Labour organizations are calling on workers to widely mobilize for the upcoming federal election, citing it as one of the most important elections in Canada’s recent history. Amidst an escalating trade war triggered by the US, thousands of jobs remain at risk. The issues facing workers stretch beyond tariffs, though, with many families suffering due to a health human resource crisis, stagnating wages and the rising cost of living.
Employment Insurance amidst tariff threats
The Canadian Labour Congress (CLC), the country’s largest labour organization, launched their federal election platform on Monday. It included demands for expanded Employment Insurance (EI) coverage to protect workers who may experience job loss due to American tariffs. These calls were echoed by Canada’s largest private sector union, Unifor, in their election platform.
“This isn’t just another election – it’s a crucial choice about who will support Canadian workers in these turbulent times,” said CLC national president Bea Bruske in a statement.
Labour organizations have long been advocating for expanded EI coverage. In 2022, the federal government began a two-year review on Canada’s EI system, but the CLC says unfair rules remain. This election, the organization is calling for the end of the deductions to EI benefits that result from severance, vacation entitlements, and other separation payments. As well, they want an end to the 50-week limit on combined special and unemployment benefits.
As Canadian jobs face an uncertain future, the CLC, Unifor and other labour organizations say EI can ensure Canadians are not left to suffer in this economic upset.
“Workers deserve a safety net they can rely on,” the CLC wrote in their election platform. “By fixing our broken EI system, we can ensure that job loss doesn’t mean economic devastation for working families.”
Improved tax system to bolster public services
The CLC is also calling for reforms to Canada’s tax system. Increased tax on capital gains, corporate income, windfall profit and the country’s richest would generate revenue which could fund public services.
A recent report by Canadians for Tax Fairness showed that tax breaks for Canada’s richest has resulted in a loss of thousands of dollars for each working Canadian family. The Canadian economy has seen growth in recent years but the fruits of this growth have been captured by the top one per cent. Canadians for Tax Fairness report that Canada’s bottom 50 per cent of earners would have made more than $6,000 extra dollars in 2022 if their income had kept pace with economic growth.
The Public Service Alliance of Canada, which represents a large number of federal public servants, has raised alarms over potential cuts to public services. On Wednesday, PSAC in the National Capital Region (PSAC-NCR) rallied to stop job cuts at Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). While the rally mainly focused on IRCC jobs, protestors were also calling for job protections in Canada’s broader public service.
“We’ve all seen what happens when public service jobs are cut — and it doesn’t end well for anyone,” said Ruth Lau MacDonald, Regional Executive Vice-President for PSAC-NCR. “PSAC-NCR is demanding the Government of Canada halt these reckless job cuts and focus on alternative strategies for managing the federal budget that don’t impact the services Canadians rely on each day.”
Protecting public health care
The ongoing health human resource crisis has also become an election issue. As many families are left without health care, the CLC is calling for an enduring solution to the crisis.
A recent survey by the Canadian Federation of Nurses’ Unions (CFNU) has highlighted the gravity of the situation. A quarter of respondents rate their work environment negatively, with more than a third of respondents having worked involuntary overtime in recent months.
These conditions are having negative impacts on workers’ relationships to their families and friends which harms morale. As well, one in three respondents say the quality of care in their workplaces is “fair” or “poor” and half of respondents say the quality of care has deteriorated in the last year.
“When it comes to health care, the conditions of work are the conditions of care. Still, in 2025, nurses are having to fight for better working conditions so they can provide better care,” said CFNU national president Linda Silas. “With far too many patient assignments, nurses face the impossible task of being in several places at once. There is nothing more demoralizing than being ill-equipped to perform your job in the way you were educated to do it – with safe patient care always at the heart.”
As the federal election fast approaches, the CFNU wants the health human resource to be addressed not only for patient care but also for worker health and safety.
“Federal parties and candidates must not look away,” Silas said. “Nurses are counting on you to invest heavily in concrete solutions for our public health care system.”
Support rabble today!
We’re so glad you stopped by! Thanks for consuming rabble content this year.
rabble.ca is 100% reader and donor funded, so as an avid reader of our content, we hope you will consider gifting rabble with a donation during our summer fundraiser today.
Whether it be a one-time donation or a small monthly contribution, your support is critical to keep rabble writers producing the work you’ve come to rely on as a part of a healthy media diet.
Become a rabble rouser — donate to rabble.ca today.
Nick Seebruch, editor
