Alternative Federal Budget

Commentary on the federal budget and Speech from the Throne by CCPA staff and research associates are available on the CCPA website.

The Speech from the Throne signaled the Harper government's intent to loosen foreign ownership rules. In Owning the podium, selling the stadium, CCPA Executive Director Bruce Campbell warns this could compromise our national identity and our national security . The Toronto Star published this piece on its website today as well.

Mel Watkins discusses how the austerity in the federal budget can only prolong the recession in a piece originally published on StraightGoods.ca.

Hugh Mackenzie explains why deficit hysteria is no excuse to end economic stimulus in a commentary that appeared in The Toronto Star on March 2.

On November 18^th, 2009, in Ottawa, the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives and the Canadian Labour Congress held an event entitled "Recession, Recovery and Transformation: Meeting the policy challenges of our time."

Ed Broadbent gave a keynote address entitled "Beyond the Crisis: Ten propositions for a resurgence of the progressive movement". Here is the audio, while the written commentary is attached below.

The CCPA released the Alternative Federal Budget for 2010 today. In addition to the budget document, the alternative budget put forward a six point jobs plan to confront the jobs crisis and get Canada working again. The plan would bring unemployment back to pre-recession levels by the end of 2011 and demonstrates there is a better way to reach fiscal balance through smart investments and smart taxation.

The full alternative budget document, budget in brief, and the jobs plan are available in both English and French.

 On November 18^th, 2009, in Ottawa, the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives and the Canadian Labour Congress held an event entitled "Recession, Recovery and Transformation: Meeting the policy challenges of our time." The session was filmed by CPAC, and are available through the links below.

Session 1: From the Front lines of the Recession

The first session of the day examined the experiences of workers on the frontlines of the recession. It features Andrew Jackson, Director of Economic and Social Policy with the CLC; and Bruce Campbell, Executive Director of the CCPA, introducing the Roundtable. CCPA Inequality Project Director Trish Hennesy moderating the panel with the following presenters:

• Teresa Healy, Senior Researcher, Canadian Labour Congress.
• Blair Redlin, Researcher, CUPE National
• Susanne Doerge, Coordinator, City for All Women Initiative
• John Andras, Chair, Recession Relief Coalition

Click here to watch in english.
Appuyez ici pour regarder en français.

Session 2: "What kind of recovery?"

The second panel of the day was: "What kind of recovery?" Panelists included:

• Jim Stanford, Economist, Canadian Auto Workers
• Larry Mishel, President, Economic Policy Institute
• Katherine Scott, Canadian Council on Social Development

Click here to watch in english.
Appuyez ici pour regarder en français.

Session 3: Policies for a sustainable and transformative recovery

The final panel of the day examined the policies necessary to ensure a sustainable and transformative recovery. Panelists:

• Sheila Block, Research Director, Ontario Federation of Labour
• Armine Yalnizyan, Senior Economist, Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives
• Marc Lee, Senior Economist, Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatvices BC

Click here to watch in english.
Appuyez ici pour regarder en français.