of relying on immigrants … The pandemic has accelerated a trend of U.S. technology companies looking for easier ways to hire the software engineers and developers they need—and becoming far more open to remote work to get talent on board.”

Additional Information

Janin, A. (2022, Feb 20). Thanks to Remote Work, Many in Gen Z May Never Work in an Office. Will It Matter? The Wall Street Journal. https://www.wsj.com/articles/remote-lets-generation-z-work-without-any-office-will-matter-11645220523 UTL Link:   http://myaccess.library.utoronto.ca/login?qurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.proquest.com%2Fnewspapers%2Fthanks-remote-work-many-gen-z-may-never-office%2Fdocview%2F2630583888%2Fse-2%3F. 

CBRE Research. (2021). 2021 Scoring Tech Talent: Tech Talent Job Growth Shows Economic Importance During Pandemic. Commercial Real Estate Services. https://www.cbre.ca/en/insights/reports/scoring-tech-talent-in-north-america-2021

TECNA. (2022).National Workforce Study: Migration of Tech Workers and Jobs Since The Pandemic: Executive Summary. Technology Councils of North America.https://tecnatechnologycouncilsofnorthamericaca.growthzoneapp.com/ap/CloudFile/Download/rAnR6bwp

Photo Source: Katsarvo Luna, C. (2022). [Photograph]. Bloomberg News, https://www.wsj.com/articles/tech-industry-warns-that-more-remote-work-jobs-are-headed-out-of-u-s-11652175000.

#immigration #remote work #workers #foreign labour #worker shortage #tech industry #technology #offshoring #cbre #tecna #skilled-immigration #tech jobs shift

[worklabournewsresearch]

Opinion: A Basic Income would be an Unfair, Complicated and Costly way to Eliminate Poverty

Bellemare, D. (2022, Apr 27). A Basic Income would be an Unfair, Complicated and Costly way to Eliminate Poverty. The Globe and Mail. https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/article-a-basic-income-would-be-an-unfair-complicated-and-costly-way-to/ UTL Link: http://myaccess.library.utoronto.ca/login?qurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.proquest.com%2Fnewspapers%2Fbasic-income-would-be-unfair-complicated-costly%2Fdocview%2F2655967190%2Fse-2%3F

Diane Bellemare writes: “There is much to say about Bill S-233 tabled in the Senate. The bill – which proposes to oblige the federal Minister of Finance to develop a national framework to implement an unconditional guaranteed basic income program (GBI), unconditionally guaranteeing sufficient income (equivalent to or near the low-income threshold) for all Canadian citizens over age 17, as well as Canadian residents, refugees and temporary workers – strives to eliminate poverty and establish social equity. These are laudable goals. There is also no doubt about the positive effects of a stable basic income on an individual’s physical and mental health, as ample research has demonstrated.”

“But a GBI is not the only way to achieve these noble ends. In fact, a GBI would be among the most constitutionally complex and prohibitively expensive ways to tackle poverty and inequity. Its blanket approach also lacks fairness, and lacks the credibility that comes with all-important public buy-in. However, the arguments against a GBI should not be confused for calls to accept the status quo: Issues of poverty, chronic unemployment or underemployment, training and education deficits, among other social problems, should instead be addressed through targeted social programs delivered through all levels of government working together.”

“A basic equal income for all is not necessarily fair because it does not guarantee equal opportunities. Individuals and families have different needs that the actual social system acknowledges. … And then there are the real constitutional issues that Bill S-233 raises. The abolition of federal transfers for social programs that would be necessary to afford a GBI would require negotiations with the provinces and territories, which would not easily abandon their responsibility for social assistance to the federal government.”

Additional Information:

National Framework for a Guaranteed Livable Basic Income Act S-233 (44-1). Parliament of Canada. https://www.parl.ca/legisinfo/en/bill/44-1/s-233 

Ammar, N., Busby, C., & Ahmed, S. M. (2021). Distributional and Fiscal Analysis of a National Guaranteed Basic Income. Office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer. https://distribution-a617274656661637473.pbo-dpb.ca/71f12c2a896208681dcd59ff69f19e1a6c024d00a60c2e2c195f56293f8fff1c

Ontario Basic Income Pilot. Government of Ontario. https://www.ontario.ca/page/ontario-basic-income-pilot 

Pasma, C., & Regeher, S. (2019). Basic Income: Some Policy Options for Canada. Basic Income Canada Network. https://basicincomecanada.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Basic_Income-_Some_Policy_Options_for_Canada.pdf

A Guaranteed Basic Income could End Poverty, so Why isn’t it Happening?

