AZ Digitals Blog

Having delays in vaccines is resulting in huge political problems. This is primarily for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his Govt. However, on the contrary earlier the Govt. of Trudeau had received huge appreciations. This is with regards to their efforts for the Canadian people while fighting the pandemic. Their efforts have been exemplary and helped a great deal in keeping the infection rates lower. This is as compared to their neighbouring country United States.

The early success of Canada & the Canadian authorities in combating the virus was attributed to their aggressive approach to fight against the pandemic. This is while promoting wearing masks in public. Apart from social distancing, and other highly preventive measures that proved useful in the end. The attitude earlier adopted by Trudeau was far better and optimistic. This is in comparison to that of his counterpart from USA. In terms of attitude & behaviour Donald Trump was found to be rather more dismissive.

CANADIAN EFFORTS FOR VACCINE:

Canada’s recent efforts has been satisfactory, but they can’t be termed as exemplary or heavy magnitude efforts. The country at start of 2021 eventually contracted with seven vaccine manufacturers. This is in the urge to seeking to spread its risk as widely as they possibly can. However, still after that several of those vaccines are still not available for the Canadian public. However, the famous vaccine manufacturer Pfizer Inc. unexpectedly took modifications to a plant in Belgium. Delaying the deliveries more commonly is what they have been found in. A huge delay in delivering the vaccines to countries & customers including Canada.

It’s Pfizer Inc. the renowned American Pharma company that has left PM Justin Trudeau in a highly awkward position. All this situation has been causing him political problems. According to the US authorities it is too early for USA to entertain the Canadian request of vaccines. Ironically, as their focus was giving vaccine shots in arms in USA. The Canadian officials & Govt. are found more or less in state of chaos. Hence, demanding to know more facts about the arrangements made for vaccine purchase. The confusion is found more in Govt. officials from Canada, the politicians of Canada & medical experts.

OPINIONS OF POLITICIANS, EXPERTS & THINK-TANK:

According to a Politician from Canada’s Left-Wing New Democratic party. The Trudeau’s Govt. is falling behind other countries in vaccination efforts. Therefore, resulting in finding a proper plan for vaccination.

Many medical experts and politicians from Trudeau’s Govt. are of the opinion that Canada has done less efforts. More importantly, in developing their own vaccines and they made more efforts & reliance on vaccines & therapeutics developed in other countries.

Another think-tank expert from one of the Canada’s organisations told that it’s the country’s poor intellectual rights protection. Furthermore, their health technology assessment that has proved to be costly. This is apart from their poor negotiation skills that has made Canada a less attractive marketplace. He laid emphasis that Canada’s efforts could have been much brighter in terms of vaccines in Canada.

TRUDEAU’S RESPONSE- ‘A POSITIVE STEP AT LAST’

Regards to the vaccines in the most recent press conferences from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. He was being more relatively responsive to the vaccine issue. He had discussed problems in conversation with the leaders of Pfizer Inc. and Moderna. Ironically, Pfizer & Moderna are the first two companies to provide vaccines to Canada.

According to the plans of the Federal Govt. in 2021. The number of immigrants coming to Canada in 2021 to next 2 years shall be raised to 1.3 Million people. This is w.r.t. the targets in next 3 years, i.e. 2021, 2022, and 2023. Therefore, the plan of the Federal Govt. of Canada is in light of the events of past year, i.e. 2020 which saw the height of pandemic in Canada and rest of the world. The Federal Govt. truly believes that the Canadian Govt. has been on the suffering end. More importantly, with regards to their targeted immigrants in 2020. The reason obviously is the pandemic COVID-19 and the travel restrictions in Canada, its various provinces and territories.

The Govt. of Canada, along with the immigration authorities are highly active in 2021. They are keen enough to bring in policies for the people coming to Canada. This is also with regards to various different visa programs. If there is a need arises or on any urgent basis. The Govt. of Canada will show flexibility to larger extent. Ironically, if there is a demand for a flexible attitude regards to immigration.

