N.L. labour advocates celebrate advances, reaffirm commitments at Labour Day parade
CBC
Dozens of labour advocates paraded around Quidi Vidi Lake in St. John's on Monday to reflect on wins, setbacks, concerns for the future and, of course, celebrate Labour Day.
Jessica McCormick, president of the Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Labour, said the day is important for marking achievements while also taking time to reaffirm commitments to improving working conditions for all.
"We want to ensure that every worker has the opportunity, if they wish, to join a union," McCormick told CBC News.
McCormick said there are still many workers in the province who are unable to unionize or benefit from what a union can provide, like new Canadians, temporary workers and gig workers.
Monday also marked a sobering anniversary — two years since a flash fire at the Come By Chance refinery resulted in the death of employee Shawn Peddle.
"Every worker has a right to come home safe at the end of the day," McCormick said. "These are the reasons we continue to fight and it's very important that workers come together with their unions to continue this advocacy."
Raj Sharan, president of Newfoundland and Labrador's New Democratic Party, was among those who attended the parade.
He said Newfoundland and Labrador is among the most unionized provinces in Canada.
"There's so much more wealth that is now generated here and stays, and this wouldn't have happened if it weren't for a high level of unionization," he said.
"I'm here to remind [my kids] and myself, and respect the fact that we have civil liberties. The fact that we have a weekend, that we have labour standards. These are all achieved by workers working together, uniting together."
Debbie Lake, treasurer of the Public Service Alliance of Canada's St. John's area council, said the progress made has resulted in upbeat morale within the union and the workforce.
However, she also stressed the importance of making sure work to support and improve labour standards continues in the province and across the country.
"We are staring down elections. We are staring down possible changes in federal government leaders, and what comes with that is unknown," Lake said.
"All of those benefits come from labour movement and we want to not only maintain what we have, but we want to build on that and ensure that we don't lose it because we are in danger of losing our benefits and everything we have worked so hard for."
A man has been found guilty of second-degree murder in the shooting death of a Toronto mother outside a supervised consumption site in Leslieville.
Russian olive trees — sometimes known as silver berry or oleaster — are small, ornamental plants with silvery leaves and black bark, and small yellow flowers and silver fruit that look like miniature olives. They’re pretty, but they’re a problem.
The Yukon Legislative Assembly’s fall sitting ended on Thursday after the territorial government introduced and passed a supplementary budget.
A Canadian military counter-intelligence operative, who stands accused of passing sensitive information to Ukraine, was involved in an investigation into allegations that a leading Canadian defence journalist was a longtime Russian asset.
An Alberta panel aimed at finding ways the province can strengthen its autonomy has offered up seven recommendations, including options for referendum topics.
People won't be able to travel along B.C.'s Highway 3 without significant delays and detours over the holiday season, says the Ministry of Transportation.
Photos of a wooden box, allegedly used for student "time outs" at an elementary school in Akwesasne, drew shock and anger from parents this week and have prompted an investigation by the school district.
A 26-year-old man from Toronto has been arrested on terrorism charges, police announced on Friday, as well as charges for two attempted kidnappings in the Greater Toronto Area.
St. Jude’s Anglican Church in Iqaluit has fallen on tough financial times.
Prime Minister Mark Carney has announced a large shuffle of deputy ministers and senior public servants in a shake-up at the top of the public service that has long been expected around Ottawa.
Alberta's declining COVID-19 vaccination rate is sparking more concern as it becomes clear how uptake in the province compares to other parts of the country.
Drivers faced treacherous road conditions Friday morning as tempuratures started to drop below freezing following a night of rain.
A cold front is sweeping through the Greater Toronto Area Friday morning, according to a special weather statement by Environment Canada.