Human rights
OTTAWA—On the eve of the National Day of Mourning for workers killed on the job, the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA) is releasing two studies highlighting the need for improved health and safety enforcement and regulation.
According to Success is No Accident, by CCPA Research Associate David Macdonald, federal underfunding and understaffing of safety inspectors are putting federal jurisdiction employees in harm’s way.
Regina — The Saskatchewan office of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives is releasing University of Regina business administration professor S. Muthu’s study, Restoring the Bargain: Contesting the Constitutionality of the Amendments to the Saskatchewan Trade Union Act, a thorough analysis of the constitutionality of the province’s labour legislation. This study represents an important contribution to the current debate over the extent to which legislatures can limit workers’ rights and freedoms.
Between 2003 and 2006, Canada’s war industries profited from at least $7.4 billion in exports to 88 foreign governments. Of these Canadian military exports, 93% ($6.8 billion) went to 62 nations with troops fighting in major armed conflicts. Of these 62 warring nations fuelled by Canadian military technologies, 55 had troops fighting outside their borders.
On February 17, 2010, the Mayor’s Executive Policy Committee (EPC) passed a motion to provide a grant in the amount of $225,000 per year for 15 years in support of the Youth for Christ Centre of Excellence. On February 24th, Winnipeg City Council will vote on the motion.
As service providers working with inner-city youth, our organizations strongly agree that we need to increase recreational opportunities for inner-city youth in Winnipeg. However, we strongly oppose public funding for the Youth for Christ Centre.
Stephen Harper’s Conservative government shut down Parliament until March, mainly to avoid answering politically embarrassing questions about the torture of Canadian military detainees in Afghanistan. Especially disturbing are the allegations – and mounting evidence -- that our military was complicit in this torture of captives by Afghan government “interrogators.”
I recently finished my Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Winnipeg in Politics and International Development Studies, which included a practicum placement with CCPA. Throughout most of my degree, I volunteered with the university's Local Committee of the World University Service of Canada (WUSC). WUSC is a national development organization that engages Canadian youth in its objectives of increasing international access to education and raising social consciousness.
An interview with Julio Chavez by Asad Ismi
Julio Chavez is one of the leaders of the Bolivarian Revolution in Venezuela. In his country, he is known as “the other Chavez” (referring to President Hugo Chavez, to whom he has no family links).