IMMIGRATION MINISTER PLANS & STATEMENTS:

According to the immigration Minister Marco Mendicino in his recent statements regards to migrations. The minister stated it an ‘ambitious’ three-year immigration plan for bringing skilled workers to Canada. Also includes the family members and refugees into Canada. Declared lately to be the friendliest countries, this is regards to the immigration policies of Canada. Therefore, the country needs to bring a balance now in terms of their immigration policy management.

The aim of Canada and its various political parties is highly transparent post pandemic. Furthermore, it is with help of Federal Govt. to bring over 400,000 new permanent residents. The targeted period is of three years, i.e. until 2023. To be exact the numbers as they were revealed by Canadian authorities are 401,000 in 2021. Add-on to this, 411,000 in 2022, and 421,000 in 2023 as permanent residents coming to Canada. Revealed by the authorities, the plan is a designed plan for next three years.

DETAILS & BREAKDOWN OF THE PLAN: 

The immigration minister Marco was very positive and confident that the Govt. of Canada can meet the targets set despite the Global Health crisis in country. He further said that we will be doing this by working around with the travel restrictions. While, strictly adhering to the safety measures for example mandatory quarantines.

The economic class has seen an above average 60% of all new admissions. Ironically, while the plan is more focused towards Canada’s economic growth. This is how the breakdown is planned by the ministry in accordance to the Federal Govt.

• 60,000 protected persons and the refugees
• 230,000 immigrants in the Economic class.
• 104,000 in the family class.
• 5,500 on humanitarian and compassionate grounds.

The above breakdown simply shows that Canada is investing more in economic and family class. The aim is higher amount of settlements into Canada starting from 2021 to 2023 as family class will improve the living style and standards in Canada. Visas available on compassionate and humanitarian grounds might be lesser in percentage. However, shows the consideration due to the course of events that happened because of the pandemic. COVID-19, is a huge cause of many changes in policies and increase in visas in various categories.

Canada’s job market in 2021 is highly dependent on the stats, scenarios and behaviours of the previous year i.e. 2020. Many sectors of the Canadian economy saw a decline in job market in 2020. Primarily, due to the on-going pandemic COVID-19 that is still hurting the economy in one way or the other. It has seriously dented the economy starting in Feb 2020 until Dec 2020. Furthermore, its impacts are still evident on many sectors of the Canadian economy. Similarly, in the job sector for e.g. in Travel & Tourism Industry, Retail Industry, banking & finance, Construction & Real estate, hospitality & aesthetics and many other different sectors.

Working from home has been the norm since last few months. Unfortunately, as most of the countries were facing the lock down. Apart from the IT sector seeing the effects of COVID-19. Almost all sectors in Canada saw a huge decline in hiring policies. Ironically, as most people relied heavily on Govt.’s policies due to changing scenarios. Upon the decline of the demand curve & revision of retention policies. Call centre industry also saw the detrimental impacts of the pandemic COVID-19.

Canada has been a country with huge employment rate as most people in Canada do work for a living. However, the pundits in the industry believe that Canada has the capability to bounce back fast. This is due to its strong infrastructure, rich economy and a very decent GDP Per-Capita. Apart from the retail sector, the hospitality and aesthetics ranks very high amongst the affected sectors. This is primarily due to people staying at their homes rather than going on holidays to Canada’s hottest holiday destinations. Almost a halt in the travel & tourism industry since 3-5 months has caused a huge decline in jobs and increased the number of layoffs.

RECRUITMENT & RETENTION POLICIES IN CANADA:

In a majority of sectors and companies in Canada there was a revision in recruitment & retention policies. The general behaviour was strict due to the adverse effects of the pandemic and to overcome its side-effects. However, in some companies the trend mostly relied upon retention of staff, and utilisation of resources. These resources are mostly human resources, especially companies with higher number of staff members.

However, it is much expected in 2021 that recruitment policies can change for the betterment of the Canadian people. People working from their home, and the so-called credit crunch is all part of the sufferings in 2020. Therefore, to encounter the impacts of COVID-19, the Govt. of Canada will be opening new desirable positions. On top of this, shall be hiring more talented employees. This restoration in the Canadian economy will come as a necessary measurement as Canada has been dented highly from the impacts of the global pandemic very recently.