Zhao, J. & Whitehead, L. (2022, May 12). A guaranteed basic income could end poverty, so why isn’t it happening? The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/a-guaranteed-basic-income-could-end-poverty-so-why-isnt-it-happening-182638 

Jiaying Zhao and Lorne Whitehead write: “Basic income can be fair to all Canadians, accommodating people with different needs. A system that includes basic income does not necessarily entail clawing back existing benefits and services. Importantly, a gradually phased-in, carefully designed basic income program can be monitored and adjusted over time, to ensure that diverse individual needs are always addressed. … With careful planning, a basic income system could be designed to be simple, adaptable, reliable and fair. In other words, it could be a type of synergistic solution that involves an optimal mix of different policy programs that yield greater efficacy. For example, a basic income program could be combined with a wage subsidy program.”

“Recent cost-benefit analyses have demonstrated that carefully designed cash-based interventions can be cost effective and generate net savings for society. Recipients rely less on social services over time, meaning governments pay less to fund these programs. … We caution against overly simplistic cost estimates and call for a more careful, thorough calculation of the true costs and benefits associated with of basic income programs. In fact, Canada can adopt a basic income program without increasing its fiscal debt.”

“Basic income should form part of a practical comprehensive plan for eliminating poverty in Canada. Indeed, there is emerging political will to push for a national strategy for a guaranteed basic income. … This is essential, because poverty is an unnecessary, cruel abomination. Think of it this way: most Canadians probably have a close friend or family member who is impacted by poverty, since one in 15 Canadians still live in poverty.”

Additional Information:

Bernstein, J. (2021, September 19). What is basic income and which of Canada's main parties support it? CBC News. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada-how-basic-income-works-1.6179760 

Angus Reid Institute. (2020, June 18). As COVID-19 rewrites playbook on social safety net, majorities support idea of basic income of up to 30K. https://angusreid.org/universal-basic-income-covid19/

Hasdell, R., Bidadanure, J., & Berger Gonzalez, S. (2021). Healthy Communities and Universal Basic Income: A conceptual framework and evidence review. Stanford Basic Income Lab. https://basicincome.stanford.edu/uploads/healthy-communities_ubi-paper_final.pdf

Dimensions of Poverty Hub. Statistics Canada. https://www.statcan.gc.ca/en/topics-start/poverty

Bossuroy, T., Goldstein, M., Karimou, B., et al. (2022). Tackling psychosocial and capital constraints to alleviate poverty. Nature 605, 291–297  https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-022-04647-8 Open Access

Hamilton, L. & Mulvale, J. P. (2019). “Human Again”: The (Unrealized) Promise of Basic Income in Ontario. Journal of Poverty, 23(7), 576–599. https://doi.org/10.1080/10875549.2019.1616242 UTL Link: https://journals-scholarsportal-info.myaccess.library.utoronto.ca/details/10875549/v23i0007/576_atpobiio.xml 

Photo Source: Plume, R. [Photograph]. The Canadian Press. https://theconversation.com/a-guaranteed-basic-income-could-end-poverty-so-why-isnt-it-happening-182638

#universal basic income #UBI #social policies #poverty #basic income #guaranteed basic income program #gbi #Bill S-233 #eliminate poverty #Basic Income Canada Network #labour market participation #Parliamentary Budget Office of Canada #Bill C-273

[worklabournewsresearch]

After Two Years of Lockdowns and Layoffs, Teenagers Return to Summer Jobs

McGinn, D. (2022, May 14). After two years of lockdowns and layoffs, teenagers return to summer jobs. The Globe and Mail. https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-after-two-years-of-lockdowns-and-layoffs-teenagers-return-to-summer/ UTL Link: http://myaccess.library.utoronto.ca/login?qurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.proquest.com%2Fblogs-podcasts-websites%2Fafter-two-years-lockdowns-layoffs-teenagers%2Fdocview%2F2663987967%2Fse-2%3F

