Jerry Dias, National President of Unifor and Daniel Bernhard, Executive Director of Friends of Canadian Broadcasting

Today, the Disney+ streaming service becomes available in Canada, hot on the heels of Apple+, which launched on November 1^st. Many are celebrating their arrival as a boon for Canadian viewers: hundreds of new programs, available anytime, anywhere, for less than $9 per month.

We aren’t a shy bunch at Unifor - and that was certainly proved true during last month’s federal election.

In fact, we did exactly what we said we’d do - play an active role in ensuring that Andrew Scheer’s Conservatives never form government and never get the chance to turn the clock back on progressive policies this country needs.

We reached out to our members in key ridings across Canada, making sure they were aware of what was at stake in the election if the Conservatives won.

First, let’s talk about the lessons we can take from the Manitoba election this week, which saw Brian Pallister’s Conservatives return for a second majority government, as we head into a new federal election.

The good news is that this is, at least, a reduced majority. The NDP led by Wab Kinew gained seven seats for a total of 18, and elected Manitoba’s first black members of the legislature and Kinew was returned as the first Indigenous Official Opposition leader.

The following Opinion piece appeared in the Globe and Mail Report on Business on July 17, 2019.

Corporate takeovers are never ideal for anyone – except maybe the business leaders behind the deals.

For the rest of us, from workers to the public, corporate takeovers are rarely the kind of thing we like to see.

Customers prefer choice, and more companies in the market gives them that choice.

People of good conscience disagree all the time – always have, always will. It would be great if we could figure out a way to agree on the major issue of the day, but I’m not holding my breath.

This is not entirely a bad thing, of course. When our views and ideas are challenged, it forces us to sharpen our arguments, and to zero in on what is most important to us. In the end, debate over what policy or action to pursue makes for better policy.

At least, when it’s done right, with good will and with both sides respectful of the other.

The recent fall economic statement from Ontario’s Conservative government came straight out of the ring-wing playbook, and should serve as a warning across Canada about the dangers of populists who pretend to speak for working people, but serve the privileged.

By Lana Payne, Atlantic Regional Director

For nearly 630 days, 30 workers from Gander, Newfoundland and Labrador have been locked out by their American-based employer D-J Composites.

They are facing their third winter and third Christmas on a picket line.

D-J Composites has twice been found guilty of violating labour laws by bargaining in bad faith.

A country and its culture is distinguished from another by the stories it tells – about itself and about its place in the world.

Those are stories told through books and magazines, television and film, through broadcast and printed journalism, through music and live theatre, and more.

In Canada, we are lucky to have rich source of storytellers across this country, telling incredible stories. We can be proud of this, but pride is simply not enough when you live next door to the largest producer of cultural goods in the world.

Good reporters ask hard questions. They challenge what you say, and you better have the facts to back you up.

The fact is, tough reporters make me better at my job, and that serves the public. I know I need to be on top of things to get my message across. By challenging me and other subjects in their stories, journalists play an invaluable service and their work is at the heart of a functioning democracy.

Not all seem to agree, however.