EMPLOYEES CHANGING BEHAVIOURS DURING & POST PANDEMIC:

The behaviours of employees prior to the second wave of the pandemic COVID-19 in July and August have changed significantly. According to a recruitment agency survey known as Hays Canada showed the level of restlessness of many employees. A huge 21% of the employees are planning to switch their jobs in the next three month, i.e. Oct & Nov 2020. Hence, yet another 17% of employees are planning the same, i.e. switch of job in the next year 2021.

According to the President of Hays Mr. Travis, Obviously, there have been many layoffs, however, but work still needs doing, therefore, there might be work but no extra compensation. A huge number of employees are working from home, and that’s why lots of people are feeling the sense of isolation and being lonely. His concern was clear regards to the job opportunities for those looking for greener pastures, and especially for those laid off. Ironically, the change of scenarios due to layoffs happened because of the pandemic COVID-19 and its obvious effects on the economy of Canada.

The retraining program announced by the Govt. of Canada is worth $77 million will give preferences for the people who were laid off due to the pandemic COVID-19. The program provides a huge $28K per person, covering the tuition fees, the training material and the living expenses. The participants while being enrolled in the program are still allowed their due NI or national insurance. This is mainly for people who came into the influence of changing scenarios due to COVID-19.

THE JOB SECTORS IN DEMAND IN 2021:

People will be needed as personal support workers, e.g. as whole sale reps. This is according to the report of job experts in Canada. Furthermore, as IT support technicians and production logistics coordinators. Therefore, jobs in the sectors of Operations and Supply Chain Logistics, IT/Quality assurance, Sales, Business Development & Customer Support and the Retail management sector are the most expected & wanted ones. Apart from these sectors hospitality & tourism industry will bounce back rapidly in terms of job opportunities in Canada post COVID-19 era. Hence, this is expected as a significant bounce back from the travel & tourism industry Canada.

There are certain significant factors that influence & shape the immigration levels of Canada and the decision making process. These factors influence the number of migrations taking place in Canada in different schemes & how the process will move forward in the upcoming year?

Hence, the significant factors are mainly dependent on politics and processing capacity of Canada. Furthermore, their integration capacity, demographics & policy goals are also key factors. Apart from all these the Global circumstances factor is one of the most critical ones. These can be provincial as well as Federal or both, depending on the area-wise immigration numbers. In most cases it’s divided into provincial demographics as in some areas of Canada, i.e. Provinces & Territories there are some other factors that comes into play, including extreme weather conditions.

The factors discussed are as follows;

1. POLITICS:

Considered as the most influential & significant factor towards the immigration decisions and how it will shape up w.r.t. the immigration levels. The choice of the immigration level is a political decision in most circumstances. More considerably rather than an administrative one. Irrespective of what the economic justification is or the opinions of the public. The Govt. of the day mainly chooses the immigration levels based on the decision. Hence, how it will impact during the election times. In this case scenario the Quebec’s example is most suitable & best applies. Ironically, as they are in need of higher immigration levels.

However, the current Govt. of Quebec has made a decision in the best political interest. Furthermore, they want migration control policies in the French speaking Province. On the other end, The Federal Govt. wants to increase the immigration levels at a rapid pace. This is more due to the Unemployment rate in Canada that is increasing on a daily basis. Political factors are indeed the major cause of the decline & sudden rise in immigration levels, especially in provincial segregation.

2. DEMOGRAPHICS & ECONOMICS:

Due to the low population density in some huge provinces in Canada. Furthermore, it is an economic necessity, that’s why people are needed in Canada. The country is huge in area, and on top of this Canada has one of the World’s oldest population. Furthermore, they also have the lowest birthrates, which means they need people to balance their economy. For the sustenance of economic growth & prosperity. Importantly, Canada need more people in their country on an annual basis. Furthermore, figures must rise significantly every year in Canada in terms of number of people coming for studies. 

3. GLOBAL CIRCUMSTANCES:

More frequently the factor that influences immigration levels is due to ‘Global circumstances’. An example of the global circumstances is the current pandemic COVID-19. A virus which has impacted the immigration levels in Canada to a considerable extent. Being a member of the international community Canada is obliged to assist when there is humanitarian crisis involved.