Dave McGinn writes: “The teen labour participation rate in Canada has never been particularly high. It peaked at just more than 59 per cent in 1989. It currently stands at around 51 per cent, according to the most recent data from Statistics Canada. That’s up from 43.9 per cent in 2020 and 45.8 per cent last year. All of which is to say that just about any teenager who wants a job this summer could easily get one – especially in the industries most desperately in need of them, including hospitality, retail and camps. But this is a job seeker’s market, and teens are more discerning than ever, employers and youth employment agencies say.”

“Camp counsellor may have once been a classic teen summer job, but it seems to have lost some of its lustre. ‘Everyone is struggling to find staff, both day camps and overnight camps,’ says Shauna Joyce, president of the Canadian Camping Association, adding that many overnight camps across the country are increasingly relying on international staffing agencies to fill their ranks. Some domestic applicants make themselves available only on certain weeks, perhaps because they have summer school or simply want to hang out with their friends, Ms. Joyce says. In the past, camps would find someone else, but now they have to adjust. ‘There are more opportunities now,’ she says. We have to be a little more flexible.’ … Some employers might gripe that teens just don’t want to work, but that’s not true, Ms. Joyce says. They are simply more savvy than people give them credit for.”

Additional Information:

Hlasny, & AlAzzawi, S. (2022). Last in After COVID-19: Employment Prospects of Youths during a Pandemic Recovery. The Forum for Social Economics, 51(2), 235–244. https://doi.org/10.1080/07360932.2022.2052738 UTL Link: https://resolver-scholarsportal-info.myaccess.library.utoronto.ca/resolve/07360932/v51i0002/235_liacepoydapr.xml

COVID was Harmful for Youth Employment

Elmi, M. & Deller, F. (2022, April 8). COVID was harmful for youth employment. Policy Options. https://policyoptions.irpp.org/magazines/april-2022/youth-employment-training/ 

Mohamed Elmi and Fiona Deller write: “Canada has one of the highest rates of social mobility in the world. Thanks in part to our strong public education system and post-secondary institutions, young Canadians have more opportunities to advance in the workplace than youth in many other countries. Extensive research shows how the decks are stacked against Black and Indigenous youth at multiple levels. Socio-economic factors, family context, experiences of trauma and systemic discrimination, which are baked into educational institutions and processes, and the continued lack of necessary social, academic and professional supports, are some of the ways that bias creates barriers.”

“A recent survey by the Environics Institute, the Diversity Institute and Future Skills Centre confirms that the pandemic’s effect has been felt more acutely and more persistently among adults aged 18 to 34. The greater insecurity of younger workers also translated into a greater likelihood of youth losing their jobs, having their work hours reduced or seeing their incomes cut. While recent months have seen some recovery, many large employers cut back dramatically on their entry-level positions, outsourced to platform and services providers, and scaled up technology solutions to reduce entry levels roles in, for example, sales and marketing.”

“An inclusive pandemic recovery strategy should include better career support for youth facing barriers. Targeted approaches to designing education and training – coupled with essential wraparound supports which recognize the importance of confidence-building and positive mental health – are critical. Supporting young people with promising new and expanded programs, investments and policies to make up for the lost learning time and career-training experiences is critical. Now is the time for educational institutions, governments and employers to come together to support youth – especially those with significant barriers to advancement – to ensure the success of our future workforce and our economic pandemic recovery.”

Additional Information:

Working When Sick: How Workplace Regulations and Culture will Impact the Post-Pandemic Recovery. (2021). Environics Institute. https://www.torontomu.ca/content/dam/diversity/reports/Working_When_Sick_EN.pdf

Tompa, E., Samosh, D., & Boucher, N. (2020). Skills Gaps, Underemployment, and Equity of Labour-Market Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities in Canada. Public Policy Forum. https://www.torontomu.ca/diversity/reports/Skills-gaps-underemployments-and-equity-of-labour-market-opportunities-for-person-with-disabilities.pdf.  

