Search results for “site/Pat Armstrong”

  • From limiting big spenders to silencing small spenders

    How BC’s third party election advertising rules missed the mark The idea that everyone should be able to speak freely and that citizens should have access to a broad range of viewpoints are two fundamental principles of a democracy — and never are they more important than during an election.…

  • Alternative Federal Budget

    Now is not the time for spending cuts: study

    CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE FULL REPORT OTTAWA—Given the fragile economic recovery and the weak job market, now is not the time for a sharp turn to spending cuts, says a study released today by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA). “It would be a huge mistake to significantly…

  • What’s the Canada-EU trade deal all about?

    Chances are, you’ve heard about the Canada-EU trade deal. It’s hard to miss, what with the federal government hard at work staging photo-ops and events across the country, promoting the deal as a major win. The official sales pitch focuses on the trade aspects of the deal – lowering or…

  • Solidarity should be common sense

    A few months back, Jim Stanford – in a provocative article entitled “When in doubt, blame unions” – noticed a troubling trend. Stanford observed that the current recession seemed to unleash a wave of public resentment against labour unions – as people, fearful of their own economic security – turned…

  • My welfare challenge: Days 4 and 5

    Fascinating to see all the comments on these blog posts. I want to highlight Dale’s comments in response to my Day 3 post in particular. Some may read these posts and point out that people with a recognized disability (those with PWD status in our welfare system) receive marginally more…

  • Creeping privatization undermines Ontario health care: Study

    CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE FULL REPORT OTTAWA–Ontario’s health care system is under threat from creeping privatization and public spending cuts, according to a new study, Unsafe Practices, released today by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. Costs are being shifted from the public purse to the individual household, and…

  • Public Interest Research Project (BC)
    Seniors Care

    The crumbling foundation of Medicare in BC

    British Columbians are fed a stream of bad news about our public health care system. But there is one very common health story we rarely hear about. A 100 year old woman, almost totally blind, has all her home support services cut. A 90 year old woman loses her home…

  • Democratic Media Reform in Canada

    Campaigns, coalitions aim to democratize media system Faced with a corporate-dominated mediascape and perceived editorial indifference or hostility, trade unions and other progressive Canadian organizations have responded pragmatically when they need to influence public opinion.  They have adopted media relations strategies, often run by specialized staff, to gain whatever space…

  • Financial markets must be regulated to avoid another Minsky moment: report

    CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE FULL REPORT OTTAWA—In a report released today by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA), two prominent economists warn of the ongoing the inherent instability of financial markets. The report, by Doug Peters, former Secretary of State (Finance) and former TD Bank Chief Economist, and…

  • Making Women Count

    Canada lacks coherent response to end violence against women: Study

    READ THE FULL REPORT HERE. OTTAWA— Progress on ending violence against women in Canada is stalled by the absence of a coherent national policy and consistent information about the levels of that violence says a study released today by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA). “The difficulty of collecting…

  • Sociology: I Can’t Quit You

    True confession time, people. I commit sociology. And not just as a one-off. You might say—all right, I will say it—that I’m a repeat offender. In fact, I’m practically addicted. Scarcely a minute can go by without my synapses looking for their next fix. That might not be a politically correct admission.…

  • Climate change: Joe Oliver deems fears “exaggerated”

    Federal Natural Resource minister Joe Oliver stopped by Montréal on 11 April to promote tar sands and closed the door to any strict greenhouse-gas ceiling. He claimed that, according to scientists, our fears regarding climate change are “exaggerated.” He refused to retract his statement the following week before the federal natural resources…