4. CANADA’S PROCESSING CAPACITY:

The processing capacity of migrations on an annual basis is yet another key factor. A key reason that determines the levels of migrations taking place in a particular year. The country has shown immense improvement in the processing capacity most recently. Ironically, by implementing the Express Entry application management system into their immigration procedures. ‘Express Entry’ as the name suggests is fast and a reliable process.

Canada’s 17^th Prime Minister John Turner died at the age of 91 on 18^th September 2020. Regarded as one of the sad days in Canada as the news circulated in the press all over the country. Mr. John Turner, a highly regarded politician was the 17^th Prime Minister and a well-known Ex-leader of Canada. According to an Aide speaking on behalf of Turner’s relatives Marc Kealey. He told media that the Ex-PM died peacefully in sleep on Friday night. Mr. John Turner ruled Canada as a Prime Minister for just a period of 78 days in the year 1984.

EARLY DAYS:

Moved to Canada in his youth days, John was born in England in 1929 in Richmond. His movement from England to Canada happened while Turner was still a young kid. Turner grew up in Ottawa and later moved to British Columbia. It is a Province named after Great Britain while Turner & his family remembered his birthplace England. He was a very active person since his young days. Later, he was a decorated athlete who held a Canadian record for the 100-meter dash. He later qualified for the London Olympics of 1948, while he was still a student at The University of British Columbia. It was due to an injury that Turner couldn’t participate in the event i.e. London Olympics of 1948.

POLITICAL CAREER OF JOHN:

John Turner first entered Politics in 1962 when he won a Montreal seat for the Liberal party. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Lester Pearson, John was highly regarded. While he was still a young man, although not in his youth. Due to his attitude in Politics and consistency, has was called the “Golden Boy” of politics. It took him just five years, i.e. in 1967 and he entered the Cabinet. He was made the Minister of Consumer & Corporate Affairs later on in his career.

Hence, it was later on in his political career, he ran for the Liberal Leadership in the year 1968 and was the youngest person in the race at the age of 38 years.

It was later under the leadership of Prime Minister Trudeau, father of current Prime Minister Mr. Justin Trudeau, he changed his profile. A position that John Turner held for a period of four years was The Minister of Justice. Because of his sound knowledge in the field of Finance. In the progression towards the honorable seat of the 17th Prime Minister of Canada. Most deserving again, the Ex-PM of Canada was made the Minister of Finance, a huge honor for him. Furthermore, he held his position for a considerable period of three years. Most part of his next 10 years i.e. a decade he worked for a Toronto Law Firm before he returned back to politics.

A SHORT ERA AS PRIME MINISTER:

John Turner took the office of the Prime Minister on June 30^th, 1984 without holding a seat in the House of Commons himself. His term as the PM of Canada just lasted for 78 days and is the shortest in the history of Canadian politics just after Sir Charles Tupper.

According to the Premier of Ontario Doug Ford, the passing away of Ex-PM John Turner was a sad day to happen in Canada’s political history. He was really a dedicated servant of Canada who dedicated his whole life to the service of Canada and the Canadian people. Always worked with full dedication to make Canada a better place to live.

The Green Party’s political agenda holds immense popularity amongst the Canadians. This is especially the rich & business class who are most conscious of Canada’s Go-Green Sustainability measurements. There are more Canadians these days who are concerned about Climate change being a Global agenda. This has however created a shared social expectation regarding the voting for the Green Party. Hence, the elections could also elect the Green Politicians is a completely different story.

GREEN PARTY – ACCOMPLISHING GLOBAL SUCCESS WITH DEFINED AGENDAS

Every step towards their political goals has enabled the Green Party to rise in its agendas for Canada. In terms of the preferences for the Green party voters. It gives the voters permission to express their true preferences instead of their strategic preferences. This related to the practical steps of the Green party towards their agendas for Canadian political and variable overviews.

CARBON TAXES

The Green Party’s ex-leadership Elizabeth May was in huge support of the carbon tax. She once said in her speeches that putting a price on the carbon has been their political agendas. It is primarily for Canada GO Green policies for many years. However, she was also confident of the fact that carbon tax alone is not enough and sufficient to meet the emissions target from that of the Paris Accord. Likewise, the role of current political party leader Jo-Ann Roberts has been on a focused vision. The vision is defined towards reductions in carbon emissions. Furthermore, imposing of Carbon taxes for climate change and sustainability and being a change agent for the Canadian Go Green sustainability.

