Presentations to the Commission on Quality Public Services and Tax Fairness range from child care and health care, children and women's rights, workers and the justice system for two days of hearings in Toronto.

Toronto (26 Jan. 2012) - Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU/NUPGE) Region 4 Executive Board Member Chris Cormier, takes on the corporate gravy train in the following letter printed in the Jan. 13 edition of the Toronto Sun. Cormier is one of the National Union of Public and General Employees’ All Together Now! campaign's Writers 4 Change. 

“What we have in Ontario is privatization of alcohol sales by stealth,” Christianson concluded. “We’re losing out on millions of dollars that could be spent on public services.”

Keep up-to-date with campaign activities and issues with your copy of the ATN Campaigner.

"It's dangerous to go down a path of looking at reducing government expenditures and dealing with the deficit, in terms of public sector's programs and services, without talking to people." - Judy Wasylycia-Leis, Public Services Foundation of Canada chairperson.

"The time has arrived to study other ways of sustaining good public services in this province through a tax system that can fund programs and services."

"Paul knows that public services are important to building a good quality of life for Canadian families and he understands the need to ensure greater tax fairness in this country. His support for our campaign strengthens our resolve to continue the fight." - James Clancy, NUPGE President.

Provides fact based response to reports to the anecdotal attacks on the public sector from the Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses (CFIB) and other conservative think tanks.

Statement from the National Executive Board of the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE).

The CBC asks the question "What is it like being poor in Canada?" on a live phone-in show. Call in to have your voice heard.

“We look forward to meeting with Premier Wall to discuss issues that affect our members, many of whom are employed by the government of Saskatchewan,” said Bymoen.

What Kent did stand for, and speak out for, throughout his life, is the public interest. And the debate for the future is about creating a public space where the public interest can be debated, defined, and advanced.

All Together Now! women activists to focus on public services key to achieving life/work balance.

Dignity Denied 2011 illustrates the flaws in our current system of long-term care and offers common sense solutions for positive change.

Retirees 4 Change will champion issues of retirement security and long-term care as part of NUPGE's All Together Now! campaign.

“We want to hear what people have to say on a wide-range of issues …. including what needs are going unmet; are public services receiving the investment they need (and) what options other than taxes or user fees could enhance the government’s ability to raise money for public services."

"The McGuinty government can’t build a strong Ontario if they keep weakening the foundation. They need to stop the cuts before it’s too late.” - Warren (Smokey) Thomas, OPSEU President.

"Workers are being told to work longer, pay more and receive less," said James Clancy, NUPGE National President. "We stand in solidarity with each and every UNISON member in the fight for decent pensions. Enough is enough."

"The first thing we should be looking at is tax fairness rather than cutting social programs like Medicare." - Elisabeth Ballerman, CHPS Co-Chair and HSAA President.

New research published by the Tax Justice Network shows that tax evasion costs governments around the world more than US$3.1 trillion annually.

"So bailing out the banks while punishing workers is not, in fact, a recipe for prosperity." - Paul Krugman, Nobel Prize winning economist.

"We need to work together to force them to put people before tax cuts and excessive corporate profits." - James Clancy, NUPGE President.

Read Art Macklin's letter to better understand why we need to stop the dismantling of the Canadian Wheat Board.

Canadians don’t need another plan where they have to cough up a portion of their retirement savings to the financial industry.

The Occupy movement is here to stay. It will morph into something else. But it’s not going away until there are serious reforms to our economy and democracy.

All Together Now! rolls out three new, fact-filled pieces in the continuing fight for income equality.

This October employment declined by 54,000 full time positions. October's loss pushed the unemployment rate here in Canada up 0.2 percentage points to 7.3%.

Advocates see progress during meeting as number of countries backing the Robin Hood Tax continues to grow.  Canadians see need for more pressure on Harper government to join.

The 99% and the 0.001% agree on something.  Will Harper government continue to oppose?

