News & Insights

Climate change features in the platforms of all parties in the federal election, though the breadth and depth of their commitments vary. So how do you know if the actions to which parties are committing will really move us towards the goal of holding climate change to 1.5 degree Celsius, as agreed to by Canada in the Paris Agreement?

It’s great to see the parties upping their game when it comes to housing policy. All recognize that we have a dire problem. All appear to know that there is no “silver bullet” policy that will save the day. And all instead are proposing something more akin to “silver buckshot” by recommending changes to a variety of policy levers.

Tax credits cover ANY kind of paid child care that supports parental employment. It could be licensed child care in a centre or home, but it could be an unlicensed neighbourhood sitter or a nanny or care provided by a relative if that relative is paid. So tax credits offer less opportunity to influence the quality of services.

The pandemic has shown us how fortunate we are to enjoy publicly funded medical care, strong health infrastructure, and a committed and resilient health work force. Unfortunately, it has also highlighted the gaps and inequities that we knew existed prior to COVID-19 – but which we have been far too slow to address.

After decades of research, planning, demonstrations and struggles, the financial squeeze on young families trying to afford child care may finally ease. All of us, including the public and government officials, need to make sure we don’t let young families and their children down this time.

To ease this squeeze, our organization began recommending a “$10 a day” national child care system. In partnership with the "$10 a day" movement that ran with this idea in BC, along with the national advocacy of Child Care Now, the 2021 Federal Budget takes a massive step toward ensuring child care never again costs as much as rent or the mortgage!

Canada’s top court has thrown its support behind the kind of unified climate action younger generations want and need. It’s a good day for intergenerational solidarity. In a 6-3 ruling, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled in support of minimum national standards that require all provinces to curb carbon pollution, including by putting a price on it.

Big news! The federal government has proposed new climate change legislation that’s supposed to help Canada (on balance) ditch carbon emissions by 2050, also called achieving net-zero, by requiring a bunch of smaller targets along the way.

This week’s Supreme Court of Canada review of the federal carbon tax is an important one to watch. At the heart of the top court’s hearing is the question: Is our country ready and able to work together to fight the climate crisis?