GREEN PARTY- CHILD CARE AGENDAS

According to the political policies of Green Party as of past elections 2019, they were keen to boost child-care funding to at least 1% of GDP annually.

This has been part of the universal child care funding program that lays emphasis on creating child care spaces in the workplace and awareness measurements on the national level.

Green Party ex-leader Elizabeth May also announced her plans in the previous elections to create children’s commissioner to ensure the importance and considerations for children in the government’s policy. These measures have made Canada a highly democratic welfare state with room for all kinds of accessibility to people.

CLIMATE CHANGE- GREEN PARTY PRIORITY AGENDA

In the last year’s elections of 2019, the agendas for Climate Change for The Green Party Canada always related to their party name relevancy. They aimed to reduce carbon emissions by 60% below the levels that were in 2005 until 10 years i.e. 2030 due to their climate change policies. They further aimed to hit zero emissions to 2050. This party also opposed the fossil fuel projects ending the subsidies within a year according to their election mandates. The Green party also pledged in their electoral campaigns that all the electricity would come to renewable resources by 2030, a huge saving in resources for the future.

THE GREEN PARTY EDUCATIONAL REFORMS

Green party’s vision for Canadian educational programs has been impressive according to their political & electoral mandates regard to the last year’s elections. They aimed as follows;

1. Getting rid of university and college tuition
2. Forgiving any existing federal student debt
3. Access to post-secondary education for all indigenous students.
4. Expansion of the curriculum on indigenous education overall.
5. Boosting the funding for training students in English and French languages. (i.e. Linguistics)

THE GREEN PARTY ENVIRONMENTAL POLICIES

The Green party aims to protect at least 30% of Canada’s natural land i.e. a huge land in terms of the area looking at the area of vast Canada. This is in addition to their specific measures in climate change over the years. This natural land includes oceans, freshwater and natural land and the vision to protect this is until 2030 i.e. 10 years from today. Canada accounts for 49% forest of their total land area i.e. 2^nd most forest-covered region after Russia.

The Green party also aims to develop a forest strategy as well as a water strategy, and the goal is the provision of safe and healthy drinking water for Canadians. As part of the environmental management and sustainability Safe water provision has been a highlighted target for Green party reducing the number of illnesses that arise from stagnant water. It also aims at the curbing of solid waste exports.

GREEN PARTY – HEALTH CARE & PHARMACY

Green Party current and ex-leader aim great visions for the health care and pharma care of Canadian citizens. According to last year’s mandate for election 2019, they promised the training of more qualified doctors and nurses from high ranking medical institutions. Also, the expansion of the midwifery programs for better qualified and trained midwives and instant home attention whenever needed.

Further promises accordingly include health care coverage and universal pharma care as well as better dental care for low-income Canadians. Dental care is too expensive in Canada needs to be more affordable. They also made sure that the right to “living Will” for every Canadian is given to them so that they can limit or deny medical treatments. Health care holds huge priorities for current party leader Jo-Ann Roberts and their mission is health care sustainability for a better Canada.

HOUSING & REAL ESTATE

In the housing and real estate the Green party agenda is a much-improved one than their last campaign. The vision is to use the massive empty land in Canada and making more and more houses. In their mandate of 2019, they aim to build 25,000 new units that are affordable for an average Canadian resident.

They also aim to improve the real estate with at least 15,000 renovations for the next decade. It’s their aim to pursue the government to legislate housing as the fundamental right of all Canadians.  Appointing a minister for housing for the National housing strategy i.e. NHS that looks deeply into more resources for housing co-ops.

IMMIGRATION REFORMS & POLICIES:

Canada is a country where immigration is given huge importance & immense weightage in terms of ironic political policies and annual immigration applications. Green party agenda and mandate are to increase the immigration targets especially to areas with unfilled job vacancies. Their agenda also illustrates that there is a need for getting rid of the ‘Safe Third Country agreement. ‘Hence, the party is also interested in starting discussion for climate refugees and they want to convince the government to include them in the official refugee category.

