Reports on Regional Good Jobs Summits
Thunder Bay (September 2014)
A half-day consultation among local business, municipal, labour, and community organizations was convened by Kari Jefford, President of Unifor Local 229 (representing health care workers in Thunder Bay and the surrounding area). The workshop focused on proposing concrete economic development strategies relevant to more remote and regional economies.
Vancouver (November 2014)
The B.C. office of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives hosted a one-day Good Jobs conference, at the Vancouver Library. It attracted over 125 participants from many local constituencies: including business, local and provincial government, community and anti-poverty, labour, and student groups. Over a dozen presentations explored the challenges facing good jobs in B.C., and possible solutions. Presentations are viewable at https://www.policyalternatives.ca/node/12601. A listing of 31 concrete ideas for supporting good jobs in the B.C. economy, assembled as part of the conference, is available here: https://www.policyalternatives.ca/offices/bc/goodjobs.
Kingston (March 2015)
A team of students at St. Lawrence College organized a half-day Good Jobs Summit at their campus in Kingston. The conference featured presentations by Hassan Yussuff, President of the Canadian Labour Congress, Allan O’Dette, President and CEO of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, Glenn Vollebregt, President of St. Lawrence College, and Jim Stanford, Economist at Unifor. Presentations and discussion focused on the good job challenges facing young people as they graduate from college and university, and policy alternatives to support a more productive, inclusive, and successful labour market in the future. Visit the Summit’s web site here: http://www.stlawrencecollege.ca/calendar/2015/good-jobs-summit-x/.
Oshawa (April 2015)
Oshawa’s historic Regent Theatre was the venue for an evening Good Jobs Forum co-sponsored by the University of Ontario Institute of Technology and Unifor Local 222. The event tied into a major participatory research project launched by two professors at UOIT: Dr. Toba Brant and Dr. Scott Aquanno. They will study the correlation between good job opportunities and various indicators of physical, mental, and social well-being. The Forum featured six speakers addressing the causes and consequences of the disappearance of good jobs in the Oshawa area, the importance of preserving manufacturing, and alternative policy directions for government. Local media coverage of the Forum can be viewed here: http://www.durhamregion.com/news-story/5539166-good-jobs-equal-good-health-oshawa-forum-speakers/.
Peterborough (June 16, 2015)
What is a Good Job? Join us to talk about it.
Michelynn Lafleche from the United Way of Toronto will be sharing information from a recent study on precarious employment conducted in partnership with Dr. Wayne Lewchuk from McMaster University. Sandra Dueck, policy analyst with the Peterborough Chamber of Commerce and Kaylie Tiessen, economist with the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives will talk about what a good job means to them. Local workers will also weigh in on the question. You will have your turn too when we break up into small groups to answer the following questions:
1. What are the greatest barriers you face around getting a good job?
2. What are the characteristics of a "good job"?
3. What realistic/achievable actions need to happen in Peterborough in the next year?
A light supper and child care will be provided.
PLEASE NOTE: If you require child care, please contact Monique Beneteau at (705) 743-1000 ext. 309 or @email before June 10th.
Find out more here: https://www.facebook.com/events/665034780296475/
More regional Summits to come!
Local organizers are working on plans for further local and regional Good Jobs Summits in other communities across Canada (including Peterborough, Halifax, and more). If you would like to organize a Summit in your community, please contact @email for assistance in publicizing the event, organizing tips, research contacts, and other support.
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