Unpacked with the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives

The pandemic has shown who can be winners and losers in the Canadian economy. It was no surprise that wealth inequality showed up loudly and clearly in conversations leading up to the recent federal election.What, exactly, has the pandemic taught us about wealth inequality in Canada? What does the current government have in store to shrink the gap between the super rich and poor? And what else should be considered? Join CCPA Senior Economist David Macdonald and Progressive Economics Fellow Alicia Massie, authors of the recent Boundless Bonuses report, as they unpack how we can tackle wealth inequality.

The pandemic put a microscope on workers’ rights. This has included push back on corporate power, while a wave of resignations across the U.S. has revealed workers are rejecting extremely low-wages and poor working conditions. Is something similar happening in Canada? Will greater awareness of the brutal realities of low-wage work lead to meaningful change? Or is the status quo pushing back? With federal and provincial (Ontario) elections on the horizon, join CCPA Senior Economist Sheila Block and CCPA-Ontario Research Associate Aminah Sheikh as they unpack what the moment means for the future of workers’ rights in Canada.

The COVID-19 pandemic has shown us the importance and challenges of Canada’s care economy. With a federal election on the horizon, are we on the cusp of generational changes to child care, long-term care and more? And with growing demand for care work, what should policymakers do to make sure workers are protected and compensated fair for their labour? In this episode, CCPA Senior Research Katherine Scott and Ontario Nonprofit Network policy advisor Pamela Uppal as they discuss the care economy.

A Green Future is possible, but what does it look like in Canada? What do we need to consider as we transition to a net-zero economy? And how do we do it without leaving anyone behind? Join Hadrian Mertins-Kirkwood, CCPA Senior Researcher, and Environmental Defence’s program manager for climate and energy, Allie Rougeot, as they discuss the movement across Canada to push for inclusive climate action for a hopeful future.

Canada’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout had a bumpy start, but it now leads the world with the largest share of any country’s population having received first doses. Globally, the picture is much different. Vaccine inequality is rampant. What are the impacts for countries without reliable, safe and affordable access to vaccines? How should this reality affect our global pandemic response? Has Canada’s response to this challenge measured up? CCPA’s Senior Trade Researcher Stuart Trew and Siham Rayale, Oxfam Canada Scholar and Policy Specialist, unpack what it would take to ensure vaccines for all. Find out more:Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives: https://policyalternatives.caOxfam Canada: https://www.oxfam.ca/https://www.doctorswithoutborders.ca/covid-19-vaccines-equitable-global-access-urgently-needed

Now that school’s out, It’s the perfect time to join us in a conversation reflecting back on education during the pandemic. How was education handled by policy makers during the pandemic? What kind of plans are in place to support educators and students in the year ahead? And will our government’s current plans be enough? CCPA experts Erika Shaker and Ricardo Tranjan break down the policy changes in education, their impact, and what we need to consider looking ahead to back-to-school season in the fall?

Today on Unpacked with the CCPA: Canada's Colour-Coded Retirement.Sheila Block is Senior Economist for the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternative's Ontario office. Grace-Edward Galabuzi, associate professor at the Department of Politics and Public Administration at X University.Along with Hayden King, director of the Yellowhead Institute, they have authored a new report that troubles the way many Canadians experience retirement. "Colour-coded Retirement: An intersectional analysis of retirement income and savings in Canada" is available through the CCPA website: https://www.policyalternatives.ca/ColourCodedRetirementLet's continue the conversation!

CCPA experts David Macdonald and Katherine Scott unpack the lessons learned about inequality during the pandemic. Can we build back in a way that leaves no one behind? For more information on the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, visit https://policyalternatives.ca