JOBS

The most important category that needs radical and improvised reforms is the job sector. It is the revenue and tax generation sector for the economy and wellbeing of Canada and making it a nation that stands out in the list of the most developed nations.

The Green party in the election 2019 campaign gave a serious mandate to improve the minimum wages to $15/HR, i.e. something revolutionary for hourly workers making them more secure in terms of their income brackets. They also gave a preposition for the removal of unpaid internship programs. The cancellation of the temporary foreign worker program and implementation of a guaranteed livable income i.e. income and support. According to the leadership, it is everyone’s right to live at a standardized income and support program.

The most revolutionary measurement that Green Party leadership promised was a robot tax i.e. the tax amount companies will be paying for the replacement of an employee with the machine. The aim is evident and justified, more and more jobs for people with a higher pay rate and better future sustainability.

TAXES & TECHNOLOGY

Taxes that include HST, Corporate Tax, PTR i.e. Personal tax returns and VAT or Value added tax are all taxes that are paid to the government to help them generate revenues and infrastructure. The Green party’s ex-leadership i.e. Elizabeth May was of the opinion and promised to increase the corporate tax rates from 15% to 21%. They also proposed taxes on big giants and entertainment and hospitality companies i.e. Netflix, Facebook, Google & Airbnb. They also wanted to find ways to cryptocurrencies.

The leadership said that it would create a Federal Tax Commission FTC, to ensure the fairness and accessibility in the tax system. A fair tax system is not only good for the taxpayers but it holds transparency in the future payment mechanisms.

As part of the technology reforms, the Green party realizes the importance of CRTC regulations in order to curb cell prices. It’s their biggest hope that they increase the competition by opening up the market for new Canadian telecom companies. An increase in infrastructure for the sake of high-speed internet across Canada. The green party also proposed the database reforms and an introductory policy i.e. “right to be forgotten” and also allowing “verifiable identities” to create accounts on social media. Jo-Ann Roberts, the new leader emphasized the stopping of ‘cybercrimes’ and reporting of cyber-crimes and fraudulent activities on the internet.

TRANSPORTATION- MAKING COMMUTING EASIER

 Transportation, an issue that was addressed in the mandate of the Green party with an aim for better commuting measures for the general public. Following are their transportation agendas and prepositions in the light of Govt. transport reforms.

1. The party is eager for all public ground transportation with zero-carbon by 2040.
2. A Re-investment in rails and increasing the train speed for faster commuting
3. Electric cars by the year ‘2030’.
4. Investments in the national grid allowing vehicles to travel across Canada.
5. An exemption of all-electric and zero-emission vehicles from Federal Sales Tax.

These transportation measures given as a mandate from the previous year is a sure proof of the efforts that Green Party shall be doing for the sake of transportation and commuting. They wanted easy commuting, reliable and faster commuting for the general public ensuring a safe and secure transport system. A highly effective one covering most parts of Urban and rural Canada in terms of connectivity.

AddÉnergie is getting $4.5 million from Quebec, $1.5 million from Ottawa,
as well as an undisclosed investment from Quebec’s pension fund manager. The Quebec and federal government along with the province’s pension fund manager. They are investing new money into a Quebec City-based company with Govt. back-up. A company that makes charging stations for electric car. Hence, Quebec will invest $4.5 million in AddÉnergie, acquiring a stake in the company. While, the federal government will give the company $1.5 million said the representatives. A statement from both governments at a joint press conference.

At the same time, the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec. They also announced an investment in the electric car company, i.e. its second. The dollar value of that investment was not disclosed.

Louis Tremblay, the company’s president and CEO, said AddÉnergie plans to use the money to support a plan. He also claimed that they intend to double the size — and production — of its factory in Shawinigan.

The new investments will also help the company “maintain our competitive advantage”. Furthermore, continue its expansion into the United States, Tremblay said.

In use in Canada and the United States built by AddEnergie are the recharging stations. Hence, there are currently 13,000 electric car recharging stations with Govt. backing.

AddÉnergie also operates the Flo network of electric car charging stations. Step-wise, which it says is the second-largest network of electric car charging stations in North America.

