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Unifor believes in an active leadership role for government to develop strong and sophisticated policies that leverage strategic investments to secure long-term economic development. Our budget 2017 submission focuses on policy priorities and budgetary investments that will create good jobs, strengthen Canadian businesses and increase economic prosperity for Canadian workers, their families and communities.
Summary of Recommendations:
Technological Innovation, Advanced Manufacturing and Economic Growth
- Amend the Auto Innovation Fund to become a non-taxable granting program, with flexible rules and procedures, that are tied to the creation of manufacturing jobs.
- Develop a “one-stop” system to win new investment in Canadian assembly and parts plants.
- Invest $1 billion in Bombardier’s C-Series program as a concrete investment in good jobs, high productivity and innovation.
- Leverage new investments in public infrastructure by including provisions for Made-in-Canada public transit equipment, local content and hiring rules, including a focus on under-represented communities.
- For Canada to continue to be a leader in advanced technology and innovation, we need to ensure that all Canadians have the ability to contribute to economic growth. Lack of
- affordable child care continues to be a significant barrier to working families (and working women in particular). Government must work to create an affordable childcare system so all Canadians can contribute to our long-term economic development.
Climate Change, Innovation and ‘Just Transition’ to a Low-Carbon Economy
- Establish a process to review the labour market impacts resulting from policies that would hasten the industrial shift away from fossil fuels in favour of renewable energy and clean technology (at the provincial and community level). The goal would be to ensure that the costs associated with Canada’s transition to a low carbon economy are not unfairly borne by working women and men.
- Invest the projected EI surplus to expand access to training programs with a focus on labour adjustment/transition programs so Canadian workers and their communities can benefit from the transition to a green economy by accessing the new community sustaining “green jobs” being created through public investment programs and sector strategies.
- Expand access to EI, including support for retraining, skills upgrading, EI flexibility for workplace transition, enhanced severance and salary continuance, pension bridging and early retirement options.
- To grow Canada’s economic prosperity and expand industrial opportunity we need renewed sector councils. Following global best practice for successful industrial and economic development policy, the government must develop tripartite: industry, union and government bodies to design sector strategies with economic development being the priority.
Supporting Canadian Communities, Creating Good Jobs
- Supporting Canadian Communities, Creating Good Jobs
- Evidence to date shows that the sell off of public assets has not been in the public good, therefore Unifor is principally opposed to the sale of public assets. When it comes to “asset recycling,”the government must first examine the impact on productivity, safety and economic development, particularly in regards to the sell-off of Canada’s public airports.
- Ensure that income generated by e-commerce companies, online service providers, digital content distributors and the sale of products and services are taxed in accordance with current Canadian laws.
- Reverse the previous federal government’s amendments to the Telecommunications Act, namely those related to foreign ownership, as outlined in the 2012 Budget Implementation Bill.
Download the full submission.