Making Up Time: The Impact of the Pandemic on Young Adults in Canada. (2021). Environics Institute. https://fsc-ccf.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Report_Making-up-time_The-impact-of-the-pandemic-on-young-adults_EN.pdf

Photo Sources: Lum, F. (2022). [Photograph]. The Globe and Mail. https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-after-two-years-of-lockdowns-and-layoffs-teenagers-return-to-summer/

#youth employment #summer jobs #COVID #worker shortage #education #job training #pandemic recovery #Environics Institute #Diversity Institute #Future Skills Centre #younger workers #support programs #Student Workplace Placement Program

[worklabournewsresearch]

Opinion: CERB is Done, and it's Not Coming Back. Staring Down the Barrel of a Recession Gun, How Are We Going to Fix This?

Yalnizyan, A. (2022, May 4). CERB is Done, and it's Not Coming Back. Staring Down the Barrel of a Recession Gun, How Are We Going to Fix This? Toronto Star. https://www.thestar.com/business/opinion/2022/05/04/cerb-is-done-and-its-not-coming-back-staring-down-the-barrel-of-a-recession-gun-how-are-we-going-to-fix-this.html UTL Link: http://myaccess.library.utoronto.ca/login?qurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.proquest.com%2Fblogs-podcasts-websites%2Farmine-yalnizyan-cerb-is-done-not-coming-back%2Fdocview%2F2659040752%2Fse-2%3F

Armine Yalnizyan writes: “... It’s time to modernize Employment Insurance (EI). Unemployment Insurance (UI) was introduced here in 1940 to provide automatic stabilization of the economy. ... In the 1990s, EI was deliberately gutted by four rounds of ‘reform.’ We went from 80 per cent of the unemployed receiving jobless benefits to less than 40 per cent in the decade before the pandemic hit.”

“That lack of access to EI guaranteed the Canadian economy would be clobbered during the pandemic without the invention of CERB. And largely thanks to CERB, our GDP and labour force bounced back months before the U.S. ... [T]oday’s EI is not fit for purpose either. With less than four in 10 jobless workers able to access it, it’s too stingy. However, there is a lot of consensus on how to fix EI, according to a new report by the Institute for Research on Public Policy ... Full disclosure, I was part of this process. Spoiler alert: modernizing EI mostly means reversing the ‘reforms’ of 30 years ago.”

“Better coverage for more workers needs to go along with less of an income hit when you lose your job. Since 1994, you only get 55 per cent of your insured earnings up to the maximum allowable. That’s the lowest rate in our history, and one of the lowest income-replacement rates in the OECD. That’s not enough. More than one in five (21 per cent) of Canadians earn less than $15 an hour, and many more earn just above that hourly amount. ... Raise the income-replacement rate to two-thirds of insurable earnings, and make sure there is an income floor below which you can’t fall.”

Additional Information:

Lawder, D. (2022, April 28). Yellen backs better automatic stabilizers for U.S. unemployment insurance. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/business/us-treasurys-yellen-calls-better-automatic-stabilizers-fight-recessions-2022-04-28

Working Group Report. (2022). How to Modernize Employment Insurance: Toward a Simpler, More Generous and Responsive Program. Institute for Research on Public Policy. https://irpp.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/How-to-Modernize-Employment-Insurance-Toward-a-Simpler-More-Generous-and-Responsive-Program.pdf

Yalnizyan, A. (2009). Exposed: Revealing Truths About Canada’s Recession. Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. https://policyalternatives.ca/sites/default/files/uploads/publications/National_Office_Pubs/2009/Exposed_Revealing_Truths_About_Canadas_Recession.pdf.

Dionne-Simard, D. & Miller, J. (2019). Maximum insights on minimum wage workers: 20 years of data. Statistics Canada.  https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/en/pub/75-004-m/75-004-m2019003-eng.pdf

Photo Source: (2022). [Photograph]. Toronto Star. https://www.thestar.com/business/opinion/2022/05/04/cerb-is-done-and-its-not-coming-back-staring-down-the-barrel-of-a-recession-gun-how-are-we-going-to-fix-this.html 

#COVID #CERB #employment insurance #unemployment insturance #recession #jobless benefits #labour force #IRPP #modernizing EI #income-replacement rate