The company also makes charging stations for electric car used by Hydro-Québec in its Circuit électrique charging network.

The federal government announced that it will be giving $5 million to Hydro-Québec to expand that network. A huge step immensely showing the back-up of Govt. w.r.t. the circumstances.

QUEBEC SUSTAINABILITY EFFORTS:

Electric Car is a huge step in terms of the environmental factors and improving the climate change issues. Thus, the backing by the Government in this regards will definitely help in making Quebec a pollution free province. A plan that is for the sustainable future and environment of Quebec making it safe for all. Quebec, is indeed a rich province highly attracted by many migrants.

Federal and provincial governments to work on a plan to have Canada eventually produce no waste plastic at all

Canada’s environment ministers want to cut in half the amount of garbage this country produces, in a little over two decades.

By 2030, they want to reduce the total amount of waste Canada throws out by 30 per cent; by 2040, they want to cut the quantity by 50 per cent. And as part of a national strategy to curb plastic pollution in particular, Ottawa and the provinces unanimously agreed to work on a plan to have Canada produce no waste plastic at all.

Much tthe garbage Canadians send to landfills and incinerators, after recycling and composting and all the other forms of diversion, is plastic.

“Plastic pollution, as we all know is a major challenge for the health of our oceans, our lakes and our rivers,” said federal Environment Minister Catherine McKenna, speaking to reporters after the two-hour teleconference with her provincial counterparts.

The meeting was supposed to be held face to face in Ottawa but was downgraded first to a video conference and later a conference call. Federal officials cited scheduling conflicts that kept some ministers from being there in person; behind the scenes, the tension between Ottawa and some provinces over carbon pricing is said to be a factor.

McKenna said the focus of the meeting was plastics, not climate change, and said she was glad that the ministers could put other differences aside to find agreement on something else.

“I was just really pleased to see today that provinces, despite where there may be other areas where we don’t necessarily agree, that we can all agree that plastics is a huge problem,” she said.

Canada is trying to be a leader in curbing humanity’s plastics addiction. At the last G7 leaders’ summit it convinced five of the seven biggest developed economies in the world to sign a plastics charter, pledging that by 2040 all plastic produced in those countries will be reused, recycled or burned to produce energy. (The United States and Japan stayed out.)

The proliferation of single-use plastic packaging like water bottles, drinking straws and food wrapping is sending massive amounts of plastic to landfills. More blows into waterways and drifts to the sea. Giant reefs of plastic are showing up in the oceans and fish and sea mammals are eating plastic objects thinking they’re food.

Earlier this week, a sperm whale washed up dead in Indonesia and was found to have six kilograms of plastic waste in its stomach, including 115 plastic cups, a plastic grocery bag full of string and two flip-flops. What killed the whale is unknown because it was badly decomposed.

The lack of proper waste management in developing nations is behind much of the plastic that ends up in the oceans but Canadians are not great at recycling despite the curbside recycling systems in most cities. Only about 10 per cent of the plastic Canadians buy gets recycled.

In 2014, the average Canadian threw away 706 kilograms of garbage.

A final national plastics strategy is still in the works but the ministers agreed to require that plastic products sold here be easier to reuse or recycle, and to introduce producer-responsibility systems to make the companies that sell products wrapped in plastic more responsible for ensuring they get recycled.

McKenna said Canada is slightly above average when it comes to recycling but is nowhere near good enough.

“The reality is we have a ton of work to do,” she said.

Environment groups think this agreement is not the ton of work that is needed.

“How many more whales full of single-use plastic trash need to wash up on shores around the world before our minister of the environment and climate change takes strong action to help curb the excessive production of throwaway plastic?” said Sarah King, head of an oceans and plastics campaign for Greenpeace Canada.

King wants Canada to follow Europe’s footsteps and ban certain plastics entirely. The United Kingdom is banning plastic straws and stir-sticks, while France is soon banning plastic plates and utensils that can’t be composted.

That was the message from Premier Doug Ford, who is poised to dismantle the previous Liberal government’s labour reforms that increased sick day benefits and paid vacation, and were set to raise the minimum wage from $14 an hour to $15 on Jan. 1.

