Anti-smoking crusader dies; Canadians work too much; Union applauds sentencing in bus driver attack; Air Canada’s unions want a piece of the pie; CPP experiences 20 per cent growth spurt; Candidate proposes tax relief for youth
Anti-smoking crusader dies
Ottawa — Heather Crowe, the face of Canada’s anti-smoking movement, died just a week before Ontario’s tough new anti-smoking act took effect. She was 61. Crowe is well-known for television ads in which she said second-hand smoke in the workplace caused her deadly lung cancer. For more information on The Smoke Free Ontario Act, of which Crowe was a staunch supporter, see Page 5.
Canadians work too much
Ottawa — The average Canadian worked 1,751 hours in 2004, about 43 more work days than the Dutch, Germans, French and Danes. However, working more doesn’t equal greater productivity. Canada’s gross domestic product is very similar to that of many European countries and below that of some. The Irish work six per cent fewer hours on average than Canadians, yet Ireland’s economic output per person beats Canada’s by 14 per cent.
Union applauds sentencing in bus driver attack
Winnipeg — A union is claiming victory after a Winnipeg man was sentenced to 26 months in jail for the assault of a city bus driver. Rick Ganton pleaded guilty to one count each of assault and mischief for the March 16 attack against Murray Tarvis, a member of the Amalgamated Transit Union’s Local 1505. The union said the sentence was a victory because in the past people who assaulted transit workers have walked away with little or no punishment.
Air Canada’s unions want a piece of the pie
Toronto — The Canadian Auto Workers union and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers are going after Air Canada’s profits. Union members took wage cuts that averaged three per cent in 2004 and the unions say they haven’t received a fair share of the airliner’s wealth since it emerged from bankruptcy protection in the fall of 2004. After several short discussions with management that went nowhere, both sides agreed to let arbitrators rule this summer on whether there should be wage increases.
CPP experiences 20 per cent growth spurt
Toronto — The Canada Pension Plan (CPP) fund grew 20 per cent to $98 billion in the past fiscal year. The CPP Investment Board reported the fund, which contains investments and contributions not needed to pay current benefits, increased by $16.7 billion. Investment gains accounted for the vast majority of the increase, $13.1 billion, while employer and worker contributions made up the other $3.6 billion.
Candidate proposes tax relief for youth
Toronto — Federal Liberal leadership candidate Scott Brison’s first campaign promise would make young adults’ first $25,000 in annual earnings tax free for their first 12 years of full-time work. The big tax break would help young Canadians pay off student loans and start families, said Brison.
Ottawa — Heather Crowe, the face of Canada’s anti-smoking movement, died just a week before Ontario’s tough new anti-smoking act took effect. She was 61. Crowe is well-known for television ads in which she said second-hand smoke in the workplace caused her deadly lung cancer. For more information on The Smoke Free Ontario Act, of which Crowe was a staunch supporter, see Page 5.
Canadians work too much
Ottawa — The average Canadian worked 1,751 hours in 2004, about 43 more work days than the Dutch, Germans, French and Danes. However, working more doesn’t equal greater productivity. Canada’s gross domestic product is very similar to that of many European countries and below that of some. The Irish work six per cent fewer hours on average than Canadians, yet Ireland’s economic output per person beats Canada’s by 14 per cent.
Union applauds sentencing in bus driver attack
Winnipeg — A union is claiming victory after a Winnipeg man was sentenced to 26 months in jail for the assault of a city bus driver. Rick Ganton pleaded guilty to one count each of assault and mischief for the March 16 attack against Murray Tarvis, a member of the Amalgamated Transit Union’s Local 1505. The union said the sentence was a victory because in the past people who assaulted transit workers have walked away with little or no punishment.
Air Canada’s unions want a piece of the pie
Toronto — The Canadian Auto Workers union and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers are going after Air Canada’s profits. Union members took wage cuts that averaged three per cent in 2004 and the unions say they haven’t received a fair share of the airliner’s wealth since it emerged from bankruptcy protection in the fall of 2004. After several short discussions with management that went nowhere, both sides agreed to let arbitrators rule this summer on whether there should be wage increases.
CPP experiences 20 per cent growth spurt
Toronto — The Canada Pension Plan (CPP) fund grew 20 per cent to $98 billion in the past fiscal year. The CPP Investment Board reported the fund, which contains investments and contributions not needed to pay current benefits, increased by $16.7 billion. Investment gains accounted for the vast majority of the increase, $13.1 billion, while employer and worker contributions made up the other $3.6 billion.
Candidate proposes tax relief for youth
Toronto — Federal Liberal leadership candidate Scott Brison’s first campaign promise would make young adults’ first $25,000 in annual earnings tax free for their first 12 years of full-time work. The big tax break would help young Canadians pay off student loans and start families, said Brison.
