Delivering for Canadians now!

Throughout the past federal election and since, SMART and unions across Canada have urged parties to put people before politics. We can finally say that two parties, the Liberals and New Democrats, have delivered and united together to form a governing majority.

While Conservatives try to frustrate progress through partisanship, this deal cuts through and delivers positive results for people. With today’s agreement, Parliament can now move forward on a recovery that puts workers and their families at its heart.

The agreement takes positive steps forward on key priorities the labour movement has fought for, in some cases for many decades. This includes implementing 10 days paid sick leave as soon as possible in 2022, as well as new “anti-scab” legislation by the end of 2023 for federally regulated industries, covering both lockouts and strikes.

With today’s agreement, Parliament can now move forward on a recovery that puts workers and their families at its heart.

In addition, labour has been fighting to invest in stronger public health care, and this deal delivers on that front with substantial steps towards universal pharmacare, including a Canada Pharmacare Act in place by end of 2023, followed by a national formulary for essential medicines and a bulk purchasing plan in place by 2025. This includes dental care for low-income Canadians, beginning with under 12-year-olds in 2022; under 18’s, seniors and people with disabilities in 2023; and all those making less than $90,000 by 2025.

To take care of our seniors who led the way for us, this contains an agreement on safe long-term care to ensure seniors get the care they deserve, regardless of where they live in Canada, and finally increases health funding, working with provinces to deliver more primary care nurses and doctors, mental health support, homecare, better data and improved health outcomes.

This is not only why elections matter, but also why forming a coalition built across working families’ issues that we advocate is a winning strategy. This could not have been possible without the contribution of union members coming together across our provinces. Thanks to this vital work, we can now move forward, together, and take the next step in realizing our goals as a labour movement in lockstep with our Canadian values.

Fraternally,

Chris Paswisty
Director of Canadian Affairs