“We’re getting rid of Bill 148,” Ford thundered in the legislature after being questioned by Liberal MPP Michael Coteau.

The premier added that “60,000 people lost their jobs under Bill 148,” an apparent reference to part-time positions that have been cut.

“When I criss-crossed this province, I talked to the people who earn minimum wage, the ones who even were able to keep their job. I’d go into a little Home Hardware. Rather than having seven employees, they’d cut three employees because of Bill 148,” he said.

“We’re going to create more jobs so we can hire more people, unlike the Liberals, who destroyed this province.”

Later Tuesday, Ford said alarm over his remarks shouldn’t come as “any surprise” given his comments on the reforms during the spring election campaign, and he promised more details “over the next few weeks.”

“Bottom line, it’s an absolute job killer,” he said.

On a year-over-year basis, employment increased by 1.1 per cent, or 79,000 jobs, in Ontario in August, according to Statistics Canada. Total hours worked across the province also increased after much of Bill 148 took effect in January.

To repeal the legislation, the government will need to introduce a replacement bill. Deena Ladd of the Toronto-based Workers’ Action Centre said she was “waiting for more than just a comment in question period to actually take the government seriously at this point.”

“I think everyone is really kind of appalled that they would consider getting rid of basic labour legislation,” she said. “They’re just talking about it and I think they’re evaluating the response they’re getting from the people in the province.”

The Fair Workplaces, Better Jobs Act, better known as Bill 148, provided two paid, job-protected emergency leave days for all workers, increased holiday entitlement, mandated equal pay for casual and part-time workers doing the same job as full-time employees, enshrined improved scheduling protections and boosted protections for temp agency workers.

The legislation represents the most sweeping change to the province’s labour laws in decades, and was implemented after two years of research and public consultation conducted by two independent labour experts. About one-third of Ontario’s workforce are vulnerable workers in precarious employment, according to the final 400-page report written by the two experts about proposed labour reforms.

The advisers also found that Ontario faced “serious” and extensive problems enforcing basic employment rights prior to Bill 148, leaving thousands of vulnerable workers open to abuse.

Coteau was incredulous that Ford would effectively throw out the baby with the bathwater in his bid to cancel the minimum wage increase by getting rid of all the reforms in Bill 148.

“I think it’s reasonable that workers be given fair notice for compensation when their employer cancels their shift,” said the Liberal MPP for Don Valley East, a former cabinet minister.

“It allows employees to have some stability in their schedule if they’re going to school, to ensure they have adequate child care and if they’re working a second job.

“Some 1.6 million Ontarians do not have sick days. In the legislation it guarantees two days to Ontarians. This is about decency for employees,” Coteau added.

“Does the premier believe that two sick days is too much for people in Ontario? He says he stands up for the little guy. He says he stands up for the people of Ontario. Two sick days is decency.”

At a news conference last week in support of the $15 minimum wage, currently scheduled to kick in on Jan. 1, Toronto-based emergency room physician Dr. Edward Xie said paid sick days were “not just an improvement to labour standards, but also a major public health advance.”

At least 145 countries, including 23 jurisdictions in the United States, give workers the right to be compensated when they’re ill.

NDP Leader Andrea Horwath said “it’s unfortunate we have a government now that’s going to drag us backwards likely to a place where people are not going to be able to get a fair shake at work.”

“I’ve met guys who stop me literally on the street canvassing … and say they’ve worked at the same employer for over 20 years and still only get two weeks’ vacation. Really? I mean, it’s time to make those changes,” Horwath said.

Chris Buckley, president of the Ontario Federation of Labour, said worker advocates had fought “long and hard” to make improvements to the province’s “severely outdated” labour and employment laws.
“I caution the premier and today’s government not to eliminate Bill 148,” he said. “As a labour movement, we’re not going to sit idly by.” But Rocco Rossi, president and CEO of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, praised Ford.

“We have been persistently urging the government to take immediate action and repeal Bill 148 due to the compounding labour reforms which come at too high a cost to the economy and workers,” he said.

“The very real unintended consequences have forced our members to decrease product offerings and increase the price of products being sold, hire fewer employees, reduce services and hours of operation, cut back on employee benefits and halt capital investment — all in an effort to stay afloat.”

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