As we witness U.S. President Donald Trump waging one of the most aggressive assaults on workers' rights and public services in modern American history, these attacks may feel far away. Still, their message is loud and clear and should serve as a warning for everyone in the North.
That's why there's so much at stake in Canada's federal election and why it's more important than ever that we pay attention to what's happening south of the border and stand together for strong public services and a future where workers and families are respected and protected.
I've heard from many union members who are watching in horror as a billionaire oligarch has been allowed to take a literal chainsaw to the government programs and services that impact the daily lives of millions, while the stroke of a presidential pen gutted collective bargaining rights for over a million federal employees, targetting unions that dared to stand up for workers and families.
When governments go after unions, it's not just members who are hurt SA国际影视传媒� workers lose their rights, wages stagnate and public services are cut or handed over to private, for-profit corporations. The communities we've fought so hard to build are left to fend for themselves, and families have less purchasing power to support our local economies.
Powerful economic interests and their hate-fuelled propaganda machines have convinced millions of Americans to vote for anti-worker policies and candidates SA国际影视传媒� indeed, against their own best interests SA国际影视传媒� and we can't let that happen here. Trump's actions set a dangerous precedent that could fuel similar anti-worker policies in Canada.
For our communities to thrive, especially in the North, we need governments that honour workers' Charter right to join a union and uphold their access to free and fair collective bargaining.
When anti-worker parties and candidates show us their disdain for unions and the public services that hold our country together, they want Canadians to believe that public service employees are the problem. But Northerners know that these workers deliver critical programs, keep our food and water safe, safeguard borders and respond to emergencies, such as wildfires, that threaten our livelihoods. Without strong unions, these essential services are at risk.
In the North, where services are already stretched thin, and the cost of living continues to climb, we can't afford a federal government that treats public services and the workers who make them run as expendable. The last thing we need is American-style union-busting and privatization.
I worry when I hear candidates in the North and across Canada reading from the Trump playbook: attacking unions, slashing public services, prioritizing corporate interests over working people and a disregard for the real cost of living in the territories.
Public service job security will be one of the first things on the chopping block, reducing staff, overloading workers and compromising the quality of services that Northern communities rely on. Pay cheques and pensions are also under threat. In an affordability crisis SA国际影视传媒� with the cost of food, fuel and housing continuing to climb while wages fail to keep up SA国际影视传媒� these policies will only make life harder for working families.
Inspired by Trump's unprecedented actions, anti-worker candidates here in Canada speak openly about undermining labour laws to take away unionsSA国际影视传媒� ability to organize and negotiate fair contracts, safe workplaces and decent working conditions. These are direct attacks on workers' rights and our means to effectively advocate for our members.
Every day, we see how this path leads to instability, inequality and the erosion of democracy. We can't risk following suit in the North, where communities already face unique challenges.
The choice in this federal election is stark: do we want a government that invests in people and communities or cuts everything that makes life a little more secure for working families?
Every vote matters and is an opportunity to express solidarity, defend jobs, protect public services, strengthen our communities and demand a fair economic future for all.