Respondents in half of 99 countries surveyed say they do not have confidence in their national governments.

The lawmakers proposal follows a similar measure being discussed by the European Union (EU).

www.labourrights.ca is a valuable research and educational tool for those interested in promoting and protecting labour rights

The Harper government's opposition to the Robin Hood Tax draws criticism from Canada's Occupy movement.

The All Together Now! campaign continues to build a movement in support of quality public services and fighting for tax fairness.

"Our organizations say NO to this agreement, which has been negotiated for the sole benefit of transnational corporations at the expense of people's rights and of the protection of the environment," says the declaration.

We are told that this proposed free trade deal with the EU will be good for us, those of us who make up the 99%. That’s as true as the argument that rising incomes for the wealthy will help the economy.

National President James Clancy joined protesters in Ottawa to show solidarity and provide support. NUPGE activists share some of their photos from the weekend.

Arrival of trojan horse on Parliament highlights hidden implications of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) being pursued by the Harper government despite major public concerns.

“The Harper government is not speaking on behalf of most Canadians on this issue." - James Clancy, National President, NUPGE

"As the trade union movement has well pointed out, it is growth and decent jobs, not austerity, which are essential to beating the crisis and putting an end to the growing inequality and poverty around the globe." - James Clancy, NUPGE National President.

International watchdog points to extremely low tax rates on businesses, low regulation of resource industries and support for tax havens in the Caribbean.

It’s time for true political leaders in Canada to emerge and rise to the challenge of addressing inequality. And the rest of us must be more demanding of our governments to justify their policy choices – will they reduce inequality or make the problem worse?

NUPGE National President James Clancy participates in innovative international Robin Hood Tax campaign video launch and encourages you to join, too.

European campaigners for Robin Hood Tax are optimistic but see next eight weeks as crucial ones for the campaign.

Gap between incomes of rich and poor has been growing at a faster rate than in the United States since the mid-1990s.  Canada has the fourth largest increase in income inequality among its peers.

Statement calls on the international finance institutions to assume leadership in putting a halt to destructive economic policies and to put job creation at the top of their agenda.  

MGEU/NUPGE President Lois Wales responds to misleading editorial in Winnipeg Free Press.  

Poll finds that 30 per cent of Canadians want Parliament to focus on job creation while only nine per cent want debt reduction or tax breaks as a priority and three per cent want to see action on crime.

Walker calls on the B.C. government to hold meaningful talks on the heels of the HST referendum.

Manitoba provincial P.C. candidate Gord Steeves believes private corporations should take over auto insurance. The Manitoba Government and General Employees' Union (MGEU/NUPGE) has responded with a campaign explaining why public insurance is the smart choice for Manitoba families and communities.  

Ottawa is abandoning federal inspection of meat produced for local citizens in BC, Manitoba and Saskatchewan.

While the Harper government has rejected the proposal in the past it is hoped that their position will change as a result of the growing international support.

Help save B.C. parks.

Coast guard employee relieved of his duties for publicly disagreeing with the federal government's decision to move the Marine Rescue Centres to Halifax. UPDATED

"At no time in modern British Columbia have corporations earned so much and contributed so little to public revenue." - Jim Sinclair, president, BC Federation of Labour.

Get the latest news and information about the All Together Now! campaign by downloading the most recent newsletter.

“The lesson of the Mike Harris era is that cuts to public services hurt us all,” said Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) President Warren (Smokey) Thomas.

“Hopefully this report will gain some traction with the broader corporate community and we’ll have a real conversation as to how to rectify this imbalance, before it’s too late.” says James Clancy, NUPGE national president.

"The fact that tax fairness is even being debated in the public forum is due in large part to the hard work of our members." - James Clancy, president, NUPGE. UPDATED

In the face of mounting threats to public services around the world, the Council of Global Unions is launching a campaign to defend and promote the value of public services.  

