Young workers hold Trudeau to account

Great line from one participant:  "I am disappointed that they felt they could bring the prime minister to this event and expect a group of young workers who they've spent the last two days telling us to be empowered, telling us to stand up, telling us to speak truth to power," said Jessica Sikora. "Then they put power in front of us and they expect us to sit quietly? That was never in the cards."

Good to see.  For the longest time people were reticent to raise even a peep of a criticism against the Liberals.  And that wasn't good.  Governments need feedback from people or they lose touch.  Trudeau and Morneau stating that a precarious substandard work life is all that people should accept from now on deserves a strong response.  And Trudeau declaring that he's so popular it doesn't matter if he breaks a central promise of his campaign (electoral reform -- 2015 being the last election under FPTP) is another sign of a government losing touch.  So good for the youth.  It's a positive development that they're beginning to speak up.

Did Trudeau and Morneau actually say that? I know that is what they think, or rather that they don't give a shit about "common people", but what did they actually say to that effect?

That sounds more like the stuff Couillard, Leitao and Barrette are in the habit of saying out loud, here...

I wasn't responding to anyone on this thread, but to a blogger who accused me of being a "hater" and "hating" Trudeau. Many born-again Liberals are insinuating things like that about anyone who dares criticise Justin.

Yes, that isn't a polyester suit from Moores, or whatever that cheap menswear shop is called...

I thought the Libs were attempting to avoid such direct language about their nefarious plans. "Job churn" sounds particularly awful, like being run through a washing machine.

Trudeau and Morneau are channeling the Thatcher "there is no alternative" mentality. We just have to accept job insecurity and lack of pensions because that is what the "market" has commanded. Government, through public policy, can't change it so it shouldn't even try. You'd figure that's something the NDP would jump on them about. But that's another issue.

lagatta wrote:

Yes, although the NDP has been involved in the fight for 15 demos and movement, it is certainly something we can challenge. Especially with a chief who had a strange admiration for Mrs Thatcher.

There's nothing strange about an idolater of neo-liberalism expressing glowing admiration for one of the founders of that misanthropic ideology.

What is very strange is that Canadians can't seen to vote in many MPs who don't share these social neaderthal views.

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Trudeau and Morneau are channeling the Thatcher "there is no alternative" mentality. We just have to accept job insecurity and lack of pensions because that is what the "market" has commanded. Government, through public policy, can't change it so it shouldn't even try. You'd figure that's something the NDP would jump on them about. But that's another issue.

Fascinating how some here constantly desire to turn threads about Liberal misdeeds into criticism of the NDP.  What's with that?  Do people not know how to use Duckduckgo (or Google, if you prefer)?  Or check the NDP site?  Or the Hansard?

http://www.ndp.ca/news/liberals-must-act-precarious-work-millenials

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Today in Question Period, NDP Jobs Critic Niki Ashton (Churchill-Keewatinook Aski) invited Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to hear directly from young people at a national forum organized by Ashton on the rise of precarious work in the millennial generation.

“Precarious work is not a fact of life. New Democrats do not accept that temporary jobs, involuntary part-time or freelance work, continuous contract positions, unpaid internships, or jobs with no benefits, workplace pension, or jobs security is a reality that we need to resign ourselves to,” stated Ashton. “What I heard loud and clear is the reality for young people is becoming increasingly grim. We can and must do better for Canadian youth.”

This will be the first forum of its kind on Parliament Hill where Millennial leaders and their allies will be coming together from across the country to identify what action they need to federal government to take to have a more secure future.

Great idea.  Trudeau can either show up and really hear from people, or cowardly avoid it.  Either way, it keeps the issue in the spotlight and empowers people to share their experiences and their ideas.

I don't particularly believe in "generational" analysis, but it is evident that a new cohort that has not become discouraged is a key factor in social movements. This is the case in the labour movement, the women's movement, and also movements such as Idle No More.

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Today in Question Period, NDP Jobs Critic Niki Ashton (Churchill-Keewatinook Aski) invited Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to hear directly from young people at a national forum organized by Ashton on the rise of precarious work in the millennial generation.

