The EI system allows workers to pay into a plan that is supposed to provide crucial support for workers between jobs, and quality re/training when required. However, significant changes to the system over the past 20 years have diminished the program’s effectiveness. Furthermore, EI’s role is being eroded at the same time as precarious work is expanding. The combination of these two factors is contributing to the long list of challenges inner-city and Aboriginal workers face, making it that much more difficult for them to realize their full potential.
Indigenous issues
Hennessy's Index is a monthly listing of numbers, written by the CCPA's Trish Hennessy, about Canada and its place in the world. For other months, visit: http://policyalternatives.ca/index
150,000
Media coverage of the Phoenix Sinclair inquiry has been quite thorough and often insightful. However, the bulk of the media coverage is missing the defining feature of the story. When that defining feature is mentioned, it is buried deep in the story, and the painfully obvious conclusions are not drawn.
On October 4th, the CCPA proudly hosted the 2012 David Lewis Lecture, a series that examines the future of democracy in Canada. This year’s lecture featuredGeneration Now—four emerging voices on the Canadian political landscape: Vancouver's Emma Pullman (SumOfUs) and Jamie Biggar (Leadnow), and activists Brigette DePape and Ben Powless.
Watch the full 2012 David Lewis Lecture here:
Northern Manitoba is the area defined within the four Statistics Canada census divisons: number 19, 21, 22 and 23. It is the biggiest area of Manitoba and has a substantial population of Aborginal descent. The poor living conditions of the communities situated within this area have been the subject of much controversy. This paper seeks to contribute to the discussion by exploring the social and economic changes that they have experienced over the past two and a half decades.
Pluralism in the Arts in Canada: A Change is Gonna Come captures some of the dialogue happening around critical diversity, social justice, artistic expression and performance in Canada. The experiences and research of the book's contributors give ample evidence about what is being done to demonstrably promote pluralism in the arts, to create forums for expressions from Aboriginal and racialized communities and to build engagement and audiences from these communities.
The Strength of Women: Âhkamêyimowak, Priscilla Settee, Coteau Books, Regina, 2011.
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“There is a force among women which I call Âhkamêyimowak, or persistence, that provides the strength for women to carry on in the face of extreme adversity. Âhkamêyimowak is a Cree word and embodies the strength that drives women to survive, flourish and work for change within their communities.
Manitoba has among the highest Aboriginal populations in Canada and it is growing at a faster rate than the non-Aboriginal population. Fifteen percent of Manitoban’s and 10 percent of Winnipeggers identify as Aboriginal. While the majority of Aboriginal people are fully engaged in employment and/or education pursuits, statistics tell us that many Aboriginal people are not. Manitoba’s Aboriginal people are not participating in the labour force at the same rate as non-Aboriginal people and when they do, they tend to earn less.
Please feel free to use this video and the resources below for discussing sustainable jobs, carbon storage and conservation in BC forests. To order DVD's of Town at the End of the Road, or printed copies of any of our studies, contact our office at 604-801-5121 or ccpabc [at] policyalternatives.ca
Town at the End of the Road from CCPA on Vimeo.
We learn fairly early in life that when you apologize for something that you have done wrong, it is expected that your apology will be followed by a change in behaviour. The result of Prime Minister Harper’s meetings with First Nation Chiefs will tell us whether or not he has learnt this lesson.