“Short-term coercive fixes do not create the conditions for developing long-term solutions to the challenges facing Canadian workers and employers.” CFLR Board Member Judy Fudge

"Our members across the country support postal workers in their efforts to bargain for a solid and profitable corporation, one that treats its workers with dignity and respect, to serve the best interests of Canadians for decades to come." - James Clancy, NUPGE national president.

“We’re witnessing a concerted effort by the new Harper majority government to weaken the rights of workers and the influence of their unions.”

"We stand shoulder-to-shoulder with CAW members and all Air Canada workers and urge you to show these workers the respect they deserve and negotiate a fair deal, including good pension benefits." - James Clancy, NUPGE national president.

The resolution sets a clear direction for upcoming G20 meetings in France over which Nikolas Sarkozy, will be acting as President.

"If the Harper government were really intent on balancing the federal budget by 2014, they would not be giving tax cuts to corporations to the tune of billions of dollars a year." - NAPE President Carol Furlong.

"Continuing the spiral downward, the loss will in turn affect the overall economies in our struggling rural communities." - Joan Jessome, NSGEU president.

On the heels of a federal budget which gives more tax breaks to corporations but signals cuts to the public service, PEIUPSE launches regional meetings on the Value of Public Services.

“A majority of Canadians want the Harper government to cancel its plan for more corporate tax cuts and instead invest the money in the quality public services families need,” said James Clancy, NUPGE national president.

The concept of a tax "freedom" day has always been a corporate sham to undermine the value of the public sector and public services.

A new report released by the University of Alberta's Parkland Institute takes the conversation to the next level by discussing how we can change our tax system to accomplish that goal.

OPSEU plans to "decommission the Drummond Commission" by fighting for quality public services and tax fairness.

Get the latest news and information about the All Together Now! campaign by downloading the most recent newsletter.

Planning gets underway for public service fightback campaign in Ontario.

Five aspects of policy will affect the day-to-day lives of Canadians.

"As we heard from several well respected speakers this week, it is critical that we continue to educate, organize and mobilize our activists and fight for tax fairness and quality public services." - James Clancy, NUPGE president.

The real question now is whether or not Canada Post is up to the job to be the innovator the country needs. There is a massive opportunity for CEO Deepak Chopra to make a transformative shift in our postal system. Now is the perfect time for Canada Post to open itself to the future, to invest and expand.

Economist David Macdonald and Ottawa Citizen columnist will be taking your questions about party policies on taxes and public services. Join us at http://alltogethernow.nupge.ca/webcast-apr28

"I believe if Canadians are presented with clear choices in this election, they'll choose the Canada that you and I believe in." - James Clancy, President, NUPGE

“With almost half of all MGEU members working directly for the province of Manitoba, it’s important for members to talk about public services and how these services are impacted by taxation. This is a chance for our members to address these issues and get informed,” said Lois Wales, MGEU president.

"This is a unique opportunity for our membership to learn a bit more about the federal party's platforms, especially with respect to fair taxation," said Scott Pattison, HSAA Communications Officer.

Pamphlet urges Canadians to be a “part of Robin Hood’s merry band in our own story of tax fairness.”

“Not one person I’ve spoken to about this campaign has said these cutbacks haven’t hurt them personally or someone they are close to. I’ve always had fire in my belly to make a difference, but this campaign has increased it more.” - Tamara Weber, Champion 4 Change.

"OPSEU recognizes that the public wants a leader who understands the value of quality public services and is prepared to talk straight about the need to pay for them through a fair tax system. We hope you recognize this as well." - OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas.

"The bottom line is that the Ghiz government has no concrete plan to ensure that Islanders receive continually improving services. If anything, services for Islanders are in jeopardy." - Shelley Ward, PEIUPSE president.

All Together Now! conducting town hall meetings and forums across the country to discuss questions of tax fairness, public services and the people who deliver them. Updated!