I was there. Good attendance, great discussion, sadly completely unnoticed by the media, despite being held in the Macdonald building directly across the street from Parliament Hill. I also got a chance to speak briefly with Robert Fox, and left mildly optimistic that he's willing to listen to the membership. The Section QC convention starts tomorrow, so we'll see.

Ken, I got your message and will respond.

More on these inspiring protests: http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/liberal-trudeau-protests-youth-students-... In the meantime, here in Québec, there is an equally inspiring of young women (and male allies) against sexual assault and the culture of machist entitlement. I'll start a post on that unless someone else here beats me to it (I've been very busy).

As I said, not all agree with the young workers' protest: http://montrealsimon.blogspot.ca/2016/10/justin-trudeau-and-farcical-you...

I can't see any of these young worker-activists having any sympathy or nostalgia for the HarperCons.

By the way, that gets a lot worse with the responses to comments, accusing non-Trudeau lovers of being homophobes (?), closet cons, supporters of the Cons and "enemies, not freinds". Very disturbing.

mark_alfred wrote:

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Trudeau and Morneau are channeling the Thatcher "there is no alternative" mentality. We just have to accept job insecurity and lack of pensions because that is what the "market" has commanded. Government, through public policy, can't change it so it shouldn't even try. You'd figure that's something the NDP would jump on them about. But that's another issue.

Fascinating how some here constantly desire to turn threads about Liberal misdeeds into criticism of the NDP.  What's with that?  Do people not know how to use Duckduckgo (or Google, if you prefer)?  Or check the NDP site?  Or the Hansard?

http://www.ndp.ca/news/liberals-must-act-precarious-work-millenials

Quote:

Today in Question Period, NDP Jobs Critic Niki Ashton (Churchill-Keewatinook Aski) invited Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to hear directly from young people at a national forum organized by Ashton on the rise of precarious work in the millennial generation.

“Precarious work is not a fact of life. New Democrats do not accept that temporary jobs, involuntary part-time or freelance work, continuous contract positions, unpaid internships, or jobs with no benefits, workplace pension, or jobs security is a reality that we need to resign ourselves to,” stated Ashton. “What I heard loud and clear is the reality for young people is becoming increasingly grim. We can and must do better for Canadian youth.”

This will be the first forum of its kind on Parliament Hill where Millennial leaders and their allies will be coming together from across the country to identify what action they need to federal government to take to have a more secure future.

Great idea.  Trudeau can either show up and really hear from people, or cowardly avoid it.  Either way, it keeps the issue in the spotlight and empowers people to share their experiences and their ideas.

This is the first I have heard of Niki's plan for a national forum. What's the date? I assume it's for all youth not just NDP youth? Where will it be held? Will there be multiple locations?

A forum can't hurt but there is no need to "hear the reality". There is no mystery. The numbers are all well known. What's needed is solutions.

The problem is in trade deals like CETA and labour laws including temporary foreign workers. Education is another area that has to be redesigned to suit the realities of "job churn". Shorter work weeks would increase employment and create better work/life balance.

If the NDP wants to win the youth vote they will have to do a lot better than pointing fingers.

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As I said, not all agree with the young workers' protest: http://montrealsimon.blogspot.ca/2016/10/justin-trudeau-and-farcical-you...

Craig Scott as well was critical.  He felt that since there was an open mic to ask questions, that it didn't make sense for people to turn their backs on Trudeau.  I don't agree.  Sometimes actions speak louder than words.  Obviously the protesters felt that their words wouldn't be heard anyway, and thus decided to just express their disgust.

I do agree with Morneau in one sense. I believe it would be a good idea for him to start considering changing his career to something other than the Minister of Finance. Win-win for him and for the country.

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They were right to turn their backs. What questions are left when it's announced they can expect precarious work for the rest of their lives?

If the NDP starts opposing neoliberalism they could easily pick up the youth vote.

Yes, the NDP should stop announcing that youth can simply expect precarious work for the rest of their lives.