Proposal disregards freedom of association principles.
OTTAWA, ON, July 19, 2012: If the Saskatchewan government implements labour law changes based on the direction set out in its Consultation Paper on the Renewal of Labour Legislation in Saskatchewan, the province will be in violation of international human rights standards, according to a research study released on July 17, 2012, by the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE).
"Saskatchewan working people could fall below the international standards set by the United Nations International Labour Organization (ILO) if the government acts on some of the changes suggested in the consultation paper," said James Clancy, NUPGE National President.
"This would be a setback for workers in the province and would embarrass Canada on the international human rights stage. Canada has a reputation for championing human rights, not restricting them," Clancy noted.
July 30, 2012: Paul Buchheit reports for Nation of Change that privatization usually has poor payoffs for the general public, raising costs for consumers and reducing revenue streams for public coffers. He notes that privatization can only work in the context of strict regulation, but goes on to say that it rarely benefits the delivery of essential public services. Buchheit demonstrates that in the US, privatization has adversely affected education, health care, banking, prisons, military, water and other utilities.
HALIFAX, NS, July 26, 2012: Public health care advocates from across the country are paying close attention to the Council of the Federation meeting in Halifax. The Nova Scotia Citizen's Health Care Network, of which the Nova Scotia Government and General Employees Union (NSGEU/NUPGE) and the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) are major supporters, held a press conference and a series of public events to outline their vision to improve Canada's public health care system.