Class, quiet please. Our word for today is “taxes.” It is not a dirty word, it is a good clean honest noun for a healthy civic function in the body politic.

Whose Canada? That's the question we want Canadians to think about in this election. Is it Stephen Harpers? Or is it yours and mine? This is the second poster in our Whose Canada? series. It deals with the issue of crime and how to make our communities safer. Please share it with everyone you know.

A recent report coordinated by the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) and Canadian Feminist Alliance for International Action (FAFIA) highlights the sharp decrease in support for women’s issues under the Harper government.

Spending $6 billion on a tax cut to big corporations and up to $30 billion on fighter jets are simply not on the priority list of most Canadians.

There’s more fresh evidence that the Harper government's drive for ever-lower corporate tax rates has not produced the job creation payoff that the Conservatives have been promising.

The Canadian Press reports that the “32 projects were chosen by Industry Minister Tony Clement, the mayor of Huntsville, and the general manager of Deerhurst Resort” with more of an eye to helping the riding rather than supporting the requirements of the summit or abiding by stipulated government conditions.

The Conservative campaign has so far reinforced the image of Harper as a controlling, angry dictator. It’s definitely dented any momentum he had going into the campaign.

"This downsizing fails to address the devastating impact of failing to fill vacancies for our members and the vital services they provide," says NSGEU/NUPGE

The pretense for the attacks is that state governments are broke and radical measures are required to eliminate budget deficits. This is a false argument.

"We may be retired but we are huge in voter numbers so we are pleased to see how the efforts of NUPGE to reach out have been so successful. Grey power may not rule, but it sure does have an impact." Dave and Bonnie Scott, winners.

That's the question we want Canadians to think about.

This show of solidarity will be held on Saturday, April 2 at 2 pm at the Peace Arch Park on the Canada-US border.

“How can the government identify Children’s Aid as a source of savings at a time when programs for abused and neglected children need a major infusion of cash just to keep afloat?” - Warren (Smokey) Thomas, OPSEU president.

'We Are One' events to take place across the U.S. on April 4, the 43rd anniversary of the day Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated after speaking in Memphis, Tennessee on behalf of striking black sanitation workers.

According to Global Compass Group, the lobby firm hired by Koch Industries to represent its interests, it will focus on issues ranging from taxation policy, energy and resource and economic development.

The speech entitled “Tax cuts, political ideology and corporate profit: Who’s footing the bill” will examine the current economic situation in Canada.

Small GIS increase to go only to those seniors with less than $2,000 income a year.

"We can’t keep cutting social workers, highways workers, educators, and health care workers without putting public health and safety at risk,” says SGEU President Bob Bymoen.

We’ve worked hard to build support for tax fairness, public services and public employees. The only people standing in our way are the Harper Conservatives in Ottawa.

"Tax fairness has been flipped upside down in this country,” said Clancy. “Instead of billion dollar give-aways to corporations, the government should invest the money in the public services that ensure a decent quality of life for all Canadians.”

"In our workplaces, in our communities, and across this globe, we have a responsibility to stand up against injustice and discrimination." - James Clancy, national president, National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE).

Lowering corporate taxes provides just 20 cents of growth for every dollar of tax cut. That compares to $1.40 per dollar growth from income support for unemployed and low-income Canadians and $1.50 per dollar growth from infrastructure investment.

"We need to truly be "All Together Now" and stand united in opposition to government decisions which are not in the best interests of Canadians!" - Cathy MacKinnon, PEIUPSE/NUPGE member.

Our nation and our economy were built on the skills and knowledge gained through a public system based on accessibility, affordability, quality and accountability and funded through the Canada Social Transfer (CST)

How bad is income inequality in Canada? Really bad. And it is getting worse. A Fairness Test would ensure that the poorest Canadians are not hit the hardest by deficit reduction policies.

“Canadians are saying enough of the corporate tax cuts and demanding that money be put into meeting the needs of people.” - James Clancy, national president, National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE)

UPDATED Sun. Mar. 13 - NUPGE national president James Clancy joined other NUPGE representatives (Doug Evetts OPSEU/NUPGE; Jim Paul OPSEU/NUPGE; Vic Wonnacott MGEU/NUPGE; Holly Page BCGEU/NUPGE; and Greg Hamara OPSEU/NUPGE) in Wisconsin to provide support and solidarity to public service workers. They joined with 100,000 other people who marched around the state Capital. Check out these photos.

Based on the issues identified over the course of the public hearings, the report offers a comprehensive overview of the major civil liberties violations that took place during the G20 summit and puts forward a series of recommendations aimed at protecting constitutional rights in future public order policing operations.

There's very little evidence these tax cuts will lead to more jobs. In fact, they come with no strings attached so companies that eliminate jobs are actually rewarded - James Clancy, NUPGE national president.

The contest is open to everyone. It’s easy to do. You could win $100. And you get to have your say on an important issue!

NAPE says federal revenue losses may reduce transfer payments and impact provincial public services such as health and education.

Big response to appeal for ideas from public employees on how to deal with provincial budget deficit.

"Conservatives are like fiscal anorexics. They just can't stop obsessing over portion reduction." John Moore, Special to the National Post.

'The truth is that businesses aren’t required to use their tax cuts for job creation and they haven’t done so in the past.'

Satirical video called People for Corporate Tax Cuts makes the point that public employees and public programs must not lavish unnecessary billions on corporations.

'Our collective challenge today is to develop a sense of co-operation amid very significant challenges.'

'The scapegoating of public employees by The Economist is an insidious way of dividing public and private sector workers who actually share the same aspirations.' - James Clancy.

Tim Hudak is misleading voters by pretending that an attack on public sector jobs and wages will deal with a financial mess that the financial sector has caused, says James Clancy, NUPGE's national president.

Warren (Smokey) Thomas will present a brief on behalf of 125,000 OPSEU members across Ontario.

'The Conservatives should not walk and talk like previous governments faced with the same economic challenges. They cannot simply turn to old solutions and stay away from seeking a new path.'

'Without a change of course by their government, they can expect more of the same - generosity for the oil patch, discipline for citizens.' - Parkland Institute.

'There will be a major human and economic cost if deficits are eliminated before a real recovery has been achieved.' - Andrew Jackson.

NUPGE president James Clancy says Canada has "an excellent opportunity" to help build a stronger, more equitable and just global financial system.

'We're a 130,000 member union and we are also working together with other unions to make sure our message is heard.'

Eye-opening website lets employees see the annual cumulative losses a public sector freeze will mean to their personal purchasing power.

'The Harper government’s priorities are dead wrong.' - NUPGE president James Clancy.

Two-year freeze on increases will end on Jan. 1 and rates could rise by 15 cents per $100 of earnings.

'I can say with confidence that McGuinty knows the broad strokes of where OPSEU members are at on the big issues.' - Warren (Smokey) Thomas.

'The only place for this dialogue is at the bargaining table or, where that fails, at arbitration.' - Warren (Smokey) Thomas.

'Inmates are not just being double-bunked in some places they are triple-bunked and sleeping on cots in every available bit of floor space. To add to this problem is a recipe for disaster.' - James Clancy.

“The really outrageous thing is that the banks are still talking about this as if they were unlucky… That’s rubbish. It’s like drinking a bottle of vodka, tying a scarf over your eyes and trying to run down Georgia street then complaining that you are unlucky when you get hit by a taxi.”

'Canada may be pulling into recovery but Ontario is not yet out of the recessionary woods.' - CCPA.

"This is an idea that NUPGE has supported for a long, long time." - NUPGE president James Clancy.

(11 Feb. 2010) - The top priority for the upcoming federal budget must be to preserve and create good jobs. The budget should also invest in building a healthier, smarter, greener and more secure Canada, says NUPGE president James Clancy.

(29 Jan. 2010) - While 2009 provided several significant victories for workers across Canada, governments continued their legislative attack on the rights of labour, says NUPGE president James Clancy.

(16 Dec. 2009) - 'We need a National Pensions Summit that provides Canadians from all walks of life with an open forum to fairly explore and assess the viability of all options designed to improve retirement security for all Canadians.'  - James Clancy.

James Laxer: 'Labour is the source of wealth ... the sustainable well-being of wage and salary earners should be the central objective of economic policy.'

NUPGE publishes the first of three reports on ideas that emerged from a series of 26 town hall meetings across the country to assess the way forward from the global economic collapse.

(22 Oct. 2009) - NUPGE president James Clancy says Canada needs serious tax reform. But he says the new HST in Ontario and BC unfairly targets working families and should be cancelled. Instead, Canada must look at restoring fairness to its tax system by cancelling the Harper government's planned corporate tax cuts and by creating new tax brackets at the top for the wealthiest Canadians.

'Only 38% of paid workers have workplace pensions.'- Monica Townson.

The minimum wage has not been changed in British Columbia for the past eight years.

(31 Aug. 2009) - 'I ask you to reflect on the victims of this powerful recession and to speak out for the changes that our government must make if we are to build a better world for ourselves and our families.'

Rolling in massive profits again after taking billions in public bailout measures.

Canada ranks almost dead last among OECD countries in terms of access, benefit duration and income replacement levels for Employment Insurance, according to a recent study by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives.

(2 June 2009) - Canada's social infrastructure is starving for funds despite right-wing lies about the cause of Jim Flaherty's projected $50 billion deficit.

“This is really outrageous and it understandably offends people,” said Clancy. “How can they possibly justify these bonuses when the fund lost over $23 billion dollars last year? That defies common sense.”

Poll finds 90% believe chartered banks should be required to cut interest rates by the full amount of cuts approved by the Bank of Canada.

Community‐organized Town Hall Meeting coincides with the Federal Standing Committee on Human Resources, Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities (HUMA) hearings in Toronto on June 1st & 2nd, 2009. HUMA is a committee of MPs from all parties.

Canada’s forest industry is in crisis. Ten of thousands of laid off workers from coast to coast are at risk of losing their homes, their savings and their pension. Hundreds of forest communities are fighting for their survival. The Conservative government has done nothing meaningful yet to help one of the main industrial sectors of the country.

(24 May 2009) - As long as Harper and his cabinet let the big banks write the rules, we'll continue to have a financial system that's good for them and bad for everyone else.

'The private sector has failed miserably.... The only way to ensure that all Canadians are able to retire with security and dignity is by expanding Canada's public pension system.' - James Clancy.

The Canadian Labour Congress has designed a poster for the June 13th rally in Toronto.  Download a copy and put it up.

The Canadian Labour Congress has designed a poster for the June 13th rally in Toronto.  Download a copy and put it up.

The Canadian Labour Congress has announced more details of rallies and events, addressing the economic crisis, that are taking place during the spring of 2009.

'The suggestion we often hear, that taxes are a burden, hides the reality that our taxes fund public services that make Canada’s standard of living among the very best.'

The London and District Labour Council and the Canadian Labour Congress hosting ECONOMIC CRISIS rally and educational forum on May 2nd, 2009.

Series of town hall meetings being organized by the Canadian Labour Congress along with NUPGE/BCGEU, USW, CEP, CUPE, HERE, BCFL and FPSE.

Major rallies announced for the Ontario cities of London, Oshawa and Toronto.

Web resource helps Canadians demand that the federal government act to improve Employment Insurance, pension and retirement security as well as stop banks from gouging consumers.

Critics pounce on Harper government for failing to expand program to cope with rapidly rising unemployment figures.

Why are several Canadian provinces cutting back at a time when the economy needs stimulus across the board, asks NUPGE's Larry Brown.